"Don't let it get in your eyes," Tau advised, "The liquid carries a disinfecting agent. Tone of concern. It will sting."
"Thanks for the warning," Penny muttered, but did as he said, keeping her eyes and mouth shut as she cleaned herself. She only dared glance over at Tau and the others once, and found them watching her, shamelessly and unwaveringly.
She wished Tau wasn't wearing his helmet so that she could gauge his expression, feeling a sudden, inane worry about her weight, which she shook off quickly. She was just self-conscious.
The water shut off abruptly, indicating that she was done whether she wanted to be or not. In its place, a blast of warm air caught her by surprise, making her jump and Tau and all his men move in response.
When she realized it was a dryer, she relaxed and they followed suit. Once she was dry, Tau stepped forward and handed her a white garment rather than her suit.
"I'd rather have my own things," Penny tried, but Tau shook his head.
"You will wear this to meet the Queen," he insisted, "Your clothes will be returned to you after."
Penny restrained the urge to grumble and accepted the new clothing, which turned out to be a flowing robe not unlike the ones the winged males had worn yesterday.
She struggled momentarily with the confusing ties, until Tau, surprising her, took them from her and tied them himself, fastening it so that it emphasized her waist and draped over her hips like something from a painting of ancient god.
"It suits you," he said as he stepped away, and again Penny found herself wishing she could see his face.
"Thank you," she replied, looking away, and he said no more, leading her on out of the decontamination room and through a short hall.
"Through here is the cathedral," he explained, "You will speak only if asked a direct question. You will not shout. You will stay where you are placed. Try not to appear threatening or emotional, it will weaken your case."
"Makes sense," Penny agreed, taking a deep breath, "I'm ready."
The doors to the cathedral were a split hexagon, guarded on either side by black armored soldiers in their chitinous helmets as always. They opened as Penny approached and Penny stepped into the cathedral in undisguised awe.
The room was vast. Certainly the biggest open room Penny had even been in. Even the NASA hangers weren't this big, nor were their ceilings so high.
This must have been the building she saw when they were landing, she thought. Sure enough, looking up she saw the huge wound in the roof, no longer so ragged. A handful of the golden, insect like aliens she'd seen in the hall before crawled over the hole, repairing it with deft hands.
The walls, where she could see them, were white and papery as a wasp's nest, with alcoves open to expose golden comb. Wide columns of that same golden comb carved into abstract patterns climbed towards the roof like strange towers.
A massive round stained glass window stood at the far end of the room, and she could see the colored light of others higher in the cathedrals vast ceilings. It was the only place she'd seen a color other than white, black, or gold. The windows glittered with rich reds and royal blues as well. As Tau led Penny across the great cathedral, she saw there was a crowd assembled to meet her.
The winged males she'd seen before were there, along with others. Three sat in high, backless chairs before a raised dais. On the dais was a golden hexagonal shape which, as Penny approached, she realized was a single cell, as in a beehive, and a massive larva the size of a human child was growing within it. She suppressed a shudder.
"Why isn't it bound?" one of the winged males asked, the words translated a second behind by Penny's chip, "Why isn't its blasphemous mouth sealed?"
Tau tipped his head back respectfully and spoke in the humming, mouthless drone language. The chip didn't seem capable of translating that, remaining silent as he spoke. Whatever he said, it mollified the winged males.
Tau turned to Penny, guiding her to a place between two of the pillars before the three winged males, pushing her down to kneel before them. He stood beside her, his hand on her shoulder.
"These are the regency," he murmured to her quietly, "They will judge you while the queen is in her infancy."
Penny, confused, looked again at the white skinned larva on the dais. Was that their queen?
"Commander," the center winged male, who seemed to be the more senior of the three, turned to Tau, "Have you learned how this species is addressed? You make speak the word."
"Human." Tau replied.
"Human invader," the winged male turned his gaze them to Penny, "You are brought before us to bear judgement for the crimes of your people, here under the infant gaze of our new queen, whose predecessor you so cruelly slaughtered."
Penny opened her mouth, wanting to protest, but Tau squeezed her shoulder and shook his head minutely. She had no one else to rely on, so she obeyed.
"Your human race has invaded our sovereign territory and committed regicide, destroying much and killing many in the process. You use the Queen's speech though you are neither Queen nor holy male, and wielded it against our soldier. When we searched your craft-weapon, we found documents that reveal you have read and copied the sacred writings of the ancient queens, a sin so dire we have never conceived of a punishment fitting for it. The council asks you-Why? Why has your kind declared war on us?"
Penny glanced at Tau to make sure she was allowed to speak before she did.
"You're wrong," she said, and saw them all recoil, hissing in offense, "Humanity has not declared war. We came in peace, with only the desire to learn more about you. We did receive and read your signals. We didn't know they were sacred. We thought they were messages, searching for other life in the universe as we are, which is why we followed them to you. But we did not kill your queen! So far as I know, we haven't destroyed anything. Please believe that we are only here in the spirit of friendship and exploration."
