My Starfox. Reht could still taste her kiss, feel his fingers brushing through her dark hair. She won’t leave Algar until the Dominion stops threatening her people. Maybe I can stop the war from happening. Then she’ll come back to me.
Agitated at Reht’s noncommittal, the girl muttered something about getting back home before work call, but the dog-soldier captain caught her arm before she could duck under the table and run through their legs.
“My ship’s engines never get cleaned well enough. Mom over there,” Reht said, pointing to the giant Talian, “doesn’t like the tight fit.” The girl’s eyes widened as the Talian half-raised a few of his claws and growled low in his throat.
“Maybe I could get some use out of you and your sibs. You’d have to stay outta the way and keep out of sight during our deals. I’ll let Ro kill you at the first sign of trouble, yeah?” Reht cocked his head toward Ro, who tossed his knife from hand to hand. The girl nodded, her expression cautionary, as if she expected him to take it all back.
“Let me prep my ship and crew. Do you know a duct route to the old air transit station?”
“Yeah, but it’s pretty far away; I’ve never been able to make it all the way because I always had to come back,” the girl answered. “It’ll take us a few hours.”
“Then hurry up and get your siblings. Dustoff is in three hours,” Reht said, giving her a hand up to the main deck of the bar. He walked her over to the air vent, accompanied by his crew and many shifty glares from the patrons around him. He hoisted her up to Mom, who lifted her to the edge of the open panel.
“Why do you trust me?” Reht said, his incisors gleaming in the low light of the underground bar. The girl paused before crawling inside the vent.
“I don’t have a choice.”
***
Despite her abilities, Jetta’s couldn’t easily read the dog-soldier captain. Still, she felt he would keep his word. She had sensed excitement, and something prospective leaking from his alien mind. A part of her questioned why, but hunger, pain and desperation kept her focused on the immediate victory.
No more Fiorah, she thought. I will finally be able to see the stars...
Even though the narrow passageway insulted her aching ribs, she breathed a sigh of relief. It’s better not to take any chances with the Dominion. I don’t want to risk being sent to a telepath detainment camp—or just “disappear,” like the captain said.
As she wriggled through a complicated merging with three other air ducts, her thoughts turned to her adoptive parents.
There’s a real chance me and my siblings can escape, she thought. But what about Galm and Lohien?
The question slid into her bones, making her shudder.
I can’t leave them behind.
(I have to.)
Old memories percolated through the pain as she squirmed through the next juncture. Galm taking her and Jahx to the markets, holding their hands through the busy streets, making up grand stories about the odd species they happened to come across.
Lohien, tempering sweltering afternoons with her soprano song, her lithe figure always in movement, kept a watchful eye on them, even when Jetta thought her attention wandered elsewhere.
“My little warrior,” Lohien said, gazing out the kitchen window. “You are never far from my sight.”
Jetta shook her head until the memories faded back. No, it can’t be like this. I can’t do it like this.
Gritting her teeth, Jetta pushed the truth she needed to the forefront of her mind: attempting to take their crippled uncle along would only compromise their escape. He was too large for the air ducts, and Yahmen posted his personal guards outside their apartment. And Lohien—she was Yahmen’s property now, caged somewhere in their owner’s palace, brought out only on the rare occasion to torment Galm. Rescuing her was impossible, especially in her rapidly deteriorating condition.
The old pleas of her siblings washed up with fresh guilt: We can’t leave our parents, Jetta.
No, Galm and Lohien are lost, she told herself, but there is still time to save my brother and sister. She would accept the consequences of her decision, no matter what, even though her siblings disagreed.
Jetta opened her eyes, ribs throbbing as she gazed into the dark shafts of the air ducts. I must protect Jaeia and Jahx at all cost.
Galm’s gentle voice called out from a place within: “Come, Jetta. Everyone needs hugs—even tough buggers like you.” The memory of his hug assaulted her; the way he wrapped his arms around her whole body, filling her with the same warm feeling that connected her to her brother and sister.
