Devon dropped back in his wheeled stool with a whoop, rolling away a few feet before using his feet to pull himself back over. Raevyn turned fully toward us, a tired expression on her face.
“What, Marcus?” she asked heavily.
“The alien girl has something she wishes to say,” he announced cheerfully.
Raevyn seemed to sigh, and then looked over at me expectantly. “Yes?”
It occurred to me to lie yet again, even though I had just told Sage the truth less than a minute ago. And yet, I couldn’t justify it. Odd as these people were, they were also the only contact with another civilization that my country had ever had. It was exhilarating, as well as terrifying, but more than that, it meant that we could start forming a relationship with this civilization. We could learn each other’s cultures… histories… maybe even piece together whatever information they knew about the Fall.
“No one is coming for me,” I finally said, just as Devon stepped out farther from behind Raevyn. “I don’t tell you that as permission to keep me or my people here, just that you don’t have to worry about any more of us. I could’ve lied, maybe used it as a threat to get us out of here.”
“Why didn’t you?” asked Devon sharply, his long arms folding across his chest.
“Because I think there is more that we could offer each other than that. I mean, I’m only speaking for myself, but I’m sure my people would love to meet your people.”
“Come here?” Raevyn exclaimed, her eyes going wide. “Oh no, we don’t have the resources to support any more mouths.”
“Oh yes, that will certainly happen,” added Sage, his sarcasm a touch more somber than before. He carefully adjusted a few instruments on a nearby tray, his mouth turned downward a little bit before ticking back up slightly. “You should just get back in your air canoe, and float away.” He reached up abruptly, and I ducked down reflexively, watching as he tore off several sheets of the same kind as the one now encasing my arm.
He dropped them in a white bag, as well as the scanner and a few more items. “Are you going somewhere?” I asked.
A dimple appeared in his cheek as he smiled, and he nodded. “I am indeed. We have finally heard from the mysterious Scipio. He’s allowing me to go tend to your friends!”
I stared as he hopped around to fully face me, his arms spread wide and an enthusiastic grin on his face. He seemed to be waiting for something, but I didn’t move, uncertain as to what was even happening. After several long heartbeats, he sort of… deflated, although he still stood tall and proud. But there was a disappointment in the lowering of his hands and the slow deconstruction of his smile.
“Thank you?” I said, after a moment, looking at Raevyn and Devon for any sign of… something. That this was normal? I wasn’t even really sure at that point.
“You’re quite welcome, Miss Bates,” he rumbled almost petulantly. “But the time for hugs has ended.”
“I’m so—”
“I said good day, Miss!” His tone was curt, as were his motions as he snatched up the bag and marched off, placing what I assumed was an invisible hat on his head. Devon pushed the door open for him as he strutted by, and then he disappeared, Devon pulling the door closed behind him.
“There is something very terrifying about that man,” breathed MacGillus, and Jathem reached over and smacked him lightly on the back of the head.
“Don’t say that about him,” the Knight Elite chided softly.
“You really shouldn’t,” added Raevyn. “You try getting to be ninety-two years old without having a few screws knocked out.”
“He’s ninety-two years old?” I exclaimed, my breath escaping from me. “Seriously?”
Raevyn turned, her face immediately turning red as she realized her mistake. She crossed her arms and gave an imperious shake of her head. “We are going to have to take extra care with what we say in front of her from here on out.”
“Indeed.” Devon’s eyes had returned to me, and I shifted, suddenly feeling self-conscious. The gun was still in my hand, although it was resting in my lap now. I had stopped pointing it long ago, but the urge was back. “Knight Elite Dreyfuss, what is your assessment of Miss Bates?”
“Sir?” Jathem seemed surprised, and Devon turned, his hands going behind his back and clasping at the wrist.
“Not the report. I understand the question is vague. But just… her. What can you tell me through observation?”
“She’s curious, sir,” Jathem said without hesitation. “But she talked first, even after I had zapped her.”
