“You mean Phoebe?” Karlise’s tone signaled her amusement.
“Urish.”
“Not at present. I believe he has not dared to mention her. And, Karrik is still under a cloud, although he is improved and can speak coherently.”
“Wonderful. I long to speak with both of my brothers.”
“Come home soon, Baswin,” she pleaded. “We feel your absence.”
“My next destination is our submarine outpost on Europa. Triarch Webale said I might rejoin my brothers on Rishalt.” Baswin sighed, “Yet, I fear his instructions may change at any moment.”
“With the Primal Mother’s blessing, you will be reunited with your family.”
“Or such of our relatives as will welcome two mutilated brothers and a crippled Third.” He gave a rueful laugh. “Plus, the unmentionable Earther friends.”
“I like Phoebe,” Karlise protested. “She’s good for Alarik. He has grown calmer under her influence.”
“I hope to meet her.” Baswin glanced at Holly. “And, perhaps introduce my friend.”
Karlise demanded, “Where is she?”
“With me.” Baswin rotated his wrist to show Holly’s face to his sister. “Brisa Holly Moon has volunteered for a new program to train Earthers as tripilot navigators.”
Intrigued by this insight into Baswin’s family, Holly peered at the small screen. She saw a young woman with a sharp-chinned Warrish face topped by a soft cap.
Karlise arched her eyebrows and smiled. “Calm seas, Brisa Moon.”
Holly replied in kind, “Calm seas, Brisa Tallis.”
“Are you swimming to the Opaline School?” Karlise asked.
Blinking with nervousness, Holly murmured, “If I pass the next test.”
Hugging her with his free arm, Baswin said, “I’m sure you will succeed. You’ve convinced me of your psychic skills.”
Karlise’s eyes twinkled with laughter. “I look forward to seeing both of you in Pucklerakt.” Placing a hand on her chest, she said, “Farewell. I must return to my duties.”
Twisting the com toward his own face, Baswin echoed her farewell.
When the call had ended, Holly said wistfully, “Your sister is a good friend. I’d like to meet her.”
A bitter note entered Baswin’s voice. “Karlise has not abandoned us, unlike our parents and two older sisters.”
“We, Rosie and I, are partly estranged from our mother. After our dad died, she married an intolerant man who disapproves of anything paranormal.”
“You and I share a strong friendship with our closest siblings.”
“We do.” Nudging his arm, Holly said, “But what about those two Belters? They’re alive, but will somebody rescue them?”
“Let me check the ship’s latest com signals.” Baswin activated his link to the ship’s log of communications. Smiling at her, he said, “There’s a message that two Belter craft are flying to the asteroid and expect to arrive within five hours. Sims and his pal should be able to survive for that time.”
“Brilliant.” Holly exhaled in satisfaction.
Baswin drew her into his arms and kissed her.
After a short, sweet exchange, she pulled away and shook her head. “I’ve been here for ages.”
“I know, my angel. You have to run to change for dinner.” Kissing her again, he said, “I can’t leave these quarters. Will you visit me tomorrow?”
“Urish.” She giggled. “Your kisses are so delicious. I’ll come as often as I can, although the other girls are getting suspicious.”
“They’re jealous. They imagine you’re flirting with the Black Arrows.”
“Yep. And I might, if I didn’t prefer you.” With that parting favor, she brushed her fingers through the orange wave of his hair and walked out of his room. She intended to see him again as soon as possible.
Chapter 22
AS TAXYON TWO NEARED its destination, many of the passengers lingered by the big screen with live displays of Jupiter’s swirling storms. They admired the waving bands of contrasting colors on the surface of the gas planet and the oval eye of its Giant Red Spot. The inner moons, indicated by arrows, were merely four tiny dots scattered across Jupiter’s surface.
Every time they passed the display, the Moon sisters gazed in wonder at their next destination.
Holly frowned at the white orb of Europa. Each day, the moon grew larger as the ship traveled toward the icy moon. Her mood sank in parallel. Each day marked the closing of another chapter in her life, a happy voyage with the alien man she had learned to love.
