by S. H. Jucha
Mahima knew she wasn’t offering a legitimate excuse by which the director could refuse service, but she hoped to have found a willing participant in her desire to thwart President Racine’s plans. Not finding support with the station director, she cut her comm without replying to his question. What she didn’t share with the director was an unnerving piece of information she received from Winston, the Council’s SADE. He reported to her that at the same time the Rêveur changed course for the Le Jardin platform, so did the Earther ship, the Reunion. Why can’t you leave us in peace? Mahima thought, but whether she was speaking to Alex Racine or the Earthers or both, even she wasn’t sure. Mahima abhorred change.
* * *
The Rêveur made dock at Le Jardin Orbital Platform early in the morning hours. Julien and Z ensured that all station services were managed to their satisfaction.
When Alex received Speaker García’s acceptance of the meeting, he had ordered Captain Cordova to maintain a velocity that allowed the Earther ship to arrive at the orbital platform soon after the Rêveur arrived at the station. Hours later, Julien confirmed the Reunion came to a zero delta-V a mere 18 kilometers from the station, and Alex assembled his team for the reception.
The Le Jardin lived up to its name. Everywhere Alex and his people walked, there was greenery — flowering plants, vines, planters with shrubbery — and small parks, little oases of trees, and tiny streams. Only a few in Alex’s group were privileged to have seen the station before; the rest stared in wonder at the effort the Méridiens expended to create such a wondrous garden in space. And while the Harakens eyed the decorations, the Méridiens eyed them. But it wasn’t the outraged reception Alex and company received in Confederation Hall nine years ago; it was a mix of courtesy and curiosity. Many touched hand to heart, nodding their heads, as Alex passed, and he returned their courtesy. And there were many men and women who boldly eyed the Harakens as they passed, intrigued by rumors of the liaisons between their people and New Terrans. Some of the younger Méridiens went so far as to touch an arm or shoulder in passing and deliver an inviting glance.
The Harakens entered the reception hall that was reserved for them to find an extraordinary number of servers, who were ready to ply the group with dainty, exquisite, hors d'oeuvres and small juice drinks. The hall, decorated as a quiet garden, was one of Le Jardin’s more luxurious spaces, and it could easily accommodate ten times more people than accompanied Alex.
The Harakens chatted amiably, waiting for the historic event to unfold. For the first time in a millennium, the descendants of colonists would be reunited with people from Earth. Only Alex sat completely still, lost in thought. The hairs on the back of his neck were warning him — about what, he didn’t know.
-11-
A shuttle launched from the Reunion after Speaker García politely refused Captain Cordova’s offer of a Méridien shuttle. The Reunion shuttle pilot, following Captain Cordova’s instructions, was guided into a berth by a pair of the orbital platform’s emergency landing beams. Once enclosed in a cavernous bay, devoid of all other craft, a worker in an environment suit strode up to the nose of the shuttle and signaled to the pilot to exit the passengers.
“Speaker García,” the pilot called out, “air quality and pressure are excellent.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” García replied. “Major, Captain, let’s see what we can learn, shall we?”
The Earthers exited the shuttle and guided by the pointing arm of the worker walked toward an airlock. The hatch opened before they reached it. A man stepped out, or at least he appeared to be a man to Speaker García, who prided himself on his own handsome, patrician looks. But the man in front of him was beautiful … male, yes; slender, yes; but beautiful and somehow familiar. García wondered if he missed seeing him in the group during the video comm.
“Greetings, Speaker Antonio García, I am Étienne de Long. I am here to escort you to meet our group of travelers.”
What caught García off guard was that the man spoke his language quite well, as if he were born on Earth. The odd part was that the pretty man only smiled, while his voice emanated from a delicate piece of jewelry pinned to his brightly colored shirt that flowed down to his thighs.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Étienne de Long. Is that translation software that you’re employing?”
“Very observant of you, Speaker García. Please follow me,” Étienne said, then turned and reentered the airlock to forestall any more questions. While Étienne took the Earthers through the airlock, which he performed three times to get them all through, he sent a quick message to Alex.
“What do you do, Étienne de Long, that you can afford the luxury of extensive travel?” García asked amicably as they rode the docking arm’s conveyor through the long corridor toward the central ring of the orbital station.
“Please, Speaker García, you may call me Étienne. I am not one of the wealthy; I am merely an escort.”
At the snickers Étienne heard behind the Earther leaders, he smiled to himself. Eleven years ago, Alex was also confused by the term and absentmindedly crushed a water can when he thought Étienne and Alain were bedding Renée. Time passes, yet some things remain the same, Étienne thought.
“Is this a common practice among your people, Étienne, to travel with male escorts?” García asked.
“As I am sure it is among your people, Speaker García. Is that not the function of the Ser beside you, dressed in the uniform?” Étienne said good-naturedly, gesturing toward Major Barbas.
García quickly placed a firm hand on Barbas’s arm to restrain the red-faced major from an outburst at the insult.
