Author Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings (The Messenger Archive Book 1)

by DC Bastien

  "Is it really safe to take our things?" Kre hissed when the doors to the Ur-court closed behind them with a solid thud. "There could be tracking chips. Snooping devices. Any number of things."

  "I'm planning on some of them being there, for the next step of my plan, dear Za-le," Avery told her.

  "Do not call me that."

  "I apologise. I meant it solely as a mark of respect," the Human apologised.

  "How in the stars did you get us out? And how can we even trust that you're... you?" she asked, looking to each of them in turn. "I was not in Loap's presence at all times. I cannot be sure who any of you are."

  "Nor we you," Avery answered. "So we have to find a way to make our peace with one another, and quickly. I can vouch for Kip here, and he me. If you accept one of us, then we are both cleared, I should think."

  "Is that so, Captain?" Loap asked.

  Vadim winced. He was sure as he could be. Sure enough to bed the man, anyway, and he was not exactly known for being an easy lay. Well. Not in the past decade, anyway. "Yes. I'm sure."

  "And how can we three know one another?" Kre wondered. "There could have been interrogation, or worse."

  "Was there?" Avery asked. "What did they do to you?"

  "Questions, mostly. Questions why I was under an assumed name, and why I would assault an Ur-Enforcer. I was... kept from sleep, and fed little. I am rather exhausted," she admitted.

  "I have a suspicion that the reason they are... well. I guess 'impersonating' Humans and Hleens is something to do with scent," Vadim told them. "It's just a hunch, but when we were on Raboros I realised that another thing we have in common other than our st-- er, looks - is that scent and taste are our weakest senses. We don't communicate with them, not habitually. If they want to imitate us, they just need to have a general Human-smell and a Hleen-smell and the occasional changes. Whereas you guys know what the other had for breakfast, where you're at in your fertility cycle, whether you're being sarcastic or not, and if you're suffering from a minor head-cold. There's more to disguise and interpret there, isn't there?"

  "Not just a pretty face," Avery said. "I wondered why you had him sniff them."

  "So, if your assumption is correct, then your species and Hleens are being substituted, but not ours? Meaning unless we have been brainwashed, we are reliable?" Kre surmised.

  "That's the long and short of it, yep."

  "Interesting. If you would allow me to..." she opened up her bag, then retrieved her stunner. She fired bolts into first Avery, then Vadim, before turning to Loap.

  The Roq took a half-step back, before nodding his consent. She fired a third bolt into him.

  There was a round of writhing males of various species on the floor, followed by a gap where they panted, immobile, and then a gradual recovery. Kre kept a careful watch on their surroundings.

  "The hell was that?" Vadim asked, dragging himself up to an awkward sitting-sprawling position.

  "I was able to identify the fake-Enforcer by using my stunner. As you are aware, I have adapted it so that it takes a micro-reading of the current nerve pathways and disrupts them. That way it can momentarily incapacitate any sentient life-force."

  "...I want one," Avery said, sliding upright by using a wall. "But how did you identify the fake?" he carried on, voice a little slurry.

  "In all species I have tested it on, it has read the central nervous system and given me a result against baselines. Think of it like a biometric weapon. When I fired it on the fake Enforcer, the read-outs were consistent with the outward appearance, but they rapidly started to mutate to counter the impulses of the small bolt I'd fired. It was adapting as fast as the stimulus."

  "And you think it's a scientific test?" Loap asked. "Did you not consider they had learned to fake pain and adapt to not-adapt?"

  "The thought had crossed my mind, yes, but I believe that the avoidance of pain is a natural response. The immediate one would be to resist it, and I saw no evidence of that. It's not a guaranteed test, but it's the best I could come up with under such short notice."

  "You haven't shot yourself, yet," Avery pointed out.

  "...no. I wanted at least one of us to be prepared to defend us, in case we were all ourselves. Also, it is difficult to surprise yourself. But..." She turned the stunner back to herself, and let one of the bolts out. It pressed against her skin, burrowing under her fur, and she went down just as quickly as the men had.

  "If nothing else, it's a nice party-trick," the ex-Enforcer said. "And without any outside evidence, I guess it's the closest thing we can get to proof."

  "It... yes..." Kre whimpered. "It hurts."

  "I'm all in favour of you finding a non-painful method, if we have to keep doing this," Loap said. "And believe me, if your scent-theory is also true, Captain, she reeks of pain."

  "So do you," Kre spat, and groggily got to her feet. "I hope the ship is nearby."

  "Close enough."

  "Perhaps future science can wait for us to be at a safer distance."

  "Agreed."

  ***

  [Sianor: Of course, no method of proving yourself to be un-interfered with can ever be wholly reliable.]

  [Ashroe: Nope, not even if you set up 'totems' or 'safe-words' in advance. They're all as reliable as a wet sock.]

  [Sianor: Mmmm. Socks.]

  [Ashroe: I mean it. Your 'it's fine' word could be tortured out of you. Okay, they say torture isn't effective as a means of extracting information, but they also know how many bank managers would open the safe if they could and there was a gun on them, or their kids.]

