“It’s not magic,” Kis’eh’t said. “It’s the facts as we know them, unless you’re willing to accept so many bizarre coincidences that you’d have to rewrite some of the laws of the universe to make them possible. It’s not magic just because we can’t see it and we haven’t codified the math that explains it.”
“He should have stayed out of my head,” Reese muttered.
“You should have stayed out of his,” Kis’eh’t replied.
“I’m not the psychic one!” Reese exclaimed.
“That doesn’t matter,” Kis’eh’t said, then threw up her hands. “You’re so ignorant on this matter you don’t even know how little basis you have for being upset. But there’s plenty of literature in the u-banks. Why don’t you actually read something about esper abilities before you decide to be upset about them?”
“Because it’s not about him being able to read my mind and doing it,” Reese said. “It’s about him having done it and now knowing what’s in my head!”
Kis’eh’t’s round-eyed stare was so shocked Reese fumbled to a halt. The Glaseah shook her head slowly. “Oh, Reese.”
That was it. Nothing else. The Glaseah headed for the door and was out of it before Reese could get up a good head of anger about being pitied. She ran to the door and looked out it. “Oh Reese what?”
But Kis’eh’t had already gone around the bend, leaving her to stand in the door and fume.
The first thing Hirianthial noticed on attaining consciousness was the familiar symphony of a Medplex: the hum of generators, the assorted musical status sounds of halo-arches, the occasional hiss of an AAP. From the range of the alerts, Hirianthial guessed he was in a high-end facility—he hadn’t heard some of the musical combinations since leaving one of the more impressive teaching hospitals on Tam-ley.
“Welcome back,” Sascha said.
Opening his eyes, Hirianthial found himself trapped beneath a halo-arch in a streamlined room. The electronics he’d identified by ear were so tightly arranged he had to be on a ship.
All of which mattered less than the fact that he was within touching distance of a Harat-Shar on a stool and he couldn’t hear the tigraine’s thoughts at all.
“You’re on the UAV StarCounter,” Sascha said.
“How’s your arm?” Hirianthial asked, noting the tape.
“Good,” Sascha said. “The doctors told me when they wrapped it that I didn’t really need to keep it on for a week, but we were in Wellspace so I couldn’t transfer over for them to have a look at it until now.”
“You didn’t break it again, then,” Hirianthial said.
Sascha grinned. “Not for want of trying!” He shook his head. “Seriously, I’m fine. They said they were just going to take it off and get a cursory look under my skin to make sure their quick-heal went well.”
“Good,” Hirianthial said. “Everyone else...?”
“They’re good,” Sascha said. “Preparing for the grand adventure, which you haven’t heard about yet.”
Hirianthial cocked a brow.
“We get to help Fleet crack open the multiple crime rings in Andeka by delivering the cargo as planned... in person. And Reese has to act like a cold-hearted mercenary to convince them that they shouldn’t bother killing her when she shows up,” Sascha said. “When she gets them to give her the rest of the money in exchange for the cargo, that’ll give Fleet what they need to clean up. We just dropped out of Well, and we’re planning the approach for tomorrow.”
“And this will allow Fleet to finish what they began a few months ago,” Hirianthial said.
Sascha nodded. “The rumor in the corridors is that it’s going to lead to hundreds of arrests throughout the sector. Of course, that’s just rumor. What their captain told Reese he’s certain of is that it’ll shut down this sector’s link to the slave trade. The dragons will have to find their toys somewhere else.”
The anger that had prompted him to set fire to a slave lord’s house had only been sleeping; Hirianthial felt it flare anew when presented with the opportunity to help bring Fleet into the nest of criminals Liolesa had sent him to investigate.
“You’re lucky you woke up in time,” Sascha said. “We’d have hated to see you sleep through the fun.”
“I would have hated to sleep through it,” Hirianthial said.
“Sascha,” said a voice just out of Hirianthial’s eyeshot, “I see you’ve arrived. Doctor Endalish will see you in conference two... that’s the second door down that hall there, on the right.”
