by E L Strife
Azure spun around, furious. “Does it look like it could be anyone else?”
A man with a peppered, military haircut deposited a needle in a red sharps bin on the wall, peeling his gloves off. With a wave of his hand, he encouraged the shepherd in the chair beside his desk to leave. The shepherd passed Azure, wearing the most deadpan mask he’d ever seen, no hint of emotion or thought. His green eyes were the only indicator he wasn’t a machine—simultaneously bright and dark, they pierced into Azure right before slipping through security.
“Please sit so I may contact her.” The man waved to a seat in the back and pulled up Atana’s face on his wristband. “Azure, yes?”
“Yes. I am in your system now.” Azure couldn’t shave the edge from his voice. Shepherds’ wristbands reminded him of the collars Linoans would put on the slave pilots to keep track of them and keep them in line. They squeezed about as tight too. He sat in the large reading chair in the farthest corner, shifting Kios into his lap. The violet lights of the serum cabinets along the innermost wall made their skin glow and their stripes darken to ebony.
“I’m Rio, Atana’s instructor.” The man’s slate eyes were too cold and flat to be a Healer like Atana claimed.
Switching to their native language, Azure checked with Kios. “Was Rio kind to you?”
The boy huddled against him, replying in a similar fashion, “Yes. He gave me Hatoga mok and brocanip seeds.” Kios lifted his shirt, showing the fading bruises. “My tummy feels better.”
Azure breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe Rio wasn’t a Healer of Agutra sorts, but he wasn’t incapable either.
“I am tired, Martiis.” Kios’s small frame tucked up against his body, fitting within the planes of Azure’s broad chest. The boy slumped and trembled awake, repeating the process. It was a hard-wired fear in every worker, to fall asleep and be found resting by Warruks or Linoans then be sliced up or sent out an airlock alive. Or in Kios’s case, be beaten to near death by other hungry children and have the crumbs stolen from his muddy pockets.
“Iitues aht eskrii. Ahna tivalla.” Have no fear. You rest. Azure continued his visual patrol, placing a protective hand to the back of Kios’s head and sliding an arm around his thin frame. “Sim mitras ahna, mitras ria‘ii, yanir sim niveriia vehr.” I protect you, protect us, until my dying breath.
Kios snuggled closer. Where is Sahara?
Helping many other kiatna like a good Martiisa. We must understand she has to work. This is her world.
The two of them were easy visual targets, sitting in Rio’s chair. Shepherds watched from the line and from the tables in the exam room through Rio’s office windows. Their eyes hovered over the two in the corner with unnerving focus.
“Why do they stare at us?” Kios wadded fistfuls of Azure’s clothing in rake-thin fingers.
Azure hoped Xahu’ré were merely something the shepherds weren’t programmed to deal with and without a given order, they would be left alone. The last time he was on Home Station had been a panicked rush. Today, he sat in full view of shepherds, their attention testing his composure. He couldn’t shake the tingling in his rapidly firing nerves, the ones that warned of danger.
He patted the boy’s back, measuring his voice. “They do not understand what we have in common.”
Chapter 17
SPOTS OF SUNLIGHT danced through the deep water beyond the windows. Atana, in a backup rust-brown leather outfit and her self-forced human colors, passed the empty Central Auditorium. Even the staging area was quiet with all shepherds tasked out. She stepped inside the elevator, and the door closed.
The wristband she’d become so accustomed to over the last thirteen years weighed heavier on her arm today. Bennett had brought it to her while she recoded the final bay door. She’d thought having a connection with Home Station’s databases and her technical schematics would relieve the emptiness and disorientation. She was wrong.
Exiting the elevator, Atana entered the main hangar. She drank in the fresh, cool ocean breeze. It was easy on tired lungs. The two guards checking wristbands remained silent as ever-watching shepherds should be. Communication was reserved for accomplishing tasks. There were no casual greetings in the Universal Protectors’ world.
Except Bennett and his team.
