Earth: Two Years Later...
Berret walked through the aisle of the hardware store searching for a box of finishing nails he needed. His self-appointed assistant, a seventeen-year-old student from the orphanage named Tommy, was just outside the store's front door just finishing loading the lumber they had just purchased into the pick-up truck that belonged to the combination school and orphanage. He discovered the type of nails he was looking for hidden behind a display of carpeting tacks and retrieved a box. He turned around to survey the store for any items he may have forgotten or might need when he became aware of the girl's scrutiny. He didn't recall ever seeing the young woman around the town before in the two years he'd been there but that didn't necessarily mean anything. What bothered him was that the dark-eyed girl across the store seemed to be paying him more attention then was normal. He brushed the feeling off as just a coincidence. The girl was just probably bored and waiting for someone to finish shopping and didn't realize she was staring. He moved to the checkout register after checking that Tommy was close to finished with loading the building supplies. His last two years spent in the tiny burg had been peaceful. He'd wandered into the place quite at random and after taking temporary work at the local orphanage; found he had some skill working with his hands at various tasks. The religious order that ran the home offered him a place as the school maintenance worker after just a few days of working there and Berret had remained ever since.
His mind was on the coming project that Sister Theresa wanted completed so he didn't notice when the girl had somehow appeared at his side.
Suddenly aware of her presence, Berret turned to find her openly regarding him with her dark eyes.
He did his best to give the girl a small smile that didn't betray his growing discomfort with her attention.
"Hello," he said with a friendly nod that was common to the residents in the small town.
The girl slightly tilted her head under the heavy shawl she wore over it. She was about Chulee's height with long raven hair and a pale complexion. She wore jeans tucked into heavy hiking boots and a light blue ski jacket due to the chill in the late fall air. Her eyes narrowed as she said,
"Heska nuw-ish tor, Caminha-sa Berret na'?"
"What?" Berret asked dumbly. The girl had just spoken to him in perfect Sebacean.
"Nish-ta?" he repeated in the same language.
The girl cleared her throat. "Are you the Shrike, Berret?" she asked again in accented Earth English.
Berret was floored. "Who are you?" he asked. The girl silently regarded him waiting for him to answer her question first. Berret pursed his lips and finally grudgingly confirmed it because he could see no point in lying, "I am Berret. Nish-ca toz-shuna? Who are you?" he asked once again, giving her a hard look that said he fully expected an answer this time. The young woman visibly relaxed at his use of more Sebacean. Berret suddenly had the feeling the girl had not been sure who he was and had taken a chance by approaching him and using the language. Studying her now, he picked out the telltale signs that the girl was Sebacean. The brown eyes so dark they were almost black. How she squinted in normal Earthlight that was probably too bright for her. Her careful precise movements that showed training in the combat arts, he concluded that the woman was probably a Peacekeeper though her apparent age confused him. As young as she was, she should still be a cadet in training... not out wandering on a backwater world across the galaxy from PK space, and definitely not looking for him. How she got here was another worry. The girl cut off further thinking about the mystery as she gave him a small bow of respect.
"Forgive my precautions, Shrike Berret. I had to be sure it was you I had found. My name is Warna Druz. I am here along with my teacher as an emissary for Master Zear Shenna. He wishes that you please speak with my teacher on a matter of great importance."
Berret was openly stunned. "Shenna sent you here? To Earth?" he asked in a hiss as he dragged the girl over to a relatively private corner of the store. "Why? What could be so important you would risk something so dangerous just to talk to me?"
"Please, Shrike Berret. I was only sent to find you. You must speak with my teacher to learn why Master Shenna sent us."
"Who is this teacher of yours?" Berret asked.
"I was instructed not to tell you. All will be revealed when you met. Be assured, Master Shenna would not chance this journey or us lightly. He says to tell you that the well being of your family may be at stake as well as the fate of the Territories and the Hynerian Empire. It is of the utmost importance that you have the information my teacher brings for you."
The news worried him but a quick glance toward the door showed him that Tommy was on his way inside to meet him. "I can't go right now," he told the girl. "We'll have to arrange to meet later tonight."
"That will be acceptable," Warna replied with a nod. Digging through her jacket pocket she produced a scrape of paper with an address written on it in crude block letter English.
"We have secured lodging at this place on the edge of this town," she explained. "We have the entire upper floor to ourselves so we will not be disturbed."
Berret took the piece of paper and shoved it into his jeans even though he recognized the address as being the rooming house on the opposite side of the town. "I know where it is. I'll be there sometime after dark," he promised just as Tommy joined them.
"All loaded and set to go, Mr. Barrett," he said, and then gave a friendly smile as he noticed Warna.
The girl gave him an unemotional glance as Berret replied, "Okay, Tommy. Be ready in a minute."
Warna looked back at the Shrike and slightly bowed her head and said, "Thank you." Berret nodded his head back as Warna turned and started for the door, leaving the pair there to watch her go.
"Who is she?" asked Tommy in obvious interest as soon as the girl was out of earshot.
