Fledge

by JA Huss

  He takes my hand as I get dizzy. "No, we are outside the habitat. Look behind you."

  I do and I smile.

  Amelia is beautiful. She's a torus, all right. But she's got four rings to her, not just one. She spins like a top, creating the gravity felt on the outer rim. The spaceports in the center are rather busy even at this time of night and I see several orbitals come and go in the span of just a few seconds.

  "Wow." I look over at him and smile, laugh actually. "I'm officially impressed."

  He lets out a fake sigh. "Finally, I have impressed Junco the Just One Small Girl."

  I look sideways at him, trying to gauge his intentions with that comment, but his face is a blank. He sits down on the air and I follow. Our legs dangle over some invisible edge. "How are we breathing? How is there gravity?"

  "We're in a bubble of sorts. I have a few special talents that I won't," he eyes me cautiously, "be sharing the details of with you."

  "How did we get here?" He's about to answer when I spy Orion and point up. Everything in the sky for me starts and ends with Orion. He's the first constellation I ever learned. "It's a lot easier to see the stars from here than it was in that tube thing Ashur took me to."

  Lucan smiles. "Ashur, I should have figured."

  "What's that mean?"

  "They are attached to you already, Junco." I am still thinking about this when he switches gears. "I want you to succeed, do you believe me?"

  I shrug. "Well, I suppose you'd be a lot meaner if you wanted me to fail, so yeah. I can see that."

  "But still, no matter what I do, this will not end well. It will be difficult."

  I squint up at him now. "Why?"

  "Things have been set in motion. Only going back to Earth would have changed it enough to shift the future."

  My voice hardens. "He brought me a video of Moju's finger being cut off, Lucan. He was a plant."

  "Yes, that's what you said. So, here we are." He puts his head in his hands and rubs his temples again.

  "You know, for a guy who hates Tier so much, you two sure are a lot alike."

  His head snaps up. "If you only knew how inappropriate that comment was." The silence between us drags on for a few seconds before he continues. "In which way are we similar?"

  He looks over at me and I feel pressure to explain. "Well, he hates when I swear. He actually did mention it a few times back on Earth, and not in a nice way either." Lucan smiles, but does not reply. "And you both rub your head like that when I'm making life difficult."

  He nods at this.

  "I don't love him, Lucan. I'm not here to save him. Charlie was my love. Moju is part of me, but Tier was just a nice distraction when I really needed one. Someone who held me accountable when it made all the difference. A pretty cool guy, but it didn't get far, and it's going nowhere now. So–"

  He tisks his tongue against his teeth. "You're wrong, Junco. All of this is tied up with the dynamics between the two of you."

  I wait and the silence is heavy between us.

  "Perhaps it is possible that you think you're here for something else, but…" He looks over at me. "I doubt it. We both know you're plotting."

  I laugh. "Well, tell me what I can do about it, because to be honest, I'm out of ideas."

  "There is nothing, Junco. Truly nothing you can do."

  I nod and look down. It's my turn to be silent.

  His hand touches my shoulder and we are back on the bench in front of the train stop. "It's late."

  "Right, well." We stand up together. "Thanks for the talk."

  He bows a little. "The pleasure was all mine, Miss Coot."

  And then he is gone.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The clock in the hallway nearest the stairs reads 3 AM and I know I will regret staying up so late in the morning.

  What the fuck are you talking about, Junco? It is morning.

  Right.

  My feet shuffle up the stairs in slow motion and then try to be quiet as I make my way over to our bunks. When I get there Isec is sleeping in my bed and the coughing girl is in his. He wakes as I'm taking my boots off and shoves over so I can get in.

  When I'm settled next to him Isec begins his questions, but doesn't open his eyes. "What did he do, Junco?"

  I pat his head and smile. "Nothing, really."

  He opens his eyes a little. "That's not true. Tell me, please."

  "I just told him it was self-defense." I shrug against him. "And that was pretty much that."