With the doors of the east wing bays now operational, permitting collectors inside, the rescue picked up the pace. Every bay door was open to the sky outside as the collectors dropped off their passengers for relocation. Soon they’d have the arrivals and departures caught up and synced.
Standing close to the wall, she studied Bennett out on the floor as he directed people and unloaded stretchers of those passing out upon waking from the life-slots. He caught an older man who tripped descending a ramp. Bennett smiled, and the two shared a short laugh together. The stranger, in jeans and a faded button-up, extended a hand. Bennett, still wearing the fabric from Agutra, returned his gesture and then waved the man to his ride home.
Blond with blue eyes but looks like you, got it. Upon asking for a description of her brother, Bennett had seen her memory then hurried off to search while he helped in the main hangar.
Atana couldn’t believe he was looking. A self-loathing part of her deep inside felt she didn’t deserve to meet her brother after the way she’d reacted to his daring entrance into her life. She decided her hesitation was more because families were outlawed in their world. There was no way to be certain how Command would react to Lavrion—or her insubordination.
Retire her early? Maybe, maybe not. She was capable of things no other shepherd was. It made her an asset and a threat.
Tanner had flagged her down in the bays between collector runs. They’d gathered the appropriate Kyra information on his laptop and messaged Command with the data. Atana now hoped they would see the significance of their impending ruin and look past her threat to reality.
Her leathers staved off the chill far better than a field dress. She was thankful for the security of their shield: hiding her scars, protecting her vulnerable areas, and strengthening her spine. They set her apart, visually, and it felt more right today than ever. Before the invasion, she’d focused on being the most effective shepherd, Command’s Katana. Standing there, looking out at the uniformity of shepherds’ dress and actions, she couldn’t feel more out of place.
UP’s transports were busy humming above as they picked up the masses and carted them back to the topographical zones they called home. Several sergeants stood in the center with H.Co. Tracking Recalibraters. A collector docked to her right, and one of them hustled over, unlocking the slots. Another greeted each and, taking their left wrist in hand, scanned the chip and shut off the glowing amber light. They then escorted the Earthlings to different staging zones according to their respective homes. A cot, something to eat, water, shots, and a helping hand. It was more than most Earthlings had.
Soft footsteps neared her side, and she smiled, looking over her shoulder to Azure, Kios in his arms.
“I’ve been searching all over for you. Rio didn’t want to release Kios to me. He didn’t know who I was.”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve warned you. Rio is protective. He’s my instructing shepherd.”
His smile fell. “Did you get something to eat? You were shaking when we landed.”
She returned to her visual patrol of the hive in the main hangar with a nod.
“Good.” Azure adjusted Kios against his side and shifted closer to her.
A familiar head of tousled, blond hair stepped off the ramp of a collector.
She launched off the wall, weaving between people, desperation sending hot energy into her weary limbs. Atana frantically tracked his position, ducking and sidestepping around others. Don’t lose him.
He’d stopped in the middle of the floor to listen to a shepherd shouting terminals for topographical zones and their directions.
Her steps slowed, realizing his reaction might not be as pleasant as she hoped. She stared at the back of the blond head, s
everal meters away. The man’s ratted black sweatshirt and torn jeans were the same things her supposed brother had on when he broke into her apartment complex as the invasion began.
And she’d had him sent off to the local Human Cataloging office, to detainment.
“Lavrion?”
He looked over his shoulder, the iced layers of his unmistakable eyes cutting through the crowd. Several shepherds and survivors crossed between them.
“Sahara?” The slender man spun to face her and lifted his hands. “I didn’t come here on purpose. I got caught in the thing, the green light.”
“Stop. I’m not reporting you,” she insisted. “You’re not in trouble.”
His arms fell to his sides. “I don’t have a zone to go back to. Where am I supposed to go? I won’t be a bother again, I promise.”
No home? She took an urgent step toward him. I lost my memory. I didn’t know who you were. I am so sorry.
He cocked his head, brows pinched in confusion.