“Are you well, Ser?” Étienne asked, indicating the major’s livid complexion.
“He will be fine, Étienne,” García replied. “What are your duties, if I may ask?”
“I accompany Ser Racine, at all times, to ensure his safety,” Étienne replied, working earnestly to keep a straight face.
This time the major broke out in laughter, his initial anger fueling a derisive laugh. “You … you provide security?”
“Assuredly, Ser,” Étienne replied. “Is that not what I said? Perhaps our translation software is not as effective as we hoped.”
There was no more conversation between Étienne and the Earthers as they passed through two sets of entry doors into the orbital station’s main corridors. Étienne kept walking briskly, forcing his guests to keep pace. The shuttle’s landing bay was chosen to limit the exposure of the Earthers to station personnel and visitors. However, the Earthers were gawking at the beauty of the few Méridiens they did encounter and the extravagant greenery that decorated the wide, spacious corridors. Before the Earthers knew it, Étienne was standing at a pair of doors that slid aside, and he was gesturing them inside.
* * *
Alex warned his people that they would be outnumbered by nearly three to one.
“Perhaps Speaker García has the same plan as us?” Julien said quietly to Alex.
When the doors of the hall slid open, Alex placed a huge smile on his face and announced loudly, “Ah … our guests have arrived. Speaker García, how good of you to come.” In contrast to Alex’s people who wore a collection of colorful clothes, the UE people were either in light brown ship suits, denoting their civilian status, or dark olive uniforms. Ranking personnel were decorated with medallions, sashes, and braid. Alex flashed on images of the Haraken uniforms — simple, elegant designs with fleet patches and rank stars on the collar.
Introductions were limited to Alex’s people and the speaker’s principals. The collection of Earther lieutenants, scientists, and techs wasn
’t introduced. Despite the numbers, Alex’s people sought out their targets as best they could, while servers moved among the hosts and guests offering food and drink, which were politely refused by every Earther.
Julien was a tactical advantage to the Harakens. He avoided conversation, wandering around, monitoring exchanges, and sharing tidbits of gathered information with others to further their line of questioning. In addition to the implant comms he was receiving, Julien utilized his telemetry pickups to read the body language and biorhythms of the Earthers. He shared his readings with his people so that they might better understand the reactions of those they engaged. Everything Julien gathered he relayed to Didier for transfer to the Rêveur’s controller and its extensive crystal storage.
After introductions, Major Barbas wandered the hall, searching for the beautiful woman seen in the vid comm and was overjoyed to find her chatting with Méridien associates. He wasted no time interrupting and asking for an introduction, then cutting her free from the group. His rank and personality ensured that other Earthers would not disturb him while he enjoyed his prize. Miranda Leyton was his dream woman — dark-haired, voluptuous feminine curves, and alluring eyes.
As planned, Z wasn’t present. Miranda was in full control of his kernel, and with her background as an actress, she made extensive use of her skills. She tracked the major’s eyes, and where he looked she reacted — a turn of the hips, a toss of the hair, a deep breath of surprise, and a laugh at something he said. All the major’s external biometric signs — breathing, sweat, dilating eyes, and flaring nostrils — confirmed he was responding appropriately. When Miranda determined the major was suitably enthralled, she pulled up the list of questions Z left for her and began to subtly weave them into their conversation.
Tatia and Alain cornered Captain Lumley, who they found to be congenial, polite — a perfect gentleman. He was also quite astute, picking up on Tatia’s posture, asking her what she did for a living. Tatia kicked herself for not adopting more thoroughly the persona of a carefree traveler. She passed off her straight posture and hands behind her as a means of relieving a sore back, but the look in the captain’s eyes said he wasn’t so easily fooled. Alain was able to adroitly change the conversation, made easier by the captain’s curiosity about the beatific face and charming mannerisms of a man who appeared identical to the guide from the docking bay to the hall. Lumley even glanced around to see if he could spot the previous individual, but the hall’s extensive greenery blocked his view. The conversation drifted toward the history of Earth after the colony ships left, more than a millennium ago.
When Alain asked about the Reunion, specifically its odd design, the captain was happy to discuss the challenges the UE overcame to conquer FTL transit. Tatia intuited where Alain was heading with his questioning, so she signaled Julien to move close and observe the captain. When Alain asked about the Reunion’s design, especially the many ports along the wings’ faces, Julien signaled Alain and Tatia that the man’s biometrics jumped — pulse and glands. They had their answer. The subject was off limits, confirmed by the captain’s stammered response of multiple exit points for exploratory vessels.
Alex and Renée expended little effort engaging Speaker García, who was smitten by Renée from the moment of introduction, taking her hand in his and brushing his lips against her soft skin. Renée refrained from laughing and borrowed scenes from the New Terran romance vids she enjoyed. She complimented the speaker on his gallant ways, and he puffed up in appreciation.
