Sentients of Orion by Marianne de Pierres

Author:Marianne de Pierres [Pierres Marianne de]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781504048897
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2017-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Bethany was waiting just inside the biozoon’s egress scale. She flung herself upon Thales and clung to him.

Conscious of Tekton’s presence, Thales tried to hold her away at a distance. But she would not be deterred.

He leaned back to peer down at her face. ‘Bethany, this is Godhead Tekton, a tyro to the Entity on Belle-Monde.’

But Bethany either did not hear him or would not heed him. She raised her head and stared at him with tear-swollen eyes. ‘Thales, the Extros have taken the Baronessa. Randall left us at the markets on the docks. We—we knew it wasn’t safe so we started to head back here to Insignia. But they overran us—a bunch of siphonophores—I tried to grab her hand but it was like a wall between us. And when they’d gone, so was she. The biozoon let me on board, but it’s distressed—can’t you hear it?’

Thales listened. The creature’s normally dull internal noises were sharper, the way it sounded when its system was altering pattern.

‘I think she must have been taken off Rho Junction. The biozoon is getting ready to leave. What should we do? Should we get off? Josef hasn’t returned yet.’

‘You’re the only one here?’

‘Yes.’ Bethany finally glanced at Tekton. ‘Pardon me, Godhead, but our... friend has—’

‘Yes, yes,’ said the Godhead, speaking quickly. ‘Tragic and worrying. May I offer a quick alternative?’

‘Y-yes,’ stammered Beth. She glanced at Thales for his agreement. ‘I guess so.’

‘Msr Berniere has apprised me briefly of your situation and I find myself in a position to offer some help. Not for the Baronessa, I’m afraid, but for you. I would offer you lodgings on a luxury ship and conveyance to Akouedo. And before you ask why, let me say that I am appalled at Msr Berniere’s circumstances, so it seems the least I can do. The cost is incidental to me. However, time is crucial. It seems this biozoon has imminent plans to follow its Innate and, as you will understand, Thales, I have the need to avoid station sec. I do not wish to get caught up in untidy or prolonged investigations. There is a liner leaving within the half-hour and I have booked passage on it. It departs from the dock opposite this one.’

‘I don’t know that—’ Bethany began to refuse but Thales grabbed her hand.

‘Bethany, come with me,’ he said.

‘But what about Lasper?’ she said.

Thales held up the gene gun. ‘I have the DNA here. Surely Lasper will accept that and will provide me with the bacterium antidote.’

Some of the worry lines eased from Bethany’s face. ‘You didn’t have the injection?’

‘No.’ He smiled. ‘It will take time to tell the events as they happened but Godhead Tekton has made a generous offer, Beth. I want to take it.’

‘But the Baronessa?’

‘I am concerned for her too but the mercenaries will see to her safety,’ he soothed. ‘What could we do anyway?’

‘And Josef?’

Thales frowned. ‘Whose company would you prefer to be in—mine or his?’

Bethany chewed her lip in indecision. ‘It’s just that I owe Josef a debt of sorts.

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