She leaned back against the wall, crossing her arms. “You’re not quite what I expected. You think more deeply than most young men.”
“I’m not quite as young as I look. I’ve been in cold sleep and raced about in hyperdrive a lot.”
Croyzer laughed but the sound was not unkind. “That just puts you further from the date your mother delivered you, but it’s not living. No, Fels,” she said pressing a finger against my chest as if it was a saber. “There’s something about you.”
I stiffened and I knew she felt it through her hand. She smiled. “You’ve been through some life. Some good and some very bad, I figure. Loves lost?”
“And you?” I riposted.
Her blue eyes were very frank. “Yeah. But I’m a woman and not an impressionable girl like your little minder, assuming that’s really who she is. No one scores me as a planetside trophy.”
“No, I wouldn’t guess they would.”
“So we’re both grownups then.”
I sighed. “I am not sure of that when it comes to me.”
Croyzer flashed a grin, but when it faded the openness in her face faded with it. “I’ve got a position here, Fels, one not easy for someone with my past to find. I don’t let things interfere with it. I won’t take chances that don’t make sense.”
“And you think I might?”
“Fenster and Mysol certainly think so.”
“What are they up to, Croyzer?”
She considered me. “Olivia, when no one’s around.”
‘Wrik’ almost spilled out of my mouth. “Jedaya,” I said aloud. “So Olivia, what are they up to. What happened to Michaels and all his staff? Why were the Ribisans so eager to have Confed biotech scientists here?”
“Hmph,” she turned away, dropping her finger. “I told you I wasn’t here when all that happened. The personnel you asked about all departed according to the records, just before I got here. As for the biotech project, why would I know? What does that have to do with policing?”
“Tell me something,” I asked. “Did you meet your predecessor?”
She raised an eyebrow. “No, he was gone when I arrived.”
“What happened to him?”
“Medical discharge, his health worsened.”
“Very convenient. Have you noticed how many positions around here turned over about the time that project supposedly ended?”
“What do you mean…supposedly?” she faced me again all business and cold beauty.
“I don’t know. Yet.”
“Be careful how you go around overturning my station. This is still a civilian outpost.”
“Unless I say it isn’t. You were Confed Marines, you know that.”
“Yeah, and I know how rarely it’s pulled and the purple oscillating hell that follows when it happens.”
“You have a gift for words, Olivia.”
“Don’t pull the charm card again so soon, it hasn’t recharged.”
“Either you know more about what’s going on, in which case you might be my enemy. Or you don’t, in which case we might have a mutual interest in finding out where these people went, or if they ever left, alive.”
The silence stretched between us. I could hear a faint buzzing of a light fixture above us, the sigh of air from the vents.
“Jedaya, when I decide if we are to be friends or enemies, I’ll tell you first. Fair?”
I started to say fair, then wondered if I could. I was a spy here for starters. She clearly suspected it. Was I betraying anything by agreeing?
“Cat got your tongue?”
That hit close to home. “Olivia, I don’t know that I can play that fair with you.”
To my surprise she brushed my cheek with her lips. “I think you just did.” Before I could react she spun and strode off and I knew better than to call after her.
I wait for Wrik to head back to the hotel before leaping to the rooftop adjacent to the Star and Comet and quickly scaling the outside of the building to my rooftop access. I want to give Wrik time to calm down. His suspicion that more than emotion laden conscious thought leaks across the link between us is correct. The longer we are linked this way, the more of his strong emotions and the subject of them make their way to me. Normally I tune this down to mere background out of respect for his privacy, but he is interacting with the chief of police, a dangerous adversary and one who seems particularly unsettling to Wrik. I need intel on her.
The conversation, while interesting, is devoid of mission useful info, however, it does reveal a possible complication. Wrik’s strong reaction to the alpha female began with anger and agitation, as she reminded him of his former state of powerlessness before he and I met. With the revelation she made to him, it seems to be changing into one of empathy for someone with a similar life experience. Perhaps he is even unaware that his desire for this female is a complicated mix of a need to show to such a person that he is not the old Wrik, mixed in with an unusually high attraction and the hormonal rush of danger.
Wrik had evinced no interest in other human females during the time we were on Star Central. Perhaps this is because he spent all his time with me or Jaelle and there was no opportunity for temptation. I sigh. Jaelle released this particular X-factor into our network by wishing to become pregnant by one of her own kind. Beyond that, being both more experienced and practical than Wrik, she hit squarely on the issue of fidelity. Was it reasonable to expect that beings that evolved under different stars could maintain an exclusive relationship across decades? For Jaelle, from a culture where joinings were more termed events that expired when either the passion, or necessity for them, dissipated, it seemed only normal to consider.
It struck me with a shock that at some time in the future, Jaelle’s feelings toward Wrik might change and that she might focus her life elsewhere. In a way, this talk of other lovers might be her way of preparing him for the concept that relationships among her kind were more temporary. Intellectually, she understood that humans sought permanent mating for all that their success rate at it was fairly dismal. Wrik has discussed some of this with me back on Star Central, but the emotional aspect of it had not hit me as it did now. She could leave our network, or at least cease to be an active member. How would our network function if that came to be? How would Wrik function?
