Chapter Three
Zera’s com was going crazy. She sat up and put the feed on her monitor. Messages were coming in from a number of male actives who wanted to know if the woman from the bus was one of the available escorts.
Zera rubbed her eyes and brought up information on a bus. “Whoa.”
The woman looked remarkably normal, but she had gone from breaking the sound barrier to lifting a bus as casually as if she were moving grocery bags. Her body was lithe and fit, and she didn’t have the tense form of a standard active.
She looked at the image, tightened in on her features, and ran a facial recognition program.
The answer popped up right away, along with several other images of her taken from that evening.
Her holding a boy at the hospital. Walking off with Salat and Khytten, and leaving the centre with Salmet, Vikor, Salat, and Khytten.
“So, we have mutual acquaintances, Alody.”
The image of her leaving Klauz’s with a child in her arms made Zera double-check her social status.
She was single but had a son. Offering her a position as an escort wouldn’t be appropriate. Zera smiled. It looked like she had another candidate for matchmaking if Alody was interested.
* * * *
Gaireth Eskin finished his after-action report and looked around the new Daycross defender training centre. “What is everyone looking at?”
The administrator said, “There was an incident with an unauthorized active tonight. She saved a bus full of children from a flooded river as calmly as if she did it every day. Totally trashed her clothing, and that is what the guys seem to be focusing on.”
Gaireth snorted and looked at the image on the screen. He exhaled. “Impossible.”
He knew that woman. Or rather, he had known her over twenty years ago. She moved the same, her eyes were the same, and her figure took his breath away. “Katta.”
Timothy looked at him. “You know her?”
“I knew her three decades ago. She looks like time stood still.”
“She has a child.”
“Which should be impossible. She’s close to sixty if not over. Where is this?”
“Aksalla.”
“Right. I need to make some calls.” Gaireth sat at a terminal and called the defender headquarters. He needed to know if she was who he thought she was, and if he was right, she owed him a date.
* * * *
Alody silenced her com. It was going crazy. After Ithal was tucked in, she went to her terminal and checked the news reports. “Oh, dear.”
She rubbed her head and sent a note to Morthiwel. Sorry, boss. I need a few days off until this blows over. Ithal is great, and all the kids are healthy.
She sighed and started looking for accommodations in other countries that didn’t demand constant service. Life in the islands was looking pretty good, but Daycross was close to home and defended its own once you were a citizen.
Erradia was likely, but they were weird about females with power. She sat back and rubbed the back of her neck.
She saw a message flare on her screen and checked it, sitting up. “Diena.” She answered the message, and a face that was close to what she saw in a mirror flared in front of her.
“Hey, Mom. I saw you on the news. Was that Ithal’s bus?”
“Yes. There was a mountain rainstorm that washed out that particular river. He called, and I answered.”
“Thank goodness.”
“Diena, you don’t call often. Are you okay?”
“Um, yeah, I am fine. I am surrogating for someone. I don’t know who, but I know they are a solid couple. She just can’t carry.”
“How far along are you?”
“Eight and a half months. Almost done. The child is viable and healthy.”
Alody said softly, “Where are you?”
“Aksalla. I have an apartment and now have savings. Carrying for actives pays pretty well. If I come through delivery fine, I might do it again.”
“Are you still working?”
“Of course.”
“At the commissary?”
“Yup. They don’t let me lift the heavy stuff, but I am working part-time right up to the delivery date, or if I go into labour. Whatever comes first.”
“Why did you—”
“Because if I can’t have a family, I want someone else to have one. I am in a safe occupation. No one knows about my activation, and the baby needed someone with my characteristics. The other attempts broke down in the canisters.”
“How much are you being paid for this?”
“Two million. I get increments at every checkup.” Diena smiled. “If you need to check, I can come by tomorrow.”
“I will bring Ithal to you. He hasn’t seen his big sister in ages.”
“Oh, right. I guess he would be out of school for a few days. Did you want me to bring pastries over?”
