Bethany Anne nodded in satisfaction. “Good to know. Even better is knowing that when we do eventually get back to Earth, we will be able to fix whatever we find.”
John shook his head. “Boss, you can’t possibly still blame yourself for what happened on Earth?”
Bethany Anne raised an eyebrow. “You know I’m past all that, but I’m still holding myself responsible for repairing whatever mess we find when we get back there. Those are still my people, no matter how different we might be after all this time. As long as I have the power to protect them, I will.”
A murmur of agreement went around the room.
“See?” Bethany Anne waved a finger at them all. “None of you feel any differently. Returning to Earth is still our end goal. We just have a mountain or two to climb before we get there and give them the advantage of what we’ve learned.”
“MPPS, baby!” Scott and Darryl whooped, drumming their hands on the table.
Bethany Anne inclined her head and waited for silence. “MPPS. What a fucking blessing. We institute the same provisions for healthcare, education, and employment that have changed High Tortuga into somewhere worth living. We aren’t getting back to Earth any time soon, so we can figure out if and how the system needs adjusting to fit with humanity’s needs along the way.”
Michael nodded in appreciation. “That does solve the problem.”
“As well as giving us the opportunity to look into how the MPPS translates from planet to planet and culture to culture without taking too much attention from the larger picture.” Bethany Anne looked around the table once more. “Okay, if nobody else has anything they would like to bring up, I think we’re done here. You all know where you need to be. Michael and I are leaving for an extended stay in the Etheric sometime in the next twelve hours. We will be gone for a couple of days, and I don’t want to find out everything went to shit while I was gone. Tabitha, give me a moment, please.”
Tabitha gave Bethany Anne a thumbs-up. “You got it.” She took a moment to update Peter on the meeting while everyone except her, Bethany Anne, and Michael left the meeting room, her fingers twitching over invisible keys. “Let me guess—the Bakas.”
Bethany Anne raised an eyebrow. “Good guess. It’s almost like you’re working with them on a daily basis. Have there been any incidents we should be aware of before we meet with Mahi’Takar?”
Tabitha smirked. “No, but I’m betting there’s going to be one when you arrive at the enclave.”
“That’s where you’re mistaken,” Bethany Anne corrected. “Prior to any official agreements, our relationship with her is to remain a secret, and I do not mean the usual kind of secret that everyone from here to High Tortuga knows within five minutes of it leaving my lips. I mean blanket secrecy to protect her and her son from assassination.”
Tabitha pressed a hand to her forehead. “Yeah, their family politics isn’t going to make that easy to achieve. What you need is a reason for Mahi’Takar and Trey to leave the enclave without her guards.”
“We have Addix,” Michael reminded them. “She’s been working with the adolescents as I requested, yes?” He grinned at Tabitha’s slightly bewildered nod. “Then have her call Mahi’Takar after hours to discuss her son’s progress.”
Tabitha snorted. “You want me to do what?”
Bethany Anne glanced at Michael. “I like where you’re going, but it will look suspicious if Mahi’ is the only parent called. We need to think bigger. Tabitha, how many minors do you have in your classes? How long would it take you to put together a review on each?”
Tabitha groaned. “Don’t do this to me.”
Michael spoke over Tabitha’s protest. “We would be truthful in presenting this as a community event. A full Hexagon would make it much easier to cover Mahi’Takar’s absence for a while. Long enough for us to learn what our commonalities are.”
Bethany Anne winked. “Who doesn’t love a get-together to celebrate their children? You can arrange student demonstrations, and encourage people to bring food and their younger children. Make a day of it if that’s what you need. Open it up to Sabine’s vid-crew and share it with the city. Whatever boost to morale we can give people.”
Tabitha’s groan increased in intensity for a second before she dropped her head onto her arms. “That would actually help in other ways.” She sat up, her sulk replaced by a sunny smile. “I’m on it. It won’t take more than a few hours. The event will take a little longer, since you can bet I’m going to have a bunch of parents who need the concept explained.”
