Hi Mom, this chapter is the last chapter I wrote in the Reclaimer story. I went back, and redrafted it to get a feel for where I left off.
Anil slammed his phone down in frustration. “Careful,” Rodney warned him. “Or you’re going to have to by a new phone as well as that pie.” He nodded toward Casandra who was holding a pink box with a white bow in her lap. Tony sat next to her enjoying a pie of his own. Given that Tony’s pie was made from local produce, his cost considerably less. Her pie had not really cost half of Anil’s ship, but the price was breathtaking all the same.
“What’s the problem?” Tony asked Anil around a mouth full of gooey sugar. “You wansome?”
“I will pass,” Anil said turning to look out the window. Clearly his mind was still on his ship. “The registry is all wrong,” he said to no one in particular. “Even if I get to her, I’m not sure they would turn her over to me.”
Rodney thought about it. “Who would be able to pull that off?” Anil had gotten out of custody faster than anyone Rodney had ever seen.
“No one,” Anil replied, “or at least that’s what I thought. This is… concerning.”
He turned to look at Rodney, “Could your AI sponsor have done it?”
Rodney considered. “Technically, but why bother? He has us. He doesn’t need a ship.”
“But apparently someone else does. Anil,” Rodney leaned back. “Who else is chasing Stakine? Where did he go?”
Anil kept looking out the window. “I don’t know…” he turned to look at Rodney, “But I suspect a lot of people.”
“Where did he go?” Rodney asked. “You could save us all a lot of trouble if you shared that?”
Anil shook his head. “I don’t know where he went…”
“Bullshit,” Rodney fired back.
“But I knew where he left from. That’s where I was headed when the Orbital Licensing Agency seized my ship.”
“You were retracing his steps?”
Anil nodded. “I figured if I could track down where he was, I could piece together where he went.”
“So where exactly was it that you were you trying to jump?”
“The mining colony on Burnett-Davis”
Rodney thought about it. Burnett-Davis, is an extremely rough place. “That’s not the kind of place you take your family,” Rodney said.
Anil shrugged. “Stakine didn’t go there, Conacher did. Tim made it there and back. I want to know why he went.”
“What did he find Rashad?” Rodney asked. “What is Conacher get Stakine involved in. What is he trying to auction off?”
“Power,” Anil replied. Rodney waited for him to say more but Anil turned his head to look back out the window.
Fine, Rodney thought. Anil could keep his secrets, for now at least. Odenshi could unravel it all anyway. The Wiley synth always did. Rodney trusted the crazy old intelligence more than most humans. All he had to do was get this song for him. How hard could that be?
The light outside the train changed dramatically as they descended from the light line in low orbit toward the station at Metripol South. Officially they left the human section by entering the global city of Metripol South. Despite the fact that it was a global city, Metripol South felt small. The poles were one of the few places on the planet where the GFU actively applied environmental engineering to create a bubble of civilization. As the train descended to the surface, mountains of ice rose up on either side, like blue white sculptures. Rodney saw hints of a green ahead. It wasn’t all a frozen wasteland.
The city and its denizens filled the the ravines between the mountains. Without environmental engineering, everything Rodney could see would have been covered under miles of ice - however now what he saw reminded him of Switzerland. Humble villages nestled between snow capped peaks.
Rodney pulled up the map on his phone. This mission was getting out of hand. He wasn’t sure what to make of Rashad Anil, nor the Govvian princess holding her box of pie. He suspected she had to be of a very high class, but just how high? Either way she was a distraction. He had to get focused. Stay on the job.
He looked at the map of the Southern Metripol on his phone, and tried to recall what the General had told him. The central hub was surrounded by “boroughs,” one for each species but Galactic Federal Law applied here, not member law. The General had been very clear, Earth Law did not apply in the human borough. He wondered why she had emphasised that. Something about this area was unsettling to her. He also recalled that the Governor was not pleased that he was coming this way.
