Baswin

by Aurora Springer

  “My friend, Holly Moon, is a scryer. She helps to find missing people and pets. She and her sister, Rosie, are both psychic candidates.”

  “Will you be visiting them on Bathos?” Nikki asked.

  “I can’t.” Baswin lifted his hand and spread his five-fingers. “The Triarch ordered me to stay out of sight so the Earthers don’t learn of this deception.”

  She snorted in disgust. “Webale is overcautious. Alarik had only five fingers. He stayed with Phoebe on Bathos without raising any alarms. Al and Tammy managed to keep his presence secret. We can trust them.” Arching her eyebrows, she asked, “Can you call your friend?”

  “It’s risky. What if she’s being tested? Or if somebody else was listening?”

  She wrinkled her brow thoughtfully. “Styx. Too many complications. I’ll call Kiron.”

  Chapter 28

  AN HOUR AFTER THEIR practice swim in the ocean around Bathos, Denton and the tripilots took the Li sisters out for the first assessment. On their return, the triplets boasted of the splendors of hyperspace. Beyond this typical self-promotion, they refused to give any details.

  Holly and Rosie had their turn on the second day.

  Denton ushered the Moon sisters and Lana to a submersible vehicle docked on the lower level of Bathos. As instructed, the Psi Techs wore wet suits, breathers, their new googles and earbud receivers. They also carried their psychic aids in convenient pockets.

  Crossing an airlocked hatch, they climbed into the sub after Denton.

  He gestured at the passenger seats. “We’re using the six-person minisub to allow space for Mia and Ennis. They’re bringing a triad of Watchers as guards. We’ll meet them at the dance arena.”

  “What’s a dance arena?” Holly asked.

  “It’s a circular clearing where the jelsquid perform their dances. The idea is for you to join the dance. In some peculiar fashion, jelsquid interact with the hyperspace nexus of Jupiter by swimming in a spiral pattern.”

  “Have you watched them dance?”

  He started the sub and steered out of the dock into the open ocean before replying, “Yep. I’ve seen them. But I can’t feel the changes in the nexus.” Giving a rueful smile, he added, “Or so Ennis tells me.”

  Holly muttered, “I hope we can sense hyperspace.”

  They peered through the windows as the sub traveled away from the lights of Bathos. Controlled by Denton, the sub ascended, crossing a ridge and moving above the seething tendrils of a forest of giant tube worms.

  “The giant tube worms form a natural barrier,” Denton explained. “Those tendrils carry painful stingers. But, it’s safer underneath since large predators can’t fit between the tubes.”

  Their journey continued for about thirty minutes.

  Then, the sub slowed and Denton announced, “Almost there.”

  Holly felt a heightening of tensions inside the minisub. Her companions were also anxious about the test to sense hyperspace.

  Denton steered the sub onto a level surface and shut off the engine. “We’ll set anchor here and swim over the ridge to the arena. It’s best not to disturb the jelsquid.” He checked his com. “Mia and Ennis are already at the site.”

  Her voice shaky with apprehension, Lana asked, “What about those predators?”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll be armed.” Reaching into an overhead shelf, Denton pulled out a sharp-tipped harpoon. “I’ll go out first.”

  As the hatch sealed behind him, Holly nudged Lana. “Go on. Denton will look after you.”

  Her face twisted in a grimace, Lana imitated their escort’s smooth exit.

  Rosie whispered, “We’ll be fine. Right?”

  “There’s only one way to find out.” Holly grinned at her sister, and stabbed a finger at the hatch.

  Giving Holly an affectionate squeeze, Rosie exited the minisub.

  Left alone while the airlock recycled, Holly inhaled a calming breath. As soon as the hatch reopened, she jumped in. In a moment, ocean water lapped around her. Swaying in the slow waves, she fiddled with the goggles until her vision adapted to the low level of light.

  Lana hovered by Denton, while Rosie was examining the soft fronds of a coral. The native life made a fascinating distraction, yet their next test was more important. In Holly’s perspective, they had reached the critical hurdle to entering the school for training tripilots.

  Emitting a whistle into their earbuds, Denton beckoned.

