We garnered a few odd looks from the locals, but for the most part the people in the shops seemed to be used to foreigners visiting. Ell purchased enough clothes of varying sizes to keep Echo dressed for the next year at least. At the cobbler she purchased all of the readymade items in the three smallest sizes for Echo. She found a pair of soft leather slippers for herself as well.
Aria took us to a part of town that I hadn't been to the day before. Near the blacksmith was a weapon-smith. Most of the items were bladed but the shop also offered some explosives. It wasn’t surprising that the explosives caught Aria's attention.
After we had finished shopping, Aria insisted that we stop at a pub for a meal. She said that Gabriel had gone to a different town so we should eat before going back. Ell ordered food for the men to be delivered to the ship as well. I didn't think that I had ever spent a day like this before, and when I mentioned that to the others they both shared the same sentiment. None of us had close friendships with other women before. All of us had been isolated in our own ways.
I was looking forward to building up true friendships with my new shipmates. When we returned to the Waylay we found all of the men working on the library. They had set Echo up in a child's size chair and she was happily babbling instructions and the men were playing along as if she was directing the work they were doing.
"If you all think you can finish without your conductor, I'll take her to get ready for bed". I told the men. I was proud that none of them acted bashful at being caught playing with a baby in such a silly fashion. It showed that none of them would put their pride before a child's happiness. After all of the heartbreak we had gone through, I was starting to feel that this really was a home.
Neil Allister Journal Entry Two -Entry Date: Unknown-
Count Mondragon's dealings in the slave trade were not his only venture... he also sought to acquire Teragene which was a much rarer item than a Hybrid ever could be, as it could be used to terraform entire planets. I also learned that it was used on Old Earth in creating the Hybrid race, but that since the vanishing of Old Earth, the knowledge of how to manipulate Teragene in that way had been lost. Yet, I found its dynamic uses in human physiology to be fascinating.
At night I was assigned a strict regimen of homework, mainly mathematics, history, and courses in public speaking. In my studies I became an ace with complex formulas for business dealings, well versed in the founding of Fell and what was known of Old Earth, and a master of speech craft by the age of seventeen.
Count Mondragon noticed my skills and was impressed with how I could charm a servant in the kitchen, a tradesman on the space docks, or a patrician at a public event. So the Count decided to use me for his entertainment at lavish dinner parties, inviting Barons, Marques, and other nobles alike. I found out there were jokes made at my expense behind my back, and though I could take no action at that time, I carefully kept note of each noble's name, rank, and what they said.
By the time I was nineteen the Count was in his sixties and his eyesight was failing. Even though there were many advances in technology to afford him better perception, he declined as he was "too used to the old ways" relying on old round spectacles instead.
He had no living heir as his wife had died years before in the south wing of the estate, an area that had somewhat fallen into disrepair since he never would visit that area. He also never remarried or took a mistress that produced an heir. As my talent in trade increased the old Counts’ holdings considerably, his esteem of me grew also. Still, he was a distant and authoritative figure in my life.
Near my twentieth birthday, a servant came to me and said that an old man who looked like a beggar came to the back door. I instructed him to give the man bread and water, and then turn him away as was our custom, but the servant said that the old man claimed to know me. Suddenly a feeling of dread came over me that I had not felt in almost seven years. Could it be him? That man who rejoiced at my family’s suffering!
I came to the door and there he was, the same bastard that left me by the gate all those years ago. He was older, looking like he had been in and out of trouble with the law, in fights, or worse, standing there before me.
Feeling ashamed of my family connection, I instructed all the servants to leave the area.
My father then looked me up and down, saying with sarcastic pride "Aren't we a little gent, coming up in the world?" I firmly told him, it was impossible to advance far beyond one's class due to Fell’s laws. He then let me know that I couldn't speak to him that way and demanded that I give him a place to stay, food, and drink.
I was ready to turn him away, but to my amazement, I now saw Philip who looked to have been tailing my father. He approached cautiously, stepping out from behind an alcove in the street. "Hey there, Neil, why don’t you put up the old man and me for a while?" Feeling an odd loyalty towards Philip, I knew that I could hide them in the south wing and that Philip could be stealthy enough to get supplies whenever they needed them. I hesitated, but then agreed to harbor them.
I instructed them to follow me. We walked through the kitchen, up some stairs to a bookshelf that I had discovered two years prior; it was a hidden passage. I pulled one of the books and we went through several long corridors, up a few floors until we reached the south wing. I was careful that none of the other servants observed the old beggar and young vagrant come into the estate. I showed them their new quarters, the old Countess' room. It was regal, yet full of dust and spider webs. The old man complained, but my brother remarked that it would be the perfect hideout. I told Philip to take care of father and retrace his steps to the kitchen between twelve and two o’clock to secretly get sustenance. I would make sure to get up early enough to restock everything so that no one would know what was taken.