  "Then why did you take forever to come back?"

  "Has it been long? It didn't feel like we were gone that long."

  "Where did you go?"

  I think about the trip and smile. "He took me up to see the stars," I say as I let out a cavernous yawn.

  Isec is awake now. "Really? I want to hear it all, Junco. Tell me."

  "Tomorrow, Isec. I'm tired."

  He shakes his head. "No, you'll forget the little details if we wait until tomorrow."

  "You're weird, ya know that? You're not supposed to want to know about the little details of my life, kid."

  "I'm from Psyche Cluster, Junco, I'm supposed to know everything about everyone."

  "So why are you here trying to get into Aves?" I turn so I can watch him talk.

  "I failed our Fledge, so this was my only chance to stay alive."

  "Oh, what do the Psyche Cluster do for Fledge? Kill people with their minds?" I smile at my own joke.

  "No, I'm not telepathic, you can't pass Psyche Fledge if you're not telepathic."

  "Wow, I had no idea that some avians were telepaths."

  "It's like a big secret, like how the Aves can read and write avian."

  "And now you just spilled it to me! Good going!"

  He laughs. "Fuck them. Assholes kicked me out."

  "Yeah," I agree. "Fuck them. Telepaths aren't so special."

  "That's why I ask so many questions, it's the only way I can understand what people are thinking."

  I rub his head and let out a stunted laugh. "Well, ya know what, Isec? On Earth, no one is telepathic. So all the great psychologists have to ask questions in order to figure people out."

  He looks up at me. "You're lying to make me feel better."

  I laugh again. This time I don't bother to keep it in. "I'm serious! We don't have telepaths on Earth. That's like crazy shit talk."

  "Tell me everything."

  I hiss out a little breath. "OK, fine. The guy took me to a little room with a monitor..."

  When I get to the part about the rape, he stops me.

  "Were you really scared of them, Junco? Or were you trying to make it sound worse than it really was? So Lucan would feel sorry for you?"

  "Jeez, kid, cynical much?" I look down at him but he's still waiting for my answer and for some reason his upturned gaze makes it harder for me to justify the lie. "I wasn't scared if that's what you're after."

  He nods and I continue. The next probe comes after I tell him about the SEAR. "It's a weapon, Isec. It's very dangerous and on Earth, and probably here too, they are outlawed."

  "Then why do you have one?"

  "I can't tell you that, but you have to take my word that it's necessary."

  He stops me again at the ionspray part. "I'm glad he's not cheating for you, Junco. That's not right. And I'm glad you didn't use them, even though you thought they were health sprays."

  He's pretty perceptive for ten. I agree and move on but he stops to question me at every sentence after that.

  "How could you not know who he was?"

  "What color is Amelia from space?"

  "Why does he care what you think of him?"

  I think about this one for a while before answering. "I'm not really sure, Isec. Why do you think he cares? You're the Psyche kid."

  He smiles, but his eyes are closed. "He likes you, Junco."

  "Yeah, I've considered that. It only makes sense."

  "Will you like him back?"

  "No, I can't afford
to, Isec. It's insanely complicated."

  "No, not really." His eyes are open and he sits up. "You don't have to act on the like, but you can still admit that you like him, you know."

  I smile. "Yeah, that's true. OK, I like him, I guess."

  This satisfies him and he lies back down. "So, what do you think he's talking about when he told you things are in motion?"

  "I'm not sure, but Tier and Ashur both said the same thing. So there's something to that, right?"

  I feel him nod. He is still for a long time after that and my mind wanders over the conversation as well. Lucan is nice-looking, in a blond Western Utopia kind of way. He doesn't add up though, and this puts me off even though he can tick an awful lot of boxes as far as men go.

  Isec stirs and I push some hair out of his eyes and then turn over to lie on my back.

  "Are you plotting to save Tier, Junco?"

  I let out a deep breath before answering. "What kind of friend would I be if I wasn't, Isec? He deserves better than to be killed off for saving my life."