Just how much of a bunch of control freaks did they have to be to worry about a group of humans that had settled outside human law? Or was it something more? What if they did get into trouble? Or worse, what if they caused trouble? Rodney thought about it. Yeah, that would have to be stressful.
That was probably one reason all the races had Embassies located in the central region, but not in their traditional settlement areas. Each race might have their own boroughs by tradition, but the zones could, and did house anyone.
Rodney put away his phone as the train arrived at the outer ring. This would be the end of human jurisdiction. Everything from here forward would be under Galactic Federal Regulations. His phone flashed a red banner warning him as much. With a swipe, he accepted the “safety monitor protocol.”
“You might want to turn on your monitor,” he told Tony. “You’re phone can offer useful suggestions on how to stay out of trouble.”
Tony had just finished his pie, nodded and picked up his phone and seeing the same notification as Rodney accepted the helpful warning.
Rodney, Tony, Anil, and Casandra exited the sky train. They walked through what appeared to be an historically accurate recreation of an old English rail station. Red brick facades and high arches surrounded the platform with green painted steel beams complete with rivets.
Rodney figured that, even if humanity did not have jurisdiction in this area, they could still flex their culture.
“This is crazy,” Tony said looking at the architecture. “This isn’t a facade, they really built it like this.”
Anil nodded, “You’ll see similar period structures in the other boroughs. The GFU issues guidelines for how each culture should represent itself in Metripol.”
“But it’s more than that,” Casandra added. “The Metripol is more than a market. It is your species chance chance to show off. We want everyone to express their culture and heritage. Every race should get a chance to see all the others to know a little of their cultural history.”
Casandra added, “This is why yoos will see more traditional clothes here than in the sections.” She was holding her cherry pie like it was her prized possession. At least she seemed to understand how valuable it was.
Rodney looked at her. Why was she acting like a tour guide? That didn’t seem right. He moved so that stayed within an arms reach of her. Just in case.
“Where to?” Rodney asked.
Casandara’s expression could have been human. She looked like she was thinking. But was she? It bothered Rodney how often people from other species made expressions that seemed to perfectly match a human expression, only to find out later it meant something completely different.
“Let us go to the Govvian Embassy. You may not enter until you are summoned, but is good place to start.”
“Why should we go to the Embassy?” Rodney asked.
“Yoos may not enter the embassy until summoned.”
“I understand that, but why go there?”
Cassandra seemed not to understand the question and just started to lead them. Rodney met Anil’s eyes. The situation wasn’t great, but they didn’t have a lot of choices. Besides, the money was spent.
“Fine,” he said, “But we stay together.” Cassandra said nothing, which did nothing for his confidence. Hell, He met her pushing some kind of scam. Her offer to help had the same feeling. Maybe she wasn’t who she said she was.
The four of them moved left the station and walked through the narrow streets that lead toward the central hub of Metripol South. Not far outside the station, the road widened allowing a steady stream of electric vehicles, all of identical size, shape, and color, to pull up and offer them rides.
“What’s with all the heavy gear,” Tony pointed toward a group of people hauling huger black cases. Rodney noticed them, and then another, and another.
“Is Music festival,” Cassandra explained. “Trilunar music festival. Is very popular.”
Rodney felt a shift in the pit of his stomach. Odenshi had sent them here to get a song, in the middle of a music festival. “That’s awesome,” Rodney muttered.
“What was that?” Anil asked.
Rodney shook his head. “Nothing.” The synthetic life had always taken care of him, but that did not mean he didn’t put Rodney in some uncomfortable situations. The city was going to be crowded. Plus, with so many bands, how was he going to find the one song he was looking for?
This entire mission just got a lot harder.
Anil didn’t seem all that put out. “Hey, we’re looking for a piece of music right?”
“A song,” Rodney confirmed.
“Well then this just might be perfect.”
“How do you figure?” Rodney asked.
“Lots of concerts means lots of people, lots of movement, and maybe more opportunities to track down this music.”
