Admiral Thomas had confusion written all over his face. “How does that prevent the Ooken from attacking anyone?”
Bethany Anne frowned. “It doesn’t. There will, however, most likely be a clue somewhere in all the data we copy as to where their homeworld is.” She waved a finger around the table. “We’ll take care of that. After we’re done, that’s where you come in. I want the fleet ready to blow the colonies into last fucking week as soon as the teams are far enough from the planets.”
Admiral Thomas nodded once and sat back in his chair. “That I can arrange.”
Bethany Anne returned his nod. “I have complete faith that you can. Just like I know without a doubt that when we get back here, there will be double the ships I left with awaiting my return.” She raised an eyebrow at Jean. “Are you satisfied?”
Jean smirked. “More than.”
Qui'nan chittered happily in the background, already lost in her designs.
Bethany Anne looked around the table. “Back to the plan; this is what we're going to do.”
“We have seven targets.” She narrowed her eyes at Gabrielle's amusement as she brought back the holomap with another not-quite-necessary wave. “It's habit at this point.”
Gabrielle's mouth twitched. “Not vanity?”
Bethany Anne tilted her chin, the corner of her mouth quirking up slightly. “Me, vain? Never.” Her fingers danced, and the rest of the map fell away as the seven locations were enlarged. Data for each site was in a box alongside. “The SSE fleet has identified one, possibly two more Ooken planets. It’s going to require an adjustment to the plan.”
John pointed at the seventh planet. “There’s no data on that one.”
Bethany Anne shrugged. “It was only just discovered. ADAM is headed straight there from the third planet. He will arrive before we do, so we won’t be going in blind.”
John nodded. “So we’re leaving the mystery planet until last. What about the rest of them?”
Bethany Anne made a flicking motion with her fingers and the seven planets winked out, leaving the space over the table clear. “Team leaders are—Gabrielle and Eric, Akio and John, Eve and Scott, and Michael and me.”
Scott’s chuckle held a touch of nervousness. “What about the freaky mind powers? I’m still not convinced it’s safe.”
Bethany Anne made a see-saw motion with her hands. “It’s a calculated risk. If you encounter anything beyond your capability to deal with, get out and call in the fleet. But really, it was so easy to walk in and out of the first colony that I’m not as concerned as I was before.”
“Meaning?” Eric asked.
“Meaning,” Bethany Anne clarified, “that if anything does go down, each team will have someone with even freakier mind powers to take care of it. You all have your assigned section of the fleet and the locations you’re to take.”
All the team leaders looked through the packets they had received. Darryl frowned, not seeing his assigned team. “What about me?”
Bethany Anne grinned. “You know, I must have forgotten you… Uncle Darryl.”
Darryl grimaced. “Babysitting? I don’t know anything about kids.”
Bethany Anne grinned. “That’s great, because the twins don’t know that much about you, either.” She shrugged. “That must be why they asked for you. After you’re done, you can pick your team.”
John and Scott exchanged the looks of two men who knew exactly what the third was in for.
“Daaamn, it was nice knowing you, dude,” Scott muttered in a near-whisper.
“I know, right?” John replied equally quietly. “If they asked for him, it means they got a topic in mind.”
Devon, QBBS Guardian, Dock 001, QBS Achronyx
Tabitha hooked both arms under the handle of Todd's travel seat to take the strain from her shoulder as she waited at the top of the ramp.
“Want me to take him a spell?” Peter offered.
Tabitha shook her head and flashed a mischievous grin at him. “No, thanks. I’ve got our chunky monkey just fine.” Todd griped in the seat, protesting either the nickname or the passing of what he thought was his dinner time. “I can lift a car off the ground but holding a car seat hurts—go figure. However, it would be nice if you could take care of finding Sabine.”
“Tabithaaa! Over here!”
Tabitha and Peter turned as one to the source of the shout. Sabine was waving from below. Peter smirked but kept his remark to himself.
Sabine grinned as she walked over briskly. “Thanks for stopping by to pick me up. The transports planetside are booked solid for the next thirty hours.”
Peter smiled. “Isn’t it your fight night? I’ve heard great things.”
Sabine nodded, adjusting the weight of her overnight bag. “Yeah, which is why the transports are booked up. If not for you I would have had to cancel my date, so thank you.”
Tabitha wiggled her eyebrows. “Oh? You and Tim are official now?”
Before Sabine had a chance to answer, Todd decided he’d had enough of traveling, and his grumping turned to loud wails.
Tabitha gave him her finger to suck, which he promptly bit and spat out. “Todd needs a change and a meal.” She grinned when her stomach growled. “He’s not the only one. Baby first, though.” She turned and went back into the ship, being careful to avoid jolting Todd’s seat.
Peter waved Sabine aboard and excused himself. “Feel free to explore. If you want to call home to let them know we’re on our way, just come to the bridge and I’ll set you up.”
Sabine tapped the side of her head as she passed Peter at the top of the ramp. “I already did.”
CEREBRO cleared them to leave the Guardian as soon as everyone was aboard. Tabitha spent some time in their quarters taking care of Todd.
She hummed to her son as she rocked him. Todd's energy for protesting was all gone, sated by the meal and the warmth of his mother's arms, His tiny eyelids fluttered closed, and Tabitha eased him into his Pod-crib. How long until we get to the Hexagon? she asked Peter.
We’re nearly there, he replied. Is Todd okay? You should come up to the bridge and see how this place has changed.
Clean, full, and fast asleep, Tabitha told him. I’m on my way with him now. She set the Pod-crib to float along behind her and made her way to the elevator outside their quarters.
I’m surprised he settled. He was kicking up such a stink.
Tabitha gazed through the Pod-crib’s viewing panel at her sleeping son while the elevator took them up. Like a dream. You know, he really loves classics for his lullabies.
Peter chuckled. Have you been singing Iron Maiden to our son again?
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 h
ome 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.
Chapter Nine
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 an
d 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.
The Kurtherian Endgame Boxed Set Page 81