Tabitha strolled out of the elevator and onto the bridge with her hand resting on the top of Todd’s Pod-crib as it bobbed beside her. “He loves it, and you can’t argue with his taste.”
Peter walked over to look at their son. “If it works, it works.” He grabbed Tabitha’s hand and pulled her over to get an unobstructed look at the viewscreen. “Quick, before we’re over the city.”
The majesty of the lakes spread out below took Tabitha’s breath away. “It’s beautiful!”
Sabine turned in her seat. “You got here just in time. We went by the scenic route, and we’re about to fly over the property I was telling you about.”
Peter tilted his head. “Oh, yeah?”
“Sabine says it's a good fishing spot,” Tabitha told him. “I haven't seen it yet.”
Sabine pointed at a dark smudge in the middle of the water in the distance. Tabitha and Peter looked at the small island as they passed overhead.
Tabitha “I do like that it’s on an island, but it’s not in the best shape.” She tilted her head. “I didn’t see anywhere for the ship, either.”
Sabine shrugged. “I asked around about it. It will need work since it’s been empty for a while.”
“It could be a project,” Peter countered. “We might be here for some time.”
Tabitha made a face. “New baby and home renovation? Um, I’ll pass, thanks.”
“You’re right,” Peter shook his head. “It’s also a little too far out of the way. We need to be somewhere with easy access to the station.”
Sabine looked at Tabitha. “I thought you wanted something rural?”
Tabitha waved a finger at the screen. “Yeah, no. I want my own space, but that’s some Robinson Crusoe shit down there. I’m guessing services aren’t much of a thing out here?”
“Exactly,” Peter agreed. “I don’t want to wake up one morning and find that Tabitha has eaten me out of desperation and a lack of snacks.” He took the hard fist to the arm Tabitha gave him as his due and continued, absentmindedly rubbing the spot she had punched. “But it’s no problem. We’ll find somewhere in the city.”
Sabine gave Tabitha and Peter a warm smile. “Well, the three of you are welcome to keep the apartment for as long as you like.” She made a fond face at the Pod-crib. “I’m looking forward to meeting this little guy properly.”
The ship swooped over the First City, heading straight for the bazaar.
Tabitha pointed out a huge, six-sided building abutting the east wall that hadn’t been there on her last visit. “That’s the Hexagon?”
Sabine nodded proudly. “Uh-huh. We just opened last month.”
Peter folded his arms on his chest as the Hexagon came into focus. “Business must be good, then. Congratulations.”
Sabine shrugged. “We can’t complain. We had some help from Michael, too. It just took focus to make it happen once we made the decision to stay here.”
Tabitha caught a glimpse of greenery on a section of the roof as the ship made a tight turn on the way to the building’s private hangar entrance. “You’ve got something growing up there?”
“That’s your garden!” Sabine told them, her hands waving excitedly. “We put it in so the baby would have some outdoor space to play.”
Tabitha put a hand to her chest. “That’s so sweet!”
Sabine grinned, getting to her feet. “I have to admit, you had me at a loss with the babyproofing thing at first, but we all worked it out. Come on. I can’t wait to show you everything we did to the place.”
They disembarked and waited for the antigrav carts with their essentials to make their way out of the cargo bay.
Tabitha shifted from one foot to the other until the slow procession finally got its act together and picked up speed near the bottom of the ramp.
Peter shook his head at the carts as they trundled by. “How is it that one baby needs so much stuff? I remember not so long ago I could go anywhere with just a pack and be cool for weeks. Now we need a whole freaking cargo bay full of stuff just for a day out.”
Tabitha rolled her eyes and placed her hand on Todd's Pod-crib. “Let's just get all this into the apartment.”
Sabine led them out of the hangar to a bank of three elevators while the carts caught up. She rummaged in her pocket and turned to Peter and Tabitha with a pair of keycards in her hand. “These are just until we get you in the system, or you won’t be able to go anywhere in the building. Do you want the tour now or after you get settled in?”
