Marcus glanced at him with concern. “Are you feeling okay?”
Bobcat nodded, his lips pressed tightly. “Mmhmm. Oh, look. Our greeter has arrived.”
Marcus relaxed at his friend’s return to irreverence. “I wouldn’t let the Guardians hear you talk about them that way. We’re not exactly well known out here.”
Bobcat snorted beer. “You’re kidding, right? That station and the BYPS around it wouldn’t have happened without us. We should be taught in schools.”
“Do you recall every one of your school lessons?” Marcus asked, enjoying the state Bobcat was getting himself worked into.
“Well, no,” was the grumbled reply. “But I sure as shit expect kids to know the names of the people who got humanity off Earth. It’s like you or me not knowing the names of the founding fathers. Or Tina being ignorant of Einstein’s and Rosen’s work.”
Marcus couldn’t argue. “Nevertheless, relying on your good name to get away with shenanigans is going to come back to bite you in the ass. Especially,” he added, “when our welcoming party have the ability to transform into canines with rather sharp teeth and short tempers.”
“True,” Bobcat conceded. “Guess I'd better get my ass in gear before I get bitten, right?” He swept the console clear of empty beer bottles.
Marcus jumped at the crash as the bottles hit the metal trashcan. “I didn’t expect total reform. We need you thinking, after all.”
Bobcat dumped the trashcan into the matter recycler chute. “I’ve never thought of it that way. You couldn’t do me a favor and tell Yelena that my drinking is a matter of keeping human development moving, could you?”
Marcus raised an eyebrow. “On the day you get me out of a family dinner when I’d rather be working, yes,” he replied with a glib smile.
Bobcat shook his head. “Never gonna happen. If you’re not there, there’s no reason for me to be there eating Cheryl Lynn's fine cooking.”
Marcus shot Bobcat a sour look. “Traitor.”
Tina was waiting for them when they left the R2D2 and made their way onto the Guardian. “Welcome to Devon!” she trilled.
“We were just here,” Bobcat reminded her.
Tina released Marcus and turned her smile on Bobcat. “Well, yeah, but all you saw was a tiny piece of the Hexagon and the ass-end of nowhere while you were on the New Citadel project. William and I have a real fun day planned for us all in celebration of getting the team back together.”
She wasted no time in ushering them to a station-to-planet transport Pod.
The Pod dropped them off in Hexagon Plaza. They were met there by William and the roamer he’d procured for them, and the tour got underway.
William headed the group up as they made their way through the Plaza-side gate into the bazaar. “Part of this is getting eyes on the public spaces to make sure everything is back in order after the attack.”
“I can’t tell anything is out of place,” Marcus remarked.
Tina shook her head. “It’s damn quiet. The people were badly shaken after so long without war or disquiet. Generally, the only trouble we get down here is when the Bakas are fighting among themselves.”
“Nobody expected to be attacked by the damned Ookens,” William ground out. He pointed to a building that only had half a wall and the foundations remaining. “That used to be the finest Mediterranean restaurant this side of pre-WWDE Earth. Now Leonardo has closed for business until new premises can be built. It’s criminal what they did.”
Tina patted him on the shoulder. “We’re going to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Just as soon as we’ve shown Marcus and Bobcat the fun side of First City.”
She threaded her arm through her husband’s and tugged him past the stalls. “Starting with the best fried chicken you’ve ever tasted. The secret,” she confided as they walked, “is that it’s not chicken.”
The day passed in a whirlwind of the kind tourists in new places invariably find themselves caught up in. They visited the Enclave and met Mahi’ and her brothers as the sun set over First City to hear how the Bakas were settling into their homes in New Citadel.
“Was that the last stop?” Bobcat asked as the Enclave receded in the roamer’s rearview mirror. “I’ve got a killer thirst, and while those not-chicken wings were nice, they weren’t the most filling.”
William tapped the roamer’s navigation screen. “We’re headed for dinner. Hang tight, we’re almost there.”
