To her surprise, Jantine saw that it was the angry Omega who’d come forward to claim the child, rather than the one who had helped Jantine and Carlton climb up. The Alpha’s head flopped toward Jantine, and her skin took on a more healthy color as blue-green suspension fluid poured from her mouth and nose. The Omega’s chest compressed, and a white mist came out of its mouth and flowed over S-A-198’s face.
For several terrible seconds, Jantine thought the child was going to die, until her chest started to rise and fall in a regular rhythm.
"Commander, it’s so wonderful. Her mind is like sunlight, and she’s, she’s . . ."
Jantine heard the buzzing sound again, but before she could ask what Mira meant, one of the Alpha’s arms came up and beckoned her forward. In her haste to comply, she almost stepped straight off the sleeper unit, but Carlton and the Omega were there to help her down. Jantine was dimly aware of Artemus, Katra and JonB staring at her, but she only had eyes for the Alpha.
She took a tentative step forward, then another, until she was standing just half a meter from the Omega. The mod crouched down until S-A-198 was at eye-level, and the child opened her mouth to speak. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the sound of it sent a thrill throughout Jantine’s body.
"Serene. I am called Serene. Where is J-A-197?"
Before Jantine could answer, the shuttle’s engines powered up. Artemus and Katra were already halfway down the ramp, and Carlton and the Omega were hastily checking that the sleeper unit was fully secured. JonB was staring at the Alpha, but Jantine’s swiveling head drew his attention away.
The face of the Omega holding Serene was also on a level with hers, and Jantine swore its small mouth twisted into a snarl. The orange giant spun around and pounded its way down the cargo ramp, and once she could no longer see Serene’s eyes a deep sense of loss settled in her heart.
"Jantine!" Mira’s shout brought her back to reality. "Captain Martin says we have hostiles inbound at three hundred kilometers Zulu and falling. It’s now or never, Commander, let’s go!"
Jantine looked down at the pulser in her hand, wondering when she’d drawn it. Looking up, she saw Mira using one hand to close her faceplate, and waving a weapon of her own in the other. A lifetime of training kicked in, and she gave the order to abandon ship.
"Move out, go, go, go!"
She was down the ramp in less than a second, pausing at the base while Carlton, the other Omega, and JonB exited. When the civvies were all on solid ground, she ran after them to the pile of supplies several hundred meters away.
The shuttle’s maneuvering thrusters fired, and it rose unsteadily on columns of twisting air. Jantine could see internal lights shining through the hastily patched hole in its side, and when the cargo ramp closed the shuttle spun around and accelerated into the night sky.
Die well, Captain Martin.
Jantine followed the shuttle’s course with her eyes. She’d spent some time outside the shuttle earlier memorizing and admiring the visible stars. As a new one rose to join them, she saw several other shining points of light race toward it.
"He knows, Commander. The last thing I got from his mind was that he wishes he’d had more time with you, and with her."
Mira’s words were like a punch in the stomach, and Jantine took several long seconds to consider her options. Not wanting to see the end result of Martin’s last act, she turned to follow the rest of the team.
Most of the other mods were racing away in pursuit of a tall, jumpsuited figure holding a tinier one. Only JonB and Mira were waiting for her, and the enormity of her loss was staggering.
"No, Mira. It’s just Jantine now. I’m not the Commander anymore."
Jantine moved past JonB, and the Beta reached out a hand to her shoulder. She batted it away, and felt a tinge of regret at his hurt expression. He likely meant no offense, but she was in no mood to be comforted, especially by him.
But Mira Harlan was not so easily dismissed. The Earther’s faceplate was open, and Jantine saw the same expression on her face that she’d used earlier to chastise the Omega.
"Like hell you’re not." Mira was using almost the same tone with which she’d chastised the Omegas, and Jantine didn’t like it one bit. Not just that the Earther was in a position to use it on her, but that like JonB, she was right. "Assuming the Omega puts her down sometime soon, that little girl may well be the most wonderful thing that will ever set foot on this planet. But there’s no way she could ever do the things you’ve done today, and the others will see that soon enough. You’re their leader, dammit. Act like it."
