Syn-En: Pillar World

by Linda Andrews

  “Sorry.” Bad fermites for hurting my friend. Nell considered going without a celebratory chocolate shake once the mission ended. But that would punish the babies.

  A black circle appeared on the forward screens. Omest tightened his grip on the controls. “Ten seconds until event horizon.”

  A soft ding echoed in the cockpit.

  “We’re being hailed.” The Picaroon brushed a toggle switch under a green button. The built-in speaker crackled with static.

  “Hail approaching Munician craft.” A female voice oozed through the cabin. “We’re sorry to interrupt your journey. Please identify yourself before our weapons destroy you and ruin your trip.”

  Nell bit her lip. “They’re being awfully polite. They’re probably related to Canadians.”

  “The Municians are always polite.” Omest pulled back on the yoke. The engine’s hum faded to a purr. “They’re the diplomatic arm of the Founding Five.”

  She knew that. Nell had met a particular lime-green elf. “Take my word for it, they’re not polite when they’re trying to kill you.” The ship emerged from the jump gate. On the blanket of black space, two white eyes stared at their ship.

  “Those are the cannons.” Omest pressed two yellow colored buttons. The side screens flickered to life. Two more white balls appeared. “These are the ones behind us.”

  “Apparently, the Municians are polite when they’re trying to blow you up from a distance.” Bei gripped the helm.

  Leave it to her husband to master sarcasm when staring death in the face. Or down the barrel, as the case may be. Nell scooted back in her chair.

  “Don’t worry, I’m sending the codes now.” Keyes’s finger turned blue where it connected to the port.

  “Thank you very much for your authorization code.” The disembodied voice was an oil spill on water. “But we also require your identification code. We would hate to fire upon you when you are cleared to visit Sentinel.”

  “Not as much as I would hate it.” Nell’s stomach cramped and her bones dug into the seat cushions. “Tell them this isn’t the ship they want to target.”

  “Keyes?” Bei glanced over his shoulder at his communications officer.

  Keyes scrubbed a hand down her face. “There’s nothing here that is written as an identification code, but there is a signature on the information we pulled from the tracker.”

  Bei’s eyes darkened. “Send it.”

  “Sending it.” Keyes blew out a shaky breath.

  “Thank you, Argent Family craft. We will now take control of your vessel and guide you safely to your assigned landing spot.”

  The shuttle gained speed as it glided forward. It sailed between the two cannons then banked to the left.

  Nell dug her fingers into the chair’s arm as the cockpit tilted at a thirty degree angle. “That was easy.”

  Omest switched off the com. “How is it they didn’t hear you speak?”

  Removing her finger from the temporary port, Keyes blew on the tip. “Because I control all communications. The Municians can make a few sounds that the Human throat isn’t designed for.”

  Bei released the straps holding him in the chair. “Well done. Prepare to disembark.”

  The ship returned to an even keel. Outside, red lights glinted in deep space.

  “The area is mined.” Bei crossed the cockpit in two steps and stopped before her. “That’s why we’re letting the enemy bring us in.”

  Nell’s veins turned silver. “What happens once we land?”

  “We wait until we gain control of their surveillance, then my team and I will leave.” He stroked her cheek.

  Keyes unbuckled and slunk out the door. “I’ll just go somewhere else.”

  Nell leaned into his touch. Don’t leave me to raise these kids alone.

  Never. Cupping the back of her head, Bei pulled her against him.

  She imprinted him on her senses. Closing her eyes, she tried to block out their surroundings. The engines hummed. Curt words drifted up from the Syn-En crew in the compartment below. Her skin itched from Omest’s stare. Her happy place was closed for now. With a sigh, she opened her eyes. “Won’t they think it odd when no one leaves the ship?”

  The minefield gave way to a ring of small cannons. Great. One shot from them would just leave her mostly dead.

  “Keyes sent word that you are awaiting orders from another vessel.” Bei kissed the top of her head. “Once we’re back on board, there’ll be another transmission to rendezvous somewhere else.”

  “You’ve thought of everything.”

  “We’re getting our people and leaving alive and well.” Crooking his knuckle under her chin, Bei turned her face to his and slanted his mouth over hers.

