Farborn, page 16
part #2 of Maxim Colony Series
Phey snort. “Commandeering a vessel is, as humans say, above your pay grade, is it not?”
“I am serious.”
Phey grow quiet. “How can you manage that?” phey ask.
“It is irrelevant. If I can?”
“Legally?” phey ask.
“Yes, of course legally.”
Colarmin ponders that for a moment. “If you can legally secure the use of an ether-jump vessel, I can immediately assemble a patrol authorized to take possession of the illicit cargo and take the perpetrators into custody.”
“An armed patrol?”
“Absolutely.”
“I shall contact you shortly.” I terminate the connection and immediately contact Fullstein. “Apologies, but I have a family emergency and need to remove myself from the schedule temporarily for personal leave.”
“For how long?”
“I do not know yet. At least a week. I would not be asking this were it not truly an emergency.”
“Very well. I shall amend the schedule.”
“Thank you. I will update you as quickly as possible.” As soon as I end that conversation, I throw some belongings into a rucksack and run from my quarters.
I have a doctor to see about a ship.
Chapter Twenty
Olarte
When I reach the berthing arm at the opposite end of the station from where I usually work, I experience a brief moment of panic when I do not see anyone manning the control booth to allow me access to Dr. H’looder’s ship.
Please let him be here!
His ship has a dedicated berthing arm that only his ship, and his escort vessels, are allowed to dock at. Unfortunately, this is the one dock on the station my supervisor access pass will not gain me entry to.
Dr. H’looder is very important to Maxim Colonies. While he isn’t the space station’s commander, he certainly ranks higher than the space station’s commander within the Maxim Colonies hierarchy.
I frantically punch the com button, hoping to attract someone’s attention, all while praying his ship is actually here. In my hurry to speak with him, I did not check the berthing logs for other sectors to see if his ship is present.
Moments later, a female Carmidian I do not recognize appears behind the protective glass screen enclosing the control booth.
“I’m terribly sorry about the delay,” she says. “I was indisposed, and we had no appointments on our schedule today. How may I assist you?”
I hold up my access badge so she can see it. “I must speak with Dr. Mafer H’looder immediately.”
“Is he expecting you?”
“No, but this is an emergency, and I must speak with him!”
“Please scan your badge.” She motions with a tentacle to the scanner in front of me.
I do. Meanwhile, I am fighting the urge to pound on the window of the control booth with both hands and demand entry.
After a moment where I am sure she is studying my identification profile, she nods. “Please wait here while I confirm if he will see you.”
A privacy shield slides shut inside the booth, blocking any sight or sound.
What feels like five hours later, but is probably only five minutes, an entry hatch next to the booth slides open, exposing a passenger-sized entry airlock. On the other end of the airlock stand two armed Guyardien security personnel, both wearing Maxim Colonies uniforms. While I do not recognize these two particular ones, I remember seeing internal advisory communiques that H’looder had some working for him, and they were to be allowed full and unfettered access to any berthing sectors if they were on official business for Dr. H’looder.
“Follow me,” the larger of the two says, turning and striding away while the other waits for me to pass.
I follow, the second Guyardien falling in step behind me.
When we reach Dr. H’looder’s lab, where three more Guyardien security officers bar my entry, the first officer holds out his hand. “Your bag stays out here. And we must search it.”
I immediately hand it over without any hesitation, well aware why they are taking such precautions. Veraci are very fragile beings. I mentally remind myself to stay still and make no sudden moves while in the doctor’s presence.
I am quite sure the security team would not hesitate to take me down should they perceive a threat from me.
The guard hands my bag over to one of the other security personnel, who begins to search it. I know my person was likely scanned as I walked through the entry airlock.
When the lab door opens, two Guyardiens lead the way, two more following, and the last remaining outside in the corridor with my bag.
Dr. H’looder soon emerges from his private office while pulling a thermo skin hood over his head. He is wearing a full protective mech suit. “What is this about, Olarte?” he asks, and from his frazzled tone of voice I am guessing he hurried to prepare for my arrival once my presence was announced.
I queue up a blank message on my personal com unit, type out the essence of the issue, and then turn it facedown and hand to one of the guards to pass to H’looder. But the guard does not hand it over right away. He awaits the doctor’s agreement.
Dr. H’looder nods and accepts the com unit. His eyes widen as he reads my note. Then he looks at me. “You have proof?”
“On my com unit. If you swipe out of that message, you will see my e-mail thread from Davies.”
He does. Then, after reading, he focuses on me again. “And what are you asking of me?”
I glance around at my four guards. I do not wish to put Davies or Colarmin in legal jeopardy. “I need that back to tell you.” I point at my com unit in his hand.
He waves one of his four hands, indicating his men. “They are sworn to secrecy,” H’looder says as he returns my com unit. “You may speak freely in front of them. Their primary loyalty is to me, not to Maxim Colonies, the coalition government, or anyone else. They are my personal security force, paid by me.”
