Infinitys end, p.7
Infinity's End, page 7
“Sir, are you sure you should go?” Vrij asked. “Putting yourself in danger.”
“It has to be me,” Cas said as Utley climbed inside, followed by Folier and Zenfor. “I need to be there to help Zen and to make sure we’re not getting swindled. If he’s stupid enough to try something, go to work on him.”
Vrij slapped his chest twice then nodded. “You can count on me.” He boarded the Gramos. Cas took one last look at the bay before climbing in himself. He hoped he wasn’t making a huge mistake.
***
Evie lifted her hand to tap the call button beside the door, then dropped it again. Was she crazy for wanting to go into the Horus system? In the meeting it had seemed like the most natural thing in the world to suggest she was going, as if there was no outcome in which she didn’t go. But thinking back, she wasn’t feeling as sure as she had been when she’d first made the declaration. There was a pull inside her—something that she felt like was tugging her toward Horus—toward Earth—but she didn’t know what that was or why. All she knew was she needed to find out.
She tapped the call button.
The doors opened, Esterva stood on the other side. Tall, gray-skinned and with a face that had little resemblance to a human, no one would have ever known she was Evie’s biological mother. “Evelyn,” she said, relief in her voice as if it had been years instead of an hour since she’d last seen her daughter. “Come in, come in.” She shuffled to the side, her long, gossamer dress dragging on the ground so Evie couldn’t see her feet. It gave her something of an ethereal quality. “What brings you by?”
Evie didn’t miss the unspoken insinuation that she didn’t come by enough, but what did the woman want? They already spent hours together each day and had been for weeks now. It was as if she couldn’t get enough of Evie, like she was a drug of some sort and Esterva kept needing her hit.
“I need to ask you something,” Evie said, stepping inside. The room was bright with color on the walls and fabrics covering most surfaces. It contrasted with the way most Coalition quarters looked, but Evie didn’t hate it. She was glad her mother felt like she had the freedom to arrange her room in whatever way made her feel comfortable.
“Anything,” Esterva said. She smiled and though her features were decidedly not human, Evie caught a glimpse of what she thought her father might have been attracted to in the woman. There was a warm presence about her, like an invitation to come and sit and have some tea, take a moment to stay a while and enjoy yourself. It had always been present, but Evie had been so angry with the woman it had taken time for the anger to give way to the true soul beneath. And while Evie had told Esterva she’d forgiven her, some days it was still hard, knowing what she did and what had happened to her father as a result. Regardless, there would be time to debate the merits of her mother’s true nature later. Right now, she needed answers.
“Can I mask my human nature? Can I make myself more—like you?”
Esterva frowned, and the pink jewel embedded in her forehead dipped down with her features. “Mask your human nature?”
“Do you know about the bioscanners? The ones our people use?”
“I know they require a lot of power. They are generally used before the decision to destroy or spare a planet is made. Number of creatures, types, that kind of thing. Why are you asking about bioscanners? What is this all about?”
Evie took a seat at the small table by the room’s only window. “We’ve spoken with Rutledge; he’s informed us the Athru are using bioscanners on anything and everything coming in and out of the Horus system. We want to send in a team, but there can’t be any humans aboard.”
“Seems simple enough,” she replied. “Though if they’re protecting the system with the scanners it must mean they’ve got something important in there. Something they’re willing to expend a lot of energy to protect.” She took the seat beside her daughter, folding her hands in her lap. Evie couldn’t help but notice Esterva never slouched, never broke her posture. She wasn’t sure if that was an Athru thing or if her mother just had some archaic notions about manners.
“I want to go in,” Evie said. “I need to see our people for myself. I need to see what they’re capable of, how they live.”
Esterva studied her for a moment. “You’re not sure about going to war with them.”
Evie stood, pacing the room. “I thought I was. Back when I was on that planet and that…thing infected me—”
“Emerged from you. You were never infected by Daingne,” Esterva corrected.
