Zealot

by Cyndi Friberg

  “That’s why you started coloring it,” Chandar said with absolute finality. “You were afraid others would realize what you are.”

  “You’re right. I was afraid the strands would grow brighter and multiply, so I made sure everyone believed I had created the unusual colors.”

  “The colors aren’t unusual on Rodymia. It’s evidence of your power. Few with mixed blood retain true Rodyte coloring.”

  Indigo smiled, feeling rather guilty. “You likely know more about my abilities than I do. Most humans don’t believe in magic.”

  “That’s like not believing in the wind. Neither can be seen with physical eyes until they unleash their power.”

  It was an accurate analogy, but many more humans had seen the power of the wind than the power of genuine magic. Indigo cleared her throat. She wasn’t doing a very good job of controlling the conversation. “We’re here to talk about you.”

  Chandar shook her head. “You’re here to help me do whatever I need done. That’s what Raylon told me.”

  “What else do you need done?”

  “I keep seeing a face, a male harbinger. I think he’s my brother. Is he still on board?”

  “Yes. His name is Danvier. Would you like me to go find him?”

  Again she shook her head. “I want him to know that I am starting to remember him, but I’m not yet ready to see him.”

  “Consider it done.” Rather than returning to Chandar’s past, Indigo decided to stay focused on the present. “Kotto, the commander of this ship, has asked us to move to the outpost. It will give us more freedom and keep us from distracting the crew.”

  “I never leave this room. How can I be a distraction?”

  “We would all like to see that change. Staying cooped up in this room isn’t healthy.”

  Chandar drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. “But Lunar 9 is massive and teeming with people. I don’t want to go there.”

  “There’s a small, secluded building inside the outpost complex. It’s called the Pavilion. I haven’t seen it yet, but anything has to be better than this room. And those bathrooms.” She made a disdainful face. “You can hardly turn around in there.”

  “Will there be bathtubs? I would love to take a bath.”

  “I don’t want to promise something I can’t deliver, but I’m right there with you in hoping there are.”

  Chandar’s excitement disappeared as suddenly as it had developed. “Will I have to leave Raylon?”

  Choosing her words carefully, Indigo explained, “That’s the best part. Raylon is coming too. You’ll each have your own rooms, but they’re right next to each other.”

  “But if he’s…” She quickly averted her face and blinked repeatedly. “He needs his own room. I’ll be fine.”

  Indigo stood and crossed to Chandar, placing her hand on the harbinger’s shoulder. “I’ll be there even when he’s at work. You’ll never be alone.”

  When she looked up at Indigo again, Chandar’s eyes were tear-bright. “Don’t you have a job to go to?”

  “Don’t you remember what Raylon told you?” She smiled and squeezed Chandar’s shoulder. “I’m here for you.”

  * * * * *

  “How long did you give Akim to complete the mission?” the benefactor asked.

  Milanni tensed. Even after eight months in the benefactor’s service, she was still considered probationary. “Three days.” Her voice sounded infinitely more certain than she felt, so she was glad their conversations were always audio only. She was relatively certain she knew who the benefactor was, but it was easier to prevent accidental slipups if she only referred to her boss as the benefactor even in her mind. “That should be more than sufficient.”

  “I agree.” After a short pause, the benefactor asked, “Have you heard anything else about the harbinger? Were her powers destroyed by that fool?”

  “The rebels have recruited a healer to help with the harbinger’s rehabilitation.” Even on secured frequencies, she’d been trained to avoid names and specific locations. The precaution was likely overkill, given the sophistication of the benefactor’s technology, but one could never be too careful. “I haven’t heard whether or not the healer has been any more successful than the soldiers.”

  “What sort of healer? They must not be Rodyte. This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

  Milanni smiled as she sat down on the sofa in her office and propped her boots on the low table in front of her. The benefactor’s confidence in the spy network was justified. Nothing went on or left Rodymia without word reaching the benefactor’s waiting ears. “The healer is a hybrid and she was recruited right here on Earth. A place called Boulder, Colorado.”

  “Really?” The benefactor sounded aghast and Milanni wasn’t even sure why.

  “Is that a problem?” Milanni lowered her feet to the floor and scooted to the edge of the sofa. “Is there some way I can help?”

  “You need to contact someone. I’ll send their information to your shielded account. This person must be furious and frantic. They need to know I’ll support them in any way I can. Make sure they know the offer comes directly from me.”

  “Will they know who you are if I say the benefactor sent me?”

  After a long pause the benefactor said something Milanni had never expected to hear. “I’ll transmit a message with directions on how to deliver it. Do I need to stress how important it is that no one else learns of this exchange?”

  “Of course not.” She swallowed with difficulty before adding, “My loyalty is absolute.”

  “It better be.”

  The connection disconnected and Milanni sighed. Unless the benefactor used some sort of cryptic code, which was possible, Milanni was about to learn a whole lot more than most operatives were ever allowed to know. It didn’t take long. The computer beeped with the tone indicating activity in her top-secret account.

