The Time Voyager's Obsession

     Hana tucked her nose into the folds of her scarf, watching the barren wasteland pass by in a red blur. The transport cruiser bumped and rocked as it rumbled over the rough terrain, a cloud of thick dust left in its wake. Small whirlwinds whipped across the planet's surface, dissolving as quickly as they had formed. The wind screamed and clawed at the cruiser’s metal exterior, searching out a point of entry.       Hana looked down at the small girl beside her, huddled within her mother’s embrace. She could not be more than four or five, her tiny hands clutching a well-loved rag doll. With each gust of wind, her eyes widened with fear and she clung tighter to her mother. She met Hana’s gaze, tilting her head to the side shyly.       Nodding to the doll, Hana asked, “What’s her name?”      “Ari,” the girl replied, scarcely above a whisper. Her mother eyed Hana warily, then looked away, her face as fearful as that of her daughter’s.       “She’s very lucky to have you to keep her safe,” Hana said kindly, smiling down at the child.       A peal of wind screamed across the cruiser, and the little girl started to sob, burying her face into the doll. Her mother soothed her quietly, rubbing her back in comfort. The woman was right to be on guard. Nobody wanted to be sent to Mala Fide, and those who were had often earned their place there. Hana looked around her at the haggard souls crammed within the cruiser. Some shivered against the cold, hugging tightly to ragged coats and blankets. Others stared into the empty space, their faces bleak and hopeless. Not a single one met Hana’s eye. The same ill fate awaited all of them, forced into conscripted labor on the infamous prison base.       Not all were criminals, only victims of chance, like Hana herself. The settlement served as a collecting place for the planet’s undesirables. Anyone who did not fit Astra Glacies’ model of a productive citizen was sentenced to work until enough credits had been earned to pay off his or her debt to society. Murderers, political radicals, s****l delinquents, the unwanted, the impoverished, and the mentally disturbed were all housed together within the prison’s walls. Most who crossed its threshold would be lifelong residents. It was a place of ruin and despair, one that Hana had never expected to see in her lifetime.       Unbidden, her thoughts turned to Filo, and a cold fury gripped her heart like an iron fist. He was the reason she had been sentenced to such misery, a year of her life gone in a single moment. Compared to her fellow passengers, her sentence was light. She glanced around the carrier, overcome by a sudden pang of guilt. Filo’s influence had afforded her some leniency, she supposed. Even so, the sentiment did little to dull the bitterness churning within her heart. Glancing at the young girl next to her, she swallowed down a wave of revulsion. Hana was sure she would find no justice in a place that saw fit to imprison innocent children. There was no telling if she would be serving a year, or a lifetime.        Perhaps if she had been more tactful in her refusal, Filo would not have punished her so harshly. Hana had never been good at controlling her sharp tongue. She had unwittingly humiliated him, turning him into a laughing stock before his family and thousands of spectators. Hana had never seen him so angry in her life, or so cruel. Even then, she could not hold herself back, and the fateful words had sprung from her lips like a slap, “It would be like a prison!”       Filo had regarded her cooly, his rage replaced by a threatening resolve. “Perhaps you need to experience what a true prison really is. A little time on the ice would serve you well.”       He had been like a brother to her for so long, she had forgotten the amount of influence his family held within Astra Glacies’ political circles. Still, she had not thought him capable of such betrayal. There was not a time she could recall when they had not been inseparable.       In fact, Filo shared a piece of her earliest memory. Her parents had journeyed to the Northern Polar Station to take atmospheric readings, and had brought her along to witness a rare natural phenomena. Accompanying them was their friend, and fellow scientist, Rus Belias, with his young son, Filo. The two of them had huddled together in her parent’s cruiser as the lights of the solar wind illuminated the night sky. At the tender age of three, it had been her first, and only, trip to the planet’s Northern Pole. In a strange twist of irony, this was to be her second.       The cruiser dipped suddenly, jarring Hana from her thoughts.       The land had begun to slope downward, and the cab was growing steadily colder. Around them, the red horizon was broken up by icy pools, the frozen impact craters of ancient asteroids. Due to the planet’s low atmospheric pressure, water on Astra Glacies existed largely in its frozen form. In order to sustain life, the polar ice caps had to be mined, and the frozen cargo transported to the planet’s three major settlements for distribution.       