Chapter 10: Spatial Rift Part 5- Restless
Pidge and Coran have settled into the rhythm of life in Leaftown, helping their new allies in raids and rescues in the continued attempts to get a message off-planet. Time is slipping away, and the situation grows more perilous. Is a message worth risking their lives? It must just cost them.

September 20th, 2332 (Three Months Later)

Wedged in the narrow space between a wall and the pipes in front of her, Katie gave the connector in front of her one last awkward twist with the wrench in her hands. "All right!" she called out. "Turn the valve and give it a try!"

"Turning the water on," Coran called from up above.

Katie waited as she heard water starting to flow past her from the cisterns above. "All right! Dyn, try flushing."

On the other side of the wall of pipes was what had up until recently been the bank of drop-toilets set up to allow necessary bodily functions without people constantly descending to the forest floor. The pipes—mostly run along the outsides of the trees and disguised with vines—ran down into deep pits dug below and covered over.

The water rushed away, then stopped again. There was a hoot of joy. "It works!"

"Well, that's a relief." Katie tucked the wrench into its felt pouch on her belt, and started wiggling towards the open area she had come in front. She was almost past the pipes when she found herself wedged in place. Well, this is fantastic.

Coran appeared in the opening. "Great job, Pidge! It'll be nice to have cleaner facilities again."

"Thank you, Coran. I, for one, am looking forward to it."

"Something wrong?"

Her face flushed. "Someone had a growth spurt and I'm… stuck. Could you help pull me out? Just a tug should do it."

"Ahh." Coran nodded, understanding. "Of course. Give me your hand."

Katie reached out, and with a little additional pulling pressure from Coran, was able to get past them. Tight spaces were no longer her friend. And if Hunk ever saw this, I would never live it down. "Oof. Thanks," she said as she came clear. "I guess I won't be repairing pipes again for a while." She rubbed the sore spot on her belly, where it had dragged on the wood, grateful for the thick, if breathable, fabric of her tunic. Under her hand, she felt wriggling, like she had for the past few weeks now. "You think that's funny, do you?"

"Hrmm?"

"Sorry. I was talking to this one." When she had been pregnant with Caitlin, Hunk had always—affectionately—referred to her size in terms of various types of fruit. Right now, at twenty-six weeks, Katie would have called this kid a very large cantaloupe. She knew the baby wasn't that big yet, but her stomach stuck out far enough. She was almost certain this one was growing either faster, or would be larger, than Caitlin though, even without an endless supply of Hunk's cooking to feed it whenever she had a specific craving. Right now, everything she ate seemed to go right to her womb. She didn't think she'd put on much weight anywhere else. Extra-rations here amounted to what she would have considered normal healthy portion sizes on Earth. With the result that she was still almost always hungry.

Like now. Her stomach growled audibly.

"It's almost time for lunch," Dyn said as she joined them. "Then I believe Golron wants everyone involved in tonight's mission to meet in his planning room."

Katie nodded, and wished they could move faster as they went up and down the various wooden stairs and levels to get from the toilets to the largest, most open platform, where everyone ate.

In three months, they had rescued another eighty slaves. There were still hundreds inside, but they had gotten out everyone who had family in Leaftown, and many others besides. Most importantly, they had rescued all of the still-living Vidorans, which amounted to twenty-five in all. There had been several who had been re-captured, usually in the escape attempts or as a rescuer, and then re-rescued more than once. It really was an ongoing rotation that seemed like it might never end without outside intervention.

The data they had gotten from the Yoan, both from capturing hostages to question for information, and from her tapping the lines, had given them what they needed to make an attempt on the communications room in the main building.

"I don't like the idea of you going on this mission," Coran said—not for the first time—as they walked.

Katie rolled her eyes. "You're not talking me out of this Coran. I can't talk someone else through this from a distance. I need to be there in the room to access the system. If something goes wrong, I'm going to have to improvise. I can't do that from up in a tree, miles away." In some ways, Coran was even more of a worrier than Hunk, even though Katie understood he just had her safety at heart. "Besides, if I don't do it now, I may not get another shot at this for months, if ever."

Coran's face said he wanted to argue, but he sighed, and kept quiet. He knew there was no changing her mind when she was set, and she was very set on tonight's mission. The purpose of tonight's raid was not rescue, though they would absolutely feint an attempt and be grateful for anyone they saved. The main team tonight was sneaking into the main building itself, getting into the control room, and sending messages, one towards the Galactic Coalition, and others much closer by, to reach out to other resistance cells for aid. It had been several weeks since they heard from the other nearest them—which was still over a hundred miles away in an industrial area.

Besides which, this was their second attempt. They had already tried once, almost a month ago. Katie's team hadn't even made it through the doors before the distraction team had to pull out because the Yoan had brought in more guards, with better rifles and better training. Four members of the rescue team had been re-captured, and it had taken another subsequent raid—a much smaller, quieter one—to break them back out again.

