Looking for the Age of Aquarius
Chap 36 ("Nor But Strain'd From That Fair Use")
Yes, RL has quieted down and I have finally had the time to finish this chapter. whew! For everyone following this story, thank you for your patience and to the few who have nudged me to update, hugs and thanks for the encouragement.
Aujheyn, Thruji and Drake stood tall and strong on my left, warriors, alert and waiting; Loraine stood on my right, gripping my hand so tightly I had to squeeze back so she didn't hurt me. Beside her, Ghianni and Vltava were trying to appear calm and serene. Roman and Quinn stood with Maia and Sophia by Nox's pyre, Quinn with his arms around Sophia, and her hands resting on his – the four of them staring out across the river. Well, all of us were to some extent; either that or staring northwest, watching the skies for any sign of the demonstration that was about to happen – that was scheduled to off the coast of San Francisco, 3,000 kilometers/2,600 kulma away.
I wasn't sure what to expect following the demonstration today, the same I suppose. The last time, as soon as our 'weapons capability demonstration' had hit the Atlantic Ocean three days ago, Col. Gavins came to arrest me – interceded by General Burch and his aides-de-camp who then took Roman, Drake and me to meet with the United States president (after making a detour to the ARDhet to demand that we call off the attack on California). I fully expected the same to happen this time – if not being sent to the crate.
I hated waiting, and waiting for something bad to happen is always the worst, especially knowing I'd be the one to whom all the blame would be levied. Well, me and Roman, but mostly me. It was as if I could feel the seconds pass, measured by the pounding of my hearts as I starred at the skyline beyond Roman's garden.
The Vwasak men of Aujheyn's, Roman's and my strazhic ochrikujen stood like statues; the Iwabas in mine staring into the Sector streets while Sijhig watched the windows of the military offices, waiting for the inevitable reaction from the military to the second torpedo impact. And for the impending aerial demonstration of our combat fighters in Earth's atmosphere. As if having intergalactic battle cruisers with the capability of firing down on the planet were not enough of a incentive to come to amicable terms with us, I thought warily. I wanted this to be the catalyst towards our release, the return of our ship or properties and businesses and to finally have peace with humans.
But there would always be some humans that hated us though. I glanced at Drake and remembered Bertrand's attack on us at Black Bear Lake and Vartan's constant hatred toward us, toward Drake in particular. But Grayson and Erik had come around, maybe others would too.
I stared across the river at the cityscape. Picturesque. The buildings, various plants, trees along riverbank pristine and vivid against the dark blues of the Mississippi. The partly clouded sky was bright blue as it normally was after a mild rainfall. Boats traversed the river as they did every day, going about their business as if their country was not in fact facing a tsunami from a torpedo hit.
The silence was suddenly broken by a siren somewhere off in the Edendale and Bunkhead, a dreadful keening sound that became echoed by the sirens in the Sector. I didn't know if it was in response to the impending impact of our torpedo on the California coast or from the impact itself or because of the combat fighters each battle cruiser would deploy, simply for demonstrative purposes (although the humans wouldn't know that), to sweep Earth's airspace at speeds only the fastest of human military could possibly match. Human military and spy aircraft can fly in the stratosphere, but our Traghe combat and Tuvek interceptor fighters could fly aerodynamic maneuvers in the lower mesosphere – literally flying above the human capacity of attack. And I wanted the humans to know that fact.
Tyson checked his watch. "Three o'clock, our time—"
"—–one o'clock in California," I sighed heavily. I wondered how bad the situation would be along the San Francisco coast. A significant explosion, that's what I'd asked Adremandzu Darquis for, a kson sumivek – but not as strong as our first one; a kesvek not a kuzvek, although either would make a devastating impact along the coast. I hoped it wouldn't damage the Golden Gate Bridge too badly.
Drake's arm tightened about my shoulders as I leaned into his side, and Loraine squeezed my other hand. "When will they retaliate?" she asked.
"Soon," Drake replied. Roman put his arm across his mother's shoulders when Maia looked up at him with a worried glanced, and Quinn's arm tightened around Sophia's slender frame as she turned her face into his shoulder.
Part of me stayed attuned to the others around me as I rested my cheek against Drake's shoulder, anticipating the sound of… What did I expect? Soldiers to come swarming up onto the pod to arrest me? A helicopter hovering near the edge with Col. Gavins calling for my arrest though a bull horn?
But nothing happened – at least not as it had last time. The scratch of boots and shuffled feet on the crate, a quiet sob and softly worried murmurs from Sophia and Loraine, echoed heavy exhalations from those standing closest to me. Slowly the rigid tension in Drake's body relaxed, and I saw the tension ease from the other Vwasak as well.
Ghianni's thin shoulders sagged slightly. "It's happened," she said softly, barely a whisper as Vltava looked at Roman and then me with an accusing glance. "We're at war."
"We've been at war," Aujheyn replied, his son, Thruji, standing stoically staring out at the city.
I could hear the shuffle of feet behind us from Aujheyn's Vwasak warriors and the men that made up Roman's and my strazhic ochrikujen as they moved along the edge of the crate, or moved closer to those they protected. Whatever they had expected, if it was anything like what I'd anticipated, was not going to occur. At least not right away. There was no doubt that the military could be ignorant to where we were. Unless they were simply waiting for us to come down and then they'd arrest Roman and me.