“Whatever. After I’d pushed her away, I felt nothing but hatred for the Athru. And then, coming back to find out what they had done to the Coalition—how many they have killed. It’s unconscionable. But at the same time I can’t say they’re deserving of genocide as well, that makes me no better than them. I need to see them, understand them before we make this decision.” She paused a minute. “Of course, the decision is already made. I guess I just have to make sure we’re doing the right thing so I can live with it.”
Esterva went to her, taking her daughter by the shoulders with her long, slender fingers. “I understand. Just know you are doing the right thing. But if you need to see, if nothing will satisfy that burning fire within you, then that’s what you should do.” She let go of Evie. “I will go as well. Having a full Athru on board will only help the charade.”
“What about the bioscanners?” Evie asked. “Can I alter myself to pass them?”
Esterva regarded her. “Alter yourself? I don’t understand.”
Evie sighed. She’d been putting this off because she wasn’t sure how Esterva would react. But it was best to get it out in the open now, at least let her know what happened. “When Zenfor and I…when the shuttle exploded and we drifted through space, I felt something within me change. And when we landed on the hull of the ship my skin was the color of yours. It turned back soon after, but for those few moments something felt different.”
“You’re being serious,” Esterva said, her eyes dancing over Evie’s face. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“I wasn’t sure what was happening. I wanted to see if anything else would come up, but ever since I’ve felt normal. I just wonder if something didn’t happen—inside.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Esterva said. “Plus, I know how to fool the bioscanners. There’s nothing you need to do. I’m sure it was nothing more than your body reacting to the extreme cold; it would have killed any normal human so let’s just be glad you are who you are.”
Evie didn’t like it. Esterva was holding something back—something important about her internal makeup. “Mother. I need you to be honest with me.”
Esterva turned away from her and stared out the window. Thislea had come into view and was marching across the black sky. Beyond the planet Evie saw another small squadron of Sil ships exit an undercurrent back into normal space, the green glow of the undercurrent appearing and disappearing just as fast. “I never meant for this to happen,” she finally said. “When your father and I created you…all we wanted was a healthy child. But you came with so many surprises.” She returned to Evie. “The truth is, I don’t know what is happening to you or even how you can do all these things. But I’m grateful you can. I just wish I knew what to expect.”
“That makes two of us,” Evie said. Esterva seemed to genuine, so Evie couldn’t accuse her of lying, but it still felt like there was something more. “How do you beat the bioscanners?”
“Oh, that’s a simple matter. It will involve a series of injections though. Just as we managed to fool all the Coalition computers that you were always fully human, now we can do the opposite.”
“Is that something you can do in sickbay?” Evie asked.
“Of course. But do you need—”
“C’mon.” Evie opened the door. “Let’s finish the conversation on the way. We’re on a tight schedule.”
11
In the history of bad ideas, this might have been the worst.
It was certainly Cas’s worst and given any other choice, he never would have put them in this situation. He stood beside one of the most volatile people he’d ever encountered, about to put her in a position of extreme duress where she could be easily triggered. All the while attempting to prevent his convicted criminal of a former commander from A: getting under his skin and B: betraying them. It was a fine mess. In a way, Cas was almost proud.
Zenfor stood beside him, stone-faced with her arms crossed as she stared out the shuttle’s window to the Hiawatha. Ahead of them was Rutledge’s shuttle, entering the ship’s Bay, while three spacewing fighters escorted Cas’s shuttle along the same route. He had to admit, the Hiawatha was massive in comparison to Tempest. The ship was twice as long with three times the girth of their own. It had massive struts hanging off both the port and starboard sides of the ship, giving it the silhouette of a whale with gigantic fins on either side. A ship like that could house ten times as many staffing personnel as Tempest and probably carry an additional ten thousand in an emergency. But its size came with a disadvantage: it was slow to maneuver in high gravity and it couldn’t enter a planet’s atmosphere; not like Tempest could. But as they approached, Cas couldn’t help but think it wasn’t coincidence Rutledge had commandeered one of the largest ships in the fleet.
“Shall I follow him in, sir?” Utley asked from the pilot’s seat.
