“What is his agenda?” Rand followed up with.
“Ronan simply wants the High Keeper to leave him alone,” AI~Em replied. “It has been his only agenda, apparently, for decades. He doesn't oppose the High Keeper in anything, as long as he is left alone.”
“This woman named Wex seems to have influence with Ronan. Mason, the High Keeper's lead engineer, also appears to owe some kind of allegiance to her.” AI~Em looked at Po. “This is unusual for this world. I do not believe she is a native.”
Murmurs drifted through the room.
“How will this impact the schedule?” Elkin asked.
AI~Stu replied, “We were already planning on rolling the fabricator out of the shuttle, to facilitate the creation of the larger hull plates on the Sedna. Med bay's schedule is winding down. So, stealth transport to the East Isles should be quick, quiet and easy. We can even take the newly armed PT-137 that’s in the hold, if we change the schedule, here, and here.”
“All of this only moves the schedule to the right about thirty hours,” AI~Em said. “But, it also presumes we can retrieve the nuclear missiles for fuel within four days.”
There was a long pause, as everyone studied the proposed plan. Worthington was in the center and turned around.
“Here is what we will do,” he said, decisively. “We need to get the fabricator rolled out of the shuttle, by nightfall. Hume and I will have a talk with Ronan. Hume and Stu will take Ronan and the survivors to the East Isles.” Cascading assignments appeared as he spoke. “We will get access to the High Keeper's systems, and when we’re ready to get off this rock, maybe we’ll use that access to create a little chaos, so we can slide out of here, quietly.” He turned to look at the schedule. “Poole will monitor the schedule while Par, Ash, Peace and Em go with Barcus, to retrieve the missile pod.”
Worthington turned to the group. “Anything else?”
Barcus spoke, “Par will be repaired, ahead of schedule. Rand has been helping me.”
“Make sure you get enough rest, Barcus,” AI~Em said.
Everyone laughed. AI~Em’s tone was a perfect nag.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
The East Isles
“Wex…We just didn’t know who she was. What she was. Or, that another just like her, was on the moon, with Hagan.”
--Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: Lieutenant Valerie Hume, the security chief on the Memphis.
<<<>>>
Everyone moved to their assigned tasks and schedules. Barcus found that he was working with Em, Po and Olias all afternoon, replacing the broken leg joints on Par.
Olias stood by the cart full of tools, and Po held the pins Barcus had pulled from the first multi-axis joint they were replacing. She stretched upward. The form-fitting flight suit drew his attention.
“Barcus, why can I see Em now? I don't even need a plate, anymore. I just...see things,” she said.
“Yeah. Me too,” Olias added, in Common Tongue. “Not that I mind. She translates everything into Common Tongue for me, so I can understand. I’m glad she’s back.”
“I can answer that, Barcus,” AI~Em said. She seemed to be standing with them, leaning on the next leg over. “While they were injured, I implanted the personal HUD systems into the two of them.” She sounded like she was apologizing to them all. “I was afraid. It was just easier to do than to explain. I had to do everything I could think of that would increase the probability of their survival. The med bay had the replacement HUD nanites. A plate could be lost or broken. I was unsure about their recovery. I needed help. Without the nanites, they would have died.”
That was what Barcus heard.
***
Po and Olias heard her say something else, something different. “I can answer that, Barcus,” AI~Em said. She seemed to be standing with them, leaning on the next leg over.
Po heard, “While you were injured, and so close to death, the magic contained within your soul began to drift away.” She sounded like she was proud of them. “Your soul recognized Po, and Olias. It clung to you both, and stayed. Their strength added to yours. They saved you, even though we were all afraid.”
***
Olias heard, “While you were injured, and so close to death, the magic contained within your soul began to drift away.” AI~Em sounded fierce and proud of Olias. “If it wasn't for the brave actions of your apprentice here, you may have died. He saved you, and through you, he saved Po. She was beside herself with grief. He will make a powerful Keeper one day.”
