by V Guy
“Redina still lives. Knowing Malik’s skills and mental capacity, do you think it forgot or was afraid? It tore through a garrison, rode the outside of a shuttle, then massacred a ship’s crew until being blown out an airlock. No. I believe Redina is alive through grace, just as you. You shouldn’t worry about the creature.”
“Easy to say,” mumbled Hess. “You weren’t the one hunted. There are auxiliary quarters attached to this suite—get settled and make yourself at home. We’ll be here for some time.”
Whether the hovering cloud was Malik or the events of the last few weeks, it left Hess feeling vulnerable. The sense of cowering was humiliating. He was proactive—he reached out and struck, but most every resource allowing this was beyond reach or gone.
Not all of them, he thought darkly. Plenty of people will act if the money is right, I have the money, and I know exactly where the creature is.
The closest and best of those people was already committed. He tugged on the mental link that was Redina and went to his private communication room to wait.
His connection with the man was expanded and strengthened, and Hess could hear the man as he moved to a place to accept a transmission. When he sensed Redina was ready, Hess sent the call. The admiral responded.
“Yes, Master?”
Hess heard the address, felt the link, and immediately missed the oracle’s gentle presence. “What’s the status of your surveillance on Evaline?”
Redina paused. “It’s still active. Malik has daily interviews in the area, and there are increasingly frequent trips into Marshall. The creature has been working with the police department on difficult cases.”
“Explain.”
“It’s said that it was responsible for finding the councilman and his family after they were kidnapped. I don’t know why that’s remarkable, but there’s considerable respect for the creature on the force because of it.”
Hess pondered his own attempts to hide. His mood fell.
“In a highly visible case, the creature determined the identity of an especially troubling, elusive serial killer. Rumors say it was done after only a few hours. My spies relate that most of the consultations are not simply to solve the cases, but to solve them quickly. One particular kidnapping was resolved nearly immediately, even though there wasn’t enough evidence at the scene to finger anyone.”
Hess squirmed, thinking of his own concealment inadequacies. “I thought you were supposed to kill it.”
Now Redina squirmed. “Master, it never leaves the world. I have very few resources there, and killing the creature would require significant personnel. That’s a Fifth Fleet planet. My people aren’t even supposed to be present, much less having enough of them available to do a major job.”
Of course, it leaves the world, thought Hess, scowling. I saw it. “Is there any regularity to the Marshall trips?”
Redina shook his head.
Hess’s eyes flashed. “Is there anything predictable about those consultations?”
“Malik is always successful, Master,” replied Redina, suddenly concerned about his master’s displeasure. “I read the reports, but I’ll have my people reevaluate them to discover a trend.”
Hess paused. “What about the calls? What constitutes a good reason for a summons?”
Redina thought for a moment. “Kidnappings, bank robberies, serial killers, missing persons, major thefts, cold cases, and drug violence have all taken Malik there. Occasionally there’s a special request. At other times, it’s a matter of case difficulty or expediency.”
Hess struggled to contain his impatience. “Could you create a crime that would take it to Marshall?”
“A crime? Master, I thought this was about Malik.”
“It is,” replied Hess, gritting his teeth. “I want you to make a crime that gets the creature away from the ship. I want you catch it in transit, and I want you to kill it. Is that understood?”
Redina nodded. “Master, it plans well in advance—we’ve seen that already.”
“Then plan better. Malik is a threat. I want you to ensure that it’s neutralized.”
“We’ll need resources.”
“You get the people. I’ll procure the rest.”
The admiral’s countenance fell. Putting himself on Malik’s radar was more troubling than the regulations he would break and the chances he’d take. “Yes, Master.”
Hess abruptly broke the connection. He sensed Redina’s fear and lack of confidence and wondered if a man of that stature could succeed while hamstrung by trauma. He pondered Redina’s probable failure then dispatched additional feelers.
Fifty-Second Security was the first to respond. An initial profile of the job was taken, and when the magnitude of the request was revealed, a multi-person conference ensued. Both the customers and the contractors were masked, with established encryptions affirming each identity.
“This is an above-level-one request,” said the individual to his left. “Who is the target? Is it political, military, criminal, or judiciary? We have different rates and requirements for each, and we reserve judgment about taking particular targets.”
“Which is the costliest?” asked Hess.
“Judiciary.”
“Then I’ll pay you ten times the rate.”
The connection was momentarily frozen.
“It isn’t simply price,” said the person to the right. “It’s also logistics. Who’s the target? We’ll decide the cost.”
Hess transmitted a brief file on Malik. The connection was again frozen.
“No,” said the person to the left after they returned. “You’ll need to choose a different contractor.”
“I’ll pay you an excellent price. Better than anyone else.”
The person grimaced. “We were contracted to kill Serena Rose, whom we now know was the creature’s master. That job ended with the interference of the CSA and the loss of two ships.”
“It wasn’t Central Security!”
