Tomorrow & Tomorrow: Constant Stars, #4

By Jae Shanks

New Captain, new congress, and everyone is pretending that things are normal on the base once more.
Cameron vowed that those responsible for Landing Day would pay, regardless of what congress and the new captain are doing.  As her friends struggle to pick up the pieces of their lives, will her plan bring them the peace they need to move forward or fracture their lives even further? Or as Harper questions, are they fighting for the justice or are they consumed with revenge?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jae Shanks
• Release date: Feb 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386567660

Jae Shanks

A sound designer currently living in Kansas City, Jae Shanks has been writing since she was in middle school. Although originally from Austin, Texas. She's quite at home here in the Midwest with its tempestuous weather and religion of coffee. When not in the theatre or writing, she is constantly cooking something new with local ingredients.

Book preview

-hapter One

C areful! Levi warned as they lifted the piano from the stage.

The drop wasn’t far, but this was the only piano on the planet, and he didn’t want it to break. Harper and Lully grunted their assent, and they managed to set it down lightly on the floor.

Why does this thing weigh so much? Lully panted. Seriously. They couldn’t print it lighter?

I don’t think this was printed, Levi pointed out. I think this was made of real wood.

Lully peered at it with a newfound interest. Levi placed his crutches on top of the piano so he could help wheel it down the hall of the Aeneid.

Did you ever learn to play? Lully asked Harper as they navigated the piano to the loading dock. Lully followed behind, carrying the bench. He had parked the hover there; hopefully, it would be easier to lift the piano that way.

Harper scrunched up his face, shaking his head.

Absolutely not, he said. "Ugh. I was more interested in anything else. Mostly tekcom. Why, are you hoping to get lessons from Levi?"

I think I’m a bit busy for that, Lully remarked. And even if I wasn’t, I don’t think I’m coordinated enough. Speaking of, we still need to plan that dance party. We talked about it, but then I think we all got busy.

I’m not doing anything until Cameron says so, Harper declared. I have learned my lesson. I think it would be a sunshine idea. The base is just steeped in...you know.

Sadness. Despair. Anger. It had only been a little more than a cycle since Landing Day, and there wasn’t anyone who was unaffected. Still, Levi wanted people to have a chance to forget all of that and be reminded that there was a lot to be thankful for. They didn’t have to behave like their parents.

What you should do, Levi, is learn how to play some of your holo-rib tunes, Lully suggested. Then we could sing along. Or rather, Esperanza can sing along; no one lets me sing.

You sound like a broken holo-rib trying to cry, Harper joked. What are we doing for lunch after this?

Is Esperanza free? Levi asked. We could invite the girls, have lunch at my place. I think I have everything for baked potatoes.

They paused the conversation to lift the piano over a broken panel and then continued to the door. Lully wormed around the piano to set the bench down, helping guide through the narrow doorway. The hover wasn’t much farther.

I’ll message Cameron when we get closer to the base, Harper promised. Seasons, this piano. It better be the most impressive thing I’ve ever heard, Levi. Because it’s cursedly heavy.

I thought you worked in builds, Levi laughed. You can’t lift a piano?

Bite me, Harper grunted. You owe me lunch, Levi Hark.

It took a moment of finagling, but they got the instrument strapped in the back of the hover. Lully passed down Levi’s crutches, and they clambered into the seats. Lully started the hover as Levi got his legs situated and the crutches placed where they wouldn’t rattle.

Walsh had worked with Vertov to print braces for Levi’s legs, and while they were extremely helpful, Levi couldn’t move quickly without the crutches as well. Still, he had more freedom than he did in a wheelchair and he was grateful to Walsh for his help.

"Oh no, we have to get the piano out of the hover," Harper groaned.

I have cheese and bacon for the potatoes, Levi told him.

Several conflicting emotion flickered across Harper’s face until he settled on determination.

You know my weaknesses, he admitted.

We all do; it’s lifting pianos, Lully laughed.

Levi rested his head against the seat, looking up at the lavender sky. It was hard to believe they only had a couple days until the next earthstorm; it was so beautiful out. He was glad they had made the trek.

Merci for helping me with this, Levi told the two men. There’s no way I could have done this alone.

Anytime, Levi, you know that, Lully said. And this got me out of cleaning our berth today. I love Esperanza, but I don’t believe that the bathroom needs to be scrubbed every week.

And it’s good to have an excuse to get outside, Harper agreed. Didn’t Ibsen say this earthstorm was going to be a bad one?

Impossible to tell since we only have data on two earthstorms, Levi complained. And the last one was mild. Regardless, you’re right. It’s good to get some sun.

Add some freckles to your face, Lully teased.

Levi made a face at his friend as they pulled up to the base entrance. Lully and Harper moved the bench first and then came back for the piano. Levi untied the straps and helped push it to the edge of the hover. It didn’t take as long to get inside the base as getting it out, and soon they were pushing the piano down the corridors and getting strange looks as they did so. Levi had petitioned congress to put the piano in the meeting hall, which they had agreed to readily. Everyone was looking for a way to reclaim the room from its memorialized state of horror.

No one knows what this is but you, Harper noted.

Esperanza knows, Levi protested. Surely, some other people played it in the century it’s been sitting there.

The meeting hall’s lights were off, and the room felt sterile and unused. No one went in here. Levi moved to get the lights so they could navigate the tables and chairs Lully’s eyes flickered over the seats before he focused his efforts on the piano.

Please tell me we’re not putting it on the platform, Harper begged.

Non, just out of the way is fine, Levi said. Here.

They moved it against the back wall, and Levi set up the bench, lifting up the cover to touch the keys.

It’s out of tune, of course, he said. I’ll have to figure out a way to tune it. But this is what it sounds like.

