####
The city of Reno was compact and comprised of many levels, most of them below ground. Instead of a sprawling open building with fresh air and green space, the retirement facility looked very much like all the other drab buildings Kiren passed on her way there. She found the address easily enough, entering at street level, only to be redirected five stories below ground. The old fashioned lift was a slow, box-like device which left Kiren feeling claustrophobic by the time the doors opened again. She found herself facing a glass door which led into a small waiting room.
The desk was occupied by a uniformed receptionist who looked up at her approach. Kiren wore a comfortable Saharan outfit, hoping it would help her blend in. The woman smiled.
“Good afternoon! Welcome to Manor House. How may I help you?”
“Hello. I’m here to visit Thea Chilton. Could you direct me to her room please?”
The woman looked down at her datascreen briefly and then back up at Kiren.
“She lives in 104, straight down the main hall and then left past the recreation room. If you can’t find her there, just ask at the nurse’s station.”
She opened the door behind her and waved Kiren through with another broad smile. The facility was brightly lit and cheerfully decorated, people milling about singly or in pairs. She could clearly hear conversation, laughter, and entertainment vids at high volume coming from the rooms as she passed. She turned left as directed and found Thea’s room without any trouble. The door was open, and she could see a very frail-looking old woman reclined in a mobile chair. Kiren knocked to get her attention, but the poor thing simply continued to stare into space.
“Just go on in - she’ll never hear you way out here.”
One of the uniformed staff stopped on her way past, startling Kiren when she spoke up.
“She never gets visitors you know. Turned 102 last week and not a soul showed up. Pretty sad if you ask me. I hope my kids never put me in place like this.”
Kiren thanked her and walked slowly into the small room, glancing around briefly. There were a few trinkets here and there, as well as some artwork on the walls, but it was depressingly sparse for someone with over a hundred years to their credit. Kiren stopped a few feet from the chair and waited to see if Thea would notice her. The old woman blinked a few times, and then lifted her eyes to Kiren’s face. A confused look clouded her features before she spoke.
“I don’t know you, do I? Did you come to see me?”
Kiren pulled up a chair and sat facing her.
“I did come to see you, Thea. My name is Kiren. I have been reading about when the colony first arrived here, and I was hoping you could tell me what it was like back then.”
The old woman’s expression changed from confusion to fear as she looked over at the open doorway.
“I’m not supposed to talk about it. You better go away before he comes back. No, no, no - he won’t like it. I don’t remember anything, you see. Yes, that’s right, I don’t remember anything about it. I’m one hundred and two years old you know.”
Inwardly, Kiren sighed, as it appeared she wasn’t going to get any helpful information after all.
“Well, I’m sorry to hear it, Thea. There is so much I would like to know, and I was hoping you would have some stories to tell. For instance, no one seems to know very much about the sand dragons, and I thought perhaps you might.”
Thea’s expression darkened once more.
“Did that man send you? He’ll hurt me if I tell you anything! You better go away before he comes back.”
She turned her head away and closed her eyes, but Kiren could see her knuckles turning white as she gripped the arms of her chair. Perhaps it was time for a different tack.
“Thea, listen to me. I’m from Pacifica, and I want to know about the sand dragons. I think they are much smarter than anyone realizes. You were part of the bridge crew back then, and I was hoping you remembered what the dragons were like. I promise not to tell the man, and no one will hurt you.”
Slowly, Thea opened her eyes, flicked them towards the door again, and then motioned Kiren closer.
“We have to be fast, before they catch us. They made me promise never to tell, but I’m going to tell you. Someone should know the truth. We weren’t supposed to stay here you know. This place belongs to them, not us. I recorded everything, hoping to give it to someone I could trust one day. Do you see that picture on the wall? Bring it over here – hurry!”
Kiren got up and quickly removed a small frame which held a grainy image of several people standing in front of a shuttlecraft.
“Is this the one?”
Thea nodded and motioned her back to the chair.
“If they come back in here, I will have to pretend again. Take this with you, but don’t let them see! Behind the picture – that’s what’s important. Do you understand?”
Kiren didn’t really know what she was talking about, but it was clear Thea was getting worked up. She slid the small frame into an inner pocket of her billowing robes, just as one of the nurses charged into the room.
“What’s going on here? Who are you?”
Kiren opened her mouth to explain, but Thea began making a fuss.
“Isn’t it exciting? Rose came to see me! She’s been telling me all about her new job, and the kids are growing up so fast! Oh, but I think I need to lie down now! Is it time for my medicine? I don’t want any eggs for dinner again, do you hear me? Maybe we should go outside! I haven’t been outside for so long...”
The nurse moved quickly to Thea’s side and tried to quiet her down to no avail. She turned to Kiren with a menacing glare and told her to wait out in the hall. At the door, Kiren paused and looked back, only to have Thea wink at her while the nurse wasn’t looking. The old woman continued chattering away as Kiren slipped into the empty hallway and quietly closed the door.
