HeartbeatofSilence (7 page)

He sent a call for Guard personnel as Veera entered the room.

The stench of confinement came to her, and she wrinkled her nose, but as she entered, she heard the minds of the women, and it was a relief that they were bruised but not broken.

“Ladies. I am here to get you out. Medical attention is on its way and help is coming.”

Darkness shrouded them, but one leaned into the light. Her face was grimy, scarred and grim. The beauty that she had once worn was evident even under her filth. “Is this a game?”

“No. It’s the truth. The Sector Guard has captured this station and is freeing all those who have been taken against their will.” Veera didn’t dig deeply into their minds. After what they had been through, they needed a little privacy and respect.

The woman in the centre moved forward again, and her companions leaned into the stream of light coming down from the ceiling. The other two women were less battered, but as they came fully into the light, the one who had spoken said, “Taken against our will. Yes, that sums it up.”

Veera identified the crew coming to help. “Help will be here in a moment. I have to go and see if others are kept in holes like this.”

The woman in the centre nodded. “Thank you for seeing us. Now, go and find the others. We are not the only ones.”

Veera sent warmth and gratitude augmented by Fixit. A series of chirps behind her got her attention, and three Yaluthu hopped forward.

The women withdrew, but Veera calmed them. “They are trying to help. Just touch them and see.”

The central one took a pale yellow Yaluthu into her arms, and it made soothing noises as she curled around it. The other women did the same, and Veera felt confident enough to leave them.

Ten of Fixit’s people were waiting outside the chamber, and when Veera climbed on board, they clambered onto Stanik’s back for a ride, holding tight.

This isn’t comfortable, but it will work. Where to next?

She gave him the coordinates, and he sent soothing thoughts to her as he ran through the station.

Her first meeting was re-enacted four more times. Pregnant women were stashed all over the station and in a variety of mental states. She didn’t ask them the details of those who had fathered the children. They were having a hard-enough time accepting that they were rescued. The Yaluthu were being very helpful and by the time all zones had been ripped apart, Veera was hovering on the edge of tears.

It is all right to be affected, Veera. Just run through what we have to do now, and you can grieve for what you have seen later.

Stanik’s voice was calm in her thoughts, but she could feel that he was experiencing some of the same waves of despair as she was.

She did a final check and the station was clear. No more blank spots, no more hidden caches of women.

We can go now, Stanik. I want to leave this place.
She buried her face in his fur as he returned them to their shuttle. Fixit rubbed her cheek with his, and he tried to comfort her, but there was no comfort in what had been done to the people on this station.

If this was what her new job would entail, she was going to retire.

Chapter Eleven

Veera cried for two days and moped for five. Stanik tried to calm her, but the shock and horror of what she had seen through the eyes of the men and women trapped on that station worked like acid on her soul.

The research station agreed to leave the active Yaluthu with their injured companions. The creatures wouldn’t separate from a living being in need and that meant that Fixit was constantly on one side and Stanik was on the other.

“Well, I suppose it is time for lunch. There is going to be some new intake today.” Veera tried to be cheerful, but her heart ached.

Stanik hugged her and rubbed his chin on her forehead. “There is. I think you will enjoy the new arrivals to Balen. Come along.”

With his arm around her, they walked down to the dining hall. The cooks had bent over backward in an effort to cheer her up with pastries and cakes. Her mind was too heavy for any casual frivolity, including the edible kind.

Stanik was trying to cheer her from the inside out, but it wasn’t coming to her quite yet. Even with her mind wide open for years, she hadn’t felt that concentrated despair. It shocked her, and she didn’t know how to cope with what she had seen.

Fixit was in a fussy mood and that got her attention as they sat, and her fuzzy friend hopped to the table next to her. She was about to get up and grab some food when the cook brought a heavily laden tray to their table.

“Excellent service, Hinya. Why the special treatment?” Fixit walked to the tray and started pecking at a shredded meat dish.

