If there was one thing Lachlan MacGregor was not of two minds about regarding taking up residence on Mara, the return to something of a natural circadian rhythm was it. The days were shorter than he was used to, of course, but there was little artificial light in the village after dark, save for fire, torches, and a few LED’s around Alice’s abode. That seemed about to change given Antoth’s approval of an order of lanterns that arrived for the guard force, but otherwise the Marine found sleep when the sun went down and woke easily when it rose again in the west. He was even getting a bit used to sleeping on straw. Ursol, on the other hand, had not gotten over the novelty of sleeping on Lachlan’s inflatable foam pad.
“Good mornin’ mum,” the Marine said quietly, emerging into the common area of Sentaura’s home where the single mother already had a fire going. She’d explained that, especially in the summer months, it was best to cook before Seil warmed the land too much. “Do you need anythin’?”
“More water, if you please,” she requested, and so Lachlan headed out to the town square with a bucket in hand. He took some time to refresh and water himself as well, refilling his canteen and splashing the river water from the aqueduct on his face before returning. Sentaura gave him a wan smile as he set the bucket in the corner. Ursol was still snoozing. “What did you play with him?”
“Truth be told I ran him around the village a couple times, told him hunters have to be fast as well as strong. I’ll teach him ta do pushups tonight maybe. Ah, I’m sorry about Alice, Sentaura. She’s just an excitable lass. We didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
“Lachlan,” Sentaura cut him off gently, stepping around the cooking fire to stand before him. “You humans are always too sensitive, or perhaps it is just you. My mate is dead. She should not feel shame for her interest in the harvest festival.”
“I beg yer pardon, mum,” Lachlan murmured, confused as Sentaura placed a hand on his arm.
“When you finally open your eyes to the way she looks at you, Ursol and I will be sad to see you go. The last time I had such a peaceful morning was before he was born,” she recalled, waving her feathers slowly as fond memories mixed with sorrow. Ursol finally began to rouse himself from bed, rubbing his eyes.
“Momma?”
“She’s cookin’ us all some grub, wee laddie. Let’s go to the outhouse and leave her be a moment, yeah?” the human suggested, unwilling to face the frankness of a woman who understandably did not believe that love should wait under any circumstances.
“Ok, Uncle Lachlan. I’m gonna beat you today!” the cub promised, prompting the Marine to hoist him into the air and saunter out of the building.
“Don’t think I’ll be going easy on ya, lad. No one ever became a strong soldier or hunter that way. And you want to be a great hunter, right?”
“Right!”
“Then worry about becomin’ smarter and stronger, not about winning.” That advice was the final word that Sentaura was able to make out, the slightly unnatural tone of the translation easier for her ears to pick up as he walked down the street outside. She returned to peacefully stirring something of a saute in her cooking pot, a mixture of vegetables, meat, and herbs to taste. She couldn’t help but scold herself as a tear fell into the pot and sizzled away.
“Yes, we will miss you greatly, you strange, red-furred human.”
-----
“First Lieutenant, this is a surprise. I assume you came up on the morning shuttle?” Natori asked as Russell Winters politely waltzed onto the bridge like he owned the place. The Jumper nodded to the Marines on duty before saluting him.
“I somehow doubt that, sir.”
‘I have seamless remote integration established, sir,’ Io advised. ‘It is no longer necessary for you to be here for me to be here, so to speak. He did not check the flight records.’
“I retract my statement then,” Russell allowed with a shrug, glancing at the various crew who were on their morning shifts. “I understand this is unannounced, but I was hoping for a moment to speak with you privately.”
Natori cocked his head and smiled, always a bit too interested for Russell’s taste. But such was the nature of Beta Division and admiralship, he supposed. “Of course. My team is not due to depart for the Forge for another thirty minutes. Turnwell?”
“No problems, Admiral,” the First Mate spun around in his chair, stood, and saluted. Natori stood as well and returned it.
“Wonderful. This way if you please, Lieutenant?” Natori requested, leading the Jumper off the bridge and to his private quarters. He took a seat behind his desk and gestured that Russell should be at ease as well, breaking the easy silence between the men.
“I’ll stand, thank you, sir.”
“As you wish. Now what can I do for you, Lieutenant?” Natori wondered.
