One of the misfits gave Caleb a pole and within two casts, he had a fish on. After that, it was every cast. The mob was amazed, so Caleb showed them what he was doing, demonstrating endless patience as if teaching children how to fish. Bronwyn beamed at Caleb for being so kind to her new friends.
“We’re all in this life together. Might as well make the best of it,” he told her when he turned Bronwyn’s bunch loose to try their new techniques. He leaned in to make corrections, cheer with the others whenever a fish was caught, and revel in the joy of fishing. Some might have said that fishing wasn’t about catching fish, but Caleb would call that absurd. It was always about catching fish, but if you could have fun while doing it? Then that was what made life worth living. He smiled at his daughter, and Micah smiled in return. He couldn’t wait to go back to Trent, because Mattie would be there to welcome him home.
Leaving Atlantis Behind
Micah wasn’t pleased that Holly was continuing the disciplined schedule that Gloria had established for the people of Atlantis. She and Braden both wanted to see the people become free, but that would require a great deal of guidance, and Braden and Micah were leaving and couldn’t be there to lead the new community. Their children were at New Sanctuary, and they wanted to go home.
They stayed for ten more turns, until every single person from White Beach was revived. They found them places to stay in Atlantis. None of them had bad memories of Atlantis since they’d been unconscious the entire time they’d been at the bottom of the ocean. They all agreed to stay, at least temporarily, to help the Atlanteans build a life. The tunnel to the island was opened for anyone to use. People started making daily trips upstairs to get sun, swim in the ocean, be outside. Braden put the laboratory off limits with the help of a Maintenance Bot to weld the access doors shut. Then Micah used the powers of the President to prohibit any Bots from assisting in opening the welded doors.
Braden tried one more time to find his blasters, but the underground complex was too creepy for him. He agreed with sealing it and had Holly cut the power. It would become a tomb, its secrets buried with it.
The ancients’ vehicles, the tractors that traveled on the bottom of the ocean, had a special dock on the island. The entrance to it had been hidden, but Holly quickly uncovered it and made it available to the companions.
It was on this expedition that Braden and the monkeys got into it. They taunted him, but it escalated as soon as Braden threw the first rock. He realized his mistake when monkeys appeared on every branch and started throwing whatever they had at hand. Much of it was their own feces. Braden jumped into the surf on his way back to the ship and refused to talk about it. He stayed on board the last two days while Micah and Caleb wrapped things up down below.
Ferrer and Brigitte were ecstatic to have everyone back and even noted that the heavily scarred Treetis was much calmer, even pleasant to be around. The scientists hadn’t realized that the others had left, even though they’d been told. They set up shop and would stay aboard after the others disembarked at White Beach.
“So we’re going to have to add this place to the route? Come back here often enough to make sure they are still on track?” Braden asked rhetorically.
“This falls under the President’s dominion, so yes, we shall grace them with our presence at regular intervals,” Micah said with her nose in the air. Braden elbowed her in the stomach, just enough to let her know he was serious. They watched the sunset from the balcony of the third deck in the sail. A crowd of misshapen creatures waved vigorously from the shore. With them were a number of residents formerly of White Beach and even a couple people who’d been grown in the undersea lab. Together, they made up the population of the new outpost called Atlantis.
White Beach
Holly was happy to inform them that with the tide and good weather, it would take less than a day to sail to the cove north of White Beach.
“Make it so, Holly!” Braden replied happily. The AI was happy using the ship’s communication system to carry on conversations since Braden no longer had his neural implant. The Med Lab on the Warden was not equipped for that operation, so they used the workaround. Braden was surprised that he looked forward to getting his implant reinstalled. Since they’d given in to Old Tech and with the impending revelation to all the villagers in the south, and then to everyone on Vii, he no longer forestalled any conversations about Old Tech.
He surrendered completely. Braden looked forward to riding in the hover car. He’d had fun driving the one on the Traveler and suspected he could be a menace to all the Free Traders if he was allowed to drive around at will.