  “Transfer message to my datapad.” The small, thin device was on the corner of her desk and echoed the special tone as she picked it up. Her hand began to tremble as she activated the message. Import hung heavy in the air. The message began simply enough but grew more confusing with each sentence.

  Dearest Vinton,

  I know we agreed not to risk direct communication, but I trust Milanni implicitly. I recently became aware of your difficulties. If there’s anything I can do, don’t hesitate to return a message through Milanni. The council is still debating whether to support the battle born rebellion or squelch their hopes permanently. If you have a strong opinion on the matter, I welcome your input. It’s times like this I miss Javin unbearably. He was the brightest soul I’ve ever known.

  Your loving sister,

  Haven

  Beneath the message was a name and address.

  Vinton Tandori

  9790 Overland Road

  Jamestown, CO 80455

  Milanni read the message again, hoping to gain new insight. Haven referred to Javin in the past tense. That couldn’t be good. Until this moment, Milanni had thought Javin Adintar was the benefactor. She needed to find out all she could about Haven Tandori. But how could she learn about the spy master without inadvertently activating the network of spies? What a tangle.

  At least the Tandori name was familiar to Milanni. Tandori Tribe was mentioned most often in connection with “the Tandori Tragedy”. The Keires and Tandoris despised each other and the resulting clash had rocked the entire planet. Unfortunately for most, the Tandori Tribe was filled with peace-loving separatists who desperately clung to their nonviolent convictions—and lost everything as a result. But life was often cyclic and Quinton Keire’s weakness was the perfect opportunity for the return of Tandori Tribe. All they had to do was seize the opportunity and most would enthusiastically support them as the new leaders of Rodymia.

  So how did the mysterious Haven fit into the building storm and what in the known universe had happened to Javin Adintar?

  The unexpected windfall of information filled
Milanni with questions and it was her basic nature to search out answers. That, in a nutshell, was why she’d become a spy. She never would have thought she’d be using her skills to investigate the benefactor, but Milanni’s feet were firmly planted on that path.

  Setting aside her incorrect assumptions, she would find out everything there was to know about Haven and then determine how to benefit most from her knowledge.

  Milanni hadn’t lied. Her loyalty was absolute, but what Haven didn’t understand was that Milanni was only loyal to one person—Milanni.

  So she’d follow this unexpected path wherever it happened to lead and soak in information like a sponge. She’d dig into every implication and explore any possibility, no matter how implausible. Nothing thrilled her more than a new mission and it appeared this mission began in Jamestown, Colorado, with a long-lost member of Tandori Tribe.

  Chapter Seven

  The Pavilion must have been used to house VIPs or as a reward of some sort. Indigo could think of no other reason for such a luxurious facility when everything else about Lunar 9 focused on function rather than comfort. Zilor had offered to have her bio-streamed directly to the Pavilion. She’d chosen a leisurely stroll through a good portion of the outpost instead. Now that his scent protected her, she didn’t need to hide in his room like a stowaway.

  Double concourses stretched from the docking slips to the main door of the outpost. Gravity and atmosphere generators created a pleasant environment without visible barriers. The massive cavern’s interior walls formed a distant perimeter, but it still felt a bit like they were floating. The Phantom was docked directly across from the Crusader, and now a third ship was docked as well.

  “What’s the name of that ship and why is it—I mean she here?” Indigo pointed to the newcomer.

  “She would be the Intrepid and she’s a research vessel,” Zilor explained. He was an excellent tour guide, patiently answering all her questions. “The scientists trying to free our magic are aboard that ship.”

  “That’s were Ashley went for her treatment?”

  “Treatments. It doesn’t happen all at once. But yes, that’s where the treatments will take place.”

  Not sure she wanted to know more about that particular subject, Indigo looked around. Lunar 9 rose before her, at least six stories high, and it hugged the back wall of the cavern, following the semi-circular shape. “Why did your people build this thing in the first place?”

  “The lunar outposts started as tiny observation stations, often with just a handful of scientists and medical personnel. Then each subsequent outpost expanded to include other functions as traffic through this sector increased. 9 was the last and largest of the lunar outposts. It was meant to be a temporary colony, a place people could go to escape the destruction of war. But the war dragged on much longer than anyone expected and the colonists grew restless and greedy.”

  She could understand why. The outpost was massive, but there was no sunlight, no variation, no color. Everything was drab and institutional. “They decided they liked Earth better than Lunar 9?”

  “Yes, so the crown was forced to shut it down. We were already at war with Bilarri. The last thing any of us needed was another military conflict half a galaxy from home.”

  They passed through a large, open portal and into the main complex. After passing through a nondescript lobby, they came to the four-level commercial district. Workers climbed on ladders and scaffolding all over the area, but many of the shops appeared complete. A few were even filled with merchandise. She reassessed her first impression. The openness was unexpected as was the variety of shapes and colors incorporated into the individual stores.

  “Who set up these shops?” She’d thought they entered on the bottom level, but there were tiers both above and below them. “Isn’t everyone on board the Crusader a soldier?”

  “Garin allowed several traders to transfer over from Outpost LA. Everyone thinks they’re Garin’s spies.”