Ghianni rose stately. "We should convene the Hwatab," she said, turning to go, but although Vltava moved to follow her, Aujheyn and Thruji did not, looking at Roman and me instead.
"Aujheyn? We should see to our people," Vltava stated, glanced back at me again as if this was all my fault.
I glanced past her, watching the stern expressions and pointing gestures of the men standing guard as the shouts and commotion below grew louder. Apparently the soldiers were moving about down in the streets, possibly looking for Roman and me; but no gunshots were heard, thankfully.
"And we will; in due time, when there is something to discuss," the Vwasak Iksen replied politely but firm. He turned, addressing Roman and then me. "Abour Atedi, Amwur Atedi, I suggest we go to my pod and see what the news stations report."
Vltava gaped at him in astonishment. "Should we not return to the House of Cards? The people—"
"Will know soon enough," Thruji stated.
"I think it best we go down now, Abour Atedi, Amwur Atedi," Aujheyn said, indicating we go with a sweep of his hand. At the ladder, Aujheyn's Vwasak warriors spaced themselves between Aujheyn, Roman, Drake and me, each one taking a protective stance as we reached each landing and then formed a four-point shield guard once we reached the ground.
Drake and I were swept away to the left by Theun and Jhian and another sinewy muscled Vwasak I hadn't met before and down a narrow alley with Hawx and Tarch behind us as if even Drake's friends expected trouble. I suspected that Ward, Astur, Kurke, Tilan and Pahul had gone with Aujheyn and Roman, seeing to their safety since they weren't with us. Theun took point with Jhian, leading us away from the main street in the Vwasak quadrant where Aujheyn's pod was, in an indirect route I assumed so we could avoid confrontation by the military roaming in the streets. My wrist monitor vibrated slightly as we made another turn, our small group moving quickly and cautiously, the warriors on alert, even Drake.
Theun led us through what I assumed was the Vwasak bio-grow pod, since a large, thorny sovok vine espaliers grew on one wall, smaller braches tied to train them to grow in small rings to form thorny knucklers or in the crossed 'X' the Warriors wore on their torsos. Trellises and stacked planter boxes were full to bursting with various fruits and vegetables to feed the members of their tribe, the air rich and vibrant with the smells of rich earth, compost and light misty-rain.
We cautiously exited the transition chamber and back out onto the street, and we moving quickly to the end of the stack. I saw Sijhig emerge between two crates across the street. He stopped to look at us, then waited as we passed him, nodding to me once before drawing back into the shadows. My escort had us climbed up the steps to the second level and we scurried quickly along the walk, the Vwasak keeping me and Drake close to the doors as if to block us from view.
Jhian pounded on a door, which opened. He spoke softly, too low for me to hear, and then ushered Drake and I inside. It was a small entry at the end of a hall, but we were led down a spiral staircase and into the main meeting room of Aujheyn's pod. Very soon after, Roman and Quinn were escorted in as well.
Varria, a woman I'd seen in Aujheyn's pod before, brought drinks on a tray for everyone, urging us to sit as Aujheyn and Thruji appeared, entering their pod casually from the back as if nothing at all were amiss. Taras turned on the large flat screen TV.
I stood with Drake, holding his hand tightly as we watched the news broadcasts replay the image of the voluminous ball-shaped plume of the impact six hundred miles off the western coast, then show the effect of the first waves of the resulting tsunami. According to Aujheyn, Adremandzu Darquis apparently did employ a lighter yield warhead torpedo, although in my opinion the images of the impact was just as large and imposing as the one Adremandzu Andam's had deployed. But Roman pointed out that according to the news correspondent the initial impact waves were not as large as they'd been on the east coast, but still the waves travelled at high speed, their wavelength and velocity amplified as they hit land. Still, it was more than significant as a second demonstration. The tidal-like waves crashed on the coastline and made the water level in the bay and harbor to rise and recoil with redoubled force alarmingly, causing damage to boats, and flooding homes and businesses; then the large volume of water draining off the land and carried a large amount of debris with it, polluted the water. And authorities were already bracing for the next surge of tsunami inundations.
I wished that I could have communicated with my Ikseyan, especially Ihmen or Ian, but without the promised phones, I had no way of communicating with anyone outside the Sector. I worried for my people and hoped they were safe from retaliation by the local authorities here, and that my Ikseyan had things well in hand. It was so frustrating, being here and unable to do anything. I could well understand the frustration that led people to believe Vega and the promises of the Trags.
By four-thirty it was clear that the president had no intention of sending for us. I doubted that the military was unaware of our location since the monitor on my wrist literally vibrated every few minutes. And I knew that Roman's and Drake's were vibrating as well, since Drake's right hand was clasped with my left, I could feel his vibrate the same time as mine did.
Roman asked Aujheyn to send word to have the Hwatab meet at five, telling him it would be an open Hwatab and requesting all the elders of each tribe to be present as well.
As we walked to the House of Cards, many of our people swarmed the streets, asking questions or worried about the repercussions. However the military presence consisted of armed soldiers, standing at the intersections, on patrol on the guard posts and towers on the Sector walls. And even though my monitor still vibrated slightly now and again, Col. Gavins and Gen. Burch were, surprisingly, nowhere to be seen, their absence disheartening: apparently the president was not going to meet with us today.