Cas snuck another glance at Zenfor. “Go ahead.”
“Spacewings, hold position here,” Utley said into the comm. “We’re headed in for docking.” Cas looked behind him at Vrij and Folier. Vrij was baring his sharp teeth, but Folier seemed solid as a rock. Cas had left instructions with Hank if he didn’t hear from Cas within ten minutes of them disembarking, he was to tell Evie to order the Sil to blow the Hiawatha to hell and back. He didn’t think Rutledge was that stupid; that he’d show his hand with such clumsiness. No, Cas was more concerned with Zenfor, who he’d expected to be a lot more reactive on the way over here. But instead she hadn’t moved, hadn’t said a word. And to be honest, that scared him even more. He hoped she could handle it.
“Set us down over there.” Cas pointed to a space opposite where Rutledge’s shuttle was headed, just as they passed through the Bay’s force barrier. The bay itself was shorter and more compact than either of Tempest’s bays, but then again Cas could tell it was little more than a repair facility, not a full launch bay. As Utley set the shuttle down Cas caught sight of at least a dozen different species working on various shuttles, ships and other jobs in the repair hangar. There was a Calgarian, a Goruffian and even a Derandar, standing a meter taller than the rest on his three tripod-like legs. Cas hadn’t seen one since Kathora. He’d hoped never to see another one again.
But there were also at least four different types of robots working in the bay. Including a class 117 AMR that looked exactly like Box. Cas hadn’t seen another one of those since Kathora either since the Sargans didn’t use them. At least, they didn’t used to.
The shuttle set down on the deck and Utley began the shutdown procedures. Cas turned to Zenfor. “This will be quick. We go inspect the ship, if it passes the smell test, Utley brings it back and you and I return on this shuttle. Agreed?”
“I don’t have faith in your piloting skills,” she replied.
“Zen, trust me, I can pilot out of a shuttle bay. You don’t need to—”
“It was meant as a joke.” Cas was about to say it sounded like anything but given the hard edge in her voice, but he elected to keep his mouth shut for once. The last time he said something smart to her he ended up on his ass with a fractured cheek.
“Captain, stay with the ship,” he told Utley. “No need for you to be out there until we need you. Seal the shuttle as soon as we’re out.”
Utley turned to him. “Aren’t they supposed to be our allies?”
“That’s to be determined.” Cas motioned for Vrij and Folier to follow them out. As soon as Cas stepped off the shuttle, the smells of the Bay hit him. It wasn’t the clean, sanitized smell he’d become used to on Tempest. No, it was a dirty, rusty smell that permeated his nose. He caught traces of fuel, burnt metal, iron, steel, and cyclax. The air was thick with it.
“Ah, home sweet home,” Rutledge said, approaching them from his own shuttle. The Erustiaan and N’galian followed him. “I didn’t have a chance before, but these are my two most trusted associates, Tos-V’Sel,” he motioned to the N’galian whose hat tipped just a bit while the eyes on the end of the stalks remained fixed on Cas. “And Snomsy, of Erustiaa.”
Cas bit back a laugh but he couldn’t hide the smile on his face. The Erustiaan’s grimace turned into one of rage and he stormed in Cas’s direction before Rutledge put out his hand. “Snomes, we talked about this. You know how your name translates into universal. It’s not Robeaux’s fault.”
“Es eckl es snom, las marech las marich,” Snomsy said in his native language.
Rutledge turned back to Cas. “Sorry, he refuses the translator. Makes everyone learn Erustiaan. It’s a pain in the ass, but he’s a hell of a fighter, so it’s worth it.” He turned back to Snomsy. “Es mackl mack car marech, Robeaux. Es grindle Cas male mal.”
Snomsy stared at Cas a moment more before huffing from his wide nostrils and turning the other way, the long bluish-white hair of his fur rustling as he did. He disappeared through a door near the back, ducking under the threshold to fit.
