“True, but circumstances required it. I am serving here as a Healer for the Verity. This is her captain, Iza Sundari,” she said with a sweep of her hand.
Caught off-guard, Iza scrambled out of her seat and stood beside Cierra. “It’s a pleasure,” she said with a slight bow and raised one hand in the traditional formal Taran greeting.
“The pleasure is ours. We’re happy to hear you are taking such good care of our daughter. She’s not one for space travel, so I’m sure she is eager to get her feet on solid ground,” her mother said.
“I am, you know me too well.” Then, as if Iza was no longer standing there, Cierra continued, “Any news?”
Her parents shook their heads, uncomfortably looking to each other and then back at the display. “Not a word. Do you think she lives?”
“I know she does,” Cierra said with a sigh. “Abby is too stubborn to be snuffed out. Perhaps she’s been incarcerated for illegal activity. Give her time. I’m sure we’ll all see her again before long.”
Iza was debating whether to continue standing or to take her seat again when Cierra abruptly signed off.
“My love to both of you and stay strong.” She held a fist to her chest.
“We will, Biscuit, and we love you,” her father said as he and his wife each lifted a fist to their chest.
The exchange gripped at Iza’s heart, and she had to work to clamp down the envy that sprang up. Instead, she bit back the tears that stung her eyes when she thought of her own parents.
Cierra turned to Iza. “Thank you, Captain. Now, I would like to spend some time outside the ship.”
“Sure, your time is your own. You have at least a few hours while I conduct my business and wait for Braedon and Jovani to return. You’ll find plenty of solid ground, but this area isn’t as lush as you’re accustomed to.”
“It will be more than sufficient to rejuvenate me.” She paused. “You seem distraught. Are you well?”
Once again, Iza was grateful that telepaths like Cierra couldn’t read her. She left the flight deck without another word.
On her way to the cargo hold, Iza’s thoughts drifted from her parents to the jarring dream she’d had the night before. In it, she had been standing hand-in-hand with Jovani beneath a giant ship, which frequented her nighttime visions. Her happiness of being in Jovani’s presence was overshadowed by the feeling of being watched, like a cold brush of fingers over one shoulder. Someone seemed to follow her every step. But, when she glanced over her shoulder to see who was there, she was a second too late to catch them.
Iza shook off the flood of anxiety that gripped her chest as she reflected on the unsettling dream. She needed to focus on what was real and right in front of her. She had a job to do.
Trix studied Iza when she entered the cargo hold. “You have an accelerated heart rate and your pupils are dilated. Your temperature is a degree higher than normal. Is there something wrong?” the android asked, concern audible in her monotone voice.
They’d been together too long for Iza to hide anything from her. Trix could decipher even the most complex emotions from Iza, whether it was thanks to being an adaptive AI or just because she’d been through so much with Iza that she’d witnessed a wide range of emotions. Regardless, the android’s nasty habit of frequently reciting everyone’s biometrics, especially hers, made Iza testy.
“I’ll be fine. Let’s just get this haul and get out of here.”
The two disembarked the ship and headed toward the nearby rendezvous spot. According to their contact, the sheep would be walked to the pickup point.
“Your parents were good people,” Trix said suddenly. “They cared for each other and for you.”
Since when did Trix decide it was okay to talk about my parents? She knows how much it bothers me. To speak on their behalf about their feelings was even worse.
“You didn’t know them, so don’t defend them. If they’d cared for me at all, they wouldn’t have Left,” Iza said without turning to face Trix, the tightness in her chest threatening to wring tears out of her.
“It was your mother who Left, choosing to die rather than care for you as young child. Your father didn’t have a choice. He cannot be blamed for what happened.”
Iza shrugged. It didn’t matter because she blamed him, anyway. Regardless of how stupid and childish, her father’s death ruined everything. It had set her on the path from living in a happy home to being a street kid.
“Maybe not, but it didn’t help,” Iza grumbled.
