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Lura4: Quoros Spaceport, The Splinter
The captain's cabin aboard the Splinter exhibited a compact design. Sleeping, dining and hygiene areas were static, but a fourth space could be converted for exercise or entertainment at will. The entire room was no more than six by seven meters. Now, the quarters were dark and the form in the bed breathed the deep, regular respiration of sleep.
"Alert. Light Cruiser Blue Venture appears to be preparing for launch." Bex's neutral tones pushed Atah toward wakefulness. The message itself brought her upright with a curse.
"Already? I was hoping for a few more hours." Swinging her feet to the floor, Atah made her way to the hygiene unit, programming a cup of coffee and protein-toast into the nourichef along the way. "Never mind. Bex, has there been any activity I should know about?"
"Magnus Caravaggio and a companion left the ship approximately two hours ago."
"Good. I won't have to worry about – wait. A companion? What companion?" Atah surged out of the hygiene unit into the dining area.
"Unknown. The individual did not register as organic."
"Didn't register – Bex! That was Tessa Graham."
"This is not logical. The individual in question showed a low-level electrical signature incompatible with humanoid lifeforms."
"Tessa Graham is an android!"
"The contract is for the death of the human, Tessa Graham. Not an android."
Pounding on the table, Atah struggled to control her temper. "She. Is. Both." Her fist slammed into the smooth surface with every syllable, sending the coffee cup tumbling to the floor. By the last word, she had regained a modicum of control. "Where did they go?"
"North."
"North? Where north?"
"I was only able to trace them to the spaceport gates. They left by the north exit."
"Son of a..." Atah released a stream of curses but spared the table any additional assault. "At least I can be pretty sure where they're going. Just on a different ship." Slumping into the chair, she programmed another cup of coffee and chewed morosely on the toast. While she waited for the coffee, she thought out loud.
"Makes sense that Magnus would have the Oracle stashed somewhere close by. It has a small crew, but it would still take a bit of time to gather them up, unless the departure was planned." She shrugged. "If that's the case, they're long gone and nothing I can do but try to catch up. But if not... Bex? Check in with Zoran. See if Magnus parked the Oracle with Dallas."
One reason for Atah’s success was her extensive ring of contacts, from leading figures in half the galaxy’s planetary governments and crime syndicates to the DEVAS that actually ran things. Not that any of them actually knew who they were dealing with. That’s what multiple aliases were for.
"Checking."
The nourichef chimed and Atah pulled her coffee out.
"The DEVA, Zoran, informs me that Magnus hid the Oracle in Dallasport three days ago. It is now preparing for launch."
"Which makes sense. He hates parking in public spaceports as much as he hates paying taxes. Right, get us into the stratosphere, Bex. We need to follow them."
"A surprise attack could be effective in taking out the target."
"Against Magnus on the Oracle? Not great odds. Even if I won, it would also kill Magnus. And I don't want to do that if I don't have to."
"As you wish, Captain."
Laefa2, New Manhattan HOSH
Two days after leaving Lura4, Tessa stared across the desk at Ursula Thompson, Governor of New Manhattan, the human colony orbiting Laefa2. Behind Ursula, a floor to ceiling viewport showed the planet below, lushly green and white against the star-scattered dark of space.
Nearer to hand, the bright curve of Laefa2's single moon illumined the upper quadrant of the window. The juxtaposition of the two had been a bit disconcerting, but Thompson's surprise over Tessa and Magnus' presence was the real shock.
"So, you're saying that not only did you not send a message, but there've been no attacks on your people at all?" Magnus asked.
Ursula spread her hands, palms up. "We have had no attacks. Certainly, none that would have necessitated asking Her Grace for assistance. The Famedi on Laefa2 have been more than generous with us. We would have asked them for help first, in any case."
"Generous? Forgive me, Governor, but you are still living in a space station with one dome that can't possibly provide all your needs," Tessa said. "The other settlements I've visited have all been planet-side."