Berret turned to the younger man. "I don't think she's your type," he told him.
Tommy sighed audibly and then smiled up at Berret, "Story of my life. What'd she want?"
"Just directions," Berret said and then gave him a playful frown. "I don't think Sister Theresa would approve of you chasing around after girls at your age."
The teenager gave him a wicked grin. "She wouldn't approve of it even at your age," he replied.
Berret conceded the point. "That's true. Come on, lets get this stuff back to the school," he said.
The thought that his children might be in danger nagged at Berret the rest of the day.
Just an hour after twilight, Berret closed the pick-up truck's door just outside the whitewashed rooming house. The structure was said to be one of the oldest in the small burg, dating back over one hundred and fifty years. The building was four stories tall with the top floor having it's own entrance leading down to the street. He recalled also hearing a story that the huge house was build by its original owner with the upper floor being used to house his mistress, the private stairway being used to insure their privacy when the lovers' rendezvoused. Berret shook his head as he remembered how much the locals delighted in telling the story, hinting at the scandal to whoever would listen. He entered the lower entrance and made his way up the four flights of stairs. At the top he knocked at the heavy door, a few seconds later he could hear a bolt slide back and Warna appeared.
"Welcome, Shrike Berret," she said in English with another respectful bow. "We are glad you chose to come tonight. Please... enter."
Berret walked in, wondering why the young woman showed him so much respect. It was odd for a Sebacean of any age who had grown up among Peacekeepers, who usually showed nothing but contempt for other species.
"May I take your coat?" Warna asked, switching to Sebacean once the door was closed.
"Thank you," Berret said as he handed her his heavy jacket. Warna took the garment and hung it up on a coat rack. Berret stole a quick glance around the room but could find nothing to indicate that aliens inhabited the floor of the rooming house. In fact even the clothing already hanging from the coat rack was typically Earth human.
"Can I get you something to drink?" the girl asked him next. Berret shook his head and told her he was fine. "My Master is in the study. I will take you to her now."
"Her?" Berret thought, for some reason he'd been expecting a male teacher for the girl. Perhaps he'd spent too much time on Earth already to be thinking in such a typical sexist way.
"If you will please follow me, I will take you there," said Warna.
Berret followed the girl through the apartment, surprised at how large it actually was. She led him to a door, stained dark with its antique finish and age. Warna knocked lightly at the entrance.
"Master? Shrike Berret is here to see you," she called.
"Please be a dear and show him in, Warna," said a muffled female voice.
Berret walked through the aisle of the hardware store searching for a box of finishing nails he needed. His self-appointed assistant, a seventeen-year-old student from the orphanage named Tommy, was just outside the store's front door just finishing loading the lumber they had just purchased into the pick-up truck that belonged to the combination school and orphanage. He discovered the type of nails he was looking for hidden behind a display of carpeting tacks and retrieved a box. He turned around to survey the store for any items he may have forgotten or might need when he became aware of the girl's scrutiny. He didn't recall ever seeing the young woman around the town before in the two years he'd been there but that didn't necessarily mean anything. What bothered him was that the dark-eyed girl across the store seemed to be paying him more attention then was normal. He brushed the feeling off as just a coincidence. The girl was just probably bored and waiting for someone to finish shopping and didn't realize she was staring. He moved to the checkout register after checking that Tommy was close to finished with loading the building supplies. His last two years spent in the tiny burg had been peaceful. He'd wandered into the place quite at random and after taking temporary work at the local orphanage; found he had some skill working with his hands at various tasks. The religious order that ran the home offered him a place as the school maintenance worker after just a few days of working there and Berret had remained ever since.
His mind was on the coming project that Sister Theresa wanted completed so he didn't notice when the girl had somehow appeared at his side.
Suddenly aware of her presence, Berret turned to find her openly regarding him with her dark eyes.
He did his best to give the girl a small smile that didn't betray his growing discomfort with her attention.
"Hello," he said with a friendly nod that was common to the residents in the small town.
The girl slightly tilted her head under the heavy shawl she wore over it. She was about Chulee's height with long raven hair and a pale complexion. She wore jeans tucked into heavy hiking boots and a light blue ski jacket due to the chill in the late fall air. Her eyes narrowed as she said,
"Heska nuw-ish tor, Caminha-sa Berret na'?"
"What?" Berret asked dumbly. The girl had just spoken to him in perfect Sebacean.
"Nish-ta?" he repeated in the same language.
The girl cleared her throat. "Are you the Shrike, Berret?" she asked again in accented Earth English.
