Chapter One #2
Skylar snapped the top and then the bottom link and eased it away from Chloe, going to the hatch and dumping it on the walkway.
Plants were pushing the bolts out of Chloe’s leg.
Chloe spoke. “Main control, this is shuttle Freedom Break, permission to leave? Staff member is outside of the vessel, and the account for repair has been paid.”
There was a pause, and someone said in common, “Shuttle, release is authorized, please consider us for your repair needs.”
Gertrude got them moving and then pushed them away from the station. “Two vessels following, Captain.”
“Engage drive and head for...” She looked at Skylar.
Skylar grinned. “Sanctuary Base.”
“Sanctuary Base. Setting course. Skylar, hold on.”
Vines descended from the ceiling, and the ship darted forward with a light hum.
Chloe was laughing as the last bolt was removed.
The blood on her legs sealed quickly. The mossy ground of the shuttle absorbed it.
Chloe sighed and laughed. “I love having a backup plan. I get a kick out of it when they think they can catch this ship.”
“How fast is it? Gertrude won’t say.”
“Not as fast as the slip ships, but faster than Nebel’s vessels.”
Skylar grinned. “I am buying a slip ship. A friend’s sister is consort to Orex, and he agreed to sell me one for a friend and family discount.”
Chloe smirked. “Can I ask you to carry a beacon to make the Dyturans chase you?”
“Nope. It is fucking unsettling to feel the energy wave seeking you out. I thought it was looking for me, not Gertrude.”
She had a thought. “I am going to call my cousin. I think they saw the Dyturan, and she isn’t afraid of anything.”
Chloe was still on the moss and had started moving her leg carefully. Skylar checked the com availability and sent a call to Aten. She watched as the call headed out and grinned when it went through. Harwin’s gold face filled the screen. “Skylar! How are you doing?”
“I wanted to ask you the same, Harwin. Did the Dyturan show up?”
“Yeah. He and Ra walked off and had bro time, and then he left. Weirdly, he seemed surprised that you were one of his people.”
Chloe called out from the floor. “Ha!”
Harwin asked, “Who was that?”
“The owner of my ship, apparently. Chloe... what was your last name?”
“Harwin. Chloe Harwin.”
Harwin’s eyes bugged out. “No fucking way.”
Skylar looked at her and pointed to her own chest. “Skylar Harwin. The Queen of Aten is known as Harwin but was Charlotte Harwin, and you are Chloe Harwin?”
“Yup. It does explain our genetic similarities.” Chloe leaned back into the greenery that moved to support her. “Gertrude, split screen and visual on my face.”
Skylar saw both of them, and there was a definite similarity in the cheekbones and the curve of their lips. “Oh. I see it now.”
Harwin nodded. “I see it as well.”
Skylar nodded. “Chloe, can you name a few of your grandparents or great-grandparents?”
“Well, Gertrude’s husband was named Morris. Morris had seven siblings, five boys and two girls.”
Skylar asked, “Was one of the men named Melvin?”
“Melvin, Argus, Theodore, Morris, Wendle, and Charlie. Those were the great uncles.”
“Our grandfather was Theo.” Harwin smiled. “Does Skylar have access to any of your relatives?”
Skylar shook her head. “Nope. There is no one. They all died before I was born.”
Chloe smiled. “I am thirty-five. My parents died in an accident when I was two. Grandparents were already gone.”
Harwin teared up.
Skylar explained, “Harwin just had a baby this week. She’s very in touch with the idea of lost family.”
Chloe smiled. “Friends of the family raised me, many friends of the family. They taught me about farming and planting and listening to the land. Nature became my caretaker and babysitter.”
Harwin frowned. “Are you lying down?”
“Yup. I just got a brace lock off my leg, and I will have to get Skylar to help me to a med bed. Right now, I am just admiring the ceiling.”
Harwin grinned. “Skylar, I am feeling the need for another visit. Your godson wishes to see you.”
“His biggest focus is your boobs.”
Harwin shrugged. “Just like his dad. Anyway, please come by. We have the best healing units geared toward enhanced humans. Seriously. We can also fix your hair.”
“I am not worried about my hair. I have been in that lock for sixteen months. Walking is going to take some doing.” She paused. “I wouldn’t mind getting the station tattoo off my head, though.”
Harwin’s lower lip wobbled. “Done.”
Chloe called out, “Gertrude, set course for Aten.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Harwin blinked. “The ship is yours?”
Chloe grinned.
Skylar snorted. “She used me as bait. The Dyturan wasn’t after me; he was following her ship.”
“Sucker.” Chloe chortled.
Harwin looked at them both and started laughing. “One family reunion coming up.”
* * * *
Harwin was grinning and laughing and grinning again. Ra was setting up more colonists and organizing things with Harran in the crook of his arm. “Well, Harwin, is Skylar safe?”
“Oh, yeah. And we found out why the Dyturan came this way.”
Ra nodded. “He was chasing her ship, not another Dyturan.”
Harwin felt her grin threatening to split her face.
Ra paused. “What do you know?”
“I know who owns the ship and who she is. Well, mostly.”
He looked at their son. “Mama is trying to draw this out.”
“The ship is named Gertrude, it is bioactive, and the captain is Chloe... Harwin. The plants come when she calls.”
Ra’s eyes were wide. “Another Harwin? Oh, no. Harran, I don’t think the universe is ready for her.”
