“How did you pick it up?”
I pictured how I had found the creature. “I picked it up behind the forelegs. Why?”
“They exude poison when they’re threatened, particularly from their tails.” Mira’s face showed the same alarm that her voice held. “It’s so lethal, it paralyzes you almost immediately.”
I couldn’t remember exactly where I had touched it. I’d moved it around a lot as I was measuring it. Was my hand feeling a little numb? I flexed my fingers. They still worked. “I feel fine. I guess I didn’t touch the poison part.” Good to know I hadn’t managed to paralyze myself. It had been idiotic of me not to think of that possibility. I knew there were dangerous life forms on Fosaan, and the Earthers were forbidden to go anywhere except the depot and the beach, but I hadn’t even imagined a small dead creature could hurt me.
“You shouldn’t just pick up what you find,” Mira said, putting her hands on hips just like Piper did. “There are many deadly animals and plants on Fosaan.”
At first I didn’t hear what she said. The amazing color of her eyes distracted me again. I had thought all Fosaanians had dull gray eyes.
“Quinn, didn’t you hear her? Deadly animals are a BAD thing,” Piper said.
“Um … I heard. Do you know how to identify them?” I asked the girl. She had just given me an idea.
“Of course I know,” she said, as if I were slightly dense. “I wouldn’t be alive if I didn’t.”
I tried to pick my words carefully so I could get her to go along with my idea. “Could you show me which ones are dangerous? I really want to know, because I’m making a guide.” Her expression grew more puzzled and I realized she didn’t understand, so I kept talking. “The life forms that survived the Apocalypse haven’t been completely logged, I mean logged by our people. If you helped me, I could make a real guide. We could work on it together. I’ve got some great recording equipment my friend on the space station lent me and I’ve made this capture device to get some of the smaller flying creatures, so I can observe them and then release them. I’ll show it to you … that is … if you want to see it … ” Her face was expressionless, and I realized she might think it was all too boring.
Finally she said, “No … I don’t think my uncle would allow me to help you … I don’t know.”
Since it wasn’t a flat-out no, I persisted, “It wouldn’t take much time.”
“It’s not a good idea,” she said, sounding certain.
I slumped back against the table. At this rate, I’d never get the guide done before the deadline to submit my application to the reconnaissance corps. Without something unique like a guide to add to my application, I didn’t stand much of a chance of acceptance. My examination scores fell right in the middle of average. And if I didn’t get in, my grandfather would make sure I was assigned to one of the officer academies. I knew that would only lead to a spectacular failure. I’d make an even worse officer than my father.
Piper’s voice caught my attention. “Quinn, I thought we were going to talk to Mom.”
“You can speak to someone on the space station from your own home?” Mira drew close to the comm unit and put out her hand like she wanted to touch it.
“Yes, everyone has one of these,” I said.
“Haven’t you seen the ones inside the depot?” Piper asked.
“Fosaanians aren’t allowed inside unless they work there,” Mira said.
I hadn’t realized that. I just assumed the Fosaanians preferred to keep to themselves. “Why not? It’s nothing special.”
“It’s a rule. Are these hard to work?” Mira’s hand still hovered over the touchpad. “My uncle and my cousin operate the one at the depot, and they say you can get information from everywhere in the galaxy, and pictures of other places. My cousin told me he’s seen images of other planets, and they have giant buildings on them.” She said it like she didn’t really believe it.
“Sure, tall buildings are everywhere.” I wasn’t interested in ordinary buildings, but if she was and it got her to stay, I’d show her as many as she wanted. “We’ll look at some once I talk to my mother.”
I was about to speak the code to call up the Comm Center at the station when a voice said, “Incoming message. Secure channel. Turing Seven. Response.”
“That’s Grandfather!” Piper squealed.
I restrained myself from groaning. My grandfather was the last person in the galaxy I wanted to speak to. “Not good timing,” I said, turning to Mira. “I’m sorry, but it would be good if you go in the kitchen while we’re talking to my grandfather. I don’t want to have to explain to him what you’re doing here.”
