by Dana Kelly
His companions looked at one another with growing concern.
“I have one more thing to show you,” said Martin. “Gabi, you really need to see this.”
She groaned and lowered her phone.
Martin selected another video file. Pulled from the security camera trained on the hoagie stand, they watched the same events unfold, but this time from a steady, elevated side angle. Although a little overexposed, the footage left no doubt as to the identities of the participants. After police had arrested Torsha, when Mike walked into view with his hands in restraints, and paramedics drove off with Orin in an ambulance, Martin paused the video.
Silence hung in the air.
Oliver cleared his throat, and his voice cracked when he spoke. “Well, that looks pretty real to me.”
“What happened after this?” asked Aurora.
“They were held at Beacon Street Station for three days,” said Martin. “The authorities released Torsha and Mike yesterday evening. As we speak, a team of bounty hunters is transporting Orin to a deep space assessment facility.”
Aurora eased down on the edge of the couch. “My Orin is a binary?”
Martin regarded her skeptically. “You didn’t know?”
Shaking her head, Aurora replied, “None of us did!” Looking to her husband and daughter, she continued, “I mean, I assume! Did either of you know?” Suddenly overwhelmed, she pressed tears from her eyes.
“It’s news to me,” said Oliver. He sat down beside her, pulling her close.
“Everyone, slow down. This video could be faked, too,” said Eridani. “I’m sorry, Martin, but none of this makes any sense. They have scanners everywhere, even on colony worlds. There’s no way Orin fooled the entire network for his entire life.”
“Not actively, no,” said Martin. “However, if your brother is in fact unprecedented, how could the scanners know what to look for? There must be a progression, with each level of binary potential being a whole new learning experience. For as powerful as Orin’s abilities appear to be, I doubt the sensors could even process the data they were receiving.”
“What about the agency? They have an army of scouts,” said Eridani.
“I could only guess. It’s possible his passive output is overwhelming. Maybe they’re blind to him,” said Martin.
“Maybe you’re right about that,” said Eridani. “If it’s true. But the whole thing still doesn’t make any sense. Mom and dad never participated in the eugenics program. You only get binaries like that from top-secret underground delivery rooms.”
At that, Martin shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you. You can choose to believe the security cam footage or not, but there’s a lot of bad people out there who do.”
“What’s goin’ to happen to my boy?” asked Oliver. “When the bounty hunters drop him off, I mean.”
“The people at the assessment facility will try to understand Orin as completely as possible,” said Martin. He cleared his throat. “On a cellular level.”
Eyes red with tears, Aurora fixed her gaze on Martin. “Are you telling me they’re going to kill my son?”
“They will not kill your son, or even try, because he’ll never reach his destination,” said Martin. He offered a reassuring smile. “I just issued orders to Falcon’s fastest starship—the Tohtli-class hunter-destroyer Fox Mendes. In two days, she’ll be on an intercept course with the bounty hunters’ vessel. They’re prepared to do whatever it takes to get Orin back.”
“And then what?” asked Eridani.
“Orin lives,” said Martin.
“What about the rest of us? If my little brother’s the real deal, someone will surely be coming for us, if they aren’t already,” said Eridani.
“I’m glad you asked, because that’s exactly why we’re all here,” said Martin. “First, we’ll all need to relocate to a secure location. My team will deliver Orin to us there. This is uncharted territory. If we’re going to provide Orin his best chance of survival, we’ll need to approach everything we do from this point forth with a spirit of courage and cooperation. Are you with me?”
“Still counts as vacation,” said Brittany. “We’re in.”
“Wish I could,” said Oliver. “But I only got two weeks’ leave, and I doubt all this’ll be sorted by then.” He smiled at Aurora. “Judge owes me. I’ll get him to slide me a spouse’s pass so you can join me for the next run. We’ll be safe enough up there for three months.”
“What about when you get back? If two binaries were waiting for you today, how many do you think they’ll send in three months?” asked Martin.