“Gorsh-shit,” Jetta muttered through clenched teeth. I don’t want these feelings anymore!
Bracing herself against the air duct, Jetta allowed her mind to fall away from the connection to her siblings. Outside their self-contained telepathic link lay the neuroelectric metropolis of Fiorah. She searched for someone that would be familiar with the conflict boiling inside her, who would confuse her darkness with their own.
Jetta sank behind the eyes of someone possessed of a murderous intent. In the periphery of her senses, she felt the heaviness of his breath and tasted the burn of his cigarette as he took a long, slow drag.
“This is only half the Sapphire I paid you for, Vekry,” he said, pointing his cigarette at a briefcase half-full of sparkling blue pills.
Jetta guessed from the windowless surroundings that they were in some sort of safehouse or bounty board, deep within the hidden underground network. A man tied to a chair under a flood lamp, already bloodied and bruised, struggled to free himself as her host approached him. Others, hidden in the shadows, watched his torture with hungry eyes.
“Hey—hey, put that down! Look, it’s all I could get—the borders are closed off! The Core is everywhere—” Vekry pleaded.
“I’m tired of hearing you whine,” her host said as he lumbered toward Vekry, spiked weapon in hand. She felt him smile, his lips retracting over jagged teeth.
“Seriously, seriously—put that away, alright?” the man tied to the chair pleaded. “You know the Core is impounding the supplies—it isn’t my fault!”
“Demio,” her host said, motioning to the shadows. “Get over here and help me with this. No more excuses from you, Vekry.”
He lifted his arm, the weight of the weapon dangling in the air before he whipped it back down.
“No—no—please, please, PLEASE—!”
A crunching sound. Something warm and wet splashed her cheek.
Not wanting witness any more of Vekry’s beating, Jetta closed her eyes, letting go of her anxiety, anger, and guilt and shoving it across the psionic plane. The assailant’s mind, already swollen with bloodlust, absorbed her unwanted feelings without pause. His rage, magnified by her inner torments, only furthered his brutality.
“Hey, boss—he’s had enough,” Demio said, trying to take the weapon away from her host.
The attacker shoved Demio aside and brought the spiked weapon down on top of Vekry’s skull.
I don’t want see anymore— she thought, pulling back as pulpy yellow brain matter sprayed across the room.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself back in the air ducts, her body no longer hulking but small, hungry, and tired. The hum of the circulating air steadied her jangled nerves as she pieced herself back together. The people were gone and so were her unwanted emotions. Somewhere in the fading distance she thought she heard a man scream, though it died out as the rhythmic beat of her own pulse returned.
Her brother and sister didn’t know she dumped her feelings onto others. She had learned the trick a few weeks ago by accident, resulting in a downed mining ship and an injured crew.
They would never approve.
Jetta choked down the lump in her throat, spurring herself onward through the air duct with new vigor. No, her brother and sister could never know her cowardice. They already thought her a monster for the talent she possessed.
(I am.)
“Stop it,�
�� she reprimanded herself.
Groping in the darkness, Jetta searched the metal housing for the scratches she and Jaeia had made in the unlit parts of the ducts, feeling her way through the junctures by the hash marks and arrows.
After rounding the final turn to the sub-conduit of their apartment row, she froze. A soft light glowed across the top of the vent, and she could hear voices. Usually at this hour she still had time to make it back before the lights were turned on and they dressed to leave for work.
Yahmen came back!
Jetta forgot about the pain of her ribs or the fatigue of her body. Her world narrowed into a singular craze as she frantically crawled through the last few meters of duct, scraping her shoulders and knees.
He’s found Jaeia and Jahx!
Jetta gulped for air. Fear drowned out her perceptions, dampening her ability to sense her brother and sister, or anyone else. In the pit of her stomach, great and unmentionable things began to stir. The better part of her sensed danger, while ancient hungers bit into her mind and wrenched her back.
(Use your greatest power. Defend your siblings. Take what is yours.)
