The Clinic

March 4 - Hale's Moon

"Buddha! What happened?"

Tillery was as shocked as I had been.

We stood before the stasis chamber that contained Lynx, in the clinic on Hale's Moon.

I explained. "From what I know he was with Lily when her ship was attacked by Reavers."

"With Lily?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied, "and it seems whoever attacked them was saving Lynx," I nodded to the other freezers, "and these others for...later."

"Oh god," he responded.

Someone had moved Lynx's stasis chamber. It was situated close to the back wall of the clinic, not with the other two units. I checked the readings. Everything within normal parameters.

"Where's Lily?" asked Tillery, "And how did he wind up with her?"

"I haven't seen her," I admitted, as I checked the seals and looked for damage to the unit.

His worried look deepened.

"She had a little crush on Lynx," I continued, "Something about him touching her foot."

Tillery let a small smile show. "Have to feel sorry for him with that. I've known Lily for years. She's.... unique."

I tilted my head, "Looking for the glass slipper perhaps... Lynx is quite charming."

Finding nothing amiss, with gentle steady pressure, I slid the freezer back to its original position next to the other units. I sighed heavily, then I suddenly noticed.

"Tillery....Tillery!!" I cried, "You're walking again!" I could not help but smile.

"I made that trip to Zenobia," he replied. "I'm still stiff, but mobile again."

"Well, just don't let them give you speed boosters or some such ..." I grinned, "It's good to see you walking. It's a good sign."

There was a voice from the doorway.

"Whoa.. 'scuse me folks." It was Cody Winterwolf.

"Hi, Cody," said Tillery. I did not greet him.

Cody looked in my direction and frowned. "Hey Till. What all's goin' on?" he asked.

"I heard a young friend of mine was in trouble," answered Tillery, "so I needed to get here."

"Oh..."

"Did you know Lynx?" asked Tillery.

"I heard there was stuff that was found," replied Cody, "Jai waved."

"She waved me too," reported Tillery.

"I met the kid a few times," replied Cody, "Sort of a snot nose."

Tillery's face hardened a little. I remained silent but my eyes narrowed in response.

"Why would you say that?" asked Tillery.

Cody shrugged, "Look the kid likes to ask personal questions. I don't like folks I don't know well, wantin' to know my business. I'm willin' to bet you don't much either."

I turned back to the stasis chamber as the men talked.

"Well," answered Tillery, "since we are basically his guardians, we're a little more relaxed."

"Maybe," added Cody.

"Is Deputy LilyBell in town?" I asked. The question behind the question was 'Is Lily okay?'

"Not this evenin'," answered Cody, "She's checkin' her ship... What's left of it."

I nodded, "Very well." She had been rescued then and was healthy enough to move around.

"Those the freezers?" he asked, pointing his chin toward the boxes.

"Yes, they are, " I replied. "Did you know these two? Wally Bendan and Meg Dandley?" I read the names from the ident-holos.

"Yeah," answered Cody, "I knew the feller... Wally's been stickin' to the edges of the asteroid field. Some of us been tryin' to get to stay closer in. Harder for Reavers to manouver. The other I don't know."

I nodded. "They were not the same crew then..."

"No," said Cody, "Wally worked with Earl and Jonesy. Couple of friends of his. They been trying to find a big strike out there in the black."

"When will the doctor be in?" I asked.

"Hel if I know," he replied, "She comes and goes. Most like makin' rounds again.

"...and who is the doctor here?"

Cody placed his hand on the nearest box. I had done the same thing earlier. It gave of a slight vibration, a delicate hum. Stasis chambers beg to be touched.

"Doc Danick," he replied, "Nice 'nough woman. Pretty."

"I'd like a doctor present when we open these units...." I said.

"Good idea," replied Tillery.

"...in case of complications."

"Yeah," agreed Cody.

"Tillery, perhaps we can go somewhere, sit down and talk." I turned to Cody. "Mr. Winterwolf... is there a diner in the neighborhood?"

"Yeah," he replied, "Fooks. I can show you where."

I nodded, "That would be fine."

Homeward

February 28 - Spinwheel City, Paquin

The squad car came to a gentle halt on the left side of the street.