“Wait a darn minute,” said Oliver. “I never told you about those binaries!”
Oops, thought Martin. “Sure, you did. On the way back here.” Martin coughed. “You probably don’t remember because of all the adrenaline.”
“Binaries?” asked Eridani. “Dad, you didn’t say anything about binaries!”
“It’s nothin’, kiddo,” said Oliver. “Just part of a hustle.”
“Not true,” said Martin. “I had some time to look them up while we were waiting. Frostshadow and Lafuega belong to an elite strike force. It’s top secret, and that means government agencies. Or military.”
“You could’ve mentioned that sooner,” said Eridani.
“Would’a been nice,” said Oliver. He whistled quietly. “Stayin’ home suddenly sounds pretty dicey. I reckon I’m on board if Aurora is.”
Aurora narrowed her eyes at Martin. “Sure. I’m in.”
“Great,” said Martin, and he tugged at his shirt. “Eridani, Iona, what about you?”
“I have an understudy, and it would be nice to get away for a while,” said Iona. “I’m in.”
“I can’t,” said Eridani. “I have a warehouse to run.”
“And you’ll be running it,” said Martin. “You won’t miss a beat. In fact, while you’re taking refuge, you’ll also be at work fifteen minutes early for the morning huddle, just like you always are.”
Eridani frowned. “It’s creepy that you know all that about me. Anyway, I can’t just show up onscreen, or as a holo. I need to be there in person, or they’ll fire me.”
“And you will be,” said Martin. “Here’s what’s going to happen. Two of my specialists will be arriving shortly. Three others are on their way to Castle Santos.” He nodded at Iona and Eridani. “Two more are on their way to your guys’ respective homes. When I get the word that my specialists are in position, everyone here except for me will leave for a secure location. It could be weeks or months before it’s safe to return.”
“Why aren’t you joining us?” asked Brittany.
“I need to find Mike and Torsha first,” said Martin. “Don’t worry, I won’t be far behind.”
“How is this supposed to work?” asked Eridani.
“My dad’s specialists are denshies,” said Gabriela.
Oliver pointedly cleared his throat. “You hired skin-thieves to replace us, after what just happened?”
“Of course, he didn’t,” said Iona. “Everyone knows that skin-thieves can’t be trusted.”
Martin regarded his daughter, as surprised as he was impressed. “Actually, Gabi’s right. How did you figure it out?”
She shrugged in response, uttering a noncommittal noise.
“Well, she is our daughter,” said Brittany.
“I’m sorry, but it’s still a no,” said Eridani. “I’m not okay with one of your skin-thieves spending time with my girlfriend!”
“I thought you and Thuraya broke up,” said Aurora.
“No, we didn’t break up.” Eridani blushed slightly. “It’s complicated.”
Martin considered. “I’ll get an additional asset.”
Eridani sighed. “Then I guess I’m in.”
“Where would we be going?” asked Iona.
“Trollaskogur,” said Martin. Seeing no recognition in his comrades’ expressions, he added, “Also known as Troll Forest.”
“Where’s that
?” asked Iona.
“It’s a good distance inland from the mid-western coast of Klettastrond. It’s a well-known ecological preserve, with a lengthy canyon and unusual rock formations.” He smiled. “Have you heard of the Rybecker Salt Flats?”
“Sure,” said Iona.
"Just west of that. It leads up to the Whispering Woods, which encircles Carven Lake,” said Martin. “Brit and I own a house built into one of the caves. That’s where we’ll be waiting this out.”
“Klettastrond?” asked Eridani.
“That’s correct,” said Martin.
Eridani looked at Martin askance. “Just to be clear, you’re talking about the nation of Klettastrond, on the continent of Mirycea, right?”
“Also correct,” said Martin.
“That’s practically on the other side of the planet!”
“I know,” said Martin. He glanced at his datapad. “We should get packing.”
“It’s a little late for Eridani and me,” said Iona. “Marty, at the very least, the destination would’ve been nice to know beforehand.”