JonB was carefully avoiding Jantine’s personal space as he moved into a position where he could see both hers and Mira’s faces at the same time. Jantine wanted to tell him she was sorry, but she knew he’d never look for or expect an apology from her.
"You don’t understand, Mira," he said. "You can’t. It’s like I told you earlier, this is who we are. Alphas direct, Betas serve. Gammas support, but I think the three of us can admit that’s not who or what you’re becoming. And that uncertainty is what will save us in the end."
Jantine was confused by JonB’s words, but then she realized what the civvie was working up to. The cold brilliance of his plan was astounding, and once again she was impressed with his analysis of the situation.
Perhaps you and I really are compatible after all.
Mira
"WHA . . . WHAT?"
Mira wasn’t sure what JonB was saying, but his thoughts had the same rock-solid certainty he’d had when announcing how he’d spoofed the missile strike, and then again with his certainty of their children together.
He really believes whatever he has in mind is going to work, and Jantine’s on board without even hearing what it is.
"You’re going to have to break it down for me. You two think a lot faster than I do, and I haven’t got a clue as to what you’re planning."
The three of them were alone now, and far enough away from the rest of the mods and their acute hearing for a bit of privacy.
"I told you before, Mira. You’re not a Gamma, and you’re certainly no Beta." Mira wanted to slap the smug smile off JonB’s perfect face, but the certainty of his thoughts made her more curious than angry.
"But you are definitely a mod now, and completely new variety at that. From what we understand, spontaneous expressions of the T-virus among humans are exceedingly rare on your planet, and as a soldier—with your level of training—you are potentially more important than any Alpha. Your empathic abilities will revolutionize the order of battle, not to mention the advantages we’ll have in dealing with outsiders. You, not S-A . . . I mean, Serene, need to be our leader."
Mira searched JonB’s thoughts for any trace of humor, but found none. Both he and Jantine were convinced that his ridiculous plan had merit, even though Mira couldn’t for the life of her figure out why, or even when they’d come up with it.
Looks like it’s time to be the grown-up in this relationship.
"Let me get this straight. A little over five hours ago, Jantine had a gun trained on me. Three hours later, you, her thirteen year-old super-genius fiancé, blithely announced that not only were we going to have sex, but that our children would be the stuff of legend. And now both of you are telling me that—Oh, come on, really?"
In another universe, the expression on Jantine’s face would be priceless comedy. Her nod, her smile, and the pleasantly surprised look in her eyes would leave a tri-vid audience in tears. But Mira could see past the mask the Beta wore and into her soul, and Jantine wasn’t offended by the idea in the slightest.
In fact, she approved.
"Excellent thinking, JonB. We must lock in her variant as quickly as possible. You are fertile, correct? When did you last ovulate?"
"I am not having this conversation. Not now, not ever."
To punctuate her feelings on the matter, Mira sent a wave of disapproval into both the Beta’s minds, wincing as it created an answering spike of pain in he
r own.
"Fascinating. How long has she been doing that?"
"Since before the crash. It’s remarkable, isn’t it?"
Mira couldn’t believe either her ears or whatever sense carried their emotions into her brain. Not only was JonB revisiting some of his more exotic fantasies, but Jantine had her own imagination in overdrive on the same topic. And all the while, the Betas were calmly discussing both Mira’s mental abilities and overthrowing the political structure of the Outer Colonies.
"What is wrong with you two? First, neither of you is my type, and I’ve a mind to give you both a psychic cold shower. Second, haven’t each of you told me that crossing the Omegas was the last thing you wanted to do? They’ll never agree to this, and once they discover your plan, what then? Kill them?"
The confidence JonB and Jantine had been projecting vanished in an instant. The Betas each took half a step back, as if even standing next to Mira would incur the Builders’ eternal wrath.
