team as they went about their business, and try to break into their shipʼs system.
“And why you needed me to switch off the handheld and helmet, in case it has already breached our systems.” He tapped the handheld rhythmically in his palm.
She nodded. “There may be some device inside me, too. I donʼt know either way, but I was operated on enough.” It was the only thing she could think of to let him know that she shouldnʼt be trusted with access to their systems. Sazo might not be able to hear her now, but if she was given a password or a device with some access to the Grih ship, he could use the lenses and speakers to hear and see exactly what she did. Sheʼd be the means of breaking in, even if she didnʼt want to be.
Captain Jallan quirked his lips. “Donʼt worry, we arenʼt in the habit of giving oranges easy access to our system.”
She frowned. “Oranges?”
He jerked, as if heʼd made a slip, and then looked down, toed the strange, frilly grass with his boot. Cleared his throat. “I apologize. Itʼs become a catch-phrase for unidentified sentient beings to the Grih. You show up on our system as orange when we do a scan for life-forms.”
“Ah.” She watched him, interested, as he looked up again. He hadnʼt blushed, but his expression was contrite. “Tell me, Captain Jallan, what becomes of oranges like me? Is there a place for us in Grih society?”
He stared at her. “You would want to stay with us?”
She shrugged. “Where else would I stay? Certainly not with the Tecran.”
“We could take you back home. If itʼs possible.”
It would be suspicious, she knew, if she was too adamant that they wouldnʼt be able to get her home, so she nodded. “If itʼs possible.”
“You donʼt think it will be?”
“I would rather not lead anyone to my planet. So if that means never going home, so be it.”
“As I said, it will be in the Class 5ʼs systems. If the Class 5 could grab you from there, it can take you back.”
She knew it couldnʼt, even though it felt as if someone was twisting a knife into her heart at the thought she would never see her family again.
She said nothing.
They had gone far enough, and she had warned him as much as she could without breaking her word to Sazo. She turned, and started back.
For the first time, Captain Jallan reached out and touched her, gripping her arm. “If we canʼt get you home, you would very much have a place in Grih society, Rose.”
She gave a jerky nod. And hoped he didnʼt live to regret those words.
9
T he runner landed just as they arrived back.
Dav was sorry to see it, even if he didnʼt have a moment to lose in getting back to the Barrist . Heʼd turned his handheld back on when theyʼd started back, and although Kila hadnʼt ask him why heʼd switched it off to begin with, he could almost feel her curiosity pulsing over the comm link.
It was standard procedure for the exploration officer to monitor communications, but Dav found himself chafing under the requirement.
Rose said nothing more. Sheʼd needed every scrap of breath to walk back, but he also sensed a state of deep introspection. She hadnʼt noticed the guards, had barely acknowledged him, either, keeping her head down most of the time, and putting one foot in front of the other.
When he realized he wanted to hear her speak again, wanted to engage her in conversation just to hear the melody of her voice, so different to the harsh, clipped tone of his own people, he forced himself to keep his mouth shut.
When heʼd suggested he call for a vehicle to take them back, so she didnʼt need to tire herself, sheʼd shaken her head.
“Need this,” sheʼd told him. “Who knows when Iʼll get to walk on grass again?”
He didnʼt answer that, because he didnʼt know himself.
There would be questions from his superiors. From the United Council, as well. A tribunal into the Tecranʼs actions for sure.
All of that would take time, and it might be a while before she could
“And why you needed me to switch off the handheld and helmet, in case it has already breached our systems.” He tapped the handheld rhythmically in his palm.
She nodded. “There may be some device inside me, too. I donʼt know either way, but I was operated on enough.” It was the only thing she could think of to let him know that she shouldnʼt be trusted with access to their systems. Sazo might not be able to hear her now, but if she was given a password or a device with some access to the Grih ship, he could use the lenses and speakers to hear and see exactly what she did. Sheʼd be the means of breaking in, even if she didnʼt want to be.
Captain Jallan quirked his lips. “Donʼt worry, we arenʼt in the habit of giving oranges easy access to our system.”
She frowned. “Oranges?”
He jerked, as if heʼd made a slip, and then looked down, toed the strange, frilly grass with his boot. Cleared his throat. “I apologize. Itʼs become a catch-phrase for unidentified sentient beings to the Grih. You show up on our system as orange when we do a scan for life-forms.”
“Ah.” She watched him, interested, as he looked up again. He hadnʼt blushed, but his expression was contrite. “Tell me, Captain Jallan, what becomes of oranges like me? Is there a place for us in Grih society?”
He stared at her. “You would want to stay with us?”
She shrugged. “Where else would I stay? Certainly not with the Tecran.”
“We could take you back home. If itʼs possible.”
It would be suspicious, she knew, if she was too adamant that they wouldnʼt be able to get her home, so she nodded. “If itʼs possible.”
“You donʼt think it will be?”
“I would rather not lead anyone to my planet. So if that means never going home, so be it.”
“As I said, it will be in the Class 5ʼs systems. If the Class 5 could grab you from there, it can take you back.”
She knew it couldnʼt, even though it felt as if someone was twisting a knife into her heart at the thought she would never see her family again.
She said nothing.
They had gone far enough, and she had warned him as much as she could without breaking her word to Sazo. She turned, and started back.
For the first time, Captain Jallan reached out and touched her, gripping her arm. “If we canʼt get you home, you would very much have a place in Grih society, Rose.”
She gave a jerky nod. And hoped he didnʼt live to regret those words.
9
T he runner landed just as they arrived back.
Dav was sorry to see it, even if he didnʼt have a moment to lose in getting back to the Barrist . Heʼd turned his handheld back on when theyʼd started back, and although Kila hadnʼt ask him why heʼd switched it off to begin with, he could almost feel her curiosity pulsing over the comm link.
It was standard procedure for the exploration officer to monitor communications, but Dav found himself chafing under the requirement.
Rose said nothing more. Sheʼd needed every scrap of breath to walk back, but he also sensed a state of deep introspection. She hadnʼt noticed the guards, had barely acknowledged him, either, keeping her head down most of the time, and putting one foot in front of the other.
When he realized he wanted to hear her speak again, wanted to engage her in conversation just to hear the melody of her voice, so different to the harsh, clipped tone of his own people, he forced himself to keep his mouth shut.
When heʼd suggested he call for a vehicle to take them back, so she didnʼt need to tire herself, sheʼd shaken her head.
“Need this,” sheʼd told him. “Who knows when Iʼll get to walk on grass again?”
He didnʼt answer that, because he didnʼt know himself.
There would be questions from his superiors. From the United Council, as well. A tribunal into the Tecranʼs actions for sure.
All of that would take time, and it might be a while before she could
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