Rodney considered that. “In general I don’t like crowds, but I can see how we might be able to use it to our advantage. It’s like they have opened up more venues for the performers giving us more access.”
Even Anil didn’t seem excited about his own idea. “I think it’s a possibility.”
Tony flashed Rodney a glimpse at his phone, he was already researching the music festival. Of course he was. Gathering facts was like breathing for Tony.
“You know Rod, this festival actually sounds like it might be fun,” Tony said. “And… holy crap, every bar, pub, and hotel has a live stage tonight and tomorrow. Plus it’s free. No cover charges.” Rodney hadn’t even considered that they might have trouble getting a room. A free music festival with live music everywhere? “There’s got to be at least 200 bands playing,” Tony continued. And it all climaxes with the Govvean Embassy hosting a major concert tomorrow night.”
Cassandra looked up as Tony said that last part. It was subtle, but Rodney caught it. She was taking them to the Embassy. Why had she made such a big deal about not being allowed in when the very next evening they would be hosting a concert open to the public?
Rodney wanted to ask her about it, but Cassandra quickened her pace. “Come, we take car to Embassy.” Cassandra ducked into an electric cab that had just arrive opening its doors. Rodney followed quickly followed by Anil and Tony. The doors closed, and the car whisked them down the narrow streets. the taxi joined the flow of cars, which turned into a kind of moving chain. Each car magnetically connected to the one in front of it. Once the “train” formed, the line accelerated through the ice and rock cut into the glaciers at the edge of the Southern Pole of the planet.
Rodney could not help but appreciate the architecture. Strings of multi-colored lights hung from icey balconies. Glacial motels, apartments, and hostels dotted the outer ring of the City. Banners flapped in the breeze touting the event, and welcoming music fans in a dozen different languages. The fabrics rotated their images and languages for the crowd.
Their taxi navigated the streets as part of a road train snaking through narrow streets and climbing switch backs through the vertical cliffs between each borough.
“I’ve been to carnivals with rides tamer than this taxi,” Anil complained. Rodney ignored him. Anil liked to complain.
The ride from the outskirts to the heart of the metropolis took just under twenty minutes. The crowds increased. Rodney wondered if all the sections were emptying out into the Southern Metropolis for the festival. And why not? Who wouldn’t want to spend a weekend partying to live music. It was a strange feeling. Humanity had been living under such intense pressure for so many generations now, that the idea of just cutting loose and having fun seemed Well wrong. Sure it was a time of peace, as there were no open conflicts between the member states of the GFU and each other, however that did not mean times were peaceful.
Embassy Row
As they stepped out of the autotaxi Rodney could feel the energy. The streets were swarming with young people, well he assumed everyone was young. The humans definitely were. There was something else he didn’t realize until Tony said it.
“Hey, there’s couples!” Tony nodded toward young men and women walking in pairs. Many were holding hands or walking in groups, or fours and sixes. It had a completely different vibe in the human capital where men and women walked in separate groups.
Rodney noticed something else. “Kids too.” He couldn’t remember seeing that in New Washington.
“These are the defectors,” Anil explained. “Not everyone agrees with Earth’s colonization policy. The colony would pull them back if they could, but here, they are subject to Union Law, not human law. Here they can live as Families.”
Rodney whistled. “That’s probably what set the Governor on edge when she found out we’d be heading here.”
“Some traditions die hard,” Anil mused. “The Governor and her triumvirate may believe men are not necessary for the raising of children, or that women are happy to donate their offspring to the survival of the species however, not everyone agrees.”
“They defected,” Rodney said pondering the significance of that. “What must the other species think of that?”
“We admire and hate them for it,” Casandra spoke up for the first time.
“You didn’t need to travel into the Human section to meet humans,” Rodney turned to her.
“Yes and no,” Casandra admitted. “I have met many humans. But I could not experience what they were running from unless I traveled there.”