It’s why I didn’t recognize you or know myself by that name, my real name. Us shepherds and slaves fought the invaders, the Suanoa, while you were asleep on the collector. However distantly understood, she felt a sense of familiarity standing there close to him. “I was picked up when I was five. I was fifteen during the second invasion when the Rescue Team grabbed the lucky few of us. They had to fly us home in a non-ground-worthy ship. We crashed.” She traced the long scar on the right side of her head. “Only recently, with some help, did I find the missing pieces.”
Lavrion’s eyes widened. “That’s what that flash was, in my dreams while I was on the—” He waved a hand at the collector. “That was you! Just like your father, Tivar, a Nova.”
Now she was confused. “How did you know?”
“Ma.” A corner of his mouth curled. The Ether.
She nodded, despite her lack of comprehension. Families were a concept stolen from her decades ago. “Are you all right?”
“Better now I’m off that thing.” He laughed lightly, his fair cheeks tingeing pink.
Azure’s deep voice spoke over the crowd from behind her, holding Kios up against his side with one arm. “This is Lavrion?”
“Yes,” she said.
“This is your family?” Lavrion asked.
“Azure and I went through testing together when we were kids, up there, before the Rescue. We’ve taken on caring for Kios.”
In the distance, a voice erupted through the crowd. “We need Atana!”
She spun around. At a separate dock a few bays over, Teek’s gray tail twitched in petulance. Ramura hid her face in her hands beside him. Atana waved for Azure and Lavrion to follow.
“I don’t know where she is. All the shepherds are busy. You will have to wait with the others,” the security sergeant shouted at the team inside a collector as the ramp dropped. “They need to go over there! Section twenty-five is for Mountain Zone Eleven.”
“Ramura?” Azure pushed past Atana, setting Kios on the ground.
“Azure!” The girl’s arms slid around his sides grabbing fistfuls of his shirt. “Paramor told us to come here and help you.” Ramura jerked as she drew in a breath. “Everyone on the ship looked at us like we were Suanoa. Tanner and his friend kept us safe. But when the people woke up, they were screaming, frightened by us!”
“Did anyone hurt either of you?” Atana asked.
Teek shook his head.
Azure squeezed Ramura tight, resting his lips in the dark gray waves atop her head. “They don’t understand yet. Give it time. We are entering their world now, instead of it being the other way around.”
Teek placed a hand to Ramura’s back. “We are kind to new workers. We not scream or throw things.”
Atana wasn’t about to send them away. Command would probably fight her on this, but the alternative wasn’t likely to help Agutra relations. “Humans just understand different struggles. They need time to adapt.” She jerked her head toward the main Home Station doors. “Let’s get you three somewhere quiet so you can rest.”
Kios grabbed one of Azure’s large fingers as he ran to keep up with the warrior’s long strides. Azure stooped, lifting the boy to his side.
“Atana,” Teek called as they walked. “Most collectors in space, we control. Paramor want me tell you. Doku and Hope pilots are together. Most Linoans and Warruks been killed by perimeter guards.” With a hopeful smile, he showed her the contents of his worn satchel. “I stay here, with you? I bring tools. I lost without Chamarel.”
Atana could see the rims of his eyelids redden. Touching his arm, she gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I said I would show you our tech lab, didn’t I?”
His arms wrapped around her, the end of his tail curling up. She staggered back in surprise.
“Eih ahna, Atana!”
“You’re welcome,” she responded with a short laugh.
“Sergeant Atana.” The security posted by the doors stopped them. “Who are they?”
“Representatives from Agutra,” she said coolly, her face stone-flat again. “They’re with us.” She gestured to Azure’s band.
Both men examined the group closely before extending the scanners. Atana and Azure’s wristbands registered, and the shepherds moved aside, the main doors unlocking.
After they were through and the doors shut, a loud gust of air burst from Azure’s lips. “Had me nervous. Guess this thing is worth its annoyance.”
