Broken Ties of the Stellar Oracle

Chapter One

Aubrey staggered up to the checkpoint where the shuttle was waiting. A gold-skinned person with a tablet asked, “Name?”

“Aubrey Yorinson. Female, twenty-seven years old. Minor bruise injuries and one torn fingernail.”

The male smiled encouragingly and tapped on his screen. “We have someone in with that secondary designation. Do you have a sibling?”

“I do. She will consider my survival an unpleasant surprise.”

“Ah. We have seen a few of those situations. Please go into the blue structure, and they will give you a complete scanning and repair that finger.”

Aubrey smiled. “Thank you.”

“Congratulations on your survival.”

“Thank you again.” She nodded and walked toward the blue structure.

Her jeep was dead after her repairs took it as far as it could go. The five-kilometre run to get on the next flight had left her sweaty, grimy, and irritated at the people who had caused the exertion on an empty stomach.

The medics looked up as she came in, and one of them did a double take. “Miss, weren’t you just here?”

“Same bloodline, different person. That was my younger sister, Avery. I am the elder. Aubrey. Good afternoon.” She inclined her head with a smile.

They paused and approached her with a smile. “I have some mild bruising and a torn fingernail.”

The woman approaching her had what looked like folded scrubs. “Go into that cubicle, disrobe, hit the large button, and then stand with your hands away from your body. The sonic scrub will clean you, and you can dress in your station clothing.”

Aubrey paused. “Do you have any kind of cutting device? I had to leave my knife on the trail.” It had been in someone, but that was another matter.

“We can find something. What is the purpose?”

“I would like to remove my hair. I am constantly being mistaken for my sibling, and I wish to make the difference clear.”

“That is not normally something that we do.”

“It’s fine. I can just go to one of those torches and burn it off.”

The medics discussed it and then nodded. “If that is a large concern, we will authorize the cropping of your hair after your shower.”

One of the ladies raised her hand. “I used to work in a grooming salon. I can do a decent job.”

Aubrey smiled. “Thank you. Back in a moment.”

She took her first sonic shower, put her clothing in the receptacle marked for it, and wondered if this scene was being enacted around the world as she got into the tunic, trousers, and shoes that fit themselves to her feet.

She emerged with her hair out and said, “If you want plausible deniability, you can just hand me the cutting implement.”

“Miss, we are under strict instructions not to allow any of your people anything sharp. Until you arrive at the station, be prepared to eat everything with a spoon.”

“There is food?” Aubrey looked hopeful.

“Once we shear you.” The woman smiled. “Have a seat in this cubicle. We will have you trimmed in no time.”

“Thank you. I am tired of seeing her in the mirror.”

The woman with the small rod nodded. “She was here, so I understand.”

“She was not pleasant?”

“She mistook medics for servants. We corrected her, but she was resistant to the idea.”

“Yeah, she’s stubborn when she thinks she can get something from other people.”

The medic smiled. “How short?”

“I would like it three inches long all over.”

“That will certainly help folks to tell the difference. It will also decrease your bond price.”

“Hooray. More choices in a lower tier.”

“How do you know that?”

“There always are.”

The medic sighed. “Right, here we go.”

Hair began falling, and Aubrey smiled. Avery was going to have a heart attack. Blaming her was going to be different with a change in appearance.

The haircut took ten minutes, and her head felt lighter. “Oh, that’s better. Thank you.”

The woman blinked. “That... is very flattering. You are quite the beauty.”

“Shh. Don’t tell anyone.”

They giggled, and the medic looked at her hand. “Oh, we need to repair that. How did you tear off a nail?”

“Untying rope around my wrists and ankles. Time was a factor.”

“Oh. Does it have anything to do with the haircut?” The medic looked at her.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, it does. Apparently, I was seen taking the last of the rations in our group. My sister cried as she admitted she had seen me. Very tragic. She hated to turn me in. I haven’t eaten in three days.”

The medic paused. “I can confirm that for you if you like.”

“That would be helpful when I actually go to eat.”

“First, we put you in a scanning unit and find out what needs to be fixed, then we will put you in a repair unit.”

“Great. Did my sister require repairs?”

“No, she was fit and healthy, as if she hadn’t suffered lack of anything.” The medic gave her a knowing look.

“Yeah, that seems right.”

They eased her into the scanner, closed the lid, and light went through her, followed by the pulse of an ultrasonic examination without the gel.