Sascha hopped off the stool. “Thanks.”
“Sascha,” Hirianthial said.
The Harat-Shar paused.
“Thank Irine for her prescient gift when you get back.”
Sascha laughed. “I’ll do that.”
The Harat-Shar vanished, and the man who replaced him on the stool was an older Tam-illee in the stark blue and black of the Fleet uniform. Unlike his captain, the doctor looked more like a fox, with soft auburn fur, black arms and ears and a demi-muzzle. He had the composed demeanor only experience seemed to grant to doctors, and folded his hands as he sat, showing no haste.
“Lord Sarel Jisiensire,” the man said. “My name is Doctor Brit SorrowsEase. I’m the Chief Medical Officer of the UAV StarCounter.” He shifted on his chair. “You are a peer in the profession, so perhaps you’ll appreciate that in my thirty-seven years of practice, twenty-two of which were spent treating what I believe to be the most accident-prone people in the Alliance, I have never seen a case as peculiar as yours.”
“I believe you,” Hirianthial said.
“Fortunately I had access to several other specialists elsewhere in Fleet,” SorrowsEase continued. “Between the four of us we restored you. Or we think we did. Frankly, I believe rest, fluids and an environment free of stimulus did most of the work. How do you feel?”
“Normal,” Hirianthial said, testing as he spoke. His shields were intact. The room remained comfortable and the Tam-illee’s presence merely decorated with his aura, not drowned out by it. With concentration Hirianthial could feel the ship’s personnel, but they did not swamp him with their feelings. “Remarkably so. May I ask how I presented?”
“Unconscious, dehydrated and showing signs of muscle cannibalization,” SorrowsEase said. “We could detect no external actor on your body at all: no pathogen, no physical injury. The electrical activity in your brain was depressed.”
“Depressed,” Hirianthial mused. “I would have expected the opposite.”
“So did we when your crewmate described your symptoms previous to your arrival here,” the Tam-illee said. “Our theory was that while in that state your brain was overactive and your body reacted as if you had a severe fever or infection.”
“The metabolic signs,” Hirianthial said.
SorrowsEase nodded. “We could see nothing to treat, so after conferring we isolated you here. One week later, you’re awake and seem cogent.”
“Curious,” Hirianthial said.
“Very,” SorrowsEase agreed. “I have never treated an esper for overload before. I’m not sure the experience has clarified any of the questions I had.” He smiled. “But you’ve recuperated, which was our intent. I won’t argue with results.”
“Are you releasing me?” Hirianthial asked, thinking of the crystals.
“I can,” SorrowsEase said. “I’m not entirely comfortable with it. If as far as you can ascertain your mind is working as it should, I must take your word for it... but you’ve just woken from the equivalent of a bad bout with the flu. You need bed-rest and nourishment. And you need to work your way back to your prior condition. Which reminds me... you have significant arthritis in your knees, elbows and wrists. I have no idea how old you are, but you seem in good health. Given that your organs aren’t going to fail you soon, you should be taking more conscious steps to prevent wear on your joints.”
Hirianthial said, “Therapeutic exercise hasn’t been on my mind, I admit.”
“Consider it prescr
ibed,” SorrowsEase said. His eyes traveled over the Eldritch’s body with a detached curiosity. Then he reached over and tapped the halo-arch, causing it to withdraw with a descending arpeggio. As Hirianthial gingerly sat up, the Tam-illee said, “A final note, Lord. Fleet medical procedure is strict on the matter of patient confidentiality and rigorous in particular with allied species. I am required to ask your permission to release the medical information I obtained while treating you. If you decline, all data gathered and shared with my colleagues will be purged.”
That would have been Maraesa’s doing. Liolesa’s aunt had decided to take Jerisa’s Veil even further and re-negotiated the treaty with the Alliance during her reign, pushing for more stringent privacy laws... all wasted, as far as Hirianthial had been able to tell, since Maraesa’s policies had fueled xenophobia among the Eldritch to a point where not a single one would have stepped off-world, even at sword-point. Nothing in Hirianthial’s medical ethics code addressed whether he should honor the Eldritch Veil or add to the Alliance’s biological knowledge base.