Today, they were shaking things up and trying a new strategy. Or really, tomorrow morning, since the plan was to send in a very small team, in the wee hours of the morning when only minimum security was on the building, because most of it was on the slaves as they moved from down to the mines to work.

Their way in and out was one that no one had ever taken before except for their last mission, which would also add to the element of surprise. Quiet and careful investigation of the mountain and hills around the mine had discovered a cleft in the rock face that came down at an angle, and brought them down behind the buildings, without getting within view of the guards if they were careful. It looked like an old stream bed, long blocked by rocks, and diverted.

They had safety equipment, so as long as they were slow, and then silent in and out, no one should ever know they were there, except any security they had to quietly subdue on the way. For that, Katie had rigged a wide variety of small hand stunners, and silent dart guns that used local plant sap with a fast-acting but non-lethal toxin that would knock guards out for hours. She wanted to avoid getting into fights that required more acrobatic mobility than she wanted to test at the moment.

We've got this. In and out, and get the word on the way. Then all we have to do is stick it out until the Coalition can send a rescue team.

A team she was almost certain would include Hunk, because she couldn't imagine him not demanding to be on it.

Just a little longer. Then I'll be back with you and Caitlin. Hold on, Hunk. I'm coming.

September 21st, 2332

If we get this done, I am going to sleep for a month. Hanging from a rope in the middle of the night, scaling a cliff, had sounded like old hat in the briefings. Doing this with her Paladin armor would have been a much easier prospect. Or their jet packs, though that would almost certainly have given them away.

Below Katie, the first two resistance fighters on her team had already hit the ground. Only one remained above her, and she was staying there to make sure no one tampered with the equipment when they needed to make their get-away after.

Finally, she managed to ease herself down onto the ground. Once she was standing, she unbuckled the harness and ducked into the shadows with the others. They had discussed this through so many times, there was no need for talking. Her other teammates included Balfi, and a Varsen named Riplo.

With two listening devices, one in each ear, to two different places, Katie had one ear available to hear anything Golron or Coran might want to tell them, and the other on the internal communications. The last thing they needed to do was walk in on some strange, early morning staff meeting.

First, they made their way to the exterior vent for the ventilation system. Balfi squirted oil on all the hinges, and Katie used a nearly silent small screwdriver to remove the ones holding it in place. Carefully setting it up against the wall for minimal visibility, they slipped inside, pulling it loosely back in front of the grate after, so it would look normal if anyone randomly decided to check that corner, which seemed unlikely. This was as far as they had gotten last time before the plan had to be abruptly aborted.

Now, it was crawling time. Maybe using the ducts wasn't particularly original, but Katie hoped this planet didn't have its own equivalent of spy movies. Fortunately, they were large enough that they could go on hands and knees. A fact Balfi had noted for them on a previous sneak mission.

There was no communication going in or out of the place. That was a good sign. Still, Katie kept an ear out.

"The distraction is starting shortly," Coran's voice came to her ear. "They're in position now."

Katie didn't respond, but Coran wasn't expecting responses. They stopped next to a vent that should lead into the hallway outside the communications room. There, she waited.

A minute later there was the pounding of feet, and orders being shouted, and people running for the doors.

Then silence.

Katie motioned that they were moving forward, then silently unscrewed that vent as well. As quickly as possible, she slid out into the hallway and got to her feet. The others came out behind her.

The hallway was empty, though they couldn't know how long they had. Slowly, they crept up the hall to the door of the communications room.

Suddenly there was buzzing in her ear, and the communications started buzzing with news of incoming reinforcements that were arriving by air in just a few minutes. Katie looked at the others, who were wearing identical listening devices. Everyone's eyes were wide.

"Quickly," Balfi mouthed.

Katie nodded. They were so close. As soon as the communication went quiet, Katie peered through the distorted glass in the door, trying to get a count of the number of Yoan inside. Based on the communication noise, there should only be one.

On a count of three, Balfi flung open the door.

Riplo shot a dart at the remaining Yoan.

Katie ran for the computer system. All right, plug in, send the signal, and get out. That's all we have to do. She pulled out her portable drive and the connection cable she had modified to work with this tech.

Only to find herself tackled at the knees as someone flew out of the corner with a shout.

Years of experience saved her a bad landing as Katie tucked her shoulder and rolled onto her back…kicking at her assailant as she struggled to stand.

The unseen Yoan staggered back and released her. Then his eyes rolled up, and he collapsed to the floor.

But it was too late. Katie could hear the road of engines outside in the distance, and footsteps in the halls of the building. On the communications system, the Yoan were calling for the downed guards and getting concerned. Someone was sent to check on them.