  [Sianor: Not to even mention Stockholm Syndrome.]

  [Ashroe: Yep. And most of the time, people decide they want - for instance - a totem once the time has already come.]

  [Sianor: People like you are the reason banks have such complicated online systems now.]

  [Ashroe: No, people a bit more evil than me.]

  [Sianor: True, you need the evil on top of the genius, I guess.]

  [Ashroe: And depending on how long a game the baddies were playing, your sleeper agent could be asleep for a very, very long time. Or not even know they were a sleeper. Or... never have been on your side to begin with.]

  [Sianor: I'm going to be so freaking paranoid now.]

  [Ashroe: Good! I hope you changed your email password recently.]

  [Sianor: Uhm.]

  [Ashroe: Kidding. Changing it wouldn't make it more secure.]

  [Sianor: Damnit.]

  ***

  "Ah," said the Captain.

  "Yeah."

  "I thought as much."

  "Kind of you to share it."

  "Didn't need to. Knew you'd work it out, too."

  Vadim couldn't stay angry with Avery about it, because he was telling the truth. Much to his irritation, they still worked well as a team. Which was why both of them had noticed the choke-hold they were being directed to, by the sudden traffic incident involving a downed hopper and a very loud, very unhappy Kior-Dhalia remonstrating in shrill, colourful language.

  It meant the Ur-Enforcers could sensibly, and legally, and safely blockade part of their route back, at an all-too convenient time. And send them a whole block out of their way, where the lighting was poorer, and where the street was narrower. Subtle, but there. Then there would be the people in the alley-ways, doing illegal drug deals, encouraging the group to keep walking rapidly past them and into some staged trap.

  "The 'Ur' were never going to take out a Za's daughter, Kip. She dies, but she dies in an accident that will set her people up in arms. They were grateful for us taking her off their hands, so they can wash their hands of all responsibility," Avery explained, pitching his voice low.

  "Which is why you're also sure it's her?"

  "Of course I am. They never planned on her getting off Lineon alive. Why wouldn't they use the real Kre for that?"

  "You are aware I can hear you both?" Kre asked.

  "Yes, but it doesn't make it any less true," Avery answered.


  "Why would anyone want me dead?"

  "You're the Za's heir," Loap said, with a shake of his head. "You're politically relevant. Your death would spark the tensions in this sector to dizzying heights. It would be war."

  "Since when did you become a political player?" Vadim asked, impressed.

  "Since it became essential for my survival," Loap answered, smoothly.

  "Can you fight, too?" Avery asked. "Because it's about to get ugly."

  One of the Roq further down the road started to stride towards them, then, his hands on his gun-belt. There was a long-barrel monstrosity hanging from his hip, which looked more trouble than it probably was. He also had a short side-arm plus a very obvious knife in his boot. There were no rules on weapons-carrying - other than which models were banned - but even so, someone wearing as many deadly items and as openly as he was? They were asking for trouble.

  "You looking after your pet, beast?" the Roq asked, addressing Kre.

  "I am no one's pet, brother," Loap called back.

  "I wasn't talking to the slave," the Roq growled, his eyes never leaving Kre's.

  "That's good," Avery said, loudly sliding the hoop from the top of his own side-arm. "Because if you were talking to any of us, you need a distinct lesson in manners. Don't you agree?"

  Vadim's left hand went to his gun, mirroring Avery's actions. "Oh, I do. I think that's no way to talk to anything that can talk back. In fact, to anything at all. I think if that's how someone talks, they need new teeth."

  Now, of course, the others in the 'gang' (which had likely been either paid or planted, it was hard to tell which) started to form a loose circle around them.

  "Cute," Vadim said, turning slowly. "Ten, against four? Well. I guess it's almost fair."

  "There are more than twice your number, here, you foolish soft-skin," the Roq said, his long-barrelled gun now in his hands. "You will--"

  Avery and Vadim both got off a round before he'd finished talking, taking him and the Roq beside him down.

  Behind them, there was an ungodly roar as Kre pulled herself to her full height. The sound that rippled out from her throat turned everyone's blood cold, and then she launched herself at the two Humans in the group, knocking them to the ground. The third in that area was a Roq, who she grabbed by the throat, her jaws threatening to snap his spine in two.

  "You're pathetic!" Loap yelled, waving his gun at the remaining five, even as Avery and Vadim flanked him. "Look at you, brood-kin! We're supposed to be better than this! How can we ever expect things to change if we simply want to swap positions? If we want to enslave and punish those who so cruelly did it to our kind? I am ashamed! Ashamed! This Sianar wishes peace, and you hound her all her life! Put down your weapons or I will drag each and every one of you before your kin and shame you there!"

  "Not what I would have gone for," Avery muttered under his breath.

  "Seems to be working, though. Maybe we're getting old?" Vadim responded.

