Sentients Of Orion: Transformation Space Part 37

'To Semantic.

'The bigger moon?

Mira nodded. 'Nova told me that she would like to travel there with you-in the Secondo vein.

His mouth fell open. 'She told you that?

'Si, said Mira as she lay herself and Vito down in Primo. 'Nova knows what she likes.

THALES.

'Thales!

Thales stared at the person entering the command brief chamber on Lasper Farrs s.h.i.+p. Bethany Ionil looked exhausted, but her embrace was fierce and full of relief.

Behind her, Thales saw Samuelle and the old fellow that Thales had met on Edo, Jelly Hob. Three other 'esques followed them in, and they gravitated straight over to Balbao.

With Petalu Mau, the Feohte injured leader and several of Laspers mutinous soldiers, the chamber was suddenly full. One of the soldiers pa.s.sed around rehyd-tubes and some jerky.

After theyd drunk and eaten a little, Bethany sent the soldiers out. She identified each remaining person for the benefit of them all and told everyone to sit. Then she took up a position in the centre and encompa.s.sed them all with her gaze.

Thales thought she looked older, more worn, but there was a tautness to her body, a resolution that comes with a.s.suming responsibility. Hed seen it before in Lasper Farr, and the mercenary Rast Randall. And now he saw it in Bethany Ionil.

'Youve closed the sphere? she said to Fariss and Thales.

'Yeah, said Farris. 'And youve taken command of the s.h.i.+p.

Samuelle moved next to her. 'Not just the s.h.i.+p. Consilience too. Some of our s.h.i.+ps have survived. Well rendezvous with them soon.

'My brother was a brilliant man but he risked too much for personal ambition, said Beth wearily, and that was all.

Thales could see how close she was to tears but she kept them at bay. 'Were prepping to leave, an hour at most. Words out that the sphere is closing. Things will get worse. Will you come with us?

Thales couldnt bear to look at Farris as he shook his head. 'Ill stay here. The virus has spread among the Sophos. I must find a way to right things.

'With the sphere shut youll be cut off from the rest of Orion. Possibly for ever, said Beth.

Before Thales could respond, Balbao spoke up. 'Would this be a virus that affects humanesque behaviour? One that alters the processes in the orbito-frontal lobe?

Thales stared at him, astonished. 'You know of it?

Balbaos thick-skinned face became unreadable. 'Not only do I know of it, but I can introduce you to the person who developed it and can, no doubt, negate its affects. He gestured at the female tyro.

'You! exclaimed Bethany. 'Do you realise what misery youve caused?

Thales touched his scarred skin.

The tyro, a fleshy female with trembling lips whod identified herself as Miranda Seeward, opened her mouth and shut it again. 'I needed lucre for my research, so I sold it, she said finally. 'I never expected it to... You must understand that what we were doing was very important. I needed funds.

Bethanys face set in a grim expression reminiscent of her dead brother. 'If your intention was not malicious then youll have no qualms accompanying Thales back to Scolar to reverse what youve done. Janne will... escort you.

The injured Feohte leader s.h.i.+fted closer to Miranda.

Seeward grasped the hand of the male tyro next to her and nodded mutely.

Bethany looked to Jelly Hob. 'Jeremiah, can you go to helm? I would be happier if you were there. Leaving here will be fraught.

Jelly Hobs old face lit with pleasure. Before he left he shook hands with Thales and then Balbao. 'Farewell, he said with feeling, and left.

Bethany surveyed the rest of them. 'Those of you staying on Scolar must leave now. Petalu Mau will show you off-s.h.i.+p.

The teranu waved his arm meaning that they should move. Janne, Miranda Seeward and Jise went first. But the other tyro held back. He looked at Bethany almost shyly, Thales thought.

'I would stay if I could, Captain Ionil.

She regarded him with curious eyes. 'Why would you do that? We will be on the run.

Labile Connit licked his lips.

'Cos hes your nephew, Beth. Mebbe he thinks some familys better than none, piped up Samuelle.

Bethany stared at him in shock. 'Youre Laspers son? I never believed the rumours.

Connit couldnt meet her gaze. 'I never knew him, but I am genetically his son. That is all, he added quietly. He waited then as if fearing a death sentence.

But Bethany was not, and would never be, her brother. She held out her hand. 'You are welcome on my s.h.i.+p, Labile Connit.

Relief smoothed the distress from his expression.

'Sammy, find him a cabin and report back to helm, said Bethany.