  The three psychics swam after his lean dark figure. Kicking downward, he rose above an extended submarine hill. Below them, large bivalves like giant clams clapped their shells shut in alarm.

  On the far side of the rise, Mia and Ennis sat on the rim of a level circle cleared of rocks and corals. Three Warrish men, distinguished by their pale greenish chests and upright crests of blue hair, were positioned a little beyond the dance arena. Like Denton, each of them bore harpoons strapped on their backs.

  Holly and her ‘sisters’ descended beside the tripilots, while Denton swam aside to join the Warrish sentries.

  Motioning for the psychics to stay outside the ring, Mia and Ennis dove into the center of the sandy arena.

  Ennis held two stones, which she banged together. After a short pause, she repeated the action another two times, while gazing up.

  Denton explained, “She’s signaling for the jelsquid.”

  Holly stared around in all directions, expecting the fabulous tentacled animals to appear at any second.

  Nothing changed for several minutes.

  Finally, a ring of ripples disturbed the water overhead. A disk-shape appeared in the center of the ripples, its fringe of short filaments silhouetted against the pallid light from the surface.

  The tripilots held up their hands in a welcoming gesture.

  The disk descended onto the arena. It bulged into a rounded hump dotted with yellow spots, and extruded nine long tentacles. The jelsquid had manifested its two morphologies.

  Holly glanced at Rosie, who smiled in shared delight.

  Lana curled a finger over her lips, her whole attention focused on the jelsquid.

  The jelsquid stretched two of its elongated arms toward the tripilots. They reached out to touch the tips of the tentacles in a pattern of repeated taps and squeals.

  Denton’s voice murmured, “It’s Dotty.”

  When Dotty had completed the initial greetings, it picked up the two stones in its tentacles and knocked them together in a second, louder summons.

  After a short interval, ripples overhead heralded the arrival of two more jelsquid.

  The tripilots moved aside to allow space for the animals to interact.

  The two smaller jelsquid exchanged taps, squeaks and sparks of light with Dotty. A new signal passed among them, initiating a writhing of tentacles. The three jelsquid rose above the seabed and entwined tentacles. Still rising, they twisted into a rotating column and spiraled upward.

  Ennis took her sister’s hand and beckoned to the candidates. As they moved into the arena, the two tripilots sprang after the spiraling jelsquid.

  Judging this was their invitation to the test, Holly gripped one of Rosie’s hands and jumped into the column of spinning jelsquid. Her sister trailed behind, kicking her legs to swim, while also holding Lana’s hand. They twirled into the spiral pattern.

  Jelsquid tentacles wove around them, enveloping them in a living cage.

  The living pillar circled vertically up toward the faint orange stain of the ice crust. Attaining a certain height, the jelsquid flipped upside-down and swam in a descending spiral. A half meter above the sand, the jelsquid reversed course again, spinning upward. They made a second dizzying circuit, and Holly felt a tingle of anticipation. On the third loop of the upward spiral, a vibrant vision burst into her mind. She sensed a vast multidimensional web. Its luminous threads throbbed with colors, branching and bulging in irregular directions.

  A weak moan sounded in her earbud, crashing her wonderous vision. Heart pounding at the sudden break, sh
e looked down.

  Rosie was staring at her empty hand. She had lost her grip on Lana’s hand.

  The Lunie girl was drifting out of the spiraling column. Her head was bowed and her limbs floated limply as if she were unconscious.

  Bewildered by Lana’s sudden helplessness, Holly wondered whether to chase after the Lunie girl or stay in the spiraling column.

  The quick pressure of Rosie’s hand was soothing. Her sister was safe and aware. Only Lana was affected.

  The dance slowed.

  Jelsquid tentacles glided around, loosening and shortening. The strange dancers slid apart.

  One of the tripilots scooted after the Lunie girl. The other tugged at Holly’s arm.

  Still clasping Rosie’s hand, Holly wriggled away from the jelsquid and sank to the seabed.

  On the opposite side of the arena, the black figure of Denton swooped onto Lana.

  Rosie gripped her arm, her brow furrowed above the goggles and her lips moving in a question, “What happened?”

  Slipping an arm around Rosie’s waist, Holly shook her head.