She didn’t question me, which surprised me, though at the same time I was happy I didn’t have to go into more detail. My grandfather did not like to be kept waiting. I spoke the response. “Turing Five.”
My grandfather’s attaché appeared on the slip, a woman who Piper called Lieutenant Bark because every word the woman spoke came out short and abrupt. “Hold a moment for Admiral Neen,” the woman said.
It didn’t take a moment. Almost instantly the grim, lined face of my grandfather filled the display. I knew everyone remarked on how much I looked like the man, down to the dark brown eyes that were nearly black, the sharp lines of our faces, and the set of our jaws, but I hoped I never grew to look so rigid. In a dress uniform, the dark green sheen of it rippling in the sterile light of his office, the man would have projected authority even if you didn’t know he was head of the Konsilan.
“Good day, Quinn.”
“Good day, Sir.” I instinctively sat up straighter. I’d learned long ago not to slouch in view of my grandfather.
“Hi Grandpa!” Piper pushed in besides me on the chair.
“Hello, Miss Piper.” A smile appeared on the stone face, something rarely seen. “How’s my girl?”
“Good! When are you coming to visit?”
I hoped he’d say “Never.” The last argument between my father and grandfather had been so terrible, I couldn’t imagine them meeting again.
“I’m not sure.” The admiral turned and said something to the attaché and then turned back. “I’m sorry, Piper, but I don’t have much time and I need to talk to your brother.”
“Okay,” she said, sliding off the chair. I heard her move to the kitchen and begin chattering again to Mira. “That’s a pretty necklace! Can you show me how to make one like it?” I didn’t hear Mira’s reply and I tried to block out their voices so my grandfather wouldn’t comment on my lack of focus, an almost criminal offense to him.
The frown had reappeared on his face. “Quinn, I understand you haven’t yet submitted your application for any of the officer academies. The deadline is coming up.”
“I know, Sir. I … uh … wanted to speak with you about that.” I felt sweat running down my back and wondered why the room had suddenly gotten so hot. I tried to think of how I had practiced my speech to my grandfather, but instead all I could see in my head was the sweep of wall in the man’s office that contained image after image of Neen ancestors in all their military glory.
My grandfather raised an eyebrow. “Go ahead.”
I reminded myself that it was my future at stake, not my grandfather’s. “I … ” Before I could say anything else, the slip went blank. “That’s weird,” I said.
“What’s weird?” Piper came back in the room.
“We lost contact with Grandfather.”
I spoke the code to call up the Comm Center. The display flickered, then the familiar logo of the station came up, the words Advanced Artificial Intelligence Research Center emblazoned across a rotating triple torus. I waited for the next slip. Someone on first or second shift communications should appear.
Instead, a voice said, “Due to technical difficulties, AAIRC is not available at this time.” The slip went clear.
Chapter 2
I do not know how well the northern continents have recovered fro
m the Apocalypse. Here in the south, so far from the worst of the devastation, much of the plant and creature life was lost, but enough remained to keep the survivors alive, though there were many years of starvation. Only the strong lived. It has never been in our nature to coddle the weak, yet I do believe we may now go too far in demanding perfection.—Erimik, historian of the Family
“That’s very odd.” I sat back. I couldn’t decide if I should be worried. “Piper, is Becca home? What did she say about the shuttle?”
“Doctor Becca brought me to the walkway and then she went right back to the depot. Did you forget you were supposed to help her with the children’s science lesson? She’s really mad at you right now.”
I groaned. I had forgotten, even though I had the samples for the classification lesson all ready to go. “I’ll apologize.”
“You’ll have to do it later. She’s going up with the second shift because somebody got hurt on the station and they don’t want to move them.”
“Who got hurt?” Now I was slightly concerned. It couldn’t have been my mother, because designing bots wasn’t a dangerous job, but everyone up there played a vital role.