The mines of the Northern Pole were almost exclusively manned by the prisoners of Mala Fide. It was brutal, back-breaking work, and accidents were common. Everything from equipment malfunctions to mine collapses had occurred over the ice mines’ long histories, claiming the lives of an undocumented amount of workers. Those willing to risk their life and limb, voluntarily, were few and far between, so Mala Fide’s conscripted labor force had become a necessary evil. Anyone who was too old or too young to work in the mines maintained the prison itself, cooking, cleaning, and managing the laundry room.       As the transport cruiser began to near the Northern Pole, Hana could make out the skyline of the Ungues Mons range, its sharp white peaks rising high above the red earth of the Astratic plains. Hellyas Valley cut a rift through the range’s center, the geologic formation of a long forgotten river. At the bottom of the crevice lay Mala Fide, enclosed by impenetrable sheets of ice, nearly 6,000 ft tall. There was one way down and one way up, a road only navigable by cruiser during three months of the year. Outside of that brief time frame, the winds became too savage to endure, effectively sealing the canyon until the following spring.       They began their descent long before reaching the outer range, continuing on through a series of subterranean tunnels. The cab grew impossibly dark, the only light emanating from the cruiser's high beams. Nobody moved, or scarcely dared to breathe, as the vehicle rumbled on through the alien underground. After what seemed like hours, the glow of daylight illuminated the end of the tunnels.       As they broke away from the darkness, a collective gasp passed through the cab. The cruiser emerged into blinding light, great walls of ice stretching out as far as the eye could see. They were within the range’s teeth now, rolling down the treacherous corridor known as the Razor’s Edge.       To their immediate left extended a wall of ice, blown so smooth it could have been made of glass. The cruiser hugged to it tightly, hardly leaving an inch to spare. The right side of the cab looked out on nothing but air, the ground dropping away into vast emptiness. If not for the cloud cover, Mala Fide would be visible to them, crouched between the mountain’s embrace like a beast of prey. A thick fog obscured the desolate view, and Hana found herself grateful for the small mercy. She had always preferred to keep both feet firmly on the ground.       A yellow light flashed suddenly above them, and the robotic voice of the autopilot droned from the control panel.       “Citizens, roads may present hazardous conditions. Brace yourselves for the descent. In the event of an emergency, oxygen masks are located in the H.L.P response kit found in the top right compartment of the cab. Under no circumstance should a citizen attempt to exit the transport cruiser. In the event of an emergency, please remain inside the cab and wait for assistance. This cruiser is certified in Human Life Preservation. We at GenSpec Planetary Transportation hope you have experienced a pleasant journey, and ask that you please remain seated until the vehicle comes to a complete stop, thank you.”        The cruiser lurched forward suddenly, its nose seeming to take a near vertical dive. Several of the passengers cried out in alarm, and the child at Hana’s side began to wail once more. Hana clung tightly to the support railing above her head, biting her lip to keep from cursing. The vehicle rumbled along steadily, the tracks of its wheels clicking slowly down the steep incline. The walls of the cab seemed to close in, and her body broke into a cold sweat. In that moment, Hana had never rued those fateful words more, “It would be like a prison!”      It had all happened so quickly, she had scarcely had time to think. One moment he had been seated by her side, awaiting the start of the match, and the next, he was standing on the dais, professing his undying love for her, his words broadcast for the benefit of the entire arena. It had been such a shock, she had thought it to be some elaborate joke. However, the joke had definitely been on her.      It was Astra Glacies’ third year hosting the GenSpec Planetary Fight Pit Match. It was a small, locally attended, single-system event. Rus Belias had been the match’s benefactor since its conception, and had even paid for the construction of the Eastern Borough’s first sports arena. The pit occasionally served as local entertainment for traveling dignitaries, but largely catered to the Borough’s general population. Its resulting popularity further cemented the Belias family as heroes of the people.       Hana always enjoyed watching the matches. Astra Glacies was hardly a cultural hub, and the sporting event afforded a much needed distraction from the mundane. Filo knew nearly all of the fighters personally, and Hana could always count on making a few introductions. It was an opportunity to glimpse what life was like off planet. Despite her fear of flying, she had always been drawn to the unknown. Even in the Exeter System alone, there was so much life beyond the simple mining planet. Filo was always quick to indulge her fascinations, and the games had become one of their mutual interests.       