Chapter Six: Unexpected Answers

Kate fell asleep in the 19^th century reading room of the Alexander Library. She hadn’t been sleeping well the past couple of nights, waiting for word from the council. Late last night she returned to the two-story room looking for some solace and one of her favorite books.
A small, spiral staircase crawled up one corner of the room and an old leather chair sat in the other. She lay in the chair with a blanket over her legs and a bound copy of Pride and Prejudice still open across her chest.
Slowly the door to the room opened and a guard crept inside. He placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Kate,” he said as he shook her lightly. “Kate, wake up.”
She opened her eyes to a familiar face.
“Good morning,” she said.
He smiled and caressed her shoulder. She finally began to sit up, letting the book slide. The guard grabbed the book, closed it and set it on the table next to the chair.
Kate looked at the blanket. “Did you put this here?” she asked.
“No,” he told her. “I think it was Yori.”
Kate smiled, knowing how many times she had fallen asleep in that chair and how many times the Curator of the Library came to check on her. Yori always made sure she was warm.
“I’ve come to tell you that the council has requested your presence,” the guard said.
“They’ve called for me?” she questioned in disbelief.
“They have.”
Kate immediately stood up. She paused for just a moment, reached out and touched the guard’s shoulder. Then she quickly turned and headed out the door.
•••
The curtains were open and the morning sun flooded the council chamber with unexpected light. All seven members sat before Kate with stoic faces. She feared the news was not what she had been hoping for.
“I have decided to allow you to attend the return of the Odyssey,” Sun announced.
A smile crept out from the corners of Kate’s mouth. She tried to keep her excitement to herself, but she thought everyone could hear her heart racing.
“Thank you, mother.”
“Do not be so swift to hand out gratitude,” Sun responded. “This mission is not without danger.”
Kate quickly buried her smile.
“The Odyssey has not sent regular communications for more than two years,” Sun continued.
The smile was gone for good with those words. Kate had thought it had only been a few months. Now she understood why the council was so concerned. The Odyssey had been sending regular communications back to Earth since it left on its mission more than a century ago. To be missing those messages for years signaled the worst.
“I thought it had only been months,” Kate said.
“Your assumptions are wrong again,” Sun told her. “Io and the council have utilized all our resources to ascertain the status of the Odyssey. But we have discovered nothing so far.”
“I will be vigilant and guarded” Kate said.
“You will be,” Sun responded. “We have assigned two guards to accompany you on your mission to Jupiter Station.”
Kate was silent for a moment, considering her words carefully. Saying the wrong thing was almost as undesirable as having chaperones on her journey.
“It’s doubtful two guards can protect me from the dangers you imagine,” Kate said. “I am a strong fighter and capable of defending myself.”
“I do not doubt your fighting skills,” Sun said. “However, there will be no discussion. The three of you leave for Shackleton Base this afternoon. You only have time to gather your belongings.”
Then she looked at William and nodded.
He walked over to the council doors and called out to someone waiting in the alcove.
Two guards stepped into the council chamber. One of the guards was Omari, one of Sun’s personal guards. The other was Eric, Kate’s personal guard and the man who had awoken her that morning.