“Did you get to experience it?” Rodney asked.
“Not yet. This was just my first time, unescorted,” Casandra replied. “But I will go back. I will learn more.”
“Why do the Govvu admire and hate the humans?” Tony asked.
“We admire their freedom but hate their lack of discipline and commitment,” she answered.
“Does every Govvu think that way?”
“In my family they do,” Casandra answered without hesitation. “Did you know that a human male and female Govvu may sire a child together?” She looked at Tony.
“Really? That works?”
Casandra nodded. “You look like you would be a good specimen to breed with - “ If Tony wasn’t blushing, he was doing something close to it. “- but my station prevents me from finding out.”
“You’re station?” Tony asked.
“I am a daughter of a House of the Morning Song. I am not some orphaned scop who can do with her body what she pleases. My fertility belongs to my family. I am obligated to copulate with a Govvu of my station.”
“Gee, it sounds so romantic when you say it that way,” Rodney chimed in.
“I know of your romance,” Casandra said. Again Rodney could not read her emotions. “Tradition makes a mating romantic, not simple physical attraction or emotion. We are not animals. We did not evolve thinking to stop using our minds when it matters most. That humans are so easily distracted by their animal nature also causes Govvu… consternation.”
“Don’t pretend like you don’t have feelings,” Rodney said. “You said it yourself, Govvu and human’s are genetically compatible. You must have emotions.”
“Of course we do!” Casandra agreed. “But rituals, traditions, and family bonds protect us from our animal nature. Our emotions serve us, not the other way around.”
Rodney was not entirely sure he believed that. From what he knew about the Govvuans they could be as hot blooded (or cold) as any human.
Casandra lead them to the entrance to a massive courtyard, it was one of the few places where the planetary engineers had leveled the hills and smoothed the valleys.
“So this is Embassy Park,” Anil said as the others walked up beside him to take in the view. Rodney found the sight both familiar and alien. One the one hand it reminded him of Central Park in New York City. But where NYC had sky scrapers, this park had palace size compounds, and behind each seemed to stretch out canyons and narrow streets. I take it those are the embassies? Rodney asked.
Cassandra pointed to the largest one near the head of the park. “That is the Govvu Emperate,” she said.
Rodney noticed that the park was devoice of vehicles. Just people, walking around under their own locamotion. The electric vehicles stayed on a ring road that surrounded the park. Only organic power was allowed in the green belt. The park was a melting pot of sentient beings as well as animals. He didn’t have the time or the patience to take it all in. He wasn’t here on vacation. He needed to finish a task so he could do his job. This entire excursion had already taken too much time.
Rodney started to walk directly at the Govvean building that dominated the near end of the square.
He couldn’t tell what the building was made of, some kind of white sparkly stone. He probably could have looked it up, but he wasn’t in the mood. The building had been meant to impress, to create a physical embodiment of the Govvu influence in the GFU. No one else had a compound half as large, and the human embassy was pathetically small in comparison. While it was not the smallest, it was close. That irritated Rodney. Maybe humanity was johnny come lately to the Union, but by technology and contribution they pulled way above their weight. The Nexus proved that.
The Govvean architecture also bothered Rodney. Something between fairy tale princess story and art deco steam punk, the proportions were cut for a different sensibility. It was both too wide, and too tall, but felt shallow, like a thick wavey wall covered in space sea shells. Rodney was sure someone was proud of it, but from his perspective it was just plane ugly.
Cassandra led them to the front gate. She held the pie box in front of her like a ceremonial offering. Approaching the front gate, Rodney noted the guards. There were 8 on each side. Well armed, they formed two half arcs which likely traced out the path of the gate when it opened. Rodney assumed the massive thing was bonze, but it might as well have been gold. The Govvu could afford that. Rodney wondered at the purpose of having such a force in front of a diplomatic embassy. Who was going to try and rush the gates here? Who even wanted to get into Govvu except the Govvu?