Thea’s performance had to be a deliberate distraction to give her time to escape, though it wasn’t clear what type of danger she might be in. She made her way quickly to the exit and waved a cheery goodbye to the friendly receptionist. It took every ounce of control to wait calmly for the old lift doors to open, a nervous sweat only adding to her discomfort. When they finally opened, she traded places with the two people who were exiting. Just as the doors began to close, Kiren caught a glimpse of the belligerent nurse talking to the receptionist who was casually gesturing in her direction.
When the lift began to move, Kiren finally released the breath she was holding. Heart pounding, she reached the street level, left the building, and headed briskly back to her quarters where she could finally relax and sort though what happened. Her first priority was to find a secure place for the framed image the strange old woman practically forced into her hands. Next, she activated her personal log and recorded everything she could remember of her visit with Thea Chilton while it was still fresh in her mind. When there was nothing left to record, Kiren noticed it was time to get ready for her dinner date. Thankfully, she had something pleasant to look forward to at the end of this tumultuous day.
####
She placed the comm call as soon as the mysterious visitor fled the facility. The instructions she was given were clear, and not at all unexpected considering what happened.
“Do it tonight. Make it look natural. Don’t leave a trail.”
She could still hear the cold indifference in his voice, as though he were ordering off a menu. Mylissa White knew exactly who she was dealing with, even though he believed she had no clue as to his true identity. He never explained why the old woman was to be watched so closely, and Mylissa didn’t really care. The money he paid her all these years came in very handy, but the bonus she demanded from him was the real icing on the cake. Once the old woman was out of the way, she was going to retire in style.
She made certain Thea Chilton’s evening medication contained something a little different tonight. Mylissa would accompany her assistant on the evening rounds just to be sure nothing went wron
g. If all went as planned, the cantankerous old woman would die in her sleep and no one would be the wiser. One thing was certain; if the money didn’t appear in her account as promised, Senator Roux would be on the receiving end of some very unwelcome attention.
####
Given the constraints on food production, there were very few restaurants in Reno. The one Andre chose served simple fare in a luxurious setting, even providing live music for its patrons. They enjoyed the meal, but the real purpose was to get better acquainted. Kiren was unprepared for the surprising number of things they had in common. She half expected the evening would die a slow and painful death, leaving her anxious to call it a night and forget the whole thing. Thankfully it didn’t happen, and Kiren found herself laughing at another one of Andres’ stories. He was handsome, charming, funny and a great listener.
Kiren feared their age difference would be difficult to overcome. He was at least twenty-five years older than she, aside from the five hundred year journey on board Expedition, but it seemed to make no difference at all. The regeneration therapies became the great equalizer, making actual age differences rather meaningless. It was true Andre’s life experiences were more extensive, but he was never patronizing or dismissive.
From what they already shared, she surmised Andre used to be something of the shy nerdy type when he was her age. His life and career were so full up to this point, he was only now looking for someone to settle down with. Kiren wondered if it would be her, and though the idea did not frighten her, she knew there was plenty of time to find out what the future might hold.
They talked for hours, first at the restaurant, and then as they strolled down the main street. It was getting late now, though, and she agreed when Andre offered to walk her back to her quarters. She stifled a surprised gasp as he reached down and took her hand in his. It was warm and strong and fit around hers perfectly, an electric tingle racing upwards from her fingertips. When they reached the door, Kiren thanked him for a wonderful evening.
Before she could turn to go inside, Andre boldly wrapped his arms around her and pressed his warm soft lips to hers. She kissed him back, her hands gripping muscular arms for support. As they pulled back, he looked into her eyes for a moment and then smiled.
“I would very much like to see you again, Kiren. We’ll have to be careful to keep our personal and professional lives separate, especially during this next assignment, but I know we can do it. What do you think?”
Kiren hesitated for a moment, and then pulled him in for a deeper kiss.
“Does that answer your question, Ambassador? I’ll see you first thing tomorrow. Goodnight.”
Andre rewarded her with a soft chuckle, and turned to go as soon as she was safely inside.
####
Sh’zul chose a well-camouflaged spot to make his observations. The pale ones surprised him once again by erecting a barrier of some sort which encompassed most of their entry tunnels, and were moving back and forth along it. There were no further disruptions of the nest, but they had been here most of the day and seemed prepared to remain through the darkness as well. He could hear occasional mouth noises as they communicated in their strange way, but still none came close enough for him to read their thoughts. Why were they here? Would they attack? What did they want? Sh’zul looked up into the sky, as the feeling of being watched returned as strongly as ever.
Though the scouts were against it, Sh’zul was determined to attempt contact with the pale ones. It may not reveal the information he sought, but it was better than nothing at all. At his signal, four scouts followed him to an entrance located very close to a single pale one. They surrounded him as he slowly approached, two behind and one on each side. They were quite close before the pale one noticed them. It made a loud sharp sound, followed by more mouth noises, and then pointed a strange object at him.
He knew from the legends the object could hurt or even kill, so he stopped moving. The pale one moved further away and pointed the object at the ground. Soon, three more pale ones joined the first, moving quickly along the barrier. They did nothing at first, but then one of the pale ones put down his object and took several steps toward Sh’zul. The other three moved in behind it and to the side, watching the scouts carefully.