“It’s almost been a year since my ship was lost. I was only able to do so much on my own. I’d like to request formal military honors,” Winters stated. Kaczynski nodded, checking his datapad.
“It’s been a bit difficult getting used to the day night cycle here, but yes, back home it’s currently August sixteenth. To think we’ve been here but two weeks? Time certainly does shift when you have so many things to do. Can I ask if you had anything in mind, Lieutenant?” Natori asked kindly.
“Nothing extravagant, sir.”
‘If I may?’ Io interjected, projecting herself using the technology once reserved for Cassia. It was as though she were in the room with them both, minus the fact they could see through her to the wall behind. ‘Russell and I, mainly Russell, constructed a shrine to the fallen in the Cauthan fashion. It is a few yards from where our pod still rests on the surface. Perhaps a simple wreath laying? A twenty one gun salute might anger the Ghaelen unless we pick the shells up.’ They all chuckled faintly at the image.
“We will not short change the dead on account of anyone,” Natori insisted firmly. “Lieutenant Winters, I believe Io’s proposition is a sound one. Is that acceptable?”
“Yes sir. Thank you, sir.”
“Would you like to say any words for them at the service?”
Russell broke eye contact with the Admiral for a moment, considering the question. Io waited patiently as well. Eventually he shook his head. “I said what I needed to when I said goodbye, sir.”
“Indeed, then I will not presume to speak for you or the dead either,” Kaczynski agreed, picking up his mug of coffee and swirling it absently. “Doctor Lamont has yet to lead me astray.”
“Sir?”
“He remarked to me that you are resilient in the face of tragedy, regardless of motivation. I am impressed is all. But before we have any awkward silences or statements of bravado, I will use this occasion to update you on our progress at the Forge. Shall we?”
“Sure,” Russell agreed as Io made a scene of peeking over Natori’s shoulder.
“Hello to you too, Io. Now, while you, Alice, and Lachlan have spearheaded our efforts at the village, and I must say I’m quite looking forward to this harvest festival; I have assigned my team to continue overseeing the research efforts at the Forge. The initial contact mission was led by then Sergeant Lipper, and continues under Lance Corporal Mendes.”
‘Why do you need us, sir?’ Io questioned. Natori threw her a slight smile over his shoulder and held up a hand.
“I was just getting to that, Io. At this point, given the ongoing reports from the ground teams, I believe we have learned all we can about this installation from the outside. While that is a non-negligible statement, this is still a bit of an iceberg situation, if you will. Observe.”
‘Mein gott!’ Io exclaimed as Russell glanced her way.
“You didn’t know about this?” he asked. “I assumed you were looking at everything.” Io wagged her finger at him.
‘Sir, in addition to respecting the privacy of others I have been fully occupied with the preparation of Maran soil and growing conditions in the hydroponics bays, not to mention assisting the good Doctor Dupuis with his Cauthan blood analysis project and the isolation of a stable polymerase from bacterial cultures he retrieved from the hot springs. Did I also mention hanging around with you, Veera, and the others? Alice and Alyra are supposed to have a chat tomorrow. Do you have any idea how that’s going to go? I give it a week before they’re all wearing tophats with holes for their ears.’
“One can hope!” Natori interjected happily. “Thank you for your service both on board and on the surface, Io. But let us return to this floating structure, shall we?” Natori’s description was not for show. Seismic imaging of the Forge over the previous days and weeks had revealed the massive underground nature of the installation. Several extensions moved deep into the earth both vertically and laterally as offshoots from the main chamber, which itself extended beyond the depth range of the ground team’s sensors. “Utterly fascinating, isn’t it? Were it not for the fact we know it to be buried underground, I would hypothesize some sort of orbital platform, or even an oceanic installation.”
‘Instead it’s floating in the ground… rather unstable ground,’ Io noted, meeting Natori’s eye over his shoulder. They nodded to one another as Russell acknowledged he was likely in for a bit of a stay and took a seat in Natori’s ‘guest chair’.
“Which begs the question of why construct it there in the first place,” the Admiral agreed, leaning back in his chair and stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Assuming your radiological dating efforts are accurate, and even if we allow for a massive error term I have no reason to doubt the two of you, the idea of this construct remaining not just upright, but functional, is absolutely mind-boggling.”
