MIRA.
According to farcast bulletins, the Dowl res station is still open. Do you wish to shift directly there, Mira?
Si. This time it was she and Nova who replied simultaneously. Novas response was less a formed thought, more a sense of agreement.
It is probably best, Insignia conceded. Many of the stations are disabled, or in the process of disabling. We may be caught somewhere we have no wish to be. There is news of Post-Species presence in Mintaka. And there is something else.
Si?
The relevance of this information is dubious, but it has been reported that the Sole Ent.i.ty has disappeared.
Mira found herself unexpectedly disturbed by the news. March.e.l.la Pellegrini-Trins rebel aunt-had wanted Mira to become a tyro to the Ent.i.ty, had seen it as a way to help the women of Araldis escape their repression by learning how to reverse the Latino male control over fertility. To that end, Mira had harboured a wish to secure a place of study among the brightest minds in the galaxy. And now it was too late.
But what had it all been for? she wondered. Why did the Ent.i.ty make contact with us? And what had it gained, or lost, that it chose to leave now?
Mira wasnt even sure why she thought it looked to gain anything. Perhaps Josef Rasterovichs conversations with Rast Randall had influenced her thinking.
That thought brought back sharp memories of the pair. Were they alive? Insignia had abandoned them aboard the Post-Species ship which had left Extro s.p.a.ce along with the Geni-carriers.
I have set shift. Insignia interrupted her musings. Now tell me, how do we ensure our safety?
You said that you had a history of trade with the Post-Species.
Yes. That is so. They trust us in that capacity. But we have nothing to trade.
Tell them we have one of their own. One who is ailing, and requires Non-Corporeal healing. Mira pondered for several moments. And I want you to broadcast our signature as we shift.
A full ident.i.ty "cast?
Perhaps the survivors will hear.
They are on the run.
It is still possible, thought Mira, stubbornly.
And if they do?
I would give them hope.
This is a foolish notion, Mira. Have the pregnancy changes within your body affected your mind? Even more?
Insignia left the latter part unsaid, but implicit.
Mira refused to let the biozoons opinion discourage her. I survived outside the Hub in the Bare World. I was there, in a place you could reach me, when you came.
But we have a telepathic bond. Its quite different.
Vito is down there. And the korm. And Ca.s.s Mulravey. I will find them. Her stubbornness rose again.
Those names mean little to me.
Mira flinched at Insignias deliberate provocation.
Then an infusion of warmth started in Miras head and flowed through her body, easing the tension between them. A sensation that didnt come from the biozoon.
Nova?
She could hear Insignia talking to her child. The one-sidedness of the conversation-Insignias side-made it hard to follow, but it seemed that Nova was mediating their argument in some way.
Mira sent a wistful thought to her child. Why cant you talk to me?
Can-Mira. Take-time-you. Biozoon-simple.
Nova!
Will-better.
Mira dwelt in a moment of sheer pleasure. She and her child could communicate telepathically. It was something that shed never antic.i.p.ated. Nova, please, call me Mama.
Mama. Nova repeated the thought.
A swell of something powerful swept through Mira. I would prefer it-for a while, at least.
Si-Mama.
Insignia joined their conversation. We will shift soon. Are you ready, Mira? Whatever happens once we are there, Novas safety is my priority.
On some level Mira found herself smiling. Insignia could be stubborn and sometimes omitted information, but she never flinched from stating the truth. Never.
Never, what? Insignia asked.
Nothing. I am ready. Novas safety comes first, but I will decide my own actions.
The biozoons resignation to the latter notion was palpable.
As the colours and layers of shift vibration began to engulf her, Mira bathed in a joy and comfort shed not felt for too long. Had thought she would never feel again. Family.
That moment was something she struggled to hold on to as they shifted into a nightmare.
Geni-carriers circled Dowl station and Araldis like predators, their buffers up against the debris from the ships theyd destroyed.
Fewer escaped than I antic.i.p.ated, Insignia remarked.
If Mira had not been submerged in Primo, she would have been sick. As it was, the biozoons nano-membrane adjusted her electrolyte balance and released an antispasmodic into her system to counteract the shock. Had we not had the benefit of imperfect shift, that could have been us. We could be those fragments of... of...
She began to sob. Not in any physical way, but in her mind, a completely sorrowful utterance triggered by the sight of the ruined ships and tiny bodies strewn about shift s.p.a.ce.
Pitiless. The Post-Species are pitiless. Her mind dwelt on that while Insignia adopted a weaving pattern of sublight movement. Much of the debris was caught in the spheres gravity, making entry and exit trajectories hazardous.
The Post-Species have contacted me. They wish us to cancel our signature broadcast, or they will renege on our arrivals permission.
Apologise to them and cease "casting.
They wish to know more about Wanton.
Tell them that Wanton held the t.i.tle Highness Most Capable of Cultivation: Tissue on the Hub world.
Mira- Please. Mira cut short the biozoons scolding. This has been agreed between us. I would come back here and try. After this, you decide.
