Jeffrey Carver - Eternity's End

Was that a connection he felt between their implants? He focused inward. (Are you connected to her?)

// No. //

Then what the—? Her surge of anger, or passion, was so powerful he could have sworn it was a direct link. But no, it was just raw human emotion. She was boiling over with a need to do something and do it now , a burning that was working its way out from within. Was it always there, but under tighter control? Whatever it was she was burning to do, it was important and dangerous—and it involved him. Was this where Tracy-Ace the Law was going to reappear?

He swallowed back his apprehension. “Where, uh… can I ask where we’re going?”

She didn’t look at him, but her fingers tightened around his wrist. “Flicker-tube,” was all she said. Grimly.

Fre’geel paused in his round of the detention cell area and peered out through the gate. Nothing, no sign even of the guards. He resumed his tireless walk among the crew. Most sat on the floor, or on benches, muttering to themselves or each other. Fre’geel gave an occasional hiss of encouragement as he passed among them. They needed it, especially those who did not understand what their human shipmate was trying to do, under the guise of betraying the Narseil.

Soon it would be time for another exercise period. Fre’geel intended to make sure they kept moving and active. It was the best he could do. It had been too long since any of them had had a proper soak in a pool. They were all drying out, and he was seeing far too much rubbing at sore and itchy skin, and scratching at neck-sails. He’d asked the Kyber guards, politely, if something could be done. The guard had laughed—a particularly ugly human laugh—and sauntered away. It had occurred to Fre’geel afterward that perhaps he should have asked to speak to a superior. He was not thinking all that clearly himself.

Cantha drifted his way, and they paused to confer. “I am told that the crew in the next compartment are becoming agitated,” Cantha murmured. “Some of them are blaming Legroeder for turning us in, and they’re beginning to vent their anger.”

Fre’geel blinked his gritty eyes. Were his people forgetting their training? “We all knew it could happen this way,” he sighed, as much to himself as to Cantha. It would only get worse if he didn’t find a way to control it. “Perhaps the guards will permit me to go in and speak to them.”

As he turned toward the security door, he was surprised to see it opening. Two Kyber guards stepped into the detention cell. “Where is the commander?” one of the guards called, in a barely comprehensible Kyber Anglic.

Fre’geel went forward. “I’m the commander.”

“Someone to see you,” said the guard. He motioned to Fre’geel to follow him out of the room.

The guards left him alone in a holding room with a human Kyber female. She was standing at a one-way glass staring into the prison cell. Fre’geel allowed her a slight nod—and suddenly saw Rigger Legroeder standing on the other side of her. For a moment, he was caught speechless—overjoyed to see Legroeder alive, and apparently healthy. Then, with a mental jerk, he remembered his role. He turned toward Legroeder and hissed: “You. Traitor. Human.”

Legroeder’s eyes widened, and for an instant he too seemed nonplused. “Fre’geel,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “I’m glad to see you. Are you all right? What about the others?”

“They haven’t killed us yet, if that’s what you mean.” Fre’geel flexed a long finger threateningly. “You lying—murderous—”

“Are you the commander of these forces?” interrupted the Kyber woman.

Fre’geel bit off his words and made a head-inclining gesture of acknowledgment. “I am. And I should address you as—?”

“Tracy-Ace/Alfa.” The female, dressed in gold and black, with considerable cyber augmentation on her face, appeared to be examining Fre’geel from head to toe. He wondered if she found him satisfactorily alien. “Commander Fre’geel, we are here on a courtesy call, to inquire as to your condition. I must tell you that there are others who will wish to speak to you soon. In spite of the destruction you have caused, I believe it is possible that we might find ways to work together.”

Fre’geel let his breath out in a slow hiss. “We did not come here to collaborate with you. Ma’am.” He flicked his eyes over to Rigger Legroeder, wishing fervently that he could read the human’s mind, or speak privately with him.

“No?” she responded. “Well, then, perhaps you’ll be able to explain why you did come here. In the meantime—” she crossed her arms over her chest and furrowed her brow “—tell me—is sufficient care being extended to your people?” Her gaze seemed both to invite complaint and to challenge it.

Fre’geel refused to rise to the bait. Complain? That he would not do. Despite his determination to address the question of—

“You look all dried out,” Legroeder said, interrupting his thought.

“What do you mean?” the female asked, turning to Legroeder.

Legroeder gestured toward Fre’geel. “They need a pool they can soak in, for their skin. They’re amphibians, you know.”

“A pool ? You think we keep pools in the detention area?”

“If not a pool, then bathing areas. Showers. Something. They’ll get sick and be of no use to you, otherwise.”

“Is this true?” Tracy-Ace/Alfa asked Fre’geel.

The Narseil nodded.

Tracy-Ace/Alfa looked thoughtful. Rings only knew what was going on in her augmented mind. But whatever it was, she astonished Fre’geel by saying, “All right, then—it will be done.” She cocked her head. “Is there anything else you need, to maintain your health?”

Fre’geel overcame his surprise enough to decide he might as well take advantage of the opportunity. “A bit of room to exercise in would be helpful,” he allowed. With a twitch of his eye, he glanced at Rigger Legroeder. The human was wearing a stony expression. But was that an approving twinkle in his eye?

“Exercise.” Tracy-Ace/Alfa peered through the one-way pane at the crowded detention cell. It was just one of three that the Narseil were crammed into. “Very well.” She turned back to Fre’geel. “You may return to your cell, Commander. You will be called when the time comes.” With that, she gave a nod that was not quite dismissive, and the guards reappeared immediately.

As Fre’geel turned away, Legroeder murmured a farewell, and Tracy-Ace/Alfa said, “Think constructively, Commander. Think constructively.”

Fre’geel said nothing, but was thoughtful as he walked back to rejoin his crew.

“I wanted you to know,” Tracy-Ace said, biting her words as they made their way back to the flicker-tube, “that we do have some ability to take care of people here. Even our prisoners.”

Legroeder had no immediate answer; he was stunned by her assertion. Is that why you were in such a rush to take me to see the Narseil? Because you were afraid of what I thought, after the maintainers?

“Thank you,” he said finally. He was pleased by her concessions to the needs of the Narseil, but a little worried, too. Had he betrayed too much interest in their well being?

Tracy-Ace said nothing more about it, as they got into the tubes. She didn’t speak during the ride, and Legroeder, his head already spinning, used the stop command to turn off the flicker-feed. The silence was restful.

Stepping out at the end, he rejoined a troubled-looking Tracy-Ace. “What is it?” he asked, falling in beside her as she strode away. He realized that he’d felt a sudden impulseto reach out to her. What was he going to do, take her by the hand? Put an arm around her shoulder? Jesus . He clasped his hands behind his back, to keep them out of trouble.