***
Barcus put the tools down on the cart, and rested a hand on each of their shoulders, before speaking. “Thank you for everything you've done for me.”
“You can stop right there, Barcus,” Po began. “We have too much work to do for you to start being kind to me. You know that's the only thing that'll make me cry, so please don't.” She smiled, as she said this.
Olias beamed at his thanks.
She handed him the tool and pointed. The Emergency Module had its physical repairs done ahead of schedule.
***
Hume and Worthington found Ronan, having his own meeting with the survivors from the Abbey. When Jim saw them last, they seemed beaten and depressed. Now, he heard their laughter, before he even reached the cottage.
Hume and Worthington entered, through the stairs, into the pantry and then the kitchen where they were gathered. Some were cooking, some were simply standing where they could. In the center of it all was Ronan, telling a story, in Common Tongue, that neither Worthington nor Hume could really understand. It made some of the women blush. Others covered their mouths, to hide smiles, or to suppress laughs. His tone sounded as if it was a well-practiced story, of high humor and self-deprecation. When the punch line was delivered, Hume and Worthington laughed with the rest. Ronan made faces, as if their laughter was unexpected, making them laugh even more.
Even Smith laughed. Shaking his head, he laughed. When he scratched his eye, Rose slapped his hand away. That sent the group into a renewed bout of laughter, to the point of tears.
Ronan stole a fresh biscuit, as he stood and gestured for Worthington and Hume to come with him to the front.
Ronan spoke, as he added more wood to the fire in the large hearth. “These people have had a hard life. They are strong. They will do well in the East Isles. Barcus made quite an impression on them.”
“Barcus is a good man,” Jim stated.
“That may be true. But, I believe the people at the redoubt may also still be in danger,” Ronan said, lowering his voice. “We must evacuate them, as well. And, soon.”
“I agree. We will contact them and tell them to be ready. Kuss is there with them,” Worthington said.
“Captain.” It was AI~Em in his HUD. “If Stu stops en route, to pick up people on the way, we can get them all in one trip, and still be back here by dawn.”
Worthington silently agreed.
“I will notify Kuss, now. And Jim, let Barcus and Po take them.”
Worthington raised an eyebrow at AI~Em for using his first name, but continued, “As soon as everyone has eaten and packed, Barcus will take them.”
***
Barcus, Po and Olias had dinner with the Abbey survivors that night. Barcus knew it was probably the last time he would see any of them. He even convinced Smith and Rose to go with them. They crowded on the STU’s flight deck, at Po’s request, as she sat in the front, right seat with Barcus in the front left.
Suddenly, the dome of the interior seemed to fade away, as it shifted to the exterior display. It looked like they stood on a platform with a 360° view, as they drifted, silently, toward the mouth of the hangar. They saw Worthington's crew, waving to them in the floodlights. The people clung to one another, afraid they may fall off. They slid out of the hangar, over the water, and moved fast to the east; at first, low over the water, then they rose, quickly.
The group gasped and held each other as they increased their altitude. Barcus knew that the display was enhanced, beca
use it was a cloudy night. They moved quickly, under propulsion. They would be at the redoubt in less than forty minutes.
Ronan knelt on one knee between Po and Barcus. “I don't suppose, when you head back to Earth, that you could let me hold onto this excellent craft for you, until you return?”
He smiled.
“Sorry, Ronan. The STU has to come with us. We need him,” Barcus said.
“Yes, I know. I have already discussed it with your captain. We have come to an agreement. A treaty of sorts. I will protect your interests, equities and assets, when you leave here,” he said, in good cheer.
“My assets?” Barcus asked.
“Your lands, your people. You now possess everything north of the gorge. It may be cold and empty, but it's vast. I will happily manage it, for you. And, this outpost, as well,” Ronan said.
“What's in it for you?” Barcus asked, curious.
“Honestly? Timber. I need masts for my ships,” Ronan replied. Suddenly, sadness slipped over his face. “And, I need the High Keeper to pay attention, elsewhere.”
