Wave upon wave of Syn-Ens and Amarooks filled the square.
“You know. This planet just isn’t any fun.” Rome smoothed his spines away.
Bei shook his head. “I better save Nell.”
His wife would be upset if she killed someone. She still had nightmares over her last death match.
Mopus ducked behind a column lining the facade of the consortium.
Nell rushed up the steps after him. “Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look?”
“I say let her finish him off. It’s not like he doesn’t deserve it.” Keyes matched his strides.
Wardens crawled out of the cargo bays. Gripping the rappel lines, they zipped down to the plaza. The tops of their boxy bodies slid open.
Groat shook himself. His bubble eyes blinked, then he turned and raced inside the Consortium.
Cupping his hands around his mouth, Bei stepped onto the bridge. “Nell, I think you should leave him be.”
“Why? I bet he tastes like shish-kabobed chicken.” She smacked the flat side of her blade against the column.
Mopus jumped. “Barbarous inferior.”
The carved wooden doors of the Consortium swung open. ETs of all shapes, sizes and colors walked out.
In the lead, a gray humanoid with oversized ears raised its arms. A thin layer of skin connected the supple limbs to its massive torso and abdomen.
The procession halted.
“What is the meaning of this?” The humanoid’s deep baritone rang out over the square. His two antennae uncurled from the top of his bald head and stood straight up.
Nell froze. Her swords shortened and reformed as hands.
Bei quickly closed the distance between them.
“It’s me,” he warned before setting his hand on her silver back.
She leaned into his touch and grinned. “I always wanted superpowers.” The shiny finish receded, revealing normal skin. “But didn’t want the freakazoid that went with it. Thank God. I want to grow old with you not rust in the rain.”
“As long as we’re together.” He kissed her temple. Hell if he knew what would happen to the NDA. No one had ever used it the way she did. He only had Mom’s word that it had been done before.
Mom hadn’t been the most reliable in the past.
Facing the gray leader, Mopus dropped to one knee. “These escaped inferiors are trying to falsely register their species as sentient.”
“All of them?”
Mopus snorted. “We’ve already identified who the four belong to.”
Rushing to his comrade’s side, Groat clicked his claws together. “Mopus.”
Mopus shushed him with a wave of his hand.
“Mopus,” Groat growled.
The gray ET’s four sets of eyes widened and the slats covering his slit nostrils fluttered. His attention drifted down to the square. “Why was I not notified of this registration?”
“Because we did not wish to burden you with such a trifle.” Mopus smoothed his mane of hair.
“Freedom is not a trifle.” Nell wiggled her flesh-colored fingers. “And our registration isn’t false.”
“Silence inferior.” Mopus raised his arm as if to strike her.
Elvis soared through the air and planted himself in front of Nell. Ears folded back, he bared his sharp fangs and extended his claws through his bandaged fingertips. “Touch her and I will feed you your arm. In pieces.”
“Elvis!” Nell bounced on the balls of her feet. “I knew you were alive.”
Mopus’ emerald eyes narrowed. “You see how great the conspiracy is? They’ve even fashioned an Amarook to stand up for them. They didn’t know the beasts can’t talk.” He pounded his fist against his palm. “We must round up all of their kind and interrogate them. This rebellion must be quashed.”
Bei smiled. The humanoid loved to hear himself talk. Must be the political branch of the Founding Five.
“No one will be safe in their beds until we suss out every spy and sympathizer. I volunteer the…” Mopus made a strangling noise as he turned to face the square.
Ahh, he’d spied the Syn-En and their ship. Bei would like to see the stinky ET explain them away. A shuffle-tap caught Bei’s attention.
Ugu, head of the Paladin’s Witan, defacto ruler of the Skaperian Empire, hobbled up the steps leading to the Consortium. White cornrows trailed down her back. She tapped the scepter of leadership on each stair she climbed. “Municans. Never trusted them as far as I could throw their dismembered bodies.”
Bei’s chief medical officer and an albino Skaperian bracketed her.
