Chapter Twenty-One: Listen to Me

James slowly approached the door to Kate’s room on the shuttle and knocked. The metal twang echoed throughout and gave everyone notice that he was going to try and speak to her.

She hadn’t said a word since he revealed himself after takeoff.

“Can we speak?” he asked.

Finally, she looked over at him. “Where are you taking us?” she demanded.

“To the Prosperity Ghetto,” he told her. “Isn’t that where you were headed?”

She turned away, and didn’t respond.

“When you’re ready, I have much to tell you about the Machinists and Lucas,” he said, trying to tempt her attention with information.

Still, she did not respond.

He started to walk away, hesitating for a moment at the doorway. But the silence continued, so he headed back to the bridge.

Although, James was only trying to bribe her curiosity by mentioning the Machinists and Lucas, the truth was he really did know a lot. He had been on Mars for months, watching and learning the politics and secrets of Prosperity Ghetto. And, there were many secrets to learn.

The most important thing James discovered about the Machinists was that they listened. They listened to everyone and everything sending out signals around the planet and across the solar system. And in all the system, they were the only ones who were. This was their true gift, finding ways to capture any transmission.

The group had been hiding out in the ghetto for more than a decade, since their leader was executed by the Alexanders. They wanted to keep an eye on things, without making the same mistake twice.

James found out that the incident with Io’s parents was an accident. The group never intended to harm anyone; they only wanted attention to their cause. After their leader was killed, they went underground. They still kept watch over the system and the Alexanders, but had no intention of revealing themselves to anyone.

Then they heard it.

The first transmission about the Nekuia floated across the system, from Jupiter Station to the Alexander compound. It spoke of the Odyssey, and what might have gone wrong. So, they kept listening.

Eventually, they figured out everything. They know something is coming. And they know who it is. What they don’t know is what can be done about it. They need the Alexanders to do that. This is why they kidnapped Lucas. He was the most naïve, the least jaded. They figured he was the most willing to hear the listeners out.

Once James discovered this, he decided to try and make contact with his family. Maybe if he could bring the Machinists and Alexanders together, he could be forgiven. Maybe he could go home. Maybe even Kate would speak to him.

Now, he found himself in the bridge of the shuttle, reviewing life support levels and checking the navigators just waiting for a chance to explain.

For James, the real challenge wasn’t telling Kate what he’d found or his great plan to save everyone. It would be getting her to believe him.