Merkiaari Wars: 03 - Operation Oracle (13 page)

“I know that,” Burgton said testily. “But they’re already debating the issue, Professor. They need to get the idea of exploration as a good thing firmly fixed in their minds now. You know our history. The Shan are in danger of making the same mistakes we did.”

“I could say it’s their mistake to make, but I have too much admiration for them not to agree with you,” James said. “Your idea was a good one,
is
a good one. You should try again with Kajetan.”

“I had planned to.”

“As I was saying,” Varya said breaking in. “When word reaches the warrior caste that you have offered immigration to my people, and that The Blind Hunter is going, you will have more volunteers than you can possibly fit aboard your ship, General. It’s a matter of honour.”

“Honour,” Gina said. “You mentioned that before. What does that mean in this situation?”

“Simply put, Shima is a hero—” the
hero
in question made a rude noise, but Varya ignored it. “—to my people. That’s important, but the circumstances were extraordinary. She is scientist caste not warrior, she saved lives at risk of her own and killed Merkiaari in spectacular fashion, and on top of that, she fought as part of the resistance and was blinded helping to save thousands of warriors at Charlie Epsilon.

“If Shima had been warrior caste, most of her achievements would have been considered her duty no matter how extraordinary the deeds. She would still be a hero, but what she did to become one would have been expected of her as a warrior.”

“I’m still not getting it,” Gina said.

Shima sighed and explained. “It’s foolishness, Gina. I’m a hero because Kazim filmed me doing what anyone in my position would have done as we escaped the city. Killing the Merki was my pleasure, and anyone would have done it considering how we all feel about them. The warriors at Charlie Epsilon though are a little different; they feel that they owe me an honour debt for saving their lives because it wasn’t my duty—not a warrior you see? I don’t agree. I just did what needed doing, but that won’t change their minds. If they think following me off world will repay the debt, then that’s what they will want to do.”

“Then we should let them,” James mused. “How many could you take, General?”

“
Grafton
is a
Hunter
class transport. We don’t build them that big anymore. She can carry two full battalions with equipment.”

“So two thousand Shan would fit?”

“Easily,” Burgton said. “No mechs, no tanks or APCs, no artillery. As long as they embark with a few kilos of personal gear they would travel in comfort.”

“Hmmm,” James said. “I wonder what Tei’Varyk would recommend. Two thousand warriors wouldn’t make for a good colony in my opinion. Ideally, all the castes should be represented.”

“Harmony is always to be preferred,” Sharn agreed. “There should be people from all the castes, and their families should accompany them of course.”

Varya growled. “This is a warrior caste debt of honour.”

“No,” Shima said, finally hearing enough. “This is about my friends taking Chailen, Sharn, and me home with them when they leave. If the warrior caste or Kajetan want to take up General Burgton’s offer, they can talk with him before we leave the system. Will you take us with you, General?”

“Of course. We have the rest of the day for you to pack your things and close up your house. No need to rush things.”

Rush things? Shima had been waiting for this for more than an orbit, an entire orbit in darkness. She couldn’t leave fast enough.

* * *

Aboard Grafton, on route to Snakeholme

“Are you sure, Shima?” Chailen said worriedly. “Healer Hymas says she can make you sleep through the entire journey. You would wake at Snakeholme. There’s no need to start this testing now.”

Grafton
had been in foldspace for only a few days—and yes, the jump transition was as bad as all the warnings said it would be—when Shima realised she had a serious problem. She really should have expected it, but she had been so excited to be on her way to Snakeholme, that she had ignored common sense. The reason she had spent so much of her time in her garden was that she had become morbidly claustrophobic since losing her sight. It was stupid, but spending all of her waking hours in darkness was driving her insane, and there were no gardens to hide in aboard ship.

“Chailen is right, Shima,” Lieutenant Hymas said. “I can easily administer something to make you sleep. You would fall asleep here and awake on Snakeholme. It would be as if no time had passed for you.”

“Tempting, but no,” Shima said. She would not be a coward, by the harmonies she would not! “I really do appreciate the thought, but if we can do this now, it will save time later.”

“True. If you’re sure, then?”

Shima flicked her ears affirmatively. “I’m sure.”

Chailen sighed. “Always so brave, always so impatient. Why can’t you take the easier path once in a while?”

Varya snorted. “She’s The Blind Hunter. What do you expect?”

“She was my sib first, and she’s always been like this.”

Sharn picked up the syringe preparing to take the blood samples. “She must have been a terrible trial for your father.”

“Hey, sitting right here!” Shima protested over the other’s laughter.

“Are you sure you don’t mind the audience?” Hymas whispered to Shima. “I can have them out of here in a blink. Just say the word.”

Shima’s tail lifted and gestured a shrug. “I don’t mind. My people are more group orientated than Humans I think. James mentioned it to me once. He said his people preferred more
alone time
. Privacy doesn’t mean the same to us as it does to you.”

“No?” Hymas said.

“Shan like living together. We groom each other and like to touch,” Kazim said. “That’s especially true between sibs. Haven’t you noticed how Chailen always stands very close to Shima, and holds her hand or touches her shoulder?”

“Well, yes I did but I thought it was because Shima couldn’t see her.”

“I can sense her near, I don’t need touch for that,” Shima said. “I feel when she’s nearby and can smell her scent, and the harmonies let me see all of you if I use it that way. I can
see
anything living that way, but nothing else.”

“Fascinating. I can hardly wait to chat more about the harmonies. Humans don’t have such gifts. But back to your situation. Are you sure you want them all here, even Kazim and the camera? He’s not family is he?”