"There was always tomorrow; we have seventy-two hours to get him to agree to our terms," I told myself, well muttered softly.
"If he does at all – but I doubt it. It may come to war after all," Drake said to me.
"Then may their God help them," a man said on my other side. "Right, Amwur Atedi?"
"If it comes down to it, yes," I told him. The fleet strikes again in three days. If integration is not signed by then, yes. "Then we'll know for sure."
By five-fifteen the spacious pod was quickly filling to capacity. There were rows of chairs in rings around the Hwatab sedarayan table and people lining the walls when Roman tapped the moltek to call the meeting to order at five-twenty. The problem was, four soldiers were standing watch inside the House of Cards wearing a video cams on their helmets as well as their military headsets; two of them wearing mobile two-way radios during the meeting. I slyly watched one man in particular who had his finger on what could be the transmit switch, and I leaned in to Roman. "Our meeting is being transmitted – by video."
"He's not the only one," he said in Sondiv under his breath, indicating another who was facing him, before looking pointedly away.
Roman opened the discussion reviewing the food and basic supplies rationing and bringing up the notification we'd had about scheduled nightly blackouts instead of the main points we'd discussed for the evening agenda. He skipped over the schedule for Lundis' newly completed submersion pool and the increased allotments of water from the newly completed cisterns as well, instead reviewing the housing situations and concerns, and the continuing of the Sector school. Roman adjourned the meeting early and worked his way out the door with Drake immediately afterwards, leaving me to field off the questions of the inhabitants as Loraine and Quinn maneuvered me out the door.
I had expected a confrontation outside. But the streets were empty, except for those few people returning to their pods for the night and a few soldiers still standing guard with their riffles. I walked to our pod with Loraine, knowing that Drake wouldn't be there and toyed with the thought of looking for him. I could feel him clearly: he was apprehensive, annoyed, but not agitated. I sighed heavily; somehow I knew now was not the time.
I glanced at Loraine, noting the slight sag to her shoulders, her downcast distant gaze as she walked along beside me, and reached a decision: I'd spend some time with her – see if she wanted to talk. Besides, it would be nice to have some time alone with her.
On our street, I saw a soldier standing off to the side, who, for some reason, seemed out of place. I wasn't sure why he looked somewhat familiar – although I was hardly on good terms with any of the soldiers of the Sector, however I knew I'd seen him somewhere before. My internment? No. He didn't have a gun, which in itself was odd enough, but he did have the same sort of camera headset and a mobile two-way radio as the soldiers standing watch in the House of Cards. But instead of watching us, he turned his head as I walked by, talking slyly into a device in his hand instead of his radio.
She and I sat at the dining table as we talked while eating very well watered pigeon tomato soup, mostly speculating what if anything our friends were doing and if they were all right. But I couldn't help maintaining my awareness of Drake during dinner, if just to feel him, to sense his presence.
"How do you do this?" she blurted, making me pause with my spoon halfway to my lips.
I cocked an eyebrow. "Do what?"
"This, all of this?" she said with a sweep of her arm.
Frankly, I thought Drake's pod was quite comfortable. "It's not spacious, no, but it's—"
"There's little to no food, no water, no showers and… Don't you miss the homes? Or friends and families?" she asked despondently. "I've been here just a few days and I feel grungy. I'm starving. I want my clothes. I want—" She stopped at looked at me, then rested her head on her hand as she toyed with the last of her soup. "I'm sorry, that's not – I'm not – I don't mean to… but…" She dropped her spoon as she straightened and looked at me squarely. "How can you do this?"
"I agree with you; to all of it. I'll admit it to you that I feel the same as you do," I admitted and saw some of the light return to her light turquoise eyes. "But I won't say so to Drake – or any of them; I won't insinuate that he can't provide for me. He's been doing the best he can – especially since I refuse tributes."
"You're not taking tributes?" She gapped at me and I shrugged. "Why not?"
"Because I can't – I won't use the excuse of privilege at the expense of others."
She rolled her eyes at me and I set down my spoon.
"I take enough to keep my strength, but not so much as to deprive those who need it more. I make myself available to the people, but I don't host here in the pod – besides I don't have extra to serve guests, and I don't take advantage of other's hospitality with official visits because I don't want to deplete their rations. I don't take privileges due me, instead I encourage sharing equally and communally." I knew that the other Ikseyan were unhappy with my fervent opposition to tributes during these trying times, but with Roman and his family following my example; Ghianni, Vltava (although she voiced her disproval in my hearing several times) and Aujheyn were likewise accepting less from their people – or giving back to those whose needs were greater (like the pregnant women and young children Maia and Sophia supported). But Borjmei and Avun were not as yielding. "Drake calls it my 'idiosyncrasy' and indulges me."
"If you're not taking tributes, then how come…?" she started to say but I finished for her, "How come we have food every day?" and she nodded.
"You think I haven't noticed that we get a bird or two nearly every day?" I asked and she nodded with a shrug.
"They can't be catching enough birds for everyone," she pointed out, "surely that's a tribute to your status?"
I sighed heavily. "I know that there are people who are somehow attracting the pigeons and crows we eat; I've heard that the Swamad are fishing somehow, and the heads and entrails are used to snare the gulls. And I get a small box of vegetables every day, and I know I get extra water from the cisterns and desarylka wells – more than the average person gets," I looked up at her imploringly, "but not so that we appear extravagant."