  She tasted the promise of tomorrow, the demand of a future.

  The ship trembled.

  Or maybe it was her legs. She clung to him, squeezing out every last drop of pleasure.

  He pulled away too soon. “I will give you those hours I owe you.”

  “Damn straight.” Nell gasped. Darn it, she’d done it again.

  Bei caressed her stomach. “Don’t worry. If they can hear what’s said in the WA, they’ll be able to teach Rome a few things.”

  “That’s not helping.” Good heavens, she never considered that they could hear. Did they even have ears yet?

  Her husband stepped into the corridor but slipped into her mind.

  Nell’s thoughts flooded with plans to deploy stealth probes to better their understanding of the facility’s layout.

  Movement whispered behind her.

  “Shall we join the Syn-En below?” Omest’s body heat flared along her side.

  She retreated a step. There was no way he was going all Big Bad Wolf on her. “I find I just get in their way. The Syn-En get their Zen on before a mission.”

  “Zen?”

  Ice cliffs jutted into the pink sky. Snow flurries danced like wraiths across the plateaus. A red fungus clung to blackened tree trunks.

  “It’s a state of mind.” Skirting around him, she plopped into Bei’s recently vacated seat. The leather was still warm. Under cover of rubbing her nose, she sniffed. Just a trace of his scent remained. She peered over the helm.

  A fog of snow swirled underneath their hull.

  Swiveling the pilot’s chair to face hers, Omest sat. The rings around his eyes deepened to blood red. “Humans are an interesting species. I’ve encountered them everywhere but never really talked to them.”

  “Because you felt guilty for doing nothing about our slavery?”

  He cocked a black eyebrow. “No. That is the order of things. It does no good to fight it.”

  “You’re fighting it now.” Or was he? Could he be the traitor? Should she warn Bei and the others?

  Relax. I detect no subterfuge from him. And he hates the Founders. Bei’s voice flowed through her like a soothing balm.

  “There is a chance to change things now. My people have waited a long time for this opportunity.” He folded his hands over his black clad stomach. “Are there so many Humans on Earth that you can afford to risk a pregnant one?”

  Nell bit her lip to keep from answering too soon. It was possible that he was a male chauvinistic alien oinker, but it was more likely the Picaroons had faced extinction and every new person counted toward the species survival. “There were seven billion of us when I left Earth.”

  And only half a billion when the Syn-En departed. Oh, what a difference a century and a quarter made.

  Omest’s mouth dropped open. “So many? After ten millennia, we were delighted to reach a hundred thousand.”

  “We were lucky.”

  Gears ground together. The landing pylons deployed. A heartbeat later the ship touched down. A curtain of white descended.

  “Let us hope that Humanity’s luck continues.”

  “It will.” Nell crossed her toes in her boots. Too bad, she couldn’t send a shield of fermites to protect the Syn-En.

  The engines powered down.
The metal ticked as it cooled.

  Her breath echoed in her ears in the silence.

  Prepare to deploy the probes. Bei’s order was void of emotion.

  The ship’s com chimed. Two knocks pounded on the hull.

  Who could be calling in this storm? Nell’s stomach clenched. The granola bar she’d eaten earlier threatened to revisit her mouth.

  Omest activated the speakers.

  “Welcome to Sentinel. Please prepare for inspection. I’m sorry to inform you that this is not optional.”

  Chapter 15

  Nell bolted down the stairs of the shuttle. Bei. She had to find Bei. The enemy wanted to board them! Her boots thudded hollowly along the corridor to the reception area.

  An echo told her that Omest, the Picaroon, chased after her.

  She skidded to a stop on the threshold. Gripping the jamb, she dug her fingernails on the airtight door. Her heart hammered her breast. Where were they?

  The green silk wallpaper shimmered in her peripheral vision.

  Her vision fuzzed, then she saw her husband. He and his men were camouflaged. Right. Great idea. Camo on! Silver streaked her arms. “I said camo, as in camouflage not unleash my inner disco zebra.”

  Warm breath cascaded down her back. Omest. “Did they leave us here?”