"We have to go now," Balfi said, looking as disappointed a she felt. "They're already going to know someone was here. If we don't go, we'll be caught, and possibly killed if not enslaved."

"All right." Katie agreed, despite the bitter feeling welling up within her. She hurried to the other side of the office, flung the door open, scattered papers as if someone had run out quickly, then hurried back. "The way we came."

Balfi shoved her first, and Katie did not object. There wasn't time. In seconds they were back at the grate, she pulled it out of the way and crawled in, and just moved. She heard someone else enter the grate behind her…and then a Yoan shout. Damn it. Faster…. I've got to go faster… There was more shouting, and a gunshot, and fighting. She didn't know which one of them was still in the hall but it wasn't possible to go back to find out what had happened.

Katie did not stop until she reached the outside wall, and dragged herself out. Panting heavily, she turned long enough to see Balfi tumbling out after her. "Riplo closed the grate behind me," he gasped. "I don't think they saw it. He ran. Go!"

Katie scrambled to her feet, and they sprinted to the harnesses. Pulling it on and locking the straps in place, Katie signaled their partner above with a flash of mirror that caught the moonlight.

Another flash from above said they were ready.

Katie started climbing. Despite being winded, she climbed the rock as she never had before. On belay, she could almost walk up the rocks instead of having to fully climb, which was good, because getting a grip in the dark, when she could only get so close to the wall, was difficult. Fortunately, it wasn't a perfectly vertical climb, and she reached the top only a couple of minutes later.

Balfi rolled over the edge, and for a moment, they both sat in the dirt, panting.

Then the lights from the incoming aircraft broke through the trees, and the roar of the engines became overwhelming.

Katie hauled herself to her feet. "We're done here. Let's go. Coran, mission aborted. Heading back to base. See you soon." Presuming they made it. Her sides hurt as she followed Balfi back up the rest of the hill. It was a long walk back. She just hoped Riplo was all right.

"You overdid it," Coran chided sternly from his seat on his own bed. The late-morning sun streamed through the door of their room, with the curtain pulled back to let it in.

Laying on her back in her bunk, Katie groaned, mostly out of annoyance, but also from discomfort. "Leave it alone, Coran." At the moment, it felt like she had pulled everything.

Iffina was frowning, though as she finished her examination and sat back, she did not look too concerned. "He is correct. You are fortunate to have come to no harm. The child is fine. You, however, are going to be very sore in several places, probably for days. Today, you will rest, and if you do not, I will make orders to confine you to your room." The droop of her furry eyebrows when she scowled would have been cute if the tone hadn't been so firm. "No more foolishness. A mother should know better." With a sniff of irritation, she stood. "I will have them send food and water. Stay in bed today. I mean it." With that, she turned and left, allowing the curtain to fall closed behind her.

Katie closed her eyes, and tried not to think about the catalog of aches and pains that started with a headache, then ran down her back and shoulders, extended down her sides and across her abdomen, and down through her legs to her ankles. The healed one had not been reinjured, but it was twinging.

Coran took Iffina's vacated seat. Katie didn't have to open her eyes to guess that he was probably still frowning and practically radiating I told you sos.

In her belly, her temporary occupant was wiggling and flopping like a little fish. Clearly someone was hungry. That, or she was getting it from inside and out.

No 'I told you so' from you.

Coran wasn't moving. Finally, Katie opened her eyes. "Do you just want to get the lecture over with?" she asked without enthusiasm. "I feel bad enough already that we lost Riplo and didn't even manage to send the message."

Coran's expression softened. "Actually, I was going to say that I'm glad you made it back safely. However, yes, a lecture would certainly be appropriate in this situation. I suspect you've already given yourself a good one though, so let's leave it at that today."

Katie eyed him. "You're being awfully nice about this."

"You've put yourself under enough stress. If you like, I'll remember to tell you all about how foolish it was to risk your life and your baby's life on this mission when someone else could have done it. But that can wait for another day."

That was more like it. "Thanks."

At that moment, one of the younger Chicid—this one a girl with gray-and-white spotted fur—arrived at the door with a pitcher of water, and a plate from the kitchen.

"Well, that was fast." Katie sat up slowly, grimacing as she got into a seated position for eating. "Thank you."

"Iffina barks at slackers," the little Chicid commented with a smile and a slow wag of her tail. "You are very welcome." Then she gave a bob of a bow, and was gone.

"Do you think the children would be offended if I scratched their heads?" Katie asked after she was gone. "They're just so… puppy-like."

Coran smiled. "Somehow I don't think you should ask."