In contrast, Rosie was eager to move into the next stage of their assessment. At Europa, they would meet the resident tripilots, and perhaps experience the local hyperspace fluctuations.
An hour after Taxyon Two settled into orbit above the icy surface of Europa, the passengers received instructions to pack their possessions, put on their spacesuits and follow the signs to the transport lounge.
Picking up her swimsuit, Holly remembered wearing it when she had found Baswin half-dead on the reef of the island. She blinked away tears as she folded the swimsuit and tucked it in her bag. Were she and Baswin doomed to be separated?
Rosie tapped her shoulder. “What’s the matter?”
She sighed, “I was thinking about Baswin. Whether he’ll be staying on Europa or flying straight home. If he’s sent directly to Rishalt, I might not see him again.”
“If all goes well,” Rosie said in an encouraging tone, “we’ll be going to Rishalt too. Baswin can find us in this Opaline School for tripilots.”
Holly shook her head. “We won’t be going to Rishalt if we can’t sense hyperspace.”
“Styx,” Rosie protested, “You’re being so negative. Next time you see Baswin, you can arrange to meet on Rishalt.”
Smiling, Holly said, “You’re right. I might see him on the shuttle.”
The sisters helped each other into their spacesuits. They collected their bags and helmets and followed the directions to the docking bay.
At the entrance, two crewmen collected the passengers’ luggage and piled the bags on a cart.
The waiting chamber was crowded. Besides the medics and twelve prospective tripilots, the others wore army uniforms. Holly presumed the military men were traveling to the Warrish war zones. None of the Warrish were present, crushing her plan to talk with Baswin.
Like the Moon sisters, most of the passengers carried their helmets by the straps instead of wearing them. The Li sisters were an exception, looking more detached than ever in their identical suits and helmets. Behind the transparent faceplates, their expressions were calm and confident.
Others were less calm. Oba and Shauntelle fidgeted with their helmets. Lana’s round face was pinched with distress.
Standing by the interior door to the shuttle, Lieutenant Achebe announced, “Galileo Station is requesting a short delay due to the imminent arrival of a starship with our wounded troops. Dr. Kimber and his staff will be needed in their med clinic.”
The senior medic walked over to confer with the Lieutenant.
A moment later, Holly felt a throbbing ache in her temples. She stiffened.
In a swift reaction, Rosie pressed a finger on her sister’s forehead to ease the headache.
Keisha groaned and buried her head in her hands.
“What is it?” Oba cried, hugging her friend.
Lana collapsed. Her helmet dropped from her limp fingers and clanged on the floor.
The medics rushed to her prone body.
Arriving first, Dr. Kumar crouched beside the girl. After a brief examination, she announced, “She’s fainted. It must be the excitement.”
A second medic confirmed her initial diagnosis.
As the doctors debated the patient’s condition, the other Psi Techs gathered in a nervous huddle.
One of the Li sisters sidled up to Holly and hissed in her ear, “Your attempts to make a triad are cursed with misfortune.”
Holly chose to ignore this delibe
rate jab. Why did the triplets direct their spite at her? Ting away, she regarded the other psychic women. They were either friendly or indifferent to the Moon sisters.
Standing nearby, Oba whispered, “A bad thing happened. Just before Lana fell, I felt a stab of pain.”
“Me too,” Holly agreed. “My head’s been aching on and off for the last two days.”
“A mysterious attacker,” Ruby suggested. “A malicious person who wants to stop our training.”
Holly asked, “Who could attack with a headache? Another psychic?”
“Our Warrish tutors have disappeared.” Meiling’s tone was bland, yet she clearly meant to provoke suspicions, or perhaps redirect them away from the Li triplets.”
Aiming to dispel the false impression, Holly said, “Aren’t the Black Arrows going straight to Rishalt?”
Rosie joined in, “Why would they hang around? I’m sure they’re keen to go home.”
“You were friendly with them,” Meiling said with a hint of accusation.
Joining the defense, Shauntelle said, “I liked them too. They’re fun guys. I don’t think they would try to harm us.”
A faint moan from Lana signaled her revival to consciousness.
