by S. H. Jucha
The tightness in Adrianna’s chest eased. She’d chosen to wear the Omnian uniform. She was proud of it and thought she’d earned it. That the minister had called her by rank gave her heart.
Adrianna hurried to join Sheila on the porch. She’d crafted and discarded tens of ways to start the conversation, but the minister swept the subject aside.
“Alex has a way about him, doesn’t he?” Sheila asked.
“If you mean he can convince people to do most anything he wants, you’re right, and I’d put the fleet admiral right there beside him,” Adrianna replied. A corner of her mouth quirked up, admitting that she’d been willingly co-opted.
“I’d like to hear the story of how this happened,” Sheila said. “We’ve got time.”
They sat in Sheila’s study on a comfortable nanites couch.
Adrianna began her narrative with the Gotlian fleet and described her maneuvers to keep the battleships away from the water world and the lost traveler.
“A lone Trident against battleships,” Sheila remarked.
“Not so difficult, Minister. We discovered later that the Gotlians had no expertise in fighting or with their battleships,” Adrianna said, laughing at the aliens’ awkward attempts to catch and disable her ship.
“Tell me more,” Sheila urged. She hungered to hear the stories of the officers fighting to protect their worlds. In contrast, she’d spent the years since Alex left for Omnia as a peacetime admiral and then an administrator.
Adrianna described the conflicts at Talus, her role as vice admiral, and her request to be demoted under Ellie.
“It takes courage to know and admit your limitations,” Sheila said.
“Not if you’re comparing yourself to Ellie Thompson,” Adrianna declared. “I’d have to be an idiot to think my level of experience gave me the right to command her.”
“I remember when Alex recruited some of the Independents on Libre,” Sheila mused.
Adrianna remained silent, and Sheila fell into telling her story.
Time passed swiftly, with Sheila doing most of the talking. She knew the stories about Alex’s beginning, and Adrianna marveled at his success with so few resources.
“Yes, fortune has always ridden on Alex’s shoulders,” Sheila admitted.
Soon a staff member interrupted the pair, saying, “Your guests are arriving, Minister.”
“Come, Adrianna,” Sheila said pleasantly. “Take your rightful place among the Omnians.”
Adrianna followed Sheila into a long salon that had been set with an enormous banquet table. One end of the room was left bare for individuals to mingle.
Sheila worked her way through the guests, starting with a joyous hug for Tatia. Others, old friends, received the same treatment.
Then Tatia introduced Sheila to most of the unknown fleet officers, the commodores. Standing at the end of the line were the only captains to be invited — the de Long twins.
Sheila held on to Étienne and then Alain for an extra length of time. She was misty-eyed, when she released Alain.
Staring at the twins’ senior captain insignias, Sheila asked, “Who’d be foolish enough to command the two of you?”
Gazing around at the assembly, Sheila saw Descartes, Alphons, and Ellie raise their hands.
“Figures,” Sheila commented dryly, and the officers laughed at her tease.
“Wait. If the two of you are flying Tridents, who …” Sheila asked, letting the question dangle.
“Z and Miranda,” Tatia replied and sent images. They were of the SADEs standing quietly behind their charges.
“Black space,” Sheila whispered. Her implant held a series of images.
“You’re looking at Z and Miranda in their Cedric Broussard and Frederica avatars,” Tatia explained, “and they’ve become much more dangerous than they were originally.”
“I knew of Z and his avatar,” Sheila commented. “I wasn’t aware that Miranda had adopted the same sort of avatar. Is there relevance to which individual the SADEs are standing beside?”
“You’ll notice, Minister, that Miranda is always beside Alex, and Z is with Renée,” Franz interjected.
“Interesting,” Sheila mused.
“Renée told me,” Reiko added, “that the SADEs find that Alex doesn’t feel the need to engage Miranda as much, which allows him time to think, to focus on what he needs to ponder.”
Questions occurred to many officers in the room about that arrangement, but the reason for how that had come to be, beginning with a SADE called Allora, was a secret known only to a few.
“Well, let’s get all of you some refreshments,” Sheila said, and her staff immediately entered the salon with trays of aigre, fruit drinks, and ice water.
Sheila felt as if she was holding court, as she’d seen in an ancient vid. She was the center of attention. Her guests wanted to hear the latest about Haraken, and she wanted their stories.
The conversations continued over dinner and dessert. Three hours later, the guests were leaving.
Sheila took the opportunity to personally congratulate Ellie on her promotion.
“It’s well deserved,” Sheila said.
“It’s scary. That’s what it is,” Ellie riposted.
“I can imagine,” Sheila sympathized. “Before, you could rely on a superior to develop the strategies and communicate your orders. Now, you’re that individual.”
Sheila saved her last goodbye for Tatia.
“Do you regret not sailing with us, Sheila?” Tatia asked.
“No,” Sheila admitted. “I’ve been content here. I had the nagging feeling that fortune deserted me. And you, Tatia?”
“I couldn’t do anything else but follow Alex,” Tatia replied. “Each new challenge appears to be more impossible than the last one, but we seem to struggle through them. We might be getting a break now.”