“Having been inside, sir, that place was built to last,” Winters offered. “I’m not as scientifically minded as either of you two, but whatever control room area we entered was glowing like something out of a knock off bond movie where they build the superweapon in a volcano.”
‘Count on the Jumper to make everything simple,’ Io remarked kindly. Natori waved his finger in the air.
“Not so fast, Io! Joking aside I think there’s plenty of merit to that analysis.”
‘As do I, Admiral. I was simply acknowledging the usefulness of minds that are trained to break things.’
“Hardy har har,” Winters mocked. “So what’s the plan, sir?”
Natori brought his hands together atop his desk and adopted a more serious posture. “The plan, as you say, is to send people inside to try to figure out exactly what this thing is and if it has any connection to the unstable warp point in this system. The anomaly has been, how shall I put it, stably unstable?” Natori presented them with new data, a simplified waveform.
‘That is the warp point?’ Io guessed. He nodded.
“Precisely. It was a bit of a challenge condensing the gravitational flux into something comprehensible, but I believe our technicians succeeded,” he explained proudly. “This relatively muted example over here is what Sol’s warp point looks like on an average day. The amplitude is much lower, but the variance within that range is actually greater than…” Natori fell silent as the lights dimmed around them. He immediately hailed the bridge.
“Turnwell?”
“Large power draw from the VI cores, sir. Just about every spare processor on the ship got pinged. You might want to check with that comely new VI of yours?”
Natori ran a hand through his short, rough hair as he turned fully in his chair. “You are sexy, but you also cannot do that, Io.”
“Don’t look at me, I’m immune to your charms,” Winters added as the young woman glanced his way imploringly. “You know how power surges and ships don’t mix.”
‘That is… you are right, sir. I was struck by something in the Admiral’s data, and I have found the solution. Es tut mir Leid.’
“I… you did what?” Kaczynski whispered. Io presented him with a model of the Seil system, complete with the orbital paths of every major planetary body.
‘How long has it been since we first found the Forge, sir?’ Io asked with an acute look. Winters returned it.
“Was right around my twenty-fifth birthday I think. Call it three months ago? And I have no doubt you’ve been thinking about the Forge that whole time.”
‘Is there any chance you could join the Juggernaut program and get us some more space in your armor for computing power?’ she requested. Winters narrowed his eyes.
“You know what they do to those soldiers, Io… and so do you, Admiral. No thanks.”
“And I am very pleased to report, First Lieutenant, that shortly before we departed on this mission my Division’s work on combat cybernetics bore particular fruit. The first generation of non-chemically dependent Juggernauts began training at Los Alamos. Commander Lavinaga is working closely with us in this effort. Now to the matter at hand; or should I inquire as to how the two of you know about information that’s supposed to be classified?”
“Point taken,” Winters acknowledged. “I’m glad to hear it, sir.”
“Io? I daresay you have the floor,” Natori offered as the AI dimmed the lights and began to roll forward the waveform that represented the system’s warp point.
‘Thank you, Admiral. As Russell mentioned, this is something that has perplexed me since its discovery, this Forge of ours. If you ask me, the deepest mystery is how readily Veera associated the installation with her people’s mythology, but that is a question for Alice, not us.’
“And where is our excitable Winters sibling?” Natori wondered.
“She’s showing Asha and Zolta around the ship. Xan is here too, reviewing the hydroponics facilities and the manufactories,” Russell explained quickly. “We wanted them to have a chance to take it all in before visiting with the doctor.”
“Splendid!” Natori approved. “I’m sorry, Io. If you please?”
‘You might be more scatterbrained than Alice,’ the AI declared with a smirk, adjusting the thin glasses she had perched on the bridge of her nose. ‘It’s a good thing, I assure you. As I was saying I have no shortage of hypotheses and postulations, but I lacked key resources to examine them. The first was detailed information about the celestial bodies of this system, which your ship and crew have provided in spades over these last couple weeks. I commend your watchstanders and other scientists. The second is computing power. Please extend my thanks to the team that put together this little waveform here. Our ancient overlords were not subtle, that’s for sure.’
Instead of explaining further, Io provided visual ‘proof’ of her hypothesis. As the various moons and planets of the Seil system rotated and spun, she began connecting lines between the warp point and each ball of rock. It started with Mara itself, with about one in every seven peaks in the waveform corresponding to midday at the Forge’s location. Natori placed a hand over his mouth as it all clicked. Io’s need for more processors was evident.