I waved as Ceasar stepped out of the vehicle, his uniform neatly pressed, a perfect shine to his shoes.

"Pepper," he called.

We embraced. I clung to him tightly, and suddenly felt very tired, like a marathon swimmer finally reaching the shore.

Ceasar leaned back slightly to see me better. "You okay?"

"It's Lynx...." I began.

"What happened?" he asked, the concern showing in his voice.

The words poured out. "He had gone missing... we think we have found him... I'm on my way there now."

Ceasar paused, waiting for me to continue.

"Can we sit down somewhere?" I asked.

"Sure," he replied kindly, "Where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere...."

He thought for a moment. "C'mon, let's get into the car."

-----

He drove us across town and guided me to a small coffee shop in walking distance to the park. There was a chill in the air, so we elected to sit inside. A small table with a good view. We had the place to ourselves.

"Now tell me," he directed.

"Okay..." I began, "well, Lynx moved to Hale's Moon to go to school. He had been living on Al Raqis."

"Hale's for school?"

"Yes, Hale's," I replied, "I thought it was a reasonable choice as his earliest memory is from there. We still don't know where he is from."

"Not exactly known for schooling," he remarked, "Here or Londinium or Zenobia would be better."

I shrugged a little, "Yes, I know... I blame myself for not trying to redirect him. Anyway he made some friends, including Deputy LilyBell. She took a shine to him... well, that's not important now....

Ceasar raised an eyebrow.

"But she was recently abducted," I added, "and around that time Lynx went missing."

"Oh no," he said. He could see where this was going.

"I thought nothing of it at first," I explained, "Lily has gone off before. I assumed she had just run off. I sent a message to Lynx requesting he check in, but nothing... and I began to worry."

Ceasar reached across the table. I took his hand, drawing a steadiness from the touch. Muscular hands. Firm but not rough. Well shaped fingers. A strong thumb. And a memory of the night so long ago, when I put this hand over my heart.

"Where was I?" I asked in a small voice. "Right... no reply," I sighed, "Anyway... in the course of another investigation I found further...information that supported the theory that Lynx was with Lily and that she was taken somewhere.."

I paused to take a breath. Ceasar let me finish.

"Miranda," I said finally.

"Oh my god," he replied.

I continued, "I haven't told Tillery. I needed to know first ... what I would be telling him." It was Reaver territory after all. "Anyway... it seems that Lynx may be alive."

"On Miranda?"

"The Baronetess Raghilda was testing a new salvage scanner and found three stasis containers in a hollowed out asteroid. I am waiting to hear if they have moved the containers."

I expected to be informed at any time.

"Woodhen might already know," offered Ceasar, "He took off from here in a rush earlier today."

"He must be furious with me."

"You don't know that," he countered.

That's very true, I thought. "But if anything has happened to Lynx, I will never forgive myself."

Ceasar gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

I responded with a little smile. "As soon as he can be moved," I said, "I want to send him here to recover his strength."

"Should be no problem," he agreed, "especially if Woodhen vouches for him. You knew he's mayor here, right?

"He's one of the most powerful men in the 'Verse... Mayor must be like a hobby for him." I responded dryly.

Ceasar let out a short chuckle.

I felt better. Spending this time with Ceasar was helping me to regain my balance, to relax my grip on a matter that has been consuming me since Deshima.

"I hear you've been busy," I remarked, "Bank robbers?"

"Yes," replied Ceasar, "And the kidnapping."

"Yes... I received a copy of your interview with Ms. Zdychava."

"Good. Have you had a chance to talk to her?" he asked.

"Not yet," I replied, "she is a difficult woman to connect with."

"She travels quite a bit," he agreed.

"And it seems open war has come to Al Raqis."

"I've heard about that," he replied, "Not too surprised though."

"The factions are all picking sides... it's only a matter of time before I'm back there."

"Not too soon, I hope."

I shrugged and smiled. We both knew the life I had chosen.

Ceasar smiled back. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too."

"I wish I could help," he said, "I may be taking trip to Hale's myself, for the kidnapping case.

I nodded, "Any further leads on that?"

"Not yet."

I knew that one.