***
Po brought up a tactical map and as they approached the redoubt,
Kuss hailed them. “Everyone ready to board, my Lord.” She addressed him in his HUD. “I heard many stories of you, Barcus. I may take you to my bed yet. If you lucky.”
Po was amused by Kuss’s broken English.
She laughed. So, did Barcus. Po just pounded his chest with a surprise fist.
They assembled on that flat area, just above the redoubt. As the ramp lowered to the cargo bay, they walked slowly to the shuttle. It was a tearful reunion. They barely felt the takeoff as the STU smoothly moved to the sky. Kuss joined Barcus, Po, and Ronan on the bridge.
“Well, Barcus. Your redoubt base properly shut down.” Kuss sat slowly, as if she was exhausted. “Computers dead. But not needed, really. Old Colony redoubts made so they not need them.” She reclined in the last row. “Need nap. How long flight?”
Barcus replied, “We will be in the East Isles in about three hours. As soon as we are loaded with the supplies Ronan is so graciously donating, we will be off again. Back to the hangar by dawn.”
“Wake me when close,” she said, as she reclined and folded her arm over her eyes.
AI~Stu lowered the lights without being asked. The night sky cleared the farther east they went.
“Captain Worthington says you will be taking a quick trip, visiting Exeter in a few days, to get Wex,” Ronan said, in a soft voice. “I will send word to my estate there. I cannot tell you in strong enough terms that you must be careful. I’ll take you in my shuttle. It’ll be safer. I’ll give you some of my personal house liveries. This will help you move about unmolested. But, tread easy. Be patient.”
“Who is this Wex?” Barcus asked.
Ronan hesitated, as if the question was far more involved. “She is a musician. And saying that, actually says nothing about her,” Ronan said. “She plays the black flute. Grady made that flute and gave it to her as a gift. Long ago. They say, it won her heart. But, I think it's she that has won ours. Her music is raw magic. She can make a High Tracker weep like a little girl with that flute.”
Barcus looked at Po. They had a difficult time seeing Grady with any woman.
“I was there when she played for the High Keeper, for the first time,” Ronan continued. “It was during, yet another, High Council feast. I hate those feasts. She played, intended to be typical background music.”
Ronan got lost, remembering.
“No one realized that all conversation, all eating, all drinking had stopped. Everyone listened to her play.” He saw it in his mind's eye. “She was in a full habit, just like most women in Exeter. Her hood was up, her face in shadows, as was proper.”
“What happened?” Po asked.
“The High Keeper had not seemed to notice or to care about anything in decades, even a century. He was moved by it. She has resided at the Citadel, ever since,” Ronan stated. “Wex is the most intelligent, talented, extraordinary woman I have ever met.”
“Grady made her that flute?” Barcus asked, absently.
“She is more than that flute. I think she is a survivor, like you. Because, like you, she wears the world differently.” Ronan's voice faded.
***
They landed in East Isles just before midnight. Barcus, Po, and Olias said farewell to all of them. Olias would not stay. He could not be persuaded, in any way. He, eventually, retreated to the shuttle's bridge, to avoid another person asking.
Barcus never even considered asking Po to stay. This, silently, made her happy. Barcus knew this, inside.
Before they arrived, the details had been sorted out for their brief visit to Exeter. It will be simple. Ronan will, quietly, find out what he could regarding Wex, and let them know, in a few days.
Smith was the last one to say goodbye.
“I can finally see you as you need to be seen,” Smith said to Po.
She knew he was not talking about his eye. She stood before him in a black flight suit.
“I love you, Po.” Smith said the words he had never said before, as he hugged her. “Be all that you are. But, be safe. Live.”
Her face was wet with tears when he let her go.
“You'll need to be, if you stay with this one.” Smith looked at Barcus.
Barcus held his hand out, for Smith to shake. He would not discover, until later, that it was a Keeper's acknowledgment of an equal. Smith took it and hugged Barcus, with their clasped hands between them.
“Take care, Smith,” Barcus said.