“We’re not going to drive it any more than we have to,” Micah interjected. “Emergency use only. We are not going to show up at a village in a hover car and then tell them, oh by the way, there’s Old Tech, but we have it and you don’t! Put on your Free Trader hat and tell me how well you think that would go down?”
Braden made a face at his partner. “Like crap. We’d probably get stoned to death. It’d be the monkeys all over again.” She raised her eyebrows at him. “That’s why I need you by my side, lover.” He smiled to take the sting out of her rebuke. They’d get an Old Tech wagon, though, and ride in style, bring the kids, start their vacation. Maybe they could even take a short trip on the Warden, take Ax and ‘Tesh to sea, show them what it’s like to travel in style.”
“What is wrong with you?” Micah asked suddenly. “We don’t need them warped more than they are already!”
“Hey, are you going to beat him up?” Caleb asked as he watched his daughter and Braden verbally and mentally spar. He couldn’t keep up with the younger crowd.
“No!” she said angrily.
“Then come here. I need your help,” Caleb waved at them from the main deck.
“This isn’t over!” Micah declared.
“What did I do?” Braden replied, louder than intended. She tried to storm away, but he caught her before she could open the door. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed her against the clear pane as he nibbled on her neck. She fought back for only a heartbeat before she leaned into him, feeling the warmth of her partner’s body. She opened her eyes to see Bronwyn staring at her curiously from the other side of the door.
“Braden,” she whispered. “Stop, please.”
“Oh, Micah, just when things were starting to get interesting,” he whined, until he saw Bronwyn, then let go and casually opened the door as if nothing was going on. Micah walked past without looking at the teenager.
Bronwyn waited until they both walked past before speaking out loud. “I need a partner to do that with,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Run!” Braden shouted and they both launched themselves down the stairs and outside. Once there, they stopped and looked at each other in shock. Bronwyn waved at them from the deck outside the galley. Braden waved back before holding his hands up.
“That’s your department,” he said as he started whistling and walking toward the well deck where Caleb was fishing. Micah looked up at Bronwyn, who smiled innocently back. Micah realized that she was less than seven turns older than the teenager. It was about that time.
‘What would the Queen think, having to share you with another, or Zeeka or any of the others? How about a ‘cat?’ Micah said in her thought voice as she ambled toward her father.
‘I’ll have to talk with her about it, but I have been giving it serious consideration,’ the girl said, sounding much more mature than her physical age suggested.
‘You do that, and we’ll revisit the issue then. You know that we won’t be happy with anyone who isn’t of pure-heart and that means you’ll need a ‘cat by your side,’ Micah replied.
‘I’ve been talking with Treetis and I think we’re close to an arrangement. I hope you and Braden don’t mind. The Prince and Fealona have both expressed their approval. In any case, Caleb is waiting for you and for what he wants, I better come down, too.’ Bronwyn waved as she returned to the galley on her way to j
oin them at the well deck.
Micah stood dumbfounded. When she was close enough to Braden and Caleb, she couldn’t contain herself. “Bronwyn, Treetis, and some young boy to be named in the future.”
Braden had no answer, so he resorted to pushing his partner’s buttons. “I know,” was all he said.
“How in the crap did you know and didn’t tell me?” She moved closer to him.
“I’m kidding. You should know me better than that. I had no idea, but it’s not quite our choice, is it? We have the entirety of the Vii’s intelligent species looking after her. I think she’ll be okay. And with that scar on Treetis’ side, everyone will know that he’s not afraid to fight.”
“Two different fights and the sun hasn’t moved a finger-width in the sky. I thought we taught you better than that!” Caleb prodded his daughter.
“Oh, please! If it were you and Mother, there would have been three fights with hair-pulling and one fish thrown during that same time,” Micah laughed. These weren’t real fights. They were passionate people who had no wish to inflict harm. There was a physical element to their relationships that kept them on their toes and fully emotionally entangled with their partners. Woe be to the person who tried to come between them.