"Sometimes it is slow in coming," I said, "You think that a case has gone cold.... then there is a whisper on the breeze, like the scent of spring, and the hunt is on again."

"Yeah."

"Anyway...are you on duty now?" I asked.

"Just signed off when I heard you were landing."

"Oh good," I replied, "Can we head to your place? Maybe I can take a shower and grab a nap."

Ceasar started to grin.

"I'm really tired..." I warned.

"And maybe help you relax a bit," he added.

I chuckled, "Maybe."

-----

March 1 - Hale's Moon

The message from Consulari Raghilda had read as follows: **I will move the stasis boxes to the clinic dirtside.**

I rested my hand lightly on the stasis container. Warm lights illumined the night. Readouts murmured softly. A mechanical lullaby.

It was an old unit. I didn't want it moved without a technician looking at it first. And I didn't think it wise to wake Lynx without a doctor present. So here he would stay for now, in the clinic on Hale's Moon.

At least he was finally safe.

The Missing Lynx

February 27 - Miranda blockade

It was the Consulari, Jai Raghilda, who finally found Lynx. True to her roots as a salvage operator, she was testing a new scanner when she located the boy. The message was broken and came through in segments. As far as I could reconstruct, this was the message:

-----

Dear Major Siamendes,

I was testing a transponder scanner in the Trojan meteor field in the space near Hale's Moon. Inside of a hollowed out 64 meter rock near the top of the field was 5 stasis containers inside on of the hollowed out chambers. There was a lot of blood. One stasis chamber was empty except for bloodstains. Another contained body parts. There were 3 unopened chambers with people inside who appeared to be intact, one of them looks like Lynx.

I took these pictures at the scene. I was testing the new salvage scanner when I found this. I notified Tillery because he was in the system. I was unaware that you did not inform him that Lynx might be missing.

Kind regards,

Jai.

-----

Further, the Consulari identified the two other people as Pilot Meg Dandley, Miner Wally Bendan.

I sent a brief message asking her to move Lynx to safety and began the long journey homeward.

Deshima (Part Two)

February 15 - Deshima

Having found release in my tears, the storm of emotions had subsided. I now found myself in another part of the station. This section was home to a tavern called 'The Den'. Ironically, it was located above a night club called 'Blue Sun'.

The proprietor was a transgenic, canid in appearance, of the Vulpini sort.

I chose a corner booth to allow myself the space to analyze the situation and to plan my next move. The required alcohol purchase - a can of beer - sat unopened on the table, doomed to remain neglected.

So, what did we know?

1) Lily was missing. Taken by Reavers. Normally a non-issue. Ms. Zhangsun once told me that Lily had been raised by Reavers.

2) She was injured in the process. Cody Winterwolf found her severed ear on board her ship. Signs of a struggle.

3) Lily and Lynx have been socializing, if that is the word for it. They danced. He touched her foot. She was convinced, at least until recently, that they were to be married.

4) Lynx went missing around the same time as Lily. He has not returned calls. People have not seen him.

That was the limit of certainty.


Given their recent interactions and the accounts of Cody and the Consulari, it seemed probable that Lynx was with Lily when she was taken. I had little doubt that she would do everything she could to protect him from harm.

If he was with her.

If he was still alive.

The danger was not limited to Reavers, particularly if they were on board a Reaver ship. We still had a few patrol boats out Miranda way. A light cruiser on duty cleaning up Reaver stragglers. Blasting them out of the sky.

Too many 'ifs'.

I needed more information.

-----

I located an out of the way console behind an indoor garden where I could work undisturbed. It was a comforting place. I grew up on a farm.

My fingers danced across the keyboard. Piggy backing on a signal and using UAP encryption, I worked through the night.

The event had not gone unnoticed by our people. According to Alliance sources close to home, there was some suspicion that Lily is, or was, aboard an identified Reaver boat, but there was nothing firm at this point. While this revealed little new information, it did confirm Cody's story.

That left the blockading ships in the Miranda area.

There my search yielded more substantial results.

There was a report of a sighting of a Reaver ship with the name Lily written on it. The ship matched a description of a Reaver vessel sighted two years ago.

Useful and disturbing at the same time.