Tabitha glanced at Todd, who was still sleeping soundly, then at Peter. “I think we’ll just go to the apartment.”
Peter nodded. “Yeah, if you don’t mind.”
Sabine handed over the keycards. “Of course. I understand completely. We’ll see you all at your welcome dinner later though, right?”
Tabitha smiled. “Wouldn't miss it.”
Sabine grinned. “Great!” She pressed the button for the third elevator. “This elevator is the only way to enter our living areas. It can only be accessed by the five of us, and now the two of you.”
They all squeezed into the elevator along with the antigrav carts, which stacked themselves neatly in the corner, and Todd’s Pod-crib which bumped everybody’s legs as it bobbed in behind Tabitha.
“Penthouse,” Sabine commanded. She turned to Tabitha and Peter with a twinkle in her blue eyes. “I hope you like it. We had fun researching babyproofing.”
The elevator opened on a small hallway that had just one door.
Sabine waved them over to the door. “Your keycards are good for today and tomorrow, but we'll get you in the system first thing.”
She stood by the elevator doors, then got in once the antigrav carts had all exited the car. “Oh, and just call Winstanley if you need anything.”
“We will,” Tabitha called from the apartment doorway. “Thanks for all this.”
Sabine shrugged as the elevator doors closed. “Not a problem.”
Todd began to stir as they entered their temporary home for the first time.
Peter bent to pick him up. “Look who's awake? Hey, little man, you're just in time to see our new home.” He held Todd close and set off from the entryway into the open living area.
Peter bounced the baby gently on his hip as he looked around. Todd blinked sleepily in his arms, turning his head from side to side to take in the strange surroundings. “This place is nice!”
Tabitha noted the safety features blended in with the tasteful décor. She loved bare brick and dark polished wood as an aesthetic. “They’ve done a fantastic job.”
She put her head on Peter’s shoulder, smiling softly. “I think we can be happy here while we look for a place of our own, but tonight will be the test. If the noise of the event disturbs Todd even once, we’re getting back on the ship.”
Peter chuckled. “What, with Todd?”
“Um…” Tabitha made a face while she considered the logistics of flouncing out with a baby.
“Dammit.”
Being sensible sucked.
9
Federation Deep Space Research Outpost
Tinesha left the school building with a lightness in her heart and a skip in her step.
Two whole cycles of freedom!
She looked at the clear sky above the dome as she walked with her friends Brad, a human, and Kinbel, a Baka.
Kinbel jostled Tinesha gently to shake her from her daydream. “Did your father say if your mother was going to be home before we leave for the falls?”
Tinesha shrugged. “He wasn’t sure, but I don’t care. We’re going, whether she allows it or not. I’m almost an adult. She can’t keep telling me what to do!”
Brad snorted. “Maybe if we were la-di-da fancypants nobility like you, she wouldn’t hate us so much.”
Tinesha rolled her eyes. “Nope. She’d hate you anyway because she’s a stuck-up speciesist. You’ve heard her. ‘A Torcellan of your standing shouldn’t mix with humans or Bakas, Tinesha.’ Ugh.”
/> A low, keening moan came from Kinbel’s throat.
Tinesha threaded an arm through her friend’s to comfort her. “I know. You have to deal with that crap from everyone.”
“Not us, though,” Brad chipped in, taking Kinbel’s other arm. “We’re a threesome, at least until Tinesha’s mom goes batshit crazy and ships her off to marry some prince to get her away from her unsuitable friends.”
Tinesha and Kinbel cracked up. “Can you imagine that?” She hoped her mother didn’t ever get the idea to arrange a marriage contract for her behind her back.
Not even her father could save her if that happened.
Tinesha sighed. She knew there were many other ways that her life could be difficult. An overambitious mother wasn't the worst thing.
“As if I would marry a stranger.” Tinesha couldn’t wait to come of age and break free of the stuffy traditions that said she couldn’t be friends with someone because their species was inferior. “My majority can’t come soon enough.”
