Sister Katherine

by Tracy St. John

  Simdow checked his handheld at her question. “That was not one of the cities that was destroyed. She may yet be all right, little one.” He smiled encouragingly.

  Cheryl stared at Katherine, anger creeping in on the edges of her grief and horror. “Our government destroyed our own world? They did this to our people?”

  Katherine nodded. “So it would seem. General Hamilton has confessed that the Holy Leader and the Church thought it the right thing to do.”

  There were cries of disbelief and anger. Sister Ophelia approached Simdow. “You Kalquorians must take us to our planet. Our people need us.”

  Simdow looked at her with terrible sympathy. His voice choked, he said, “Matara, how can I tell you – your world is doomed. The radiation will soon poison the atmosphere, the water, everything. It will not support life for very long.” His hands covered his tormented face. “We are so sorry to have brought this upon you. We beg your forgiveness. We never intended to inflict so much destruction.”

  For a moment, no one spoke. It was as if in those few seconds, the scales of judgment wavered as everyone tried to absorb the latest shock.

  At last Cheryl reached over to tug Simdow’s hands down. Kalquorian and Earther looked each other in the eyes, Simdow waiting as if for the executioner’s blow and Cheryl with firm resolve.

  At last the nun said, “Forgiveness is in the hands of God and no one else, Kalquorian. Still, I believe your people did not intend this to happen. Your men have treated us with nothing but respect and the younger ones with kindness.”

  Pamela looked at the youngest of their charges, fear apparent on her face. “What do we do? Where do we go? You said you would return us to Europa, but the convent relies on Earth for supplies.”

  Simdow drew a deep breath. “Mataras, I don’t have the answers to that yet. The majority of the Kalquorian fleet is now engaged in trying to contain the fallout and rescue those most in need of it.”

  Aspirant Brenda tugged on his arm. “How will we find our parents? My mother and father were in Milan, last I heard. How will they find me if I’m not on Europa?”

  Simdow squeezed her shoulder and offered a comforting smile. “We will figure it out, my sweet. We will do whatever we can to reunite you all with your families. I will make it my personal mission to find a way.”

  His gaze met Katherine’s. She saw he was overwhelmed but resolute. Simdow would do all in his power to take care of these women and children; there was no doubt in her mind of that.

  She loved him so much in that moment that it brought fresh tears to her eyes. He took this small convent’s problems to heart, especially when it came to the children. He did it not just because he loved her, either. He would see to it they were all taken care of because he was a good man who cared about people.

  It was a promise shared by her whole clan, verified when Vadef added, “We will all do our best by you. Concentrate on dealing with your grief. We will see to the rest. I swear it.”

  Miv nodded. “And we will keep you safe. No one will come to harm if we can prevent it.”

  Katherine kissed Marci’s cheek and managed a smile for the rest. “You see? It’s going to be all right. Just keep the faith, all of you.”

  The women and girls seemed to take heart from their assurances. The faces around Katherine were filled with varying degrees of shock and grief, but now at least there was a little hope as well.

  * * * *

  Four days after the blasts that had set Earth’s clock to self-destruct, Vadef sat in his office working feverishly on the computer. His main focus these last few days had been cross-referencing the nuns and aspirants’ home locations in an attempt to track down living family members. Destroyer crews had descended on Earth to try to encourage survivors to come in and be helped. They were creating a database of survivors. Unfortunately, the Earthers were more likely to hide from their would-be saviors or attack them rather than ask to be rescued.

  Because of this, only one under-aged aspirant’s parents had been located. Ashley Williams’ family had been located in New Orleans, North American Bloc. Vadef had already sent the refugee camp there a message, letting the site commander know Ashley was safe and awaited their reunion.

  Other news had not been so good. He’d traced Brenda Logan’s parents from where the 14-year-old had last heard their whereabouts in Milan. The day before Armageddon, they’d traveled to London, which was no more than a crater in the earth now. They might not have been at ground zero when the bombs went off, but it didn’t look good for the Logans. Vadef wondered if Katherine would tell the poor girl that the likelihood of her family’s survival was doubtful.