I sent the information where I thought it would do the most good. Coded and unsigned. If anyone tried to follow the signal back to its source, they would trace it to a water pump on a secondary hydroponic processor, lower level of Deshima Station.

Deshima (Part One)

Deshima. An independently run station on the fringes of populated space.

Located deep within a nebula, it is a difficult place to reach.

But that suited my purposes for I came here to meet someone.

Off the beaten track.

-----

February 15 - Deshima

The door to the theatre lobby opened with a hiss.

"Howdy."

I nodded, "Hello Cody."

"Been a while...." he said.

"Glad you could make it," I replied pleasantly.


Cody was wearing blue jeans, a grey armoured vest, side arm strapped to his leg. Sunglasses protected his eyes.

I was out of uniform. It was a deliberate decision, not so much to put him at ease, but as a precaution against anyone seeing Cody with an Alliance officer. Strangers would simply see a couple going to the movies.

"So where you want to.. talk?" he asked.

"In the theatre.."


"Okay," he replied, "After you..."

I handed my ticket to the auto attendant. Cody followed behind me and did the same.

As the inner door to the theatre proper closed behind us, I explained my choice of venue. "The movie will cover our voices.... for privacy sake."

Cody nodded and sat back on the grey sofa.

The theatre was of modest size. Still it could accommodate a small group of perhaps six to eight viewers. We had the room to ourselves.

The film flickered to life as we took our seats.

"I wanted to see if you have heard anything concerning the children," I began, "and to let you know what I have heard about Kitten."

"Okay...."

"Let me go first," I insisted, "since I was the one to ask you here."

Cody nodded for me to continue.

"I have a lead," I said, "about a genetics lab in the Wastelands..."

"Genetics?" he asked.

"...from what I know of you and your sister, it may yield some results."

Cody clenched his jaw.

"It was connected to a man named Mindo.... do you recognize that name?"

"Yeah," he replied, "I gone toe to toe with him."

"Okay, good," I said, "then I will pursue that angle. And what about you? Have you heard anything that might interest me?"

"Not on the twins, but suspect Lily's played with 'em. She's seen 'em..... I don't mean the eggs she's been carin' for either."

Eggs? I nodded. "How many eggs does she have?"

"She has two eggs from the old Easter hunt. Two."

"Ah, Easter eggs," I chuckled, "I thought you meant something else."

"The bio genetic stuff? No."

"What about drones?" I asked

He regarded me for a moment. "Drones? Depends on the kind you mean..."

I explained, "I understand that you had a run in recently.... with a drone belonging to Ardra Aurotharius."

Cody paused for a few seconds. "Yeah," he replied, "Can't say it was a run in....More like seein' what all was wrong. It was all beat up."

"Broken you say?"

"More like damaged," he replied, "It was in pretty bad shape."

"Tell me what happened."

Cody leaned back and looked at the movie screen. "Hmm, it said somethin' 'bout it was comin' to get the program from the host."

"The host!" I said suddenly. That was a surprise.

Cody nodded, "Thin' is it was already gone."

"Do you think it meant Lily?" I asked.

"I got a feelin' it did," he answered, "but it said the program got activated again. Not sure what all that meant. I think this was b'fore the incident with Lily."

Curious. I frowned turning the information over and over.

Meanwhile, the actors in the movie carried on with their own drama in a graveyard of sorts.

"Ardra hurt Lily," I said almost absently, "and she may have the twins."

Cody looked at me. "I don't doubt it," he agreed, "Ardra caused a lot of hurt."

"Tell me more about this drone," I pressed, "Even the most insignificant detail..."

"What," he cocked his head, "you want a runnin' commentary?"

"Whatever information you can provide may be helpful," I said, "These drones are launched from somewhere. Everything leaves a trace."

He frowned, "Fine.....It showed up by the shuttles but on the lower level. Bram was usin' his new scope and said it was there. I went to check it out. Said it was damaged and waitin' for extraction."

"It was there to get the program from the host," I repeated, "...so it was a retrieval drone."

Cody shrugged, "Yeah."

"Did it find anything close to what it was looking for?"

"No. It said somethin' 'bout Project Aurotharius bin' reactivated."

"What did it look like?"

"Was a silver skin female lookin' chassis. Had shorts and a tank on."