“I can’t remember. Somebody who’s staying on the station. Lia got to go with her. I wanted to go, but Dr. Becca said I had to stay here.”
“We should go to the depot,” I said. I couldn’t believe Becca would go up on the shuttle with second shift, leaving Mick as the only Earther adult on the planet. There were too many younger ones under twelve around, and Mick wasn’t good babysitter material. The man loathed most anything living, especially living things who talked back to him. I got up and went into the kitchen. “Mira, we need to leave. If you come back when the link is working again, I’ll show you how to use the comm unit.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to return,” she said.
I thought I could tell from her voice she actually did want to come back. “Sure you can,” I urged. “And you don’t have to swim to get here next time. Just take the walkway.” Mira appeared so startled by that idea that I added, “At least think about it. You live in Hadestown, right?” As far as I knew, all the Fosaanians lived in one place, close to the base of the volcano where they worked. “We’ll walk with you as far as the depot.”
She looked shocked at my suggestion. “What if someone sees us?”
“Who cares?” I didn’t understand.
“My uncle wouldn’t like it. I’m not supposed to be here,” Mira said.
The uncle again. “But you came anyway,” I said. “So you don’t always do what you’re supposed to do, right?” Mira didn’t answer. She did smile, so I took that as a promising sign. “Wait.” I picked up the carryall and handed it to her. “Don’t forget the food for your sister. Let’s go. Mags, don’t get into trouble.”
The parrot stopped her preening long enough to say, “Send word when you find work.”
“What does that mean?” Mira asked. “Does the creature actually think you are going to look for work?”
I laughed. “No, it’s just something my father taught her. She thinks she’s saying something like goodbye. It’s a joke. My father jokes a lot.”
Mira looked at me like I was gibbering in some unknown language, so I tried to explain as I pushed open the door flap. Before I could get very far, I ran right into an outstretched fist.
“Watch what you’re doing!” I said to the person attached to the fist, Decker Rigan. I had no idea why Decker had shown up at our door, but I could bet it wasn’t for any reason I’d like. At seventeen, Decker was only a year older than me, but he considered himself self-appointed overlord of anyone younger, and never stopped reminding everyone his father was the station commander.
“You should look where you’re going once in a while.” Decker said, rubbing his knuckles. “I was just getting ready to knock. Why aren’t you on the nets? You were supposed to be there at thirteen hundred.” As usual, Decker was so tense, his skin practically rippled like a sun storm was about to erupt. Whatever furies were inside him made him boil about as hot as a sun most of the time. He touched the ‘on’ section of the datapatch he wore on his arm and a small holographic slip appeared. “Show Quinn’s work schedule,” he ordered it. My name appeared, along with a list of times.
“You don’t have to remind me,” I said. Actually, I had forgotten. Everyone over eight years old had some sort of daily chore and mine was to haul in the nets, collecting the solger, the semi-edible plants that floated just underneath the surface of the water. “I was busy. I’ll do it later. They aren’t going anywhere.”
“You mean you forgot. I bet you were busy working on your little nature pictures, weren’t you? Well, since it’s my job to make sure you get yours done, I’m reminding you. So do it now.” Decker jabbed a finger at my face.
I pushed away Decker’s hand. I’d learned long ago never to back down. Decker could always smell weakness. It was unfortunate he was a couple of inches taller than me and quite a bit wider. If I let him get in my face, he would add his size to his intimidation techniques. “I don’t like it when you get in my face, and I’m still busy,” I said. I had no intention of doing something just because Decker told me to. So I had forgotten the nets. It wasn’t the end of the world. “And why are my nature pictures any more of a waste of time than you practicing your music?” I motioned to the black carine Decker wore around his neck. It frustrated me that Decker thought his music important, but everyone else’s interests were just time-wasters.
Decker opened his mouth as if to argue some more.