‘I propose to you gentlemen that the Forge is one part of a system-wide network of installations designed to pull at the warp point of this system. How they do so, I have no idea… but here’s what I do know.’ Suddenly the planets began moving backward at Io’s command, reversing their orbit until she held them in place with a snap of her fingers. A date and time flashed above it all thanks to Natori’s holographic displays built into his desk. ‘The effect is less muted than this only seventeen hundredths of a percent of the time. You have a guardian angel, Admiral Kaczynski.’
Russell placed his head in his hands, uttering mumbled prayers to Kel, Meylith, and every other deity he could think of, human and Cauthan, for the life of his sister. The Event Horizon had entered the system near one of the troughs of the warp disruption wave, a disturbingly predictable pattern that Io rewound easily all the way back to September 3rd, 2050. She marked one of the peaks. ‘This is when the Lancer reached the Seil system. If we assume that each spike in the cycle is due to a unique installation, this is the only solution that matches the rotation of the rocky bodies in the system,’ Io explained, highlighting the one rocky planet that orbited closer to the star than Mara, Eiur, and two of the moons that orbited the nearest gas giant to the star. ‘I have a list of my assumptions regarding energy draw, strength of effect, orbital drift, and other confounding factors here, Admiral,’ Io concluded, procuring a stack of paper at least thirty pages thick before condensing it into a ball of light and shooting it at Natori’s personal device. His unread mail notification pinged. He nodded quietly and looked at Winters.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Lieutenant, I understand you and my Jumpers did not get off on the best foot with one another. Do you believe they need you to enter this facility safely?” the Admiral demanded. Russell shook his head.
“Not the first time at least, sir. Io and I encountered some sort of skeleton made of metal in the entryway. It had an old nuclear power core that was leaking radiation. That’s how we came up with our date estimate. I believe that should be your first stop. We didn’t encounter anything active until we moved much farther inside the structure.”
‘I believe this is a sound suggestion,’ Io added. ‘Until Private Rex and Private Lipper are able to thaw their hostility towards my operator, perhaps in the ring at the harvest festival, I would not advocate for a five man operation unless under the most dire of circumstances. Lance Corporal Mendes and Private Orlova have proven much more amicable.’
“Hardly surprising. Very well you two, thank you for your time today. I will make all necessary preparations for that expedition as well as an appropriate memorial to the crew of the Lancer. Now if you would excuse me, we appear to have a visitor?”
Kaczynski was not given much time to collect himself and deactivate Io’s displays as Yvonne Dupuis strode proudly into the room, sporting a new look for herself. Io waved from behind the Admiral.
‘Bonjour madame! Your hair looks like Asha’s tail. I approve!’ the AI complimented her, remarking the matron’s silvery locks that featured a bold black accent offset to the right side of her head.
“Bonjour, Io. Were you the cause of that power surge just now?” she wondered, mild accusation in her voice.
‘Yes, I’m sorry. I was working with the Admiral here on something very important and-’
“Quiet, please. I am not here to scold you. You, on the other hand,” Yvonne hardened her tone and strode right past Russell to slam her hands on Natori’s desk. “You will make an announcement today, to the full crew, explaining who and what she is! This has gone on long enough, Mr. Kaczynski!”
“Now see here my good woman-”
“I will see nothing! We all risked our lives to come out here and now the lights dim and no one knows what is happening. VI’s begin to speak German on rare occasions.”
‘Scheiße.’
“Strangely detailed treatises on the Cauthan come to our mailboxes penned by a mysterious someone known only as ‘Io’,” Yvonne continued on, seeming in no hurry to stop. Natori stood and held up a hand in a plea for calm. The frenchwoman stood upright and crossed her arms under her bust, cocking her head at him. “Well?”
“I estimated the truth to be more dangerous than the lie, madame,” he replied firmly. “We can discuss this matter in private-”
“We will do no such thing! She is a person, Natori! Look at her!” Yvonne demanded as Io quickly vanished. “Io, please, return to us. Good, thank you dear. Now look at her Natori! Military secrets do not have free will! She does! You should hear the stories Gerard has for me each night of their lab work together. It has been but two days and he is smitten! When they met he thought she was a Prussian spy!”