"But being a martyr—"
"I'm not a martyr – I'm only taking what's fair and nothing more! There are families who are surviving on less!" I inhaled to calm down. "The Iwabas are doing the best they can with the plants in their grow-houses… each tribe has grow-houses now. But this – it's temporary."
"Are you sure?" Loraine asked.
"I'm sure," I replied and drank the last of my soup.
After dinner, Loraine went to visit with Sophia (Kurhst following her to keep her safe) and I went in search of Drake (Juchwy and Zjayn walking with me while Sijhig followed in the shadows). I found Drake easily enough of course, standing with Roman on the second tallest stack of pods with Aujheyn, and took a moment to note who was with them as I climbed the last rungs of the ladder.
Ahned and Tark (two of the welders I'd met on Sawinzenia) were talking with Roman, Aujheyn, Drake and Zakhar (who I've learned is Aujheyn's adreka), pointing and indicating with their hands. In what appeared as lazy nonchalance, three of Aujheyn's strazhic ochrikujen, Jhian, Klazur and Rodion lounging or leaning on the crates, barrels and desarylka wells with some of Drake's siecatka of friends (whom I still believed might actually be Roman's strazhic ochrikujen), Theun, Ward, Tarch, Tilan and Hawx. But I knew the relaxed poses were deceptive: the Vwasak all had thorny sovok knucklers, a few even had kosks and puguls in their hands, two of them balancing or spinning them by their tips on their hands nonchalantly.
I waited respectively, feeling the eyes of the Vwasak warriors on me, until Drake and the others turned to look at me. Drake's gaze met mine, then he turned his head, taking a deep breath and then met my gaze again. I could sense unease; he hadn't expected me, and he wasn't keen on my showing up. Well too bad. Roman's expression of surprise was not concealed at all, but Aujheyn's eyebrows went up questioningly as he stared at me.
I asked my three ochrikujen to wait with Roman's and joined the men, and walked casually to the assembled group, quietly listening in on their discussion about the changes happening and their thoughts of the portents it meant.
From where we stood I could see what troubled them: a series of changes were happening in the Sector, many that Roman, Drake and I had previously predicted as worse case scenarios. Well not the worst – they didn't drop a bomb on the Sector. I suppose that our warnings of the reprisal of that event hadn't fallen on deaf ears after all.
Dozens of electricians from the Army Core of Engineers (at least I think they were electricians) began mounting flood lights on every corner of the stacks and our strings of lights and lanterns that the residents had put up for lighting and to make the place look more inviting, at least at night, were being removed. For safety reasons.
Every crate that could be and all the barrels and benches in the streets were stowed away quickly; those too large to be moved manually were emptied, the contents distributed elsewhere.
More barbed wire was being added to the exterior walls and the secondary external wall.
Extra armed guards stood in the guard towers.
Aujheyn turned to me. "I hope you know what you are doing, Amwur Atedi," he said in a low voice, indicating to me by the formality of his address that this wasn't a casual meeting. "If this wasn't a prison before it certainly is one now."
"I had hoped that the first demonstration of our fleet's capabilities would be enough, but I was wrong," I admitted and Drake's lips twitched in a minute frown. "They are a stubborn people, these humans. American's aren't used to defeat; they haven't lost a war – not really. I know they claimed victory after our arrival, but that was hardly a contention – out of 2600 or so crew on board, there were only a thousand wojizoldak and a hundred strazhic ochrikujen!"
"I'm aware of that," Roman said. "But except for a terrorist attack on 9/11 and some bombings, they haven't had a fight on their own soil since their own Civil War in the 1860's, I think it was. Nevertheless, you'd think they'd realize that they are facing a superior fighting force, one that can wipe them out from the sky."
"Apparently not," Drake stated. "What do they want, an actual war? They can't win. We'll annihilate their Air Force."
"Navy and National Guard pilots as well, and I'm sure that their one or more of their nuclear subs are even now deploying in the gulf, their weapons aimed at us here," I said sadly.
"They wouldn't do that – any nuclear blast on us will eliminate Edendale," Roman pointed out, and I knew he was right.
"Hell, the blast zone at Hiroshima extended up to 5.6 kilometers away from the hypocenter and that weapon was a twenty-one kiloton yield bomb. American's have forty kiloton bombs now; so an air burst over the Sector would produce a lethal blast that would be about two kulmas or more but can have a thermal effect and resulting shockwave up spreading up to eight kulmas," Drake said. "And that doesn't include the fallout."
"They wouldn't fire on their own people?" Aujheyn asked.
"They'd blame us," I stated, watching some of the scaffolding bridges from the upper layers of the stacks being removed as we spoke. "Have you discussed the reallocation of the food supplies and the reassignments for the water rations from cisterns?"
"Yen we did, ikedur apayu, Amwur Atedi," Aujheyn said.
I asked, "And the other Ikseyan?" immediately answered by Roman, "Of course; Hawx and Pahul are taking my message to Avun, and Taras is seeing Borjmei on mine and Aujheyn's bequest."
"Mahureen, you and I are meeting with Ghianni and Vltava tonight," Drake stated.
"I hope she was given the curtsy of notification of our visit?" I said, not wanting to crash in on her dinner.