The roamer pulled up at an unassuming building that nevertheless had a queue round the block.
Tina was first out of the roamer. The guys got out, Marcus almost tripping as he examined the building.
Bobcat knew what the clientele were waiting for just by looking at them. “A nightclub?”
Tina grinned. “This is a treat. Wait until you see the inside.”
Marcus wrinkled his nose.
Tina bumped him with her hip. “Lighten up. It’s not all pulsing music and strobe lights. Well, not once you get off the ground floor, anyway.”
Marcus’ arm snaked around Tina’s shoulders when they entered the lobby and he saw the silhouetted dancers in the recesses set into the walls. “I hardly think this is an appropriate venue for my wife,” he blustered, his cheeks turning a violent shade of red.
Tina laughed. “What do you mean?” she asked, knowing full well what was causing all the blood in his body to rush to his face.
Marcus lowered his voice to a pained whisper. “This is a strip club!”
Tina nodded. “Yeah, so?”
“I just don’t think it was right of William to choose this as a venue,” he finished lamely.
Tina slapped Marcus on the chest. “William didn’t pick this place. I did.”
Marcus rubbed the sore spot. “Then I apologize, William.” He frowned at Tina. “What was the need to compound your point with violence?”
Tina grinned. “That was for being a sexist old man. I’ve got to keep you on your toes, after all.” She slipped free of her husband and headed for the stairs up to the restaurant. “Are you going to stand there staring all night? I might decide to have my beefcake wrapped up to take home…”
William clapped Marcus on the shoulder as he headed for the steps. “Serves you right for presuming, buddy. Come on. The steak here is good, and we have some serious hard work ahead of us if we’re gonna solve the problem of keeping the damned Kurtherians out of our yard.”
Three hours later, they emerged from the club overfull and pleasantly drowsy, but no closer to solving their conundrum.
Tina plugged the Hexagon's coordinates into the roamer and sat back with her hands laced behind her head. “I know my nanocytes have already processed whatever I drank tonight, but I’m still glad this thing doesn’t need us to do anything except tell it where we’re going.”
Bobcat chuckled. “If only the solution to all our problems were so simple. I still can’t see how we get around all the factors standing in the way of us getting a working BYPS set up in the Etheric.”
William sighed. “My best guess is that we’ll find it a hell of a lot easier once someone figures out how to talk to those little guys who were brought back on the Izanami.”
Tina shuddered. “Yeah, well, as long as they tell the little creepers to stay out of my kitchen while they’re at it. Last thing I want is to get the life scared out of me when all I’m trying to do is cook supper.”
The discussion continued until the roamer arrived at the huge glass doors of the Hexagon.
They parted ways on the residential sublevel, Bobcat going one way with William as he peeled off to head for his apartment, and Marcus and Tina going the other to head for hers.
“See you guys bright and early,” Tina called, waving over her shoulder. “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.”
“Don’t let Demon hear that,” William replied. “You might just find a dead Bl’kheth on your doorstep.”
QSD Baba Yaga, Top Deck
Demon was happy that her l
ittle family was finally settled in what she felt was the safest place for them. The move to Sabine’s apartment hadn’t fully alleviated the anxiety she’d felt after the attack. There was no way an Ooken could get aboard the Baba Yaga. She checked that little Sam and Alyssa were truly asleep before extracting herself from their den made from pallets and blankets.
She face-bumped her mate, purring as she offered her affection. I wish to go down to the planet, she told him. I have the urge to find the Bl’kheths and thank them for interceding in the Ooken attack.
Sam looked at the kittens, then back at Demon.
They will be fine without me for an hour. This is important.
Sam wrinkled his nose and padded over to the den. He gave Demon the look of a father left on his own with no clue what to do with his young.
Demon rolled her eyes. If they wake and won’t settle, just have Izanami call me back.
She reached the Hexagon pretty quickly and made her way to the sublevels to search for the tiny beings.