  "You do save him, ya know."

  I smile. "Yeah? How do you know that, kid?"

  He yawns, long and slow, before he speaks. "I might not be telepathic, but I am precognitive."

  I lie there in shock, wondering if he's telling the truth. When I finally figure out something to say back it's too late. His little-boy snores have invaded the silence and the moment has passed.

  Ash is sitting on my bunk and the entire dorm is empty when I wake up, sore as fuck from yesterday's training and fighting.

  "You will join the living today, then?"

  "Oh shit, Ashur, do you know what happened last night?"

  He nods. "Yeah, Lucan called me right after I got home. I can't leave you anywhere."

  I sit up in bed and yawn. "What time is it?"

  "Noon, get the hell up, we've got work to do. Fight Two is tomorrow."

  "Yeah, let me take a shower first though. I never got one last night."

  "Want me to wait here?"

  I'm about to say yes when I have an idea. "No, go teach Isec something useful, will you? He needs some practice." I swing my legs over and start to walk away towards the showers when he calls out.

  "Junco." I turn back and find a very serious Ashur. "Do not get attached to that child. He will never make it, you understand?"

  "I'm already attached, Ashur. So he better fucking make it, do you understand? Go teach him something. Please."

  When I walk into the showers my gaze automatically goes to the drain where the heads were rolling last night. There is no evidence left. I wonder if Kush knows what happened?

  The shower feels good and I stand in it a lot longer than I would have if people were around. It's nice to enjoy some privacy when you're naked. I'm not typically shy about such things, I've been showering with the boys forever so I'm just used to it, but that doesn't mean I like it.

  After I go looking for my package and find an extra-large one in the cubbie marked Junco, Aves 039-9.

  I dry off and put my clothes and boots on before searching through the rest of it. The note says, Have a very boring day, and I laugh out loud to myself. Yeah, I could use a boring day. Tomorrow surely won't be boring and if Isec doesn't make it I'm not going to be happy. At all.

  There is another ionspray and I dose myself before pulling out the last object.

  It's a data reader.

  I thumb the biometrics and it's Lucan.

  "Looks like you're right, Junco. This came in yesterday. I didn't tell you last night because we weren't finished analyzing it. But it's genuine, maybe the one Slag thought he was delivering to you instead of the one you ended up seeing. Please be careful in the Second Fight."

  A new display appears, asking for a fingerprint to continue. I press my thumb and another video pops up.

  This one stars Selia and I smile.

  "Junco, I hope this reaches you and you are well. I did everything you asked, in fact, I've done more than you've asked and I'm currently embedded with a Subjack Sector. I have met your mother. Delightful woman. No, just kidding. She's scary as fuck and you make a lot more sense now." She stops to smile at the videographer, then continues. "I sent the package on to Charlie's family, but I have to say it did not go well. Perhaps you will return to Earth one day and we can talk about it?" She hesitates here, as if choosing words. "That's not quite true either. The entire purpose of the video is to invite you back to Earth. Subjack would like to hire you. I am making this with the blessing of your mother. She said to extend you an invitation."

  That sounded like something she'd say word for word. Very technical and cold. To hire you, Junco.

  "I have some rather juicy information about some siblings that might interest you. We could discuss it more in person. I realize you're a long way away, and this is probably out of your control, but…" She shrugs into the camera, her careful words gone. "I have things to tell you, things you should know before you get caught up in it."

  She pauses again, then pulls off her hat and shoves it into the side pocket of her fatigues. She's got a long gash across her scalp and half of her ear is missing. "It's been quite an experience, Junco. I think of you every night. Every night," she repeats. "If there is a way, please come. We're moving up North next, to wait."

  She smiles, then the video clicks off. A date flashes on screen. January 3, 2153.

  I have no idea what the date is today. I was under for two months if Ashur's vague reference to my last meal was any indication of how long morph takes. I went aboard the ship with Tier in November, exact date also unknown. So it is at least late January or early February.