“They are not usually posted there. It is added security because of the civilians in the main hangar.” Ushering Lavrion, Ramura, and Teek into an elevator, Atana looked over at him. Azure stepped inside with Kios, twisting his arm as he inspected the band. “I will assign everyone we bring in a CENA so we don’t have any trouble.”
The elevator closed, and Atana’s stomach lifted into her lungs. Ramura let out a tiny yelp. Lavrion looked equally startled and a hint embarrassed, beside her.
“Everyone?” Azure asked, a doting smile on his face.
Soft rope curled around Atana’s arm when the elevator slowed to a stop. She looked back at Teek, his hands splayed out on the glass while he studied the fish swimming outside. “We need all the help we can get.”
Teek spun at her words, eyes widening at what his tail had latched on to. Freeing it from her arm, he apologized.
“Remaining united is the only way for all of us to survive. Command will accept this, or we will fail.” Making visual contact with each of them, each looking stunned at her bluntness, Atana stepped out into the hall. It was the cold truth, and every one of them knew it in their own way. Why people softened a life and death reality with lies—or serum—she never understood.
Death was incapable of playing nice.
Chapter 18
THE HUM of the elevator faded as it lifted back up to the main hangar. Atana encouraged the group over to a screen on the wall where she logged into UP Hub 11-3 and set up a group room. Calling each to her, she scanned their irises and faces into the system.
The computer beeped in warning after Ramura’s scan. The girl lurched backward, hands up, breathing in rapid bursts. “I didn’t do anything!”
Azure caught her flailing arms beside Atana. “It’s because our eyes illuminate. Mine did it too.”
Atana adjusted the shutter speed and aperture, and with a second take, the computer accepted Ramura’s iris pattern. Ushering her around the corner with the others, three transparent slots in the curved wall unlocked, displaying the image of the individual assigned to the unit.
Opening each tray, Atana handed out the bands to their respective user. “Strap these on your left arm. They get you into the room, food, and access to other Standard Facilities.” She directed them on with a wave of her hand. “Now, to your room.”
Kios eyed the shiny display Teek toyed with. “Do I get one?”
“I have to make a special one for you.” Atana touched the boy’s arm. “You are a bit too little for these.”
Teek’s fingers hovered over the screen. “Y
ou made this?”
She nodded. “A lot of advancements here are my designs. Our personal pods, a handful of other things.” Atana pointed at the hubs behind them in the entrance.
You two were meant for each other, Ramura stated in awe, glancing at the flashing schematics of the updated Field transports. Azure looked too.
A hot flash cascaded through Atana. Bashfully stealing a glance at Azure, she noticed his face had darkened. He tapped Ramura’s shoulder with a shake of his head.
“Sahara—” Kios picked at his bottom lip. “I want to sleep in your hut.”
“I, uh—” Atana looked to see Azure’s eyes silently begging too. “The three of us will stick together as much as possible. Promise.”
Ramura hustled up beside Atana, throwing nervous glances over her shoulder at Lavrion. “You are putting us in the same hut?”
Atana held up a hand. “Our group rooms are for teams, which often contain males and females. There are two bathroom stalls and a wall you can close in between for changing purposes. If you need anything, put your finger on the picture of anyone from the team: Azure, myself, Bennett, Cutter, Tanner, Josie, and Panton. There are maps built in—”
“Found it!” Teek’s tail curled.
Atana led them down the stairs. “Make sure you stick to areas you’re permitted in.”
“Eih, Sahara.” Ramura dipped her head, eyes lingering over her face. “Why did you hide your stripes?”
Atana could already tell merging Agutra and Earth would not be easy. Atana was one person. This would blend vastly different species, complete cultures. With Earth hidden from itself, now being exposed to this invasion, she wasn’t convinced the truth would stay put and worried what the planet’s unfolding might cause.
She stepped out into a lunchroom and team work area. “Because I am a leader here, like Bennett. I must display as one of them, whether it is what I am inside or not.” The group followed her to the left, passing multiple residential berths. “Rio, my Healer, will stop by soon to give you all a pill to help digest the food we have here. Make sure you take it, or you will likely get sick after eating.”