Secrets

My eyebrows lifted in surprise, the needle momentarily forgotten. "You would do that? You would reveal your bartering chip so soon?" I asked teasingly.

"We have already agreed that we tied, so I was going to tell you sooner or later," Geo said with a shrug. "Besides, I know you will hold up your end of the bargain. You are trustworthy."

I wish I could say the same about you, Geo. But I wouldn't say that to him. Instead I narrowed my eyes with mock skeptism and then nodded. "Very well, but it will have to be pretty good to make me forget about getting the shot."

"I am sure I can manage," Geo said with a smirk. "Let us see, where should we begin?" He paused and looked up in thought for a moment. "The day began just like any other. The pre-programmed daylights illuminated the same pale golden light for dawn, the temperature was set at same 18 celcius for optimal sleep. But deep down inside I knew that the day was going to be different. Something was going to change." I let out a small giggle but quickly tried to hide it. "What?" he demanded.

"Nothing!" I said as I tried to supress my smile. "I just didn't expect Mr. Science would have a flair for the dramatic."

"Ha-ha, Flora," Geo said as he rolled his eyes, but I could see his lips turn up into a smile. "Can I continue?"

"Please," I said with a laugh.

"As I was saying before I was interrupted, I knew that day was going to be different. The reason I knew was because I received a call at 06:00 to come in and inspect some wreckage found within an asteroid cluster. I have occasionally been called in to inspect items that the scavenger ships bring back, but never had I been called at such an early hour. The panic in the dock master's voice was palpable, so I threw on my uniform and raced down to the docks.

"Once I got there they promptly led me to the isolation chamber and suited me up. I did not know what to expect when I walked through the door, but I did not expect to see that heap of metal wreckage. It was difficult to determine the age of the metal, but I could tell from the cold welding between the many large pieces that it must have been old. As I circled the large mass I was able to make out the stamp of the Ark, and below it a series of numbers. It reminded me of Arca's orginal Ark, and I was willing to bet the wreckage came from ancient times.

"As I circled around the wreckage and took notes, I realized that it appeared to be wrapping around something, almost like it was protect it. I took the pry bar off the isolation room's wall and began to slowly pull the metal away. It was then that I saw you." Geo glanced at me, and I could feel a light blush reach my face. "You looked so serene. Based on your features I knew you were not from here. If my suspicions on the stamp were correct it meant you were an ancient. I honestly did not know if you were still alive, but if you were and if I was able to I wake you, I knew you would have so much to teach me. To teach us.

"I immediately sent my findings to the council for review and began to prep my lab so I could figure out how to wake you. It was later that day that I learned about the council's cowardice. They were going to jettison you at 06:00 the next day and lose our one chance to unlock the secrets of our past. I could not let them do that to the pod, to you; so I went to the one person I knew who could help me: Thanh of Centralarca. He is a scholar of ancient languages and was once the head of the council. He is also Thana's father."

"Wait, what?" I asked in surprise due to the reveal. It was at that moment I felt a sharp pinch in the side of my arm. Before I could even react to the pain the needle was gone, leaving only a small bead of blood. Geo pressed a small square of gauze against my arm as I glared at him.

"See, it is all finished. Hold the gauze here for a few minutes to stop the bleeding."

I replaced his fingers with my own and applied pressure to my arm. "And then what happened?"

Geo smirked. 'Thanh agreed that we could not miss this opportunity. He told me to pack up my lab and leave Central. There are too many eyes here to keep such a secret for long. I did as he asked. I packed up my lab and sent notice that I would continue my work in Nova. In the early hours before dawn I met with the team Thanh had sent to recover you. I was truthful when I said I never entered the isolation room again. They were able to extract you from the debris and load you onto my commuter ship without anyone noticing. All traces of them were skillfully removed, and I left with you safely in my cargo before they even jettisoned the wreckage."

"So it was my father," came Thana's bitter voice from the doorway. Both Geo and I jumped at her sudden presence. "He is the one who helped you," she stated, rather than asked Geo.

I glanced at him expecting him to be nervous or scared, but instead he was calm. "You knew he helped me. I could tell you figured it out on the day of the trial."

Thana let out a sigh. "I know, but hearing it confirmed makes it so I cannot choose to ignore it anymore. I am blood and yet he still picks your side."

Geo gave her a small smile. "You know it was not due to a lack of love for you but for the love of science and learning."

"The biggest loves of both your lives," Thana scoffed.

Curious, I looked to Geo and asked, "Does he have any 'ancient' texts on soils or what the plan was for introducing the microbes into foreign soil? You said he was a scholar of ancient languages, so he must have some, yes?"

"I am not sure," he said as he continued to search his memory.

"I know he has copies of all existing manuals as well as some texts about Earth that might have the information you seek," Thana added.

My eyes began to sparkle with excitement despite the tense atmosphere. "I would love to meet him and take a look at his collection. There are so many things I need to learn before I can get a handle on terraforming."

A sad smile pulled at Thana's lips. "I am sure we can arrange that. I know he would love to meet you as well." Her smile faded as she looked to Geo. "Make sure proper protocol is followed before seeing him."

"Yes, Thana," Geo said with a nod.

Thana nodded in return and took a deep breath. "With that we should enter the main lab to celebrate."

"Celebrate? What are we celebrating?" Geo asked, his eyes guarded.

"Marea found a doctor willing to testify."