Moreau took a step closer and narrowed his eyes, staring daggers at North. The military man swallowed hard under the intense gaze. "To break a contract is a serious matter to us," Moreau said between gritted teeth. "Both parties—the one who breaks the contract and the one who benefits from the duplicity—are held responsible for their crimes and must accept punishment."
The entire BloodDark contingent gasped and repeated his final word. "Punishment."
"If it's compensation you're looking for, I'm sure your people will be more than reimbursed for the loss of any proprietary secrets by my..."
Colonel North froze in mid-sentence. Caveman and the others in close proximity backed away from the military commander. He stood, expressionless and motionless, like a wind-up toy soldier whose clockwork had run down.
Olivia looked to Hernando for guidance, but his attention was focused on the gathering of the Pure Bloods within their expedition. They came together in a circle about North, pressing their open hands one against another, closing their eyes and concentrating their thoughts. Quadsangs and Overseers formed a protective circle about the inner one, enhancing the psychic bond. The entire command center fell silent as one by one the Earth invaders became still. The remaining airship pilots scattered.
Olivia felt a frisson of electricity dancing along her nerves. She must be connected to the circle as well.
The final punishment will be exacted by the high priestess came the pronouncement from Moreau. Call to her.
Olivia heard a cacophony of voices in her head. The Pure Bloods disagreed among themselves about Drucinda. Wasn't she still official high priestess? What about Valori? The intensity of their arguments gave her a splitting headache.
Valori, are you close by? We need your assistance. I need your help.
I'm almost there.
Olivia sighed with relief. Thank you. I don't know what I should do. All I know is the Earthlings should not take control of BloodDark away from its peoples. It is not theirs for the taking.
Do not fear, my child. You have decided well.
A low rumble and a slight vibration pulled her concentration away from the circle. Olivia looked about the chamber. The humans in their group had pulled back to stand against the walls, fear and awe etched in their very features. She sensed they all knew what was coming, but it had been many years since such a punishment had been exacted on BloodDark.
Olivia jumped when she heard the long squeak of the door unlocking and flinging itself open. The humans and then the mixed-bloods started up the passageway to the surface. She followed Hernando, not certain where they were going, but trusting they would be safe until Valori arrived.
Olivia blinked in the bright sun's light upon exiting the dark tunnel. Strangely, they met their fellow airship travelers waiting for them above. She could sense Annara's growing impatience in the milling crowd, and it made her chuckle. Her friend followed orders—most of the time. Somehow Annara knew today would not end up in a fire fight with the Earth invaders, and she was disappointed but resigned to the fact justice would be served in a less violent manner.
As Moreau and his kinsmen came to the surface, they reformed their circle, allowing other Pure Bloods to add themselves until they encircled the entire command bunker. Once again, Hernando and the others of partial Pure Blood heritage took their place about the inner circle, pressing palms together to form an unbroken ring about the clans. Olivia took her place beside Hernando.
He smiled at her. We will protect our worlds together.
She grinned back at him. We will.
Minutes—or was it hours?—later the sound of the steam-powered ground transports interrupted the silence of the base. More travelers disembarked and somehow knew how to make their way to the growing circle—the Pure Bloods to the inner group and the mixed-bloods to the outer. Humans without the psychic connection stayed along the periphery.
Valori? Are you here yet? Olivia scanned the horizon for signs of her friend.
Drucinda and I will arrive shortly. It's time for the trial to begin.
Trial? Olivia furrowed her brow. Oh, yeah, they broke a contract, so they should have their evidence heard to prove or disprove their innocence. Maybe there was a future for her practicing the law on BloodDark? After all, her parents always told her how much they wanted her to attend law school.
Her attention was diverted by more movement at the entrance. Colonel North, his officers, and enlisted members filed out of the bunker, taking their places within the innermost circle, facing their accusers. She'd been correct—there were two dozen of them—and many appeared quite young to be tackling such a challenging mission. Had they volunteered? The Earth men and women didn't act frozen as before, but they knew they couldn't cross the circle or re-enter their command center without permission.
A murmur arose. The outermost circles opened a gap as Valori and Drucinda appeared. Olivia didn't recognize her friend at first, but the silver hair—now long and flowing free from its tight bun—was Valori's. The satin-like gown of royal blue with silver accents at the scooped-neck and bell-shaped cuffs made quite a change from the functional black work dress Valori usually wore, and the beautiful crimson stone pendant still hung about her neck.
If Valori was high priestess, what position did Drucinda hold now? Olivia considered the dark-haired, elven Pure Blood standing there in her copper and brass tiara and diaphanous red and orange garments. With her head held high and her back ramrod straight, Drucinda didn't look inclined to relinquish her title.
The two women glided toward the inner circles, their gowns' long trains drifting behind them like flowing streams. Olivia half-expected to see a Bible produced and a swearing-in of witnesses to take the stand.
BloodDark trial procedure appeared simplicity itself compared to that of American courtrooms. Valori and Drucinda approached Colonel North and placed one of their hands against his heart and one against his forehead. They closed their eyes and concentrated for several moments, then dropped their hands and turned their backs on him.