"It's a formal meeting, Maureen, not a social visit," Drake stated. This was not how we did things at the houses; my Ikseyan knew of my meetings beforehand and I never simply popped over for dinner without notification. I nodded, deciding to follow his lead; apparently things were done differently in the Sector.
"There is something I'd like to ask, and I'm not sure how to broach it," I said, hesitantly, not sure if I was overstepping my grounds. Aujheyn and Roman faced me, Aujheyn with his arms crossed. "Forgive my ignorance, but don't you have Seconds?"
"Astac sie? A named dkojierc of the tribe?" Aujheyn asked and I nodded. "Of course. I was my brother's dkojierc, but he died of the fever after arrival; the tribe voted me as Iksen – and now Thruji my son is astac sie."
Yes, I knew that on arrival many of us were stricken by viral infections and diseases. "The other's do they have dkojierc as well?"
"Ghianni does not; Borjmei's sister, Jayde, is his dkojierc, unofficially, but Durnek has named his brother Edlund's son, Durren, and Avun was only holding his position until Roman was ready to lead. But with Roman's ascension to High Iksen of the Itrejivil, Avun is the Zwahan Iksen – until he is challenged. Therefore he cannot name a Second until he is formally seated," Aujheyn informed me.
"Vltava – she is a Zwahan Elder; she wants the position and her son is well liked," Drake added.
I was surprised, I thought Vltava was Iwabas; I'd seen her with Ghianni many times. "And your dkojierc don't sit with you on the Hwatab?" I asked, stating the obvious since they clearly did not.
"No," Roman stated, affirming my thought. "But it might be a good practice to instate." Aujheyn thought about it then agreed, but said that we should wait.
"Why wait? What better time to propose including the dkojierc as your Seconds than war time?" I asked.
Drake shook his head, laughing softly at me. "Any other changes you want to propose?"
I nodded. "The so Ikstarsi – including ten woroseni for a general council. I know we can't have a formal appointment representative for each of your tribal states, but the extended council does make spreading decisions easier and faster among the people, less likely for errors to occur in the retellings."
"Maureen's Hwatabs are open to the adults in the residences," Drake stated, looking at Aujheyn.
"General Hwatab meetings, and anything concerning budgets and allocations," I told Aujheyn. "I do host closed council if serious decisions are made and include others if their particular background or knowledge is relevant. I have two Vwasak that frequently sat on my council since they were leaders of the warriors, and Jhina would come to represent the Iwabas."
Aujheyn asked me many questions, and I answered him honestly, Drake and Roman adding their observations. "You're quite progressive, Amwur Atedi," Aujheyn said. His expression changed from thoughtful to serious. "I have heard you, Amwur Atedi, Atriarch of the Tgorasad and the people living on the outside."
"As have I," Roman said. It was clearly a dismissal. "I'll have Tilan and Theun escort you and Drake to Ghianni's pod."
Definitely a dismissal. "Thank you, Abour Atedi, Atriarch of the Itrejivil and the people living on the inside," I turned to Aujheyn, "Honored Father of the Vwasak, thank you both for hearing me." I left, hearing Drake make his leave behind me.
He slid down the ladder and stopped me before I could descend the stairs to the ground. "Don't feel put off," he said, and I replied, "I don't."
He looked at me intently. "We don't do things the way your people do."
"I know," I replied, but cringed at this accusation of, "Then why are you trying to change us?"
I had no real answered other than I thought it would strengthen Roman's position and those of our people here in the Sector, but I simply shrugged. "Should I stop?"
"Stop trying to fix what isn't broken in the first place," he said, then leaned into me, "but I'll admit you're a formidable Iksen… and you're rubbing off on Roman."
You as well, I thought as he kissed me. I smiled, and he drew back to look at me. "You're quite formidable as well."
"Not the same," he said as he turned to go.
I saw Juchwy and Zjayn waiting for us, Sijhig across the street in the shadows. I paused, thinking, then placing a hand on Drake's arm, said, "Considering my position is merely wysedayan by invitation of your Atriarch Iksen, you should be the one to address Roman's plans." He scrunched his eyebrows, so I added before he could ask, "The reallocation of the food supplies and the reassignments for the water rations – that is what we're seeing her about, right?"
He nodded, "Among other things." He paused, considering. "All right."
When we turned onto the street where Ghianni's pod was located, several stern, sinewy and lean-muscled men loitered outside her door. Drake walked up confidently, acknowledging one of the men as another knocked twice on the door. As before, a woman opened the door and allowed us in. Vltava, Teri, Janlee (a vendor I'd met in the market) and Heanil were sitting with Ghianni sipping on beverages. "Honored Mother, I hope we are not intruding," I said as I approached.
"No, Amwur Atedi, come in," Ghianni said as she waved us over. "To what do we have the honor?"
"Drake, Avizitan Ochrokaje to the Iksen of the Itrejivil, carries a message for you from your Atriarch Iksen," I said very formally in Sondiv.
Janlee rose from a loveseat to offer me her seat and Drake and I sat down, and we were immediately given drinks with a leaf floating in it, matching the ones the others were enjoying, as a young man brought Janlee a chair. Drake jumped right to the point, clearly outlying the locations of the cisterns in the Iwabas quadrant and the reallocation of the food and supplies. Vltava and Heanil asked a few questions of clarification, but when I addressed Ghianni, she politely assured us that she was aware of the new procedures and that the Iwabas would comply with the new ordinances, "Even though Roman did not bring them to a vote in our Hwatab."