“Perhaps not,” said the person on the right. “But they were comparatively outfitted and capable. An experienced crew with a refitted vessel miss-dropped shortly afterwards. That was intentional, not accidental, and we’ve no intention of losing any more hardware against someone under Central Security protection.”
The next contractor followed similar security precautions, but declined after learning the target.
“This is a lucrative opportunity,” said an insistent Hess. “I’m paying you a fortune. You’ll get a substantial deposit simply for taking it.”
His listener was incredulous. “Fortunes are worthless to dead men. We’d like to be around to spend them.”
The third and fourth contractors had similar responses, and a fifth actually laughed in his face. Hess slunk back in his chair. Few organizations had the resources and wherewithal to tackle difficult targets, and the ones he contacted were those few. He transmitted another query.
“Oh, it’s you again,” said the man who responded. He wore military work coveralls without visible rank designation “What can I do for you, Baron?”
“I need hardware transferred to an Evaline storage facility.”
The man glanced to the side to check his stock. Hess paid well, he provided, and no excessive formalities were necessary. “We have about everything available. What do you need?”
Hess outlined his requests, and the man chuckled. “You don’t go halfway, do you? I can deliver, but some of these will cost extra. I have a few more palms to grease, and there are some palms I’m not certain are receptive.”
“You provided for Harris.”
“I did. But new regulations were enacted, more oversight was created, extra hurdles need crossing, and the transportation process will involve additional complications.”
“What are you saying?”
“It’ll be considerably more expensive. What’s the delivery deadline?”
Hess’s expression hardened. “As soon as possible.”
57: Reunion
Day 898: Pathfinder
Selena edged into Malik’s quarters on tiptoes. He was sleeping and did not stir. Lallis was curled by his side and curiously raised her head. When Selena moved to the prowler and stroked her fur, the head dropped and a contented sigh was released.
A week and a half of counseling sessions and long days in the infirmary had passed, yet she was still excited to be on the ship. Hess had offered finer accommodations, but nothing matched Pathfinder. Part of that allure was the creature curled up before her. She knew him well from growing up with him as a child and then a friend, seeing what everyone else saw, yet there was an enormous, indescribable sense of presence about him. Even now, watching his body rise and fall with his breaths, she could barely imagine being on the business end of his teeth and claws.
The prowler was no less intimidating, but she paled next to the captain. Naturally gifted with intelligence and then boosted by Malik, she was a keen observer of her surroundings and acutely aware of human motivations. Lallis was formidable in her own right, yet she followed Malik like a puppy.
The Fates were in many ways similar. Many a man would fall over themselves to have them and would do anything to keep them, yet the women voluntarily served Malik.
Drelas had clung to him. His crew would do anything for him; they had done anything for him.
Selena widened the strokes along Lallis’s flanks, clasping the canid close, sharing her body heat, and letting another hand scratch behind the canid’s ears. All during her life growing up she wanted to be here, and now she was, feeling and hearing the heartbeat of a predator lying contentedly beneath her.
Lallis whined with pleasure; her great tail thumped against the deck. Selena began humming a tune, and the canid licked her hand. She relaxed and was near sleep when she heard a stirring.
“Don’t get up,” she said.
“Selena?”
She cracked her eyes to see Malik peering at her. “If you get up, she gets up. I’m comfortable.”
“What are you doing in here?”
“Lying on a big, warm, furry dog.” Selena raised her head and cleared the hair from her eyes. “I never get any alone time with you.”
Malik narrowed his eyes. “We spend two hours together every day.”
“That’s work. You’re always doing something.” She sat up. Lallis looked at her in concern.
“We’ve lots of work.” When he started to rise, she admonished him.
“When I was a little girl, growing up in Silas, I thought of Pathfinder all the time. A cranky sister and a moody dad led to frequent thoughts of my dragon. At least that was how I pictured you. The dreams of a little girl. I gave you wings, and I slept under them, as secure as a person could be.”
Selena stood, grabbed the pillow and bedroll she had brought, and nudged his left wing. “Make room.”
She wrapped herself in the cover, situated with only her head showing from the wing’s coverage. Lallis stood, shook herself, then approached Malik with the same expectations. He made additional room.
“I wish we could have stayed with you,” said Selena, setting her back against his side. Malik rested his head on the deck.
“It was always something. When Serena wasn’t complaining about you and dad reminding her of your efforts, it was dad complaining about you and blaming you for his ills.”
“He was jealous,” said Malik.
“He was a grown man. Such complainers. If it wasn’t for my hard work and your repeated rescues, the Curve would have folded years ago. Still, dad managed the place; it was destined to fail.”
“Now Jon has it.”
Selena smiled in reminiscence. “A good man. I love Doris. She’s super sweet.”
“I fixed her,” said Malik, grinning. “Went from hiding behind Jon in fear to hugging me.”
“Then someone else will be fawning over you,” said Selena, mockingly affronted. She glanced at Malik and winked. “But not today.”
“I do have work to do.”
“Think it done. You always do. Does Serena know you’re Kilam?”
He chuckled. “It never came up.”