That night had started off no different than any other. They had been seated in the family’s private box, watching as Rus Belias introduced the starting fighters.       “I’m going to get something to drink,” Filo had shouted above the roars of the crowd. “Can I get you anything?”      “Maybe later,” Hana had returned, watching raptly as Gorgas the Intimidator lumbered into the pit.       His double heads bellowed over the audience, a giant maul brandished in a single meaty fist. Hana had never seen a Trogir Warrior before, and the sheer size of him alone had her mesmerized. The warrior’s opponent was a Mantisnian, his name a series of unrepeatable guttural clicks. Grotesquely hooked arms hovered beneath his hissing mandible, poised like a boxer’s gloves.       Hana leaned forward with interest, resting her chin in her hands. The match promised to be a good one, with Gorgas the Intimidator as the clear fan favorite. As the competitors began to circle each other, the crowd erupted into heckles and boos. Hana looked around, wondering what could be fueling the commotion. The Mantisnian let out a predatory shriek, its wings buzzing in agitation. Gorgas mirrored the sentiment, slamming his maul down on the mat with a mighty roar. Hana’s eyes grew wide, astonished at the sight of Filo making his way between the fighters, before mounting the center dais.       “Sorry for the interruption, folks, the match will resume in just a moment,” he said, leaning in towards the microphone. “For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Filo Belias.” The jeers died down suddenly, replaced with hushed anticipation. “My father, Rus Belias, is the proud sponsor of the GenSpec Planetary Fight Pit Match. The Eastern Borough Sports Arena has been a personal passion of his for quite some time, and I can’t think of a single place I’d rather be, or a person I’d rather be here with. Hana, could you stand?”       The blood drained suddenly from Hana’s face, as the skycam projected her stunned countenance for all to see. She felt rooted to the chair, unable to move, shrinking under the gaze of a thousand pairs of eyes.        “I think Hana is a little nervous,” Filo laughed good-naturedly, “How about we give her some encouragement?”       The arena erupted into thunderous applause, and Hana could feel her stomach twist into a knot of foreboding. She remained seated, fearing her legs would collapse beneath her if she attempted to stand.       “Hana,” Filo addressed her again, ignoring her obvious panic, “I’ve known you since I was four years old. Since then, you’ve become my dearest friend and confidant. It would make me the happiest, luckiest, man in the galaxy if you would agree to be my wife.”       Hana’s mouth dropped open as the stands fell into hushed silence. The stadium was quiet enough to hear a pin drop, with everyone waiting on her word. The absurdity of it all was too much, and Hana wasn't sure if she wanted to giggle or cry. She shook her head in denial, covering her lips with a horrified hand.       Filo’s confident smile faded from his lips, her silence echoing louder than any rebuttal. A callous laugh rippled through the audience, growing until it swelled to a collective howl. The lights of the coliseum had grown blindingly bright, and her vision began to blur before her. Hana sprang from her seat, fleeing the cruel jeers and taunts. Her mind raced as she ran blindly from the arena.       The winding corridors seemed to close in from all sides, and she crouched in the dim light, panting for breath. Behind her, pounding footsteps echoed down the tunnel before coming to an abrupt stop. She knew that it was Filo, even without looking. Hana kept her back turned, resting her pounding head against the cool wall. She couldn’t stand to face him, to see the hurt that she had inflicted.       “How could you?” he whispered hoarsely, his voice raw with emotion. A sudden switch went off in her head, and she wheeled on him, temper flaring.      “How could I?” she demanded incredulously, the shrillness of her voice reverberating down the empty passageway, “What the hell was that? What were you thinking?”      “Hey, keep your voice down!” Filo hissed, taking hold of her elbow. Hana let him steer her forward, her mind still reeling with shock.       When they were safely inside the solitude of his father's study, Filo turned to face her.       “We can still fix this,” he said hastily, combing through his thick hair with restless fingers. He began to pace the room, talking more to himself than Hana. “Lots of brides get cold feet, it’s a perfectly natural reaction. We can stage another fight, another proposal.”      “Filo,” Hana moaned, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation.       “Alright, no proposal then,” he continued on, refusing to meet her eye, “We’ll just release a marriage announcement, pretend that it never happened.”      “Filo!” Hana snapped, blocking his path. His blue eyes implored her with uncharacteristic desperation. She looked away, repulsed by the emotions she couldn't bring herself to reciprocate. “I can’t marry you,” Hana said softly, taking his hands in her own, “I’ll always love you, but not in the way you want me to.”       “Love can grow from friendship, Hana. You’re just afraid,” he looked down at her fondly, brushing a wispy curl behind her ear with his fingertips. She flinched back from him, removing herself from his embrace. “The way you lost your parents,” he continued sympathetically, “it was so brutal and sudden. It would be enough to make anyone shy away from love. Don’t isolate yourself, Hana. Don’t push me away.”      “I’m not shying away from love, Filo,” Hana snapped in irritation, “I just don’t want your love.”      He stiffened at her words, his nostrils flaring, “Most women would jump at the chance to win my affections; what makes you any different?”      Hana snorted over her shoulder, heading for the door, “Go propose to one of them, then, but you might want to ask how they feel about it first.”      Suddenly he was on top of her, pinning her wrists to his chest, her back pressed against the door. “I don’t want them, I want you. I like a woman who's prepared for a little chase,” he purred, his eyes heavy with lust.      “Get off of me!” Hana cried, squirming beneath him.      “What is it you want, Hana, passion? Romance? I can open the world to you. Just give me the chance to make you happy.”       His mouth bore down on her, his wet tongue sliding down the back of her throat. His hand released hers, as his fingers trailed down to grope at her breast. Hana arched backward, her head slamming painfully into the metal doorframe. With her free hand, she tried to push Filo off of her, her balled fist slamming repeatedly against his chest. He gripped her tighter, trapping her small frame against his larger one. She tried to call out or scream, but his hungry mouth silenced her, his breath intolerably hot and heavy.       Hana had loved Filo like a brother, and his gross invasion of her body made her feel physically ill. Her other defenses exhausted, she wielded the only faculty free to her. As his tongue slid between her teeth, she bit down sharply. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, and Filo cried out in agony.       “What’s the matter with you?” he seethed, spitting out blood onto the floor. “Why are you being so difficult?”      “I’m being difficult?” Hana returned hotly, swiping his blood from her lips in disgust. “You just forced yourself on me! You’re a coward! A coward that I don’t even recognize! Because the man I know, who I considered to be my dearest friend, would never disrespect me or my wishes as you have just done! You are never to touch me again, do you understand?”      His features contorted with rage, and he pointed an angry finger in her face, “Who are you to throw around threats and wild accusations? I have never had to force myself on anyone! You followed me here willingly! What did you think was going to happen? And don’t get me started on disrespect; what was that out there? You humiliated me in front of my father, my colleagues, my constituents! You scorned me in front of half the damn system!”      Hana folded her arms over her chest, setting her jaw defiantly, “You humiliated yourself, Filo! I’ve never once implied that I had romantic feelings for you, and I don’t owe you anything. You aren’t entitled to my heart, no matter how important you believe yourself to be. Stop acting like a spoiled child.”      “I don’t think you’re in any position to tell me what I’m entitled to,” he returned menacingly. “One day I’ll inherit my father’s legacy, his wealth, his influence! My future is set on an upward trajectory. Who are you to refuse me? What opportunities do you think your future holds? Your parent’s inheritance was a pittance. You’ll be spending the rest of your life buried away in the archives, reading about places you’ll never be able to see, just to make ends meet! What I’m offering you, is your only chance out of here. Is it too much to ask for a little gratitude, after all that I’ve done for you? I’m willing to share everything, my entire life, with you!”       “I don’t want it,” Hana screamed, tears of frustration springing from her eyes, “I don’t want any of it! I didn’t ask for any of it! I guess you’ve wasted your precious time, because I don’t want to share my life with you, Filo! It would be like a prison!”       Filo turned away from her, clasping his hands behind his back. He was silent for a time, and Hana almost found it in her heart to pity him. “Perhaps you need to experience what a true prison really is,” he replied emotionlessly. A chill ran down Hana’s spine, and her eyes widened with sudden fear.       “A little time on the ice might serve to cool that damnable temper.” He left her there in stunned silence, slamming the door closed behind him.