"I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. But you have to agree this is a ridiculous proposition."
"What do you mean, you didn’t mean that? Why would you say such a thing?"
Jantine’s voice was a quivering whisper. JonB moved to her side, and this time she didn’t push him away. It took Mira almost a minute to figure out why they were so frightened, and that in itself was another condemnation of Colonial society. The two of them were shut down so completely that Mira couldn’t get into either of their minds to put them at ease.
The Gamma memories gave her clear examples of what happened to mods that went rogue, especially those who threatened revolution. And while JonB wasn’t advocating an overthrow per se, the distinction was fine enough that when she’d pressed the point what appeared to the Betas as a logical plan was completely undone by a simple exaggeration.
Can they really not know how to lie?
"It’s just the way we talk here. No one wants to hurt the Builders, me especially. It’s to prove a point, that’s all. Everything’s fine, really. I’m sorry. Please, I’m sorry. I just don’t want you two to give up hope. Hope is all we have, in the end."
The platitudes seemed to be working, at least on Jantine. Her face regained its customary composure, but it was JonB who let his mental shields down first. Concern, uncertainty, and happiness were his immediate goals, and Mira was pleased to see that for once, his thoughts were directed outward.
"How will we do it?"
It was Mira’s turn for shock. Whatever internal crisis it was that nearly shut her down, Jantine had made it through to the other side and was prepared to reclaim her position. Her words were spoken in a carefully neutral tone, and Jantine disengaged herself from her . . .
Just what am I supposed to call him now, intended? Betrothed? They seem to have made up their minds, at least about each other.
Whatever JonB was to Jantine, he was still the hyper-intelligent civilian scientist whose advice was meant to support her decisions.
Or does that change too, now that Serene is awake?
"As I see it, were Jantine or I to act directly, the others would have no choice but to lock us down. But you, Mira, have no official status in Colonial society. If you were to demonstrate sound leadership, and appeared to have support from the Betas, the others might well assume that Serene blesses your actions as well."
Mira studied JonB’s face, wondering how smart the boy really was. His plan wouldn’t stand up to any intense scrutiny, but from what she knew Gammas and Deltas cared more about carrying out orders than questioning them. Katra wasn’t her biggest fan, but Artemus had "adopted" her almost as completely as had JonB.
Hopefully, not for the same reasons. If this works, we can keep things together long enough to locate the institute, and possibly get us some help.
"Mira?"
Her name hung in the night air. Jantine’s voice wasn’t yet back to its normal confident tone, but her mind was. With the question came a sense of urgency, and with a little concentration Mira could feel Katra’s eyes scanning the plains for them.
"The plan has holes. Big ones. But so did Captain Martin’s, and I signed on for that with even less information. We’ll need to recruit Carlton for sure—I’ll leave that to one of you. I like him and all, but he doesn’t trust me. And Katra . . ." Mira looked in the direction where she’d detected Katra’s thoughts. "If we’re going to do this, we’ll need to figure out if I—we—really can use my abilities as a secure communication network."
Despite the collected wisdom of the Gamma memories telling her it was impossible, Mira opened her mind to the two Betas, letting their emotions mingle with her own. Oddly enough, despite the time she’d been working with Jantine, it was JonB’s thoughts that were easier to decipher.
~Oh, this feels wonderful! It’s like holding hands, but without the hands. What happens if we . . .~
Mira regretted including him almost instantly, but Jantine gave JonB a mental punch in the arm that pushed most of his thoughts of "experimenting" aside.
It would be a lot easier, though, if I didn’t get all his thoughts at once. He really needs to . . . No. Not thinking about that. Definitely not . . .
Mira waved the Betas forward, taking point on a leisurely walk into friendly territory. Katra was indeed looking for them, and the Gamma’s rifle in her hands was a chilling reminder of what could go wrong if any of them slipped up. She put on her best smile and continued with their internal war council.