'Aye, Captain, said the old woman with a bright-eyed gleam.

And then only Thales, Bethany and Fariss were left.

Bethany broke the silence by embracing Thales again. 'I will miss you.

This time he returned her hug fully-for what theyd shared and what shed done for him.

'Goodbye, dear Thales, she whispered.

As he followed Fariss to the docking tube, neither of them spoke.

When they reached it, the last of the Feohte were disembarking. They waited for them on station-side with the tyros and Janne.

'Thales! Janne called. 'We must get back to Ling-Ma.

Thales waved a hand to acknowledge her and finally lifted his gaze to Fariss. She returned it steadily, her expression infused with conflicting emotions.

'Youll stay with the s.h.i.+p, he said.

She nodded. 'And youll stay with your world.

Thales felt his heart tear into pieces. Hed not known what she would choose, not until now, when hed seen her face.

'Id cause trouble for you down here, Thales. Youd grow to hate that.

He didnt know what to say. So he let her kiss him one last time, a lingering, deep, breath-robbing kiss.

'When weve beaten the Post-Species, Ill be back to see you, she said.

He nodded, believing her. 'Ill be waiting.

MIRA.

Mira?

Primo veins attention to Vitos nutritional deficiencies had engrossed Mira as they left Araldis, but the biozoons anxious tone dragged her attention back to their task. Whats wrong?

See-this.

An image slowly bloomed in her mind, an object seemingly half as large as Tiesha or Semantic, burning its way out of Araldiss ionosphere.

The Post-Species Saqr s.h.i.+p.

It pursues us.

Insignia...

What do you want from me, dearest?

The Ent.i.ty is out beyond Tiesha. Ive seen it in Lasper Farrs device. I must reach it. The Saqr mustnt stop me. Mira put all her desperate need into her thought.

I am not equipped to combat the creature that pursues us. Im not even sure what it is.

It is fast?

Yes. Im at full propulsion and it gains on us easily.

Mira felt Insignias desolate certainty.

How much longer?

Moments only.

No!

'No!

Miras cry was echoed by Tekton, who had settled in the Autonomy nub. Only Josef, cradling a peaceful Nova in the Secondo vein, seemed unaware.

'Mira? he called softly as he rocked the baby. 'What is it?

But Mira was transfixed by the image of the approaching Saqr. How enormous it had grown. As she watched it through Insignias corduroy perspective, she saw a crack appear in the forward section of its body. It began as a large fissure in the gleaming carapace, which elongated and widened until the split was wider and longer than Insignia.

The Saqr s.h.i.+p was so close now that she could see inside the split to a frightening and immense ma.s.s. At first she thought it to be some type of vegetation, grown within the Saqrs body, but as it closed on them, she realised it was something else-a jungle of coiled flesh that rippled as though underwater.

What is it? she asked Insignia.

A section of the flesh s.h.i.+fted, an eruption of the ma.s.s, and something began to unravel. It was longer than anything shed ever seen, and sinewy.

It reached out for them across s.p.a.ce and she felt Insignias searing pain as the gigantic stamen caught and burrowed into the biozoons ventral.

Insignia!

Mama! Tasy-al is hurting.

Nova. What can we do? The creature has attached itself to us.

They wish to reach the Ent.i.ty before us.

Miras stomach contracted into a tight fist. How do you know of the Ent.i.ty, Nova? Or what the Saqr intend?

Wanton told me.

You are speaking to Wanton? Now?

Wanton says the Non-Corporeals are trying to extract its essence. Wanton said I should tell you that the Post-Species wish to destroy the Ent.i.ty, so that they may control their own evolution. They fear a more evolved being than themselves.

Mira thought wildly about the point of change that the device had shown them. The Saqr were not there. Not in the images she and Tekton had seen. 'Tekton!

The G.o.dhead didnt reply, entranced by his immersion in the DSD.

Insignia moaned. Dearest, I am dying.

Wanton! shrieked Mira to her daughter. Wanton must help us, Nova. Help Insignia.

Nova gave a little cry. Wanton.

'Mira! exclaimed Jo-Jo. 'Nova is... shes... convulsing. Mira!

But Mira could see what Nova was doing, in a way that Jo-Jo could not.

Her daughter projected a wave of electromagnetic rebuke that crossed the s.p.a.ce between Insignia and the Saqr, and slammed the Post-Species s.h.i.+p.

The shock caused the Saqr to withdraw its stamen from Insignia, and a myriad of other fissures spread across its surface.