"Silver?" I mused. A new colour. "Do you have an image?" I asked, "A security cam capture perhaps... you were a deputy on Hale's."

"Yeah.. or grey. Was too bright out that day. Said it was a drone program extracted by Blue Sun."

"By Blue Sun?" File that for later, I thought.

Cody frowned then carefully pulls out a picture from his kit.

I reached over and accepted the photograph, "Thank you Cody." Again it was dressed in Audrey's style of clothes. Suspended at an odd angle. It looked like a ghost.

He nodded by way of reply.

"What happened to the drone?" I asked.

"It was wanderin' 'round then went into the wastes. It had a temp shutdown.. Was over heatin'."

"Go on."

"Then it said it'd wait where it was for extraction.... then did a data extraction."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"It did a verbal data dump... like went on over the convo we had."

"So where is it now?"

"I don't rightly know," he replied, "When I went back later it was gone. Was gonna bring Lily over to check on it, but nada. Nothin' there."

I ran the tip of my finger along the edge of the photograph. "Okay... this has been helpful. Thank you."

Another puzzle piece.

Cody nodded.

On the screen, a policeman asked his partner: "....How are we going to kill somebody that's already dead?..."

"I will let you know what I find out in the Wastelands," I added.

"You got folks checkin' there now?" he asked, "You know..... Ain't seen Lily for near a week now.... She's gone missin'."

"Do you think she might be there?"

"No...," he replied, "I think she might be somewhere no one's been in a long while....."

"What do you think happened to her? She has run off before."

Cody paused to think. "She got taken....... I have a place, but no one can access it without maybe gettin' on a dinner menu...."

"Go on," I prompted.

Cody rubbed his chin, "'Liance most like has the outer rim of the moon restricted..... "

"I see. What would you like me to do?" I asked directly.

"You thinkin' of goin' to Miranda then?" he asked.

"You think she went to Miranda?"

"Maybe got taken there," he replied.

I caught my breath. "By whom?" I asked.

Cody smiled faintly, "Don't know.... But your folks might....."

My mind was racing. What if Lynx was with her?

A Colonel in the movie remarked, "And it's my guess that she'll look like him." He indicated a skeleton lying on the ground, "With the ship and the ray gun gone, they have no control..."

"I'll see what I can find out," I said carefully, "Traffic logs maybe...Do you have anything else to go on?"

"Might help," he said, "I was asked by the Mayor.. her Ma.. to look for Lily. A big ship come in and maybe swallowed the smaller Reaver ship what were attackin' hers."

"Very well. I will see what I can find out.... What about this big ship? Any markings? Description?"

"Didn't see it on the feeds," he replied, "Heard it though."

"Where was she last seen?" I asked.

"On her ship stuck in the asteroid field," he went on to explain, "We went up to salvage what we thought was a small derelict..... was hers...."

"Okay."

"...down to the ear what was cut from her," he added, clenching his jaw tightly.

"An ear!" I exclaimed.

I asked the question. I feared the answer.

"Was she alone?"

"Don't know.. We think a kid was with her.... Lynx....."

My heart was pounding in my ears.

A man in the movie was making his closing remarks, "...Can you prove that it didn't happen?..."

I heard another voice. It was my voice. "Okay," said the voice.

"...We ain't seen the kid since."

I stood up.

"Send me everything you have," I directed, "I'll be in touch."

"Okay..." he replied.

"Thank you Cody," I managed to say. I turned and walked purposefully to the exit.

-----

The door from the theatre was still closing by the time I reached the next junction.

I walked. Through Deshima Station. Down corridors. Across platforms.

Agonizing over the fate of young Lynx.

I kept walking, fighting the swirl of emotions, the flurry of thoughts.

Until at last I could walk no more. I leaned back against the bulkhead and wept.

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

-----

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'.

-----

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..."

Woman of the Blue Sun (Part One)

February 3 - Hale's Moon

-----

We left Applecado and walked along beside the corporate offices that sat at the edge of the landing pad.

"Blue Sun," remarked Lynx, "The Zhangsun woman works next door to Miss Rhea's business?"

"And next to Consolidated," I added.

"I see," he replied.