Alody smiled. “That sounds great. I am taking Ithal to a playpark tomorrow.”
“Then, I will be there around eight.”
“Why do you have the day off?”
“Oh, I have my med checks and scans later in the morning. I only get dressed once a day now, so I do it early to make it count.” She smiled.
“Do you still blur your features?”
“Yup. All day, every day. I am fine, Mom. I just want to make sure you two are okay.”
Alody smiled. “Thank you for checking. This is our address.”
She sent the data over, and Diena smiled. “Nice neighbourhood. Okay. Eight tomorrow. I will get a transport over. I can’t really reach controls right now.”
Alody smiled. “I missed that with you.”
“I know. It’s why I want you to see the bump before it becomes someone else’s to love and raise.” Diena smiled. “You need it.”
“See you tomorrow at eight, dear one.”
Diena blew her a kiss and nodded. “See you then.”
Alody smiled, and her heart felt lighter. She turned off the monitor and went to bed, her son secure, and her daughter was coming in the morning. Who said there was nothing good in a disaster?
They were dressed and sitting at the table when Ithal said, “Why are we waiting?”
“Someone is coming over. You might remember her when you see her.”
There was a soft knock on the front door. Alody walked over and opened the door. She beamed. “Diena.”
Her daughter waddled into the doorway and handed over a bag from a very nice bakery downtown. “Hey, Mom. Hey, Ithal.”
Ithal started to vibrate with excitement. “Sissy!”
She opened her arms, and he moved to hold her against her side. The belly was in the way for a proper hug, but they made do.
Alody smiled.
Ithal asked, “Am I going to be an uncle?”
Diena exhaled. “No, bud. Not this time. This time, I wanted to see if my body could do this with the best medical care and a file of how my body reacts every step along the way.”
Ithal frowned. “Why?”
“Because I was grown in an early tank, and no one was sure if the children of the early gestation units could have babies on their own. So I know that I can grow someone else’s embryo, so now I know that if I want to have my own baby, I just have to find additional genetic material.”
“A boyfriend.”
Diena grinned. “That’s what they are called. I forget.”
Ithal kept hugging her. The baby must have kicked because he jerked in surprise.
“Does it know who I am?”
“Of course, Ithal. I have told it all about my courageous brother, and I reminded it last night about the fact that our family is quiet but brave, and when there is a need, we can act.”
He beamed and then said, “What kind of stuff did you bring?”
She grinned. “Open the bags and find out.”
Alody smiled and hugged her daughter. “You are looking good. Nice flush to your cheeks.”
“Yeah. I feel warm constantly. My ankles aren’t puffy, so that’s a win.”
Alody smiled and walked her to the table. “What do you want?”
“Those twisty ones and a chocolate croissant.”
Ithal got plates and set the selected offerings on it in front of a chair. Diena grinned. “First family meal in four years.”
Alody felt a warm feeling in her chest. “My little ones.”
Diena beamed at her, and Ithal did the same.
Alody laughed and got some decaf coffee for Diena and chocolate milk for Ithal. They sat around and had their breakfast together.
Ithal pelted Diena with questions, and she answered them all.
Alody smiled and learned that, while she was currently working at Z-Corp in the commissary, she was a trained and certified paralegal.
She had been in Askalla for ten years in total, and she had been released from the capitol.
They had released her because she didn’t seem to manifest any activation.
She did have her mother’s activation and woke for need.
Diena said, “So, Ithal. What are you doing today?”
He grinned. “Mom says we are going to a playpark.”
Diena smiled. “Are you or your friend early activators?”
Ithal blinked, and he nodded slowly. “Yes.”
“Well then.” Diena reached into the crossbody bag and pulled out some hard chits. “Here you go. Try this one. It has regular play structures and some try-your-strength stuff that can be fun and not threatening. It’s only been open for a week, so it won’t be busy.”
Alody blinked. “Is that the one on Harcourt?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t think it was open yet.”
“Apparently, now was the time.” Diena grinned. Her com chimed, and she picked up her empty plate and carried it to the dishwasher.