Berret was floored. "Who are you?" he asked. The girl silently regarded him waiting for him to answer her question first. Berret pursed his lips and finally grudgingly confirmed it because he could see no point in lying, "I am Berret. Nish-ca toz-shuna? Who are you?" he asked once again, giving her a hard look that said he fully expected an answer this time. The young woman visibly relaxed at his use of more Sebacean. Berret suddenly had the feeling the girl had not been sure who he was and had taken a chance by approaching him and using the language. Studying her now, he picked out the telltale signs that the girl was Sebacean. The brown eyes so dark they were almost black. How she squinted in normal Earthlight that was probably too bright for her. Her careful precise movements that showed training in the combat arts, he concluded that the woman was probably a Peacekeeper though her apparent age confused him. As young as she was, she should still be a cadet in training... not out wandering on a backwater world across the galaxy from PK space, and definitely not looking for him. How she got here was another worry. The girl cut off further thinking about the mystery as she gave him a small bow of respect.
"Forgive my precautions, Shrike Berret. I had to be sure it was you I had found. My name is Warna Druz. I am here along with my teacher as an emissary for Master Zear Shenna. He wishes that you please speak with my teacher on a matter of great importance."
Berret was openly stunned. "Shenna sent you here? To Earth?" he asked in a hiss as he dragged the girl over to a relatively private corner of the store. "Why? What could be so important you would risk something so dangerous just to talk to me?"
"Please, Shrike Berret. I was only sent to find you. You must speak with my teacher to learn why Master Shenna sent us."
"Who is this teacher of yours?" Berret asked.
"I was instructed not to tell you. All will be revealed when you met. Be assured, Master Shenna would not chance this journey or us lightly. He says to tell you that the well being of your family may be at stake as well as the fate of the Territories and the Hynerian Empire. It is of the utmost importance that you have the information my teacher brings for you."
The news worried him but a quick glance toward the door showed him that Tommy was on his way inside to meet him. "I can't go right now," he told the girl. "We'll have to arrange to meet later tonight."
"That will be acceptable," Warna replied with a nod. Digging through her jacket pocket she produced a scrape of paper with an address written on it in crude block letter English.
"We have secured lodging at this place on the edge of this town," she explained. "We have the entire upper floor to ourselves so we will not be disturbed."
Berret took the piece of paper and shoved it into his jeans even though he recognized the address as being the rooming house on the opposite side of the town. "I know where it is. I'll be there sometime after dark," he promised just as Tommy joined them.
"All loaded and set to go, Mr. Barrett," he said, and then gave a friendly smile as he noticed Warna.
The girl gave him an unemotional glance as Berret replied, "Okay, Tommy. Be ready in a minute."
Warna looked back at the Shrike and slightly bowed her head and said, "Thank you." Berret nodded his head back as Warna turned and started for the door, leaving the pair there to watch her go.
"Who is she?" asked Tommy in obvious interest as soon as the girl was out of earshot.
Berret turned to the younger man. "I don't think she's your type," he told him.
Tommy sighed audibly and then smiled up at Berret, "Story of my life. What'd she want?"
"Just directions," Berret said and then gave him a playful frown. "I don't think Sister Theresa would approve of you chasing around after girls at your age."
The teenager gave him a wicked grin. "She wouldn't approve of it even at your age," he replied.
Berret conceded the point. "That's true. Come on, lets get this stuff back to the school," he said.
The thought that his children might be in danger nagged at Berret the rest of the day.
Just an hour after twilight, Berret closed the pick-up truck's door just outside the whitewashed rooming house. The structure was said to be one of the oldest in the small burg, dating back over one hundred and fifty years. The building was four stories tall with the top floor having it's own entrance leading down to the street. He recalled also hearing a story that the huge house was build by its original owner with the upper floor being used to house his mistress, the private stairway being used to insure their privacy when the lovers' rendezvoused. Berret shook his head as he remembered how much the locals delighted in telling the story, hinting at the scandal to whoever would listen. He entered the lower entrance and made his way up the four flights of stairs. At the top he knocked at the heavy door, a few seconds later he could hear a bolt slide back and Warna appeared.
"Welcome, Shrike Berret," she said in English with another respectful bow. "We are glad you chose to come tonight. Please... enter."
Berret walked in, wondering why the young woman showed him so much respect. It was odd for a Sebacean of any age who had grown up among Peacekeepers, who usually showed nothing but contempt for other species.
"May I take your coat?" Warna asked, switching to Sebacean once the door was closed.
"Thank you," Berret said as he handed her his heavy jacket. Warna took the garment and hung it up on a coat rack. Berret stole a quick glance around the room but could find nothing to indicate that aliens inhabited the floor of the rooming house. In fact even the clothing already hanging from the coat rack was typically Earth human.
"Can I get you something to drink?" the girl asked him next. Berret shook his head and told her he was fine. "My Master is in the study. I will take you to her now."
"Her?" Berret thought, for some reason he'd been expecting a male teacher for the girl. Perhaps he'd spent too much time on Earth already to be thinking in such a typical sexist way.
"If you will please follow me, I will take you there," said Warna.
Berret followed the girl through the apartment, surprised at how large it actually was. She led him to a door, stained dark with its antique finish and age. Warna knocked lightly at the entrance.
"Master? Shrike Berret is here to see you," she called.
"Please be a dear and show him in, Warna," said a muffled female voice.
