Sentients Of Orion: Transformation Space Part 19

Rast began to tap hard on the com-sole, impatient to get something from it.

Jo-Jo pushed her hand away, slowly but deliberately. 'You break it, we wont hear nothin.

Randalls fists clenched and her shoulders bunched, as though she might launch herself at him. He tensed for the a.s.sault, but her expression changed again.

'Im going to catch some shut-eye. Wake me if you hear anythin.

She got up and left the room.

Catchut stared down at his hands.

'Sleeps a good thing, said Jo-Jo eventually, and went out.

Jo-Jo woke some time later, stiff from lying on the floor. He was in the room next to the galley-anywhere else had seemed too far to go. Easing up into a crouch, he stretched his back before attempting to stand. Hed been dreaming of Mira Fedor, he realised. A vivid, intense dream in which they were talking; she was so close that he could smell the biozoon secretions on her skin and see the hunted look in her eyes.

He scrubbed at his face, waking himself up more, but the sense of her stuck with him. When would this stupid obsession fade? Weeks had pa.s.sed since hed seen her. Hed barely known her before that. And yet here he was, trembling from the dreamed contact, filled with a compulsion to try the com-sole again.

He listened for sounds of the others. The building was quiet except for Randalls shallow snores. Jo-Jo followed the sound to a room down the corridor, where Randall and Catchut lay with their backs to each other, clubs fas.h.i.+oned from broken furniture within easy reach.

Jo-Jo backed out and headed down the stairs, to the bas.e.m.e.nt room where theyd left the com-sole. He examined the selection options and reset a couple. On his first scan, he picked up real noise on several channels. Some of it was coded, or at least in a language he couldnt understand.

He ran the scan again. And again.

Nothing. Whatever had prompted him awake to try the device had been wrong. No one was there. No rescue.

Yet he tried several more times, for lack of anything else to do.

Still nothing comprehensible. On impulse, he switched to the visual band. If there were OLOSS s.h.i.+ps out there, he might recognise their ident signatures.

The com-soles small display showed cl.u.s.ters of unidentifiable craft.

Extros, he figured. Hundreds. More than hundreds.

He stared at the screen. What are they doing here? It couldnt just be for the quixite. Maybe Randall was right. There was something else here. Someth- A new signature appeared in the centre of the display, and resolved into a recognisable OLOSS ident. A biozoon. He knew the peculiar wave signature, similar to his hybrid s.h.i.+p, Salacious.

He left the com-sole, ran up the stairs and woke Randall and Catchut.

Randall was up and heading from the room before he could speak.

'What? What is it? she demanded.

'Theres a 'zoon up there! Jo-Jo thumbed skyward.

Randall grabbed his arm with strong fingers. 'Who? Fedor?

He shook her off and turned to hurry back with her. 'Yeah. For what its worth, I think its her.

Randall accelerated past him, beating him to the com-sole by holding the railing and jumping down the stairs. She was peering at the display by the time he joined her.

'That it? She pointed to the blip, her voice trembling the same way his body had been when hed woken.

He wanted to tell her about the dream. How close hed been to Mira. How he could have touched her... but it sounded wishful and stupid. And he had no reason to share it with his compet.i.tor, other than that it made Mira seem real and alive.

'Crux, I think youre right, she said. 'Its a 'zoon, all right. Any chance its yours? The one that was stolen?

Jo-Jo shrugged. 'Doubt it. The hybrids leave a slightly different sig. This one looks to be pure 'zoon.

As they watched, the biozoon wave suddenly extinguished.

'Shes gone. Randalls voice went hoa.r.s.e.

'No. Jo-Jo jerked his head up, testing the air as if he could scent something, or feel a vibration. 'The signatures gone, but shes still here.

'How do you know that? You guessin? Randall rounded on him, her face so close that her spit wet his cheek.

'I dont know, he said with a self-deprecating laugh. 'But I do. The biozoons there, and Fedor is on board.