Wrik comes from a conservative society where emotional matters were rarely discussed. He is, for all his hard-bitten pretension, somewhat naïve, and I realize with surprise, inexperienced around human females. He might have been involved in the practice relationships that adolescent humans engage in just before the war. After the war he was in disgrace and fled his homeworld. His days on Kandalor would have been devoid of chances for any normal relationships. Humans had been a small part of the population in any event. Thinking back, I realized that he had no close friends, human or otherwise. Any sexual relations would have been either casual or purchased.
That too is also part of the answer. This attraction is the first serious one for him as the new person he envisions himself as; the reconstructed Wrik. This matter suddenly assumes a seriousness that it did not possess before.
It saddens me that Wrik’s first reaction is to hide this from me, although I understand why. Wrik is very afraid that he cannot measure up to what he now wants to be, and he does not want me to know that. Beyond that, how am I, a machine of silicon, ceramic and nuclear-bonded metals, to advise him on this? I know a tiny amount about love. I know nothing about sex or pair-bonding. My fidelity is programmed—
Or is it? I freeze as I consider this. M-7 was programmed to obey its creators, but I am now Maauro. I self-program. I fought M-7 to obtain that right. So, in a way, maybe I do understand something of infidelity. Further, Wrik and I are both reinventions of our former selves. This is a stunning new perspective to me.
Wrik is coming up the hallway toward me. Again, I feel sadness tha
t I cannot help him with his interior anguish. Nor is there anyone else in our network who can. He would not confess these thoughts he is ashamed of, to Jaelle, less so to Dusko. In both cases, their alien cultures and biology might render the questions meaningless. In this, he is alone.
He looks at me but his eyes slide quickly off and there is a redness to his skin. He fears what I may have sensed in him.
“Did Croyzer have any useful intel?” I ask.
“Weren’t you listening?” he replies.
I cock my head at him, a gesture I use to tell him I have failed to follow something he says, maybe it will add verity to my lies. “No, I was running analysis on the elevator fall. I ingested both smoke and metal particles in hope of finding some biochemical traces that would give us a clue. This was my first chance to devote sufficient resources to the study. Unfortunately it did not reveal anything. I left Croyzer to you. Have you determined if she is friend or foe?” This is not entirely a falsehood. I was doing this in addition to my nonstop scanning and manipulation of electronic systems around us. It simply did not involve as much of my CPU as I let him believe.
Wrik’s relief is almost palpable as he delivers an edited version of the conversation he had with “Olivia.”
“What do you think of her?” Wrik suddenly asks.
I had not anticipated this question. “If she is involved in whatever is going on here, she tops the list of dangers to our assignment and existence. Even if she is only the police captain and not in league with whatever faction is after us, she will be dangerous. The authorities could command her against us and I believe she is a formidable combatant. Although, like many of our former enemies, she would have no way to anticipate or counter something like me.”
I hesitate. “Be wary of her Wrik. She seems to have an unusual level of interest in you.”
The blush returns. He nods vigorously. “Good advice.’
I relay Wrik’s good nights to Jaelle who is busily devouring a late dinner at her own hotel. Between the stress of her mental contact with me and the exertions of the day, she is famished and exhausted.
The biologicals go to their rest. I watch over all of them.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Why don’t we wrap this up?” I said aloud. “I think I have seen enough for today. I have a lot of data to review but I am quite satisfied that your medical facilities are up to and above Confed standard.”
A raft of relieved smiles from staff of Tir-A-Mar’s main hospital greeted my announcement.
“Shall we escort you back to your hotel?” began McCaffer, finally recovered from his journey with us to the Ribisan section.
I raised a hand. “No. I’m actually going to take some time off-duty in your shopping district, finding souvenirs for some young ladies and a few items for my crew.”
“You seem to spend a great deal of your time and attention on the ladies,” Maauro added, to my surprise and with a trace of disapproval on her face.
“Now, now, Lostly,” McCaffer said as a chuckled riffled through the crowed. “You know what spacers are like, a date in every port.”
“Hmph,” she replied, provoking more smiles.
“Fortunately, I have you to keep an eye on me,” I said, playing into it. “Perhaps while we are shopping, we can find something nice for you, since I have been unable to escape your supervision outside of the bathroom.”
“Lieutenant,” she said with a faintly scandalized air, “are you offering me a bribe?”
“Merely rewarding a hard-working Confed citizen for supporting the fleet.”
“Well, that’s different.”
As we started for the door, McCaffer gestured to Maauro. I waited by the sliding glass door, looking out at the imitation of a gloomy, misty day. Evidently, it was the Morok’s turn to choose the weather. There was no actual rain, but the air was thick with water vapor and I was glad for my uniform jacket.
The others departed and Maauro joined me at the door.
“What did McCaffer want?” I asked.
Maauro scanned the area before answering with eyes, ears and doubtless other senses I hardly understood.
“Nothing of import. He merely congratulated me on handling you so well.”
“Jaelle often makes the same observation.”