  Mia veered around the jelsquid to help Denton with Lana. After a brief debate, they swam toward the minisub with Denton towing Lana’s limp body.

  Ennis glided to the Moon sisters. Indicating the retreating group, she gurgled, “Swim to sub.”

  They complied, swimming beside Ennis over the ridge and down to the anchored submersible.

  Mia maneuvered Lana through the hatch of the sub, while Denton waited for the Moon sisters.

  Diving toward him, Rosie and Holly entered the sub one after the other.

  Inside the sub, Lana was lying across two seats with her head cradled on Mia’s lap.

  Rosie bent over the seat to lay her hand on Lana’s forehead. She shut her eyes to focus her healing energy.

  Walking to the next seat, Holly twisted backwards to watch their putative sister.

  Lana revived with a sigh. Opening her eyes, she murmured, “Sorry.”

  “What shocked you?” Mia asked in a gentle tone.

  Resting her head on the seatback, Lana said, “Something exploded inside my brain. A huge network of tubes, flashing and pulsating throughout space.”

  “You perceived the hypernet,” Ennis said.

  “Why did I faint?” Lana asked.

  “You are extremely sensitive to the fluctuations of hyperspace. You must learn to control your acute neural responses. Such control is an essential part of our training.” Placing her slender fingers on her sister’s arm, Ennis said, “Mia is also oversensitive and faints easily.”

  Looking troubled, Lana said, “I’m sorry. I’ll try whatever you suggest.”

  Ennis assured her, “You will learn from experts at the Opaline School.” She smiled at Holly, asking, “What did you sense?”

  Holly described her vision, concluding with, “It felt weird, yet natural. Like seeing your old home after a long absence.”

  Ennis said gravely, “Your perceptions are accurate.”

  In a disappointed voice, Rosie said, “I didn’t see a web.”

  “What did you sense just before Lana fainted?” Ennis placed her finger on Rosie’s wrist.

  Knitting her brow in perplexity, Rosie said, “I heard a humming sound. Like a chorus of eerie voices murmuring at different distances.”

  “That is another aspect of the hyperspace web,” Ennis reassured her. “Your brain perceives the fluctuations as sounds.”

  “Oh.” Rosie beamed. “Holly and I can both sense hyperspace.”

  Ennis opened her arms to encompass the whole company. “The three of you have qualified for further training.”

  “Marvelous,” Holly said. “We’ll be flying to Rishalt.”

  “Urish.” Mia wriggled a finger, warning, “Promise you will not tell the other candidates what you sensed in the jelsquid dance. We cannot run an honest test if they echo your descriptions of hyperspace.”

  Glancing at her sister, Holly said, “I promise to say nothing about what I saw.”

  Rosie and Lana echoed her promise.

  “Thank you.” Mia examined their faces. Apparently satisfied of their sincerity, she touched a slender finger to Lana’s temple. “You need a quiet place to rest.”

  At that moment, Denton’s com beeped. “It’s Nikki,” he said, accepting the call.

  Nikki’s muffled voice sounded, “Denton, I need a favor. I’m calling you instead of Ennis or Mia in case they are still dancing with the jelsquid.”

  “Sure. The tripilots are in the minisub with me. What do you need?”

  “We’ve lost Tic. Kiron spent hours hunting for the pup without success.”

  “Want me to collect a search party?”

  “No, Denton.” Her voice sharpened in frustration. “Aren’t you helping with the candidates?”

  “Yep,” he said.

  Nikki said, “We were told one of the psychics might be capable of locating Tic. Her name is Holly Moon. She’s gained a reputation for finding missing people. We’re hoping she’d try to locate our lost pup.”

  Denton said, “Holly is here.”

  Everybody focused on Holly.

  Blushing, she said, “Sure. I’m a scryer. I’ve found lost pets for neighbors in our village.”

  “Will you look for the luma?” Mia asked.

  “I’m willing to try. Though, there’s a small difficulty. It would help if I’d seen a luma. I’ve never heard of the animals before. Are they native to Europa?”

  “No,” Denton said. “But that problem is easy to solve. Nikki can introduce you to the other lumas in the Warrish base.”