“You need them,” Trix said, surprising Iza again.
Iza stopped to face her. Despite the sun in her eyes, she looked over the android with concern. Perhaps she was malfunctioning. “What are you talking about?”
“Braedon, Jovani, and Cierra. You need them.”
“There must be something wrong with your systems. You’re going to need to run a self-diagnostic.” Iza huffed. “I don’t need anyone.”
Iza did a mental checklist of her current crew. Cierra was a Healer and helpful in crisis, but not required. Braedon was as resourceful as he’d claimed, but again, Trix had and could do most of the work he did with less yammering. Thinking of Jovani, she paused. A former TSS Agent was certainly an asset, but she’d been taking care of herself for the last twelve years. She wanted him, that was undeniable. That’s not the same thing, though, is it?
“Your serotonin levels have continued to rise since their arrival. Your general mood is elevated and the tension in your shoulders and posture is gone. I believe their absence would be detrimental to you, like the loss of your parents.”
“Doubtful. More likely, it’s the temperature on the ship. I thought I told you to adjust it.” Iza raised a hand to shield her eyes from the sun’s rays while she glared at Trix. “I’m done talking about them, are you?”
Trix was probably reading her biometrics, and Iza’s rising blood pressure should be enough to convince her to leave it alone.
Trix nodded. “Yes, I am done speaking of them.”
Iza turned and faced the horizon. “Good. Let’s go get some sheep.”
—
After thirty minutes of waiting in the hot, blazing sun for her contact to arrive with the two dozen promised sheep, Iza’s mood had soured.
At last, the herd ambled toward her, letting out soft bleats. They roamed the area, feeding on blades of thin grass that stuck up from the red dirt.
“Aww, they’re cute,” she commented to Trix. “Too bad they’re so tasty.”
Trix shook her head. “You organics are very strange.”
While being sniffed and nibbled on by sheep, Iza conducted the official exchange with the bearded man tending the flock, using her handheld to confirm the pickup. She received the second half of her credits, and that concluded the transfer.
The man’s beard was almost the length of his hooked staff; perhaps he’d been a shepherd his entire life. He was accompanied by a small boy, who stood at his side wiping his nose on the back of his dirty hands while he followed their every move with large, wide eyes.
“Keep them together and don’t let any of them stray too far,” the bearded shepherd advised. “They’ll die without the herd. You’re all they have for protection and they’ll follow you if you give them a reason to trust you.”
Iza nodded. “There won’t be far for them to wander in space.” She gestured to Trix. “Let’s get them on board.”
The android nodded and then began a perfect imitation of the sound the shepherd had made to herd the sheep, urging them toward the Verity with ease. She carried a small rod that she used to guide them gently up the ramp of the ship. They followed her as they would have followed the man.
The man and his son stared open-mouthed as Trix led them on board.
“Daddy, is that a robot?” the little boy asked.
“Yes, son, don’t go near it or it’ll bite you faster than you can shout for help,” he said without a change of expression.
The hackles on the back of Iza’s neck rose. It wasn�
��t uncommon for people in the outer colonies to speak that way about an android. They hardly had occasion to see a Lynaedan, let alone interact with one as sophisticated as Trix. They didn’t understand the AI made her even more intelligent than a mere robot.
“That’s not true at all.” Iza kept her voice soft and patient. “She’s kind and helpful. Trix has been with me since I was a kid. She took care of me when I didn’t have any folks. Want to get a closer look?” Iza offered.
The boy's eyes grew as round as plates and he nodded eager to get closer.
“No, thank you.” The man snatched his son’s hand. “We’ll be on our way. We’ve got other livestock to tend.” He turned and moseyed off, dragging his son behind him. The sound of the man scolding the boy for being curious about the android carried on the wind to Iza’s ears. It was a shame that there were still those who didn’t understand what a marvel Trix and her people were.