“I believe this is the appropriate response to such a comment,” Maauro said. She turned to face me and stuck her tongue out. I couldn’t help but laugh.
We started out and into the cool day, stepping onto a slidewalk. I turned my collar up.
“It’s useful that they share that belief,” Maauro said. “I have mentioned to them how suspicious you are and how many of their other observers you have spotted and pointed out to me. They have backed off all other security and are now relying on the reports I periodically file with McCaffer and Fenster’s offices. It has been difficult keeping up the pretense of having been stationed here a long time. I must reroute inquiries on my pay records, assignments and other minutiae of life. Fortunately, all these inquiries are computerized and I have created quite the virtual life for Estrella Lostly. However, should a live being begin making inquiries, the deception will fall apart quickly.”
“Meanwhile, we are able to move about unobserved,” I added.
“So, shall we make an appearance of shopping before we head into the industrial districts?” she asked.
I nodded. We changed slidewalks, walking along streets crowded with beings of most known species. Tir-a-Mar was so big it truly felt like being on a planet. Not even the Artifact ship of Infestors had contained so much open interior space. A half hour of walking and slides took us into a shopping area. I gestured toward a woman’s clothing store and Maauro followed me in.
“Let’s find you a jacket,” I said. “It’s improbable that a small, slender girl like you wouldn’t feel the cold and damp in just a light jumpsuit.”
“I could simply reconform part of my outer chassis to look like a jacket.”
I shook my head. “Someone might check to see if we are actually shopping, whether I am spending money where I said we were going. Besides what if you had to take it off?”
“Excellent thinking, Wrik.”
We walked into the store and were greeted professionally by the store clerk who guided Maauro to a selection of jackets. I spotted the item I was looking for and slipped away to purchase it. When I returned, Maauro had selected a light jacket of a flattering cut, but which clashed furiously with her green jumpsuit. I selected one in a rust color that worked better.
As we exited the shop with our purchases, I handed Maauro a small, ornate bag. “Here, this is for you.”
She smiled at me in such innocent delight that it caused my heart to skip a beat. “What is this?” She delicately folded back the tissue paper with hands that I had seen twist steel, to reveal a length of vorstal butterfly silk, the color of sunrise.
Maauro regarded with a rapt look as she drew the length of wide silk ribbon out. I was surprised when she remained quiet for several seconds, simply staring at it. I was about to ask if something was wrong when she spoke. “It is very beautiful, Wrik, so delicate in fabric and so warm in color.”
“I’m glad you like it,” I said, feeling awkward and unsure why.
“I do, but I find that what I like most is how you remember the things that I care for. A yellow ribbon was the first thing you ever gave me. I do so wish I had been able to hang on to the first one. Delicate things are so often in peril around me.” She reached up and gathered her long, shining black hair in one hand and wrapped the ribbon about it in the delicate and elaborate bow that she favored. “How do I look?”
I smiled at her. “Well, I’d thought it would make you look even younger, but somehow, no, it makes you look like more like a princess with a crown.”
“Thank you.”
We made our way out of the shopping d
istrict. Maauro, in her new, fashionable jacket and yellow hair-ribbon, attracted more attention and smiles from some of the men we passed. It was as if her hair bow somehow drove the gloom a little further away.
“Shouldn’t we go help Jaelle, in the red light district?” I asked as we descended a spiral escalator.
“No, with Dusko’s help she will accomplish more than we. Our proximity to her can only compromise her cover.”
I smacked my hand against my forehead. “Of course, stupid of me.”
Maauro gently touched my arm. “You are concerned for her, as always. I believe you only stop worrying when all members of your network are before your eyes. If then.”
“Hah, I never worry about Dusko.”
“So?” she replied, doubt clear in her voice.
“I just worry about what he’ll do if he isn’t watched.”
“As you say,” she replied.
“I haven’t forgotten how he used to haunt my steps back on Kandalor—”
Maauro raised her hand and cocked her head in a listening gesture, clearly for my benefit, as her hearing did not depend on it.
“We are being followed,” Maauro said.
I pricked up my own ears. “Guild, Croyzer’s police, or some other player?”
“Analysis suggests the latter. Someone large and very heavy, whose electronic counter-measures are of greater than military standard.”
“What do we do?” I asked, my hand cupping the handle of my military laser. One advantage of my pose as a Confederate officer was my ability to travel armed, largely irrelevant so long as I was with Maauro, but comforting nonetheless.
“We lead our stalker into a quiet section of the industrial sector and attempt a capture. Failing that, we eliminate it. I prefer to capture it alive. We are in dire need of intelligence that our wanderings here have not uncovered. I am weary of battling shadows. Follow me.”
I am unsure how it is that the unseen tracker has remained on our trail. Likely, as a Ribisan, he has access to the city systems in ways that I cannot use, or block, without setting off all manner of alarms. I have been effectively and selectively blinding or altering city systems to my presence, but only in secured areas and for brief periods. Regardless of the sophistication of my cyber-attacks, I do not dare do more. It is an unpleasant reminder that we are in enemy territory and sometimes we do not have the initiative.
Against That Time Page 24