Ursula smiled. "Laefa2's atmosphere is not conducive to a long-term colony for humans. Brief visits – trade meetings, even vacations – are workable, but there is an element in the Laefaran air that causes issues for the human nervous system."
"You mean it doesn't have a breathable atmosphere?" Magnus asked. “Our sensors gave no indication of that.”
The governor stifled a laugh. "No, no, quite the opposite, actually. Humans breathe very well on Leafa2. They also spend their visit there getting progressively more intoxicated."
"I don't understand," Tessa said.
"The Laefaran atmosphere has a balance of nitrogen and oxygen similar to what we maintain in the HOSH and dome. However, there is a unique element we've labeled enebrium that, while it has no discernible effect on the Famedi, causes something similar to drunkenness in humans."
"The Famedi being the apex species on Leafa2?" Tessa asked.
"Yes. They are more plant-like, in our eyes, than human. They use what look to us like branches and tendrils instead of hands and fingers. When I met the Famedi prime minister, I thought he was a species of oak."
"So, you won't be settling there. Why not look for a different planet?" Tessa asked.
"Because, as I said, the Famedi have been very generous. They are allowing us to maintain orbit while we terraform their moon for human habitation. They've even helped us adapt their technology to the purpose."
"Presumably excluding the intoxicant from the new atmosphere?"
"It won't be a problem," Ursula replied. "New Earth is not currently inhabited, or even habitable, so the Famedi will not be living there. Apparently, they exude the gas I told you about in their respiration in much the same way we exhale carbon dioxide."
Magnus leaned forward. "So – and I don't mean any disrespect – what's in it for them? In my experience, no one does anything for free, especially not if it costs them, and they're giving you a whole moon."
"It's not as if we'll be detracting from its primary function for them, that of controlling the tides and such on Leafa2. But yes, you are correct. The Famedi abhor space travel, but they quite enjoy the benefits of intergalactic trade. In return for their help, we have agreed to be a sort of liaison between the Famedi and their trading partners on other planets."
"What do trees have to trade?" Tessa asked.
For the first time, Ursula looked less than patient. "They are not trees. They are sentient coniferophytans." Color stained her cheeks. "At least, that is as close to an accurate classification as we have been able to come. We are still learning."
Tessa held up her hands in a conciliatory gesture. "No insult intended. I just meant..." She trailed off, unsure how to finish the sentence.
"They trade in foodstuffs and technology, mainly. It is true that they have little use for many of the things we consider essential, such as shelters and clothing, but they have a highly developed culture and advanced intellectual pursuits. Their art is highly sought after by collectors throughout the galaxy."
Silence settled over the room. Finally, Magnus cleared his throat. "So. No attacks, hmm?"
Her tense features relaxing, Ursula managed a small nod of appreciation. "None at all. I'm sorry you came all this way under false pretenses. I was hoping... Well, never mind that. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Tessa glanced at Magnus. "The thing is, Ms. Thompson, someone sent us a message. I think it’s important to figure out who, and why. How would you feel if we hung around for a few days?"
"You are welcome to stay as long as you wish." The governor frowned. "But I assure you, I am telling the truth. I have no reason to lie, after all."
"I'm not saying you are," Tessa assured her.
Ursula's expression turned thoughtful. "And while you are here, perhaps we can arrange a tour of our manufacturing plants."
Tessa and Magnus spoke at the same time, with very different reactions.
“We appreciate it, but that isn’t—” Magnus said.
"That would be..." Tessa lifted an eyebrow. "I'm not sure how that would be useful to you, though I'm sure it would be interesting to us." She ignored Magnus's disbelieving look.
So did Ursula. "You have a close connection with Queen Gaia, yes? I – we – have a vested interest in expanding our trading partnerships and we welcome the opportunity to make such a connection with the Simoi clans."