“Renée has changed,” Sheila commented.
“Yes, the persona of a protected daughter of a Méridien Leader has faded,” Tatia said, smiling at her memories. “You’re seeing the rising star of Alex’s co-leader. I rather like it.”
“Hmm,” was all that Sheila said. Then she questioned Tatia about the one thing that had bothered her. “The first evening the four of you evinced a strange reaction when you were asked about why the entire fleet sailed this way. Why was that?”
“Nothing strange about it,” Tatia replied offhand. “We’ve lived peacefully, isolated in our ignorance, for hundreds of years. Now the galaxy’s dangers are being revealed to us, and we’re intent on protecting humankind’s primary asset, Alex.”
Sheila experienced the same reaction, as she had previously. It was obvious that Terese and she had failed to understand the Omnian fleet’s mentality. She considered it was the difference in experiences between passively defending Haraken and offensively taking on the enemies of humankind. Now, she’d just repeated her error.
“My apologies, Tatia,” Sheila said sincerely. She tried to think of something appropriate to say, but words failed her.
Tatia gave her a warm but quick hug and departed.
As Sheila watched her friend head down the pathway to the waiting grav car, she thought, May the stars protect the one you guard, Tatia.
-36-
Omnia
Fleet personnel enjoyed Haraken hospitality for three weeks. The Dischnya became local celebrities, and they enjoyed every minute of it.
Alex watched the wariness fade from his people’s eyes. Their tense stances gave way to relaxed postures. Satisfied that personnel had enough time to rest and visit with family and friends, Alex ordered the fleet to sail.
The Omnian ships were flowing through the deep dark for several days, when, in late evening, Homsaff requested time with Alex and Renée.
“Homsaff requested I be present?” Renée queried for clarification.
“She was specific,” Alex replied.
“When?” Renée asked.
“Now. Make yourself comfortable. This should be interesti
ng,” Alex commented.
“I believe you’ve been told more than once not to use that word, when speaking about serious subjects,” Renée admonished.
Alex didn’t get an opportunity to reply. There came a soft scratching at the suite’s entry frame, and Alex signaled the door aside.
Homsaff strode through the opening, greeted Alex and Renée, and took a seat, without invitation, in the special chair Alex had constructed for her.
Renée glanced at Alex, as he walked from behind Homsaff, and he arched an eyebrow in reply. Alex took a seat on the couch next to Renée and faced the queen.
“How can we help you, Homsaff?” Alex asked.
“You were generous with the sisters, when they left the fleet,” Homsaff replied.
“Nothing more than they deserved,” Alex said.
“Do the Dischnya deserve your generosity?” Homsaff asked.
“They do,” Alex answered simply.
“Would you elevate my warriors and me with Omnian technology … the implants and the cell gen injections?” Homsaff asked.
“No,” Alex replied.
Homsaff’s yellow eyes narrowed. She glanced toward Renée, who wore a pained expression.
Before Homsaff could speak, Alex added, “But I’ll agree to give the tech to the Dischnya race, if they wish it.”
“If the queens decide in favor of the technology, then you’ll approve it?” Homsaff asked. There was a slight growl in her speech.
“The queens influence the Dischnya, especially the warriors, but they no longer speak for the soma,” Alex replied, which infuriated Homsaff.
Renée interrupted the exchange. “Homsaff, Méridien technology has been a stumbling block for new cultures ever since Alex rescued my ship. It’s been difficult to establish rules that ensure a fair adoption of cell gen injections and implants across a society.”
“My warriors and I deserve these things,” Homsaff objected. Her tail was erect, and its tip thrashed defiantly.
“Yes, you do, and Alex has said so, but you’re missing the point, Homsaff,” Renée pleaded. “If you and your warriors adopt the implants, a new world of communications and learning will open to you.”
“This would be a good thing,” Homsaff stated hotly.
“It would be,” Renée agreed. “But what would happen when you returned to the Dischnya plains? What would you feel when you sent Nyslara a thought, forgetting she couldn’t hear you?”
“The same is true for the medical nanites, Homsaff,” Alex added. “You and your warriors would live beyond the lives of your mates and pups.”
“This technology can isolate you from your race,” Renée said. She left the couch to take a seat beside Homsaff, and her hand covered the queen’s. “The entire race, or at least most of it, must choose to adopt the tech … choose to be uplifted together.”
Homsaff’s tail eased to the floor. She placed her other hand over Renée’s and patted it. “Wise counsel,” she said.
When Homsaff turned her gaze toward Alex, her eyes hardened. “My warriors and I want this. I expect Dassata to stand erect before the Dischnya and deliver this bounty to the soma.” She stood, and Alex barely had time to trigger the door before Homsaff would have had to halt her march from the room.
“Well, that went well,” Renée quipped, but Alex’s frown turned her gaze sympathetic.
“Homsaff is right,” Alex said. “She and the warriors deserve our support and our technology, but I don’t want to see them isolated. They need to remain an integral part of the soma. More important, their experiences can guide the Dischnya, if they’re ready to listen.”
