by S. H. Jucha
Jameson’s eyes fluttered, as the wave flowed through his mind. When Harbour’s emanations ceased, he breathed deeply and exhaled slowly. Then he briefly hugged Harbour, whispered his thanks, and hurried after his charges, who were being loaded on the shuttle.
The spacers, who would be repaired, trooped past Harbour and Jessie to board the shuttle. Each touched two fingers to a cap or a bare brow to acknowledge them.
One of the last to board was one of the slowest. A young spacer, not more than twenty-five, had four prosthetics. Like the others, his body had rejected the BRCs, the bone replacement copy implants grown by the medical staff to replace destroyed limbs. The two spacers in front of him waited at the hatch steps to help the boy up.
“The Tsargit will pay us well,” Harbour murmured to Jessie, while she watched the three spacers navigate the shuttle’s steps.
“Wait for me,” Danny yelled, as he stumped his way into the bay on his prosthetics. He grinned at Harbour, touched his fingers to his cap, and made his way to the shuttle.
Harbour sent her usual wave of comfort to him. It was a tradition with them. Danny raised a hand above his shoulder in recognition before he pulled himself up the steps via the railings. She’d tried to convince Danny to take part in the next group of repaired, but he’d objected. He’d told her that the repair time would place an undue burden on his copilot, Claudia.
Harbour saw through Danny’s objections. For one, he was frightened of the Jatouche medical procedures, despite the protestations to the contrary from the first three engineers who’d been repaired. It wasn’t that he disliked the Jatouche. They were great friends. No, he was frightened of being in medical again after all he’d been through with BRC rejections and subsequent surgeries. Then there was Claudia. She wasn’t just his copilot. She was his new love, and Harbour could sympathize with Danny’s desire not to be separated from her.
Your time will come, Danny, Harbour thought, as Jessie and she boarded.
Inside, Danny entered the pilot’s cabin, while Harbour and Jessie found seats. Claudia stepped into the main cabin, surveyed the passengers, and triggered the hatch closed.
Soon the shuttle launched and headed for the plains that stretched out from the dome’s entrance. A second shuttle, which was borrowed from the JOS, courtesy of the commandant, landed close to the Belle’s shuttle. Spacers exited the JOS shuttle, rigged the portable airlock to Danny’s ship, and the exodus began.
Everyone was either in a vac suit or in a vac capsule. In this case, a rover wasn’t available from the JOS shuttle. The spacers from both ships helped the med team carry the vac capsules across hundreds of meters of Triton’s dusty surface.
At the dome’s entrance, Jessie triggered the door. Then Harbour and he entered with the group carrying the four critically injured. After they cycled through, they met the Jatouche medical team, and Harbour facilitated the transfer of personal data to Ristick, the emergency medical director. Jessie cycled the next group through the airlock, and Aurelia led that group to the platform deck. Devon took charge of the last group to cycle through.
The Jatouche team immersed the severely injured into tanks of liquid. Ristick and two medical techs spent a lengthy amount of time working on Imian. Then he barked several orders, and Jatouche and spacers hurried Imian to the upper deck.
Aurelia was at the console. She’d directed spacers to wait beside the platform. When she saw the first capsule appear at the top of the ramp, she called the spacers to make way, and she readied the console.
The moment Imian’s capsule was on the platform, Ristick called for transfer, and Aurelia initiated the platform.
Despite having seen the platform’s energy release on the JOS channel, the spacers were stunned by witnessing the disappearance of individuals and equipment in person.
Aurelia and Devon continued to send the Jatouche teams and the med tanks. With the spacers in suits, which carried air tanks, Devon ordered them to mount the platform six at a time. Three groups of vac-suited spacers were sent to Rissness.
Harbour, Jessie, and Jameson breathed sighs of relief once the critically injured were transferred to the Jatouche. They had every reason to believe that once they were in the hands of the Jatouche, they’d survive. But the way Ristick hurried the first tank, which carried Imian, caused all of them to fear that Idrian’s son might be the first casualty. For Harbour’s part, she wondered what that would mean to topsiders’ relations with downsiders.