Katie was grateful for breakfast food. In her current state she wasn't sure she could manage anything as complicated as cutting large pieces of meat. This morning's breakfast was a glorious plate of scrambled skeetcher eggs—a local avian that looked sort of like a raven, sounded like a swan, and laid large delicious eggs. Next to them were strips of bacon-like meat from an animal that Katie had only seen once at a distance and it looked nothing like a pig, and a bowl of the ever-present grain gruel that every planet seemed to have a version of. Thankfully, this one was sort of oatmeal-like, with dried bits of local fruits to sweeten it. Nothing very seasoned, or complicated, but all tasty. Was she imagining it, or was the portion larger than usual? Probably Iffina's orders. Not that she was about to complain.

She had it all devoured in short order, and drained a glass of water before slowly laying down again. "You don't have to babysit me," she told Coran as she rolled over onto one side, facing the wall. "All I want to do right now is sleep. I swear, I won't go anywhere. Paladin's honor." Assuming she could get comfortable, she expected she would be out in a few minutes. Everything felt heavy.

"I'll be back in a bit in case you need anything," Coran promised. The swish of the curtain told her he had left.

Katie closed her eyes, and let the tears fall.

When Katie awoke, it was evening.

Coran came in, carrying another plate of food. "Oh good, you're awake. How do you feel?"

"Well, other than hurting everywhere, fine," Katie commented, easing herself back up into a sitting position. What I wouldn't give for one of Hunk's full body massages. "Is that dinner?"

Coran nodded. "When you're done, Golron is waiting for us. He plans to make an announcement to the whole village. He specifically said he wants us there."

"I thought I wasn't allowed to leave my room?"

"Iffina gives her permission, as long as all you do is walk, and sit."

Katie resisted the urge to comment about where Iffina could stuff her permission. She liked Iffina, and the other woman wasn't here to hear her gripe. Instead, Katie devoured the plate of mashed vegetables and leftover eggs. Apparently, there had been lots of eggs. "All right, let's go see what this announcement is."

Golron giving an announcement to everyone at once was not particularly odd, even though it did make things crowded. It happened every week or two. Though he usually preferred to meet in smaller groups, and then have the information disseminated from his seconds down the chain of command.

Katie and Coran arrived as Golron was stepping out of his own room, next to his briefing room. "Good, you are here. I heard you were… unwell."

"Just tired," Katie assured him. "Nothing serious."

Golron looked relieved. "Good. Good. Now come."

They followed him to the main platform. Where Golron stepped into the center. The crowd there, and up and down the nearest walkways above and below them, quieted as he held up his hands.

"Denizens of Leaftown. I have come to a decision. Due to the increasing risk of death and recapture thanks to the Yoan's reinforcements, we will be ceasing raids for several weeks."

A gasp rippled through the group, though no one dared interrupt.

Katie was floored. Weren't they going to make another attempt to get the information out? They couldn't quit now.

"Nearly all of our last retrieval team were recaptured," Golron went on. "Despite going in with superior weapons. The Yoan have reinforced this mining facility. They brought in more guards by air, and not just regular ones. These are Yoan military forces. They have replaced the mine operator with a military officer. And… Riplo is dead."

"No." Katie hadn't meant to speak, but the word slipped out as the news struck her. It's my fault. This was my mission. She knew they could not have gone back for him. That he knew the risks. That didn't make it easier.

Now, Katie felt ill.

Golron simply nodded. "His head sits on a pike on top of the walls. It is a warning to us all, and one that we should heed. We are not giving up. However, we need time to regroup and rethink our strategies. We also need to give them time to think that maybe, we have taken the warning and given up. That would be all the better for us. It will take them time to let their guard down again. Thank you."

With that dismissal, people went back to their evenings, drifting off, or getting back in line for their dinner. Many of them murmuring quietly and furiously about this new plan.

Golron turned to her. "Iffina tells me I am not to ask you for anything until tomorrow. When you have rested, we must talk more."

Katie nodded. "Of course." There would be plenty to talk about if they needed to rethink their entire structure. "Coran. Let's go… back."

"Of course." Coran nodded and got out of her way, so Katie could go first.

Katie walked back towards their room, feeling even more disturbed. First the news, and then she had almost slipped. I almost said home. But this isn't home. It can't be home. I have to get back. But as the weeks wore on, she had to acknowledge that she was probably giving birth on this planet. Her baby would be born here, and then she'd have to find a way to take care of him or her, and get off planet.

Well, no one said being a working mom was easy.

October 26th, 2332

Several weeks without raids to plan left Katie more and more at loose ends. Occasionally, Golron would summon her for her thoughts on technical or strategic matters, but he seemed to need her input less and less. Since she was off duty from most repairs now as well—courtesy of Iffina and her determination that Katie not over-work herself—she had to find other things to do.

One side-effect of that time, was she had more time to get to know the neighbors, as it were. While Katie had gotten to know most of Golron's main resistance group, and all of the Vidorans, she had not gotten to get to know most of the regular members of the Vasren, Chicid, and Thaal population.