“Am I the first Eldritch you’ve ever treated?” Hirianthial asked.
“Yes,” SorrowsEase said, then smiled. “You’ll decide based on whether I’m likely to treat another Eldritch, won’t you.”
“Out of respect to the laws of my people, I can’t release data merely for scientific curiosity,” Hirianthial said.
“In fairness I must say that I’m not likely to have another Eldritch in my Medplex... unless your people are planning to become less isolationist?”
Hirianthial shook his head, the minute motion twist of the chin he’d learned as a child, not the full head turn he’d learned in the Alliance. “Not likely. I’m afraid I cannot give permission, Doctor SorrowsEase... though I hope having had the experience will be some consolation.”
This time the Tam-illee grinned, a look so unexpectedly gleeful Hirianthial almost laughed. “I will much enjoy trotting you out at dinner parties in the future, Lord.”
Hirianthial chuckled. “You’ve richly earned it. Other than rest, food and judicious exercise, you have no other recommendations?”
SorrowsEase shook his head. “None.”
“Then perhaps you can tell me where I could find Captain NotAgain,” Hirianthial said.
“So I set down here,” Reese said, tapping the map, “then take the crystals into this compound, where you believe the man in charge of it all is waiting.”
“Marlane Surapinet,” NotAgain confirmed. They were sitting in one of the StarCounter’s luxurious but small conference rooms, having extremely fresh shipboard coffee. Reese had never been aboard a Fleet ship, though she’d seen pictures of their interiors. Nothing prepared her for the visceral reality. The StarCounter smelled fresh, was clean and well-appointed; its corridors seemed designed for comfort and yet nothing struck her as overdone. And the technology level was simply astonishing. The appliances in this conference room alone would have cost her as much as employing the twins for a couple of months.
Back to the plan. “I convince him to personally sign over the money for the crystals and then you have your evidence,” Reese said. “And then I leave.”
“That’s the plan under best circumstances,” NotAgain said.
Reese eyed him. “What are the worst circumstances?”
“That they know you’re coming and that you’re working for us, and they imprison you. At which point we’ll come after you, since they’ll have no legal reason to kidnap you.”
“Okay, I like that option a lot less than option number one,” Reese said, shivering.
“There’s worse,” NotAgain said. “We have cause to believe they base a lot of their operations out of the Barris, where you’ll be landing. If they have ships there and they realize what you’re doing, your arrival might inspire them to flee.”
“Why’s that bad?” Reese asked.
“Because I’d be required to stop them,” NotAgain said.
Reese shook her head. “I’m so glad I don’t have your job.”
He laughed. “It’s rewarding work. It’s just not easy.” He tapped the map. “What I’d like you to do is to stay on-planet after you make your drop-off until you receive word that local-space is clear.”
“That sounds straightforward enough.”
“We’ll also loan you some men to help secure the area around your landing site,” NotAgain said. “Unfortunately I don’t have a lot to spare, but I can get you at least two, possibly four.”
“Every extra hand will help,” Reese said. “Thanks. When do you want me to make my final approach?”
“I’ve called in some help,” NotAgain said. “We should be ready in a couple of hours. Speaking of which, I hope you’ve evolved a cover?”
Reese nodded. “I think I’ve created a persona I could actually believe.” She smiled wryly. “I’m not exactly the most dangerous person in the world, but I have a good imagination.”
“Good,” NotAgain said. “I hope your persona wears a button-down shirt.” He set a pin topped with a round black seed on the table between them.
“What is it?” Reese asked, picking it up. The pin was barely the length of one of her nails.
“A remote 3deo capture,” NotAgain said.
Reese started. “This thing? It’s microscopic! I’ve never seen a camera this small on the market!”
He laughed. “And you won’t find one there.”
“I guess there are benefits to being Fleet,” Reese said. “Aren’t they going to detect it, though?”