Her velvety paws made no sound on the cold floor of Eve's lab. However, that didn’t mean she traveled in silence. She called for the Bl’kheths with her mind as she walked, hoping they could hear her in the mindspace all telepathic species used.
She had hit upon an idea while feeding her kittens earlier that day, and being a cat, well, the saying about curiosity was a stereotype that had come about through its obvious truth.
Eve acknowledged Demon’s presence with a cheerful wave. “I didn’t expect to see you down here again so soon.”
I want to speak with the Bl’kheths, and this was the last place I know they were.
Doubt crossed Eve’s smooth features. “ I don’t think you will have much luck attracting their attention.”
I had an idea, Demon told her. I have to see if it works. I will be in the visiting area if Izanami contacts you.
Eve smiled, inferring Demon’s meaning from her tone. “You left Sam with the kittens?”
Demon sniffed, her version of a snicker. Yes, so expect a call as soon as the kittens wake up and start harassing him.
Eve laughed. “Of course.”
Demon continued to the area dedicated to visitors to the Collectives. Now that her difficult pregnancy was over, she found that the scent of the water-dwellers was not so overstimulating as to make her nauseous.
She rejected the chairs, curling up on the square of carpet instead after delicately removing the headset from its hook on the wall.
A Collective swam out of the kelp, drawn by her calls. Greetings. We heard you.
Demon tilted her head to meet the glassy eye observing her. Yes. I require some assistance if you are able. I wish to speak with the Bl’kheths who saved my family’s lives.
The other two residents of the tank slipped out of the kelp forest and observed.
Demon nosed the headset. Eve’s equipment is the key. I believe the Bl’kheths are not as ignorant as they appear. Otherwise, they would not be capable of such coordination in battle. I think they are different and therefore think differently. She blinked, her amber gaze lighting up her face. It might interest you to know that I was once an unspeaking beast. Human technology has allowed my mind to work in such a way that I can talk to anyone who has similar software implanted in their brain.
The Collectives considered her thoughts. Perhaps you are onto something, the first admitted.
Bethany Anne arrived, the click of her heels announcing her before Demon saw her. She didn’t pause to offer any sort of greeting. “Eve tells me that you think you have a way to communicate with the Bl’kheths?”
She placed a box she was carrying on the table and took a seat in the visiting area. “I brought snacks for them. I’m interested in how you expect to get around the communication barrier.”
Demon carefully picked up the headset. By using this and having the Collectives include them in their group mind. If we can get the Bl’kheths to show up, that is. I have been calling for them, but I’m not sure my voice is loud enough by itself.
Bethany Anne took the headset and let it dangle from her fingers. “It’s worth a shot. How about you put this on, and we will work to amplify your voice. We know that the Bl’kheths are protective of you.”
Demon inclined her head to accept the headset. Oh. It tickles. I can hear all three of you, she told the Collectives in surprise.
Welcome to the group mind, they intoned as one.
“Concentrate on your thoughts,” Bethany Anne instructed as she slipped the other headset on. “Ask them to come out from their hiding place.”
Demon closed her eyes. Bl’kheths, I do not know your names. Will you talk to me?
There was silence in the mindspace for a long moment, then Bethany Anne spoke.
Open your eyes, Demon.
Demon cracked an eyelid. Before her stood the six Bl’kheths. Thank you for coming to my rescue, she told them. Do you understand me?
The largest of the six regarded her with curiosity. Better than the large ones, he replied in halting English. You need our help.
Bethany Anne noted the urgency in the being’s statement. Can you hear me? she asked gently.
The six bowed as one.
We hear you, Death, the largest answered. We have learned your language, poor as it is. You will be attacked by the goddess again if we do not make you understand.
Bethany Anne raised an eyebrow. You know about Gödel, huh? You should know she isn’t a goddess of any kind, but merely a powerful alien who doesn’t dare meet me face to face.
The Bl’kheths growled, showing needle-sharp teeth. She is insane, and will not stop until you, Death, and all your allies are returned to stardust. Our only hope is to offer our bodies so that you can create the technology to match her.