'Loco, said Randall, fingers to her temple, pulling the trigger on an imaginary pistol. 'Inventin things.

Jo-Jo shrugged. 'Yeah. Probably. But we need to find those survivors. When she comes, its going to be one trip only. Sh.e.l.l be looking for them, not us. We dont want to miss the ride.

Randall paced a few steps. 'Did you check the maps in the studium?

'Yeah. Two likely places with enough cover and fresh water. Got the coordinates here. He tapped his head.

She snorted. 'Couldnt you think of a safer place?

'Seemed the safest to me. Insurance in these uncertain times.

'What about the Saqr? Find out anything useful?

'They can survive in anything, even a vacuum. Can handle extremes in temperature. A decade without water.

'That tough?

Jo-Jo nodded. 'Whoever picked them to take over this planet knew what they were doin. Seems they can go without food too.

'The ones we saw acted hungry enough.

'I guess while theyre active they need to eat. But in stasis they can go for years without it.

'Physical weaknesses?

Jo-Jo screwed his face up in recall. 'Theyre plated in five sections by an exoskeleton. Then therere the claws. Everything inside them is real basic: pharynx, colon, ventral nervous system. Not much to mess with.

'Ventral? Wha.s.sat mean?

'Their nervous system runs along their belly instead of their back. b.a.s.t.a.r.ds dont even need each other to sp.a.w.n.

'Wait! Along the belly. Gotta be something we can work with there.

'Maybe. But the exoskel-the cuticle-covers everything.

'Must be somethin that can dissolve the cuticle.

'Fedor will know that, he said.

'Youre losin it, Rasterovich. No way you cn know if its her up there. He heard her frustration.

They fell silent, both watching the display.

'But it could be someone. Someone who can get us off this dead rock. Its nearly daylight, she said eventually. 'Get some more sleep. Well go tonight. She brushed past him and headed upstairs again.

THALES.

Farisss gaze scalded Thales. 'You 'n her?

He turned from watching Mira Fedor disappear out of the doorway, and tilted his head to stare up at the woman he adored. Her wide eyes were narrow with doubt. At any other time he might have felt some satisfaction, even pleasure, that she was suspicious. Now though it seemed strangely unreal. 'No, he said with finality. 'Never. I want to find Gutnee Paraburd.

Fariss accepted his clipped response without insult or comment. She was a pragmatic person, not a sensitive one, and she was shaking her head. 'Best thing now is to get out of here. Sophos wont listen to you, no matter what you got as proof. I say we go 'n hunt down those that dont like the way things are here. Talk to them. Maybe they got some leverage.

He smiled. 'You sound like a member of Consilience.

She cracked the door open again and squinted. 'Whatever it is, you better decide, quick.

A welter of thoughts ran through Thaless mind. He knew that finding Paraburd was not just about proving his innocence to the Sophos. In all honesty he wanted revenge on the devious fellow. An image of Fariss placing her hands around Paraburds neck... No! He stopped himself and searched deep within to touch his Jainist beliefs. Revenge would not serve them at this point. Revenge was not a worthy motive.

'We should go. Find the woman, Linnea. Build a case among those who would listen, he agreed.

Fariss glanced back at him and grinned approvingly. She pulled a small dagger from her boot and used it to prise an iron leg from a chair. Then she slipped the bar through her belt as a secondary weapon. 'We go straight for the outside pad. Steal a local ride. Once we get out into the transit area again, Im gonna start some trouble. Keep me in sight, but stay back. Its gonna be untidy for a bit.

Thales moved alongside her, and stood on his toes to kiss her mouth.

She responded by lifting him to her and sliding her tongue into his mouth-a moist, pa.s.sionate, dominating kiss that left him weak. He clung to her for a moment or two, savouring her strength and solidity.

She lifted her head and set him on his feet gently, as if he were a child.

'Fariss. Thank you for staying- "Nother time, hon. We gotta go.

Her casual endearment filled him with unbelievable warmth.

