5
“The Jakarty,” the queen says firmly. “They live beyond the mountains. I too was concerned but the king took me to meet the generals, witness our military, and I am confident we are well prepared for a group of rebels who have nothing to their name.”
“The Jakarty?” I repeat, the word sending panic into my veins. I had no idea there were any rebels on Planet Hade. We’d been led to believe it was a utopia, nothing could go wrong and our paradise was safe. “I…I didn’t know.”
“I didn’t want to worry you, not when you had just arrived,” Ar-Hagan says.
“Earth women are entitled to know what dangers are out there.” Queen Visha tilts her chin. “For how can they defend themselves otherwise? A person, a female especially, must always know who to be wary of.”
“But they are not here in Mimis?” Candice says. She appears as taken aback as I am by this revelation.
“No, they are a long way off, it’s a treacherous journey for them to get even close,” Cy-Ray says, “and the king, and us, the military, have it under control.”
“And the scientists,” Tr-Argan adds.
“And farmers,” the king nods at Ar-Hagan. “As ambassadors safety isn’t just about food, it’s about watching our considerable perimeters with real eyes as well as cameras.”
“Speaking of perimeters and watching.” Tr-Argan leans forward. “If I can be permitted to speak on a security matter, Your Majesties, in this setting?”
“Of course,” the king says with a nod.
“But it’s a—” Visha holds up her hands and sighs. “Okay.”
I feel her frustration, this dinner party is clearly her idea and she’s planned it carefully. But security is security and if there is a problem it must be dealt with.
Beneath the table Ar-Hagan’s foot presses gently to mine as though reassuring me. But his brow pulls low and he fiddles with his beard anxiously.
“My mate Rachel and I,” Tr-Argan starts, “recently went into the mountains behind our bala for a…” He spins his finger in the air. “What was it?”
“A picnic,” she offers.
“Yes, one of those.”
“I do not know the meaning of that word.” The king looks at Visha.
“A meal, outside,” she offers.
“Really?”
“Yes,” she says with a smile.
“Go on…continue with this picnic story,” the king says. “Tr-Argan.”
“After we had…done what we were doing, I heard, or at least I think I heard a drone.”
“One of ours?”
“No, it had a lower hum, as though it had been customized, or had a bad repair. It wasn’t one of ours anymore even if it had been once.”
“You think it was Jakarty?” Cy-Ray asks stiffly.
“Yes. I do. Watching us.”
“Tr-Argan, you said you thought it might be, not for sure.” Rachel’s eyes widen.
“I was sure.” He sits back and folds his arms, his biceps bulging where his knuckles press.
“And you are only just telling us now?” The king frowns. “Why?”
“I logged it, I didn’t hear back, so presumed it was being forwarded and dealt with.”
“It probably is, but next time, contact me directly on a thread,” Cy-Ray says, “these things need following up immediately.”
“What would you have done, General?” Visha asks. “If you had found out immediately?”
“We would have sent our own drones up, small, barely visible, barely audible, to find it.”
“And if you had found it?” I ask.
“Taken it down. We cannot allow the Jakarty any kind of technology. They will use it against us.”
“Do you think they know you have women here on Planet Hade again?” Zuri speaks for the first time, her dark gaze directed at Cy-Ray. “That we, myself at least, have been here for years now.”
“I cannot answer that.”
“Why not, General?” Zuri’s mate, Pr-Hal asks, taking her hand in his. “I think it’s important that we know. So answer this, do the Jakarty know there are Earth women on Planet Hade?”
“I cannot answer that,” he says again.
“Why not?” Zuri demands with a frown.
“Because,” the king says, “my generals only deal in facts, and that is something he truly doesn’t know at this time.”
Zuri looks anxiously around the table. “We need to know that fact, and the sooner the better.”
Her nerves affect me and my belly tightens. She’s been here much longer than all of us women and is rattled. What does she know about the Jakarty that we don’t? What does she fear that we haven’t registered as a threat yet?
“What are these threads?” Visha asks suddenly. “I keep hearing mention of them.”
“Ah, here is the food.” The king sits back as a plate of fine looking meat is set before him.