No, she thought, fighting the dark urges that longed for release. Not yet. I have to see.
Chest tight with panic, she poked her head out of the entryway vent and surveyed her surroundings. The light and voices came from the living room. She pushed herself out slowly, meeting the wide-eyed, nervous glances of her siblings sitting on their cots, shielding the vent grate access. She felt some relief until Jahx looked at her, face and heart full of worry. After replacing the vent cover, she crept over to them.
What’s going on? Jetta asked. She could hear the voices of at least two other men besides their uncle, but she could not make out their words.
They’re taking us away, Jahx replied, clutching his distended stomach.
Who?
Some Dominion officials. They’re showing Galm the official order right now. We must have done something on that exam to make them want immediate acquisition, Jahx said.
The dog-soldier’s warning played out in Jetta’s head: What if you’ve got talent? What then? You know they’ve got an unusual taste for telepaths these days. Nobody even knows what they do to ‘em on the ships. They just disappear...
Jetta hid her trepidation in the farthest corner of her mind away from Jaeia and Jahx. The dog-soldier captain didn’t know everything. Besides, the three of them were resourceful and smart.
(This is a mistake—)
“This is good?” Jaeia asked, looking to her sister for reassurance. Jaeia knew of the danger on some level, Jetta decided. They all did. But there was no going back now. It’s up to me to lead us through it.
Jetta couldn’t stand the desperate look in her sister’s eyes, but she forced herself to sound confident. “It will be.”
“What about Yahmen? He owns us...” Jahx added.
“I don’t know how they’re doing it, but—”
A silhouette of a broad-shouldered figure appeared in the living room doorway. “Jetta, Jaeia, Jahx—congratulations, you have qualified for the Dominion Core Academy,” the man said, motioning for them to join him. Jetta froze, not knowing what to do. The man cleared his throat and said sharply, “Follow me.”
When none of them moved, he added in a low voice: “Once you take the test you have committed yourself to the Sovereign.”
Jetta probed his emotions, but his mind, tightly organized, prevented her from gleaning anything. Why can’t I read him? He’s feels human—I should be able to pick his brain apart in seconds!
Remember those telepath hunters we encountered on the mining ship a few days ago? Jaeia said. I’m sensing the same blockade in this man’s mind.
Fear squeezed down on Jetta’s heart. (How are we going to survive without digging in our enemy’s head?)
Not wanting to alarm her brother or sister any further, Jetta continued to project assurance. Don’t worry—we’ll come up with some new tricks.
Jaeia locked eyes with her, but kept any reservations she might have had to herself. Come on—help me with Jahx.
Slowly they got to their feet, slinging Jahx’s arms over their shoulders.
“What’s wrong with him?” the man asked.
“He’s been sick,” Jaeia replied quietly. The man shook his head and motioned for them to follow him out of the apartment.
When they entered the corridor, Jetta saw the man they followed wore a Core high officer’s uniform. Two soldiers fell in step behind them, bringing up the rear. The junkies and drunks huddled against the walls whispered and stared, but not one dared speak out.
Why aren’t they heckling the military? Jetta thought. Why are they so afraid?
Her eye caught the smoke rising up from a junkie wadded up against the wall. As she passed by, she saw the black and red burn marks from shockwand strikes that scored the entire left side of his face and neck. The smell of burnt flesh threatened to upend the contents of her stomach.
Oh Gods—
“Wait, wait!” Galm cried out, hobbling out of the apartment as fast as he could.
The Dominion officer halted the procession and the soldiers raised their firearms.
No, uncle—don’t do anything stupid! Jetta thought, wanting to break out of line and run to Galm. One of the soldiers eyed her and lowered the nozzle of his gun in her direction.
“Please... Please let me say goodbye,” their uncle pleaded.
Jahx, voice pitched with calm entreaty, looked up at the officer. “Please.”
“You have one minute,” the high officer said.