The gray leader inclined his head and bowed his antennae. “Ugu, my dear friend, you are unchanged since the last time I envisioned you.”
Aquamarine eyes glinted in Ugu’s moon-pie face. “I had a long nap. A very long nap, Guenoc. Now, let’s go inside and register the Humans and their companions.”
Chapter 32
Nell sidled across the consortium steps to stand next to her husband. She didn’t like the odd looks he kept throwing her way. Was it because her skin had changed? Not likely. No doubt, she’d irritated him by going after that smelly elf, Mopus.
As if hearing her thoughts, Bei set his hand on the small of her back. Nimble fingers gathered the hem of her shirt, ducked under the fabric and followed the curve of her spine.
She caught her breath. Good Lord. She could practically feel the beat of his heart. Was this what he experienced every time he touched her? She would find out later. After they registered.
And she was glad Elvis had survived the collapse of the Skaperian embassy. Maybe he’d warned everyone of the impending attack and humanity’s new companions survived too. She crossed her fingers.
Bei shifted closer, caressed her lower back before dropping his hand to his side.
On her left, Elvis bared his fangs and stalked the area between her and Mopus and the Scraptor.
She sunk her hand in his fur and scratched behind his ears. The silky coat felt the same as before. Maybe she’d just imagined she could feel Bei’s heartbeat.
Ahead of her, the alien delegation funneled inside the double carved wooden doors. Some walked, others hopped, and the snail-like ones undulated.
“I miss my video camera.”
On the riser below, Doc Cabo marched in step with Paladin Ugu. A green diagnostic beam shot out of the palm of his tan hand. “That video camera saved us all.”
Nell glanced at her husband before looking over her shoulder at Doc. “What do you mean?”
Bei’s lips quirked. “He means that camera you carried provided live feed. The fleet watched the attack before a second EMP took it out.”
“But I—” Heat flooded her face. Good Lord! She’d worn the darn thing into their bedroom, when she and Bei….
Relax, Bei cupped her cheek. I switched it off when things became…interesting.
Hey, I can hear you clearer!
Elvis, Iggy, and the rest of the Amarooks are providing a signal. Bei jerked his chin at the Syn-En ship, America, unleashed a handful of wardens to raise the Icarus into her flat-bottomed hull.
Underneath the starship, Syn-Ens and Amarooks held the courtyard. Human laborers outside the square dropped their burdens and rushed the line.
I imagine that is how Nell was able to communicate with the shuttle while we were underground. The link must be quite powerful to penetrate our shields. Walking on Bei’s right, Keyes petted Iggy, the Amarook pack leader.
Guenoc smoothed his gray antennae as he led the way into the Consortium.
The other aliens fanned out along the walls, leaving the foyer empty.
Nell stepped inside, waited a moment for her eyes to adjust. This was it. The Erwar Consortium. The holy of holies. Disappointment pinched her insides. It looked like a library.
Gold-tipped scrolls and huge leather-bound books filled shelf upon shelf. A rolling ladder climbed the collection up the walls of the three story building. More stacks radiated out of the center like spokes on a
bicycle wheel. Alien numbers and letters marked each bookcase.
Nell rubbed her forehead. Where were the computers and crystals? Please, please don’t let there be some manual horrendous card catalog lurking about. She could barely pronounce some species, spelling was out of the question.
Tucking his arm into the folds of his white robes, Guenoc glided over the mosaic floor tiles of crashing waves and mounted warped wooden stairs to a hunk of marble that served as a desk. “Who speaks for the species?”
Hooking his arm through hers, Bei dragged Nell forward. “We are the duly elected representatives of Humanity. We speak for them.”
Mopus smoothed his lime-green hair. “I object to this registration on behalf of the Founding Five.”
Elvis snarled at the alien elf.
Ugu stabbed her scepter in Mopus’s direction. “Humans say everyone has the right to remain silent, I suggest you exercise that right, Mopus Argent.”
She spat near his feet.
Mopus jerked his robes out of the way. “I don’t have to stand for this.”