When the lid opened again, the medic was looking at her with a serious expression. “You have a lot of healed breaks.”

“Yes. I used to be used as a bait animal by my sister. She would commit crimes, insult people, and pretend to be me. They did not take it well. I wore the results. I don’t want her pretending to be me anymore.”

“That is understandable. Come this way to the repair unit.”

She nodded and walked over to the repair unit. “Does everyone go through this?”

The medic laughed. “No, you either have to be dying or very polite.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

She settled in the unit, and it closed over her. She heard, “You are welcome.”

Minutes ticked by, and she was held in place as her hand warmed, her old breaks warmed, and her lower belly warmed.

When she felt her sex getting slick, she tensed, but the machine kept doing what it was doing, not caring about resistance.

Heat wrapped her under her collarbone, and she just gave up.

Whatever was going on, her old breaks felt better. She would let it run its course.

She fell asleep as her body was subjected to warmth and slow caresses from something she couldn’t see. It was the most action she had experienced since the end of the world.

Aubrey woke up when the medic opened the unit’s lid. “Well, that was unexpected.”

“What was?”

“You were in there for six hours, and the unit refused to open. That isn’t something that happens. Our tech is checking it and suspects a computer virus of some sort.”

Aubrey got out of the unit and blinked. “Did you shrink?”

“No. You have gained ten percent additional height.”

She grinned. “Seriously?”

“Yes. Could you step into the scanner again?”

“Sure. Why?”

“We want to see what it did to you.”

Aubrey walked slowly, getting the hang of her new balance. “This is so weird, but I will no longer be confused for Avery.”

“Are you twins?”

“No, born one year apart, nearly to the day.”

“That explains things a bit more. Despite your looks, you are working with very different genetics.”

“Well, I am now six foot four, so I would say so.” She smiled. “This is entertaining.”

“It’s a good thing that the tunic is long.”

She smiled and settled in the scanner again to determine what had just happened.

Light and vibration, and the lid opened. The medics were all close and staring at her. “What?”

“Um, Aubrey, you have assessor genetics.”

“What does that mean?”

“You are closer to a Hmrain than most consorts are. This is incredible. We have never seen one on the surface of your world.”

“Oh. Neat. So can I go eat?”

“Yes, we are just waiting for your guards.”

“Uh, what?” Aubrey blinked.

“You can’t go anywhere without your guards.”

“What guards?”

“The ones provided by the Education Station. The private shuttle will arrive in the next two hours, Lady.”

Aubrey blinked. “What now?”

The medic smiled. “You are descended from those crafted by the designers. That gives you a rank before you even step on the station.”

“Oh, wow. So when can I eat?”

“We will assemble an honour guard for you.”

“Why?”

“Because we have not had one of your kind awaken on your native soil.”

“How did this happen?” Aubrey asked.

“No one knows, but there have been a few of your people with assessor and other visitor genetics surfacing. You are going to remain under guard until your bond is secured, and then your protection will be up to the bondholder.”

“Bondholder?”

“You are new to the stars, and a value will be assessed on you and your skills. From there, you will be offered to those who are looking for that skill set. They pay the Education Station, and you are in a set contract until you earn the bond cost back, at which point, you are free to travel or seek your fortune. That is how it works for many of your people.”

“How long have you been on this mission?”

“Two years. You are some of the last that we will collect. Search teams will come next, and after that, a final scan will be done for life signs before your world is surrounded with satellites for security.”

Aubrey was quiet as she imagined her world completely silent and dead. She inhaled and said, “Right.”

Three large male medics stepped toward her. “Lady, we will escort you to the food tent.”

“Oh, that is where they are.”

The medic who had treated her nodded. “I believe I understand the issues, and they will not be in contact with you. Your vessel is on the way.”

“How do you know that?”

“It’s on my tablet. The station is very excited.”

“Why?”

“Because after notifying them during your transformation, Hmrain have begun converging on the station in an effort to win your favour.”

“I thought I went up for bond.”

The medic who had greeted her grinned with shark-like teeth. “Not you. You get to choose.”

“Ah. This will be interesting.”

“I believe so. I will be listening for word of your exploits through the gossip channels.”

“How much longer are you here?”

“Eighty days. The final sweeps have already begun, herding your people toward the nearest site. Outriders are being brought from many worlds, and some Hmrain are bringing large ships to help with the final evacuation.”