Chaos Space - Marianne de Pierres [75]
Mira gasped in some air. Insignia was neither angry nor vindictive; simply pragmatic and she must approach this the same way. What is it that you wish for, then? What would rebind you to me?
I have told you of my desire for ‘rafa.’
You wish to travel to Orion?
Yes. And further.
But I must return to Araldis. I have to find Vito. And the korm child. . .
I am prepared to wait some time for you to deal with immediate concerns. But then . . .
Mira thought through the consequences of such an agreement. It was not something to be made lightly. With it she committed to the life of a ship-bound wanderer. She had thought that to be her deepest desire but now, faced with it, she was not sure. I n-need time to think. This is a decision ... I cannot make it quickly.
Indifferent amusement. But I do not think that you have much time.
Are you threatening me?
No. But understand. If there is no accord between us I will act without thought of you or your company. That is how it is.
Will you take us through shift now?
It is unlikely. Scol station security is maintaining an aggressive stance. They wish me to withdraw from the shift queue and dock. I do not wish for injury. My scales are already damaged. Self-repair is tiring.
Mira felt a pang of guilt. She had ordered Insignia to such an act without real thought of the effect.
Rast/Secondo: Tick-tock, Fedor!
Possibilities whirled through Mira’s mind and yet each led back to the same place: survival. Marchella Pellegrini had taught her that.
She ignored Rast and spoke to Insignia. If I agree to your desire for ‘rafa’ can I bring those I deem to be my familia with me?
Indeed. Your choice of family will be mine.
Will our contract be enduring?
Yes. Until you die.
Or you?
It is unlikely to be me.
One last, long silence. Agreed.
Mira felt luscious warmth spreading through her limbs, a cocktail of endorphins that were her reward for her agreement. Then Insignia made her ultimate demand.
I will need some assurance of your commitment until such time as you have retrieved the child Vito from Araldis.
The flow of endorphins thinned.
What is that?
Once your child is born it will stay with me. It must not leave me.
Mira gasped. No! But a baby needs to be fed, to be cared for by his mother…
I have the facility to do that. I can grow any tissue, replicate any nutrients. The babe will be cared for more adequately than if it is in your care. . .
A spinning, sickening feeling consumed Mira.
Rast/Secondo: Fedor—now or never.
Mira/Primo: What, Rast?
Rast/Secondo: We’re at a point where we can scrapshift from the refuse loop. But if we move any further in the queue we are stuck. Sec is already stationed on the final lip. Make the deal work, Mira. Now. NOW!
Insignia. I agree.
Prepare!
The biozoon’s visual shift-schema flickered and altered. Mira sensed adrenalin building through the biozoon like the bunching of muscles in an animal preparing to leap.
Rast/Secondo to the rest: ‘Find a nub.’
Impressions flared and extinguished: Latourn hauling the screaming philosopher to a tubercle, Catchut praying again, Rast fighting her desire to urinate, Mira’s own uncontrolled panting.
They were all caught in the building energy, helpless to affect it in any way.
At your mercy. The words stung. Then they began to blaze. Then every micro-measure of Mira’s body and mind caught fire. Not a hot white sizzling but a core-deep burning pain, as if holes were being drilled in her nerves while she lived and breathed and watched.
Rast/Secondo screamed. Latourn and Catchut and the philosopher too. Screaming ... screaming.
But Mira did not join them. She folded the pain inward and clasped it close, smothering it with her own brand of coping.
It bucked inside her, contorted and fought her, building to a peak of pain-energy where she knew it would rend her open: disperse her.
But then its final rush came and a silhouette engulfed her, deluging her