  It hurt to think of what the girls had lost, particularly the youngest Marci and Darci Soames. Their legal guardian had been their elderly grandmother, a woman with physical and mental disabilities. The city of Boston had been spared the blasts, but there had been no sign of the woman since Armageddon. Vadef’s connections to the refugee camp had guaranteed rescuers had gone right to her address hoping to find her safe. The home was intact, with no signs of trouble anywhere, yet the elder Soames had not been located.

  It had been the same story with the rest of the girls’ families. Vadef sent information to the site commanders closest to where beloved parents, grandparents, and siblings lived. It seemed everyone was either dead or in hiding. The aspirants’ names were duly noted and the Imdiko reassured that if the families were found, arrangements would be made to reunite them.

  Most worrisome to Vadef was that no one had yet determined what was to be done with the minors. Right now, they were temporarily in the newly promoted Admiral Tranis’ care. The Galactic Council of Planets scrambled to find places to send the refugees. Most Earthers had perished, but there were still too many to send to their colonies. The unforeseen destruction of Earth had placed everyone under strain both bureaucratically and financially.

  As the unwitting partner to the planet’s eventual end, Kalquor had committed a large amount of resources to getting the Earthers to safety. Even as the Empire did so, it rightfully handed jurisdiction over the survivors to the Galactic Council, operating under that body’s authority.

  In the meantime, Vadef worried about what would become of the little ones. Somehow he felt as much responsibility for their welfare as Katherine did. They were innocent victims of a war they had never asked for, a war Vadef had been involved in. He had to find some way to make things as right as he could for them. Unfortunately, his ship was due to leave in only three days. Tranis’ crew was no longer in their own spyship and severely dependent on fleet resources; resources needed more urgently by those on Earth. They had been recalled to Kalquor.

  Vadef felt sick to be leaving the younglings behind when their fates had not yet been decided. It didn’t matter that he had no doubt someone would be assigned to take care of them. Those who would relieve Tranis’ crew didn’t know these girls. They didn’t know that Brenda had to be coached to talk about her fears rather than gorging on sweets to dull the pain. They didn’t know Darci took on too much responsibility, worrying much more than a 12-year-old should. They didn’t know Marci needed her stuffed bear Mr. Honey in order to sleep without nightmares.

  By the ancestors, how could he leave behind the forty little ones who would be eventually packed onto ships and sent off to far-flung colonies? Vadef feared he would never know of the girls’ ultimate outcomes. He’d spend the rest of his life worrying over what had happened to the children that had become so important to him.

  Vadef knew that as upset as he was about what must happen, for Katherine it was so much worse. He couldn’t imagine the pain the situation must be causing his Matara, not when these girls had been her life for the last three years. He could have wept for her pain alone.

  This was why the Imdiko once more went through his list of underage wards, resolutely sending more pleas for site commanders on the ground to search for those who loved them. Vadef had to get these girls into the arms of their families once mo
re. He couldn’t bear the thought of leaving even one of them in the hands of strangers who might not care for them as he and his clan did. He sent his requests even though the site commanders had all told him they were doing everything in their power to recover the parents of Europa’s children and he didn’t need to keep pestering them.

  Vadef would never stop campaigning for the girls until he had no choice. The site commanders would just have to deal with a stubborn Imdiko who was determined to reunite all the younglings he could with those they loved.

  * * * *

  Miv was on his knees, facing off with a brutal opponent who eyed him with fierce intent. The dark eyes trained on him, the set jaw, and the clenched fists let him know there would be no mercy from this one. However, he saw an opening and took full advantage.

  His hand flashed under Marci’s elbow, which had left its defensive position near her ribs. Miv tickled her, grinning as she shrieked with furious laughter. She danced back out of his reach.

  The other aspirants and the nuns laughed along with her. The little girl had the most infectious and uninhibited bellow of a laugh Miv had ever heard. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the sound.