Io participated in the discussion by dressing herself head to toe in a Prussian military uniform straight out of the late 1800’s, complete with a spiked helmet. “You see?!” Yvonne shrieked. “Today, Natori. Today! You can do it while we’re conducting Asha’s ultrasound if you wish for her to be out of sight and out of mind, but do it today.”
The Admiral clasped his hands behind his back and inclined his head to acknowledge Yvonne. “I will take it under consideration, Madame Dupuis. Now if you don’t mind, I would like to finish my conversation with Io and Lieutenant Winters.”
Her piece said, Yvonne turned and marched off, head held high. When the door closed behind her everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. ‘That woman is a force of nature. No wonder she and Gentia get along so well.’
“Indeed. Lieutenant, did you have anything else you wished to discuss today?” the Admiral wondered. Russell shook his head.
“No sir, that was all. I’m set to meet my wife in hydroponics after this and if they want me there I’ll hang around for Asha’s visit with the doctor,” he explained.
“Perfect. Thank you both. I will keep you abreast of any developments at the Forge. In the meantime… I am left to consider if and how to announce to a crew of around two thousand souls that they share their home with a fully sapient AI.”
‘You have my thanks, Admiral,’ Io said quietly and earnestly, worrying her hands together. Kaczysnki hung his head.
“My bridge crew has been exemplary on this matter but… I am sorry for not considering your own humanity more strongly in this matter, Io.”
‘I have a place among the Cauthan, Admiral. Good day to you. See you soon, sir.’ Io departed, leaving the two men in silence.
“It’s funny,” Natori mused. “The higher my rank, the more I feel I am simply along for the ride.”
“I hope to never have that problem, sir. With your permission?” Russell saluted.
“I find that an ironic statement coming from the man who gave her life, so to speak, but please go on. You are dismissed, Lieutenant. Reach out to me or the crew if our guests today have any concerns.”
“Yes sir.”
-----
“Oh, I just have to show this to Alyra!” Asha gushed for what had to be the seventh time since arriving on board the Event Horizon. The journey had taken almost three times the usual duration, but Pilot Cromwell had been insistent on slow elevation gain and acceleration for the sake of Asha’s cub. Though it was certainly prudent and part of doctrine, she was still thanked profusely by Asha and Zolta upon their arrival. With Natori having practically dismantled the ‘quarantine zone’ given the favorable readings and interactions from his scientists, Asha experienced a quick and low-weight journey to a spare room that had been prepared for them. It sat nearby Xan’s quarters, as well as those given to Russell and Veera. The berths were unused most of the time, but with the low crew count and automation, the Event Horizon was spoiled for choice regarding lodging.
Following a brief initial checkup by Dr. Dupuis, Alice had of course volunteered to take the group of Cauthan, which also included Xan and Veera, for a tour of the ship while her brother left to speak with Admiral Kaczynski. All manner of wonders had captivated Asha’s imaginations during that time, the often lower gravity allowing her to forget about the robust little cub filling her belly for a few moments. Perhaps inevitably, they eventually found themselves at hydroponics. Asha’s comment had been directed at a large display panel that sat to the left of Engineer Prakash’s little office, providing an at-a-glance summary of all the goings on within the grow rooms. Stylized rain clouds, sunbeams, sprouting shoots, and other symbols spread across the screen, which was left with a wet nose print as Asha literally stuck her face into it. She giggled as the image was momentarily disrupted, but Zolta wasn’t so enthused.
“Asha, please be careful!” her mate implored as Anita stood to greet her guests. The shock of seeing a pregnant Cauthan in an Event Horizon jumpsuit was put on momentary hold, however, as Qul’Roth chose that moment to emerge from the nearest growing lab.
“Oh, hey there Qul’Roth! It’s been ages!” Alice waved. He tilted his head and scratched at his chin tuft.
“Alice Winters of Earth, good day to you. It has been several days at most, hardly an age. These are members of the village your people are allied with? Greetings to you all. My name is Qul’Roth of Ghaela, may this meeting serve to further the Order.” Though the Ghaelen bowed politely, his large size and antlers accentuated by the closed confines of the space. Veera and Xan both had translators, and both moved between him and Asha. Zolta quickly followed suit.