So…I do. I detail everything, and H’looder nods as I speak. When I finish, he turns to a control panel and orders the bridge to prepare their ship, as well as their two accompanying ether-jump frigates, for immediate departure as soon as he gives the word. Then he orders a shuttle to head to the surface to pick up Colarmin and pheir team. Lastly, he waves the guards out and orders them to bring me my belongings.
Once we are alone, he slowly shakes his head. “This is a very grave issue, Olarte. No telling how many creatures they have already smuggled, or where they have ended up. We do not yet know what pathogens might pass from Pfahrn fauna to other fauna. We are still researching it. We do not even allow uncooked meat to transfer between the space station and the planet without making sure it has been thoroughly irradiated for decontamination. There are very few plant species we allow to make the transfer because we have confirmed they are safe. Even then, we have strict decontamination protocols.”
“I understand. I know Davies is not involved in this. I am certain he is innocent. My main concern is his safety. I love him.”
“We will do everything in our power to keep him safe, I promise you.”
It takes six hours to bring Colarmin and pheir team to H’looder’s ship. Meanwhile, I am shown to a stateroom to await pheir arrival. I wonder if it is the same one Davies occupied when he was here receiving his augmentations, and that fills me with both anxious and melancholy thoughts.
I love Davies. I want him safely in my arms so we may discuss our future together.
H’looder instructs his security forces to coordinate with Colarmin to come up with a plan regarding how to handle dealing with the ship, and we then depart from the space station.
We are now on an extremely tight deadline to make it to the PR before their “tow” does.
Once we are under way, H’looder summons me back to his personal office in his lab. Alone together, he still wears his mech suit. But he removes the hood and he sits back with all four of his hands clasped together, his body language now relaxed.
“Thank you for trusting me and bringing this to my attention,” he says. “We are still trying to genetically re-engineer native species from the tragedy on Osarian Six.”
A tone sounds. Dr. H’looder reaches over and presses a button on his desk console.
The office door opens, and it is a Guyardien, escorting—
“Colarmin.” I stand and we embrace. Relief fills me, because while phey are younger than me, phey are quite capable at pheir job. “Thank you for doing this.”
Pheir grave expression matches pheir somber tone. “This is incredibly vital, that we stop them from poaching Pfahrn’s resources. Are you certain Davies McKellan is not personally involved?”
“He would not have contacted me if he were.”
“You do realize if our investigation shows otherwise, that we will be forced to arrest him, correct?” phey ask. “I know you are fond of the human.”
I am not sure I like pheir tone when phey say that last part. “I am far more worried about someone on that ship discovering he is aware of their scheme and harming him than I am him possibly being involved.”
“Very well.” Phey turn to Dr. H’looder. “Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated and will be noted in the official record, Dr. H’looder.”
“I am a scientist. I have seen first-hand the impacts of this kind of crime. They must be stopped before another world can be destroyed. And we must diligently work to uncover anywhere else they might have smuggled animals, and recover them as quickly as possible.”
Colarmin switches into official mode and begins questioning me about what I know of the Palmarian Rubayne’s history. I tell phem what I am able, including referring to my com to check berthing log summaries. I also vow to make available all our detailed berthing records for pheir inspection. Since its first arrival at the space station, the PR has only ever berthed in my sector because of its size.
While there are two other berthing arms available on the station where a cargo freighter of its size can temporarily link up to transfer passengers, we are one of only four berthing arms available on the station to accommodate a cargo freighter of its size and energy requirements for a full long-term berthing and cargo transfer operation. The other three berthing arms which could handle it are currently leased for exclusive use to three different Pfahrn mining companies for their vessels and can only be used by others in a declared emergency.
Once Colarmin has all the information I am able to supply to phem, Dr. H’looder calls one of his guards in to show us around the ship and take us to the mess so we can eat.
After we have been served, we find seats in the mess hall, tucked away in a corner, where we will be assured relative privacy.
“Myarte and Kholarten are extremely concerned,” my sibling tells me in a low voice.
“About what? You did not tell our parents what is going on, did you?”
“Not about this in particular. About your relationship with the human.”
Inwardly, I fume. “I thought phey wished for me to find happiness?”
“Phey did and do. We all do. However, you do not seem happier with this human in your life. For the past two years, before we even met him, we all saw a change in you. We saw you acting uncharacteristically melancholy and moody when you were around us—when we saw you at all. You have not been home to visit as often as you once did since meeting him, and even less now that you have apparently gotten personal with him.”
“That will hopefully not be an issue for much longer.”
“Oh? Is this finally convincing you to end things with him, then?”
I fight the urge to smack the table. “No, quite the opposite. I am going to talk to Davies about becoming mates.”
Phey stare at me for a long moment. “He has asked to sign a mating contract with you?”
“No. He likely will not sign one.”
Phey make a noise so much like the way Davies does when he snorts. “Well, then. That would seem to settle the issue quite succinctly. No one in their right mind would enter into a mating without a contract. Matings are not legally recognized on our planet without one, even for farborn mates. You know that. All Pfahrn must register a mating contract, regardless of who they are mated to or where they were originally mated, otherwise it is not recognized.”