Then she was all business. 'Go left down the corridor and take the first door into the main port. Ill be behind you. Once youre out there, blend into the crowd and tail me. When we get close to an exit, go outside and find a taxi.

'What if I cant get one? The terminal is frantic.

She looked at him steadily. 'Thales, I want you to steal one.

'S-steal? But Im not- 'Just get the taxi and get it near me. Ill do the rest. She gave him a confident smile. 'Got it?

He nodded and looked to the door.

She stepped in front of him and threw it open.

'Go!

He ran left without looking back. In a few seconds, raised voices echoed from the way hed come. Fariss was blocking the corridor, stalling until he got out. He heard the groan as her fists made contact with the first guard. A rifle discharged.

Not her. Please, not her!

But he didnt stop. If he stayed, hed be a hindrance. He would do as she said. She was a soldier. She could take of herself. She can. He repeated it to himself as he ran.

The nearest service entrance to the port was blocked by a cleaning trolley and several large containers containing liquid catoplasma. He tried to heave the trolley to one side, but the containers were too heavy. In desperation, he dropped to the floor and used all the strength in his legs to push. The trolley s.h.i.+fted enough to slide the door ajar. He squeezed through into the terminal.

A quick glance told him the biggest crowds stood around the ticketing counters, so he hurried over and joined a queue.

Only moments later, heads began to turn as the door hed come through was flung open, and a catoplasma drum-minus lid-rolled out. The liquid splashed and spread like an oil spill. It would thicken soon, and then harden.

Fariss followed it, jumping the puddle of liquid with one enormous leap. The pursuing politic guard tried to emulate her athleticism and fell short, slipping in the mess and giving her a precious advantage in the chase.

But more Robes came from other directions. Thales saw that they were hesitant to use their rifles in the crowds. Fariss ducked under the kaffe railing and threaded through tables, pulling them over behind her, knocking over beakers of mokka and plates. Patrons scrambled away, shouting, adding to the furore.

Thales saw his opportunity and walked quickly to an exit. In his rush, he b.u.mped into someone. An apology sprang automatically to his lips until he recognised the man: Gutnee Paraburd, his hair longer, his chin covered with gingerish stubble.

They stared at each other in unhappy recollection, then Gutnee stepped neatly back to allow a group to pa.s.s between them; when theyd gone, so had Paraburd.

Thales didnt linger. The lack of surprise in Gutnees expression told him that the man knew him to be here. He ran out of the building and across the tarmac among the traffic auditors and the AiVs manoeuvring into parking spots. Fariss was ahead of him, weaving in and out of vehicles, ducking around pay stations He approached the bank of taxis. 'Esques milled around the pay maestro, demanding rides. The maestro shouted at them, trying to force them into some order.

The taxis were all locked automatons. Thales wouldnt be able to get one without the maestros release command.

Steal one, Thales.

Keeping track of Fariss, he edged over to the private vehicle lot. A family of 'esques were climbing out of a small domestic flyer, simultaneously engaged in a blossoming argument.

Thales waited until they were at the rear luggage compartment, then crawled into the pa.s.senger seat from the other side. He lay there for a few moments staring at the controls, breathing heavily. Hed operated similar vehicles as a child, transporting scholars to and from his birth town to the Logic Courts, and then later, a few times, when he and Rene had taken holidays on the Faust Coast. This one was even simpler than those, a luxurious and virtually automated flyer with an updated verbal command function.

The carriage rocked as the luggage compartment slammed shut.

He had to decide. Fariss wouldnt be able evade the Robes much longer.

Voices grew louder, and the door slid open. A hand fumbled along the pilot seat for the activation slide, the 'esque still talking to his family outside the door. The man had only to turn his head to see Thales lying sideways on his seat.

Thales grasped his chance. He grabbed the slide and rotated his body around, reached for the ignition slot. The slide slipped in, and the vehicle issued a guttural start-up sound which sent the mans head swiveling.

'What- 'Close doors, Thales told the craft.

The man instinctively withdrew his hand to avoid having it crushed and yelled.