“Alice Winters, did they not understand what I said?” Qul’Roth wondered.
“We understood exactly what you said,” Veera replied coolly in English, crossing her arms over her chest. “And I still don’t trust you.”
“That’s the alien that threatened to wipe us off the face of the planet?” Xan demanded. Veera affirmed with her feathers as claws came out. It was up to Alice to step between them.
“Guys please, it’s alright. Their people are non-violent by law. He’d not harm any of you. Now Qul’Roth, maybe you should apologize too?” she insisted.
“Alice Winters you continue to amuse me! For what should I apologize? I did them no offense. I have never met the three of them before,” the Ghaelen pointed out. Alice nodded to one side in patient acknowledgment of his point.
“No, you didn’t. But your order did, and you’re the representative of the Order on this ship. So perhaps in that capacity you do.”
“Why should I apologize for suggesting actions to be taken in the common good?” Qul’Roth wondered. Alice sighed heavily, but given his truly confused tone she soldiered on as the Cauthan stared tensely at them both.
“Because your actions would have killed that pregnant mother to be, and because the other three have all spilled the blood of their own kind to defend their home. Did I mention the Cauthan are primarily carnivorous and you bear a remarkable resemblance to one of their prey species?”
“By the Order! You don’t think they would-”
“Of course not, Qul’Roth!” Alice laughed deep in her belly. “Look at them. See how they defend their young, even the crippled men among them? See the intelligence in their eyes? Your Order could use a few exception clauses, I think.”
Qul’Roth spent several minutes stroking his chin in silence, minutes that Asha took to hug Zolta from behind. Eventually the Ghaelen did speak. “I will consult my people’s records, Alice Winters of Earth. There is indeed Order in defending the weak and the unknown potential of the unborn. I am not yet convinced that the uplift treaty need be re-written, but your people have certainly provided us with a case study whether we wanted it or not.”
“Can’t you just say sorry to be nice?” Alice requested. Qul’Roth snorted in surprise. “They are my guests today.”
Though Alice did not get her wish, the Ghaelen did sweep into a lower bow that almost had one of his lanky arms bump against the wall and then the ceiling. “I wish you all a pleasant stay aboard, may we all seek to further the Order.”
“I think that’s about as good as we’re gonna get,” Alice ‘whispered’ over her shoulder to Veera and Xan. They nodded, understanding at least that the large alien was not a threat. That said, they shifted to always keep themselves between him and Asha as Qul’Roth made to depart.
“Oh, and Engineer Prakash, new arugula seeds have been planted in bay number two. I believe you will find them irrigated according to all proper specifications. Good day to you.” The Ghaelen departed, having drawn the Cauthan’s attention to the shy, unassuming Indian girl who looked around at them all. She was around Asha’s height, meaning that even Zolta and Xan stood taller, to say nothing of Veera. Xan reached out a hand as Veera waved to her in recognition.
“My name’s Xan. I like your skin color, it’s very dark.”
“Xan, you little bolts for brains!” Alice yelped, slapping him upside the back of the head and causing him to immediately round on her.
“How exactly do you expect to get a mate running around acting like that, Alice?”
“My ‘mating life’ is none of your damn business, Xan! You can’t just tell a woman you like her skin tone!”
“Why not?” Xan countered, not giving an inch as Veera, Asha, and Zolta retreated a pace, content to watch the goings on unfold.
“Because it’s rude, Xan. Humans don’t do that,” Alice explained in a moderate tone. He laughed directly in her face.
“Do I look like a human to you, human?”
“No, you look like a snot nosed cripple.”
“Oh, making fun of my gimped leg now? I’m sure that’s totally acceptable among humans,” he shot back sarcastically, smiling broadly as he felt he had a winning hand.
“That’s exactly how Anita feels, Xan!”
“Oh, and what if I said I enjoy the color of her eyes? Is that wrong too? What about her glossy fur?” he enumerated for example. “Or do you mean her skin color is some sort of disability?” Alice opened her mouth but paused a moment.
“No, that’s fine. And her skin is not a disability. But you’re still a creep!”
“You humans are really confusing,” he sighed, turning to face Anita again who looked like she wanted to sink through the floor. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m still getting used to humanity and I’ve really only had this one and her brother to go off of.”