She turned on her stomach to see him better. “Hard to believe we incited that war over two years ago. Never cared for games until then; now I faithfully keep up. Even got a new account so I could visit.”
“I haven’t seen you in the network.”
“I’ve been busy.” She returned to lying on her side. “How long have I got?”
Malik raised his head. “Counseling will be complete within a week, then four weeks of strengthening sessions. A week and a half remains for the implants, three weeks more for the nerves, and two weeks for final adjustment sessions. It sounds like a long time, but it will pass quickly. Once Evelyn restores your ability to conceive, you’re home free.”
“Conceive?”
“Do you want children?”
Selena scratched Lallis’s back. “She’s indispensable, isn’t she?”
“Evelyn facilitates my impossible ideas.”
“She says twelve of the modules were finished and installed this week. Says only eight remain.”
“We can map soon.”
She cocked her head. “You’ve learned some astonishing things, modeling the dynamics of a place most people know next to nothing about.”
He nodded. “And yet much of it is conjecture. When those modules are complete, we’ll chart the system and see how well the data matches the theory.”
Selena paused. “Why is Salient so important?”
He thought back. “Those people are our friends. Their settlement isn’t yet self-sufficient. I’m afraid they depend upon us, and if we don’t reach them before I’m sold, they’ll never get help.”
“They were from Catricel.”
Malik nodded. “They’re survivors.”
She considered the evaluation. “What’s on today’s tap to get us there?”
“Your sessions and scrap retrieval at Catricel. They’ll be plenty of time to relax and ponder matters.”
“I’d like to help with the modeling,” said Selena. “It’ll give me something useful to contribute.”
He rose, moving to give her room. “These aren’t trivial equations.”
She shook her head, brushing prowler and dragon hair from her clothes. “I worked with business situations and discovered talents I never knew. Maybe I’ll discover something here?”
A smile spread across his maw. “You’ll get anything you wish.”
***
Retrieving scrap was an easy, stress-free job, and both it and the day’s removal of Selena’s implants were completed by early afternoon. Time off was granted; the bikes were taken on the abandoned roads, Malik worked his wings, and after Lallis was coerced from the ship, the two of them took a needed run across country. Upon evening’s arrival, people and equipment were decontaminated, and the ship rose into the air. Selena found him in the simulator late in the evening.
“I have a question,” said Selena, stepping into the simulator and shielding her eyes. A continuous mist hovered in the air, the result of the numerous jets spraying water on Malik. “What’s going on?”
“I’m taking a shower. My toilet remains useable, but I can’t spread my wings in the shower. This is the next best place.”
Her face colored. “I’d like to talk about these equations.”
The spray stopped, and she watched as he applied moisturizers on the joints and wing fingers where the skin was continually being stretched.
“So would I.” He saw her pause and then smirked. The artificial environment of the simulator faded, and a bot entered to remove the hair and dirt. He stepped into the passage. “They’re rather involved.”
“Can I ask some questions?” A sheepish expression showed on her face.
Selena led him to the galley. Malik had embraced her assistance with his calculations and formulas regarding the convoluted channel, and now she presented him with queries generated after a morning of study, review, and prac
tice problems.
“I’ve never done this level of math,” she said. “I’m downloading texts, streaming lectures, and doing practice problems, but I might never get it in time. I’m learning a lot, but these are well above the caliber of mathematics I’m accustomed to. Never mind your theory—there’s no lectures to access and no texts to check.”
Malik scanned her questions. “Learn as you can. If you find you cannot tackle the mathematics, I’ll understand. Mine were learned under duress and fine-tuned over a period of three desperate months.”
“Even good progress is too slow. How about some foundational queries?”
He looked at her and smiled. “You don’t need to know everything. I’m looking for anyone who can find holes in my logic.”
Selena frowned. “I need to know what the logic is supposed to be.”
She peppered him with questions and demonstrated a better-than-expected grasp of the subject areas. His answers were predominantly satisfactory, although some of them required longer, detailed explanations.
“Why do I learn effortlessly?” she asked, setting her device aside. “I preferred literature and only did business classes because of the Curve. Numbers were never in my future.”
“Your mother must have been brilliant,” replied Malik, who then considered Martin. “And blind. You received half her plus the smidgen from Martin. You and Serena could do anything and be anyone you chose. It’s cliché, but it’s true.”
“Serena,” said Selena, her thoughts turning inward. “I’m uncertain of what I feel. The more I learned, the less I liked. I realize we’re less than a week away from being done with our sessions, but everything I discover reinforces the opinion I carried from the beginning.”
“She was young and dealing with a hostile universe.”
“She was mean and controlling, even before the mutiny.” Selena looked at him and scowled. “I think I’ll work on your problem some more. It’s easier and doesn’t provoke hostility.”
She rose and lay above to work in the dorm. Malik was joined by Lallis while he remained, sending bots on tasks and examining Pathfinder’s operational logs. Morning found him on the front porch of the white house in the simulator. The sun was rising. Lallis basked nearby.