The south wing was forbidden to servants and was far enough from the rest of the estate that an antique clock could be smashed and no one would ever hear it. Conversely, I knew that if they were heard, it was rumored that the south wing was haunted, which would deter anyone from investigating the area.
After they were situated in their quarters I came back the way I had come, closing the bookcase behind me. I went about my duties, went to my quarters at the end of the day, not returning to the south wing, and slept soundly.
Weeks later, Philip snuck into my room above the kitchen, just as he had done when I was a child. He woke me and explained that we needed to talk. He explained that he found out from father what had happened to Lydia. She had been sold to a Baron, but it had to be done in secret for the noble to maintain his reputation. He said that father received a letter from the Baron's secretary, explaining the girl didn't fulfill her service to the Baron and she was then banished from his estate, after being branded on her shoulder as a Deviant.
I was revolted by the man that I used to call father. How could he have done such a thing? Was Lydia okay or had she been treated fairly? Yet at the same time, I had mixed feelings, even a new found resentment and anger towards her. I knew what had happened to her wasn't right, but I was also purchased by a noble, sold against my will, yet I had managed to fulfill and excel at all of my duties. How could she have squandered her opportunity for a better life? How could she bring even more dishonor on our family? And worse, why had she never even tried to contact me? Yet, I still remembered her face, how she looked when she would comfort and protect me. At least in those memories I could find peace.
I thanked Philip for all he had done but told him that I never wanted to see or speak with father again. Philip had a mischievous look in his eye and said "Oh Neil, I'll make sure of it." I told him not to do anything foolish, but to just make sure they left when they could and remove father from my life. He agreed, and then snuck back to the south wing. Putting my past and the south wing out of my mind, I became consumed with work.
The Planet of Fell -Day 346- Bree Reiter
No one paid any notice as I crept from the dirty little house in one of the poorest districts of Fell's Capital, Port
Arthur. It wasn't in anyone's best interests to notice what happened here. The sign boldly proclaimed it was a "safe haven", but no one was foolish enough to believe it, especially those within its walls.
I had been sent there at nine, when my parents died. For a time, I had been protected from some of the worst abuse because I looked much smaller and younger than my nine years. Now I was almost of age and was expected to accept the assignment that had been chosen for me. I didn't like the options that I was presented with. There wasn't much a penniless girl could do on Fell without a sponsor.
It was a terrible risk to run away, but I would be of age in three days. I had overheard "The Ferret," Augustus Young, asking about my age, saying that looking younger could be profitable. If the cartel caught me, my fate would be the same. But, being caught by the City Watch was another matter. Attempting to leave Fell without documentation was a punishable offense. The only life available to me here, was one I knew I didn't want, so there really was only one choice. Forcing myself to take slow, deep breaths, I focused on making my way to the dock district.
The plan had come to me when the Haven was given new uniforms for our assignments. The old pair of coveralls with the 'Expedient Delivery' logo on them was to be replaced. I hid away a pair. They were old, and much too big, but they inspired me. Tonight I wore them over what few layers of clothing I had, with the pockets full of nutritionals. The docks weren't far and I was fortunate a fog thicker than normal had rolled in from the Fionuir Sea, the streets were quiet. Even the sounds of ships as they lifted off were muffled. I hoped to find a ship that was expecting someone from Expedient to board. I could then find a small corner to hide myself in.
Reaching the fenced perimeter of the space dock, I searched for an opening. With what I knew of the cartels and Fell’s pervasive corruption, I knew there would have to be a clandestine way in.
Only two of the ships that I could make out had very visible markings. Mondragon Industries, was emblazoned along the boxy exterior of the closest one. It wasn't the fastest looking ship, but I had heard of the company which dealt in high end goods. The other ship belonged to the Obsidian Consortium, which was rumored to deal in human trafficking. They both had dealings off world. As I inched closer, I attempted to stay behind the freight boxes stacked haphazardly around the landing pads, avoiding the illumination of the yellow fog lamps. The Mondragon ship's cargo hatch was closed, but a smaller entry hatch stood open beside it. Only one guard appeared to be on duty. The Obsidian ship was completely closed from what I could see.
I grabbed a few of the boxes I was behind and started towards the ships. "Keep breathing, be calm."
Though the Mondragon security guard appeared to be asleep, he spotted me and reacted as I came closer. "Where you been?" He demanded. "Been waiting. You're late. Ferret won't be happy 'bout this."
I found it odd that the guard had some kind of protective gear covering his whole body with a breathing mask on, but I quickly focused on my response to his question, "Just a small delay, the Watch rotation changed." I replied, grasping the first excuse that came to mind. "I have no desire to end in Gallworth." I added, hoping to reinforce his belief that I was working for the Ferret’s cartel.
"Ah right then. Just hurry, ship's leaving soon. The sample's in an alcove to starboard. Slip out this hatch with it. Once the takeoff starts you're stuck in the cargo hold." He said as he disappeared into the fog. Ferret would not be pleased, that much was correct, but not for the reasons the guard assumed.