I almost smiled at the irritation in her voice. "We were not only observed by the soldiers in the House of Cards but the meeting was being transmitted – and I believe recorded," I told her. She said that she was quite aware of the soldier's intrusion, but I shook my head. "Two of them wore communication headsets with cameras on their helmets, and I'm certain that at least one held their walkie transmitter on during the entire meeting."
"I see. Thank you, Amwur Atedi," she said, then asked me if the soldiers were done with the demolition of our walkways instead of Drake. Oh well.
"I have buds on the pelacze," Ghianni replied with a smile at my pause.
The corner of my mouth twitched in a half smile; pelacze meant creeper or climber, usually noted for a pelzacz – a vine, instead of pelznicie, denoting a person who crept or climbed. "All the crossways and catwalks on the upper levels are being removed; the brace supports are not," I told her. "And our lighting fixtures are being dumped into bins," I looked at Drake, "outside the Sector…" He nodded.
"They will be stored for us in our warehouse, and returned if you and Roman are successful."
I looked at Ghianni in surprise. "The Trag warehouse?" I blurted, then immediately regretted it, but Teri and Vltava smiled. Stephen and Rayne had closed it down…
"My mother's warehouse – we still have people on the outside," Teri stated. "Drake isn't the only one who can swim."
I sat up straighter and set my drink down, asking, "You've contact with the outside?"
Teri nodded, looking slightly haughty. But I was used to her snooty expressions, and, unaffected by it, I asked if she'd heard anything about our human friends, wondered what she knew.
"Emery and Grayson were living in a cabin out in the bayou, off the grid – or were," she said. "But then Emery's trying to stop the government from escalating things, to make people see the truth about this war – that the president wants war – not us. Not that she's making much headway – they are anyway, judging by the changes the military is conducting here and the lock down on Edendale and Bunkhead. Newhall is unaffected of course – Senator Montrose saw to that," Teri said, far more forthcoming than I expected. "But Emery's a lot tougher than I thought. That boy who used to bait Drake all the time…"
"Erik Rodarte," I interjected at her pause.
"Yeah, him. He apparently he taught Emery how to fight and use a gun," she continued undaunted. "The three of them – well, mostly Erik and Emery – have joined some of your people into trying to rescue our people from lab facilities, recording images to expose the atrocities that humans are doing to our people. He's becoming quite the cyber-speaker, as well."
He? – Erik? I knew Grayson was an accomplished speaker. Gads, hearing this set my teeth on edge; I wondered how Roman felt about it. The FBI would surely target them.
"That friend of Emery's whose mom runs The Bug," she said, which I affirmed, "Lukas," nodding.
"Yeah, him," she said, flipping her hand. "He has become quite the underground cyber-journalist; Ihmen and her people hack into all the media networks and deliver his video messages dispelling the lies told about our people and the film Erik tapped. He interviewed me…" She caught my reaction and gave me a self-important smirk of annoyed disdain. "No, I played nice; I know how important this is. I simply answered his questions honestly and reiterated your stance for peace."
I nodded, silently, to encourage her to continue. I trusted that Ihmen or Lukas would edit it if it was necessary. "Apparently Akon, a Vwasak, and two of my mother's men, Bronn and Urbin are staying with my aunt – they are bleached so they can do what's necessary."
Great, I thought. I hoped Jhina kept them inline.
"The Red Hawks have joined with the KKK – their numbers are greater, but fewer people are giving them credence."
"Not Grayson's New Red Hawks," Drake stated.
"Grayson has a small group that still think they are hunting Trags," Teri admitted. "But really, most of them are back to the same old alien-bashing crap."
I asked about Julia and Taylor, but she shook her head. "They are missing. I heard that someone took them into the bayou and they disappeared. Rumor is that they were eliminated."
I inhaled at her pronouncement, concerned for them; but Drake, as if anticipating my reaction, squeezed my hand. I squeezed back gently, acknowledging and needing the reassurance. He'd told be before that both girls were in the bayou – safe; I hoped that was still the case and relaxed at the sense of calmness I felt from him.
I politely asked Teri how things were going with Tyria and Felicia, then asked Heanil about Aria and Troy. They both assured me the girls were doing well. I hoped they were adjusting; Teri's response was more firm than Heanil's.
"Did you know about all this?" I asked Drake after we left.
"Most of it," he said.
"Most of it?" I stopped, making him stop and turn to face me. I'd expected him to say 'Yes.' "What haven't you told me? Who—"
"Quiet, will you?" he snapped, drawing me aside.
"Drake!" I started to say as he hissed, "Not here."
"I told you that you have to keep me updated. I don't like being broadsided like that," I hissed back. "How am I supposed to—"
"I did tell you what's going on," he stated.
"Days ago," I reminded him. "Look I know I'm only wysedayan here in the Sector, but if I'm to back Roman I have to know what's going on. Why are you keeping me in the dark to what's—"
"You are appraised," stated again, but I shook my head and narrowed my eyes at him.
"Nooo, you've told me, but I'm not informed as to what they are doing now – what they are currently doing. Why do you leave me in the dark?"