  “Good,” Nikki said. “Bring her to the base. Webale can’t object if our pup’s safety is at risk. Its mother is a gift from Prime Jadel.”

  A hint of frustration entering his voice, Denton said, “We have two other candidates in the minisub. What about those guys?”

  “Styx,” Nikki said. “We don’t want too many visitors. Just bring Holly, please.”

  “Don’t fry your gills, Denton,” Ennis said. “Mia can stay with you and take care of Lana. I’ll take Holly to Nikki. Swimming with jets will be faster than taking the minisub and the Blue Star Triad will protect us.”

  “Urish,” Mia said. “I can stay with Lana.”

  Lana struggled to sit up, protesting, “Please, I don’t want to bother you. Rosie’s great at curing headaches.”

  “No problem,” Rosie said. “I’ll be glad to look after you.”

  Holly shot a glance at her sister. Was Rosie committed to making a triad with the Lunie psychic? Although Holly liked Lana, she had misgivings about adopting a second sister. She had grown increasingly troubled by the whole process of training as a tripilot. Beyond the mysteries of perceiving hyperspace, what level of psychic intimacy was necessary for a triad of tripilots?

  To conclude the arrangements, Denton offered, “Once I’ve dropped off Lana and Rosie, I can drive the minisub to the base whenever Holly is ready to leave.”

  The division of the group was settled quickly, almost before Holly comprehended where she was going. She liked the idea of seeing the Warrish on their home ground rather than in human territory.

  Smiling at Rosie, she said, “Okay. See you later.”

  “Do you have your mirror?” Rosie asked.

  Holly patted the sealed pocket of her suit. “Yep. I’m good to go.”

  Denton shook his finger at her. “You’ll be traveling fast. Wear your goggles. Remember to breathe through your nose and seal your lips.”

  “Don’t try to swim,” Ennis said. “We’ll tow you.”

  Pressing Ennis’ arm, Denton said, “Let the Blue Stars tow Holly. The dance often makes you tired.”

  Ennis touched his chin. “Calm seas, and don’t worry. Mia will be with me.”

  Meanwhile, Mia was speaking into her com, conveying new instructions to Tollar, the First of the Blue Star Triad. She ended the call and waved at the hatch. “Let’s swim.”

  Pondering her ne
w destination, Holly followed the two tripilots through the hatch and submerged in the warm embrace of the waves.

  Soon after she exited, the Blue Star brothers swam over the ridge and swooped toward the sub.

  The biggest brother arrived first, rotated vertical and bowed politely to Holly. Without speaking, he grasped her around the waist and tucked her under his muscular arm.

  Surprised, yet not uncomfortable in his grip, Holly watched the water rush past as her Warrish escort zoomed toward his home base.

  Chapter 29

  BEFORE LONG, THE BLUE Star First carrying Holly slowed and dove into a crevasse. He halted, hanging in the water by the coral-coated wall of the cliff. Brushing aside a drooping frond, he thrust her, feet first, at the cliff.

  Holly clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a scream. Instead of slamming into solid rock, she burst through a shiny, flexible surface and landed on a cool floor.

  The big man entered the concealed building just behind her and propped Holly onto her feet.

  Shaking in reaction, she leaned against the wall to observe her new environs. The atmosphere was saturated with salty moisture unlike the dry air of Bathos.

  Ennis popped through the iridescent membrane into the space, followed quickly by Mia and the two other members of the Blue Star Triad.

  On closer inspection, the Blue Stars showed diverse physiques and ages. The large muscular man who had towed her from the sub must be Tollar, their First. One of his juniors was a wiry, older man with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and lips. The third was much younger like an awkward teenager. Holly deduced they did not share the same hexath parents and must be adoptive brothers.

  The bare-chested Warrish men propped their harpoons on a rack and unstrapped their jets. They pulled on white tunics, covering their gill slits and deep chests.

  Mia and Ennis also removed jets and donned their forest green tunics.

  Tapping Holly’s shoulder, Ennis urged, “Come with us.”

  “Urish,” Holly replied, showing her basic knowledge of Warrishan.

  The three women hurried along a curved passage to a larger chamber.