  They had moved all the tables and chairs and bedding back for the impromptu match in the rec room, with aspirants, nuns, and guards standing around in a circle. Katherine had told them about Miv’s fighting career, and Marci had immediately insisted on finding out how tough her big brother was. It was quite the event to judge from the smiles, cheers, and laughter that greeted the matchup.

  Meanwhile, his fellow Nobeks on guard in the rec room urged the tiny fighter on. One called out, “Elbows down and fists up, little one! Don’t let him get in.”

  Another told her, “Take your time. Watch carefully for any opening and take it.”

  Miv knew it seemed to the women and girls that he only played. As he sparred with Marci however, he found himself determined to teach their smallest and most defenseless member a little bit of self-defense. Too soon, he would be forced to leave her behind. Sure, others were coming to replace the spyship crew as caretakers of the nuns and aspirants of Europa, but he still felt responsible for them. He had always taken his role as a big brother very seriously.

  He refused to think too much that it may be a long time, if ever, that he would set eyes on any of these girls again. It felt wrong in so many ways to leave and resign them to whatever fate the Galactic Council chose for those whose parents and guardians would never return to claim their little ones.

  No, Miv couldn’t face it. It hurt too damned much.

  So instead of thinking about how in three days he would have to say goodbye, he concentrated on the adorable face before him screwed up in a tight frown. Marci wasn’t happy to have been tickled. She was determined to get her revenge.

  She punched at him with her right fist and feinted left at the same time, just as Miv had shown her. His ear stung as she clipped it, and he rewarded her with a pained growl.

  The Nobek guards shouted approval at the move. One called, “You almost had him that time. Keep moving. Dance around him a little bit. Keep him off balance.”

  Miv yelled with seeming horror. “Listen to them! I’ve been abandoned by my own kind! Left to defend myself against this brutal Earther! Why has Kalquor turned its back on me?”

  More laughter greeted his anguished cry. It was good to hear it. The women and girls needed some fun after all that had happened.

  He allowed a slight opening and waited to see if Marci paid attention. She did and delivered a gorgeous uppercut to his chin. His teeth actually clicked together from the force of it. Good girl.

  Miv made sure he gave her an appropriately shocked look before falling over onto the floor. He pretended to be dazed. The room erupted in wild cheers for Marci from Earthers and Kalquorians alike. With a broad grin, she raised her tiny fists in victory. A great fighter had been born.

  The little girl reveled in her conquest for only a few seconds before assuming a worried look. She bent over Miv. “Are you all right, big brother?”

  Miv blinked slowly a couple of times. “I don’t know. That was a pretty good punch.”

  Katherine snickered. “Maybe you should go see Dr. Degorsk?”

  Miv sat straight up. “I’m fine, I’m fine.”

  Marci sat on the floor next to him. “You’re so funny, Miv. I’m glad Kalquorians aren’t bad after all.”

  He rubbed his hand over her soft curls. “I’m glad we’re not either.”

  Marci blinked up at him, her bright smile fading into something too serious for her few years. “If your clanmate Vadef can’t find my grandmother, can I stay with you and Sister Katherine? Darci too?”

  Miv’s heart wanted to shatter at the look on the girl’s face. He’d watched all the girls slowly coming to terms with the idea they might be orphans. In the last few days, they had aged much too fast.

  It didn’t help that he wanted to tell Marci she could indeed remain with him and his clan, that they all could so he could protect them until he wasn’t needed anymore. But that was not his decision to make. He couldn’t even appeal to Admiral Tranis, because the Earthers belonged to the Galactic Council now.

  Miv looked at Katherine, at a loss for what to say to his little sister who had already lost so much. Her eyes were shadowed with sadness. All of them were grieving; for themselves, for each other, for Earth.

  Sister Cheryl whispered into Katherine’s ear so the children couldn’t hear. Miv, with his stronger Kalquorian senses, overheard the question she asked nonetheless.