Quickly getting on board, I was shocked at how full the cargo area was, crates stacked high above me and with barely room to squeeze between. Some of the crates were much larger than the others and had a strange symbol on them. It was two circles, one smaller circle within another larger circle. Each circle looked to be a double helix. Completing the symbol was a symmetrical cross, which went through the smaller circle, ending at the larger one. I wondered what strange or important cargo must be in those crates.
The way the freight in this ship was secured though, even if I had come to steal something, it would not be an easy task. Everything was locked down pretty tight, except for some of the small boxes which looked to hold less significant items. It seemed that the only way to access the cargo hold was from the outside of the ship, as the pilot must have been in a separate cockpit and crew section on the tip of the freighter. It didn’t seem like anyone would be searching the hold until we reached our destination. Yet, I still wondered why that guard had so much gear on, but there was no turning back now.
Staying to the edges of the hold, I found the alcove not far from the main entry. As the guard said, a small crate sat there, I set the boxes I was carrying next to it. My attention was drawn to an access panel, which I found opened into a small crawl space. Hopefully it would allow for as quick an exit as I had made an entrance. Continuing down the narrow space looking for a small area to hide in, I heard something. If the panel behind me was opened, I would be discovered, possibly accused of helping the guard, so I increased my pace. I spotted a narrow opening to my left and slipped inside, straining to hear.
Some sense told me I wasn't alone, but I heard nothing. Risking a look into the passage, I saw no one. "Breathe and be calm." I told myself again, this time out loud.
"So what are you running from?" Came a voice from the dark behind me.
New Ireland -Day 354- Jason Singer
The first two days on New Ireland had the whole crew feeling more comfortable with each other. Being cooped up with the same people day in and day out wasn't good for even the most compatible of personalities. Being able to experience something new with someone can draw you together better than being locked up with them.
The Waylay was empty of everyone except for Ell and me. They had all decided to visit one of the planet’s few terraforming quirks. After Alpha Sector was colonized, New Ireland had been one of the early successes of the total planet terraforming trials within Beta Sector. That was one of the reasons that the founders had put such strict usage laws into place. The terraforming process had created a formation offshore of one of the local beaches that had begun to be called the ‘fairy palace.’ It was a favorite spot for tourists to visit, from the greenish black sand beach you could look out to the horizon and see a crystal formation jutting out of the blue ocean and stretching into the sky. The fairy palace was aptly named. The large black obsidian base had multiple clear crystal spires reaching varying heights, and the crystal tended to reflect the colors around it. Rumor had it, there were traces of raw Teragene ore within the formation, which must have been why the crystal gave off an otherworldly glow. It was a breathtaking sight especially at sunset. I planned on taking Ell the next evening to watch it with her.
Even though New Ireland was relatively safe I didn't like the idea of leaving the ship totally unattended. Because Ell and I stayed aboard, it gave us a good opportunity to review the prospective buyers for the Teragene. Ell had it narrowed down to two groups. The first was a trading company that tended to be competition against AlliedCorp, and the second was a coalition of geologists and homesteaders that wanted to move farther out into the universe. We were both leaning towards the coalition. It felt like the safest way to guarantee that the Teragene wasn't used unwisely. People forget the lessons that history had taught over and over again; too many people don’t respect the power which Teragene possesses. While it is very dynamic, it is also highly volatile.
After discussing it further we settled on the coalition. We arranged for them to come meet us here on New Ireland within the week. For safety purposes we also offered them a price cut as long as they kept the sale strictly confidential from anyone not traveling with them, at least until after the Teragene was in their possession. We pointed out that if anyone knew what they were transporting, it would put a target on their backs as well.
With that handled and our still having the peace and quiet of the ship to ourselves, I decided that it was a good time for me to tie the knot with Ell literal
ly. It was the custom here for marriage mates to wear the cords from their hand-fasting ceremony to show that they were wed. I purchased a silken blue cord the day before, and commissioned a set of matching arm cuffs that would cover and protect the cord for years to come.
On my first visit to New Ireland I had purchased a book on their customs and history. It had highlighted the fact that a couple wearing the cords was a sign of their continually strengthening the bond between them. It was a sign that their life together was a choice that they would continue to make. When I had read that passage to Ell it had been the closest we had come to a discussion about our marriage before she had been onboard. She had said that it was a beautiful sentiment.
When I walked into our quarters with the blue cord in hand the first thing she said was, "It's beautiful!" I should have known that she would know what it was for right away.
"I figured that it would match your eyes and that the blue embrace wouldn't have too much effect on it." I told her in way of explanation.
She gifted me with a sweet smile and a soft kiss for my thoughtfulness.
"I don't know how to tie my side." She said, with concern. One part of the custom was that each person tied their own side to symbolize that it was their choice to enter into the marriage.
Alpha Dawn: Book one of the Teragene Chronicles Page 11
