Page 77 of The Alien in the Archive

The revelation sets my thoughts whirling, heavy with implications. I think of Thorne, of his reluctant confessions about Borean history, of the guilt he carries. His people were villains, yes…but it's always more complicated than that. In every authoritarian society, there are dissenters, outliers, fugitives.

And those authoritarians often have secret sympathizers that would sweep those sympathies under the rug when the authoritarian falls.

“And what happened?” I ask. “Why did it end?”

Thalara hesitates, glancing down at the tablet in her hands. “War,” she says finally. “The Boreans turned their gaze outward, to the stars, while the Merati turned inward, focusing on preserving our way of life. When the Boreans began their campaigns of expansion and conquest, the alliance fractured. The Merati withdrew, retreating into our oceans, while the Boreans…” she trails off, shaking her head. “Well, you know what happened to them.”

I nod slowly. “But this…this is a major shift in the historiography, Thalara,” I say. “You've found something really amazing. And it gives a bit more nuance to the Borean story, doesn't it?”

“Hm,” Thalara says, chewing on her lip. “Well…I think so, yes, but that point of view isn’t exactly popular on M’mir. You must remember that, given the length of our lifespans, there are people here who were alive during the Convergence, or the War of Reclamation, or…gods, any conflict? I mean, Lyn and Riley’s supervisor, Dr. Rhyss? His planetcrackedfrom Elixir extraction. It’s gone.”

I look into her eyes, searching them for any sign that she could be an ally in this. I’m starting to think there’s no way around this but to bring Thorne back into mainstream society if we’re going to be together.

And that…it’s important to me.

I think I need him.

“Thalara,” I murmur. I glance toward the door. Even though I know the room is private, what I’m about to ask feels too dangerous to say aloud. “Do you know if there are any Boreans left? Like…hiding out, or something. It seems like they would be an invaluable source.”

I can tell she senses something sketchy going on by the way she frowns, but she couldn’t possibly guess—the reality is far too strange to imagine. “That’s like…” she pauses. “Page, the Boreans were capable of so much; they could read minds, move things without touching them, fly…some had other powers, too, that we’ll never fully understand.”

“I get that,” I start, “but?—”

“If any Borean were alive…” she cuts me off, rare for her as she’s usually so polite, “I’m trying to think of a metaphor that makes sense on Earth. It’s like…asking if you could interview someone who doesn’t want to be interviewed while they point a loaded gun at you. Too dangerous.”

Fuck…they really have no idea, do they? Of course, Thorne has told me he’s done terrible things, and he’s urged me to believe him—but he’s not like that. He reads books, has a cute pet, seems to be more interested in giving me orgasms than world domination.

And I trust him. I’ve been in his head, walls down.

When I don’t respond, Thalara bites her lip, lowering her voice. “Page,” she whispers. “Did you find something in the Obscuary that’s led you to believe there are still Boreans out there?”

I shake my head a little too quickly, laughing it off andwaving my hand. Fuck, I’m a horrible liar. “No,” I tell her. “Just…a wishful historian, dreaming of the perfect source. You’re absolutely right.”

“Are you sure?” she says. “Because if you did, I think you should tell Professor Ferhalda?—”

“I should get going,” I cut in, then gesture at the books on the table. “Is it okay if I take these?”

“Yeah,” she nods, clearly startled. “Um, Page, please don’t go. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“It’s not you, it’s me,” I promise. “Just…you know how it is when we get on weird flights of fancy. Historian stuff.”

Thalara doesn’t look convinced, but to my relief, she doesn’t push any further. I gather the stack of books into my bag, leaving the delicate tablets. My heart is still racing from her questions. If she knew the truth—if anyone knew the truth—I could lose him.

It scares me more than I expected.

“I’ll let you know if I find anything interesting,” I say, forcing a smile as I sling my bag over my shoulder. “Who knows? Maybe we could co-author a paper somewhere down the road.”

Thalara stands, fidgeting with her blouse. “Page,” she starts, hesitant. “You know you can trust me, right? If there’s something going on…something you’re afraid to say, I’ll listen. I won’t tell anyone, not even Professor Ferhalda.”

The sincerity in her voice makes me hesitate. Thalara is an ally, I remind myself; or at least, she could be. But the risk is too great. She might think she can keep a secret, but if she knew what I was hiding, it would only take one slip, one stray thought in the wrong company, and Thorne would be hunted down.

And he’s only got a few years. If he gets wrapped up in some kind of tribunal, if he’s taken away from me…I could lose him forever.

“Thanks,” I say. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Her shoulders relax a little, though the concern doesn’t leave her eyes, and her final words chill me as I walk through the door.

“Page, be careful. Sometimes the past is better left buried.”

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