Brad frowned. “You know you can always come and stay with us. My moms have told you a thousand times that you’re welcome.”
“I know.” Tinesha wasn’t entirely happy that Brad’s parents felt sorry for her. They were always extra nice to her when they had study nights at his house. She didn't want pity. She wanted to reach her majority and leave for the Federation.
She wanted to wear pink. Shocking pink, hot pink, magenta—bright colors that made her happy instead of the soul-sucking array of neutrals her mother insisted on as tradition.
One day, she would.
One day.
Tinesha swept her pale hair out of her eyes and picked up her pace to keep up with the others.
The last leg of the walk was always a little lonely once Brad and Kinbel had turned off for their own homes.
Tinesha left the park and took her time wandering the last few streets to the large, empty house set away from the other residences in her neighborhood where she lived with mostly just the staff for company.
Tinesha greeted the keeper at the gates and dragged her feet up the long driveway, reluctant to enter the house.
Tinesha was nearing the front of the house when the sky above her grew dark unexpectedly. She looked up, expecting to see clouds gathering outside the dome.
It was no storm.
Tinesha dropped to her knees as her legs failed her.
The body of a gigantic ship hovered above the dome some way away from her house. It blocked the light, testing the dome with the enormous, writhing tentacles that made up the front of the ship.
Tinesha’s horrified gaze was drawn to a spot on the ship’s underbelly that glowed brighter each second.
Her eyes darted over the ship, her body refusing to do much more than take in the nightmare. Another part of the ship vomited a thick cloud of drones into the atmosphere. They stayed close to the ship as though waiting for something.
The glowing spot on the invaders’ ship had grown larger, and it was getting unbearably bright.
A flash lit the dome, whiting everything out. Tinesha shielded her eyes, peering through her fingers to see a rope of light explode from the ship.
It licked the dome, and the world went white again.
Tinesha clutched a hand to her throat in an effort to breathe when the light faded and the crack in the dome became clear.
They were in serious trouble.
Without warning, the drones attacked the dome, which was designed to keep the colony safe from the storms that raged across the surface of the planet for three cycles of each year.
It wasn't made to withstand a sustained attack from many sources.
However, much to Tinesha’s relief, the dome held—at first.
Then the cracks widened.
Tinesha finally managed to draw a breath when a huge section of the dome fell in, exposing them to the enemy above. She screamed as the drones poured in, bringing her mother running from the house.
“What is going on?” her mother exclaimed.
Tinesha’s pointed upward, where the dome was in the process of failing under continued bombardment from the alien ship. “The end,” she whispered hoarsely, her words stolen by shock. Her disagreements with her mother seemed so small now. She just wanted to be held by her.
“No!” Tinesha's mother sank to her knees beside her and pulled her daughter into her arms. “I have dreams for you!” Her tears drenched her daughter’s hair.
Tinesha clung to her mother and watched on as their world burned around them. “What can we do?” she croaked, the haze hot in her lungs.
The pause between her question and the answer was both immediate and infinite. “Nothing,” her mother replied eventually. “But we will be avenged.” Her eyes narrowed. “Baba Yaga will not stand for this.”
It was cold comfort, but being avenged was all she had left to offer her daughter.
They remained glued to the spot as the gigantic ship broke fully through the dome and unleashed its weapon on the homes of people they knew.
Something snapped. “Run.” Tinesha pulled hard on her mother’s arm as her focus returned. “We have to try!” She staggered to her feet, dragging her mother along with her.
A drone overhead locked on to them and opened fire, tearing up the ground around the two Torcellans as they made a desperate break for the corner of the property.
They were almost to the edge of the property when Tinesha felt a momentary pain. Did she run into something? Hurt or not, she kept running, helping her mother scramble over the wall at the back despite the burning sensation blooming in the place she’d felt the initial pain.