There was, as she had known, a small number of families living in Leaftown, mostly with parents in the resistance movement, with children from the age of toddlers up to near-teens. Now, she had more time to really talk with them. With her translator, and the fact that after spending months on the planet, she was picking up the rudimentary language for not only their made trade language, but the other species-specific dialects. That made it easier. Also, all her work not only with the tech, but the plumbing, and helping upgrade and repair their solar network, had made everyone see her as an asset to have around.

There was the Chicid family with two litters: one of three and one of four. All of them Katie would have considered elementary-school aged children on earth. Another family had just one litter of toddlers… five of them. Then there was the one that had brought Katie her food the other day. She had been a first litter, and a rare singleton. Her father was enslaved off-planet, so it was just her and her mother.

Katie could imagine carrying five babies at once, and the very idea was horrifying. Though perhaps that was because she had chosen a mate who by his very nature meant large offspring. I wouldn't be able to move.

But the Chicid were made for it, and they were quite happy with their rambunctious—but well meaning—litters of pups. Thankfully, they were very attentive and firm parents. And, as it turned out, the toddlers did love having their heads scratched, and it was socially acceptable much the same way as mussing a child's hair on Earth.

The Vasren were more like humans, in that when they mated, they had one child at a time, and occasionally two. There were five families of Vasren in Leaftown, with the widest range of ages.

Perhaps the most unusual families, at least to Katie's mammalian sensibilities, were the Thaal. Being a race that was genetically similar to a snake, if one were to evolve them for millions of years into sentience, and give them functional if short legs, and full arms. Their long torsos were incredibly flexible and, as Katie discovered entirely by accident one day, capable of carrying many offspring at once.

Katie had just finished her own plate and was returning it to the kitchen before heading back to her room to take a nap and brainstorm alternative solutions for getting signals offworld—her regular pastime—when one of the Vasren working in the kitchen, stopped her. "Excuse me, Katie. If you are heading back to your room, could you deliver a meal for me? It's on your way there and I have been short-handed today. Normally I take it myself, but lunch is running long."

"Oh, sure." It was a way to be useful, at least. "Who is it for?"

"Assta. She is one of Iffina's patients." The cook turned and grabbed a large basket. "I promise it's not as heavy as it looks." She set the basket down. It smelled of meat. "Her door is just up from the split that goes to yours. Instead of going right at the large bole in the tree, go left."

"Assta. Go left at the bole. I can do that." Katie picked up the basket, which had some heft to it. How much did this Assta eat?

Even with that light load, Katie felt a little winded by the time she got back up and down and around through the trees to door she had been directed to. Leave my organs a little room in there, kiddo. Mama's got to breathe.

"Hello?" Katie called out from the curtain. "Assta? I brought your lunch."

"Come in," a female voice with the subtlest hint of a lisp to it called out.

Katie pushed open the curtain, and stepped inside.

Settled on a wide, round mattress in the middle of the floor, sat an unfamiliar Thaal, though she was unlike any Katie had seen yet. She was not old. Based on her coloration and taught scales, she was probably not any older than Katie, by Thaal terms. However, where her long form had the same lithe neck, arms, legs, and tail of other Thaal, her midsection was grossly distended for several feet, and incredibly lumpy. If she had been an anaconda on Earth, Katie would have said she had swallowed several animals at once. However, this was not the amazon, and all of the lumps, while unevenly spaced, were of a uniform size.

Eggs. Those are eggs.

Fortunately, Assta did not seem to notice her staring. Or perhaps she was used to it. She smiled. "Thank you, so much. I was starting to think I might have to eat the walls. That's a joke, of course. Ssisp tells me I tell terrible jokes and no one can tell."

Katie smiled, and stepped in closer, coming around to her side where she could set the basket so Assta could actually reach it. "I haven't found Ssisp to have much of a sense of humor," she commented. "I'm Katie."

Assta laughed, which was the most hissing sound the Thaal actually made, she had noticed, unless they were angry. "It is true. He has never been one for humor. Though lately that has more to do with worrying about me." She looked at Katie. "I think it is true for most mates during this time." She reached into the basket and pulled out what looked like a large roasted rat. She downed it in one bite.

Katie nodded, taking the continued chatter as an invitation to sit. Assta seemed like a talker. "Humorless and over-protective," she agreed as she tucked her legs and lowered herself to the ground. She just hoped she didn't need help getting up again later.

Assta's expression became considering as she pulled out another roasted rat-thing. "You are one of those who came through the portal door in the mines, like the others. Your mate is still on the other side, I heard? That must be difficult."

"I miss him, and our daughter."

"It is difficult to be separated," Assta agreed sympathetically. "Your species has one at a time?"