Nell deliberately turned her back on him. “Then leave. No one invited you.”
Ugu cackled. “Bring forth the book, Guenoc.”
The gray alien picked up a thin book off a low shelf behind the desk. Dust billowed around it when he dropped the ledger on the table. His three-fingered hand opened the book to the first page. Blank lines ran down the sheet. “I’m afraid registering isn’t as simple as it used to be, Ugu.”
The Skaperian shook her white-feathered head. The bone beads holding her braids clicked together. “Humans are here, they have a sponsor. What more is there?”
Nell’s stomach tightened. She knew. The Ck’son had warned her.
Bei’s fingers tightened on her forearm. Something tells me registering won’t be easy.
Guenoc tugged on his left jug ear before removing a quill from a silver ink well in the corner. He did not make eye contact. “Without the Skaperians to prevent it, the Founding Five pushed through a series of reforms.”
Ugu arched one peach eyebrow and ground the bottom of her scepter into the marble mosaic floor. “Reforms? What kind of reforms?”
Mopus walked into Nell’s peripheral vision. A smile twisted his elongated features.
On Bei’s far right, Rome cracked his knuckles. Whatever it is, we’ll do it. I’ll fucking rip every one of these ET assholes limb from limb before I ever serve them.
Clearing his throat, Guenoc smoothed the ink from the tip and set the quill to paper. “The new species must build a permanent embassy on Erwar within thirty axis spins. I will, of course, register them on a temporary basis.”
Rome crossed his arms. Fine, we bring down some tents, prop them up and plant our flag. Done.
Permanent. The tents aren’t permanent. Bei’s anger prowled through her mind. And I bet if we leave to gain supplies, our ships and crew will be waylaid.
Nell shifted through the turmoil swirling through her head. How did they function with so many thoughts and emotion bombarding them? Mom was bad enough.
We’ve come too far to fail now. Keyes pushed her curly hair over her shoulder. We have plenty of sand, and there’s rock underneath it. Just a few more ingredients and we’ll have what we need to make concrete.
Spines emerged along Rome’s arms and legs. You really think Bug-ugly and Stinky are going to sit by and watch us work?
Hey! Nell shouted into the chaos. I have a plan. Just trust me and wait for the cue.
I trust you. Bei nodded.
Rome rocked back on his heels. Oh, this will be good.
Ugu pursed her lips. “An embassy?” Her pale eyes glittered. “How many species have registered since the new requirements went into effect?”
Guenoc scratched the tip of his quill over the blank pages. Bold script spelled out Humans. “Twelve species have tried.” He paused and looked up.
Ugu’s moon pie face relaxed. “That must have been a record year.”
Guenoc’s attention cut to the Scraptor then Mopus. “In the the last hundred solar cycles. All of them have failed. All have been placed under the protection of one of the Founding Five.”
Ugu’s skin flushed a bright orange. “I see.”
Dipping his quill in for more ink, Guenoc stared at Nell. “Name?”
“Nell Stafford and Beijing York. Both of us were born on Earth.” Taking the steps two at a time, she mounted the raised dais and rested her hands on the desk. “You have a map of Erwar?”
“Naturally.” Guenoc finished writing her name. He blew on the glossy black ink while reaching under his desk and retrieving a scroll.
Ugu huffed to a stop near Nell. “As your sponsors, we require that you must choose a place on Skaperian soil.”
“Oh, I plan to.” Nell smoothed the stiff paper flat and set her hands on it. Red circles freckled the map. Blue lines marked waterways. The region must have been beautiful once.
Guenoc scrawled Bei’s name onto the paper.
Her husband brushed her shoulder. What are you looking for? “Once we clear out the sand, any place will provide a solid foundation.”
There’s a really old place. Nell scanned the map again. Her vision swam and two green dots drifted over the map. The first corresponded to the destroyed embassy; the second to a globally recognized archeological site. Nell set her finger on the second. It corresponded exactly with a red circle. “This is Humanity’s embassy.”
Bei leaned over the map and frowned. I don’t understand.