“Just remember, son. On Baytirus, beware of the broken cage. Because you may not know if you are on the inside, or out,” Smith said, as if he quoted a famous farewell.
Barcus only realized, later, it was a quote, and its true meaning.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Questions
“The nukes were from the defense grid. Javelins. We should have kept closer count. We were all just too damn busy. Em kept us that way.”
--Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: Lieutenant Valerie Hume, the security chief on the Memphis.
<<<>>>
Barcus, Po, and Kuss slept in the reclined command seats on the way back. As the world slid silently beneath them, Em's final repairs were finished and tested.
They arrived before dawn and the cargo they carried was quickly unloaded. It was all on uniform pallets in closed crates and had to be opened and inventoried.
Most of it was food—literally, tons of food of all kinds. Some were dried, some were preserved in glass jars, and others were grains in sacks. As it was inventoried, it was moved to cold storage in the Sedna, for their long trip home.
There was a wide variety of clothes in there, as well. There were tunics, pants, cloaks, tabards, belts, pouches and even boots. It was very high quality. There were also clothes that were, apparently, what women were expected to wear in Exeter, in public.
Worthington commented, “These look like burkas or nun habits.”
“Things are very different for women in Exeter. Much more strict,” Po said. “They say, all women there sleep with their heads on an anvil.”
“I, for one, cannot wait to get off this damn planet,” Karen Beary said. “I have been a navigator on a starship for almost twenty years. You will never see me in one of those.”
“I think it's kind of hot, Karen,” kidded Cook. “We'll bring these with us on the way back. It will be a long trip, if you know what I’m saying.” He winked at her.
“Keep dreaming, Cook.” She laughed.
Worthington laughed and interrupted them. “You slackers better be on schedule for the noon briefing. Now, get back to work.” He pointed at Barcus. “Rack time.” He turned to the virtual big board. “If we stay on schedule, you’re going for a fuel run, this afternoon.” As expected, the plutonium in the old reactors in the hangar base were depleted.
Barcus knew that the retrieval of the nuclear mi
ssiles were scheduled for this afternoon. Everything else in the plan depended on getting the plutonium for the Sedna. He knew Po was worried for him. The line between her brows was back, and deeper than ever.
As they lay down in their bunk, the makeshift curtain closed behind Barcus. It was only a heavy blanket, tucked under the mattress above. But, it gave them darkness to sleep.
As his eyes adjusted, he saw she was wide awake.
“It will be okay, Po,” Barcus whispered, in reassuring tones.
“You’re going to be walking, in the sky,” Po said. “You’ll be stealing 100 weapons. Each of them could destroy a whole city.” She slid on top of him, straddling him, her nose near to his. “From. The. Sky.”
“Yes,” he replied. His hands explored the skin of her back.
“I told you, once, that you could leave whenever you wanted,” Barcus said. “I want to ask you something, Po.”
“Ask.”
“Will you come with me to Earth?” Barcus asked. “If you don't want to go. Then, neither do I.”
“You would give up Earth for me?” she whispered.
“Yes. The Earth. The whole universe, if I had to,” he said. “I'd rather sleep with you, here, on a pile of dung, than to sleep without you, on Earth, in a bed of silk.” He kissed her, deeply, then.
“Yes. I will go with you. To Earth. To Exeter. To Hell, wherever that place is that everyone talks about.”
She kissed him. She wanted him.
She gasped when he slid inside her. She climaxed just a few minutes later. She gushed in a flood. It had never felt so good.
Somehow, they managed to stay quiet. They fell asleep, still tangled together.
***
AI~Em woke them both with an insistent chime. They got up and took a quick shower, not wanting to be late again, today. They were not the first ones to the conference table because there was an enormous spread of food out for them.
There were breads, cheese, stew, baked ham, and chicken. There was a large variety of vegetables both cooked and raw. There was steaming rice and potatoes and pitchers of gravy. There was even a variety of pies—meat pies and fruit pies.
Solstice 31: The Solstice 31 Saga, Books 1,2,3 Page 66