“She also stopped me from going over the edge, sir,” added MacGillus. “I was racing right for her, and she could’ve let me fall, but she didn’t.”
“She wanted to know how to avoid any offense in her actions and deeds,” Jathem cut back in smoothly over MacGillus. “She kept up with us on the stairs for a while, but she must have been in a lot of pain and clearly exhausted, which means she’s strong-willed.” I yawned at that, and then smiled at him, grateful he had noticed.
“She’d make a good knight,” finished MacGillus, his eyes darting over to look at me.
I watched the exchange with no small amount of amusement. It was clear they were new to working together, but it reminded me a little bit of when Viggo and Owen bickered. It wasn’t exactly the same dynamic, but the feeling was still there, and it was enough to send a pang of longing through me.
“Did she use the thing in her hand at all?” Devon prompted. “Can you even be sure it’s a weapon?”
“What are you getting at, Devon?” asked Raevyn, leaning a hip against a wall and crossing her arms.
“There doesn’t appear to be any power source on that thing. For all we know she’s wielding a tool, Raevyn, and trying to keep the threat on us. We can seize her, and her weapon, and take that flying thing apart. And we should. Just see reason here.”
“Devon, the girl has given us no cause to disbelieve her. She has actively reacted to threats to her person, and even then has chosen talk over violence. And your obsession with that flying contraption is just from being cog-bred. You know that…”
She trailed off, a frown passing over her face. I watched as the four other humans opposite me all went still, as if listening very intently. One by one their eyes dragged over to me, and there was suddenly caution there, and, clearly, in Devon’s, downright anger.
Before any one of them could take a step toward me, I raised the gun toward the ceiling and squeezed the trigger.
The gunshot sounded loud in the small room, but I was ready for it, as I was for the small spark the bullet made as it hit the ceiling. The remains of the slug fell down with a sharp ding, and I lowered the gun to aim it at the others, who were flinching, their hands cupped over their ears. Devon’s baton was in his hand, even cupped over his ears, while Raevyn was looking at me with alarm. Jathem openly gaped at me, his eyes wide, while MacGillus, sadly, cowered behind him, looking shaken and downright terrified.
I waited until they were looking at me, until they slowly lowered their hands, patiently counting the seconds in my head. At thirty-two they were ready to listen, so I spoke.
“This is a gun. I don’t know all the components on it, but I do know that inside is a ball of metal sitting on top of a small amount of explosive powder. When I fire it,” I gestured gently with the gun and was pleased to see them all flinch, “the explosion makes the piece of metal—we call it a bullet—move faster than sound, at speeds high enough to tear through human flesh and bone. Some guns are weaker, and that means the bullets might get stuck inside a person, sometimes even bouncing around and causing multiple injuries. Others are so powerful that they can leave a hole in you, sometimes so big that you can see right through it.”
I scanned the room as I spoke, keeping my tone clinical and light. “I have seen, firsthand, the damage these things can cause, and I know all too well what it feels like to be the one who has caused it.” I cleared my throat, suddenly dry-mouthed, and Raevyn slowly cross
ed her arms over her chest.
“What do you want?” she asked carefully.
“What I want is to know what message you just received that seems to have swayed your opinions against me. I guarantee if something is going on at my gyroship, then I have no previous knowledge of it. To be honest, those women and I aren’t even that close.”
“You aren’t?” asked Devon, his eyes blazing with curiosity and malice, and I nodded.
“We really aren’t. That being said, if you try to hold me accountable for something they did, I will be forced to defend myself.”
“You’ll never make it out of here in once piece,” sneered Devon.
I let him have a moment in which he felt he had the upper hand, and then smiled. “Maybe not, but I’d kill all of you in the attempt, and at least… as many more as I could before you stopped me. And I think we can all agree that would be less than enjoyable for all of us—and much harder for your people to cover up from the rest of the citizens. So, talk to me. What did they do?”