Alex patted his broad chest, saying, “I have to keep feeding this body, Speaker García. If you will excuse me, Ser?” Then Alex wandered off, as if in search of food.
“Is Ser Racine your amour, Ser de Guirnon?” García asked.
“I find him an amusing travel companion,” Renée replied, shrugging her slender shoulders.
“His stature is quite different from yours. Do you come from different worlds?” García asked.
You sly man, Renée thought, crediting the speaker with asking the first investigative question. “I suppose he is different,” Renée said innocently, pausing to stare at Alex’s receding back. “It was a choice of his parents. Who can tell what whims parents have about the children they wish to conceive.”
For the remaining time with the speaker, Renée found she was unable to gain any ground. While she artfully dodged his questions, he did the same to hers. In the end, it was a zero sum gain for both.
Étienne was considering with whom he should speak when he found Zhang Shin standing in front of him. After their introductions, the interrogation ensued — not his, hers. Étienne felt as if he was in a sparring match with his twin and handicapped at that. While Zhang Shin was subtle, she was also relentless. At one point, it occurred to him that if this was to be a match and he was losing while playing defense, then he needed to go on the offense, but he couldn’t find a way to turn the conversation his way.
Étienne’s escort instructor had said, “If you can’t win at your opponent’s game, change the game.” Throughout Shin’s insistent questioning, Étienne noticed she couldn’t keep her eyes off his face. So the next time Shin said something witty to disguise her line of interrogation, Étienne laughed, touched her arm, and whispered his response in her ear. That did it. While Shin was momentarily flustered, Étienne asked her about Earth, telling her that he was anxious to hear about the long-lost home world. After that, every time Shin attempted to gain the upper hand, Étienne used every male advantage he could employ, even once touching her lips with a fingertip, and telling Shin he was entranced by her beautiful mouth.
Alex wandered the hall, seeking a new target, while sampling every hors d'oeuvre tray he passed, but a comm from Julien interrupted his search.
Alex could locate Mickey’s and Pia’s implants but in the mass of people and hanging greenery, he couldn’t see them. Julien caught Alex’s ping of his people’s implants, and added,
Alex spotted a dark-skinned, shaved head towering above the others around him and navigated toward the man. He remembered to adopt a convivial smile and extended bonhomie to everyone he passed — just another contented traveler enjoying a new adventure.
As Olawale Wombo saw the eyes of Mickey and Pia flick to the right, he turned partially around and a huge grin split his face. While he towered a full head above the man approaching, they probably massed about the same kilos. It’s nice not to be the only heavyweight in the hall, Wombo thought.
“Hello, Ser Racine,” Wombo said. “I was hoping to get an opportunity to speak with you.” He extended a huge hand and enjoyed one of the first equal handshakes he had received in a long while.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Administrator Wombo,” Alex said, looking up into the man’s smiling, dark face.
While Alex and Olawale exchanged pleasantries, Alex signaled Mickey and Pia to excuse themselves for food and drink. Once the pair left, Olawale smiled broadly at Alex. “Have you discovered what you came to find out, Ser Racine?”
Alex was about to act the part of the confused good fellow when something in Olawale’s open expression warned him off. His question appeared to be more an invitation than a challenge.
“Let me be direct, Ser Racine,” Olawale said, glancing around him to check for eavesdroppers. “Your charade of happy travelers all originating from this world is wafer thin. While the speaker doesn’t know who you are, he is suspicious of your motives and is aware that ships leave this system and travel in multiple directions. He knows there are many other inhabited worlds or colonies out there. And you, Ser … you are exposed by the mannerisms of you
r own people. They curve around you like planets circle a star. It’s obvious that you’re a leader of some repute and renown among your people. If I can see that, then the speaker and the major can see that as well. Be careful, Ser,” Olawale managed to say before Speaker García and Renée strolled up to join them.
The ensuing conversation became a dance of subterfuge as each side tried to discover the other’s secrets. The speaker, who was inadvertently referred to by one of the young lieutenants as the UE mission commander, was cordial but immediately pressed Alex for answers about his size. Alex explained that a second colony was established on a heavy world, and many partners designed their children to live comfortably on that world.
“So your people do have more than one system,” García challenged.
“Of course, Speaker García. Did someone say something different?” Alex asked.
“No, no one said so, Ser Racine. We’ve received so little information. You’re the first people who have deigned to meet and speak with us. As fellow humans, I find that discouraging, even strange. It makes one wonder what you people are hiding,” García said.
Alex watched the speaker’s cold, gray eyes fix on him, waiting to detect a lie. “What a strange concept, Speaker García. You believe we’re hiding something merely because you’re not welcomed with open arms. I understand your ship came into the system without invitation. That, in itself, is certainly an uncivil gesture. Your paranoia makes one wonder what sort of culture exists back on Earth,” Alex challenged in return. He hoped to provoke the speaker, but the man simply produced a canine grin, as if he discovered an equal in strength or confirmed a suspicion he held.