He knelt, followed by the others. We will die so the many can be saved.
The six pulled blades from seemingly nowhere and made to plunge them into their chests.
20
Bethany Anne dropped from the chair to her knees at the same time Demon hissed and leapt back from the six Bl’kheths.
Silver blood sprayed as they removed the blades from their hearts, and they fell to the floor unmoving.
“Fuckdammit! Why?” Bethany Anne scooped up their rapidly cooling bodies in both hands and dashed through the Etheric to the Vid-doc suite on the Baba Yaga.
She placed them gently inside one of the units and forced herself to wait while the lid closed. The few seconds it took lasted an eternity.
“Come on!” Bethany Anne raged. She felt helpless to do anything as the Vid-doc cycled on, but she wasn’t without the ability to ask for help when she needed it. ADAM, get in there and bring them back before it’s too late.
>>It’s already too late,<< ADAM told her sadly. >>They are dead. I can maybe save their minds—<<
Then do it, Bethany Anne snarled. Tears trickled down her cheeks unnoticed. For fuck’s sake! Why didn’t they just wait a damned minute for me to explain that I only needed to have them scanned?
ADAM wasn’t sure what reply would ease the pain Bethany Anne was in. All he could do was his best to ensure the six minds were copied in their entirety, and that the Bl’kheths remained intact and separate once the process was complete.
>>I have a complete imprint of the leader’s mind,<< he told Bethany Anne. >>The other five will take a little longer to reconstruct. Since they were all thinking the same thought when they suicided, I have to be careful to discern between their brainwaves, or their individual personalities could be lost.<<
I’m going in, Bethany Anne told him. I have to figure out why this happened. Did you see how fast they moved?
Ohthankthefuckinglord. You made it.
What is this? Seian looked around the strange surroundings he found himself in. He had not expected an afterlife such as some beings anticipated.
The human known as Death was there, although she was now of equivalent size, so he was able to examine her in detail. Where am I? he asked, noting she car
ried the godlight in her eyes.
I’ll answer that in a moment, Bethany Anne told him. First, I have to get over my urge to strangle you. Why the hell did you all just kill yourselves?
Seian tilted his head, looking at the human with pity for her lack of understanding. So you could use our bodies to create protection for your planet, of course. We could not allow you to take on the burden of fighting the goddess without doing our part to make sure you succeed. You are the key to the goddess’ defeat, and we are aware that you will cease to function if your people are harmed.
Bethany Anne closed her eyes and pushed her hair back as the utter futility of the statement hit her. Let’s clear one thing up. I am Bethany Anne, not Death—except to those who make it their business to hurt others. What’s your name? she asked.
I am called Seian, he replied. It is my rank. We do not have individual identifiers like the unconnected species.
Bethany Anne gave him a sad smile. Well, Seian. I think you should have a name. It’s going to get confusing once we take out the other factories and rescue more of your people otherwise. How about Sean?
I will accept that if it pleases you, he replied.
Bethany Anne chuckled without humor. There was no need for you to give up your lives. My people would have used a solution that didn’t require death to achieve. I am not the Seven, here to enforce my demands without caring about the consequences. I do not take from my people.
We are not your people, Sean countered.
Bethany Anne lifted her chin, her eyes shining bloody light on the empty space. Are you here on my planet? Are your people lost, their futures stolen by the Seven? Then you are mine to protect. Mine to save, and mine to care for. That does not mean I want your sacrifice, dammit.
The Bl’kheth looked at her with confusion. You are taking ownership of my entire species? he asked.
No! Bethany Anne’s heart broke for this being, who thought his purpose was to be passed from one master to another as if that was normal. She knew that mindset came from being enslaved for generations, and she couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for these obviously intelligent people over the years since Gödel had torn them from their homeworld. You are free now.
The Valkyrie Returns (The Kurtherian Endgame Book 7) Page 20