Raevyn exchanged looks with Devon, and then uncrossed her arms, pulling the edge of her shirt down over her pants. “CS Sage just informed us that another one of those crafts is landing,” she said frostily. “It has the same markings as yours, and the design is identical.”
My mind immediately went to Viggo, but with a heavy heart I dismissed the thought. The only heloship my group had was almost out of fuel. I knew he was capable of a lot of things, but manifesting fuel in the middle of a war-torn city was certainly a pipe dream. He would come for me, I knew that… but I also knew there were too many obstacles in the way for him to do it so quickly.
I realized that meant the heloship had to belong to Elena’s people. She had ordered them after us—someone had spotted us as we had flown over Matrus! She must’ve thought her sister and Desmond were still onboard.
Or somehow known I was. I shuddered, and lowered the gun slightly. “Listen, the ship after us, it is our people but it’s not… they aren’t my people. I’m from a neighboring country, and I’m falsely accused of a litany of crimes, but really, I discovered a plot…”
I trailed off and sighed, running my other hand over my hair, feeling the odd plastic patch breaking up the growth of hair. “Look, we have problems where I’m from. We’re embroiled in a war, and that ship outside is the side that is winning. Only their leader…” I gave a dry chuckle as I realized this was pointless. Nothing I could say was going to come out right, and in fact, saying anything else was probably going to make me look like a criminal.
I sighed and leaned back against the wall, thinking. After a moment, I just shook my head. “Look, all I can say is that I mean you no harm. The leader of the other faction, on the other hand—Queen Elena—she’s dangerous.”
“You just fired a bullet at us,” Devon pointed out.
“Not at you, at the ceiling. Believe me, if I had wanted to hit you, I would have. But I really don’t want any harm to come to you or your people. And I also really enjoy being alive. I have a future I’d like to get to with a man I love. If you give me to them, you’ll be guaranteeing two things. The first is my death, which I get isn’t really your responsibility, but it would still be a pretty messed up move for you to let them kill me while I am in your custody.”
“What’s the second, Miss Bates?” Raevyn asked, pushing off of the wall.
“That Elena will have a way in, and she’ll use it. She’s devious, a manipulator, and she cares no more for your people than she does for our own. You would represent another thing to control. She might promise not to come back, but she would.”
Raevyn absorbed that and looked at Devon, her eyes wary. He too was considering my words, and I felt a burst of hope. If I could convince them that Elena was the bad guy, then maybe I could just….
Do nothing and stay here forever. Unless these people were willing to kill for me, and even then that wouldn’t sit right with me. Not to mention, I couldn’t pilot my way back home, even if they gave me the new ship.
The door clanged open, and I jumped, my gun immediately going up toward the sound. CS Sage re-entered, a broad smile reestablished on his face. “Alien girl, I do believe we found you an alien boy!”
My heart froze. “Viggo?”
Yes, it was none other than my fiancé standing there, his own gun clasped easily in his hand, his eyes mirroring my surprise and radiating concern for my well-being. I felt myself melt a little as he ducked down to step into the room, feeling the impulse to leap into his arm and kiss him until he understood how relieved I was to see him. How much I had missed him, and…
“Hey, Violet,” he said softly. “Want to introduce me to your new friends?”
The elation I felt plummeted as five additional pairs of eyes turned toward me expectantly, and I realized I had just unintentionally lied to them all.
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11
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VIGGO
The sudden change in Violet’s face threw me. Whatever I had walked in on, she was decidedly irritated with it—and clearly tired. But given the two Matrian wardens I had found working on the moderately damaged heloship...
My thoughts faltered. This was all too surreal. When, maybe as a child, I had imagined or hoped there were other people out there in the world, I had always pictured them as a kind of group of nomads, people just scraping by in The Outlands, living primitively, away from the only civilization that had managed to grow in these terrible times. Maybe they would be mutants, barely recognizable as human. I’d never for a moment imagined these hopes were real, or that they could have technology equal to or even superior to our own—yet here I stood in what was clearly a very advanced medical bay, designed and run by other people. Not Matrian or Patrian, but still people, with the same general features, and hopefully emotions, that made us all human. It was incomprehensible, yet here we were, face to face with a different culture. My elation was only matched by a strong urge for caution, and, judging from Violet’s expression, there was definitely something to be cautious about.
