Sentients Of Orion: Transformation Space Part 35

Then he was alone with the dead and two 'esques hed never seen before: a Balol who stood behind his workstation as if rooted there and a Lostolian with strange multi-faceted eyes. The latter advanced on Thales with a knife in his hand.

Thales backed towards the direction the technicians had fled, but the Lostolian cut him off from the hatch so he crouched down and looked around for something to defend himself. He spotted a gun partially covered by a body.

'Ra! bellowed the Balol. 'Stop!

Ra? The name meant something, but fear prevented him from being able to remember.

'Hes the disruption. His death will be the repeller, hissed the Lostolian. He moved closer as he spoke, stopping just short of stabbing distance from Thales.

'Him. Why is he important? said the Balol.

'Hes not. Its his connection to others. How his death will affect their actions.

'Youre being insane, Ra. You cant possibly believe- The Balol broke off as Thales grabbed the gun and raised it.

With one tiny movement of his thumb, Thales knew he could end the Lostolians life, but he baulked.

Thoughts cartwheeled through his mind, and emotions deluged his body. He felt as if the whole point of his existence hinged on what he did right now. Hed left Scolar as a naive young man who, for a time, deserted his Jainist principles. But now hed returned, knowing much more of himself. He wished Villon was here to tell.

Then, just as quickly as hed become paralysed and confused, the right choice became clear. He would not kill anyone. Not even to defend his life.

He threw the gun away and stared at Ra.

The Lostolian, surprised by his action, hesitated.

And as he did, the Balol made a choice of his own. He pushed aside the workstation and leapt forward. With nearly as much force as Petalu Mau had used on Lasper Farr, the Balol punched Ra in the back of the head.

Ra fell.

Thales watched the Balol dive forward, teeth bared and face contorted. Heaving his body at the Lostolian, the Balol impaled Ra with the spikes of his stiffened frill.

Ra made one short gurgling sound of pain then fell still.

Immediately, the Balol withdrew his frill and wiped the spikes clean on Ras robe. When he stood up again, his teeth were still bared but his face was composed.

'He wanted to change the course of events, the Balol told him, as if Thales should understand.

But Thales shook his head in bewilderment.

The Balol gave a rough laugh. 'My name is Balbao, formerly Chief Astronomein of Belle-Monde. That was Ra of Lostol, one of the tyros. The rest of it will take a while in the telling.

'Thales!

Fariss was back, covered in blood. 'Its done! Her eyes narrowed and she looked between him and the Balol.

'Whats done? asked Balbao.

Thales stared at Balbao. 'Weve started the sequence to close the s.h.i.+ft sphere. In a few days no one will be able to leave Scolar station.

'And now we have to get out of here, said Fariss with feeling. 'Every red robe on the station is coming our way.

'Commander Farrs s.h.i.+p is close, said Balbao.

Fariss looked to Thales and nodded. 'Lets go.

TRIN.

They reached the beach before dawn when the darkness became a pearly grey. As Randall had predicted, two enormous biozoons were set deep in the wet sand of the shallows. The survivors waited in the treeline, watching as three figures emerged from inside one of the creatures. The three climbed down the roughened side of their craft and stepped into the shallows. One of them waded across to the other biozoon while the other two headed up onto the beach.

Even from a distance Trin recognised the two approaching the sh.o.r.e: Randalls man Josef had returned and-Trins heart contracted into a tight fist-Mira Fedor.

'Mira, croaked Ca.s.s Mulravey. The woman broke from shelter and ran down to the beach, arms outstretched.

'Its Mira! This came from Djeserit, at his side.

'Wait! said Trin.

But, like Mulravey, Djes was already moving.

Along the line of watchers, calls went out to each other.

'The Baronessa is back.

'Shes come for us! cried Josefia Genarro.

'Its her! Mira Fedor is here!

Trin wanted them all to stop, wanted to take control, wanted to speak to Mira before anyone else, but their excitement wasnt to be contained, even by him.

They spilled down onto the beach, leaving Trin alone with the two mercenaries, Randall and Catchut.

Both stared keenly at the new arrivals.

'Its Rasterovich, Capo, said Catchut.

'I got eyes, Cat. Randall turned to Trin. 'Dont seem as thrilled as the rest, Pellegrini? Even in the dull light he could see her expression hardening. 'Dont you wanna be saved today? You maybe enjoyin this c.o.c.k-o-the-walk thing you got goin here.

Mira Fedor. His saviour? The idea was repugnant. Hed sent her away in the hope that she would find help from OLOSS. He had not expected she would come back herself. And where was the baby hed impregnated her with? He saw no signs of pregnancy in her thin straight physique. Had she lost the babe? Miscarried it? Or had it removed? Eccentric as her morals were, surely she would not have aborted her own child.

Panic streaked through him. He must speak with her alone before she said things that might damage the balance of things here, things that could undermine his authority.

He started forward but Randall tripped him.

