Chapter 1 #2
After what seemed like forever, the blue-green marble of Tau Ceti resolved in my viewport, growing larger as we approached.
From this distance, it could have been Earth—the same swirls of white clouds, the same blue oceans, even the landmasses were similar.
But Tau Ceti was smaller, more compact. A jewel box replica.
I'd been to Earth a few times on Alliance business, so I knew better than most how close this small planet came to the real thing.
This was Dixa's vision made real. My cousin Siemba's mate, a rescued human who'd refused to have her mind wiped and return to Earth.
Instead, she'd done something unprecedented.
She'd built a new Earth. Or as close to one as current terraforming technology allowed.
The agreements the Alliance had with Earth's governments allowed for the import of several human things.
Animals and plants, mostly—livestock, trees, flowers.
Things that made the place feel like home rather than just another colony world.
I'd heard Dixa had even managed to get honeybees, though the negotiations for those had apparently taken years and required testimony from seventeen xenobiologists about cross-contamination protocols.
The place was a haven for displaced humans who could never return to Earth and other persecuted species, where they could begin a new life.
Behind me, I heard footsteps moving toward the cockpit entrance.
"Is that it?" The rust-haired woman's voice was barely a whisper. "Is that home?"
I glanced back. They were all pressed forward now, craning to see through the viewport. Even Peanut had stopped rocking, his damaged gaze fixed on the blue-green world ahead.
"That's Tau Ceti," I confirmed. "Your new home."
"It looks like Earth." Another voice, cracking with emotion.
The landing pad was surrounded by fields of wheat that rippled gold in the afternoon sun.
Genuine Earth wheat, if my eyes weren't deceiving me.
Beyond that, structures that mimicked old Earth architecture—wood and stone, peaked roofs.
Nothing like the prefab plasteel boxes most colonies settled for.
I'd been to Tau Ceti once, many years ago, when I still worked in intelligence.
It hadn't changed much, and part of me liked that.
I brought the Veridian Dawn down gently, feeling the landing struts settle onto the ferrocrete with barely a shudder. Through the viewport, I watched two figures approaching across the tarmac.
"We're down," I announced, killing the engines. "Welcome to Tau Ceti."
Behind me, someone sobbed. Someone else laughed. Then they were all moving, gathering their meager belongings, pressing toward the airlock like it might disappear if they didn't reach it fast enough.
I hit the ramp release, then stepped aside to let them flood past me. Their excitement was palpable. Even Peanut was being pulled along by Charlene, his face still vacant, but his feet moving forward with a suggestion of excitement.
I followed them down the ramp at a more measured pace, my boots clanging against the metal. The two figures had reached the edge of the landing pad by the time I hit dirt.
The first was a small woman, the top of her head barely reaching my chest, with silver-streaked dark hair that swung around her face.
She wore practical clothing—trousers, boots, a vest with multiple pockets—but carried herself with the kind of authority that didn't need decoration.
Her eyes swept over the refugees with the practiced assessment of someone who'd done this many times before.
"I'm Mayor Mei Lin Jun," she said, her voice carrying clearly despite her size. "Welcome to Tau Ceti."
The second figure was male, stocky and muscular, a foot shorter than me, which still made him tall for a human, with dark blonde hair and a short beard that was going gray at the edges. He wore a badge on his chest and possessed a relaxed readiness.
"Craig Munroe," he said, nodding to me before addressing the group. "I'm the peacekeeper here. We'll get you all processed and settled. Medical examinations first, then housing assignments."
His eyes lingered on Peanut for a moment, something like recognition flickering across his face. Not recognition of the person, but of the damage.
Mei Lin was already organizing the refugees into a loose line, her movements efficient and practiced. "We have food waiting, and clean clothes. Hot showers. Real beds." She paused, letting that sink in. "You're safe now. You're home."
More sobbing. More laughter. One of the men dropped to his knees and kissed the ground.
Munroe caught my eye and jerked his head toward the side of the landing pad. I followed him a few paces away from the group, letting Mei Lin handle the emotional introduction to their new world.
"Cristox," he said, extending his hand.
I took it, surprised by the strength of his grip. "Peacekeeper."
"Any issues with the transport?"
