“I’m terribly sorry we’re not able to tell you more at this time,” said the Phiddian. “Our own doctors quickly found multiple surgeries, including some that went far beyond the usual cosmetic kind our species considers a daily matter of fact. For instance, not only was every tooth replaced, but there was jaw-altering surgery as well. We sent the bodies up to the Weh medical ship, thinking they might find some clues, but all they could add was that there were additional indications of genetic alteration. Whoever did this, they were really determined to act as secretly as possible.”
“How can we get any further into who controlled them without even knowing who they were?” mused Ayan’we.
The door to the compartment opened and Entara joined them.
“Mother, the commissioner was filling me in on the inquest, but I’m afraid we seem to be stalled.”
“I suspected it would not be easy. Remember that we never really found out who Tays’she contacted to have us killed when you were a girl back on Forlan.”
“Probably I just lack the brains for this job,” Ayan’we pouted.
“Nonsense,” said the Phiddian. “You’ve done a splendid job so far. You almost caught the culprits yourself and would have eventually, if our still unknown helper had not cornered them first. Nine times out of ten, spycraft leads you to a dead end, believe me.”
“Is there nothing at all to add?” Entara inquired.
“Well, we did find a few articles in the personal affairs of one of the perpetrators that indicate a possible association with a gem smuggling ring that was active a couple of years ago. We’re retracing those records, but it will take some time.”
“It’s a pity we don’t have Torghh,” sighed Ayan’we. “I bet he could have found some kind of forensic evidence. Rack made a valiant try, though it seems he is still trying to process Torghh’s extensive data banks covering details beyond surgery itself.”
The Phiddian spotted some others moving down the corridor beyond the glass window and stepped out to speak to them. “There’s Fianni. Fianni, come in here, would you? We need a word.”
Fianni’s face revealed a scowl as the presider of the Love Court entered the room. Those big brown eyes refused to make contact with either of the Forlani.
The security chief gave a throat-clearing hurrumph and said, “Fianni, we really need that report on how the criminals’ got on the station’s manifest. Can you clear that up for us?”
“You’ll just have to wait a little longer. I’ve run into all sorts of communication delays with the home world. Besides, the records here are in horribly messy shape and that is not my area of responsibility. Don’t blame me for your failure to prevent the kidnapping of Entara’s brat!”
“Sub-officer Fianni!” shouted the chief. “Remember your place!”
“I remember it all the time. Catering to you diplomats and cops is not the easiest assignment I’ve ever had. If the Forlani leader had not insisted stupidly on bringing an infant aboard, we’d never have had this trouble.”
“Fianni, you are not authorized to make such evaluations. Watch your tongue. I will report that you have dirtied the reputation of our planet by insulting a visiting emissary.”
“No,” Entara broke in, “Let Fianni go on. We Forlani are not so thin-skinned that we cannot shake off a ridiculous barb like that. We prefer to know frankly what everyone is thinking in their heart.”
“Don’t talk down to me!” sneered Fianni. “You may consider yourself a high and mighty diplomat, but to me you’re nothing but a defective half-sexer. Only half the organs you should have in order to be civilized, and even those are incapable of giving you the real pleasure of intercourse. Half the organs, none of the pleasure, and only a fraction of the mind, that’s what your sad species is limited to.”
The Phiddian security chief made a turn to call for officers to detain Fianni and Ayan’we seemed about ready to pounce herself, but Entara held up her arms to stop them both. “I don’t know what is bothering you, Fianni. I can assure you I feel no scorn towards you or any other Phiddian. At home we have a concept of the Great Spiral of Being that you might have heard of. In any case, it means that the well-being of all of us different life forms is ultimately connected. We all have the right to pursue our happiness in our own way. If you calm down, you will see that.”
“And I suppose you are eminently qualified to pursue your happiness. To be worthy of being called intelligent, a being has to understand thins from all sides. How can a half-sexed animal do that? You’re nothing but a glorified whore. All you did in those houses was take money, groan and moan to fake pleasure, and collect body fluids. What would you know about genuine happiness?”
“When young Forlani work in the houses, for your information, we do not collect money. The proceeds go into the Matriline’s fund for restoration of our planet’s ecology. We are proud to leave our clients with smiles on their faces, and that’s no lie. Yes, I’ve done that and have no regrets, whether I was sharing a bed with Klein, with some other convict, or even with a Phiddian trader or two. I don’t know what has got you so agitated, but as I see it, neither of us has anything to be ashamed of in the field of intimate relationships, no matter how short term some of them may be.”
“Shove it!” screeched Fianni. “You don’t understand anything!”
“Fianni!” the commissioner interrupted. “You are hereby suspended in rank and duty. Confine yourself to your quarters until you are returned to the home planet for disciplinary action.”
Fianni stormed out of the compartment. The commissioner turned to the Forlani and explained “I am personally shocked and outraged by Fianni’s outburst. I promise disciplinary action will follow. I can’t understand what got into that head. It’s true the sub-officer has been behaving somewhat unusually in the past few days, even passing up several of our soirees. It may be due to a health problem or something I’m unaware of….”