"You're not in the dark," he started to protest, but I cut him off saying, "I am not used to being left out of what is happening – I'm used to being informed. Teri knew about these raids on Diagle Pharmaceuticals lab facilities – but I did not?! I know you've people leaving the Sector, you've told me that, but you and Roman don't include me in what is reported back nor have I had any word from my people."
He inhaled sharply, his chin lifting slightly with the swelling of his chest, shoulders squaring. But I pressed him, "Why didn't you tell me about these raids? Who are the Iwabas Teri mentioned and who were they meeting? Why didn't you tell me that—?"
"Will you lower your voice?" He pulled me aside and down a tight alley. He leaned into me as if he was going to kiss me, but when he spoke it was low and soft so as not to carry. "Maureen, Teri is making it out to be more than it is. No one leaves through that tunnel without my knowledge, and Roman and I get full reports when they come back; but nothing is all that different from what I told you before."
"Emery is now carrying a gun. Erik led a raid to rescue our people from the Diagle lab facilities – and you do recall that Miss Benton and Mr. Burke work for them – researching the intrinsic and symbiotic mutualistic relationship of ciper in our physiology!" I could feel his anger rise, but then so was mine.
"Yes, I remember that," he stated.
"So when were you going to tell me about it?" I demanded.
"Yes, Emery and Erik were involved with the rescue of our people from one of the lab facilities – but they've only hit one of them; nine of your warriors were with them, including Akon, Byron, Sephen and Rayne. The other three were raided on the same night as well, but Ian doesn't know who organized it. What I do know is that all the bodies were recovered; only none of them were alive – and one facility was scorched pretty badly – arson – especially the grounds where some of the bodies were buried. Apparently, researchers there were growing ciper and the plants were destroyed. Ihmen and Byrne received downloaded images and copies of the data from the institute's files."
"But if Ian didn't arrange the raid…" I looked up at him. "Who went out the day of the raid?"
"Astur, Tilan and Theun went out with the Iwabas swimmers, Aksel and Seul," he said softly.
"Diagle Pharmaceuticals only has two research facilities here in Louisiana: one just south of Baton Rouge and one in Lafayette; the others are in California, Indiana and Texas."
"They had one in Bunkhead near the river – but yes, the one in Lafayette was the one that was scorched," Drake pointed out.
"Could the other facilities have been raided by the remaining Trags still on the outside?" I asked.
"Byrne said the strikes were well organized and with a proficiency that the Trags didn't have."
"If not my warriors and not the Trags…? Who then?" I asked, but Drake just shook his head.
"Speculation is it's our military, but if it is Adremandzu Andam, he did so without authority."
Why? "What would be the point of recovering our dead now…?" I looked up at him. "J'sna guwno! Ciper. Miss Benton…" She had been arrested for threatening assault and battery toward Julia and their criminal attempted murder of Teri. "Could she have been released? You said the grounds were scorched – they grew ciper… Atrian leukocytes – the catalyst – and she and Burke…." I turned my head, mentally seeing the main street of the Sector. "She was in the Sector during Dinaskyu… but not at the feast – and even though we destroyed all evidence the day of the hurricane – they knew. They could have…"
"I'll make inquiries," he assured me. "It woudl explain why the grounds were scorched, and why there were so many dead bodies."
I looked up at him, searching his face; even in the semi-dark his eyes were blue – a deep midnight blue. "Teri knew quite a bit more than she was telling."
"There isn't anything else; there are no new developments, only continued reports of the same things. Yes, Emery and Grayson are still recording interviews, repeatedly telling anyone who tunes in that you don't – didn't want to attack on the U.S. Remember Jeff Collier? He joined them in the bayou: his wife and daughter are hiding in Canada with his wife's sister. Remember, the girl was healed with ciper? Collier has been making statements that we wanted peace, that we were willing to share our knowledge with the humans and that we want to rebuild our ship and leave. All three reported that the so called attack on our coast was only to demonstrate our fleet capability to get the president to meet with us and discuss integration. Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Hoover, our chem. and history teachers?"
I nodded, suddenly feeling a sense of dread hit me.
"They were arrested; no one knows what happened to them. Gloria too; after she tried to warn the White House, persuade them to make more progress toward integration – well, she's missing. Rumor is her house was destroyed, and she and her mother tried to summon the boatman – to flee to Eljida, but the Eljidan guard and Jesytur said they haven't seen them. Grayson has been trying to use his family's connections to covertly meet with congressmen and senators – anyone in the government – although his father is fighting against him. He did have a meeting with the mayor of Mississippi and Arkansas and some people in West Virginia – but nothing came out of those meetings as far as I can tell; the president isn't relenting to our needs, is he? And your four people in Russia are still the guests of the federation police there, but they are still working with the scientists on their projects, though. Those scientists have been interviewed by reporters from all over, but no one is able to interview the Atrians. Same as the people you sent to South Africa, they've been granted asylum."
There was a clang down the end of the alley, making us both turn our heads sharply, but I saw Sijhig and another man blocking the passage. Whoever it was, Sijhig seemed to have it in hand. I turned back to Drake.
"Tell me about Taylor and Julia?"
"They are somewhere in the Lafourche area with Dren, Skara and Ethan, living with some of our survivors. Akon and Jujden assured me they are safe and well looked after."
"I wish you and Roman would keep me better informed."
He didn't respond.