Chef Hinya grinned, “Avatar Zenina-Balen is having us prepare for one hundred twenty newcomers, staff and students. We are putting lunch on for them but didn’t want you to have to run through them when they arrived. I didn’t know Fixit ate meat.”

Veera touched the creature’s mind, but Fixit wanted meat, and it was going to have it. “Apparently, he wants the meat.”

Stanik chuckled. “It might explain the moult on him. He isn’t quite as fluffy as he used to be.”

Veera looked him over and crooned to Fixit as she stroked his fluff. Fine strands came off in her hands. “Oh dear. I hope one of the newcomers is a vet. I am worried.”

“Call the research station?”

Fixit was perfectly content when she felt his mind. “He seems okay, but I will call after lunch. Eat around him.”

She chuckled, and Stanik’s mind surged with relief. She realized it was her first laugh in a week, and he had been worried.

She reached out and stroked his cheek. “I am sorry. I will get better. I promise. I simply need time to adapt to what I saw.”

“I understand. Eat quickly. I believe that the rest of the Citadel just showed up.”

Men and women in long robes walked in, the colours denoted their rank and speciality, but Veera had never learned the differences.

More women and men followed, looking around curiously as they milled forward in white robes. Veera smiled in greeting as they walked in, but something in Stanik’s mind told her to look closer.

When one of the newcomers walked toward her, a huge pregnant belly preceding her and scars on her face, Veera suddenly understood. Happy tears started in her eyes.

She got to her feet and the woman rushed into her arms. “Welcome to Balen, Saga Neific.”

Their hug was broken by another woman, a man and a round of touches and caresses that took an hour to sort out. The survivors of Lithnan Station had a new home.

Fixit crept up on her shoulder and chirped triumphantly. Around the legs of the newcomers, a wave of Yaluthu came forward to greet their leader.

Veera put Fixit on the ground, and she noticed how tall the prototype was compared to those who followed. The Yaluthu moved off to one side and went through a formal greeting that made Veera smile.

They rubbed heads, touched wings and rubbed backs, one after another. By the time they were finished, Fixit was nearly bald, but he was perfectly content.

Stanik got up and walked over to the groups of folk in instructor robes. One male accompanied him back to the Yaluthu gathering.

“Veera, this is Healing Instructor Canevor. He is also familiar with most animals. He is willing to take a look at Fixit.” Stanik wrapped his arms around her as the instructor knelt to greet the creatures.

With some coaxing, Fixit allowed a light touch, but when Canevor stroked him, Fixit snapped at him.

Veera’s eyes widened. “What the hell? Fixit, come here.”

Her creature waddled over, and she lifted him to her shoulder. “I am sorry that he snapped at you, Healer.”

Canevor smiled, his green skin crinkling and his third eye winking pleasantly at her. “I do not worry. Your friend is merely preparing to alter to its next incarnation. The first step is leaving its fluff behind. In a few weeks, you are going to have quite the predator on your hands.”

Fixit stretched proudly and flapped his stubby wings.

Zenina-Balen walked in and looked around with a cheerful smile. She came over to Veera and Stanik. “I am glad to see you are settling in, Veera, Stanik. May we speak in the garden?”

They walked out the glass-paneled doors and into the open air.

When they were halfway through the garden, Zenina-Balen paused. “I have a proposal for you.”

Veera cocked her head and Stanik put his arm around her waist. “Please, tell me what you would like me to do.”

“Stay here. Be the headmaster and coordinator of Citadel Balen. I know it usually goes to a more senior person in the Citadel, but you are uniquely qualified to keep tabs on everyone in the facility, their strengths and failings. Stanik can be your receptionist.” Zenina-Balen winked.

“So, you are serious about this?” Stanik scowled. “What about time to visit family?”

“Standard three weeks off and whatever emergency time you need.” Zenina-Balen reached out and took Veera’s hand. “You are not suited to field work. Some of us aren’t. I have to stay near Balen or the planet becomes distressed, and the sun freaks right out.”

Stanik chuckled. “I have heard.”