"Usually. Sometimes two. In rare cases three or more, but we're not really built for it."

"Not if your one is bigger than three of my eggs, and with a body so short. When do you… I always forget the mammal word for hatching."

Katie chuckled. "A little under two months from now. But what about you?" If Assta was asking, she hoped it was appropriate to ask her own burning questions. Assta did not look as if she could move from this room. From the fact Katie had never seen her before, maybe she couldn't.

"In normal times, a clutch is between two and six eggs," Assta explained before downing the next rat. "There is only a small number of months in our lives when a female generates eggs. They remain inside for two weeks and then, when they are laid, they are buried safely in the warm earth of our nesting grounds. It is the heat that allows fertilized eggs to complete their growth process, and hatch young. Eggs continue to generate for several clutches in a season. But, we are not on Thaala, and the only good grounds warm enough for hatching here, are far to the south. We did not plan to be here when it was time for breeding, and we were needed here for our work. Ssisp was needed. I…have not been much use." At that she stuck out her tongue, a very familiar expression.

"That's… so what happens when you can't lay the eggs?" This her mind immediately supplied the answer.

"We are able to hold eggs inside longer than the minimum time," Assta explained between rats. "It is a survival trait left over from our ancestors. I can keep them in for many months, and they will remain viable, but eventually, if I cannot lay them properly, they will die."

"How many eggs do you have now?"

"Twenty-four, I think."

Katie tried not to stare, but the very idea of twenty-four at once… no wonder she looked so uncomfortable. "How long do you have?"

"I believe the last clutch is forming now. If it is the last, several more months. If not…I am concerned about running out of room. I do not know another female who has held on to an entire season of eggs."

Forming… this wasn't even all of them. "Have any ever held on to multiple clutches at once?"

"There have been cases, but most often it is not on purpose. Sometimes, it is because the eggs do not settle correctly, and block themselves in. If there is not room for them to move to come out right, it is dangerous."

Like it was for any species.

"Is there anything special about these hatching grounds aside from the heat?" she asked, with a sudden moment's brainstorm. "Do they have to be a specific dirt? Moisture? Do they have to be very deep?"

"Any soil will do, as long as it is a little wet, and hot. They are usually buried about a foot down, for twelve days." Assta looked at Katie curiously. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, what if we built a…nesting box, of sorts? Like a garden bed, but instead of planting fruits and vegetables we fill it with the best dirt we can find, and then keep it at the moisture you need it to be, and rig it with a heating system with sensors to monitor the temperature, and turn it up and down as needed to keep it consistent." Even as she spoke, plans and ideas were forming in her mind. It was entirely doable with this world's tech, too.

Assta's eyes widened. "A nesting box… It has never been done. Though I suspect that has more to do with old traditions and family nesting lands. We are not meant to be off-world. This would be… a relief, if it can be built. To be able to have them out…to stand and move again… without having to be carried."

"I can make it," Katie promised. "And I think I know where to get all the materials we need."

October 28th, 2332

It took Katie two frenzied, but enjoyable, days to get a nesting box built that could be filled with the appropriate amount of dirt, and kept both moist and warm. The temperature was the easiest part. A solar-powered heater with a temperature gauge and basic thermostat that Assta could set how she wanted.

The solution to moisture, was simply to include a sensor for that as well with a read-out. The soil could then be watered manually as needed to keep it moist throughout. Ssisp, or anyone Iffina wanted to put to the task, could manage it.

It took up over half of Ssisp and Assta's room, but they were still overjoyed at the prospect. As the finish product was filled, Katie was dragged in for the most awkward hug ever. But she returned it happily. Ssisp looked more emotional than Katie had ever seen him. Not that he hugged her. He was not the hugging type like his mate.

"So, you'll be okay now?" Katie asked.

"Iffina will help me. It is going to take some…time… to get out all of these eggs."

November 1st, 2332

Katie was never going to complain about the length of human labor again. Well, she probably would, when the time came again, but the four days she spent waiting for news of Assta were four of the longest she had spent in a long time.

Ssisp was the mess she would have expected of any expectant father. Though given he was about to have a swarm of little ones all at once, perhaps that was understandable. And, it seemed—as she heard him muttering once or twice—he had not known when he married her that her family was known for 'big layers.'

She was sitting on her bed, eating fruit and going over calculations for the thousandth time, when the little Chicid appeared in her doorway, smiling. "Iffina sent me," she explained. "She said Assta wants to see you."

Katie hopped off the bed. Or at least, she would have. It was more of a slow-motion unfolding and getting to her feet. Katie made her way as quickly as she could up and around the corner to Assta and Ssisp's place, and poked her head through the curtain. "Hello?"

Iffina waved her in.

