Scattered Suns - Kevin J. Anderson [44]
EA processed the information as if she were trying to recall the incident. “Were the worms dangerous?” Tasia was thrilled that the little compy was becoming interactive again.
“They never bothered anybody, not that I can remember. But I remember you were a little uncomfortable being out on the boat. You had fallen into the deep water once before, and we had a hell of a time rescuing you.”
“You have told me that story already.”
“Well, after the nematodes ate our lightsticks and the game was over, Ross turned to me and said, 'Jess and I both have important duties these days, kid. But just ’cause you’re our little sister doesn’t mean you get to spend every day doing nothing but playing.'
“And Jess said, 'It’s time you had a few responsibilities of your own, Tasia. Someday you might be running this whole clan. But we want to start you out a little smaller, by making you responsible for one thing. One very important thing. And we’ll see how you do.'” Tasia leaned closer to the compy. “Do you know what that was, EA?”
“You have not yet told me.”
“My brothers gave me you that day, EA. First you belonged to Ross, and then Jess sort of took over, but they thought you and I needed each other more.” Tears stung her eyes, and she was glad her compy could not decipher the sudden shift of emotions. “And they were right. We still need each other.”
“Will you tell me what happened to Jess and Ross?” EA asked. “Where are they now?”
Tasia’s throat felt sore as she swallowed hard. “That’ll be some other time, EA. Some other time.”
In nightmares for years now, she had tried to imagine Ross’s last moments in the high clouds of Golgen, his skymine falling apart all around him in the drogue attack. With Ross and her father both dying in rapid succession, Jess was the only one she had left. But, other than a brief message beamed to EA that their father had passed away, she’d had no contact from Jess since she’d joined the Eddies.
She had no idea where her brother was now. She wouldn’t know where to find him even if she had been free to do so.
What did the other Roamers think of her? Surely her volunteering with the Hansa military had caused an initial scandal among the clans. Her choice had been understandable when the hydrogues were destroying Roamer skymines, but now, with the Eddies attacking clan facilities, her people must despise her as a traitor. Had they written her off entirely?
Or worse, had they just forgotten about her?
Several levels below, the passenger decks were full of disgruntled Roamer detainees on their way to a holding planet. She could talk to them anytime she liked...whenever she got up the nerve.
Chapter 19—CESCA PERONI
Standing out on the dark and frozen surface of Jonah 12, Cesca felt colder and emptier than ever before. Two days had passed since the death of the former Speaker, and there was no longer any reason to delay.
She had hoped that some of the messenger ships might have returned by now, but the icy planetoid was isolated even for a Roamer base, and there hadn’t been enough time. No other clan leaders would be arriving to pay their respects. The dispersed outlaws didn’t even know about the passing of Jhy Okiah, and Cesca had no long-range vessels left to send out with the news.
As the Speaker for what remained of the clans, she had to do this herself now. Old Jhy Okiah had long planned for such a time, had tried to prepare her protégé. No one could have given Cesca better advice, but even so, she was in uncharted waters. She would rise to her obligations; Roamers always found a way to get through tough situations.
Dozens of workers suited up and joined Cesca outside the habitation domes. The Jonah 12 personnel had ceased their ice-excavating and hydrogen-distillation activities, and all but the