Braden wasn’t up for more sparring. “You asked us down here for a reason.”
“Oh, yeah. Can you make those two go someplace else? They’re chasing the fish away,” Caleb begged, pleading with his daughter.
“Maybe you should try fishing their way,” Bronwyn suggested. Caleb furrowed his brow, not understanding. He was a master fisherman.
Bronwyn impatiently took his pole and pointed to the water in the well deck. “Jump in,” she commanded. Caleb felt like he could swim like a fish and wasn’t willing to be proven wrong. He took off his shirt and dove into the water. The two Dolphins swam circles around him, which he found slightly disconcerting because he could only think of them as sharks.
They lined up side by side. Caleb looked to the trio standing over him. “Grab on,” Bronwyn said, stabbing a finger toward her two friends. Caleb turned, still treading water, and wrapped a big hand around each Dolphin’s dorsal fin. Instantly, they shot toward the open ocean at a speed Caleb never dreamed possible. He squinted as he was battered against the waves, salt spray hitting his face like rocks blown in a strong wind.
They jumped from the water and turned, nose first, toward a trough. Caleb took a deep breath and the three of them plunged beneath the waves. They raced downward toward a school of tuna that were bigger than what he was used to. The Dolphins dodged one way, then another. Caleb lost his grip on one of the two, changing hands to get a better grip on his remaining ride.
Rhodi headed into the school, scattering the fish, while Chlora, with Caleb, hesitated for a heartbeat. The big fisherman was starting to run out of air and was thinking of kicking for the surface. Chlora dashed forward and grabbed a fish that had just turned toward her when Rhodi raced past with another in his mouth. Their tails worked to propel them upward. They broke the surface and continued until both Chlora and Caleb were completely out of the water.
The Dolphin splashed into the top of the wave, using the tuna in her mouth to keep her from going back under. Rhodi joined her and they swam back to the Warden, into the well deck, and deposited Caleb next to the deck where the others stood.
“Ha!” he yelled, splashing the water and pumping his fist. “That was some real fishing.” With a smile splitting his face, he climbed from the water, where Chlora and Rhodi both gave him their fish, before heading back toward the school to get one of their own.
It took an intervention from Holly to be able to build a fire on the garden level, much to the Rabbits’ dismay, but Caleb wanted everyone to share in what the sea offered without sending it through the fabricator first. They prepared the meal and then sat on the deck outside. It was early afternoon and the sky was perfect, the sea rolling gently.
Pik, Aadi, the Hawkoids, and the ‘cats enjoyed their tuna steaks raw, while the rest ate what Caleb had personally cooked for them. There was plenty for all. The Rabbits continued to be disgusted by the concept of eating flesh, but they remained with the others because the company and conversation were both good. The scientists were nowhere to be found, although Braden had invited them, even asking Holly to cut the power to their laboratories until they made an appearance. Holly wouldn’t do it.
‘I think it’s time,’ Aadi told them all over the mindlink.
“Time for what?” Caleb asked.
‘To bury my eggs. I hope I can hold out until we arrive. It just wouldn’t do to nest in the dirt of the garden level. There seems to be a distinct lack of sand anywhere on the ship.’
“Pick up the pace, Holly. We have Tortoids coming!” Braden yelled.
The Babies
They landed at the cove, where everyone raced off except Brandt. Rexalita wasn’t with them as she stayed closer to the island, in much deeper water. Chlora and Rhodi were there, but they couldn’t carry the Aurochs. The Warden pulled in as close as it could get and it still wasn’t close enough.
The Queen, Denon, and Malo showed up as the ship was making its way toward shore. They’d found better grazing not far off and had made that their home while they waited for Brandt, the King of the Aurochs, and his companions to return.
While the others looked on helplessly, Brandt backed up to the other side of the ship. He pawed the deck and started running. He hit the edge and leapt, not clearing much ocean before he splashed down and sunk beneath the waves.