The creature drew itself toward the ground and shuffled closer. Sh’zul instructed the scouts to retreat, leaving him alone with the odd being. He moved forward very slowly, hoping not to frighten it. The being extended one of its upper appendages and held it there. Sh’zul drew in several deep breaths, unfamiliar with the scents emanating from it. He opened his senses wide, seeking anything from the pale one’s mind. There was something...a dissonant buzz which was definitely not Rxyl.
He sensed what felt like fear, perhaps curiosity, but no definite thoughts he could identify. He tried instead to project his thoughts at the pale one, hoping to make a connection of some kind. The creature shook its head, then turned and made soft mouth sounds at the others behind it. While the pale one was not looking, Sh’zul extended his long tongue and flicked it across the slender tips of the outstretched appendage. The creature made another sharp mouth sound and fell backwards onto the ground.
The others pointed their objects at Sh’zul, but soon put them down after the creatures exchanged more sounds. Sh’zul analyzed the flavors of the pale one, and concluded they were definitely not suitable as prey. They must be intelligent, but apparently did not speak mind to mind as his people did. Sh’zul was incapable of making the sounds the pale ones used to communicate, so he was still unable to discern their purpose or intentions.
At the moment, he sensed a cautious curiosity rather than aggression. For now, they seemed to have reached an impasse and Sh’zul slowly backed away until he reached his waiting scouts. They turned and scurried back to the entrance, slipping quietly back inside until only the First One remained. He turned to look once more at the pale ones, who were watching him carefully. Lifting his powerful tail, he slapped it twice against the dry crusty ground and vanished beneath the surface.
Chapter 6
Due to the confidential nature of their work, the First Contact team was given a secure meeting space within the Presidential suite of offices. The team was carefully chosen, with Pacifica and Sahara each contributing two members. Kiren arrived early, as always, greeting Andre warmly but professionally. They barely exchanged a few words when their Saharan counterparts arrived. With everyone here, Andre closed and locked the door, and activated the security screen to prevent their discussions from being overheard. They took a few moments to help themselves to refreshments and settle in around the small table before Andre began. Introductions were made, despite the fact their orders already contained the necessary information.
Both Saharan team members were University professors, and the top experts in their respective fields. Dr. Karol Luftis, Zoology, was a trim, energetic woman in her early fifties with a perpetual smile on her face. Dr. Bruce Wells, Linguistics, was a balding, pleasant man on the verge of retirement, and appeared friendly but reserved. Both of them were honored to be part of the First Contact team, and were ready to get to work. Swanson wasted no time getting started.
“We have all seen the incredible footage of the sand dragons at the alpha site, and I don’t believe there is any question the dragons are intelligent, able to communicate amongst themselves, and have some sort of leadership hierarchy. What we must demonstrate beyond any doubt is whether or not they are a sentient species. Last night, the buoy Ensign Perry stationed above the alpha site captured some very interesting footage. Together with what we have already seen, I want to hear your observations.”
Swanson slipped a data chip into the dedicated interface, and a still image appeared frozen on the large wall datascreen.
“As you know, we have created a perimeter around the entire alpha site which is being guarded around the clock. Up until now, there has never been a first person sighting, either by your people or ours. Last night, however, one of our men was
approached by five sand dragons while he was walking the fence line.”
The images began to play, and the team watched raptly as events unfolded. At several points, audible gasps could be heard around the table as the strange encounter played itself out. The entire episode lasted less than five minutes, and Luftis requested to see it again. When it was finished for the second time, she was the first to speak.
“All these years wasted! Had I known, I could have been studying them. You must understand we were made to believe the dragons were all but extinct, and we certainly didn’t know there were living specimens right under our noses! It appears to me the one who approached last night is their leader. You can tell by the markings on the scales it’s the same one as in the older footage. Always separate from the others, and it seems they defer to it. From the sharp spines covering their bodies, they must have had natural predators when this planet was still wet and green. I suspect the spike covered mace at the end of their tails may also be a powerful self-defense mechanism. We have unearthed the remains of several large animal species, so my guess is they needed those protections in order to survive.”
“The very fact of their continued survival amidst such difficult conditions speaks of an advanced intelligence and adaptability which we dare not underestimate. The planetary scans you have done showed this group of dragons to be the only ones on the planet. Somehow, they have managed to utilize the deep aquifer below the extensive caverns at the alpha site, and have apparently cultivated their own food sources. Incredible!”
“Even their handling of the situation last night showed a serious degree of forethought and planning. If you noticed, their leader not only initiated the contact, but was moving slowly and carefully so as not to frighten your people. It was also willing to isolate itself and meet one to one, rather than attack or overwhelm - something it could easily have done given their speed and thorny exterior. It will take very little to convince me the sand dragons are a sentient species. Bruce, what do you make of all this?”
Odyssey (Galactic Neighborhood Book 2) Page 7