  I look around the showers, unable to make a commitment to move or stay, until I hear Ashur calling my name out in the dorm. He pops his head in the shower room. "Hurry up, Junco. Fight's tomorrow!"

  I shove everything back down in the bag and lock it up in the cubbie for later. There is one lingering question on my mind and I stop and stare blindly at the transparent biometrics pad. Who the fuck is Subjack? I'm having a hard time believing that Lucan isn't more interested in these new developments, seeing as how she mentioned the Siblings. I look over at the door and find Ashur still waiting.

  "You wanna tell me what the fuck that was all about?"

  I shake my head and let out a deep breath. "Ashur, if I knew I still might not tell you, but I have no idea, so it doesn't matter."

  "Well, what do you expect? It's all mystery all the time with you, Junco. No happy medium at all, is there?"

  This time I laugh, because to do anything else will just make it worse. He grabs my hand and pulls me out and we walk in silence to the training room.

  Chapter Fourteen

  In the training room Esta has Isec off to one side and he looks very unhappy. Ashur notices the direction of my gaze and pulls me away. "Leave them, Junco. He's her responsibility."

  We walk straight through to another hallway and over to the elevators, and then ascend to the top floor. I don't say anything and neither does Ash and by the time I'm floating in the free-G it's awkward.

  He swims up next to me, his wings paddling the air with perfect control. "You're mad at me?"

  I shake my head and change the subject. "What do you want me to do here?"

  He drops it. "I want you to touch down and take off of every mushroom starting here," he points to the near end where we presently are, "and then change Z-space and repeat it on the upper mushrooms, ending there." He points to the mushroom above the starting point.

  It's a lot fucking harder than it sounds.

  For one, the gravity well isn't just 1G, it's like 2. So you fall hard when you come down.

  And for another, that same 2G that drags you down during landing, prevents you from taking off as well.

  I complete the pattern three times and I can feel my chest and back straining. I hope Lucan puts a giant dose of G-analog in my package tonight. Ashur, to his credit, does the pattern with me. Much faster and more precise.

/>   On the last round, on the last mushroom, I overcompensate for the drag on my wings and smack into the stone platform knees first. I roll in standard approved fashion, but when I come to a rest I know I have serious bruises.

  "Fuck!"

  Ashur glides up like this is no big deal. He's not even breathing hard. "You all right?"

  I lie on the ground a few more seconds, silent and rubbing my eyes. "I'm tired."

  "You wanna be done?" He sits down next to my prone body and waits for my answer.

  "I want to go talk to Isec and look at the fight room diagram." I sit up and watch him stare at me. "What?"

  He shakes his head and averts his eyes off to some point across the room. "Junco, that kid will get you killed. Do you hear me? We're not doing strategy with him."

  "Yes, Ashur, we are. If you don't want him to plan with us in the training room, fine. I'll show him what to do later. But he's getting prepped and either way, we're in this together."

  He sighs and looks even farther away before tracking back to my face. "If he gets you killed, Junco, I'll kill him myself. You understand me? We are not here to babysit throwaways." He stands, grabs my hand, and pulls me up. "You are here for one reason only, to leave alive and go back to the 039 with me. Got it?"

  I push off and swim over to the exit without replying. The ride back down is silent as well, and when we get to the training room the heat of his anger is dripping off him like sweat. Isec is doing some stupid drills that look like they have zero chance of helping us live tomorrow.

  I let out a big sigh, then walk over to Esta, leaving Ashur to fume alone.

  "How's it going over here, guys?"

  Isec shoots me a dirty look. "You said she wouldn't fucking talk like that to me anymore, Junco. She said by the time the Aves kids are five, they've survived at least six attempts on their lives by their clutch mothers. I think she feels obligated to make me suffer through all six attempts before Fight Two."

  Damn, a lot of shit happens to Aves kids by the time they are five. Almost makes my training seem like playschool.