Zenina-Balen’s pale cheeks pinked. “He can be very vocal.”

Veera blinked. “I am still confused. You want me to be headmaster of a Citadel? What do I have to do?”

Zenina-Balen caressed her mind with the lightest of touches.

Veera fell back into Stanik’s arms at the impact of being touched by a planet. “Ow.”

Zenina-Balen winced. “Sorry. It was the lightest touch I can give. On the plus side, you now know all there is to know about running a Citadel and the inner workings of Balen.”

Veera rubbed at her forehead. “You are right. It’s all in here. I am guessing that I now have to accept.”

Zenina-Balen grinned. “I could remove the knowledge, but you wouldn’t like that.”

Fixit chirped angrily at the Avatar.

The mind of the planet looked out through amused eyes. “I see you have more than one guardian. It will be a good thing when you are called on to lead assemblies and negotiate for the best rates for your students.”

Veera was uneasy until she found the knowledge she needed in her mind. “You are very thorough.”

“You have no idea. As we speak, I am having your possessions moved to new, larger quarters. Your robes are waiting in those quarters, as are some suits that Fixer put together for you. Additional supplies and staff will be flowing in for this week, and after that, regular shipments will be sent on a semi-monthly basis. Call on me if you need anything. You know how to get in touch.” Zenina-Balen lifted off and flew away.

Fixit flapped his stubby wings but was unable to follow.

“Easy, little fella, you will have your chance. I am sure of it.” Veera looked up at Stanik. “Are you up for this?”

“I have the woman I want and a world to roam as I please.” He kissed her softly. “I am up for anything.”

She turned in his arms and leaned up for a more riotous kiss than she had managed in a week. Stanik bent her back, and she heard a squawk, but when he lifted her again, he held her tight against him. “I have never made love to a headmaster before.”

She chuckled. “I have never taken advantage of a receptionist. I look forward to the experience.”

He laughed and walked into the building. “Not too far forward. I give it five minutes.”

She laughed and held tight as they passed the students, instructors and the support staff helping to organize everyone. He followed the scent of their possessions to their new chambers, and once inside, it was a race to the finish.

A low tapping on the door brought her out of her afterglow. She tugged the sheet from Stanik and walked to the door.

Fixit marched through, irritated and huffy.

“Oh, honey, I didn’t know you couldn’t manage stairs.”

He gave her a baleful look and hopped into her trunk to make his nest in her costumes and weapons.

“I suppose that showed me.” She stroked his head, and he gave up his grump to rub up against her hand.

It was amazing that both men in her life so easily forgave her for thoughtless behaviour. Her luck had taken a sudden swing in the upward direction.

Veera returned to the new bed where Stanik was wearing nothing but a smile and a heated gaze. “So, one week of abstinence and you go off like a rocket?” She knelt on the side of the bed and walked her fingers up his thigh.

“I believe that we were both on that rocket, but now, I am in the mood for something a little slower with plenty of time for instruction.” He pulled her across his chest. “You are the new headmaster, teach me something.”

She laughed and nuzzled at his neck. “The life cycle of a Jaro bee is only thirty minutes long.”

“What?”

“You wanted me to teach you something, so now, it’s your turn.”

She squealed as he rolled her to her back, and their mutual education continued into the night.

Chapter Twelve

After his transformation into a raptor with the power of healing, Fixit took to spending every waking moment in Veera’s trunk.

She didn’t know what was causing his shy behaviour, but she brought him meals every day for three weeks. When she heard the first little thought from the trunk, she thought she was hearing things in her mind. As nine others joined it, she looked into the trunk, and Fixit moved aside to show her his babies.

Fluffy little Yaluthu babies were creeping around on one of her old bodysuits. She nodded and sent a query to Fixit. She smiled when the answer was the affirmative.

Veera, or Headmaster Halig as she was now called, sat behind her desk and laughed at the antics of the one-week-old Yaluthu babies. They were already six inches tall and chattering constantly. Fixit watched over them with the attention of a focused parent.