“Brandt!” Braden screamed and ran into the ocean, diving into the waves. Chlora and Rhodi came alongside the Aurochs as he pawed the sand and struggled to walk to the shore. When he pushed off, he floated a little off the bottom, before falling back for another push. When his hooves weren’t touching the sand, the Dolphins positioned themselves under his sides. They swam hard and the King moved forward a great leap. One more and he was almost where he could get his head out of the water. A final surge and he was into the waves, walking forward. He gulped in a great breath of air and stopped, focusing on breathing.
Braden swam up beside him, rubbing Brandt’s ear and stroking his head.
‘If you go to sea again, I won’t be going with you. Don’t take it personally,’ Brandt said in his booming thought voice. Braden was relieved and hung on as the King of the Aurochs strolled from the ocean, head held high, ecstatic to be on solid ground once again.
The companions’ relief at having Brandt ashore was quickly forgotten as Aadi started moaning. They grabbed the first patch of sand that was well above the water line and received sunlight throughout most of the day. Micah started digging first with her hands, but the Queen bumped her out of the way and with two quick paws at the ground, a trench was dug, deep but not into the cool sand.
They helped Aadi over it and he descended until his legs touched, then he carefully laid one egg after another, ten of the them. Six looked fresh, but as he’d known, four of them had been killed by the Security Bot’s attack. He used his face to push these to the side. When the others hatched, the shells and their unborn brothers would be buried together. Aadi kicked sand over the eggs and settled down to wait. He didn’t have to stay, but Tortoids were unique. In order to maximize hatchings with such few eggs, they were almost ready to hatch the second they were laid.
The companions loaded what they had into the wagons, set up a campsite on the beach, and made themselves comfortable.
“G, is there any game nearby? Nothing like hunting to make the time go by.” Braden hoped that G-War found something. He wanted to stretch his legs, see the land before him.
‘Yes,’ the ‘cat said and raced into the brush. Braden’s bow had been on the ship, but he hadn’t taken it ashore. It would have been of no use against the Bots, but he was happy to string it and feel its power in his hands. He took two arrows with him, a hunter’s challenge, and ran after G-War. Treetis passed him, while Fealona kept him company. Bounder and Str
ider soon overtook them, slapping the ground with their spears as they ran after the two orange ‘cats.
“I’m not going to get a shot, am I?” Braden asked Fea as he slowed to a walk. Fea shrugged.
‘You can take a shot,’ she started slowly, ‘if you don’t mind shooting something that’s already dead.’
A Hillcat’s scream filled the air. Braden thought that it was probably Treetis. Then a Wolfoid’s growl, bark, and howl suggested that Bounder and Strider had found their own prey.
When Braden and Fea reached them, two deer, a doe and a buck, were close to each other, both victims of the hunt. Braden put his bow down, disappointed in not getting to participate, but he knew he couldn’t outrun the others. Sometimes it was better to accept your place, as Braden was learning to do.
He pulled out his skinning knife and started cleaning the deer.
The Wolfoids helped him drag the two carcasses back to the beach. Braden intended to smoke any excess meat to carry on their journey back to New Sanctuary.
Micah had heard the kill and started a fire. It was burning nicely by the time Braden returned. He butchered the meat and started putting the strips over the fire when the first egg started to crack.
“Damn, Aadi! You couldn’t wait until after lunch?” Braden joked, but it still earned him a punch in the arm. Four Aurochs, a Lizard Man, three Hawkoids, two Rabbits, two Wolfoids, three Hillcats, and four humans gathered to watch six Tortoid babies being born. Aadi was focused on the eggs. He didn’t blink. They couldn’t tell if he was breathing.
The first Tortoid cracked through the shell and crawled out. It was little bigger than Braden’s hand, and its fat little legs could barely hold it up. It took two steps before it started hovering. It didn’t move very far before it opened its beak-like mouth and made a cawing sound.
Free Trader Box Set - Books 4-6: Battle for the Amazon, Free the North!, Free Trader on the High Seas Page 66