Dr. Kumar and her assistant bent over the Lunie girl, consoling her in low voices.
But Lana struggled to lift her head, insisting in a shaky, yet determined, voice, “Let me get up. I’m well. It’s just this awful headache.”
“Lie still,” Dr. Kumar said. “You fainted.”
Lana said, “There was a flash. Styx, it hurt. It’s fainter now. Almost gone.”
“I’ll give you an analgesic,” Ulrike said. Raising Lana into a sitting position, she offered her the medicine.
Rosie knelt on the floor and put her hand on Lana’s shoulder. “Let me help.”
Lana nodded. “I trust your healing touch.”
“You’re not the only one,” Rosie explained. “Holly and Oba have headaches too.”
The cluster of medics separated, leaving Ulrike and Rosie in charge of Lana.
His tone sharp with authority, the senior medic, Doctor Kimber, said, “Carry the girl to the shuttle. Galileo Station has a top-notch medical center. We can’t afford to delay our preparations for the injured troops. They will require the entire facility and all the beds.”
Dr. Kumar went to speak to Lieutenant Achebe, who had remained on duty at the airlock, apparently uninterested in the fainting incident.
The First Officer listened courteously to the medic and gave a curt nod. Looking at the assembled passengers, he called, “We will begin the transfer to the shuttle in three minutes. Please put on your helmets and secure the seals. Passengers will form groups of six people to cross the double airlocks to the shuttle. Medical personnel have priority. They will board first and sit near the door. Candidates under evaluation for tripilot training will be next. Please wait until your group is announced.”
As instructed, the senior medics entered the airlock, followed by the Med Techs with Ulrike assisting Lana. The orderly process of boarding acted to calm the nervous girls. They began to don the helmets, sometimes with help from a friend.
Holly relaxed and exchanged a smile with Rosie, murmuring, “On to our next location.” She fitted the helmet over her head before helping her sister to seal the neck connection.
The Moon sisters joined a group with the three Africans. They crowded into the big airlock, waited for the air to equilibrate, and passed into a second airlock. When the final door opened, they stepped through a smaller hatch into the passenger compartment of the shuttle.
Entering ahead of her sister, Holly walked past the medics. She counted seven rows, each with two seats, on either side of the aisle. Only the first two rows were occupied.
Holly slipped into the two empty seats behind Lana and Ulrike. Without prompting, she and Rosie fastened their safety belts.
The corner of her mouth dimpling in a grimace, Rosie swiveled toward her. She leaned closer until their helmets touched, and muttered, “What’s next?”
“Galileo Station and another round of assessments,” Holly said prosaically.
“Do you think we’ll meet our Warrish friends while we’re on Europa?”
“I wish I knew. They might be leaving for Rishalt in that starship.” Holly hated hearing the tremor in her voice. Would she ever see Baswin again? She screwed her eyes shut at the painful idea.
Understanding her regret, Rosie placed a gloved hand on Holly’s arm in unvoiced sympathy.
Later passengers filtered in through the airlocks to fill the remaining seats. Hen Tech Marty winked as he passed their seats with the two men in his unit, and Ag Tech Tatiana waved. When the passengers had entered, an announcement over the intercom instructed them to secure the safety harness and remain seated during the short flight.
The engines blasted into life and the shuttle zoomed toward Europa.
Staring at the crazed ice of the moon’s surface, Holly reflected on the peculiar relationship between the scientists on Galileo Station and the Warrish Watchers. The Warrish had lived on Europa in secret for several decades and observed human activities from their submarine base. Their secret existence had been revealed by accident after Dr. Nikki Bell discovered the aliens during her studies of the native sea creatures. One of the Warrish, Kiron Arqin Ramis, had saved her life and become her lover. Nikki and Kiron Ramis Bell were the most notable human-Warrish couple, although they were not alone. A second example was described in the epilog to the famous documentary on the Warrish and their capitol city of Pucklerakt. One of the human delegates, Greggor Falconer, an engineer with Taxyon Space, had wedded a high-ranked Warrish woman.