"The witness gives testimony that he is merely a servant of his masters who ordered him and the other Earthlings to come here in secret," Valori announced to the assembly. "He was not made privy to the particulars of the contract made between Clan Alpha and the human Grundfest. Nevertheless, he expresses doubts about the ethical nature of his orders. He draws parallels between his actions and many others in human history—including those made against his fellow countrymen whose lands, resources and very lives were stolen by greedy individuals. He does not want to be on BloodDark under these circumstances."
She turned to Drucinda and nodded. "It is Clan Alpha which has been wronged directly, so you must decide his and his servants' punishment and carry it out."
Olivia gulped. So this is what it meant to be a high priestess on BloodDark? Judge, jury and executioner all rolled into one? She watched in fascination as Drucinda paced about Colonel North, sniffing. Sizing him up in her mind? She drew nearer to the innermost circle and raised her palms to Moreau's father. He met her hands with his and the two communicated telepathically for a brief moment and then separated.
"My people declare the underlings are merely following orders and should be returned to Earth forthwith, never to return to BloodDark. It will be punishment enough."
The crowd murmured their approval. Olivia observed the disappointment on several of the young enlisted men and women's faces. They had gotten to experience a small portion of a strange, new world, and she knew they longed to see more. Still, it appeared to be a just punishment and would teach others not to meddle in another planet's affairs.
Valori nodded. "Very wise. Their leader's punishment?"
Drucinda and her kinsman raised their hands and pressed palms together again. Olivia bit her lip in anticipation. After several anxious moments, they separated.
"Colonel North must accept responsibility for using stolen technologies and learning their secrets," Drucinda began. "However, to return him to Ear
th would encourage the spread of our technologies to other Earth governments and individuals who wish to use them to harm us or their fellow human beings in the future." She paused and sighed. "The knowledge was shared with non-trustworthy individuals from the start, and there is no easy way to stop its dissemination. The true fault lies with Clan Alpha."
Drucinda turned her back on her fellow kinsmen. "Those who undertook this mission must also be punished along with the human Alfred North and the human named Roland Grundfest. They are equally culpable."
A collective gasp arose from the crowd. "She holds her own clan members accountable?" was a sentence repeated over again.
Olivia was dumbstruck. That's the first time the Alphans have ever accepted responsibility for a stupid, selfish move on their part. In their defense, they honestly felt they were protecting the planet. Surely they could be pardoned on the one point alone?
You are right, my dear child. Valori's thoughts filled hers. However, Clan Alpha must learn how to cooperate with others.
"Drucinda speaks truth. Her people need to atone for their sins," Valori announced. "So, I decree they shall teach others how to use their technology to protect BloodDark. No longer will this task remain secret and apart from the other clans and the other peoples. All citizens in good standing and with an aptitude for learning this technology shall be taught it, and Clan Alpha will be tasked with maintaining a full-time staff roster at this site."
"We'll have to teach non-Pure Bloods what we know?" Moreau asked. His pursed lips and scrunched up nose indicated he found the idea unpalatable. "Overseers, possibly, but Quadsangs and humans? Their cerebral cortexes are not nearly as developed as ours."
"Quadsangs and humans make very good pupils," Dradix said, stepping out of the circle. "I've trained many in Portal technology and they have proven themselves adept. They should be given every chance to learn."
"Well said, Dradix." Mahvet stepped out of the innermost circle and addressed the crowd. "All peoples of BloodDark should be free to learn as much as it is possible for us to teach them. I believe it's time we fully educate all our citizens. Perhaps we can do student exchanges with Earth schools?"
Olivia grinned at him. "Great idea. I'll talk to my dad about it."
"Colonel North and the other humans," Drucinda said to Valori, "what suggestions do you have to deal with them? They must not use this technology in evil ways, and yet it could also be used in many positive ways to help life on Earth. Perhaps we should begin a program of re-education?"
Valori smiled. "Very good idea. You can start with Colonel North. I can travel to Earth and meet the gentleman who kidnapped me and my friends once before and begin his re-education. From there we can proceed on a case by case basis until this threat is contained?"
Drucinda nodded. "I agree. Your wisdom and compassion knows no bounds, High Priestess Valori."
"As does yours, High Priestess Drucinda."
Two high priestesses? Olivia raised an eyebrow. Clan Alpha had changed with the times. Cooperation had become the name of the game.
"Sounds like we'll be taking Valori back to Earth with us," Olivia whispered to Hernando. "Not unless she can re-educate Grundfest remotely."
Hernando laughed. "I wouldn't put it past her, but I think they mean the old-fashioned way of sitting down and conversing with their students. Although, I could be wrong..." He pointed to Colonel North. "Look."
Drucinda stood behind North and placed her hands to either side of his temples. She sniffed about him and then closed her eyes to concentrate.
"What's with all the sniffing?" Olivia asked. "Can Pure Bloods really tell what's going on with humans through their sense of smell?"