“Not family,” Shima agreed, “but he’s a friend. I’m used to him and his little annoying habits.”

“My camera is not an annoying habit!” Kazim protested. “It’s a tool. Without it, I’d be like a warrior without his beamer.”

“It’s true,” Shima said. “When we first met he was aiming the thing at the Merkiaari in Zuleika just like a weapon. I didn’t realise he was mad when I first saw him you understand.”

Varya chuffed in amusement. “I remember watching that broadcast in the keep. Everyone loved it. It was very funny.”

Shima growled low. It hadn’t been funny for her at the time. She had met Kazim at the end of a long chase, and she hadn’t been doing the chasing. She had barely escaped a Merki death squad after she killed one of them, and had run straight into a firefight that Kazim was filming. She was glad he was here with her. Varya as well of course, but she was very fond of Kazim despite his being annoying. Perhaps a little more than fond. Maybe.

Varya and Kazim had joined Chailen and Sharn as her chaperones only segs before
Grafton
got underway. They were the last to board after Kajetan asked Burgton for his permission to send them along. It was Shima’s understanding that Kajetan wanted them to investigate the possibility of a follow up mission to Snakeholme to found a colony there—a small one to begin with. Kajetan was being unusually coy, but she had many pressures on her right now. Burgton’s direct offer to her had fallen on fertile ground it seemed. Kazim was a popular figure. His films and shows would be seen widely on Harmony. When he returned home, Shima had no doubt he would have enough stuff to persuade even the most militant traditionalist that a colony on Snakeholme was a good idea.

“So, what’s first?” Shima said bringing things back full circle.

“Blood and tissue samples,” Sharn said. “It won’t hurt.”

“Healers always say that,” Shima said to Chailen who chuffed in amusement.

“No really,” Sharn assured her. “Kazim and I have already done this. Didn’t hurt, did it Kazim?”

“Well...” Kazim hedged. “It stung a bit.”

“Nonsense,” Sharn grumped. “Take no notice of him, Shima. He’s just being annoying now.”

Shima rolled her eyes. Kazim was Kazim. Not even the harmonies would ever change him.

Hymas chuckled at the by-play and patted Shima’s shoulder. “Just lay back and enjoy the rest.”

Shima did as she was bid. She swung her legs up onto the couch and settled back. Chailen adjusted the thing so that she was reclining comfortably at an angle, more sitting than lying down. Unlike Humans, Shan found laying flat on their backs very uncomfortable; they preferred doing it on their sides or fronts.

Sharn took four vials of blood and then used some kind of scraper in Shima’s mouth for tissue samples. It tickled the roof of her mouth but didn’t hurt. It didn’t sting either except perhaps for her pride. She didn’t like being poked and prodded but it was soon over so that the more interesting tests could begin.

“Okay Shima, the next part will be strange for you, but I assure you Humans have this test all the time without being harmed.”

“I trust you Healer Hymas,” Shima said. “Just tell me what you’re doing as you do it. I’ll be fine.”

“Right then. In just a moment, I’m going to put a helmet on your head. You’ve seen the helmets that Human soldiers wear, yes?”

“Of course.”

“Well this is similar in shape to those you’ve seen, but it isn’t for protection. It’s used to scan brain function. What it does is use micro-magnetic induction to stimulate various parts of the brain, and display the results in real time on my wall monitors over there.”

“Can I ask a question?” Kazim said.

“I suppose so,” Hymas said.

“Thank you. Why is this scan necessary? You already know Shima’s eyes are the problem, not her brain.”

“Good question,” Hymas said sounding surprised but approving. “Although the plan is to use regen to fix Shima’s vision, there’s a chance we may not succeed. Some Humans can’t use regen and it’s possible Shan are the same. It won’t matter if that turns out to be true. We can build her a pair of biomech eyes like vipers use. For those to work, we need a comprehensive map of the brain to find the vision centres where the eyes will send their data. Does that answer your question?”

“It does, thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Are you ready, Shima?”

“Ready,” Shima said.

Shima tensed as the helmet lowered onto her head. It was overly large and not at all a good fit. She had imagined a padded and visored helmet the same as Gina and the other vipers used, but this thing must only be vaguely similar enough for Hymas to liken them because it didn’t feel right at all. Hymas asked her to lower her ears if she could do that voluntarily. Shan could and Shima did. The helmet settled upon them, pinning her ears down. It was uncomfortable but not really painful. Hymas fussed with the fit, making some adjustments so that when she let go, the helmet stayed in place. Hymas muttered something about designing a proper scanning unit to fit Shan, and getting someone named Stone to make it for her, but a short while later she pronounced herself satisfied.

“Now don’t move please,” Hymas said. “A proper fit would let you walk around if you wanted, but we have to make do for now.”

“All right,” Shima said, her voice sounding muffled as if she had a bucket on her head. Her breathing sounded loud. “I’ll try.”

“Good. I’m going to send a standard calibration program first. It won’t hurt. Ready?”

“Go ahead.”

Shima didn’t feel anything, but she certainly reacted. She couldn’t help it. Eternal darkness was broken for the first time since the atomics had blinded her on Child of Harmony. She yelped in surprise and shock, and she couldn’t stop herself from moving. She was so excited. The darkness slammed down again and Shima heard concerned voices shouting.

“I’m all right, Kazim!” Shima yelled over Kazim’s cries. “Shut up, all of you! I’m fine. I’m sorry I moved Healer Hymas. Did I ruin your test?”

“No,” Hymas said sounding a little shaky. “Did it hurt? It shouldn’t have hurt. It never does, but the system is designed for Humans. Perhaps we should wait—”