When Jetta and her siblings approached Galm, he knelt painfully. He looked as if he wanted to hug each of them but was too afraid. Instead, he whispered, “Maybe this time I will do things right. I don’t seem to be any good at it.”
“I don’t understand. Did you sign us up to take the exam?” Jetta asked.
Galm nodded, his eyes glistening. “Anything is better than this. Anything. Now I know you’ll be taken care of—you’re valuable to them,” he said, squeezing each of their shoulders in turn.
When she tried to speak, Galm awkwardly grasped her hand in his. Disguising the exchange with a hearty handshake, she felt him press a folded piece of paper into her palm. In his eyes she saw regret and shame.
Is that what he’s giving me?
Slowly, she withdrew her hand and let it hang at her side.
“What about you?” Jaeia whispered, gray eyes misting.
Galm forced a smile, just for them.
“Yahmen does not know of this yet, does he?” Jetta said.
Galm’s eyes darted around the corridor as if he expected their owner to come crashing in at any moment. “N-no, I’m afraid they haven’t informed him yet.”
“This isn’t right, Pao,” Jetta protested.
“All Lohien and I ever wanted was to have a family. I am so sorry that I hurt all of you—that I could never protect you. I should have known better. Yahmen and I—what was once an old thorn between us has turned into something worse. I’m sorry you became involved.”
“It’s time.” The officer put his hands on Jetta and Jaeia’s shoulders.
“Promise me you won’t come back. Not for me, not for anyone. Stay away from this place—from him,” Galm whispered.
“Uncle Galm—” Jetta began, but the words she’d intended remained unspoken as the officer shuffled them away.
I can’t leave him—Jaeia and Jahx are right. Even unsalvageable, she couldn’t leave Galm. Yahmen will kill him.
Jetta tried to run to him, but the Dominion soldier clamped his hand down on her shoulder and spoke sharply: “Fall in line, cadet!”
Jetta kept her eyes on her uncle, watching as the other soldiers helped him to stand again, hoping to make their last few precious seconds stretch into an eternity. He smiled and waved at them weakly as they were hurried away.
“I’ll come back—I promise!” Jetta cried out. One of the soldiers pushed her into line be
hind her siblings.
As she followed the officer out of the apartment complex and onto a shuttle, Jetta tucked the square piece of paper into her pocket, wondering what it could possibly be. But when the tears stung her eyes, she pushed the thought away. She couldn’t afford to feel guilt and sorrow, not with an uncertain future in the Core Academy.
Any semblance of control came crashing down once she stepped off the shuttle and spotted the Dominion transport ship cycling on the launch pad. This is really happening. What did I do?
(I abandoned my parents.)
I don’t care, she told herself, wringing her trembling hands.
A warm hand slid into hers. She looked up to see her brother’s reassuring smile.
“Come on, you’re not afraid of the launch, are you?”
He knows how I feel, Jetta thought, but he’s not calling me out. Why?
“Guess I’m a little nervous,” she replied, playing into the lie.
“Well, let’s just make it through the countdown, okay?” Jahx said, shielding his eyes as he looked to the horizon. Through the smog and the layer of airfield glass they could see the suns and moons of Fiorah hanging low along the horizon, making the sky bleed orange and red. The roaring precycle of the transport ship’s engines whipped fragments of rock and dust in their faces as they stood on the docking platform, but neither of them moved.
“I’m sorry, Jahx. I am.”
Jahx hugged her, holding her as tightly as he could. “Everything will be all right.”
“You’re sure?”
Jahx tugged at her arm. “Let’s go before Jaeia thinks we’ve ditched her.”
“Is there a problem, cadets?” asked one of the soldiers manning the shuttle doors.
“No, Sir,” Jetta replied, stepping aboard. She wanted to look back, but the doors sealed before she had a chance.
Chapter II
Even after the fifth day aboard the Dominion starbase, Jetta still couldn’t acquiesce to the idea that there was enough food for everyone.
Triorion: Awakening (Book One) Page 7