“I would enter into a contractless mating with him.”
Phey stare at me for a long and uncomfortable moment. “Then you are mad. I seriously question your judgment.”
“You have no right to say that. Is your issue with Davies that he is a human?”
“My largest issue with Davies at the moment is that he is now lodged squarely within the center of a very serious criminal investigation. And, yes, that he is a human. But that is secondary to the legalities of this issue. Then there is the matter of his reputation to take into consideration.”
I must have betrayed something with my expression because phey nod. “Oh, yes. Dholartin said phey have heard plenty of rumors of Davies McKellan’s sexual prowess with non-humans.”
I am stunned into silence as phey slowly shake their head at me. “Until this matter is settled, it is many layers of insanity to even contemplate continuing your personal relationship with him on the level of friends, much less anything more…intimate. He could be implicated in these crimes. He is the ship’s navigational officer. And he is, as they say in Standard, an absolute slut. You have your own career and family to consider and you would do well to remember that.”
I am losing my patience with phem. “If Davies was guilty, he would not have contacted me. It is obvious the captain did something to the ship’s systems during their first layover here. Davies knew nothing of their treachery.”
Phey take a bite of pheir meal. “That does not mean he is innocent. He could have simply realized he is in over his head, reconsidered the severity of the crime, and had a change of heart. He is rather cocky for a human. Perhaps his fame among ships due to his navigation skills went to his head…or other body parts. Rumors which as exist about him in such great quantities cannot all be false. What is the human saying about smoke following fire?”
I shake my head as I realize phey are serious. “No. Davies is not like that. Not at all. And he would never be wrapped up in something illegal. He has integrity.”
That is definitely a snort of derision phey make. “You are always so trusting, Olarte. It will get your heart broken. One cannot really trust humans, and you of all people should know this after being appointed to supervise them. You know their ways. They can be exceedingly treacherous when they wish to be. I only hope this human does not crush your reputation and future in the process.”
“I thought you liked him.” It makes my heart ache to think how much Davies loved meeting my family, yet to now hear one of them speak of him so.
“Of course I liked him, but I like a lot of people. I can like one of them and yet not wish to be family with them. For a human, McKellan is pleasant enough to converse with or spend time with, I suppose. That means as a friend, or even as a casual fuck, as they themselves like to say. But for a mate?”
Colarmin takes another bite of pheir food. “Even before this happened, I would not have thought you to be one to settle for one of them. If you are serious about permanently mating, you should hire a matchmaker. There must be someone for you on our planet that is one of our kind. Even an ishblane would be preferable, rather than taking a human as your mate. Especially that particular human. At least ishblane are of our kind. Do you not wish to have children any longer? You once said that you do.”
I feel like I cannot breathe and my appetite has suddenly fled. I do not answer pheir question. “Do the others feel like that? Our parents? Our siblings?”
Phey shrug. “I have told you all I know and I speak only for myself. I believe phey all like McKellan. I have not heard phem speak poorly of him, other than Dholartin telling me of McKellan’s reputation as a slut.” Colarmin makes an expression very similar to what I now know is called a smirk, and it is not a pleasant look on phem.
“Oh, it is not like any of us would wish him ill, Olarte,” phey continue. “Please do not think that. It is my hope we can safely extricate McKellan from this situation, and that he is, as you insist, innocent of wrongdoing. But you and I both know you can do so much better regarding a mate.”
Phey point their eating utensil at me. “You are the eldest sibling. We do not have birthrights, or a family estate of our own. The very least you can do to honor our family is to mate well. If not well, then at least mate with one who we can legitimately claim as family, and phey us.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Davies
Because McMurtry and I have to pretend we don’t know what the hell the captain’s up to, I spend a lot of time over the next seventy-two hours either in my quarters or in McMurtry’s. I mostly go to his, because since he’s supposed to be trying to diagnose the problem, he wouldn’t stray far from Engineering.
It’s no secret that we had a fling together and are still friends. If my fellow crew want to assume I’m cheating on Olarte, then in this case, I’ll be happy to let them have the wrong impression about me.
Especially if it means keeping the two of us alive and safe.
I told the captain I wrote to Olarte to let them know my return might be delayed because of our “breakdown,” so they don’t worry. Which is nothing unusual, because most of the crew has done the same for family members expecting them.
In case those messages are being read, I write them as if I’m clueless to what’s really going on, reporting only the surface facts to them.
If nothing else, hopefully they can relay that information to the authorities.
Part of me hopes Olarte has reported what I told them, and that there is a secret plan in the works to rescue us.
Part of me knows it’s silly and unrealistic to hope that, and that we need to do everything in our power to keep me and McMurtry alive until we reach port and can escape the ship.
When McMurtry and I are alone together in his quarters, we talk about the real situation using only our com units, typing and erasing messages after reading them. We only speak aloud if it’s about normal bullshit.