“Xan, you little shit,” Alice muttered, allowing the interaction to proceed apace as the acolyte priest re-offered his hand to the engineer. She looked at him with more than apparent confusion on her face.
“Ah, I’m a death priest,” he explained. That did not help his position. “And my people have asked me to learn about how you grow food? Me and Veera here.”
“Hello Anita, it is good to see you again!” Veera said pleasantly, bringing a slight smile to Anita’s dark lips.
“Hello Veera. And it’s nice to meet you, Xan. Are these your friends?”
“Oh yeah, so this is my buddy Zolta. He’s a smith. And that’s Asha, his mate,” he explained. Io’s translation program, long since installed on every piece of relevant HEL tech on board, was more than capable of translating for Anita.
“Selah to you,” she replied quietly, earning herself the proper greeting in turn as the door to the central corridors of the ship opened behind them to reveal Russell and Yvonne. The two had followed Io’s instructions to the rendezvous, having left Natori’s office essentially one after the other.
“There you are! Bonjour again, Asha. How are you feeling, my dear? Still good?” Yvonne wondered. When the Cauthan pointed to her bare ears, the frenchwoman sighed and looked about. Xan was using Russell’s translators, so no further mobile devices were forthcoming. She turned to the ceiling instead. “Io, are you there, little Prussian?”
Russell did his best to contain himself, snickering in the background until the door opened again and one of the Event Horizon’s maintenance drones appeared and doused his backside with water. Yvonne and the rest took their turn for a laugh at his expense, except for Anita, of course, who began writing up a support ticket to the drone maintenance division. She gasped as her screen was wiped blank.
‘I am here, Madame Dupuis. And good morning, Anita Prakash. My name is Io. I will be assisting you and the rest of the ship’s crew from now on under Admiral Kaczynski’s orders. Oh, and Asha, this is what Yvonne said to you.’
Io’s translation had the Cauthan mom waving her feathers in understanding. “Isn’t she just the most useful little spirit? Please tell her I’m doing well and that the cub is feeling very active today.” Xan and Zolta found themselves nodding in agreement, the latter rubbing his mate’s belly soothingly.
“Perfect. Are you ready for your real checkup then, Asha? Zolta, you are welcome to attend as well. Is there anyone else you would like there with you?” Yvonne wondered. Anita was left to just watch the goings on, not even her own terminal belonging to her anymore.
“Veera, would you mind?” The words were barely out of Asha’s mouth when the tall, striped Cauthan waved her feathers eagerly.
“Of course! I’ll be there as long as you want me! Russell, I’m sorry but you can’t come.”
Asha looked ready to apologize, but the Jumper just laughed. He’d removed his shirt and was wringing it out on the floor. Io’s work was thorough. “It’s no problem, Asha. I wasn’t going to ask,” he assured her. “You do whatever you need to do to feel safe and secure. If you need me just let Io know. She can find me anywhere.”
“Oh la la,” Yvonne murmured appreciatively.
“Yvonne!” Alice shouted, utterly mortified following an unnaturally long period of silence for her.
“He’s happily mated,” Veera insisted. She had found the Dupuis couple to be nothing but polite, but didn’t know them well at all. Yvonne smiled.
“As am I, Veera. I simply appreciate the male form when I see it. Now then, shall we my dears?” Yvonne suggested. “Io, if you would accompany us for purposes of communication and transportation?”
‘It would be my pleasure, Doctor. Sir, I’ll be around.’
“Have a good time!” Russell called as Yvonne led Asha, Veera, and Zolta off to the nearest tube station. With Io at the helm, calibration of the pods for a pregnant woman was a trivial affair. Alice in particular looked sore at having been left behind.
“Try not to look so put out about it,” her brother insisted kindly, throwing an arm around her shoulder. She pushed him off with a grin.
“You’re still soaked.”
“She’s definitely got her particular brand of humor, that little Prussian.”
‘I heard that, sir!’
“Could someone please explain what’s going on?” Anita requested shyly from her seat, really only familiar with Alice among those who were left in her hallway.
“You mean Io? She’s Russell’s spirit guardian,” Xan explained confidently. When the confused and defensive look on Anita’s face didn’t change, even after a long moment of his staring at it in an attempt to decipher human mood, he gave up and turned to the Winters siblings. “I don’t think she gets it, guys.”