I took a step into the room as Violet frowned and ran a hand over her head. I caught the motion out of the corner of my eye, my focus on sizing up any potential foes, honing in on the tall, lanky man wearing crimson. He stared right back at me, clearly doing the same thing. He maybe had an inch of height on me, but other than that, we were pretty evenly matched.
Violet seemed to recover from her shock, pointing out each of the individuals as she introduced me to them. “HF Hart, CS Sage, KC Alexander, and, uh, K MacGillus—this is Viggo Croft, my fiancé. I…” She stumbled on her words, her voice wavering between awestruck and annoyed. “I had no idea he would be able to come after me this quickly. I apologize. I didn’t mean to lie to you. I truly didn’t think it was possible, given the state we were in when this little adventure began. I was terrified that Elen—that our enemies had found this place. Please believe me when I say that this is not an advance party or even a scouting one.”
I keyed in to what Violet was saying, keeping my eyes on the three individuals before me. The older gentleman, CS Sage, gave me a broad smile, his blue eyes twinkling. “Is that true, alien boy?”
My eyebrow raised, and I nodded. “It is,” I replied.
“So you’re just here on a rescue mission?” asked the woman, her eyes narrowed, not bothering to hide the mistrust in her face. “And we’re just supposed to believe that?”
“Look, I have been as honest with you as I could under the conditions,” said Violet tiredly. “You can tell our ship is damaged, and two of the three people I arrived with were severely injured in the altercation that took place. CS Sage, am I lying?”
“No,” the older man said brightly. “But then again, you’re not exactly being truthful. The big man in the back of your heloship has some decidedly interesting mutations in his genetic code, and a severe synaptic imbalance in his brain chemistry. I’m curious, are there more like him where you come from?”
Alarm
washed over me, and I looked at Violet, trusting her to take the lead on this, as she had clearly spent more time with the strangers and developed a rapport with them, or at least a semblance of one. I was beginning to realize, from how cagey the group was, that this situation could have devastating consequences if handled poorly.
I needn’t have worried about Violet’s reaction. She arched an eyebrow at CS Sage, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Much like the mysterious Scipio, this man must remain a mystery.”
CS Sage chuckled and then looked at the other two. “I like her. My vote is placed. If you’ll excuse me? Her pi-lot”—he pronounced “pilot” as two words, as if he’d never heard it before—“is very unwell.”
Violet shifted, and I turned to see the flash of concern on her face. “Can you help her?” she asked.
“I can and I will, young alien lady. Never fear, m’dear.” CS Sage tipped an imaginary cap at her and then swept back out of the room.
“Wait! What vote?” Violet called, but the only sound that carried through the swinging door was an amused chuckle.
“We’ve decided that you should meet the council,” said Raevyn, as though some signal had been given, though I could see no sign that she had come by new information. “And give them a full debriefing. If you’ll come with us?”
I absorbed that knowledge, suddenly excited by the prospect of meeting with the leaders of this place. This was an entirely new civilization—a conversation with them was a fantastical offer. If it went well, we could come back and maybe start a trade, share histories, learn and grow from each other’s inventions… My mind was whirling so fast with the thousands of exciting possibilities about a potential sister city that Violet’s reply completely took me off guard.
“No, I’m sorry, we must decline.” I cast a look at her, and her gray eyes flicked up to mine, meeting them for half a second. I kept my face blank, concealing the stab of disappointment that went through me, surprisingly strong, at the news. Still, if Violet was saying no, there was a reason. “We need to get back to our ship. Your council can meet us up there, but I said I had an hour, and I meant an hour.”
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