They ran into the cover of the trees nearby, frantically trying to stay ahead of the drones. The pain in Tinesha’s side ebbed, and she urged her mother toward the caves in the distance. “We’ll be safe there,” she panted.
Tinesha’s mother stopped her daughter with a hand on her shoulder. “Tinesha, you don’t sound good.”
Tinesha glanced down at her side, which was beginning to throb once more. “I think I banged into something in the garden.” She went to lift her clothing to check for a bruise and pulled her bloody hand away in shock. “Mother…”
Tinesha’s mother darted forward to catch her as her legs gave way.
“It’s okay.” Tinesha’s voice cracked as the last of her energy drained away. Looking up, she allowed a ghost of a smile to cross her face. Her mom, at least, would make it to the caves. “Just don’t let them catch you. Tell the witch about me.”
Tinesha’s mother cried, cradling her daughter in her arms as she bled out onto the dirt. Her entire body was shaking, her mind refusing to make sense of anything as alarms blared in the distance.
Tinesha closed her eyes and let out a final choked whisper as the darkness came for her. “I never got to wear…pink.”
In Transit to the Seventh World, SSE ADAM
ADAM picked up the signal and forwarded it to the ArchAngel II. “Kael-ven, are you getting this?”
The scratchy reply came over the long-distance connection. “I don’t know, ADAM. It looks like a distress signal.”
“That’s what I thought. We’re going to divert to investigate.”
Kael-ven’s voice was filled with concern. “What about the schedule? You could send a drone.”
ADAM had already considered that option. “A drone won’t be much use if people need help. Can you catch up in case there are casualties?”
There was a pause on the other end before Kael-ven answered, “We’re on our way, but it’s going to take us a while to get to your location.”
“I’ll leave a marker for ArchAngel to follow,” ADAM told him before dropping the connection.
Loralei swooped in silently beside ADAM’s ship. We going on the side quest?
>>We are. Want to lead the way?<<
My pleasure. Loralei adjusted her course to head for the origin of the distress signal. I haven’t done one of these before.
>>One of what? A distress
call?<<
Yeah. Organics are messy when it comes to competition.
>>I can’t argue that.<< ADAM put on a burst of speed to cruise up alongside Loralei’s ship.
What can we do for them?
>>We can fight off anyone or anything attacking them. We can defend them until Kael-ven gets here.<<
It’s not much.
>>It is all we can provide.<<
QT2 System, QBBS Helena, APA
Alexis and Gabriel led K’aia to the seats at the side.
K’aia threw a glance in the direction of the adults. “I thought we were going to train?”
Gabriel shook his head. “No, we’re here to observe and learn today.”
“Today,” Alexis continued, “Mom is teaching, and we haven’t done anything that needs correction.”
Gabriel nodded toward the adults. “My money is on Uncle Scott being the object lesson today.”
K’aia examined Scott’s body language. “He does seem tense. What did he do?”
The twins shrugged in unison.
K’aia shuddered. “It’s weird when you do things at the same time. Like you’re clones or something.”
The twins giggled.
“Seriously, quit it,” K’aia protested. “How old are you, anyway?”
“Fourteen,” Gabriel replied simply.
Alexis lifted a shoulder. “Although if you want to be technical—”
“She probably doesn’t,” Gabriel cut in, pleased to be the one who caught the nuance—for once. “What about you, K’aia?”
K’aia looked at the adults again. “I don’t really know. I think I’m almost a young adult physically, so call that about nineteen? But I can’t be sure. I don’t know how old I was when I was taken from my family.”
Alexis put a hand on K’aia’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry you went through that.”
K’aia patted Alexis’ small hand with her own much larger one and nodded toward Bethany Anne and Michael. “It’s okay, it’s over now. What’s happening over there?”
Gabriel shushed them by raising his hand. “They’re getting started,” he whispered.
Bethany Anne stood alone, with Scott, Gabrielle, John, Eric, and Darryl fanned out in front of her.
All’s Fair in Blood and War (The Kurtherian Endgame Book 4) Page 10