Critical Path

Charlie wanted to speak again with Hagellan, get more details about this gate world. If the supposed ‘one-way trip’ turned out to be a suicide mission, he’d go alone. However, if the planet proved livable for humans or a glimmer of hope existed for a return to Earth, he couldn’t deny his son a second time. Charlie knew Den wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer after last time.

He opened the blinds and window in Augustus’ bedroom.

Three purple robes hung on a rail in the corner. Below them were two pairs of cream leather sandals.

On the other side of a scruffily made bed, a cardboard box with a faded picture of a microwave oven on the side captured Charlie’s interest. He rushed over to confirm the contents. It was stuffed to the brim with refined root—at least a few months’ supply.

Charlie picked it up and hurried back to the kitchen, dumping it next to Denver. “Forget the tea bags,” he said with a wide grin. “We’ve got something a little stronger.”

“Now you’re talking!” Denver picked out four generously sized pieces and dropped them into the pot of bubbling water.

Ryan poked his head around the door. “There’s two women heading this way, neither are local.”

Denver jumped to his feet and ran for the door, bumping into Charlie as he hurried past. Charlie quickly followed him out and watched Denver scramble down the porch’s steps and run across to meet the approaching visitors.

A guard from Aimee’s residence led Maria and Layla toward the cabin. Denver stopped short of Layla for a moment before they embraced. She closed her eyes tightly as she gave him an enthusiastic hug.

Layla opened her eyes and smiled at Charlie. He could see the look of relief in her face. Maria fidgeted with her sleeve and looked away until Denver wrapped his young powerful arms around her, pulling her into the hug.

Charlie smiled at the sight.

It seemed Denver had started building relationships. He often wondered if his son would ever meet a woman and fall in love, and worried it may never happen in this world. Although, if Charlie had to pick a partner for Den, it wouldn’t be Layla, a woman over twenty years his senior, who used to work on a farm.

But love works in mysterious ways, and it wasn’t for him to question.

He put his hands in his pockets and strolled over to the happy group.

Maria saw Charlie first and gave him a generous smile. “I couldn’t believe it when we first saw you on the video. How did you survive?”

She gave Charlie a running hug, nearly knocking him back. He felt awkward but closed his arms around her and gently squeezed. “Takes more than an exploding mother ship to kill me. How have you been? Have you got used to your new life?”

“I’m… getting there slowly. I’ve been helping Layla turn things around with the farms, helping other people. We all came looking for you as soon as we found out.”

“You shouldn’t have risked yourself,” Charlie said. “But, thank you, it means a lot to me.” He extended a hand to Layla, feeling like there was too much of a barrier, too much of a connection with Gregor for him to embrace her as Denver had.

She took his hand courteously. “Nice to see you alive, Charlie.”

A crack of thunder broke up the get-together as the rain continued to lash down. “We’ve got some root tea boiling inside. Let’s get out of the rain. We’ve got some dire business to discuss.”

* * *

Charlie brought four goblets of tea to the others sitting around the table.

“Denver said this place belonged to Augustus,” Layla said.

“Yeah, apparently so. Though it seems he’s been relegated to house arrest at his ludus.”

“Is he a problem?” Maria asked.

“You could say that,” Charlie said with a laugh. “I fought with him on the mother ship—Layla can attest to his egomania. He’s definitely a threat, whatever we decide to do next.”

“Gregor acted like a dick when we spoke to Aimee,” Layla said. “She let Augustus take him prisoner.”

“Good,” Charlie and Denver said at the same time before they laughed together. “He won’t exactly be missed.”

Charlie still wasn’t convinced about Gregor’s innocence in the death of Pippa—when he had found her body, Gregor was the first one on the scene, looking ruffled with a scratch on his face as though he had been in a struggle.

The next day, he and the rest of his Armenian gang fled south.

Charlie could put their differences aside to stop the terraforming, but going forward—there was no need for scum like him.

Denver shifted uneasily on his knees and scratched the back of his neck. He looked away from both women.

Maria reached out for him. “What is it, Den? What’s the matter?”

“We need you both to go,” he said. “It’s not safe for you two here.”

Maria said, “Wait, are you staying?”

“What exactly is this place?” Layla said. “What’s happened?”