“They shouldn’t,” NotAgain said. At her look, he said, “We do our best to stay ahead of the curve, captain, but that doesn’t mean we always succeed. That’s the latest in surveillance equipment but you should never assume the advantage. If they find it at all, it will probably be in the same check that finds the weapons we’re lending your crew for verisimilitude. Shrug it off as something any mercenary would have and they shouldn’t think twice about it.”
“Unless they recognize it as Fleet issue,” Reese said.
“They won’t,” NotAgain said. “Nor the weapons. We’re careful about clandestine operations.”
Reese sighed. “I guess I can’t hope for more than that.”
He shook his head. “No. I’ve already sent the weapons to the Pad room, where your crewman should be waiting—” The meeting room door chimed. NotAgain glanced at the ceiling. “Yes?”
“Captain, one of the Earthrise crew to see his captain.”
NotAgain looked at her. “Are we done here?”
Reese nodded. “It’s probably Sascha.”
The Tam-illee said, “Thank you, Ensign. Let him in.”
The door opened on a young human who acknowledged his captain before stepping aside for Hirianthial. For once, Reese allowed her frustration full rein: doing that made it easier to ignore just how gaunt he looked. And was he listing to the side, just a touch?
“Lord Sarel Jisiensire,” NotAgain said. “It’s good to see you on your feet.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Hirianthial said. He looked at Reese. “I am given to understand you are following the pirates to their den?”
Reese had the feeling she’d regret any answer she gave. She scowled. “Yes.”
“I’m going with you.”
“You’re crazy!” Reese exploded. “Look at you! You can barely stand straight and you want to waltz into a slaver junction? They’ll tie you by your hair and cart you away before I even open my mouth! What exactly are you going to tell them you’re there for?”
“I’m your bodyguard,” Hirianthial said.
Reese gaped at him. No one spoke, so she had to. “You can’t be serious.”
“It might work,” NotAgain said.
Reese composed herself. “I already chose someone to act as my heavy,” she said. “Bryer. He’s tall, he’s impossible to read and he’s got talons an inch long.”
“Having more than one isn’t unusual,” NotAgain said.
“But him? Look at him!�
�� Reese said. “You could knock him over with a feather!”
“What exactly would you be doing to protect her?” NotAgain asked.
“Reading the minds of her enemies,” Hirianthial said.
“That’s not funny,” Reese growled.
NotAgain ignored her, rubbing the edge of his chin. Then he said, “You should take him.”
Reese looked from him to the Eldritch, then back. “Are you serious? Who would believe him as a bodyguard?”
“Believe him?” This time NotAgain met her stare with a polite incredulity. “He wouldn’t be pretending.” He looked at Hirianthial. “Am I correct?”
Hirianthial said. “You have divined my intent, Captain.”
The world had gone insane.
NotAgain continued, “If you’re worried about them abducting him you’d have better luck having him in full view; if he hides on the Earthrise they could plan a raid while your back is turned and deny complicity when you found out. Taking him along, on the other hand, would fit the profile of a brazen, self-confident mercenary. I don’t think they’ll doubt his efficacy. And having along one of the men they dearly want to take for themselves would be a significant statement.”
“Of what?” Reese asked, recovering the use of her tongue. “Stupidity?”
NotAgain squinted at her. “Captain Eddings, I confess I don’t understand your misgivings. Your Phoenix will make an excellent combatant if negotiations come to blows... but an Eldritch mind-reader at your back will be a deterrent to violence that your enemies won’t be able to equal or anticipate. And the man has volunteered to protect you.”
“I’m more worried about protecting him,” Reese said.
NotAgain nodded. “We’ve already covered that. If they want him, they’ll do their best to kidnap him whether he’s in plain view or not. Best to have it in the open.”
Reese clenched her hands under the table. “If you think it’s a good idea—”
“I think you should count yourself lucky to have such a resource,” NotAgain said. “And I think you should guard yourself against dismissing his value.”
Reese sighed. “Fine. He comes. But I hope everything works out as planned... and that’s as planned for option one, not all the rest.”
Earthrise (Her Instruments Book 1) Page 34