He found the sheet music he had played four years earlier when they had first gone to the Aeneid, and just found out about the Canary. Even though he had been in cryo for most of that time, it still felt like ages ago. He was rusty but enjoyed playing. The base needed more art and music and beauty; Levi had been fighting to add poetry and music back in the curriculum. Congress was divided on its use, and Levi hoped that the piano would help sway them. Harper and Lully listened to the whole song until Levi was done, replacing the cover over the keys.

Oh, Harper remarked. Worth it. I concede.

So, lunch? Levi suggested. We can meet at my berth in twenty minutes? I want to swing by Alcott’s berth and invite her too.

Sunshine, Lully said. See you in a bit.

Alcott lost track of time staring at the measuring spoon in her hand. The baking powder was sitting out; all she had to do was follow the recipe. Instead, she placed the spoon back on the counter and put the bowl of flour and sugar back in the refrigerator.

It had taken her a week to get the bowl out and measure the flour and sugar. The rest of her life couldn’t be as hard as making one batch of muffins on her own. She felt a small kick, which brought a smile to her face. Alcott placed both hands on her stomach, wondering what her little one was thinking. She had an appointment tomorrow to find out the gender, but she was about to cancel on Madison. She didn’t need to know.

Someone knocked on the door, making Alcott jump. She pushed back her braids and opened it. Levi stood with a faint grin on his face. She couldn’t help but glance down at his braces and crutches, but then she returned the smile.

Come over, he said. We’re having potatoes.

She wanted to say no, but Levi was hard to refuse. He would lean in the doorway with his boyish grin until she relented. So she nodded and followed him into the hallway.

We got the piano, he told her. I have to talk to Ibsen about creating some sort of tuner, but it’s finally on the base.

Tuner? she inquired.

The piano used small hammers to hit a series of strings, he explained. But the strings aren’t the right frequencies, so the notes don't sound right. It’s been a century since anyone from Earth could have fixed it. He shrugged his shoulders. Maybe there’s a pianist in cryo.

Alcott snorted. Maybe, she allowed. There have been stranger people. You, for instance.

Ouch, he laughed.

They met Lully and Esperanza in the hall outside Levi’s berth. Levi punched in the code to let them in.

Dylan? he called.

There was no answer. A pained expression crossed his face, but then he shook it off, heading to the refrigerator to pull out lunch. Potatoes, cheese, green onions, bacon, broccoli. Alcott wondered if he spent all his credits on food. Not that anyone could tell, Levi was as thin as the day they had pulled him from cryo.

Potatoes, he said with a happy sigh. If I get out the wedge of cheese, will someone slice it up?

Oh, pick me, Esperanza laughed. Lully will eat it all.

Will not, Lully protested. Petal, why do you insist on telling lies?

Someone knocked, and Alcott answered the door for Harper and Cameron. Cameron was holding up a jug. It was an odd light green color.

Alcohol? Alcott questioned.

Cameron shook her blonde hair. Harper had been the first person to convince her to grow it out, and the longer hair made her not look quite as severe. She still wore a partial uniform, but usually with a printed shirt. Harper had been good for her.

Iced green tea. Levi said it was delicious so we made it and now we can all try it.

She set it on the table. Levi scrubbed the potatoes and set them in the oven. Alcott helped chop the onion and broccoli to use as toppings.

While we’re all here, we can talk about the dance party? Esperanza hinted. Cameron, you seem to be the holdup.

Cameron groaned, pushing her hair out of her eyes. "I am not opposed to parties, she said. But you can have them without me."

But then we can never get anyone organized, and Lully and Levi eat everything, Esperanza complained. And the Canary crew never respond to my invites.

Alcott found some glasses and passed them out. Harper poured the tea, and they all clinked their glasses. The tea was cold but delicious. Alcott liked the addition of the lemon. She wouldn’t have thought of putting a couple slices into tea.

Fine, I’ll help, Cameron relented. I’ll send the Canary invites when you’re ready.

Esperanza squealed and threw her arms around Cameron who tried to suppress a smile. Harper laughed and moved to help Alcott pulled down enough plates. They tended to eat here a couple times a week. Levi and Dylan had more dishes than anyone else in their circle of friends.

The potatoes were done after a while, and soon everyone had their plates and was seated around the berth on various chairs or stools.

Alcott, your appointment is in the morning, right? Esperanza asked. Would you like me to come walk with you?

Sure, Alcott replied. Merci.

Esperanza grinned. Are you excited? Have you guessed what you’re having yet?

Whoever they are, they are not calm, Alcott admitted. But non, I haven’t guessed. I’m hoping for a boy; my madre says it would be just punishment if I had a little girl like me.

Cameron’s holo-rib chirped, and she frowned, answering it.

Yes?

Can you come down here? it was Keller, sounding frazzled. I can’t get the credit deposits to clear, and I know I did all the paperwork right. I don’t want builds to get mad at me again.

She sighed. I’ll be there in a moment.

Merci beaucoup!

That’s our cue, Harper sighed. Merci, Levi, for having us over.

They rose from their seats. Esperanza pulled Lully up from his and had him gather the dishes as Cameron and Harper headed out.

Oh, I can get that, Levi said, grabbing a crutch to stand.

Don’t be rotated. You cooked; we cleaned. Those are the rules. And this way, Lully gets into the cleaning mode and is ready to tackle our berth.

I don’t like cleaning, he complained as he washed the plates dutifully.

But you do like it when I’m happy. And I’m happy when our berth is clean.

He grumbled some more before she dragged him down the hall. This left Alcott and Levi on the couch.

I should go, Alcott said, not wishing to overstay her welcome.

Levi shook his head. "Please stay. At least, you’re more than welcome to stay if you would like. I can’t say I know what you’re going through, but I