Bethany Anne tapped her nails on the table. “Use the Library to take care of that. Issue a brief explanation, along with a movie clip or two from the archives to give them a visual. ”
Tabitha nodded slowly. “Okay… I can see this working. Give me three days to get everyone on board and arrange everything we need for the event. How do you plan on getting Mahi’Takar away from her guards?”
Bethany Anne’s mouth twitched. “We aren’t going to be there. Her son is in Alexis’ and Gabriel’s teaching group. Since that is the advanced class and her son has high status, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for you to have your meeting away from the rest of the instructors.”
“We need you at the meeting,” Michael assured her.
Bethany Anne grinned. “Which we’re going to have over dinner at yours and Peter’s place. You just bring Mahi’Takar and Trey to us once they are safe with you.”
Tabitha got to her feet and headed for the door. “Fine by me, but I’d better get started.” She turned back and grinned at Bethany Anne and Michael. “This is just what this city needs…as long as you don’t expect me to cook for everyone.”
“Heaven forbid we get accused of poisoning the Bakan leader,” Bethany Anne returned as Tabitha exited the meeting room in a swish of leather.
10
Devon, First City, The Bakan Quarter
Bethany Anne had not seen this part of the city in person yet.
Nevertheless, she made her way through the enclave without pausing for directions, a shadow under a cloak of indeterminate species, working her way through narrow streets and winding passageways until she came to the center of the low sprawling buildings and the residence of Mahi’Takar.
While Bethany Anne trusted her children’s judgment when it came to accepting ‘Trey’ as a friend and teammate, she wanted to get the full measure of his regent mother before committing to supporting them both. Michael had begun by insisting he accompany her.
Bethany Anne’s offer to take Alexis to guard her instead had been enough to give her husband a clue that this was a matter between two women and divert him to insisting their daughter remain behind.
The guards at the gate of Mahi’Takar’s home stared at Bethany Anne as she walked by. Bethany Anne wasn’t planning to use the gate. She noted the security was mainly of the muscular type, although she detected a few nasty surprises hidden in the guard towers around the walls. “Good for you,” she murmured, stepping into the Etheric. “But none of that can keep me out.”
A mental scan as she emerged on the other side of the wall told Bethany Anne that her targets were on the floor below, alone. The Bakas built down rather than up, which to Bethany Anne’s human mindset was all kinds of backward. She wasn’t there to judge anyone on their preferences when it came to infrastructure, though.
She stepped back into the Etheric and came out again in the kitchen, where she found Mahi’Takar at the table with Trey. “Mahi’Takar.”
Mahi’Takar was on her feet and in front of her son with a broadsword in her hands faster than Bethany Anne knew their species could move. “Leave or die.”
Bethany Anne pushed her hood back, revealing her face to the two Bakas.
“Baba Yaga!” Trey tried unsuccessfully to get out from behind Mahi’Takar. “Mahi’, I told you she would come.”
Mahi’Takar remained in front of her child, her sword raised between them. “Baba Yaga. I have been expecting you. Do you come in pea
ce?”
Bethany Anne nodded. “Yes. I was hoping we could talk before the circus gets going. Work out what we can offer each other, if anything.”
Mahi’Takar lowered her sword to her side and gestured toward the free chair. “My son is headstrong. You will forgive him.”
Trey emitted a high-pitched noise. “This is the best, Mahi’. I told you we could work with the humans. Baba Yaga has honor; you will see.”
Mahi’Takar looked at her son with a mixture of fondness and bemusement. “Take yourself off to practice while I speak to Baba Yaga, Takar’Tu’Reigd.”
Trey grumped a little but obeyed his mother.
Bethany Anne took the seat she was offered, an overstuffed chair built for someone more than twice her size—which Mahi’Takar was. “Thank you. Your home is beautiful, by the way.”
Mahi’Takar glanced around distractedly at the polished wood and stone of her kitchen. “We have had a decade or more to make life comfortable here, although Devon isn’t ideal. It has taken some adjustment to get used to living on the skin of the planet.”