“I have an appointment this morning, but when I am done, if you want, I can join you at the park.”
Ithal grinned. “That would be great. I want to show Vaken that I have a grown-up sister.”
Diena tapped her wrist. “Okay. My transport is on the way. It is the only perk I kept from the contract. Hauling this belly around has been hard the last few weeks.”
Alody smiled. “I have heard that. You are doing well?”
“I am doing fine. I needed to know so that I know whether I want to do it for my own child.” She smiled. “As long as labour isn’t terrible, I wouldn’t mind doing this again.”
Ithal smiled. “Then I can be an uncle?”
“That is when you will be an uncle.”
He looked at her and patted the bump. “About fourteen months then.”
Diena stared at him. “What?”
His eyes were glittering gold. “Fourteen months and I get a little niece.”
“Does your vision tell me who the father is?”
He frowned and blinked. “He’s sparkly.”
“That... is good information to have.” She checked her com. “Okay. One more hug, and then I will see you when I am done with morning appointments.”
Alody blinked. “Ithal, you have sight?”
“Well, Mom. Yes. It’s how I knew just when to call you, but I didn’t tell the investigators. Is that okay?” He looked concerned. “I needed to know if we would be all right, and I knew you had to come for that to happen.”
“That is fine. You answered all the questions that they asked.” She wrinkled her nose. “That is what honesty is good for. They stop asking questions when they have what they need.”
She smiled. Diena chuckled. “We have the weirdest activation.”
Alody nodded. “It is certainly unusual.”
They hugged again, and Diena headed for the door. “See you in a few hours. Enjoy the passes.”
As she left the house, Shisha and Vaken were on the sidewalk. They both stepped aside with stunned expressions.
Alody checked her com, and Shisha had sent a message. She was able to drop Vaken off. Alody chuckled and smiled. “Shisha, that is my daughter, Diena. Diena, this is Shisha and Vaken.”
Diena nodded. “Pleased to meet you. I will see you later at the park, Vaken.”
He looked at her and looked back at Alody. “You are the same.”
Diena inclined her head. “I am a clone. See you later.”
She walked to her automated transport, settled herself, and it glided away.
Alody watched her go and smiled at Shisha. “So that is my daughter. She’s surrogating.”
“She looks ready to pop.”
“There won’t be any popping noises, but the child will emerge fairly soon.”
Shisha smiled. “But she’s yours?”
“Yes. They grew her in the capitol. Nothing hidden there. She filed the correct paperwork and gained her freedom when she didn’t have any obvious activations.”
“I see. Thank you for taking on Vaken today.”
“No problem. Diena just gave us passes to the new playpark for kids with a young actives section.”
Vaken perked up. “Really?”
“Apparently, it opened this week. So we have three passes.” She held it out and blinked when it said All Access VIP. “I think I have to ask Diena a few questions when we see her again.”
Ithal smiled. “Can we go now?”
She grinned. “Yes, we can. Shisha, enjoy your day. I will send you the address confirmation when we arrive. It’s new and might not be on the maps yet.”
“Thank you. Is there lunch available?”
“If not, we will get something and head back. These guys are going to be exhausted by the end of business today.”
Shisha smiled. “Music to my ears. I am going to let the consortium know where he is, just in case.”
“Of course. See you later. Come on, guys. Let’s go see if we can give the new place a workout.”
She ushered the boys out to the transport she had called. It pulled up as she locked the house.
Shisha got into her own vehicle and smiled. “Have fun, sweetie.”
Vaken grinned. “I will.”
Ithal grinned, and the boys scrambled into the back, buckling up. Alody sat up front and confirmed the address. The door closed, and they glided away.
Alody smiled as they moved through the city. It would take a few more hours for the journalists to find her. She had digital blockades placed everywhere, and it would take them a while to break through.
She hoped Diena’s appointment went well. She rather wished she had been at her side for the appointments. It was a motherly thing to do, and part of her ached at the missing time and experiences.