Assta was still sitting—though coiled seemed like a better term—in the round bed, though now the skin of her midsection was more like a drape around her, vastly deflated. She looked exhausted, but also happy. "Katie. I thought you would like to see them." She nodded towards the nesting box.

"I wanted to see you," Katie smiled. "You look—"

"Flappy?"

"I was going to say relieved," Katie chuckled. She went over to look at the box. Now, buried under the dirt so that only subtle mounds showed where the eggs were, she counted twenty-seven eggs. "I hope you wanted a big family."

Assta laughed. "We all have big families. Though this is a bit bigger than I had imagined. I always thought a nice small family of twelve or thirteen would be nice, but the more the merrier."

"That saying takes on a whole different meaning here." Katie shook her head, and turned back to her friend. At least, she was sure they were friends now. "So, you're done?"

"Yes, thank our ancestors." Assta nodded. "There is no sign of any more eggs forming."

"That's wonderful news!"

She stayed for a few more minutes, then made her exit. Assta was exhausted. As she and Iffina stepped out, Ssisp ran up, and darted inside.

Outside, Katie was startled when Iffina pulled her into a quick embrace. "Thank you," she said softly.

"Oookay… you're welcome." Katie replied, patting the Chicid's back gently.

"If you had not found a solution… it likely would have killed her. You have saved many lives today with your ingenuity." Iffina straightened up then. "I never had a family. These beings, they are all my family."

That, Katie could understand. She smiled. "They're lucky to have you to take care of them. I'm just glad I could do something to help."

Iffina smiled. "That includes you. Now stopping making more of my fur white, and take care of yourself too."

Somehow, the fact that Iffina did not see her as an outsider, struck her deeply. "Yes ma'am."

November 4th, 2332

Katie sat at the briefing room table, her computer on the table, headphones in, trying to keep calm and focused on the mission at hand. After over a month of quiet, Golron had declared that they were ready to try another raid on the communications room. They were getting desperate and their own local short-range equipment was no longer getting contact from any of the nearest other resistance strongholds. Golron was concerned that they might have been overrun. The fact that they hadn't heard any news to that effect going in and out of the mines in the regular transmissions was also concerning.

Her biggest private concern was who was leading the mission in her place. Coran had insisted on going, and while she knew he was absolutely capable from a technical standpoint, that did little to soothe her fear of losing a friend. But it was their best bet. He was the only other one who really understood the technology well enough to pull it off, and there was just no realistic way Katie could make another go at it.

Golron sat at his own system which could now get nearly all the readings and data that Katie's could. Which was good. When they left—because Katie was still absolutely determined to get home—she didn't want to leave the resistance at a disadvantage without their continued presence.

The new plan was much more aggressive, even though it still relied on stealth. Everyone was armed, and the laser rifles were not being set to stun. Not for this. They also had the darts Katie had created for the previous time, and smoke bombs. Everyone had knives. They would go in down the rockface in the dark, but during the dinner hour. Most of the guards would be on the slaves at that point before locking them back in their cells for the night. Those not on duty would be mostly off duty, which meant they might be at dinner themselves, or in their own barracks.

This time, they were cutting power to the building. At least temporarily. On the way in, Coran's team was going to attach a device Katie had rigged in the past week to the electrical system, giving her the ability to shut everything down, and turn it back on. She was still amused that the tech was so old fashioned here that they used a very simple fuse box. Turning parts of the building off and on as needed would allow her to clear the way for the team without having them have to wait for a reboot of the computer systems.

So far, everything was going according to the plan. Coran's team had made it down without any incidents, and back into the building through the vents. They had heard nothing in the past weeks about anyone putting additional security on them, so how they had gotten into the building—and the fact that it was more than one of them—had apparently remained a mystery. The two they had darted had come to without memory of the incident, which was why they were using that particular toxin. As far as the Yoan knew, there had only been a single operative in the building.

Tonight, there were five.

"All right," Coran said ever so softly. "We're in. Power on your mark."

"Confirmed. We are go on power outage in the parking garage, storage, and staff rooms in three, two, one…. Now." Katie hit the buttons, and watched her map as the power went out in three consecutive portions of the building, mostly opposite the direction their team was going.

Then, they waited, listening to communications chatter as the Yoan went to investigate. That didn't pull anyone out of the communication center, but it did clear the hall of several guards, and a couple of military officers.

After the planned minute count, Katie flipped the switch that killed the power to the door locks on the second floor.

The waiting was almost worse than it had been in the ducts herself.

"We're in," Coran whispered. "There were three in here this time. They're all unconscious. I'm jacking into the port now, and pulling up the communication system."

Katie's heart beat faster in anticipation. "Will it work?"

Another long count of silent seconds. "The local signal message out to the resistance is sent. Working on ours now. It doesn't have anything particularly quick. It looks like their interspace signals don't travel more than three times the speed of light."