“My apologies,” said Martin. “Some cabbies like to talk, and I didn’t want to risk tipping my hand.”
“Iona, we have extra toothbrushes in the drawer under the sink,” said Aurora. “There’s lots of sweaters in the closet.”
Oliver regarded his daughter. “There’s a box of your old clothes in the closet too. Might even be somethin’ in there for Iona.”
Once more in agreement, they busied themselves with packing.
When they were ready to go, Martin led the group outside, along the rusted footpath to an elevator and descended to street level. They hurried along a sidewalk to a nearby white-panel sky truck. Heaving open the rear gate, he revealed two rows of hard plastic seats, and he indicated a boarding ladder.
Martin lingered with his wife, while the others loaded the luggage and climbed inside. He kissed Brittany good-bye and watched her board the sky truck. As they fastened their restraints, he sealed the passenger compartment. Walking over to the cockpit, he banged on the hull and exchanged nods with the pilot.
Martin dashed away, headed for his vehicle.
A moment later, the sky truck’s engines roared to life, and she lifted off. Inside the passenger compartment, a wide viewscreen flickered on, mounted to the cockpit bulkhead. An external camera feed displayed the world as seen from the sky truck’s nose.
Eridani sat staring at the overhead. “I don’t like this.” Aurora reached across to comfort her. “Actually, I hate this.”
Her parents shared a pained look. They held hands and eased back into their seats. Aurora leaned over onto Oliver’s shoulder, and he kissed the top of her head. Together, they lost themselves in the images offered by the viewscreen.
Racing across Rhyon’s northeastern continent, they skimmed the clouds as forested mountains gave way to a vast desert expanse. For an hour they zipped across the Sea of Sands. In time, it faded to rolling hills and grassy plains. Farmlands and swamplands leapfrogged until they reached the coastline, and for hours they traversed the ocean. The sun shined brightly over the cliffside coastlines of Klettastrond as they sped along. Soon, they reached a wooded expanse and a roaring waterfall, where they began their descent.
Chapter 9
Vagabond
Casey removed her headphones and unhooked her restraints. Yawning a bit, she sat up on the back of her chair, stood and stretched. She smiled as she approached the cockpit doorway, humming to herself. Taking stock of the others, she found them secure within their safety harnesses, for all appearances fast asleep.
Quietly, Casey made her way toward the latrine, but stopped short only a few paces in. Her eyes trained on April and Orin; they sat forehead-to-forehead. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she noticed a faint blue glow surrounding Orin’s hands, and his collar was nowhere to be seen. Lowering herself down to deck level, she scanned under the bench. Where’s the collar? she thought. Where’s the damn collar?
Leaning in close, she whispered, “April,” but her first mate didn’t respond. Casey lightly jostled her. “April!” she hissed, but April didn’t react. Glaring at Orin, she thought, I knew you were an exo—I knew it!
Carefully, Casey opened the locker. As she reached for her mag boots, she found the collar hanging from its hook. She glanced between Orin and the collar. With a shake of her head, she set to donning her boots. He’s clearly got control of April, and possibly the others, she thought. If I’m the only one who hasn’t been compromised, there’s only one thing I can do…
Casey returned to the cockpit. She fired reverse thrusters, and the compartment swiveled to face the nose in response. The very instant weightlessness took hold, she launched through the door. Gripping a nearby handrail, she angled into the airlock compartment, where she silently uncoiled a lengthy tether.
Casey retrieved her keys, approached Orin, and unlocked his wrist restraints. She unbuckled his harness. “Get up,” she whispered, her eyes like pools of fire. Deftly, she looped the tether around his waist, cinched it tight, and clipped it in place. “Get up!”
Blearily, he asked, “We’re there, already?” The blue fire vanished from his hands.
April winced as she pulled back and massaged the sides of her head. “I was so close,” she muttered. “Casey, what are you doing?”
Ignoring April’s question, Casey barked, “I said get up!” Heaving against Orin’s mass, she dislodged him and shoved with all her might. She sent him tumbling weightlessly into the airlock compartment.