  “Are they?”

  Zilor wiggled his eyebrows and grinned. “Maybe.”

  “How many Rodyte outposts are on Earth? How long has your people been spying on us?”

  “There are only three outposts currently staffed and observation is no longer their primary function. Also, Rodytes aren’t the only species to interact with humans. We’ve detected traces of many others down through the years. Human genetics is unusually compatible with alien DNA.” He led her across the tier and out a door on the other side.

  “If humans are so fascinating, why do all of these alien races sneak around rather than forming official alliances?”

  One of his wide shoulders lifted in a half-hearted shrug. “I can’t answer for the other species, but Rodytes don’t trust anyone. Your civilization is still rather primitive and unpredictable. Besides, you’re presuming there has never been an official alliance because you’ve never heard of one. I know of four different projects that have been fully supported by various human governments. The real question is, why are Earth governments so secretive?”

  “So basically you’re saying the conspiracy theorists are right?”

  “I wouldn’t go that far. I’ve read some of the articles on your internet. It’s more like they’re on the right track. But there is also intentional misdirection planted by your government and mine. They muddy the waters just enough so no one can see clearly. Rather than admit there’s an alien outpost inside the moon’s largest cavern, they spread the rumor that the entire moon is hollow. Area 51 is real, and there was a battle in the sky above LA back in the forties. Beyond that, everything is sort of murky.”

  She felt a smile pull at the corners of her mouth. There was something about Zilor that put her at ease. She felt safe and relaxed around him. Yes, he turned her on with just the brush of his fingertips or a certain look from his silver-ringed eyes. But when she wasn’t trying to rip his cloths off, she still wanted to be near him, she enjoyed talking with him and spending time with him.

  They emerged onto a railed walkway that led to a cluster of multi-level buildings. “Are those offices or apartments?” Either way, she was shocked by the scope of the complex. It was clearly designed to accommodate hundreds, no thousands.

  “We call each area a housing village.”

  “And how many villages are up here?”

  “Ten.”

  No wonder the outpost needed its own shopping district.

  After passing through a tunnel carved through a large rock outcropping, they finally arrived at the Pavilion. Six identical suites surrounded a common courtyard. A three-tiered fountain burbled in the center of the courtyard and the light and warmth projected by the dome combined with the slowly evolving holoimages created a shockingly realistic simulation of being outdoors. Stone benches lined the perimeter, perfectly spaced between the six doors leading to the suites.

  Each suite was compact by Earth standards, but lavish compared to the accommodations on board the spaceship. Indigo’s steps slowed as she neared the bathroom, anticipation making her heart pound.

  “Why are you obsessed with taking a bath?” Zilor crossed his arms over his chest, but he sounded confused not annoyed. “Showers are much faster and more effective.”

  Indigo laughed. “The purpose for a bath is not to get clean, it’s to relax and feel pampered.” She pushed open the door, almost afraid to look. Then a happy cry escaped her and she rushed into the well-organized space, which included all of the amenities she could imagine, double sinks, private water closet, separate shower and, yes, a bathtub. The tub wasn’t large, but it was deep and even jetted!

  “Chandar will love this.” The transparent deflection did nothing to hide her true excitement.

  Zilor lounged in the doorway, a faint smile softening his expression. “You’re really good with her, you know. Even Raylon was pleased and he’s become ridiculously over-protective of his ‘unwanted’ guest.”

  The praise thrilled Indigo until a troubling thought occurred to her. “How many people were
watching and why the hell didn’t you tell me I was being auditioned?”

  “We weren’t watching, we were listening. Video recordings are prohibited in private quarters unless the safety of the ship is at risk.”

  “But eavesdropping is perfectly acceptable?” She crossed her arms, echoing his earlier pose.

  “Under the circumstances, yes.” His demeanor didn’t change. He still looked relaxed and a touch amused. “We needed to judge the potential of the interaction and the safety of the situation before we moved forward. So Kotto, Raylon and I listened from Kotto’s office. And as for why you weren’t told, there is no way you would have been that relaxed if you’d known we were listening.”

  He was right, of course, but that did little to cool her ire. “Are these rooms under surveillance?”

  “The same standards apply. Audio can be accessed if there is a justifiable reason, but video is only activated by top members of security.”

  It would have been so easy to lie. Lunar 9 was still being renovated. He could have claimed the system wasn’t ready yet or was incompatible with current technology, but that wasn’t Zilor’s way. He was honest to a fault and she respected him for it. Even when his answers didn’t please her.

  “Hello?” A deep voice echoed through the courtyard.

  Zilor turned around and called. “We’re in Unit 3.”

  Indigo hurried forward, urging Zilor back into the bedroom. She didn’t want to be caught staring at a bathtub, though staring at a bed wasn’t much better.

  Danvier pushed the main door wider, but remained on the other side of the threshold. He’d changed out of his human clothes and into a dark blue tunic and light gray pants. The pants were tucked into knee-high boots. Wasn’t he required to wear a uniform like everyone else? He was more introspective than the other Rodytes. Not less dangerous, just less overtly intimidating.