Ugu glanced at the map. Her eyes widened then she grinned. “I believe you can X out the temporary status and make humanity permanently sentient.”
“What!” Mopus squawked. “The buildings must be built by humans, not abandoned by the Skaperians.”
Rome blocked the green elf from reaching the desk. What did I miss?
Guenoc peered at the markings on the map. Laughter wheezed out his chest. “Humans have claimed the ancient Erwar settlement designated Outpost Twelve.” The gray alien drew a line through the temporary status. “One of your ancestors certified that the ancients used imported Human labor to build it, Mopus. Humans are hereby declared permanently sentient.”
He scrolled the big words across the bottom of the page.
Nell leaned against her husband. She’d done it. Humans were officially free.
Elvis yipped then growled at the Munician.
Mopus turned the color of spring leaves. “But that…that’s cheating the intent of the law.”
“But not the letter.” Ugu stomped her scepter near his toes.
Rome scooped up his wife. Nell is my favorite civilian ever! He set his hand on her stomach. At least, until this little guy arrives.
Keyes hugged him back. I don’t even think she learned that from a movie.
Bei pressed a quick kiss in Nell’s hair. “There is also the matter of our companions.”
Doc Cabo slipped between them and placed an electronic pad on the desk. “You’ll find their names here.”
The Syn-En must have rescued the others.
Nell clamped her lips together. She’d ask later. When there wasn’t an enemy about.
Nodding, Guenoc pulled it closer and transcribed the names. “They must be recorded properly. Technology cannot be trusted.”
“We’ll begin moving in immediately.” Nell laced her fingers through Bei’s. “It should be big enough for us, our companions and our allies.”
Ugu nodded. “Indeed.”
Mopus opened his mouth. Before he uttered a word, the Scraptor grabbed him and dragged him toward the exit.
“I would like the humans in the mine freed.” Bei’s voice thundered around the consortium.
Every alien in the room froze.
The Scraptor straightened. “We have no Humans in mines. It is forbidden to mine Erwar.”
Without another word, the two left.
“He’s right about the mining part. As to the other, the Founding Five cannot tell the truth.” Guenoc
looked up from his task. “You have made powerful enemies there, Human.”
Bei shrugged. “They were always Humanity’s enemies. Now, it is just acknowledged.” He tapped the electronic pad. “Press this green button when you’re finished and we’ll pick up the pad.”
Guenoc shook his head. “You must witness the recording, so no mistakes are made.”
Rome’s attention bounced off Nell and landed on her husband. “We’ll stay. You go ahead.”
She didn’t need the Wireless Array active to interpret that look. They were worried about her.
Bei swept her into his arms. “Doc. I’ll need you to debrief us.”
***
Sinking deeper into the mattress, Nell wiggled in her husband’s embrace. Grit scratched her eyes. The Syn-En ship America hummed around her and the air tasted cleaner. Beyond the footboard, a LCD screen displayed the pale yellow moon circling Erwar. Still sleep time for her. Bei didn’t need nearly as much.
Yawning, she rolled over and faced him in the darkness. Blankets tangled around her feet. “Can you feel the difference between my normal skin and the other?”
“No.” He caressed her back, sweeping his hand along her spine. “I just feel you. Amazing you.”
He always knew the perfect thing to say. She kicked off the blankets and threw a bare leg over his thighs. “I’m going to be fine. Doc will implant the power source near my brain box and I won’t have to worry about passing out when I use the NDA.”
His arms tightened and his caresses stilled. “I know.”
“Doc reinserted the isolation wire, so I can’t hear your thoughts anymore.”
“Given the telepathic abilities of the Amarooks, I think it won’t matter if your wires are in or not. You should still be able to contact me in case of an emergency.”
She counted to five. Then ten. Sometimes, she wondered whether he was obtuse, stubborn, or just a man. “Do you regret the alliance with the Skaperians? I know they don’t offer much in the way of technology, but the information is good. And I don’t blame them for us getting caught.”
Syn-En: Registration Page 22