Aurora was nowhere to be seen. As we stood trying to decide which direction to explore, I noticed movement inside one of the offices. Through the glass wall, I could see a red-haired woman coming down the stairs in the offices of Blue Sun.

She wore a simple brown dress with high cut boots. A large calibre weapon on her back. Canisters of flammable material strapped on her hip. If not exactly dressed to kill, then at least dressed for serious defensive action.

"Hello Ms. Zhangsun," I greeted her.

Lynx politely remained outside the office.

"I didn't know anyone was down here," replied the woman, "I was...I stay up above now that ..well. Anyway. Yes. Hello."

"A pleasure to see you once again," I said politely.

"Yes.." Ms. Zhangsun smile.

"Have you met my ward, Lynx?"

"I trust you are well?" she asked.

"Yes, thank you."

"No, but I have heard about him." She smiled at Lynx.

Lynx looked at her, not sure what to say.

"I don't think we've met, have we?" she asked.

"Actually we have," he replied, still standing by the door.

"We were just with Aurora," I explained, "She seems to have run off."

Ms. Zhangsun suddenly looked concerned, "You ...didn't refer to her as Aurora I hope."

"Aurora Blue, Lily's cub," I replied.

"Yes," replied Ms. Zhangsun, "She is rather insistent that she be referred to by her original name, Aurora Blue, even though Cody calls her Anna".

Ah, I thought, that explained her pointing and naming game.

"Anna?" asked Lynx.

"Like nobody can tell she ain't..quite...well. Anyway. What brings you to this fine moon? And not in uniform. Pleasure trip?"

"I am here to see how Lynx has settled in," I replied, "and to clear up a little problem."

"Problem?" she asked, "There's enough of those around."

Lynx looked a little embarrassed.

I continued, "I am not here in an official capacity. It seems that Lily has interpreted one dance with Lynx as a marriage proposal."

"Well, as long as he didn't touch her foot, should be fine," smiled the woman, "Part of her wiring."

"Um," Lynx began, "There was a situation."

"A situation? What kind of situation?" she asked.

"She caught her foot in a a large trap," explained Lynx, "I managed to free her."

I interrupted, "Regardless, Lynx is too young for marriage...even here on the Rim."

Ms. Zhangsun pressed on, "She caught her foot in a trap. Lily caught a foot in a trap. Let me guess. It was on her own ship."

"Yes," replied Lynx.

"She didn't ask you to help her," she said clarifying the details, "You jumped to her rescue and touched her foot in the process."

"I was able to open the trap," said the boy.

"And you think Lily needed you to open a trap."

"Was there something wrong with getter her foot free?" asked Lynx.

It was a fair question, I thought, from a gallant young man.

Ms. Zhangsun looked at me and paused for a long time, "Not sure how to put this....."

"Go on," I prompted.

Lynx looked worried.

"She let you do it," said Ms. Zhangsun, "Didn't try to bite you or claw you up or nothin'."

"She bit my shoulder a week ago," he replied.

Ms. Zhangsun took a deep breath. "You're married," she said, "Well, mated anyway."

"Excuse me?" asked Lynx, "It was bruised."

"He's fifteen," I interjected.

"He touched her foot," replied Ms. Zhangsun.

Lynx opened his mouth then turned bright red.

"He's underage," I protested.

"Not here he ain't," countered the woman, "Considerin' Lily is only three and a half...."

Lynx grew quiet.

Ms. Zhangsun sighed, "The foot."

"Well, we can take this up with Lily's mother," I said firmly.

"See, my brother had a sense of humour," explained the woman, "Her foot is her..uh..." She blushed.

"If this is still a problem," I added, "there is always the option of pulling him out of school."

"The boy here has had his way with her, Pepper," replied the woman.

Lynx grew wide eyed. "OH!" he cried, "I swear to you Major I had no idea!"

Ms. Zhangsun continued, "Now I understand he..sorry," she looked directly at Lynx, "you didn't know."

Lynx was visibly upset, "I mean, I didn't know how to..."

"It wasn't your intent.." she said, "although I do wonder what you were doing dancing with her midday over in a bar if you weren't a little bit lookin' to court her. I ain't seen her dance with a man since.. well, she was fond of the sheriff here...but...that's never going to happen."