“Let’s hope in the years that we’ve been gone, the Dischnya have made some advances,” Renée replied. “I’m anxious to see Neffess.”
“If the Dischnya choose to partake of our tech, they won’t have to wait,” Alex said, and he gave Renée a sly smile.
“Emile’s already perfected the implants and cell gen nanites,” Renée guessed. “When?”
“The nanites about a year ago, and the implants while we were at the water world,” Alex replied.
“But the implants haven’t been tested,” Renée pointed out.
“Emile was successful with the Swei Swee implants, which I think were more difficult medically,” Alex replied. “What do you want to bet that Homsaff will insist on being the first test subject?”
“Bet? Against you?” Renée replied, laughing. She slapped Alex’s leg and ambled off to the refresher.
Alex waited a moment, thinking through the coming confrontation with Homsaff, the queens, and the soma. Nothing to do until it happens, Alex thought. Then he decided to join Renée.
Days later, the fleet exited their transit into Omnian space. The comm traffic strained the controllers’ capabilities to handle the loads.
Homsaff used the Freedom’s bridge to request contact with Nyslara. When the queens were connected, Homsaff reported the loss of the four Dischnya.
“Most unfortunate,” Nyslara commented. “Were your warriors useful to Dassata?”
“Exceedingly … twice,” Homsaff replied.
“Then it’s our time,” Nyslara said.
“I believe it is, but do others?” Homsaff replied.
“We’ll wait and let your warriors spread their stories,” Nyslara replied. “That will sway the queens’ opinions.”
“There’s a problem with that way of thinking,” Homsaff said. She glanced warily at Cordelia, who appeared to ignore her, but experience had taught Homsaff that the SADEs were always listening. “We’ll speak in detail, when I arrive. You’re on the far side of Celus. The fleet will transit above the ecliptic. Then we’ll be on station within two days.”
“I await your coming, with eagerness, Homsaff,” Nyslara said, and Cordelia closed the comm for the queens.
Homsaff’s eyes bored into Cordelia’s, and the SADE waited patiently for the queen to speak.
“Do you think we deserve to be equals?” Homsaff asked.
“We are equals,” Cordelia replied. “As a sentient, you have that right.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Homsaff retorted.
“I presume that you’ve spoken to Alex about your request, yes?” Cordelia asked.
“Yes,” Homsaff affirmed.
“Then you have your answer,” Cordelia replied.
“SADEs!” Homsaff said heatedly.
“Queens!” Cordelia shot back, imitating Homsaff.
Homsaff barked her laughter at the exchange, whirled, and, with long strides, exited the bridge.
When the fleet made Omnia, it was necessary to spread out the ships, which put the travelers to good use.
Alex ordered minimum crews on duty, allowing the maximum number of fleet personnel to descend on Omnia.
Hector stayed aboard the Our People, and Trixie flew from the surface to join him.
Alex headed to a bay to catch a traveler. He was surprised to see Miranda in her Frederica avatar standing beside the hatch.
Alex shrugged and boarded the traveler. He instructed the pilot to give him a flyby of the orbital station first.
Alex glanced at Miranda. The SADEs knew about the new station and its name change. They already knew the important things that had transpired on Omnia. Apparently, he was meant to discover the transformations.
The older station had been a combination of pa
ssenger and construction arms. Its body had added two more arms, but now not a single liner was docked. The new station was a multi-armed structure, handling travelers, liners, and small freighters.
A few minutes later, Alex asked Miranda, “What’s that?” His implant held an image of an extensive lake south of the city in the middle of the plains.
The two Omnian continents possessed twin polar regions, which were populated by dense forests, due to the abundant rainfall. The tilt and spin of the planet produced a band of dry, dusty plains around its broad circumference.
Somehow, in Alex’s absence, Omnians had created a lake. A thick belt of green surrounded the water.
“Engineers tunneled to the southern region and tapped a major reservoir,” Miranda explained. “Then every ship moving through the belts stopped to collect water ice and add it to the lake.”
“What about fauna and flora from the green?” Alex asked.
“It’s a concern,” Miranda said. “Precautions have been taken, and the SADEs are vigilant, employing planted sensors.”
Alex considered that the council would have had to approve the lake’s development, but he had concerns about the water and foliage attracting dangerous elements of the green.
The pilot cruised over Omnia City, and the population growth was evident to Alex. It had three times the footprint as when he left.
The pilot understood the simple request. He flew across the ocean to the other continent toward a specific bluff. He set the ship down on a cliff overlooking a beach and signaled the hatch open.
Alex leapt through the hatch.
Miranda saw the first smile on Alex’s face since they’d boarded the traveler.
Alex walked briskly to the edge of the cliff and loosed a long, shrill whistle.
Swei Swee along the beach, mostly young females, matrons, and younglings, paused to stare at the clifftop. A matron was first to recognize Alex, and she echoed his whistle.
Then the sound of greetings reverberated up and down the beach and over the water. Males, searching for food in the ocean, dove under the waves to signal Wave Skimmer, the hive’s First.