“No need for apologies. I could sense something was brewing ever since the scene Fianni tried to provoke at the Love Court. It would not be the first time someone has fired off because of secret jealousy or thwarted ambition. Who knows? Please withhold any official complaints until we wrap up the conference. Let’s give Fianni a chance to change attitude and perhaps even reveal some cause for the problem.”
As the council deliberations started for the day, it was apparent there would be no hasty apology from Fianni. In fact, half the Phiddian delegation was absent from the council hall, even as the other races scrambled to salvage the failing conference. Entara gave a spirited speech urging the other delegations to follow the example of Dhee and the Kael, who had offered substantial sacrifices if the Song Pai and Blynthians would make a non-aggression pledge. The bat-like beings offered a huge tribute in trade to both the potential combatants, including most of their out-of-system mining concessions, and even threw in a sop to the Garanians if they would back the efforts. Of course, one Garanian was notably missing from the ranks of the reptilians. Ayan'we, who was worried that her mother was again exposing herself to violence, had received word that Tashto was in the medical quarantine unit, where his own delegation could not touch him – a neat trick on the part of the Rack and the Robotic Guild, no doubt. Nevertheless, she would have felt some comfort if he were present to add another voice of reason to the hurly-burly of the debate. Tionar seconded Dhee's proposal by essentially offering free labor from crews of his newts to both the Song Pai and the Blynthians. Not even that valuable boon was able to draw a reaction from either side. At the end of hours of wrangling, the Song Pai rose to announce that they planned to depart before the scheduled session on the morrow. The fact that they did not even deliver a bold, threat-filled closing speech to their rivals did not bode well for peace. It was clear that they were already in war mode and that the members of their delegation were eagerly planning attack roles that might lead to a glorious death.
Ayan'we accompanied her mother back to the Forlani quarters. On the way, Entara stopped by a ga
ggle of Blastöo who were waiting to speak to her and after a rapid conversation, the aliens joined the Forlani on their way to the ship.
Entara leaned toward her daughter to explain en route. “I've just engaged these pilots to take us back to Forlan. We have to be ready to leave on a moment's notice if the Song Pai should depart.”
Ayan'we scowled. “There are still mysteries here that need to be investigated. I don't feel I have fulfilled my mission as chief of the security cluster. Even if we are headed toward open war, it is not wise to ignore the ones who instigated the kidnappings. For that matter, I would really like to know who helped us retrieve Quatilla, as well. Perhaps I should stay behind with one or two aides.”
“I feel the same way you do about those unknown factors. But it is just not safe to leave you behind after hostilities begin. Who knows how you would get back to Forlan? There are no assurances the Phiddians would remain neutral, and even if they did, you might get interned or put under some kind of protective custody. In that case, you would learn nothing more. No, it's best you come back with us. Besides,” Entara added with consternation, “There are other considerations.”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you forgetting you are one of only a handful of experienced hex interceptor pilots? Our system defenses are weak enough already. We can't spare a single member of the Guard if we go to war.”
“Yes, I know. Believe me, I've been thinking about that, too. I'm sorry to say this, Mother, but you should realize that there's little chance any of the hex squadron would survive. Without a Song Pai carrier in the system, we would be vulnerable to an immediate attack by the Garanians or maybe even the human corporations. The best our hex interceptors could do would be to inflict damages and delay an invasion of the Forlan system.”
“I have to admit I don't want to think about that, right as you are.” Entara stopped walking to embrace her daughter. “I don't want to lose you, firstborn. You understand, I've got to try to keep my wits about me now and not give in to shaking. We won't have time to mourn.”
“You will never be lost to me, no matter what happens. It's just that perhaps if I had had these thoughts earlier... I might have done some things differently. It's hard to come to grips with the possibility that there may be no tomorrows. If I were to think of others...”
“Don't torment yourself now with lost opportunities.” Entara smiled at Ayan'we as if she knew somehow the secret of the encounter with Isshel that the young woman was doing her best to conceal. “If things manage to take a turn for the better, we will have plenty of time to talk about what the future may hold.”
As soon as they reached the Forlani quarters, Entara began issuing orders to the delegation to pack up their belongings and transform what had been an anchored barracks back into a functional space vessel. The Blastöo needed no instructions, but proceeded to the controls of the ship as though they had been operating it for years. Ayan'we had to acknowledge that these creatures seemed born to navigate the heavens. They almost blended into the controls and machinery. She could learn a lot from them on the voyage away from Varess. Before the Forlani could complete their preparations of their own effects, the vessel was powered up beyond mere life support and the rigorous pre-launch checks were well under way.
Entara was busy at her communication console with messages and farewells to the Kael, the Rokol, and other allies, when she was interrupted by a buzz from the portal sentinels. “Ambassador, there is a human here who demands to see you. I must advise that he is ragged looking and lacks any proper credentials. I would say he just crawled off a freighter. Should we send him away or request RG security to detain him?”
The Forlani leader was about to agree to remove this annoyance and return to her urgent diplomatic work when a notion stopped her. “Can you give further descriptions?”