Harwin grinned and took their son. “Tough because she and Skylar are on the way. She had been in a mag-cage. Her muscles don’t know what to do anymore. Since we have the best repair units available, I invited them here. Maybe we can have a sleepover.”
“Only if the baby and I can be there. You don’t sleep without me anymore.”
“So, dinner it will be.” She asked, “What did the Dyturan say?”
“When I explained what was in that ship, he looked disappointed. How did she get it?”
“Oh, Chloe used the ship as bait for some reason.”
Ra sighed. “Did you hear that?”
A deep voice came from one of the com ports. “I did. The seed of life is clever.”
Ra chuckled. “She is related to my queen, so devious is more the word I would use. Will you come for her?”
“Eventually, but I sense she is taking over her vessel, as she was supposed to. I will find her later. Knowing she is safe is what matters.”
Ra blinked. “You thought you lost her.”
“Correct. When I arrived and there was no trace of her, I may have been more aggressive than our meeting called for.”
Ra made an affirmative sound. “If she is truly the seed of life for her people, it is understandable.”
Harwin stage whispered, “What is a seed of life?”
He wrapped his arm around her and gestured for her to shush.
“Your mate has questions. I will be in contact once the ladies have left again. Skylar will be compelled to seek her own ship now that Chloe’s energy is filling her vessel. It will be uncomfortable for her to be around all that energy.”
Harwin quoted Jane Austen, “You believe that, if it gives you comfort.”
“What?”
Ra sighed. “Skylar and Harwin had no trouble being at close quarters for extended periods, and I am guessing that Chloe and Skylar will find the same balance.”
There was a sigh. “When they leave, tell me where they are going, and I will appeal to the mercy of the Hmrain there.”
Harwin said, “Skylar is buying a ship from Orex. They are also going to visit Birun and Trin. They are going to those two places in the next few weeks, if you want to speak to those Hmrain.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The low voice rolled out of the com on the desk.
“You are welcome, Lord Dytura? I don’t know, as you are a teeny voice on Ra’s desk.”
“I am Dytura, keeper of souls.”
“Keeper?”
“Yes.”
“So, Skylar letting us meet our loved ones...”
“Is against protocol, but she did not get training, due to the seed of life’s actions.”
“Oh. So, Chloe... got it.”
Ra was grinning. “Harwin women are complex.”
“As I am finally becoming aware of. I will speak with Orex and Birun.”
Harwin grinned. “Orex is currently hosting his consort’s two siblings and her child. Be cautious if you are the type to feel threatening. His consort is a defender who does not tolerate threats to her child. Just warning.”
“Thank you. I accept your warning. I will temper my behaviour.” There was a pause. “Elder Ra, I will be in touch.”
There was a click.
Harwin frowned. “So, how scary is he on a scale of one to ten?”
Ra looked at her. “Twenty. He wears death like a cloak.”
Harwin blinked. “Oh. So why is he after her?”
“No seed has survived in fifteen thousand years. They die with the bulk of the population. How did this one survive?”
“Don’t know. You will have to ask.”
He looked at her and shook his head. “You have made life so interesting since you fought off that raider vessel and bled out on my doorstep.”
She leaned in to kiss him. “Don’t you forget it.”
He smiled and stroked their son’s cheek. “Never.”
* * * *
Chloe was still lying on the moss when she waved at the newly named Trin.
“Hey, Trin. Your grandpa was right. It was a self-sustaining coma. I am out of it now, and after we hit Aten and pop by for a visit, I thought we could come by Sanctuary Base, and I could hug you, then Skylar keeps hearing the word Pericoff, and I thought I would go there to see if I can help.”
Trin nodded. “We were going to find an anthropologist for that.”
“If you can, you can; if not, what can it hurt?”
“Sure. Absolutely.”
“We can stop there before I come in for my hug.”
Trin nodded. “Fair enough. We will send you the coordinates. Apparently, they aren’t very friendly, but we will also send the language pack.”
“Nice. I will improve myself and see you in the next few weeks. Hugs and stay warm.”
Trin grinned, and the screen went dark.
Chloe chuckled. “She was on his lap. That was the white background.”
Skylar chuckled and finished her meal. “Don’t you need to eat?”
“The plants are feeding me.”
“Okay.” Skylar’s voice drew it out. “What are the plants doing to you?”
“Oh, they are putting enzymes into my knee and ankle so that I can bend them without having them crack. The tendons are in rigour, and I am getting directed relaxants to the affected joints.”
“How do you know how to do that?”
“I don’t. The plants do. The same way they feed you life so your mind stays human.”
“Wait. What?”
“That is the end game for Dyturans. They are the repository of souls. You should’ve been trained and then driven to download thoughts and knowledge of the dead.”
Skylar stared. “But you diverted me, and I have been travelling and easing humans, giving them hope for the next generation.”
“Yeah. Aren’t I just a jerk?”
Skylar started laughing, and then she gasped as the plants slowly started to flex Chloe’s limb.
Chloe focused on remaining relaxed and breathing slowly. She muttered, “And for my next trick...”
Skylar laughed again and watched as the rigid limb came back to life. “Let me know when you want a boost up.”
“Yes, dragon lady. I will ask for uppies when it’s time.” She sighed as her leg crackled inside as the vines moved it. “It’s going to be a while.”
“I will get you some tea. This feels like a tea vibe.”
Chloe chuckled and sat in her ship with her plants and a long-lost cousin wrapped in death. She had had weirder days.