Bethany Anne’s eyebrow twitched at the classification of forty feet underground as the surface. She crossed her feet at the ankle and settled into the oversized chair. “What is your homeworld like?”
Mahi’Takar’s expression became wistful for a moment. “Above ground, it’s frozen. Staying up there is certain death. Below ground, there’s just as much chance of death, but you will at least be warm when you get torn to shreds by a pack of wild kolak.”
“Sounds delightful,” Bethany Anne offered. “I can see why you settled on Devon while it was still a dead spot.”
Mahi’Takar lost the dreamy look, regarding Bethany Anne with skepticism. “What is your purpose in my home? Surely you did not risk my son’s life simply to discuss frivolities.”
Bethany Anne arched her eyebrow. “You know why I’m here. It’s to save your son’s life, and yours too. That’s if you aren’t too proud to accept you’re not the one in control here.”
The sound of air being sucked rapidly over clenched teeth came from beyond the wooden-beaded curtain.
Mahi’Takar’s head whipped toward the door. “That had better have been the ghosts of your brothers I just heard, Tu’Reigd. Don’t make me take the flat of my sword to your behind.”
Bethany Anne couldn’t help but snicker at the sound of his unceremonious retreat.
Mahi’Takar released a measured breath as she turned back to the conversation. “You would find that less amusing were you not also a mother, but I sense you understand.”
“Oh, hell, yeah.” Bethany Anne chuckled, the tension between them broken. “I believe we can trust each other. My children are your son’s human friends. That was how I came to be aware of your situation,” she clarified. “Not because Trey spoke out of turn.”
Mahi’Takar nodded. “I have heard rumors of your ability to pull the thoughts from someone’s head. They’re true?” She shook her head in disbelief when Bethany Anne confirmed it with a nod. “You’re reading my mind right now?”
Bethany Anne shook her head. “No. That shit gets tedious, and nobody gets into the Hexagon without their intentions being cleared by my security.”
Mahi’Takar registered the information that Baba Yaga was not the only human who could read minds. “The Hexagon must be the most secure building on the planet.”
“It’s damn near impregnable under normal circumstances,” Bethany Anne told her softly. “Under siege, it’s the second most secure building from here to the farthest reaches of the Federation.”
“Only the second?” Mahi’Takar asked. “Which building outdoes the place Baba Yaga’s children live?”
Bethany Anne inclined her head, a tiny smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. “The one where I gave birth to them. Our children are everything to us, and there is our common ground. What else do we need to agree on? Nothing else matters when our children are threatened.”
Mahi’Takar’s fur rippled and she turned her head to one side, then the other, searching Bethany Anne’s eyes for the lie. Finding none, she grasped the human’s forearm with a massive hand. “You have honor, Baba Yaga. I agree to lash my ship to yours, under the condition that you take Takar’Tu’Reigd under your personal protection.”
Bethany Anne grinned. “Nothing would make me happier. There’s a guard who you can trust, and her name is Addix.” She pulled her cloak around her body, settling further into her chair. “As for the sharks circling you both, here’s what we’re going to do…”
Outside Federation Borders, Star System XG-3-560
Lance was a man of experience. Therefore, he knew the best way to draw the suspicions of the Federation leaders was to try to not look suspicious. Of course, he could have done all this out in the open since Bethany Anne had made sure nothing could be traced back to her, but where was the fun in that?
He hadn’t tried to hide his departure from the Meredith Reynolds, or his destination. The ship he was in was even registered to him. After all, he was simply taking advantage of an unexpected break in session and the recommendation of a friend to kick back and catch something resembling a fish in the name of relaxation.
Nothing suspicious about that whatsoever.
Patricia knew better, as always. “Give Barnabas my love,” she had told him when he’d said his goodbyes to her and Kevin two days previously.
Biorillium appeared in the far distance, a faint speck that grew larger and brighter with each passing second of Lance’s approach. Soon it was a blue-green ball wrapped in wisps of white cloud.