“All the sheep are secured. Shall I close the ramp?” Trix asked when Iza boarded behind the last of the sheep.
“Yes, keep them inside our makeshift pen, but leave the hatch open for Braedon and Jovani. They said they’d be joining us soon enough.”
Iza was surprised Cierra had also come down to care for the sheep. She sat with her bare feet hanging off the ladder, speaking softly to them.
“We’ll have the livestock off soon enough, so you won’t have to monitor them,” Iza said, wishing the woman would stay out of her way.
“It’s no trouble. I like being around them, they’re so fresh.”
“True, but we won’t be eating these, they’re for delivery only,” Iza said unable to hide her mischievous smile.
“You’re joking but it’s not funny,” Cierra said, keeping her voice light in front of the sheep. “I would never eat one of these precious creatures. They’re so trusting and their eyes are like a mirror of their souls. How can you even think it?” She reached out scratching one under its chin.
Iza thought about it a moment, then answered honestly. “All I know is if I was hungry, I would eat one without any hesitation.”
Cierra scoffed.
Iza ignored the other woman’s indignation as she made her way up the stairs to the flight deck. The humming coming from her cabin stopped her for a moment, and she remembered the dream again. The sensations had been so real, but so far she’d seen no sign that they were precognitive. Iza wondered, not for the first time, if there was something to the dreams and their connection to the metal sphere she kept in her nightstand.
Perhaps the dreams only amplified her desires. Even now with Jovani off the ship, she could sense the pull of him. It was unnerving, the effect he had on her emotions. But, there was also the giant alien ship and the anxiety of someone watching her. Those weren’t things she’d experienced It had taken time for the fear to fade even after she’d gotten out of bed. Even now, she glanced over her shoulder more than usual.
Trix joined Iza on the flight deck in short order, and they settled in to wait for Braedon and Jovani to return.
A klaxon alarm broke the silence, and Iza turned to Trix to see what was going on.
The android stood in the center of the flight deck listening for a moment. “Braedon, he is in trouble.”
“Braedon? What’s he up to?”
“He is signaling us to meet him at specified coordinates. There are people that need our help immediately. That is all.”
Iza was already moving toward the doorway. “We’ll take the shuttle.” She swore under her breath. Braedon, what have you gotten in the middle of now?
CHAPTER THREE
The coordinates Braedon had provided in his emergency signal directed Iza and Trix to a quiet neighborhood east of where the Verity was docked. They’d settled in between several other small craft parked around a communal landing pad, offering a small measure of anonymity while they waited.
Unlike the dusty outer reaches of the city, this area had been transformed into a manicured landscape fitting of the central worlds, complete with tree-lined streets and grassy yards. However, with seven single-family dwellings to a square block, the living quarters were too tight for Iza’s comfort. How can people live so close to each other by choice? In city centers or on a spacecraft, she could understand how people didn’t have another option, but out in the suburbs, it seemed strange to build homes almost on top of each other.
Though the streets were wide enough to accommodate a high volume of traffic, the surroundings seemed eerily empty for mid-afternoon. Only a few people strolled by on foot while Iza and Trix waited in the parked shuttle for Braedon to arrive. There seemed to be nothing more going on than people trying to avoid the boiling heat of a summer day. The climate controls in the dilapidated shuttle hadn’t been working properly for weeks, and she felt the heat of the day seeping in and slowly cooking her.
Iza peeled off her jacket and shirt, exposing her white tank top, and dropped the rest on the floor beside her. “Check it again. Are you sure we’re in the right place?”
“Yes, these are the coordinates.” She paused. “A dampening field has just been activated in this area. Our outbound communications and sensors are now blocked.”
“Naturally.” Iza’s eyes scoured the street, looking for any signs of the trouble. I should be used to this with Braedon by now.
Just when her visual search turned up empty, an incoming audio-only communication lit up on the front console.
Trix assessed it. “The origin is masked. It appears to be a hack through the dampening field.”