  “No, they’re still with us.” Nell smoothed her tunic. How much should she reveal? Bei may trust him, but he didn’t have pints of blood in his veins.

  Her husband materialized on her right. “We will leave when they open the door.”

  Nell’s hair stirred. Warm fingers brushed her nape. She jumped. “Keyes?”

  “I’m going to upload the Municians’ language into your cerebral interface. Everything you think will be translated into their language.” Keyes spoke behind Nell.

  “Great. Wonderful.” Nell glanced over her shoulder. Was it her imagination or were his pointy teeth longer? “What about him?”

  Omest set his hand over his chest. “I am fluent in all the Founders languages.”

  “Which means we need a Hollywood artist to wave her make-up brushes and turn us into evil elves.” They were so screwed and not in an enjoyable way. Nell fisted her tunic’s hem.

  Bei pinched her chin gently. “Nell, you control NDA. You can shape it into any form you want. Remember the swords you tried to stab Mopus with?”

  “Yes.” She drew out the last word. Her voice had dropped an octave.

  “Close your eyes. Picture the Municians. Their colored skin. Their jewel-toned garments and precise embroidery.”

  “Their pointy ears.” Nell shook the image of Spock from her head. She wanted a fantasy elf, not a Vulcan. She pictured the sapphire robes draped to the floor, the unripened peach fuzz skin, and the emerald eyes. Her skin tingled and the base of her neck heated.

  “That’s it.” Bei trailed a knuckle down her throat and teased her collar bone. “Remember their stiff posture.”

  “They acted like they had a stick up their butts.” Whoa. She clenched her bottom cheeks. She didn’t want the fermites or NDA to get any ideas.

  “Long, straight hair, a few shades darker than their skin tones.”

  She could see herself just so. Aside from the whole evil incarnate bit, the elves weren’t that much different than Humans.

  “Now imagine Omest as a taller, male version.” Bei brushed his lips across hers. “Open your eyes.”

  Nell’s cerebral interface clicked into place. She stared into her husband’s blue eyes. “Hello.”

  “Hello. I want to show you something, but you must promise me not to scream.” He stroked the inside of her wrist.

  God. He thought she would scream? She felt one rising in her throat but swallowed it down. “I promise.”

  Bei raised her arm.

  Her lime-green arm. Nell wiggled her fingers. Manicured nails flashed in the overhead lights. She skimmed her ears. “They’re pointy.”

  Two thuds slammed against the hull.

  The Munician sighed over the open com. “I apologize for the inconvenience, but the inspection is mandatory. Please open the door or we will open it for ourselves.”

  “But what about—”

  Bei turned her to face the Picaroon.

  The Picaroon turned Munician. Omest stood before her in shades of green, only his eyes hadn’t changed. “I have never heard of such technology.”

  “You did that with your superpowers.” Bei’s lips brushed her ear lobe. “Now, open the door. We’ll leave when they begin their inspection.”

  Leave her? A silver vein popped though her green skin.

  “You’ll be fine.” He stroked her interface.

  Serotonin flooded her body and she relaxed. “I can do this.”

  She had no choice. Even her words were no longer English. Hot damn, she’d have a career in Hollywood if the place still existed.

  Bei faded into the background.

  Omest strode forward. Grunting, he came to a complete stop.

  “Ow.” Keyes massaged her arm. “We’ll clear the road, then you can pass without bumping into any of us.”

  “Incredible. Just incredible.” Omest rubbed his green nose. “There’s no way the Alliance can lose with technology such as this.”

  This technology didn’t help against battleships. Nell eyed the shimmering walls. “The aisle is clear.”

  With his arm sweeping in front of him, Omest staggered forward. “I shall welcome our guests.”

  Nell’s ears perked at a low hum. The Syn-En were charging their weapons. So they didn’t quite trust Omest either. Nell draped herself over the chair in front of Bei. A Munician wouldn’t stand for a lowly inspector. She studied her nails. They never looked so good, but a touch of fermite glitter would be perfect. Sparkles appeared on her fingernails.

  Maybe you’re a bit too relaxed. Bei smoothed her pale green locks.