I was disconcerted by Drake's and Roman's exclusion from what had been going on. Drake knew I wanted to know what was happening, but I had to draw it out of him in order to keep appraised of the situation outside the Sector. And Roman wasn't any more informative; in fact he kept his distance from me unless he was holding a Hwatab and wanted my backing. It was frustrating as hell. I would have to be more proactive from now on and ask.
I looked up at Drake. "I know you're not swimming anymore," then at his raised eyebrow, I quickly added, "Your skin isn't as dziladka aj giekka," Sodiv meaning: skin smooth and soft, which made him scowl. "Not arysty and akze sienwalty like me," I clarified, knowing I looked old and way too thin.
He cupped my face. "You're vejlige to me," he said, and I blushed that he could still find me 'pretty' in my present state and looked down at the medallion he wore. Although I couldn't see it well in the shadows, I knew it was a warrior mounted on a palikon, holding a curved zablada over his head, surrounded by a Vwasak saying – some vow of defense of tribe, family and lands.
Drake tipped my head up. "You're young, and when this is over, when you and I can go swimming, your vitality will regain, I promise you. Besides, if this is how you'll look when you're old, you'll still be a bykautec." He kissed me, tenderly, then said we should head home.
"But why do you and Roman leave me out of the discussions you have?" I asked quietly, keeping my tone firm.
"Because you are watched more closely than Roman and the other Iksen – you're more of a threat," he said with a hint of annoyance. "Look at everything you've accomplished! And you have people on the outside, and they don't want you to have any knowledge or connection to them. Bryne told me that, Ihmen, Meheka, Ian and Patrik are handling things, doing everything they can, and I've been assured that no one else in the science sectors have been compromised."
I was immediately relieved to hear that. Still, I wanted to be more in the know – proactive, not piecing things together after the fact or broadsided by other people.
I thought back to how things had been before, when Roman and I had finally sided together, and realized that with the exception of the incidents involving the Suvek – first stealing it from the Trags in the Sector and then trying to prevent its activation, Drake and Roman were used to doing things on their own, the heir apparent and the warrior against the Trags and the Red Hawks, quietly defending the other four Atrians in the school and the humans they cared about. And whenever Emery or I were in danger of Red Hawk or Trag retaliation, they backed off from us, trying to use separation to keep us safe. Drake had even tried to break up with me when Brock had threatened me.
The only times I was brought in with them was when I insinuated myself: when Miss Benton attacked first Julia then attempted to drain Teri dry during the hurricane; when Drake and Roman had rescued Grayson from the Trags the night of his families formal gala; when Zoe had used black ciper on Lukas (which had actually been intended for Taylor) and Lukas and Sophia had needed to be purged. Drake and Roman always tried to handle it alone.
Okay. So if I wanted in, then it was time I insinuated myself on Roman and Drake more, spend more time with them – wherever they were. Lots more.
When we turned the corner, I saw Sijhig talking to an unarmed soldier. Odd. The soldier's back was too me, but there was something… odd about the rolled cuffs of his jacket that wasn't quite right, and I could see the ends of curly brown hair from under his helmet. I watched them, wondering who the man was and why Sijhig, who normally avoided everyone, was talking to him. But I didn't see any indication of tension in Sijhig's expression, although the soldier appeared stiff.
"Amwur Atedi, we should go," Juchwy said behind me.
I turned asking, "Who…?" but neither he nor Zjayn gave any indication for concern, just urged me to keep moving.
Drake shook his head as he gently clasped my arm. "No one. Whatever he wants, Sijhig is handling him. Let's get you safe," he said, urging me to go. Sijhig moved to block the soldier from following us as Drake drew me away.
When we entered our street, there were more soldiers about, and very few of our people. Drake kept me close to him, Juchwy and Zjayn close behind us.
As soon as we entered our pod, I called out for Loraine, but even before Drake closed the door, there was that silent-felt absence that indicated she wasn't back yet. "We're alone," Drake said, less a question than a statement.
"She's probably still visiting with Sophia," I told him.
He grabbed me, saying, "Good," spinning me around and pinned me to the door. "Then I can have my way with you."
His mouth descended hungrily to mine before I could respond. His sudden ardor sent my head spinning and my body melting as he ravaged my mouth, his hands raking over me. I tried to do the same, but he was taking my breath away and erasing any ability of coherent thought as he tried to divest me of my clothes. He stepped back, and I moved forward, my hands on his fastenings, eagerly tying to divest him of his clothes as he likewise worked to remove mine. One article at a time was tossed to the floor, chairs, on the sofa, coffee table and the bookshelf – shoes kicked off to the side as we somehow ended up, nude in his bedroom doorway. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he picked me up, nearly joining within me in the process, and he dumped me on the bed, collapsing on top of me.
"Asa ijita idi, im ammiyutyan," he saying, 'I love you' and calling me his girlfriend (well, ammiyutyan also meant lover) as he kissed my markings over my collar bone, making my hearts race.
"Na setiv-wyn, kze, um… miyutianek," I said, sharing the same endearment as we came together, confirming my love for him, but stopping just before accidently calling him my wybranik – my Chosen – even though I wanted to declare him as my Ibseyzu – my chosen mate and consort.
We never heard Loraine come in, but when we finally rolled out of bed and walked into the sitting room the next morning, our clothes were neatly stacked on the coffee table with our shoes lined up neatly on the floor beneath, embarrassingly enough. Well on my part: Drake still had a smug little grin on his face.