“Sounds like Braedon’s handiwork.” Iza opened the channel. “Hello?”
“He’s already here,” Braedon said through panting breaths. “We can’t get to you.”
“Okay, calm down. What in the bomaxed stars is going on?” Iza demanded. “We’re where you told us to be. Where are you?”
“My dad is—” The audio abruptly ended.
“Braedon?”
“We have lost the signal,” Trix stated.
Then, Iza spotted a small shuttle zipping through the trees. The aerodynamic design of the craft was sharp, with two rear wings that jutted out on either side. It moved methodically down each street before dodging between the homes, as if searching for something.
“Keep our ident masked,” Iza said as she tracked the other shuttle’s movements. “Based on what Braedon was about to say, what are the chances that’s an Arvonen shuttle?”
“Ninety-five percent.”
Iza groaned. “We need to stop him before he gets a hold of Braedon.”
“Devyn,” Trix said correcting her.
“No, he’ll always be Braedon to us. I don’t care what his father calls him.”
“With the localized dampening field, we do not have the ability to track the signal. We will have to wait for him to come to us.”
“Where is the Arvonen One?”
“I estimate they are in orbit above us to maintain the field blocking communications in this area.”
“Can we knock it out?”
“Not from here. The Verity could do it, but I cannot remotely interface with the Verity from within the dampening field.”
Iza let out a slew of curses as she watched the other shuttle continue its search. There was no way to get another message to Braedon. Besides, any further communication between them would only risk exposing his location.
“I recommend we search on foot. They are ignoring anyone who is not male.”
“We? No way. They’d spot you in a heartbeat, and I can’t afford to lose you, my friend. Better I go alone. Between the two of us, I blend in much better around here.” Iza slipped out of her pants, leaving her blue shorts underneath exposed.
“How are you going to avoid being seen? They will recognize your face from before, and no doubt they will be looking for you, too.”
Iza knotted the bottom of her white tank and took her hair out of the braid, allowing it to fall forward on her face. “I’ve got a plan,” she said, grabbing some rope from
the back hatch. She gripped it in one hand. “Open the hatch and stay put.”
“Keep your head angled down so they cannot scan your face.”
“Got it. Stay powered down here until I signal,” Iza said, opening the hatch in preparation to jump out.
“There is no way that you will be able to get a signal through,” Trix reminded her.
Iza called out over her shoulder. “You’ll see this one, I promise.” Then, she leaped out of the shuttle and down to the street.
Her movements were casual but all business. She ignored the way her stomach growled at the smell of grilling meat coming from one of the houses; Cierra had no idea what she was missing. Iza didn’t want anyone to take more than a casual glance at her as she walked the streets, so she moved like someone looking for something. She put two hands on either side of her mouth and started calling out in a high-pitched, frantic voice.
“Blacksheep! Blacksheep! Where are you?”
She passed by a few people who shook their heads sympathetically. As far as they could tell, she’d lost her pet. Iza continued searching down the second street. The large trees formed a canopy overhead, where birds and small creatures made their homes in the branches. They chirped loudly to each other as Iza passed. She noted the proximity of the Arvonen shuttle as they made another sweep of the street. As instructed, she turned her face to the ground.
“Blacksheep!”
A rhythmic knocking caught her attention. It was probably some kind of code, but instead of staring in the sound’s direction, she dropped to one knee to pretend she was tying her shoe.
No sooner was she on the ground than a white fluffy dog with brown and black markings, standing as tall as her knees, came bounding out of a nearby house. It stood on its hind legs and began licking her face as soon as it reached her.
“What the…?” Iza was about to shove the dog away when she noticed a passerby on the street watching her.
“Oh, there you are, Blacksheep!” She scooped up the dog and tried to pretend that his lapping tongue on her face wasn’t gross.
Divided Loyalties (Verity Chronicles Book 2): A Cadicle Space Opera Adventure Page 3