Lance had no issues with planetary security since his stay had been booked in advance at a resort for those looking to get away from the rigors of life. He docked his ship and headed through the spaceport, taking only a single pack and a carryall with him.
An android waited in the foyer for him. “Greetings, General Reynolds. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Ojon, and I’ll be your attendant during your stay.”
Lance made a face, holding his bags a little closer. “I don’t know about having an attendant. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of coming here for some solitude? I’ve had enough of company for a while.”
Ojon broke into a grin. “Haven’t we all, General? You will, however, require sustenance and such, and that is where I come in. If you will follow me, please, I’ll take you to your cabin.”
Lance shouldered his bags and did as he was asked. Stepping outside into a world he’d only ever seen on the screen, he was momentarily jarred by the contrast to the high-gloss interior of the spaceport.
The spaceport opened onto a neat square at the top of a gentle slope. Animal or hand-drawn carts looked to be the transport choices for the planet. Lance was instantly enamored of the simplicity of it. He could almost feel the sleepiness of the place, and somehow he knew that nothing here happened any time before mañana.
“You like it, yes?”
Lance dragged his gaze from the hand-painted shingle hung above the wooden doors of the nearest store and chuckled. “Damn right, I do. It’s beautiful here.”
Ojon chuckled, indicating that Lance should follow him to a cart waiting in the street. “Don’t mind Old Tassie. She’s as docile as they come.”
Lance dropped his pack into the cart and eyed “Tassie,” all two hundred and fifty kilos of adult bistok harnessed to the front, before climbing into the back. “That thing isn’t likely to try to separate me from my innards now, is she?”
Ojon hopped up and took the reins. “Not unless you’re thinking of pissing her off,” he replied airily. “She’s a happy beast.”
“Where I come from, bistok aren’t thought of as working animals, and I’ve sure as hell never heard one described as ‘happy.’” Lance glanced around at the scenery as the cart rolled out of the square and into open country. “Tell me about this place. I skimmed the brochure, but to be honest, you had me at ‘well-stocked lakes.’” He nodded at Ojon. “Start with yourself. How does an and
roid live on a world without connectivity?”
“Peacefully,” his guide replied, geeing Tassie gently to gain momentum as they reached the bottom of the slope. “I am unable to filter signals, which not only leaves me vulnerable to attack, it’s the equivalent of having a million voices in your head at once.”
Lance patted the android’s back. “That sucks.”
Ojon lifted a shoulder. “Sometimes it does, but I have a home and a purpose.”
They chatted amiably about nothing much for the next few kilometers, until the cart crested a low range of hills and the land dipped again toward a sparkling lake lined with trees.
“That’s Lake Ponderance,” Ojon informed him. “You are situated on the east shore, far from the activity. Your cabin is completely self-contained, but if you care for company at mealtime, there are a variety of eating establishments around the north shore.”
The lane widened, then culminated in a pretty marina stuffed with pleasure craft filled with people determined to squeeze every drop of fun from the day. Ojon turned Tassie onto the boardwalk that divided the sandy shore and the soft loam at the tree line, then again to take a path through the forest around the lake.
Ojon made a chirping sound to slow Tassie to a jerky stop when they reached a gate on the forested east shore.
He turned around and handed Lance a bunch of keys. “This is you, General. The large key is for your cabin, and the smaller ones will give you access to the boat shed and the jetty. The cabin is fully stocked, as per the list your wife sent. Just use the tubes to order anything else you need. ”
Lance took the keys with a smile and jumped down from the cart. “Thanks, Ojon.”
“My pleasure, General. Enjoy your stay.” Ojon waited for Lance to collect his bags, then shook the reins to get moving.
Lance lifted a hand in farewell as he headed through the gate. He made his way to his cabin, which looked to have been built from the trees felled to make the clearing it stood in, and let himself in.
The inside smelled of woodsmoke and winter. Lance took his bags to the kitchen and left them on the counter while he poked through what Patricia had deemed as suitable supplies.
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