"Enough of your blasphemy," the winged male on the right shouted, wings humming in agitation, "This creature dares to lie, in the presence of Queen and regency! To lie in the Queen's own sacred tongue! It is a savage beast that cannot be trusted. It should be destroyed."
"Or dissected," suggested the one on the left, "If more of its species intend to attack us we must be prepared to defend ourselves."
"But we have learned nothing," the middle regent shifted anxiously, "The public demands answers. A narrative they can understand. This unscheduled judgement will raise enough suspicions as it is."
"The public don't want a narrative, they want swift action! We have captured the thing that killed their queen and killed it and all is safe now!"
"The opinions of the public are a minor concern compared to the spiritual turmoil of allowing this heretic to continue defiling the voice of the departed queen!"
Penny, listening in mute horror, thought somewhat absurdly that maybe this species wasn't so different from humans after all.
"A balance is struck," the one in the middle said loudly, cutting the other two off, "The human queen regent will be executed publicly for the peace of mind of the hive. The others will be interrogated and dissected to better understand our enemy."
Before Penny could react, Tau spoke in his harsh, humming language, loud and assertive, forcing the winged male's attention.
"We are the Queen's regents!" one of the males said, buzzing with irritation, "It is our duty to judge in her absence!"
"The commander is not wrong," said another reluctantly, "To make a decision of such impact without her judgement..."
"Dealing with dissidents is perfectly within our rights as regents!"
"But potentially declaring interstellar war with a species whose power and technology we know nothing about-"
"But we must act quickly!"
"A balance is struck!" the one in the middle cried again, silencing the other two, "The queen will reach her second instar in 7 cycles and should then be prepared to pass judgement. Until then, Commander Tau, since you have taken such
an interest in the false queen's life, it will be your duty to interrogate the creature. Learn the invader's motives, and the scope of their offensive capabilities. It is in your care. May it complete you."
Tau tipped his head back respectfully again, then pulled Penny to her feet. Penny, dazed, followed as he led her quickly out of the cathedral and back down the halls.
"What was that?" she asked as she began to regain her senses, "We killed a queen? They're going to declare war on earth? Tau, what just happened?"
"I kept you alive," Tau answered without looking in her direction, hurrying her along, "I will continue to do so."
"Why?" Penny stopped, tears stinging her eyes, rolling down her cheeks and shattering all her attempts to maintain a respectable diplomatic air, "From what?"
Tau removed his helmet at once, concern in his compound eyes as he moved closer, reaching out to wipe the tears from her cheeks.
"Tone of distress. Is this normal? Are you injured?"
"No," Penny hiccupped, crying harder, "It means I'm scared and upset and I don't understand what's happening. Please, just explain things to me!"
Tau was frozen for a moment, but then he put his hands to her cheeks as he had before, looking into her eyes.
"I will, Penny Allyn," he promised, "I will explain. I will find a way. This is my promise."
She reached up to put her hands over his and closed her eyes, willing herself to trust him. He'd given her no reason not to believe in him so far.
When he released her and put his helmet back on, she followed him silently as he brought her back to the holding cell where the rest of her team was anxiously waiting for news. He left her at the door, taking her translator chip before he went, and Penny couldn't help wishing he could stay.
She told the team everything she had learned, though it didn't amount to much. The leaders of these people thought the humans were responsible for killing their queen, and they had only seven days for Tau to prove them wrong.
As soon as she'd told them all she knew, she collapsed into one of the beds, thinking that she'd like to sleep for a week if she wasn't certain she'd wake to an execution.
Chapter Six
"The good news is," Rivera was saying when Penny woke, "We probably have longer than we think. Days are longer here than on earth. We're not certain by how much, but it's extra time and that's what matters."
"But what are we supposed to do with that time?" Ian asked, tense with worry, "They won't let us out of this room. How are we supposed to prove it wasn't us? We can't just rely on that Tau guy."
"Guys, Penny is awake," Salome interrupted the chatter as Penny left the bed behind with reluctance.
"No, it's fine," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes, "You guys can keep talking. Did I miss dinner?"
"Here, I saved a portion for you," Rivera handed Penny the partial contents of one of the silver packets, which were currently divided into thirds to stretch out their food supplies. Penny accepted it gratefully, sitting down to eat with an expression of tired thoughtfulness on her face.
"We don't know anything about this Tau guy," Ian continued, "We can't even understand how he thinks. Only Penny can even talk to him. We can't leave our defense up to someone like that. If he's defending us at all and not just looking for evidence of our guilt. We don't know how justice works here."
"He's defending us," Penny said quietly, "He promised me. And I believe him. He's doing his best to help."
"Well then, convince him to let us out of here," Cho suggested, "Let us figure out what happened on our own."
"I don't have to be a diplomat to think a bunch of humans running around an alien city that thinks we killed their queen is a bad idea." Rivera scoffed and shook her head, "We can't do anything but cooperate."
Just as Penny was settling down on the floor next to the others, the door opened. Penny stood, expecting Tau, but it was only the soldiers with no sign of the commander.