Holly drew a thread of hope from these two examples. Surely her longing for Baswin was just as natural, and perhaps she might win a similar union with him.
Chapter 23
MEANWHILE, BASWIN HAD a smooth, although humiliating, transition from the spaceship to Galileo Station.
When they were prompted to depart for the shuttle, Baswin and his companions of the Black Arrow Triad donned their spacesuits. The Black Arrows slung their packs over their shoulders. In Baswin’s role as an injured alien and unable to walk, they had procured a motorized chair to transport him. Resigned to this subterfuge, he sat on the chair and held the pack with his belongings on his lap.
The First, Torris, led them out of their quarters. At the rear of their procession, Tonnor steered Baswin’s chair along the ship’s passages and into the chamber outside the docking bay.
The crewman standing by the airlock nodded at Torris and checked an entry on a tablet.
Hiding his amusement, Baswin wondered what name he had been given on the list. Luckily, nobody had questioned him.
The man said, “You guys are taking a separate shuttle to Galileo Station. One of the Warrish warders will meet you on Topside.”
The two junior Black Arrows wheeled Baswin into the airlock and through the hatch onto the shuttle. The small cabin had seats for only six passengers behind the pilot.
The Earther pilot looked over his shoulder as they boarded. “Hi guys,” he called cheerfully. He hit a switch to shut the hatch and jerked his thumb to the rear. “Stow the wheelchair and your luggage in the rear compartment.”
As the Black Arrow brothers assisted Baswin into a seat, the pilot said, “Strap in for a special delivery. This flyer is normally reserved for astrophysics research.”
His tone hinting of vexation, Torris remarked, “We did not claim priority.”
A broad grin visible behind his transparent helmet, the pilot said, “Maybe you didn’t. But your Triarch did. Webale called an hour ago to insist you were transported separately from the other passengers.”
His statement piqued Baswin’s interest, yet he was faking serious injuries and dared not utter a question.
Evidently sharing his curiosity, Torris asked, “What is the urgency?”
“Station’s in a hubbub about an incoming starship of wounded sold
iers. Passengers have to hustle off Taxyon Two before the poor blighters arrive.”
Sitting beside Baswin, Tikkar murmured, “If the Prime Mother favors us, we’ll fly home in that starship today.”
Such a rapid departure from Europa left Baswin with mixed emotions. His happiness at the prospect of reuniting with his triad brothers was damped by sadness at losing Holly. If she were accepted into the tripilot program on Rishalt, she would be housed in the Opaline School and out of reach of common folk. He knew little about the school for training tripilots, but suspected that men were not welcome to visit.
The pilot activated the drive and disengaged from the docking bay. “Get an eyeful of the spectacular view,” he called. “Bet you can’t match Jupiter’s glorious storms in your solar system.”
Concealing his emotions, Baswin stared at the viewer. The eerie colors of the giant planet, Jupiter, haloed the ice-bound orb of its moon. Marvelous and perilous, Jupiter’s radiations were lethal, and its violent storms made this hyperspace nexus erratic.
Baswin watched in fascination as the shuttle sped toward Europa. Reddish cracks crisscrossed the moon’s icy surface, and an expanding red bullseye marked the entrance to Galileo Station.
As the shuttle descended onto the red circle, the hatch dilated open. The shuttle plunged down, engines revving in reverse and landed with a jolt on a solid platform. Its motors grinding, the platform lowered into a shaft gouged in the ice.
After a short descent, the platform jolted to a stop.
The pilot shouted, “Welcome to Topside.” As his passengers unstrapped their safety harness, he advised, “Keep your helmets shut. It’s cold out there.”
With a gruff, “Thank you,” to the pilot, Torris jumped out of the shuttle into the station.
Again, his brothers assisted Baswin into the unwieldy chair and wheeled him off the flyer. The upper entrance to Galileo Station was simply a cylindrical space with a steel floor at the bottom of the shaft. It had three exits.
The Black Arrows escorted Baswin through the door marked with three entwined spirals, the symbol for hyperspace. They crossed a double airlock into a tunnel sloping downward.
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