After the Jatouche and the injured left, Jameson and the JOS medical team led the other spacers back to the shuttle. On Jessie’s order, they were to wait until Lindsey, Sasha, and Tracy joined them before lifting.
Harbour and Jessie stripped out of their vac suits and hung them up in a room on the third level. Harbour wore the skins that Makana had decorated. The artist had applied silver filigree along the edges of her shoulders, arms, and legs. Makana had decorated a set of skins for Jessie, who was reluctant to wear them. He preferred plain things, but Harbour had insisted.
“We’re meeting the Veklocks. They’re covered in plumage and decorated togas,” Harbour had said when they were aboard the Belle. “The Jatouche have colorful fur and suits. I need you to appear as an advisor of substance.”
“And if I don’t wish to wear them?” Jessie had replied. He was taken aback when Harbour regarded him for a moment and then left their suite. She hadn’t said a word. “Guess I’ll wear them,” Jessie had muttered.
The couple appeared on the dome’s deck, where Tracy, Devon, and the empaths were assembled. The empaths detected Jessie’s embarrassment and assumed it concerned his decorative skins. They took pleasure in whistling their approval, which made Jessie scowl and blush, at the same time.
“Pipe down,” Jessie growled, which sent the group laughing.
Harbour hugged Devon and the women.
Sasha wrapped her arms around Harbour and whispered, “Rictook’s gone. I thought my power might save him. I was wrong.”
Harbour held Sasha tightly. She could sense the teenager’s pain, and she inundated Sasha with the pride she felt for her.
When Sasha pulled away, she was grinning. “How much power was that?” she asked.
Harbour eyed Sasha, amazed at how quickly the teenager rebounded. She was irrepressible. “Maybe half of the most power I’ve ever used,” Harbour replied.
“Only half and maybe not even half of your true capabilities,” Sasha said in amazement.
“Disappointed, little sister?” Aurelia asked. She gripped Sasha’s shoulders and gently moved her aside. Then she hugged Harbour. There existed the mutual exchange of warmth and happiness of mature empaths.
The groups of Pyreans — the returnees, the dome investigators, and the leaders — had a great deal to share. Their exchange lasted for hours.
When the conversations were exhausted, Tracy, Lindsey, and Sasha hurried below, climbed into vac suits, and exited the dome. There was no rover for them, and they made the crossing in the moon’s airless environment toward the shuttle. As before, Tracy walked between the empaths, who were hooked onto the spacer.
“You had an intense exchange with the Veklocks,” Jessie commented, when the foursome had the deck to themselves.
“Teaching some humility to pompous aliens,” Devon replied with heat. He was still irritated at Patrus’s condescension toward Aurelia.
“Those aliens might be the key to accessing the tremendous resources of the Tsargit,” Harbour cautioned.
“What did you teach them?” Jessie asked.
Devon and Aurelia grinned.
“We’ve made some significant strides in understanding the console,” Aurelia declared. “We gave the Veklocks a little taste of something we discovered that they didn’t know.”
“Showoffs,” Jessie teased.
“Absolutely, and it felt great,” Aurelia enthused. Her broad grin was unabashed.
“But you didn’t show them everything, did you?” Jessie inquired.
“No, just
one demonstration,” Devon replied.
Aurelia and Devon’s expressions turned serious as they watched Harbour and Jessie exchange glances.
“You’re telling us that you’ve got more secrets than you divulged?” Harbour asked, seeking confirmation.
“Yes, many more,” Aurelia assured them. “Why?”
“The two of you could be our second greatest asset,” Jessie said.
“Our assurances about their discoveries would be virtual bait,” Harbour commented, “but if the Veklocks have had a demonstration, then they know the extraordinary value represented by these two.”
“Even better,” Jessie agreed. Addressing Devon and Aurelia, he said, “Get below and pack your duffels. You’re coming with us to talk to the pompous aliens.”
There was a moment of hesitation until Jessie focused on Aurelia and snapped, “Hook on, spacer.”
“Aye, latched on,” Aurelia instantly replied. She dragged Devon behind her, as she made for the ramp to the lower deck.
