Transformation Space - Marianne de Pierres [2]
The Geni-carriers she’d seen leaving Extro space had been headed there, she was sure of it. The Post-Species had sent a formidable force to her home world. But why Araldis? And when would they loose their arsenal on the rest of Orion? Was that why the Dowl shift sphere had reopened? An attack?
The two ’esques to whom she would have looked for counsel, Rast Randall and Josef Rasterovich, were captives of the Extros. She could not help them. They could not help her.
And yet it felt cowardly to retreat and abandon the survivors on Araldis. Cowardly to run to a distant world and hide and hope that the Post-Species did not go there. But where could she hide? Which planets would the Extros choose to destroy first?
She broke from her inward reverie and glanced at the Secondo vein. The scholar Thales Berniere was enveloped by the vein-sink; only his face and the tips of his fingers were visible where he grasped the edges. A tall broad female soldier in plain garb bent solicitously over him. What was her name again? Fariss. Fariss O’Dea.
‘Thales?’ said Mira.
‘Yes, Baronessa?’ he croaked, lifting his head above the cocoon so that they could see each other.
‘My baby will be born prematurely. Insignia tells me that there is a facility on Scolar that could save my child.’
‘Mount Clement,’ he said. ‘It is … I’m told … the best of its kind. But it’s foremost an experimental facility – not available to the public, as far as I know. They focus on in-vitro genetics. Bethany spoke of it. She has expertise in that area.’
Bethany. Mira felt a pang of loss for Bethany Ionil’s brief friendship. A woman’s company right now would reassure her. Fariss O’Dea was not one, Mira guessed, to concern herself with affairs of childbirth. ‘Where is Beth?’
The soldier straightened. ‘Bethany Ionil travelled to Intel with us.’
‘Bethany? On Lasper’s ship? You didn’t say,’ said Thales, looking up at her in surprise.
Fariss laughed. ‘You didn’t ask. Figured it was best left at that.’
‘Bethany may know someone at Mount Clement, Mira.’
‘Can we contact her?’
‘Yeah, sure, if you want to attract the Commander’s attention to us,’ said Fariss in dry tones.
Mira, we do not have time to wait. Do you comprehend this? Insignia’s urgency sent a skewer of energy through her.
She wavered for another moment. Wait and try and contact Bethany, or leave now? The memory of the Geni-carriers blossomed in her mind. Waiting could mean death for all of them.
‘Soldier Fariss, seat yourself in the Autonomy nub. It will protect you through imperfect shift,’ Mira said.
‘Imperfect shift? Shit! Always wanted to do that.’ Fariss gave Thales’s shoulder a squeeze and stepped across to the command seat mounted in a tubercle.
Protect her, Mira told Insignia.
Res-cushioning flowed around the large body from the tubercle’s pores.
‘Don’t touch any of the functions,’ Mira added.
Fariss crossed her arms. ‘Wouldn’t think of it.’
Insignia, we should leave.
Yes. I will manage shift. It is better that you rest.
Mira hesitated. Insignia had sedated her twice without her permission. And yet now fear and fatigue made her almost welcome the idea of oblivion. How long since she had truly rested? How long since she’d had a moment of peace? How long since worry had not gnawed its way through her bones? Will it help slow down the loss of fluid if I am … sedated?
Yes.
Very well.
Insignia’s reply was relaxation stealing across her neural pathways, a drowsy warmth and sense of security. She felt all her muscles loosen and her churning stomach settle. Insignia? Can you do the same for Thales?
Yes, Mira.
She drifted, then returned to say one more thing. I had to warn them. You understand?
Yes, she heard Insignia say before she succumbed. And no.
TRIN
They stumbled across the caves in the grey light of predawn. Exhaustion would have stopped them anyway. Most had used up the stimulant pods which had helped them