"She asked me to," protested Lynx, "I thought there was no harm in one dance. Cindal often danced."

"Dancing is considered an art form in the Core," I added.

Ms. Zhangsun looked at me, "This ain't the Core"".

"No. No, it is not."

"So," she continued, "son I'm guessin' you want to get out of this situation."

Lynx looked genuinely at a loss. He did not seem to realize that Ms. Zhangsun had just offered him an opening.

I addressed him, "Well, speak up... "

"I don't want to cause any problems or have anyone hurt," he pleaded, "I'm sorry for making such and incredible mess."

"That ain't what I asked you," Ms. Zhangsun looked at him, "You want out of this situation? or you want in"

"Once you are old enough." I reminded him.

"How could I...?" he cried, "I admit I am frightened of her."

"Just answer the question boy," pressed Ms. Zhangsun.

"I don't think I'm ready for the responsibility," he said finally, "Cubs?"

"She talkin' about cubs?" Ms. Zhangsun walked to her desk and quickly looks something up on her computer.

"Um, yes," said Lynx.

"I can't put too fine a point on this," she began, "but..Lily ain't got any idea how cubs get here."

"I only know from what I've read in science medical books," admitted Lynx.

The woman elaborated, "That little one of hers? Computer generated, organically seeded, long story. But it ain't like your Mama had you is what I'm sayin'. Aurora Blue is mo... well that's neither here nor there."

"I... don't know my mother," said Lynx and he looked up at me.

Ms. Zhangsun looked at the picture on her desk "Nor I mine."

I took up the cause once again, "Regardless, the boy wants out of this arrangement..that frankly was imposed on him."

Ms. Zhangsun finished her point, "Far as Lily is concerned, cubs come from Easter eggs, if you get my meanin'?"

"Yes," answered Lynx.

"I can arrange it," said Ms. Zhangsun, "Means you'll have to fight a duel. I'll find someone to challenge."

Lynx and I cried out in unison, "Duel?"

"I ain't going to see Lily embarrassed," insisted Ms. Zhangsun, "You want out, I'll arrange it...."

"Me?" asked Lynx.

"...but it is going to require you to duel."

"And I don't want Lynx harmed," I cautioned.

Ms. Zhangsun turned in my direction ever so slightly and ever so wickedly winked.

"You gonna have to duel, boy," she said, "to the death."

I frowned. Where was she going with this?

"You kill the challenger, you're free." declared Ms. Zhangsun. She may have been trying not to laugh.

A frightened look flashed across Lynx's face, which he quickly hid.

Ms. Zhangsun continued, "Lily's been married over ten times. Tomorrow she'll be married to someone else...or would have been if you hadn't touched her foot. But you be on your way. Don't you worry about her. Ain't like she has feelings or a future anyway. She ain't even hardly real."

"I'm afraid she'll cut me to ribbons," admitted Lynx.

The woman shook her head.

I watched the interaction, listening carefully.

"She ain't likely to do that," added Ms. Zhangsun, "Not now."

"Alright," said Lynx.

"Only three people ever been near that girl's feet. Cody when he had to turn off her functionality, emergency. Gallagher....she offered, but he walked away. And you. So I reckon you are pretty special, and I don't see her cuttin' or slicin' on you, regardless." She concluded, "Go on, now I want a word with Pepper."

Lynx looked in my direction.

"It will be okay Lynx," I said.

He nodded and walked outside.

"I'm so sorry," began Ms. Zhangsun, "I thought you saw me wink the first time."

"It's fine," I replied.

"I was just winding him up," she admitted, "see how he handles himself. Must admit, I'm impressed."

"He has hidden strengths," I acknowledged.

Outside the office, Lynx leaned against a large yellow cargo container and looked off across the landing field.

I watched him silently as Ms. Zhangsun continued.

"But it's true about the foot," she said, "I can invalidate the connection but..I'm afraid as far as she is concerned, she just chose her husband. And there ain't nothin' I can do about that. It ain't likely she'll be takin' after another."

"Well," I said finally, "it will just have to be part of her learning curve."

Ms. Zhangsun nodded, "Just afraid what it will teach her..."