  Kre tossed the Roq she was worrying at two others, who stumbled under his weight but didn't fall. Her muzzle was wet with foam, her whole being vibrating with anger. "I wish peace," she growled out, past a voice that didn't sound at all peaceful. "I want an end to hostility. And what do you do to me for this, but try to hurt me? Enough. You are not worthy of your species. I say this not because I wish to enslave you, but because I wish to befriend your kind, but you are making it hard for me to find any of you worthy enough to call my friend."

  "We done here?" Vadim asked. "Because I've got places to go. And you guys are seriously cramping my style."

  "Captain?" Loap said, waiting for his attention. "With all due respect, shut up."

  ***

  [Ashroe: You go Loap!]

  [Sianor: Ahaha he's such a badass. Also I love how we're inverting it with making the Roq more often dickheads.]

  [Ashroe: The show needs to do more of that. I like the possibility it has for messing with shade of grey morality.]

  [Sianor: And Sianar!Howl! Ahh. She can do that to me any day.]

  [Ashroe: So you ARE a furry?]

  [Sianor: Only for Kre. Mmmm.]

  ***

  Chapter Twenty-Two - Mission: EVAcuation

  Getting away from Lineon was not as easy as getting to it, of course. With bags thrown into Kre's anti-leak cold box to block any tracking attempts, they still had to find some way to slip the tails that were undoubtedly on them.

  Loap took up the position of navigator, of course, and Kre bowed to Avery's experience behind the helm.

  It was surreal seeing him there, instead of Saidhe. Saidhe who was probably planning his brutal murder, all joking aside. It had been kind of dickish to leave them, and even the cryptic message he sent for their scanners to pick up on wouldn't do to explain or excuse abandoning the two sisters. Vadim was just going to have to bite that bullet.

  Kre came back onto the bridge, just as they joined the first Whale.

  "I have concluded my internal search for 'bugs'. I have found none. I will still need you to EVA before we go back to the base, Captain."

  Vadim sighed. Yeah. Great.

  "Okay. We'll get to one of the Whale-lines we're using to confuse them, and then I'll do it while we're clamped on."

  "Aye-aye, Cap'n."

  "In the meantime, you see if you can make something else to work out if folks have been interfered with? Maybe something less stingy, and more smelly?"

  "I assume you mean scent-detecting, rather than creating," she said, allowing a small smile onto her lips for the first time since she'd gotten back aboard. He didn't even find the flash of canines disturbing.

  "Yep. That. Yell if you need anything."

  "I will, Cap'n."

  "We didn't make the same precautions when we first went there," Avery said, when she'd left. "So it might well be moot."

  "Just because one horse has bolted, don't mean we leave all gates open."

  "Your metaphors become ever-more bewildering as you grow more senile, Kip."

  "Just you wait til one of those horses stands on your foot."

  "I will."

  Loap clucked at them in annoyance. "I would prefer you restrained your verbal flirtations when I am trying to hide our trail. If that is not too much to ask."

  "I wasn't flirting, you scaly--"

  Loap just looked arch, and Vadim sighed. "Fine. I'm going to go see what I have to look for when I EVA. The dead of space sounds preferable to being around snooping navigators and annoying... annoying people!"

  "Kre will no doubt appreciate your company, Captain," Loap answered, apparently happy that he would be leaving the bridge.

  "Great. Mutiny."

  ***

  "You okay?" Vadim asked, ducking into the engine room where Kre was usually found... that was, if she wasn't in her quarters, kitchen area, or the social areas of the ship. He was sure that if it wasn't for Biann's love of this room, Kre would have taken up permanent residence by now.

  "I am fine, Captain."

  "Really? Because I've just been kicked off my own bridge, more or less with a Roq-shaped footprint, just to check on you. And if Loap's admitting to concern, you know it's bad."

  She did laugh at that, and then waved at one of the unused toolboxes, which doubled as a seat. It was more comfortable for a shorter being such as himself, and he suspected she'd been using it as a foot-rest instead before he got there.

  "You know I do not like to... to show my aggressive side. I do not like to... revert to atavistic ways."

  "I know, Kre, I do. I know you like to make-believe that you're this robot of pure science and stuff, but you're not. You get mad, same as everyone. Just so happens you've got sharper teeth and claws than me..." he wiggled little pink, fat fingers, making an ineffectual claw. "But when you're provoked, you're going to react."

  "I understand that, but it does not make me... feel better."

  "Why not?"

  "It... it does not. The... rage I feel is... it can be overwhelming, Cap
tain. The urge to kill my enemies, to lay claim to all the survivors as my property."

  "Hey, you see a 'Property of Kre' stamp on me? Nope. You're calling me ‘Captain’. You're calling Loap ‘friend’. Maybe that urge is strong, but you fight it. I've seen you berserker out twice now, and each time you've been rational, you've been sensible. I ain't ever worried I'd need to stun you down, or worse. So what if you lose your rag at times? Who doesn't?"

  "I... yes. I... am sorry, Captain."

  "Don't be, you dumb rug. You need me to keep saying it, I will. You're doing great. Your father would be proud of you."

  That made her wince, and he realised they'd not actually... well. Discussed his trip to Raboros, or his meeting with the Za Ail-Tho-Gameth.