After the pair was below, Jessie asked, “I know I don’t have your senses, but are those two —”
“Partners?” Harbour finished. “The answer is yes and quite happily so.”
Jessie regarded the ramp the couple had taken. “Good match,” he said quietly.
Devon and Aurelia were the second pairing of a normal and an empath. Dingles and Nadine were the first. He glanced at Harbour out of the corner of his eye. She was staring thoughtfully at the console, or she intended it to look that way, while he had a moment to think about the two of them.
When Aurelia and Devon returned, the duffels were piled on the platform. Aurelia set the panel for a delayed transfer. Then she hurried to gain the gate.
“Nice medallion broadcast,” Jessie commented to Aurelia. She grinned at him and touched it, as the blue energy field connected them to Rissness dome.
* * * *
“Tacticnok,” Jaktook said excitedly, “Harbour is here. She arrived at Rissness with Jessie, Aurelia, and Devon.”
The pair was meeting privately aboard Rissness Station, which allowed Jaktook to address Tacticnok with familiarity.
“Clever Pyrean,” Tacticnok mused. “The Veklocks will be intrigued with the presence of the young explorers and their newfound knowledge of the console.”
“It was obvious to me that Aurelia and Devon were testing a theory they’d developed,” Jaktook replied, “and I suspect that they know much more.”
“It’s possible the triumvirate believes the same, which is to the Pyreans’ advantage,” Tacticnok said. “Inform the Veklocks that they can meet with the envoy after midday meal, Jaktook. Don’t mention who accompanies her.”
“Do you want the envoy and her party brought to us?” Jaktook asked.
“No, I don’t think that’s necessary,” Tacticnok replied. “See to their comfort and a meal, if they wish. The envoy and her advisor’s actions demonstrate that they’re ready to negotiate with the triumvirate. You’ve done well to prepare them. It was an inventive ploy of yours to allow the Pyreans to see who the Tsargit sent as emissaries without allowing negotiations to take place. Harbour and Jessie would have spoken with others by now.”
“It was a convenience more than an invention, but it was opportune,” Jaktook admitted.
“Your modesty is noted, but it’s only for the two of us,” Tacticnok admonished, and she briefly touched his hand. “What’s the status of the Pyreans who are to be repaired?” she inquired.
“Three of those who arrived in tanks are stable. They’ll require preoperative care before their repairs are made,” Jaktook reported. “The fourth has not been stabilized, but the director is hopeful. Harbour is most concerned about this Pyrean. He’s called Imian.”
“Imian is young,” Tacticnok commented. “It would be most unfortunate if Jatouche medical services were unable to save him.”
Jaktook shook his head slowly.
“Other concerns?” Tacticnok asked.
“We’ve existed in the comfort of the alliance for so long, we don’t remember our struggles,” Tacticnok replied. “The Pyreans remind us of what it takes to persevere in a difficult environment. After the twenty arrived, we gave them ear wigs. One of the young spacers was missing every limb. I expected him to be the most subdued, even morose. He was anything but that. He was indefatigable in his encouragement and humor.”
In the cycle’s midday, the Pyreans and the Jatouche entered the comfortable conference room that held the Veklocks.
Medallions broadcast their messages. They announced the presence of a ruler, an envoy, two advisors, three emissaries, and four explorers. Jessie and Harbour’s medallions had been updated by Jaktook before the start of the meeting.
Tacticnok provided the courtesy of face-to-face introductions. Then everyone was seated. Techs had prepared the conference seating to accommodate the three races.
Patrus opened the exchange by repeating his formal greeting and stating that the Tsargit wished to offer the Pyreans compensation for their services to the alliance.
“And that’s all you’ve been tasked to do?” Jessie retorted bluntly. “You’ll communicate the extent of the gifts that the Tsargit wishes to bestow on us, and then your work is done?”
“That’s not how our communications are conducted,” Patrus objected.
“Answer my advisor’s question or we leave,” Harbour stated firmly.
The triumvirate was agitated to the extent that their beaks clattered.
Tacticnok and Jaktook reached under the table and clutched each other’s hands in expectation of the Pyreans’ impending confrontation with the Veklocks.