“Hi Decker,” Piper interrupted. “Look, we have a new friend. Her name is Mira.” Piper grabbed the Fosaanian girl’s hand and pulled her forward. Mira pulled back but it was too late. Decker had already seen her.
“What’s she doing here?” Decker looked back and forth between me and Mira, frowning. “Fosaanians aren’t supposed to just wander around the living quarters.”
“Since when was there was a rule?” I asked. “Why can’t she go where she wants?”
“My father gave the order. There have been some inconsistencies with the supply manifests. He thinks the Fosaanians are stealing supplies and either using them themselves or somehow selling them to space raiders.”
Mira flushed, her face very red against the white of her hair. She shifted the bundle of food closer to her.
“That’s a stupid rule,” I said. “Anyway, she’s with me. I’ll check the nets later, but right now we’re on our way to the depot.”
“That would be a no. You’ll check them now.” Decker jabbed his finger at me again. “I’m getting really tired of your attitude.”
I could swear Decker got more obnoxious by the day. “My attitude isn’t any of your concern.”
Decker paused and then said, “I don’t think the Fosaanians would be too happy to see the girl with you. What would the one who works at the depot, the one named Ansun, say if I told him you two were together? He doesn’t let the boy who helps him even speak to Earthers.” Decker smiled, and I didn’t like the malice I saw in it.
Before I could answer, I felt Mira’s hand on me arm. Her fingers trembled but when she spoke, her voice was steady. “I don’t like to be threatened, Earth boy. Go ahead and tell Ansun. I don’t care. Just remember he already hates Earthers, especially ones who take it upon themselves to cause him displeasure. Most of my people do everything they can to avoid displeasing my uncle.”
“So he’s your uncle, is he?” Decker looked like he had been given a present and I knew that could be a problem. He had quite a talent at turning anything into an advantage for himself. “I’m not worried about upsetting him,” Decker added. “What’s he going to do to me?”
“Some who have asked that find their tongues missing.” Mira’s voice was almost taunting now. “Go ahead and see what happens.” I was amazed at how quickly the girl had gone from terrified to angry, though Decker could manage to irritate almost everyone to fury.
“Whoa, missing tongues are extreme,” I said. I’d never heard anything like that about the Fosaanians.
“How did they lose their tongues?” Piper asked. “Can he do magic? Does he give them back?”
“Never mind, Piper,” I said, shooting a warning glance at Decker who was about to say something. If it was true, the uncle sounded brutal and Piper didn’t need to hear it. “Let’s forget about it. Piper, go on to the depot if you want. I’ll be there soon.” I didn’t want to let Mira go until I could convince her to come back again.
“I want to get Teeny first.” Piper grabbed the house bot she pretended was either a pet, another child, or a doll, depending on the day. “We’re going to have a bot race later. Decker, do you know why the shuttle came back empty?”
The expression on Decker’s face made it clear he didn’t. “That’s the first I’ve heard of it.” When Piper explained, Decker lost interest in Mira. “I’ll go to the depot with you,” he said to Piper.
“Good!” Piper dashed around us and down the walkway connecting our unit to the center hub of the compound. “Decker, I bet you can’t catch me!” she yelled, as she reached the security gate to the ramp leading to the shore. For some reason Piper liked Decker, and didn’t mind him ordering her around.
“Yes I can!” Decker yelled. “Don’t forget those nets,” he barked to me before he took off after Piper. Their running made the walkway bounce up and down, and Mira reached out a hand for the railing. “Are these buildings common where you come from? Buildings floating on the water? I like them, except the rocking is strange.”
“The first day we got here, I noticed the motion, but now I don’t think about it. Lots of people do live out over the water on Earth, if they have the currency. It’s nicer and less crowded. We couldn’t afford it when we lived there, but the planners decided it would be best for the scientists because of all the unknowns on Fosaan.”
“It’s a good design,” Mira said, “putting all the living quarters in a circle and attaching them to each other. Our quarters are just in rows. These would be easier to defend.”
Station Fosaan Page 2