"Where's Tau?" Penny asked, moving closer, thinking he would be behind them. Instead, with a buzz of alien language, they closed around her and began shuffling her towards the door.
"Hey, not this again!" Rivera called as the others got to their feet.
"I'll be fine!" Penny insisted quickly before anyone could get hurt, "Just wait for me!"
With that, she was hurried out and down a series of corridors that grew narrower and more winding with every step. Soon it truly began to feel that she was descending into a hive. The walls were no longer inoffensive waxy white, but bare comb, warped and wavering, carved with holes where corridors branched or rooms were dug. It felt like being in a cavern. At last they brought her to one such door in the comb and led her through it.
The room beyond was too dark for her to see in, but the lack of light didn't seem to bother them as they pushed her forward, sending her stumbling ahead of them. Trying to straighten up, she found the ceiling too low for her to stand.
She expected them to grab her and begin moving her once more, but instead, she heard only a metal click and the sound of feet retreating. Beginning to suspect what had just happened, Penny turned after them and was quickly met with cold bars. She felt her way around the walls and found bars on every side. She'd been locked in a cage.
It felt like hours, sitting in the dark, waiting to find out what would happen to her, what was happening to her team. She cried more than once. The bottom of the cage was well lined with soft, mossy feeling squares that seemed to be some kind of pillow and she clung to them for some kind of comfort, unable to help feeling constantly on edge, waiting for something to come out of the dark for her.
After what seemed like forever, she heard the quiet rush of a door sliding aside and the lights returned. She squinted in the light, waiting for her eyes to adjust, until the silhouette of Aiten Tau swam into view. He was removing his helmet, setting it aside.
"You have been performing the upset gesture again," he said, frowning as he looked at her tear stained face.
"Of course I have!" Penny sobbed, close to crying again, "You left me in the dark with no explanation for hours! I was told your rulers want to execute me this morning! Do you have any idea what I thought was happening?"
Tau's frown deepened.
"This was not what I intended."
"And how can I understand you?" Penny asked, scrubbing at her eyes, finding absolutely everything upsetting right now, "I don't have a translator chip."
"The cage is equipped with the translator technology. As long as you are within it, I will understand you."
Once again, Penny was reminded of just how different 'understanding' was from 'comprehending.' He understood her words, but not what they meant in context, or the feelings she was trying to convey.
"Why am I here?" she asked with a weary sigh, exhausted by the stress, "Why have you put me in a cage?"
"The regency was concerned if we kept you with your swarm, you might organize against us," Tau explained, "It was decided that the best course of action was to separate you. And as my primary objective at this time is to learn your motivations for the attack, the most prudent course of action seemed to be to store you here in my quarters. This is also safer for you, as many have taken offense to your continued existence."
Penny felt dizzy. So not only did the government want her dead, people who disagreed with the government wanted her dead even faster.
"This is your room?"
Penny latched on to the only information she felt she could do anything with, peering past him at the room around her. Her cage appeared to be in the center of a wide room.
One of the cradle shaped beds filled one corner. A counter like surface folded out of the wall on another. It was all very bare. She saw nothing that looked personal or decorative. Maybe they didn't believe in that sort of thing here. They didn't seem to be a society that encouraged individualism.
"This will make protecting and interrogating you much more efficient," Tau answered, and then stood, crossing to one of the walls, "Is the cage sufficient
? Is there anything you need?"
He slid back a section of wall and a cabinet came forward into the space. He began removing his armor a section at a time.
"I need to go back to my team," Penny replied, shaking the bars in front of her, "They're going to think you've killed me! They understand what's happening here even less than I do. Your people don't even talk to them! You can't just leave them in the dark and expect them not to try something."
"They are not in the dark," Tau frowned, pausing in removing a jointed section of his shoulder armor, "The cell is well lit."
Penny pursed her lips in annoyance.
"No. It means being left in confusion, not knowing what's going on. Humans hate that. The last they heard, I was scheduled for execution and they weren't going to be far behind. They WILL try something dangerous if they think their lives are in jeopardy."
Tau had removed most of the armor from his torso by now, laying the pieces carefully in drawers within the cabinet. The underside of the armor appeared to be padded, and beneath it he wore a simple white tunic, the fabric loose and shimmery, presumably made of the same stuff as the robes he'd given her for the trial. His frown deepened as he struggled to understand her words.
"But you are their leader?" he said, confusion in his tone as he began removing the lower part of his armor.
"No, I'm not," Penny rubbed at her temples, taking a deep breath, "We're a team. We work together. Rivera is more in charge than I am, but she defers to me for matters of diplomacy, because I'm the ship's ambassador."
"Ambassador," Tau repeated, pausing with a chitin plate in his hand, "This word is not translating well."
"I'm someone who's trained to help different groups of people get along," Penny tried to explain, "Your queen is your leader, right? Are there other queens, in other parts of the planet?"
Tau looked baffled.
"No," he replied, "There is only one queen. She has different bodies, different shells that she works through, distributed across the planet. But there is only one."
The Warrior's Proposal (Celestial Mates Book 7) Page 12
