The Haunting of xOxO Zhangsun

"Do not go thence leaving me unwaked and unburied behind you, or I may bring heaven's anger upon you." - Homer, Odyssey, Book XI

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It was just over a week since my visit to Hale's Moon when I received two messages both marked with the highest priority.

The first was from x0x0 Zhangsun of Blue Sun.

"Major, it is urgent that I have a word with you. It concerns the matter of mutual interest."

The second arrived along diplomatic channels.

*** Urgent Wave to Major Pepper Siamendes, UAP SIU ***

I spoke with Cody Winterwolf today. He mentioned that we have a missing not-cat. Lily's ship, Eponine something or other, was found abandoned in the upper levels of the 'roidfield. There was a picture of Lynx on the ship, he may have been aboard.
I am sure Lynx contacted you about the so-called school being set up in Hale's. Lilybell allowed a teacher who did not give his name nor present credentials to set up a school. This person might be a good place to start. Cody didn't know anything about him. Frog (a local boy) and AuroraBlue were among the class, I am not sure who else.

Jai Raghilda

*** End Wave ***

Lily had gone missing before. While it was possible that Lynx had travelled with her, I could not see him running off with her. I wasn't going to panic.

So I sent a terse message - "Lynx. Call in please" - determined to wait for a reply.

I also contacted Ms. Zhangsun. We arranged to meet, once again, at her offices on Hale's Moon, as she had something that she described as 'difficult to transport'.

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February 13 - Hale's Moon

It was day time when I arrived. People in the streets going about their business. A man lounging in a deck chair by the landing pad.

I arrived at the Blue Sun offices. The door was open.

"Up here," called a voice.

At the top of the spiral stairs she stood, barefoot and unarmed. She looked pale.

"Hello Ms. Zhangsun," I greeted her.

She stood staring out the window. "I...was bitten today," she said distantly.

"Bitten?"

She lifted her dress to reveal four small punctures on her left ankle.

I frowned as I examined the wound.

"Yes," she answered, "I was...walking...and a large snake ..well, it attacked me."

"I'm sorry to hear that...."

"A young woman carried me to safety," she related, "When I woke up, Gallagher was there. He said he is not the doctor... and that Destiny had been hit by an asteroid. I told him, I could hear the snakes. He wouldn't listen. I told him but he wouldn't listen. It was so loud. So loud. He said he could not hear it." She looked back out the window. "So loud..."

"You mean Destiny... the refugee colony?"

Hit by an asteroid. That was months ago.

"Yes..." she replied, "So I tried to show him...he still could not hear....then he was attacked. Another huge snake....it didn't bite him. He killed it...but... another one was hiding, staring at me. As soon as he was busy killing the one, the other one attacked me."

"Was this why you contacted me?" I asked.

She blinked, "I contacted you?"

"You sent word," I reminded her,"'It is urgent that I have a word with you. It concerns the matter of mutual interest.'"

"Yes," she responded, "That's right. Major Siamendes. I did contact you, didn't I? My brother is dead. Mindo. He's dead. Everything is different."

"Yes, I realize that... I'm very sorry."

Again, this was old news, but I did not want to divert the flow of her thoughts.

Ms. Zhangsun furrowed her brow, "I don't know where Lily is."

"She is missing?" I, of course, had heard this from the Consulari.

"Lily is...she is one of ours. Apparently so since maybe four days. No one will tell me anything.... Oh! ARDRA." She looked at me, "That's right."

"Go on..." I prompted.

"She was here..someone was here. Do you know what the Colchester Directive is? You do know. Tell me. Tell me." She seemed confused.

This was not something I was prepared to discuss. So it was a moment before I answered. "Can you tell me what was the context?" I asked.

"It came first," she said looking as if she might cry, "Look, I took photos."

There was a black panel hanging on the glass wall. She slid the panel to the side revealing eight images. They showed the heighliner. Gold light pouring from the ship in some of the pictures.

"Where were these photos taken?" I asked.

"The work has continued," she said, "Inside....you can see there is an orbital insertion point. What is an orbital insertion point? Inside... there are ..look, the golden light. It goes to the sky. It goes to infinity. I followed it. I went in." She pointed to the picture on the bottom left, "See?"

She went inside?

"x0x0...," I said carefully, "what did you see?"

"It is activating. Look," she pointed to the sparks. "Look. Look." She pointed to the second photo on the bottom caressing it gently. She then pointed to the third image. "Look. That is where it stops."

"These photos...they are from Mu Draconis," I said. The image at the top showed the mark of the Marauders.

She touched another photo. "Here. I went inside." She looked up, "and I was supposed to tell you something..it was important.... what is the Colchester Directive?"

"How did you hear that term?" I pressed.

She touched the bottom left photo very lovingly. "I was here. Look."

She pointed to the second photo. "Look, it's attached to the outside. And here."

She indicated the third picture. "...close..and here..."

And then the fourth picture "..you can see..." She looked up again, "What is the Colchester Directive?" She stopped and stared silently.

"It is a protocol in place," I explained, "that directs Alliance officers to inform my office of any and all information related to.... Ardra."

I said Ardra. I did not say Project Aurotharius. It did not matter, not with a psychic in the room.

"Ardra is not the project. She is part of the project." She tilted her head and parroted words.

"No... she is not the project," I agreed.

"Ardra is not the project. She is part of the project," she repeated, "The work did not stop." She again pointed to the pictures.

"Yes ... she is part of the project," I replied. "Can you give me a copy of these photos?"

"A ..broken.... came...here... broken."

"One of the Arurda?" I asked. The term slipped out.

"'Pick me up'," she said, "Frail. Cody ....tried...terraforming."

"x0x0...you should rest." She was not well.

"You can have them..." she said. She meant the photographs.

"Thank you," I said sincerely.

"They are burned in..now." She looked very lost.

As I gathered up the pictures, she wandered into another room. I followed.

"Where do you think Lily would go?" I asked.

"Look," she said, "Lily carried this up here. It is very heavy. Tonnages heavy."

The object sat on a counter. It gave off a blue white glow. It was shaped like a spool or perhaps a lantern. Some sort of component. Possibly a fuel cell. I could see no markings.

She continued, "Lily is really a good ...Lily...It was not time and Mindo sent snakes like a plague." She grimaced for a moment as if she was in terrible pain, then just looked frail and pale again. "I am so glad you came to visit me," she said, "Will you come again?"

"Yes," I answered, "of course I will."

We walked back to the first room. She walked over to the wall and stood in front of four pictures.

"This is my daughter, AuroraBlue," she said, "My husband, Daniel. My mother... and Lily."

"Your family then," I replied smiling kindly.

"Yes," she smiled, staring at the photos. She stood there silently, tears streaming down her face.

"I will let you rest," I said finally.

Ms. Zhangsun smiled shyly and looked at the floor. "I'll see you to the door."

She accompanied me downstairs.

"Good evening," she said politely.

"By the way," I asked, "Have you seen Lynx?"

"I ...I don't think so."

"Very well."

"Be careful," she warned, "The snakes are..horrific."

"Thank you," I replied, "and take care."

As I walked away, the woman stood looking at her hands. I could hear her speaking, almost chanting, "Two by two..."