  “What is going to happen to our girls? Where will the Galactic Council put them?”

  Katherine whispered back, “There is still no word. They promise they will be cared for, however.”

  Meanwhile, Marci still waited for Miv to answer her question. Swallowing past the ache in his throat, he gently said, “I work for the Kalquorian fleet. I don’t know where they will send me next, but it will probably be dangerous. It will be no place for my little sisters.” He looked around at all the worried, uncertain faces around him. “I want you to know that if I could stay and take care of you until your parents return, I would. Until the last one of you was with those you belong with, I would remain on your colony, watching over you. I wish it was possible.”

  Miv meant every word of it. Returning to old dreams of glory through fighting seemed dim and unimportant now. He only wanted to make Katherine and all these poor women and girls safe and happy. He wished he could show it as well as say it.

  * * * *

  The spyship officers sat in a meeting room on board the Earther transport. It had a long table with small Earther-sized chairs that no one sat in very comfortably. It was no surprise to Simdow that Weapons Commander Lidon had elected to stand despite the fact his limp seemed a bit pronounced that day.

  Each seating space had a computer and three vids with the latest security and operations reports floating over the table. The configuration made it easy for the five men in attendance to view all the information they discussed. Besides Simdow, Lidon, and Admiral Tranis were Dr. Degorsk and Lidon’s second, Weapons Subcommander Osopa.

  Tranis rubbed his forehead tiredly. Simdow’s former captain looked older than his years. Though he sat up straight in his too-small chair, he still had a kind of hunched quality to his demeanor, as if the weight of the universe sat upon his shoulders. Simdow could tell Armageddon had taken a vicious toll on the man. Tranis seemed to feel responsible for Earth’s massive casualties.

  Simdow could well understand his commanding officer’s sense of guilt, even if it was not truly his cross to bear. Tranis remained a hero to the younger Dramok, but he no longer envied the admiral’s meteoric rise through the ranks. The cataclysmic end to the war had changed them all, and the price of promotion had been too costly.

  Tranis looked at his Nobek clanmate and weapons commander. “What is the latest report from Security?”

  Lidon’s face was as fierce and unbending as ever. “Thr
ee-quarters of the prisoners want to go to Earth to find their families. We’ve tried explaining to them how that will only put more strain on the Empire and the Galactic Council in trying to evacuate the planet, but this ship’s former crew is frantic to find those they left behind.”

  Degorsk sighed. “That’s completely understandable.”

  Lidon nodded. “Indeed it is. If it were me, I’d fight every man who opposed me.”

  Of the spyship’s crew, the weapons commander seemed to have weathered the emotional storms of the last few days with stoicism that seemed superhuman. His words told Simdow he’d been touched by what had happened, however. The scarred Nobek had seen some ugly shit in his career, but Simdow privately thought it was more Lidon’s need to be strong for his clanmates that made him seem nearly unaffected.

  Tranis turned to the first officer. “Simdow?”

  “I heard from our liaison with the Galactic Council just prior to this meeting. He said under no circumstances were we to let anyone return to Earth. They ask we identify and register all the men we took prisoner and bring them to rendezvous with one of their transports. I have sent that ship’s identity to you, Commander Lidon.”

  “Osopa, make that your first priority when we’re done here.”

  “Yes, Commander Lidon.”

  Simdow continued. “The Galactic Council will decide what to do with this ship’s crew as well as keep an account of the Earthers in a central registry. Hopefully, that will allow everyone to reunite.”

  Tranis nodded and closed out that item on the itinerary. “That’s fine. We’ll be ready to leave in three days with those prisoners off our hands, along with a few others.”

  The admiral eyed them all before continuing. For the first time since Armageddon, Tranis’ conscience seemed to lift a little. “Everyone, I made a decision regarding the women we captured that are capable of breeding with us. My promotion in rank is allowing me a little more leeway in certain matters, and I took full advantage of it. I have given those of-age women we did not clan the option of not going to Kalquor.”