Rodney scanned for the real security, the scanners and cameras that would record everyone who even came near the compound. Hell they probably were tracking everyone in the park. He turned to look up at the oddly proportioned tower. And that was when Cassandra tripped. The pie box flew out of her hands like it had been launched. Tony and Anil lunged to grab it before it could hit the ground. But just as they moved, so did Cassandra, in the other direction. Rodney spun to grab her then thought better of it. 16 Govvean guards might take exception to a human male grabbing one of their own. Clever. She was so damn clever.
Instead, Rodney turned to follow. Damn she was fast. Anil and Tony bent over the box then looked up, realizing too late it had been a roose.
Anil opened the box. It was empty. Rodney thought he could hear him swear. But he didn’t have time for that. He needed to keep up with Cassandra. She moved like water, flowing through the crowd weaving along the side of the fence In front of the embassy. Anywhere else, Rodney would have tossed a microdrone - if he’d had one - but even if he did, he knew the embassy would see that as an act of hostility. You don’t fly surveillance equipment in Embassy airspace. Damn, she’d really set them up.
All he could do was move as quickly as possible without breaking into run. Thanks to long legs and years of military practice marching, Rodney could do just that. Some training never left. With long strides and quick cadence he started to close the distance between himself and Cassandra. He could feel some eyes on him, but it was the best he could do.
Cassandra looked back once, then something like surprise crossed her face when she saw Rodney was closing fast. She started to run, but she didn’t scream. Apparently she didn’t want a commotion either.
Despite her efforts, Rodney’s size and pace drew more attention so people were moving out of his way but slowed down in front of her to watch him, forcing her to shove them aside. Only then did people in the crowd start to put two and two together. In another minute Rodney would be the one they would try to slow - but his calm demeanor and steady march gave them pause. He did not look like a crazed killer, but rather someone in authority. Cassandra gave off the aura of a trouble maker by frantically looking back over her shoulder but never crying for help.
She was practically at the large fence that bordered the compound when Rodney caught up to her. She was pinned between the thick metal bars and Rodney’s outstretched hand. She turned her back to the embassy finding Rodney’s eyes holding his gaze. He paused for a moment.
Then she smiled, and stepped backward through the bars, passing through them like they were an illusion. Rodney lunged for her and smacked his knuckles against the hard metal fencing. “What the fuck?” What’s more, he could not see Cassandra on the other side. She had literally vanished.
Rodney paced up and down the fence, reaching out and grabbing at it, touching it. For all the world it seemed like an ordinary fence. Moments later Anil and Tony caught up to him, both were panting and out of breath.
“Where is she?” Tony asked, hands on his knees.
“She just vanished through the fence,” Rodney said, feeling irritated. What the hell.
“Maybe she was telling the truth,” Anil, not out of breath, but breathing heavier than normal said. “She might have had a phase necklace.”
Rodney looked at him.
“The metal is solid to us, but a phase pendant, or necklace can make it so that as light passes through glass, who ever is wearing it can pass through the fence. They are paired. You can’t just pass through any old chunk of metal, it takes a special process to match them up and tune them, but they can be quite handy.”
“Handy, yeah,” Rodney stood there with his hands on his hips. “If she just passed through then why did she vanish? Why can’t I see her on the other side?”
“Oh that parts easy,” Tony said. “All the Embassies do it. Even ours. There’s a privacy projection just inside the fence. Tourists think they’re seeing the compound while the staff inside can go about their business without people leering at them.”
Rodney shook his head. “She ate the damn pie didn’t she?”
“She ate the pie,” Anil said.
Tony pointed at a spot on the ground. “Maybe she ate some of it, but I don’t think she ate all of it.” He walked over and touched a spot near the fence on the paver. It was a dark sticky blotch. “This the spot where she vanished?”
Rodney nodded, “Yeah, there about.”
Tony touched the dark goo and smelled it, then licked it. “Yup. Cherry pie filling. It looks like she was saving some for later.”