  I’m not relaxed, I’m bored. I have everything and want for nothing. Nell blew on her dry nails.

  Omest stomped heavily down the corridor to the lounge. “My lady, we have guests.”

  Two men in gray shirts and trousers frowned behind Omest’s back. The lines bracketing their mouths deepened as they surveyed the peeling wallpaper, the torn upholstery, and the faded spots where artwork once hung.

  Two Syn-En glided out behind the stopped trio. A third, sidled around the last inspector.

  Nell rose to her feet, shaking out her skirts. “Welcome most honored guests. I believe we are in accord as to the delay in opening our vessel to you. It is in quite an embarrassing state.”

  “As your guest it would be rude to mention such deplorable conditions.” The lead inspector reached for the peeling paper.

  Right where Shanghai stood.

  Nell held her breath. Don’t find her. Please, don’t find her.

  The Syn-En engineer shifted at the last second, avoiding contact. She slowly melted to a crouch, then somersaulted under the chipped stone table. In silent grace, she rose to her feet and exited the lounge.

  Nell locked her knees to remain upright.

  The two inspectors separated.

  One disappeared below decks.

  The taller of the two swaggered forward. Silver threads wove through his braided slate-blue hair. Clunky bracelets manacled his wrists. Sapphires adorned the weapon on his lean hip. He squinted at the wallpaper behind Nell. “If you don’t mind us asking, why is an Argent on such a ship?”

  Did he see Bei? He couldn’t have. He would have drawn his weapon, if he suspected anything. Two more Syn-En ghosted out of the lounge.

  Why? Why? Of all the questions to ask. Nell smoothed the gold embroidery on her cuff. Green wasn’t so bad. It was better than dead. “It is embarrassing, isn’t it? That’s why there’s just the two of us. We don’t want anyone to think less of our family.”

  Tall inspector’s indigo eyebrows shot up his blue-gray forehead and he leisurely dropped his gaze from her head to her toes. “The Argents are known for their impeccable taste.”
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br />   Keyes cocked her finger and thumb and aimed it at the back of the inspector’s head. After pulling the trigger of her makeshift gun, she slipped from the lounge.

  Nell stiffened. Surely a Munician woman wouldn’t put up with such an insult. She opened her mouth.

  Bei trailed a finger down her spine. Don’t make me have to kill him.

  No, she wouldn’t want that.

  Tall inspector’s nostrils flared. “Why don’t I detect the Argent’s enticing aroma?”

  Damn, she’d forgotten the stinky bit, and how she’d wanted to do anything the evil elves had asked after getting a whiff of him.

  Omest sauntered forward. “My lady is pregnant. Everyone knows a female’s scent diminishes once she’d mated.”

  Oooh, that was unfair. Nell nearly stomped her foot.

  “We are on our way to deposit the fetus in the nursery when we were asked to bring this…” Omest’s green lips curled into a sneer. “This vessel here.”

  Nice save. Maybe the alien vampire wasn’t such a bloodsucker after all.

  Tall inspector preened in the chrome cabinet’s reflection. “Pregnancy does deform a body, doesn’t it? Whatever did women do before nurseries?”

  Kick jerkfaces’ dangly bits back inside their bodies. Nell’s nails dug into her palms. With her fermites she could just erase them from his body.

  Bei eased around her and headed toward the door. Remember, I’m just a thought away.

  Stay alive. Nell sank onto the settee. If they were going to ignore her like the furniture, then she would make herself comfortable.

  Omest followed the inspector to the cockpit. “I’m certain they worry a male will never find them attractive again.”

  The inspector paused on the threshold to the corridor and stared at Nell. “At least you’ve caught it before she became too ugly.”

  Nell’s ears buzzed. The air around her twinkled. She could teach him a thing or two about ugly.

  Omest shook his finger at her. “Rest, my lady. Your face is already showing signs of fatigue.”

  Her mouth dropped open. She never knew rudeness was contagious. Folding her arms over her chest, she flopped back in her chair.

  “So why are the Argents traveling in such a style? The vessel must be two years out of date.” The tall inspector’s voice invaded the lounge.