Insignia made a disgruntled sound. If there is an "after this.
Mira left the buccal and took Nova to her cabin. The Primo vein had tended to all the babys nutritional needs as theyd travelled, and dealt with her wastes, just as it had done with Miras. Now, while they waited for the Post-Species answer, she had a little time to practise motherhood. She must find something absorbent to wrap Nova in, and feed her. Miras b.r.e.a.s.t.s, though heavy, were not dangerously engorged. Primo had gently ma.s.saged and drained milk from her to keep them healthy and functioning.
As she entered, her gaze fell straight on Wanton.
"Wanton?
Other than the faintest quiver, the Extro gave no response.
She sighed and shifted it gently to make s.p.a.ce for Nova, careful not to touch the remaining mycose blisters. Then she laid her baby on the bed and gazed at her.
It was the first time since Novas birth that she had been able to sit and look at her, and she could see changes already. Her face seemed less wizened, her cheeks plumper and limbs stronger-looking. Her skin, though, was still translucent. Amazingly, in a few days shed developed some neck control, and was rolling her head from side to side, looking around with bright eyes.
Mira was sure that "esque babies normally took weeks to develop that kind of strength. She ran her fingers lovingly across Novas naked stomach, and the baby kicked her legs. Her little mouth opened wide.
You can do things already. More than I expected.
Si-Mama.
I know a little of babies, Nova. But you are different. I will have to learn. Speaking to her child in such a way seemed impossible, and yet perfectly natural. Instinct told her that little about Nova would be like a normal child. Wanton had admitted that in-vitro experimentation had occurred while shed been captive on the Hub planet. Was her baby in some way like the Post-Species?
Novas grey-blue eyes watched her with intelligent interest. The level of comprehension in the babys expression was almost too strange to bear.
Mira-worry?
Mira shook her head and brushed her lips against Novas stomach, tickling her. Nova kicked her tiny legs again and made an ecstatic noise.
They played for a brief and precious time until a strong thought entered Miras mind: Hungry, Mama.
O-of course. She parted her robe and picked Nova up, lifting her against her chest. The infant latched on with little fuss and began to suck. It hurt for a time, but as if sensing her mothers discomfort, she softened her grip until the milk flowed and the pain had gone, replaced by the hypnotic relaxation of feeding.
Satisfaction and joy filled Miras mind, pushing aside everything else. For now.
JO-JO.
Randall was waiting for him in the doorway. In the moonlight he could see her excitement. Catchut was on his feet too, standing close behind her.
"Crux, Rasterovich! she said. "You bin on a holiday?
He pulled a face and slung the cord holding the com-sole off his shoulder. "I found somethin.
"Me too! Bet mines bigger. It was a dumb thing to say, and she burst into laughter. "Whatcha got there?
"Portable com-sole. Least it will be, when we can get it working.
"You mean we can hear whats going on up there?
"Hope so.
She took it from him and headed back inside.
Jo-Jo followed her, bemused by her quick change of focus. Catchut slapped a tube of something liquid in his hand as he walked past.
"Salut. Jo-Jo nodded gratefully and put it to his lips. It was sweet and creamy, and tasted like jam.
By the time hed followed Randall to the windowless room theyd taken to using during the day, hed finished the tube and felt revived from his climb to and from the studium. Coming back had been easier, but slower; the moons were up, and hed had to use even greater caution. Just the weight of the com-sole had exhausted his still-weak muscles. Theyd spent only a few weeks in Mediums stasis goo, and yet their bodies had withered in it.
"What did you find? Jo-Jo prompted Randall.
Her head was already bent over the com-sole as she fingered the device. "Should work. Seems intact. She stuck her tongue in the corner of her mouth as she concentrated, fitting the device to the rooms power adapter and pressing the frequency seek. "Should be power enough in the solar storage unit for this.
Jo-Jo watched the icons blinking as the com-sole calibrated and tried again. "You said you found something too.
"Mebbe.
"Dont play games, he said, not in the mood for it.
She grinned at him again, in a loose unhinged kind of way. Their imprisonment on Medium had f.u.c.ked up her head, he thought. Shed changed in a way that he couldnt quite pinpoint.
"I found us an AiV, she said finally. "Looks to be working. Wont really know till we power up. Powering up means the Saqr will know were here. Best we go at next nightfall.
"Capo? said Catchut. "You sure?
"No. She pressed the seek function again. "But its better than starvin to death sittin around here.
"But wherell we go? Catchut sounded uneasy.
"The islands. Where the refugees went.
"Where we think they went. They might all be dead. Or still down a mine shaft somewhere. I mean, we could starve out there as well. Catchut glanced at Jo-Jo.
It was the first time the man had looked for his support.
"We might only get one chance in the air. Lets listen to the com-sole for a day or two. See if we can pick up anythin, said Jo-Jo.
"What if the Saqr come and trash the flyer? What if its the only one left on the mountain? she countered.
"If its intact now, chances are it will be in a few days too.