“You could be of greater value to the alliance,” Opalus suggested.
“Speak clearly,” Harbour demanded.
“The Tsargit would be more generous to your race if you would consent to continue your exploration of the non-alliance domes,” Pesart said.
“To what end?” Jessie asked.
“The Tsargit wishes to know how far the Colony has expanded and under what conditions,” Patrus said. He was unhappy with this upending of the normal conventions.
Harbour and Aurelia could sense Patrus’s disturbance, and they were pleased to see the triumvirate leader off balance.
“And if your companions were to share their new knowledge of console operations, we would be willing to recommend some small additional amount of compensation,” Pesart added.
“You’re asking us to risk our lives again to discover what the Colony has been doing, when the alliance should have been investigating this issue centuries ago,” Devon fired back.
The Veklocks’ orbs blinked, and they tipped their beaks down and up.
Jessie laughed quietly, shaking his head at the arrogance of the request. “Well, I can tell you one thing,” he said. “If, and that’s a big if, if we were to do as you request, your gifts would have to be enormous.”
“How great?” Patrus asked.
Jessie leaned back in his chair. He wore a slight smile. The opposing side had revealed its hand first. The Pyreans were now able to command the negotiations.
“The Jatouche have been gracious to us,” Harbour said. “We’ve received intravertors to help us recover our planet’s surface.”
“The Tsargit will match what the Jatouche have supplied you,” Patrus volunteered.
“That seems paltry,” Aurelia commented. “The Jatouche have one world. The Tsargit represents many.”
Patrus focused on Aurelia. His beak clicked sharply. Then he turned to Harbour, and he said, “Who are we communicating with for terms. You, Envoy, or your underlings?”
Harbour emanated calm. It was focused on Patrus. Once started, she continued to pour power into her sending. The triumvirate leader slumped in his chair, and his eyes closed.
When Harbour was ready, she snapped her gate shut, and Patrus jolted awake.
“Don’t insult my companions again, Patrus, or I’ll consider putting you to sleep for annuals,” Harbour said
forcefully.
Tacticnok turned her head slightly in Jessie’s direction. Out of the triumvirate’s eyelines, he winked. It confirmed to her that Harbour’s threat was empty, but Patrus didn’t know that.
“For your rudeness, the Tsargit will supply —” Harbour said. She’d halted to give Aurelia the opportunity to speak. She regarded Aurelia as having the right to state the Veklock leader’s punishment.
“Ten times what the Jatouche have delivered,” Aurelia finished.
“There you have it,” Harbour said, indicating Aurelia with her hand. She would have more than doubled that number, and she expected Jessie’s response would have been even higher than hers. It was obvious that the Pyreans were struggling to understand how far they could push the triumvirate in exchange for their lives.
“Next,” Jessie said, “you’ll notice that we don’t have adequate dome access.”
“You’d like a tunnel from the dome to a shuttle tube,” Pesart surmised.
“Two, actually,” Harbour added.
“And what are tubes without shuttles?” Jessie asked.
“Why two tunnels and two shuttles?” Pesart asked.
“Pairs of shuttles will be on opposite vectors from each other,” Jessie explained. “One will be leaving Triton for Pyre, while the other is leaving the planet or orbital station and making for Triton. In the future, we’ll build two more shuttles.”
“And we’ll need training, parts, and reaction mass for the shuttles —” Devon said, before he regarded Jessie.
“For three … no … better make it four annuals,” Jessie concluded.
“To be assured that we understand your commitment,” Pesart said. “For these requests, you’ll be surveying the non-alliance domes for Colony expansion and giving us the new information on the consoles?” As the scientist of the triumvirate, he was most interested in the latter information.
Harbour considered Pesart’s questions. Her eyes fell on Jaktook, and she smiled. “We’re discussing the circumstances under which we’ll explore the domes and determine the Colony’s expansion,” she confirmed. “As to the console information, if our agreement is approved by the Tsargit, then Devon and Aurelia will instruct Jaktook, a master advisor and an ex-dome administrator, in the new operations. He can share it with the other races.”