Katie's stomach churned in disappointment. "That will take years to reach Coalition space."

"Yes, but it's better than nothing. And… that's it! It's sent. We're disconnecting and heading out."

"I've got you covered, Coran. Shutting off power to the whole building in three, two… one…" And they had a full outage. Katie just wished they'd had the chance to tap into the system for the entire complex. She could have done so much damage that way without risking a single person's life. She just didn't have the parts—or the full machine shop—that would let her create some of the tech that would let them do that. Oh, she had parts on a bench in the Leaftown workshop, but nothing that she had been able to get working yet. It was incredibly frustrating.

"Heading out."

Katie waited, listening for any additional cues or calls for help on the way out, while watching the data on her screen. The building didn't have security cameras for her to hack, and she had no way to read actual biosignatures from this distance either, so she just had to count, and wait, and hope that the plan worked the way they expected it to.

After another thirty-count, she brought the lights back on only in one area, then another. Then, shut them down again. Let them wonder what was going on. Surely by now someone had gone to find the actual fuse box. Which meant that her tap might be discovered. Or not, if they were stupid. It was designed to look like part of the equipment. Hopefully they would rule it all out to a mechanical failure in the system.

Flick on another area…flick off. All nowhere near where Coran and the others were making their escape. All she had to do was—

"—not supposed to—" a shout came over the communicator.

Katie's heart flopped. "Coran? What's going on?"

"—run! Keep going! I'll hold—got you now you scumbags—think you can stop—"

Then static.

"Coran?" Katie almost shouted into the mic. "Coran?!"

Nothing.

"Argis? Mork?"

No one on the team responded. This was not good.

"Did we lose the signal?" Golron asked, sounding far calmer than Katie expected he really was.

She shook her head. "No… they're not responding. It's possible something's broken. But it sounds like they may have been captured. Or at least, pursued."

Golron nodded. "Ssisp?" he spoke into his own headset. "Report in as soon as you have line of sight or any news of the team."

Ssisp was the one manning the ropes tonight, hidden up in the rocks.

"Understood," he replied softly.

Then began an agonizing wait. Katie kept up with the pattern and plan for the electrical schizophrenia she was giving their building, because it couldn't hurt. Let them think that there was more to the attack. Until she heard something, she wasn't giving up.

Finally, after nearly fifteen minutes, the communication line popped back to life.
"Ssisp here. They just marched the entire team out of the building in chains. They're alive, but bloodied."

Alive, but captives.

"Where are they taking them?" Golron asked.

"To the cells, at least for now… I've lost sight of them."

"Return to base."

"Understood."

More silence.

Katie left the power off in the building. Let them figure it out. She took off her headset and leaned back as far as she could without tipping the chair over. She rubbed the sides of her temples, where a headache was starting to throb. Hold it together. There's got to be a way to rescue Coran. We've rescued dozens of others. But they have messed with the wrong Paladin. Fury… fury was better than fear.

She opened her eyes to find Golron watching her. He looked concerned, at least as much as he ever did. "I'll be in the workshop," she announced, sitting up and getting to her feet. If she could just get the pieces she had to work together, to do what she needed, she could reign vengeance upon them like they had never seen.

"What are you going to do?" Golron asked, following her.

"Plan the biggest prison break you've ever seen. Just give me a couple of days. I am going to make this work."

Coran had seen dingier rooms, but not many that reeked of blood and sweat, as if it were long soaked into the walls. He was alone, but it was obvious that this was an interrogation room. The others had been taken further down the hall, which meant they were each alone. Split us up and dig for information. A primitive, if often effective strategy. However, if they thought they could get information out of Coran about the resistance, they would not find him easy to crack.

Whatever happened now, the messages had been sent. It might take years for theirs to reach Earth, but at least it gave them a chance of getting home. Or at least, it gave Katie a chance to get home. If he didn't come out of this alive, he would have that at least.

Though Coran fully intended to survive. Even if right now, he was tied to a chair, his face black and blue from being beaten into submission in a dark hallway.

The Yoan officer who finally came through the door was not one of the ones who had captured them. Coran could tell because this one, unlike the others, was not also battered and bruised, and his military uniform was clean.

"I have a few questions for you," he said in a low, gravelly voice, in the general tongue shared by the denizens of the planet. Coran was glad he had been studying it. "You will answer them, and you will die."

"Don't you mean or I will die?" Coran asked.

"Make no mistake, eventually you will die. Whether it is here in this room, or slaving away in the pits, is your decision. I am not familiar with your species, but you look soft."

"Looks can be deceiving."

The Yoan grinned. It was not a reassuring expression. "Oh, I think not." He pulled a bullwhip off his belt. "Now tell me where the resistance camp is, and you might live through the next thirty minutes."

Coran frowned, but did not avert his eyes. "Do your worst."