He fell flat and a weight descended on his back, pinning him there. Thighs gripped his head, pus.h.i.+ng his face into the sand. 'Not so quick, Pellegrini. Im thinkin your flock might need to have a confab with the Baronessa without you breathin down their necks.

Randall s.h.i.+fted around on top of him as if making herself comfortable. 'Well just wait a little before we go and join them. Have a bit of a confab ourselves. What you say to that?

MIRA.

Mira saw Ca.s.s first, heard the hoa.r.s.e call and recognised the thin ragged shape running down to meet them. Her heart leapt in her chest and she let go of Josefs hand to wade out of the water.

They met in the sand above the water line in a tight and emotional embrace. No words came immediately, just relief and heartfelt joy.

'He said youd run out on us. I knew it was a lie, whispered Ca.s.s after a moment.

Mira stiffened for an instant. 'Trinder?

Ca.s.s stepped back so she could look at her. 'We need to talk, you and I, alone. But not now. Not in front of the rest.

Mira nodded. 'Theres not much time. I have to go soon. Well leave one of the biozoons for you.

'Go?

'Something important I have to do. Ca.s.s, the Post-Species are controlling the Saqr. And now theyre overrunning Orion.

'We feared something like that, said Ca.s.s. 'Mira, if you have to leave, take Vito.

Mira gripped her arm. 'Vitos alive?

Ca.s.s nodded, tears beginning to fall without check. 'I fed him what I could, but weve had little enough to eat.

Mira faced the rest of the advancing survivors. She picked out Josefia Genarro among them, who carried a small thin 'bino. 'But Josef... Mira swung back to Josef, who had stopped behind her. 'You said hed died!

He looked confused. 'I saw a boy killed with a spear. Happened as we got here.

Ca.s.ss fist went to her lips. She ground her knuckles against her teeth before replying. 'Not your 'bino, Mira. Mine. Both gone now. Both of them.

'Chanee? And your ragazzo? Mira saw the pain on Ca.s.ss face. She wasnt just starved and exhausted, her spirit was in tatters.

Mira hugged her again, more fiercely this time, not knowing how else to give comfort.

They stood together as the survivors surrounded them. But at the sight of Josefia with Vito, Mira let her go of Ca.s.s and reached for her adopted child. She lifted him into her arms. To her distress, he didnt feel much heavier than Nova. Nor did he seem to know her.

'Vito.

He blinked his solemn eyes at the sound of her voice.

She leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead, aware of the tension in the little body.

He reached out for Ca.s.s Mulravey, who shook her head. 'Mama, Vito. This is your mama.

The survivors watched silently.

'Vito. Mira said his name again and traced her finger down his bare legs. 'Mira. Its Mira.

There was some jostling in the group and the korm pushed its way through. It whistled to her and bowed its tall frame, until its head was close to hers. 'Mra.

'Korm! The tears she had kept at bay while comforting Ca.s.s Mulravey sprang freely to her eyes. The alien ragazzo was a scarecrow, barely recognisable save for its size and fur.

She reached up and fondled its crest. It chittered softly.

Copying Miras action, Vito lifted his thin arm and put his fingers to Miras cheek.

She turned her head and kissed his fingers, hardly daring to breathe.

Suddenly Vito smiled and brought his other hand up to link around her neck. 'Mra.

Mira hugged him to her. 'Hes speaking, she said ecstatically.

'A few words only. Not much for us to say to each other these last months, said Ca.s.s.

A ripple of emotion pa.s.sed through the group.

Mira felt it keenly, just as she felt her own elation, and relief, and despair. She should have been quicker with help. They were barely alive. And where was Trin Pellegrini?

Before she could ask Ca.s.s about the young Principe, the silence broke.

'Whats happening out there? asked someone.

'Have you come for us? Another 'esque.

Questions flew at her and voices rose to such a pitch that she could barely hear one from the other.

'Quiet! Josef stepped in front of her, arms outstretched.

Surprisingly, they responded to his firm order.

'Back up, he said to the first line of people.

They complied, creating room around Mira and Ca.s.s.

Though Josef was much thinner than Mira remembered him, he looked strong and capable alongside the starved survivors.

'Yes, weve come for you. And yes, well tell you everything we know. But its only a short time until daylight, he said. 'We will need to take cover.

'Its too far back to the caves, said Ca.s.s Mulravey. 'Well rest in the bushes above the beach.

Jo-Jo nodded and looked to the lightening night sky. 'Then we should get there now.

As the group began to move back up the beach, Mira noticed a slight figure standing off to one side under the waning moonlight. 'Djes? she called softly. 'Djes?

The young girl she had rescued from the ruins of Villa Fedor came towards her hesitantly.

As she got closer, Mira held out her hand to her, and suddenly Djes was in her arms as Ca.s.s Mulravey had been, clinging to her with relief and disbelief.

'Mira.

Djess body felt muscular and lean and tense with emotion, and she smelt of the sea. As Josef hustled them along, she threaded her arm through Miras and they walked together behind the rest.