Hernando nodded. "It does provide a good ground state at which to begin relationships, you could say. They can tell how honest or how self-aware a person is by their scent."
"Oh, really?" She raised an eyebrow and looked askance at her boyfriend. "You're part Pure Blood. What could you tell about me from the first time you sniffed me?"
"I could tell you were honest, kind, true and brave. The scents don't lie." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, then sniffed. "You still give off the same scents today."
"Hmm, must be my favorite cologne." Olivia laughed.
A scream from the edge of the crowd interrupted their pleasant moment. They separated to search for the cause of the outcry.
"What are those things?" shouted a terrified sounding man from the opposite side of the gathering. "Look! They're coming closer."
Olivia turned to Hernando and noticed his frown before she felt the vibrations and heard the low rumbling of billions of nanobots on the loose heading their way.
Chapter Thirteen
"Oh, no... I thought the locusts were deactivated before we shut down the command center," Olivia moaned.
"So did everyone else." Hernando nodded at Colonel North and Drucinda still in direct contact. The look of horror on the priestess's face indicated something wasn't right. "North has lied to us. He only temporarily halted them."
Olivia gulped. "There must be a failsafe switch somewhere."
Caveman motioned for his security detail to gather and confer. "We've got to get our people back inside the airships and transports they came in," he shouted over the growing din. "The scientists, technicians and I will stay here and attempt to find out how to shut down the blasted beasties from the bunker. Now, get going!"
Herding their group back to the aircraft they came in proved difficult. Panic and confusion reigned. Olivia noticed the various groups had divided into psychic and non-psychic circles, so they weren't standing with their fellow passengers when the call came to head back to the vehicle they'd traveled in. After much pointless shouting from the others, Hernando gestured to Olivia to direct all airship passengers toward the landing site and all the ground transport passengers toward the parked vehicles.
"We can do this...we can do this," she murmured as she guided the frightened people toward their transportation. The vibrations of the approaching nanobots reminded Olivia of a cattle stampede she'd watched in an old Western movie with her grandfather when she was very young. Being trampled upon wasn't her idea of a happy ending to their trip to the site of the protective device. It had proven anything but protective.
It wasn’t until the last of the travelers had divided and the remainder of her security detail arrived at the airship landing site, that Olivia realized Colonel North wasn't alone in failing to tell the whole truth.
"Where did the blimps go?" She doubled over, hands on knees, panting hard from running about like a madwoman. "Why aren't they here?"
Hernando shook his head. He took her by the shoulders and brought her closer so he wouldn't have to shout over the deafening noise. "They said they'd take us back within six hours, but I didn't think it meant they'd depart in between."
"If they're making money off of Colonel North and company, then they're probably transporting people and supplies on a consistent basis. No need to stay put." Olivia scanned the horizon for a way out of their situation. "There are some high hills over in that direction. Maybe the nanobots won't be able to reach us on the summit?"
"Let's hope you're right." He kissed her forehead. It's our sole option. You take the lead, my beloved. Get these people to those hills.
Olivia found it difficult to respond amidst all the noise and emotional turmoil. You'll be right behind me, won't you?
Yes, but first I need to check on the status of our land travelers. I'm sensing they've encountered a similar situation.
Colonel North has a lot to answer for. Olivia grimaced. Hernando, I can't leave you behind.
He squeezed her shoulders. You must. It's only for a little while. See you at the summit.
Hernando smiled, turned and raced back toward the land vehicles which had been parked in the opposite direction. Olivia took a deep breath and jogged to the head of the line.
"We need to head to the hills," she shouted above the metallic roar, pointing i
n the direction of the mountain range. "Run as fast as you can. Be like Rincewind in the Discworld books. Don't look back. Just run!"
Follow me and run. She sent out a psychic message to the Pure Bloods and other psychics just in case they didn't understand her verbal directions.
Olivia grabbed the hands of a young Quadsang girl and boy and tore across the sandy terrain. BloodDark's less-than-Earth gravity was her friend. She'd beat her track record for the mile by several minutes. Some of the older natives appeared to struggle at times, but most kept a good pace. Her young running companions gazed up at her and flashed toothy grins. They appeared to think it was all one big game.
By sheer luck, most of the BloodDark City women had eschewed their usual long dresses and bustles and instead dressed in sensible shoes and flowing split skirts for today's outing. The men had traded their customary flamboyant outfits of pantaloons and capes to blue jeans-like pants and loose-fitting tunics, the typical outfit of their former servants. Pure Bloods wore their broad-brimmed hats, long gloves, sunglasses and heavy sun block to protect their delicate skin. Olivia wondered how they stood the heat in such outfits, but they managed to keep up.
Halfway to their destination, Olivia slowed down and turned around to check their progress.
"Whew! We've created some good space between us and the mechanical locusts, but the mountains don't appear any closer." Hernando, are you on your way?
The answer came several long moments later. We found the land transports intact but experiencing mechanical difficulties. Valori persuaded our new friends to fix them.
North's personnel? Is Valori all right?
She's well and busy re-educating them. Not all are cooperating.
Olivia's Decision Page 12