"Debris strike scared them. Otherwise, smooth." I paused, then nodded to where Charlene and Peanut stood among the rest. "The male, Peanut, suffered severe neural damage on Theta-9."
Munroe's expression darkened. "The Garoot Healer couldn't help?"
"We tried when we got them aboard the Historia. It didn't work. According to our healer, the injury was too old, the nerve endings too degraded to rebuild."
"That's a shame." Regret twisted his expression. "We'll do what we can for him here."
I nodded. That was all anyone could do.
Charlene appeared at my elbow, her fingers wrapping around my forearm with false familiarity.
"Captain Cristox, sugar, I just heard from the mayor that they're puttin' us all in some kind of dormitory situation.
" Her lower lip pushed out in what I assumed was meant to be an appealing pout.
"Now, I was thinkin'—and you tell me if I'm overstepping—but wouldn't it be better for Peanut and me to stay somewhere more.
.. private? Somewhere quiet? Maybe we could stay with you.
Peanut doesn't do well with crowds, and I'd feel so much safer with someone strong like yourself nearby. "
I opened my mouth to deliver what would have been a firm but polite refusal when a vision of blonde curls and a floral dress materialized beside us.
"Honey child," the woman said, her voice warm as butter and twice as smooth, "you come right along with me now.
" She slipped her arm through Charlene's and began gently but inexorably steering her away from me.
"I'm Lula. I promise, we're gonna get you and your brother set up real nice.
The dormitories are just temporary, sweetheart, just until we can assess everyone's skills and preferences.
Then you'll get your own little cottage. "
Charlene tried to look back at me, but Lula kept her moving with the kind of cheerful determination that was impossible to resist.
Glancing back over her shoulder, Lula caught my eye and winked.
Thank you, I mouthed.
She smiled, the expression knowing and kind, and guided Charlene back toward the group where Mei Lin was organizing everyone for their assignments.
Munroe chuckled, watching Lula work her magic. "That woman could redirect a charging Korthax with nothing but charm and a smile."
"Remind me to send her a case of whatever she drinks," I snorted with amusement.
"She'll take you up on that." He turned back to me, his expression shifting to something more friendly. "You staying long? We've got the grand opening of the Space Pearl franchise in a couple of weeks. First one on Tau Ceti."
I blinked. "Space Pearls? Here?" The restaurant franchise opened by an abducted human chef and her mate had locations all across Alliance space.
"Yeah." He grinned. "We're all pretty excited about it."
Space Pearls. I'd been to exactly three of their locations.
The food was decent—a menu that touted itself as a blend of human and alien cuisine.
But the humans aboard the Historia went absolutely feral for the stuff.
Captain Adtovar once diverted our route by four hours so the crew could visit a location in the Dendara system.
"When did you say? Two weeks?"
"Sixteen days, to be exact. Grand opening ceremony, free food and drink for the first hundred customers, the whole production."
I did the math. The Historia was still working with the Alliance Prime on a way to capture Hewes.
My orders were to rendezvous with them at Ardeese Valout station once I'd dropped off the refugees.
Even if they wrapped up tomorrow, it would take the Historia at least three weeks to reach the rendezvous point.
I had time. Time to not think about her for a while. Time to pretend the ache in my chest was something I could ignore.
"I could stay a few days," I heard myself say. It might be interesting to hang around—if I could stay away from Charlene.
Munroe's face lit up. "That's great. We don't get many Alliance visitors who stick around.
Most drop off their passengers and vanish before the ramp's even fully extended.
" He clapped me on the shoulder with easy familiarity.
"Mei's got a guest house that's empty. She'll insist you stay there—won't take no for an answer, trust me.
Woman's got hospitality bred into her bones. "
As if summoned by the mention of her name, Mei Lin appeared at Munroe's elbow. For someone so small, she moved with remarkable stealth.
She tilted her head back to meet my eyes. "I couldn't help but overhear. You're staying?"
"A few days, if it's not an imposition."
She waved her hand dismissively. "The guest house has been empty for months. You'll be doing me a favor—keeps the dust from settling. It's fully equipped. Kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living area. Private entrance. You won't be disturbed."
The emphasis on that last part wasn't lost on me. She'd probably witnessed Charlene's attempted annexation of my personal space.
"That's very generous. Thank you."