“He’s had a long week,” Rutledge replied. He glanced up to Zenfor, who had dwarfed even the Erustiaan. “Good to see you in person again, Consul.” He extended his hand.
To Cas’s surprise Zenfor reached out, looking as if she was about to shake it, but instead she slapped it away with a massive crack. Rutledge sucked in a breath as he pulled his hand back, cradling it in his other one. “I see some things haven’t changed,” he said in short, pained breaths. Cas bet Zen had broken Rutledge’s hand, not that he could blame her. But hopefully they were all so committed now, it would only be seen as a minor infraction.
“Why don’t you show us the ship so we can get the hell out of here,” Cas said.
Rutledge exchanged glances with Tos and motioned they should follow him. He and the N’galian weaved their way through the various ships in the bay until they reached a part where the bay extended back further into the ship, opening it up beyond what they had seen when they’d entered. They passed a transport vessel that looked like it could have come off the same assembly line as the Reasonable Excuse and Cas sorely wished Box was here to see it. As Rutledge rounded that ship Cas saw their quarry straight ahead.
It sat by itself in the middle of the deck with only a few containers for supplies and repairs surrounding it. It was taller than it was wide and sat on four feet that protruded from the main body. Cas estimated it was only about two shuttles wide, though it was a good deal longer. In the front were two pilot stations, one directly above the other. It also had long wings that swept back from the center of the ship, meaning it could be used in an atmosphere if necessary.
“Here it is,” Rutledge said. “A Hawking Class transport, circa 2575. Picked it up near Oxical; it had been abandoned sometime in the five years before we found it.”
“It’s old.” Cas surveyed the ship. It looked the part, though they might need to do some cosmetic upgrades. It was too worn in places. Cas glanced over at Zenfor. Her attention was on the ship, but he could tell she wanted nothing more than to take a swing at Rutledge. Her hands were still in fists. “What do you think?” She grumbled something incoherent and walked up to the ship, performing a visual inspection.
“She’s one of our faster ships,” Tos said, one of his stalk eyes turning to look at Cas while the other remained on the ship. Below the brim of his hat his other two eyes sparkled in the darkness.
“Not fast enough.” Zenfor ran her hand down the side until she got about halfway, drove her fingers in between two seams Cas hadn’t seen and ripped the hull plating off, exposing the ship underneath.
“Hey now!” Tos stepped forward. Rutledge put his hand out to stop the N’galian.
“Just imagine if that was your face,” Cas said under his breath. “What’s the verdict?” he called to Zenfor.
“Unclear.”
Rutledge smiled. “So, what’s your big hurry in all this? Why not take some extra time to get to Horus? It isn’t like the Athru will do anything in the next few weeks or seasons that they haven’t already done. They’re already entrenched.”
“I told you, it’s a personal matter,” Cas said. Vrij and Folier stepped forward with him.
“Must be something serious if you’re willing to go to all this trouble.” Rutledge let him sit in that before continuing. “Lucky I happened to show up at just the right time.”
“Coincidence, nothing more.” A nervous rumble made its way up Cas’s spine. Did Rutledge already know about Sesster? Was this another one of his inane tests? Or was he just testing the waters to see what was biting today?
“Yeah, funny thing, coincidence.” They watched Zenfor make her way around the ship. Every now and again she would steal a glance at Rutledge and somehow each glance was filled with more hate than the last. “Don’t believe in it myself.”
“Good for you.” Cas stepped forward again. “Well?”
Rutledge stepped up with him, his hands clasped behind his back. “It’s the Claxian, isn’t it?”
Cas did his best not to flinch, but the moment Rutledge said Claxian, it was all over. Still, it didn’t mean he had to respond.
“I figured as much. I sanctioned hundreds of missions, approved thousands of transfers and yet I never seem to forget who was on board what ship and when. When your engineer showed up to the meeting, he didn’t seem to be speaking for anyone else. And I happened to notice the undercurrent management on the Engineering station on the bridge had been configured to accept inputs from four different people, when your ship was only designated one. Which leads me to believe he’s either injured or dead. How am I doing so far?”