It was much harder for Mira to insert her thoughts into another mind than to decipher what they were thinking, and the pain it caused her was unlike anything she’d experienced before. To make it a bit easier, she imagined herself whispering the words directly into JonB and Jantine’s ears.
~One thing at a time, young man. And never, understand me? Not. Ever. I need you focused on keeping us alive, not your sexual fantasies.~
~If it would help, JonB and I could copulate tonight. It is perhaps too early, but it would seem natural to the others.~
Mira wouldn’t have believed Jantine was serious if she wasn’t reading her mind. JonB was certainly interested in the plan, but before he could speak up Mira made another attempt to control the situation.
~I don’t think that’s necessary, but thank you. I think. We should spend tonight recruiting, not relaxing. Whatever you do, don’t talk about your plan to make me your leader. Instead, talk about what good advice I’ve been giving you.~
~But that’s not the plan . . .~
JonB’s words carried a mixture of doubt and annoyance, but as far as Mira could tell he was willing to "listen."
~It is now. Hold up.~
"Jantine. Is anything wrong?"
Katra’s question was half challenge, half concern, and Mira felt more than a little panic at how suddenly the Gamma had appeared in front of them.
Katra’s eyes had a cold, calculating look that left Mira no doubt as to her feelings.
Betas may not be comfortable with telling lies, but Gammas are and do. This is going to be harder than I thought.
"No, Katra. Mira . . . was telling us about life on Earth."
Smooth. You’re learning. And you hardly flinched at all when she didn’t call you ‘boss.’
"JonB, Carlton has found some machinery on the other side of the hill. I will take you there."
Mira’s blood went cold at Katra’s report. There were other reasons this part of North America was uninhabited, and although the chances of a Reclamation war machine being intact and operational in a Kansas wheat field was slim, it did exist. But before she could explain her fear, Jantine brought up another pressing matter.
"Good. The Omegas?"
Katra shrugged, indicating with her rifle their location. But Mira knew where they were already; in her mind she could feel the cool summer’s day of Serene’s thoughts thirty meters to her left, and close at hand the swirling pools of doubt and adoration that were the Omegas. With her eyes, she saw a soft glow behind some trees in the same general direction.
There was a shift in Jantine’s mindset, which Mira read as a sense of determination before she shut her emotions down completely. It was a habit that, as an officer, she understood, but a dozen lifetimes of Gamma experiences found it rude and selfish. Examining those memories brought her a new realization about the Outer Colonies.
The Gamma empaths aren’t there to help, not really. They’re the thought police, and none of the other mods realize it.
"What kind of machines?"
JonB made no attempt to hide his pleasure. As instructed, he’d returned his fantasies to "storage," and applied himself to the more pressing business of survival. Like Jantine, he only wanted what was best for the group.
Katra gave another shrug. The starlight favored her long lines, and Mira’s new eyes couldn’t help but count the healed scars on the Gamma’s encounter suit.
She’s still hurting, but she won’t let me see it. Can’t, and still remain herself. Out of all of them, Katra will definitely be the hardest sell.
"He did not say. There are several buildings, and some odd containers in the area."
JonB made to move ahead before Jantine grabbed his arm. There was a brief flash of pleasure from him, then curiosity.
"Leave your pack, JonB. I need to do an inventory of our supplies. Whatever it is, Carlton’s equipment will be enough."
Jantine turned her eyes to Mira and formed a question in her mind. Despite the pain, Mira opened her mind again.
~What is it, Commander?~
~Please relay to JonB. I don’t think Mira’s plan will work, but it has a better chance of success than yours. Start thinking of more alternatives. Do not attempt to initiate contact with me about any of this without approaching Mira first. Avoid scattercomms at all costs.~
Mira thought about the few items in her own bag, mainly rations drawn from the shuttle and a few of Captain Martin’s personal effects. Everything else she "owned" was affixed to the outside of her hardsuit.
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