"Ah. I see. I'm not sure you could call it a close–"
"We'd be happy to help in any way we can," Magnus said.
"Excellent. I've arranged quarters for you; a guide is waiting in the lounge. I will be happy to organize that tour for you, at, say, eight in the morning?"
Tessa stood, and Magnus joined her. "That will be–" Tessa slanted a quizzical glance at her companion. "Wonderful."
Outside the governor's offices, they found an orb-droid waiting. A pair of digital eyes blinked at them owlishly from the floating unit. "Hello. I am Emil. I will be your guide this afternoon. Please follow me." Emil's digital mouth moved as if forming words, and Magnus shivered, covering the movement with a cough.
Tessa leaned close to him. "Control yourself," she whispered. "You're going to hurt its feelings."
"Can't help it," he whispered back. "Orb-droids. They're like floating heads. They creep me out. I saw one on Zola6 that had an actual, human-looking face." He shuddered. "Besides. Droids don't have feelings."
"If you will follow me," Emil snapped. Spinning on his axis, the droid zoomed up the hall above the heads of the other pedestrians, forcing Magnus and Tessa to trot to keep up.
"Told you," Tessa said in an undertone. "I know why I wanted to keep on the governor's good side, but why the sudden switch for you? You were about to say no to the tour, but then changed your mind."
"Always good to keep your options open and make contacts where you can. Never know when they'll come in handy," Magnus replied softly.
The trio attracted subtle attention from the local population, though without fail, everyone turned away after a polite acknowledgment when Tessa met their eyes. In each face, she read curiosity and even friendliness. The place had a productive hum with little, if any, of the stress-induced, reflexive animosity usually generated in such environments.
They arrived at a pair of doors, and Emil halted. "These are your quarters. The palm scanner on the door is ready to receive your imprint. Simply place your hand on the oval – there," he said.
Tessa and Magnus complied, one after the other. Under Tessa's hand, the scanner flashed green immediately. Magnus' took three tries, glowing red after each attempt while Emil hovered nearby, a smirk on his pixelated lips.
Magnus glared at the robot. "Look, pal. I don't think–" The scanner glowed green.
"Do you not? I find thinking most useful myself," the android said. It spun slowly to face Tessa. "There is a list of the HOSH's amenities in the database, which I've sent you a priority link for. I've included my alert number in the same message, in case you need anything not on the list."
"Thanks, Emil," Tessa said. "I appreciate it. I was wondering, can I get a list of all outgoing communications for star-date 6.117.118?"
"Outgoing? As in off HOSH?" Emil asked. "The list will be extensive. Do you have a designator for the sender or the recipient?"
"I'm looking for a message that was sent on that date to Gaia Komisi, Queen of the Simoi."
"Tessa, what are you doing?" Magnus asked. "Ursula told us–"
"Governor Thompson probably did a surface search. She expected to find nothing, so she found exactly that. You and I both know that anyone with an ounce of incentive can hide a transmission from a cursory search."
"But –"
"She is correct. It is not difficult to send a secure message if one desires to do so." Emil's tone was carefully bland. "I will check on that for you, Dr. Graham. It will take some time."
"Thank you, I–" As Tessa began her response, a flicker of movement in the corner of her eye accompanied a thump to her chest. Her eyes widened as her jaw spasmed and her nanocyte body locked up. She couldn't look down to see it, but damage reports flowed across her internal screen, informing her that a disruptor dart was lodged in her chest. It was so tiny she barely felt the impact, but it was effective. Repairs were initialized as she stumbled, falling against the bulkhead.
"Tessa!" Magnus reached for her, breaking the fall. Vaguely, she heard Emil send out an emergency message, requesting medical attention in the Simoi ambassador's suite.
As she slid down the wall, her gaze landed on her hand. Silver flecks drifted away from it. Fragmentation. The tiny motes of floating cells dimmed; the light of hundreds of nanocytes fading. A crowd gathered, and the lights went out.