Tangled up with the tether, dizzied by the motion, Orin strained for the doorjamb. Arms flailing, he only drifted across the chamber and struck the exterior door. He rebounded, gliding back toward the shuttle’s interior, where he collided with the inside door just as it swung into place. Reflexively, he gripped a nearby rail and managed to steady himself. Through the tiny glass viewport, he met Casey’s eyes.
She neither hesitated nor flinched as she reached for the exterior airlock release lever. Instead of cold steel, however, she found April’s forearm.
“Casey,” said April. Positioned upside-down relative to her captain, she had wrapped her legs securely around the handrail and tightly held the release lever’s handle. “You’re panicking. Stop what you’re doing!”
“Let go!” snarled Casey. “I told you he was psychic!” She gripped April’s forearm with both hands and heaved, but April didn’t budge. “He’s in your head, April! You’re compromised!”
“Orin’s not psychic!” said April.
“Clearly, he is!” She curled her fingers under April’s fingertips.
“You don’t have…” Gritting her teeth, April repositioned her grip and squeezed even tighter. “…all the information!”
“I have enough!” roared Casey.
“No, you do not!”
“Damn, you have a strong grip.” Casey seethed, trying in vain to crush April’s hand. “I order you to let go!”
“You let me know when you’re going to start acting like my captain again, and not some bloodthirsty pirate! Then we can talk about giving orders and following them,” said April.
Growling in frustration, Casey stepped back, breathing raggedly as she shifted her arms akimbo. “He’s in your head. I saw it with my own eyes! He was pressed against your forehead, and his hands were burning blue.”
“I was trying to match his thought forms while he was asleep,” said April. “If his hands were burning, that’s my fault, not his!”
“Are you telling me he’s not in your head?”
April’s expression was fierce. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you!”
“Then where did I hire you?” asked Casey.
“The 93rd, in Mariner Valley,” said April.
“Which Mariner Valley?”
“On Mars!” said April.
“What were you drinking?” asked Casey.
“By the time you decided to show up? Nothing! I was about to pay the check when yo
u walked in. You teased me about being a wretched psychic if I didn’t even know when you were going to be there, so I patiently explained the difference between what I can do, what a precognate can do, and what a remote viewer can do.”
Casey thought about it. “Well, if he’s in your head, he’d have access to your memories.”
“He’s proof against my psychic abilities, remember?” asked April. “You said it yourself! Either he doesn’t have a psychic resonance, or his psychic power is an internal counter-frequency. Those are the only two things it can be.”
“I guess that makes sense.” Casey relaxed somewhat. “And I guess that means he can’t possess anybody.”
“That’s right!”
Casey spent a moment more in thought. “Well, that’s a relief.” She gripped the hand wheel and opened the airlock’s inner door. Extending her hand toward Orin, she said, “Prisoner, you’re free to return to your seat.”
“Get bent,” growled Orin, and he ignored her hand as he pulled himself through. He returned to the bench, where he strapped himself into his safety harness. Sullenly, he massaged his wrists.
Casey reached for the restraints, but April stopped her.
“Don’t,” said April.
Casey regarded her incredulously. “He’s our prisoner! Why wouldn’t I cuff him?”
“Trust me,” whispered April. “Right now, we need to extend him some kindness. When he gives the ingestion tech his report, there’s no reason he won’t mention this incident, and your actions fall squarely under the statutes of attempted murder—of a top tier federal asset, no less. That means you lose your badge, and they arrest you.”
Casey scoffed. “Attempted murder, please! I had reason to believe you were under attack. What I did was justified.”
“MABAS will not see it that way,” said April. “Remember, this is a transport job.”
Casey began to protest, but she caught herself. “Oh.” Suddenly, her throat felt dry. “What should we do?”
“If I can get on Orin’s good side before we hand him over, he might choose to omit this particular event,” said April. “I can’t pressure him into it either, for obvious reasons.”