“He is a dark-skinned human and has a hairy face. He will not give his name, but says he is on the Circle's business. Does that mean anything to you?”
“Yes, it very well might. Bring him to the reception chamber and summon Ayan'we. She just might recognize this person.”
When Entara reached the reception chamber, she found a tall, gaunt human with deep brown skin before her, unkempt and dressed in a frayed mantle that he had probably grabbed up at Varess's used goods shop. He inclined his upper body in a slow bow and said, “Greetings, para-para. You are my sunshine on this cloudy day.”
Entara scanned his face, conjuring up memories to compare from long ago, when she had lived in the Forlani house on Domremy, before the arrival of Klein. She tried to picture the Religious Dissenters she came to know, living in the vicinity of the village that would become known as Stafford's Station. Much time had passed, but certain features stood out from amid the wrinkles and scars of the years.
All doubts were dispelled when Ayan'we entered the room and shouted, “Trevor! She had met this spiritual guide by chance when she traveled to Domremy for Klein's funeral with a group of Forlani memorial singers.
“Hello, Ayan'we. My, how you have grown! I'm glad you recognized me, because I confess I'd have a lot of trouble recognizing you without hearing your voice.”
“It's just such a shock seeing you here on Varess. Mother, this is...”
“I know, dear firstborn. Trevor spoke kindly to me as soon as I arrived on Domremy. He was one of our contacts when we began to move human women into the colony. I am glad to see you again, Trevor. Have any of our messages reached you during your pilgrimage?”
“Yes, with difficulty, but I got enough to know you desperately wanted anything that might affect the Song Pai in their preparations for war with the Blynthians. I think I have some useful discoveries. I'm sorry it took so long to bring them to you, but they were not something I could risk over a comlink. No other means of delivery would get here faster than I could, hopping commercial vessels to reach the Phiddian borders. You have no idea how normal shipping has been disrupted already by the prospects of conflict. Ships have been diverted to carry war supplies or refit with weaponry. Crewmen are reluctant to sign up for long hauls, hoping to land a high-paying stint on a profiteer. In any case, such is the nature of these details that I need to be here in person to pass them on.”
Entara beamed. “I can help you and know several other delegates who will surely help in the cause of peace. What can you tell us?”
“Well, you see...” Trevor hesitated, embarrassed at what he had to tell her. “It's something I can't share directly with you. Understand, you are one of the most trusted allies of the Circle and I would personally divulge anything under ordinary circumstances. However in this case, there are certain deep spiritual implications that exist on a very racial level. You will see what I mean when I can reveal them. For now, I must ask you to trust me and to help me in a particular way.”
“Of course, I understand the need for discretion in these crazy times. I will aid you in any way without prying. What do you need?”
“I need you to set up a very special meeting. You will have to attend, too, to vouch for me. I'm afraid it might expose both of us to possible danger, but there is no way around it. Can you do that for me?”
“Definitely. Whom do you want to meet with?”
“The Song Pai chief delegate and his staff.”
Ayan'we and her mother could not avoid exchanging a worried look. This saving news was turning out to be a dire affair.
Rack was as tired as a robot could be. Of course, it was not organic fatigue caused by acidic backup in the muscular systems as living creatures experienced it. Rather, it was a perceptible slowness in reactions – only nanoseconds in most cases, but that, for a Robot, is nearly an eternity. With the deceleration of reaction came a sense of insecurity, the digital recognition that maximal traffic in some circuits led to an increased need for cross-checking functions. There was a robotic loss of concentration as processors and memory units had to be constantly reconfigured to accommodate masses of new data.
The cause of all t
his was Torghh. The surgeon had insisted on a phenomenally rapid refit after the ordeal of his kidnapping and partial deactivation. It wasn't just a matter of patching up material damage – although that was necessary, too. The really tricky part was a massive diagnostic of every aspect of his digital systems. There were a lot of gaps to fill in, some caused directly by the tinkering of the captors, some by Torghh himself, as he shut off sections of his memory or scrambled them to avoid access by the enemy. It wasn't an operation that could be done in a single download, but instead required exhaustive re-entries, re-adjustments, re-bootings, re-configurations, re-initializing, and all manner of electronic bricolage. Rack sensed a certain dizziness, unrobotic as that may seem, by the time Torghh was finally ready to go off and attend to the wounded Garanian in the sick bay.
Rack himself needed an extensive diagnostic and function condensation before he could resume his usual duties as medical assistant first class. In his quarters, which resembled a supply shop more than what organics would consider a “home,” he powered down all unnecessary activity to concentrate on an electronic tune-up, approaching the closest Guild robots could ever come to a state of sleep or reverie.
As he entered his rest cycle, Rack felt the familiar pain flare once more, duller and more subdued than its prior eruptions. It came to dominate his consciousness, flowing through him like a swift river, yet without the explosive, sudden potency he remembered from its prior occurrences. The familiar entity that Rack had come to identify as Emm spoke once more, its voice a shy, award whisper, rather than the anguished yell Rack had come to dread. “Am I delivered? Am I avenged?” Emm asked Rack.
Spy Station Page 20