“You’re the worst, you little punk,” Russell laughed. “Sorry for my friend. Io’s my VI. She became sapient. Secret’s out. Not much more I can say cause I don’t know how it works. If you need help just ask.” As if to demonstrate, he called out to the ceiling. “Hey Io, can you ask Veera if she watered her orchids yet or if she wants me to do it?”
After a short moment, Io’s germanic accent replied. ‘She says you should go ahead, sir.’
“I-I can do that from here if you like?” Anita offered. Russell nodded in thanks.
“Appreciate that. So what are the two of you going to do?” he wondered. Alice took her turn to explain.
“Antoth and Thantis want Xan to prepare something of a report on how we grow food. Natori brokered some sort of agreement to grow their crops up here back when you grabbed that giant skull. Gotta hand it to Antoth, he’s a cautious one. I heard he inspected every single lantern we delivered himself before sending them over to Staroth and his men.”
“That’s Antoth for you! Best sun priest of my lifetime!” Xan insisted proudly.
“There have only been two sun priests during your lifetime,” Russell guessed.
“My point still stands!” To Xan’s great surprise, Anita actually giggled, though the moment he turned her way she fell silent again. He waved his crest feathers at her absentmindedly before turning back to Russell.
“What about you? Going to stick around?”
“No, there’s actually somewhere I need to be,” Russell told them, surprising both Xan and Alice.
“Where are you off to then, bro?”
“Armory. My weapons haven’t been properly cleaned in almost a year, and you never know when you’ll need to know the local quartermaster,” the Jumper explained sagely.
“Fair warning, Russell, he’s good friends with the two you put into the hospital last week,” Alice told him. He shrugged.
“And I’d be happy to do it again. Have fun you three!” Alice was left shaking her head as Russell departed from whence he’d come.
“What a hyrven,” Xan declared.
“You’re one to talk, Xan. All high and mighty now that you got turned down. Speaking of which, where is your hyrven?” Alice wondered.
“He’s not my hyrven,” Xan countered, waving away her reminder about Eris. “But I think they left him with Lachlan.”
“Huh. Here Anita, want to see something cool?” the xenoanthropologist offered, placing a ‘call’ to Lachlan’s signal planetside after a quick authorization which was approved, of course, by Io.
“Lassie? That you?” Lachlan’s voice crackled to life on Alice’s tablet. They could see the forests around the village as well as plenty of crops and fields.
“Heya Lachlan, is Fenrir with you?” Alice asked. Her answer came as Lachlan pointed his helmet downward, allowing them a view of the hyrven at the end of a generous leash made of nylon. Russell and Veera rarely used it anymore and Lachlan was certainly a capable man. However, the fact that Fenrir was currently being used by the cubs of the village as some sort of Maran pony was another thing entirely. “And you call me crazy?” Alice hissed at Xan.
“No one says you both can’t be crazy,” the Cauthan shot right back as Lachlan delivered his current charge back to the gate. Gentia’s acolytes could be seen there, and to a woman they all had worried looks on their faces. Gentia herself however was observing with patience and curiosity, while her mate scribbled on a fresh sheet of vellum at her side. He’d proven insatiable since restoring his sight. Ursol was next in line, and Lachlan made sure Fenrir was calm and had a drink of water before taking his next rider on a little walk.
“So Lachlan, how did this happen?” Alice demanded accusingly as Ursol squealed with delight.
“Don’t look at me, lassie! It was the old man’s idea,” the Marine insisted. She sighed as Anita whispered that Cauthan children were ‘super adorable’.
“Alright, talk to you later Mac. Have fun!” Alice wished him farewell before glancing at Xan. “So after we teach you how to farm like a human I think we’re going to have to go through all those scrolls and figure out where Thantis got the idea for pint sized Hyrven cavalry.”
“What’s cavalry?” Xan wondered, prompting Alice to pinch the bridge of her nose and heave a silent breath. She only hoped that by the time they returned to the village there would be plenty of happy children and no skinned Fenrir.
“Anita, could I ask you to take over for now? I think I’m finally learning what Yvonne feels like all the time.”
“Sure, Alice. Xan, would you like to follow me?”
“Yeah alright,” he agreed, leading the way as his cane tapped lightly on the metal floors. “But what’s cavalry?”