The Promise of Melusine: Book Three of Swordfish Island Trilogy

By Stephen C. Graves

In our galactic neighborhood, surveyors for the Federation of Intelligent Species determined that humans are a dangerous outlier race whose violent nature and rapidly developing technology will be destabilizing to their vast ancient culture. Following an established species extinction plan, FIS agents installed mass drivers to guide large asteroid missiles toward Earth.

In The Swordfish Island Covenant French Huguenots who experienced persecution under Louis XIV agreed to burden their descendants with defending Earth over three hundred years in the future. The Promise of Melusine is the fulfillment of that agreement. Hidden from the FIS, from other humans, and ignorant of what is happening in them, the people of Swordfish Island gradually transform.

A teenage girl is the key to their activation. Lida lives in a Los Angeles suburb. She must discover her heritage and survive to find her people. Still, even if she succeeds can a hundred thousand amplified human beings have any significant impact against a culture of ten million worlds and four million space faring alien species?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483648347

Stephen C. Graves

Stephen Graves is a retired L.A. City firefighter, cartographer and publisher with broad interests in science and religion. He has written training manuals, travel literature, movie scripts, essays, and documentaries. In the year 1665, The Swordfish Island Covenant begins a story of alien interaction with French Huguenots. Swordfish Island chronicles the alien human interaction between 1800 and 1950, and The Promise of Melusine carries the story forward into the 21st Century.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Melusine

In 1969, when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, he was within two hundred miles of a quantum radio beacon that alerted aliens to developing human technology on Earth. Placed there by the Federation of Intelligent Species (FIS), it had responded to modulated radio waves in the early 20th Century. Functionally, it boosted a warning to hyper light speed allowing response in months rather than years or centuries. Therefore, along with the people of Earth, FIS agents were watching Neil as he made his small step and giant leap.

Searcher *Nine* knew they were watching Earth. Their presence above prevented her from traveling to Swordfish Island. There was nothing she could do about it. She must wait; waiting was something she was good at. She waited as she fed on magma heat deep beneath the root of mountains in Southern California. It was poor fare; there was plenty of volume, but insufficient intensity to power her systems at the level she would like. The magma supplied volume, but not the intensity she needed. It was cool porridge compared with the gamma ray meal she could get if she could reach the sun or even Swordfish Island. She was not one to dwell on what she could not have; for the present the magma kept her alive, it was therefore very good.

From the depths she forced her way upward, parting the hot dense material as if it were water, until she reached the bottom of a shaft. Her sister, *Five*, had helped her build the shaft so she could reach the surface without having to part the cold stone of the crust. She stopped short of the surface, staying in an air-filled chamber that was her current base of operation, and the farthest reach of her self-made prison. The large domed space was lighted and furnished for human comfort. Like the lobby of an expensive hotel, it had a water feature, living plants, and clusters of furniture. Halls radiated away to other rooms: a kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, a library, gym, and even a room with a pool. It was a self-contained facility, but since Tristan translated to be inside her mind space she had minimized the power in most rooms.

*Nine* levitated and simply held position. Her body, a fat lens of condensed subatomic matter, was only two microns in diameter. She was much too small for humans to see unless she radiated light. About once a week she would allow gravity to pull her down the shaft into the heat of the interior, and then, having received a recharge, she returned to the surface to wait.

Externally, it seemed a boring existence. Inside, in her mind space, things were more active:

Tristan left the library, and walked towards *Nine*’s house. The warmth of the morning sun nicely balanced the crisp cool dry air. A blue jay called from a low branch of a fir tree. In the distance across a valley meadow, he saw a great stand of the trees, and beyond them, the white rugged peaks of snow covered mountains.

He stopped at a rose garden that bordered the walk. The bushes were covered with a profusion of deep red flowers whose robust fragrance teased and delighted him. He reached out his hand. Two-dozen thorn-less, long-stemmed, blossoms lifted off their branches, and collected in his grasp.

He carried them in his arms as he walked up to her door. She opened it as he came up her steps. Her hair, a fiery sunset framed the pale aquamarine blue of her eyes.

My exotic goddess, he said.

She smiled at him, and said, I am exotic by definition, but I am not so sure about the goddess part.

Believe me, you’re a goddess. You look so good that I am sure I should wake up any moment.

He handed her the bouquet.

They’re marvelous. What grand roses, and such a nice thought.

She gave him a warm appreciative kiss. As they walked into the living room a decorative vase appeared on the coffee table. She plunked the roses in the vase as she sat down. The flowers fell naturally into a pleasing arrangement.

Such a nice thought, he mused, as he took a seat beside her. In this realm, all that is, is thought.

She looked over at him, suddenly less interested in the flowers. Are you growing discontented? Do you wish you hadn’t joined with me?

Tristan smiled.

*Nine*, my love, you make me most happy. This world you’ve created fulfills every possible need I have. You are so beautiful, and such a good friend. This setting is lovely. It reminds me of late spring when I lived outside of Leadville, Colorado. There is so much inside you, with all the resources and memories you have stored, that I see no end to the challenge of exploring your interior. Besides that, if I ever feel constrained here, there is the work of learning how to function in the real world using your very different methods of manipulation and transport.

But you are dissatisfied.

He sighed, and said, I’m growing impatient because being with you is not all there is to my life. We’ve spent seventeen delightful years getting to know each other, but as far as the project goes, it seems we just mark time. We have been able to accomplish so little.

I have been content with the pace of events, said *Nine*. Both Todd and Lida needed time to mature if we are to work with either of them.

Even though Todd was older and stronger, I admit I have always had a bias towards working with Lida.

They started as equal in my understanding. Once activated their physical strength will matter little. Adaptability, intellect, and emotional stability are far more important. In the early days after the family went into hiding, I gave the advantage to Todd simply because he was living in your Chatsworth house, and, therefore, in position to discover the clues you left. That has all changed. Lida weathered the storms of adolescence better than Todd. He is out of the running for now, and she has matured. She knows where we are, and how to get here. The only thing lacking is courage, or incentive to make the trip.

Tristan said, Time is running out. I have been arguing for choosing Lida since Todd left to join the Navy. If we had selected her when he went into the service, she would be here training instead of at risk where she is.

You are right. I hesitated, Shorty has found her, and has men watching her. Michelle holds Todd captive. If they take Lida we will have no one local we can work with.

With our help she can slip away without them noticing. The time of danger will be brief, only the length of time it takes for her travel here from Chatsworth.

*Nine* said, The situation with Lida is not active. The ARUs report they simply are continuing to watch. Come, we will walk over to the control center, assess the situation in detail, and then I will open communications with Lida.

Together they went out, and down the walk toward the control center. Tristan had learned that even though walking was an extended subjective experience, in the real world, it was just as quick as popping over to the control center. Walking was a way for the two of them to increase accommodation and accord as two individuals in one mind.

I’ve noticed that you’ve added a lot of detail to the town since I first came here. The surround of mountains was not visible, the streets and houses were fairly uniform, with simple lawns and trees, and there were hardly any people. It has changed gradually, but the other day, I was looking and noticed how difference it is now as compared with before.

Tristan picked up a blade of grass and made it into a whistle by holding it taught between his thumbs. He blew a sharp sour note.

*Nine* said, I pay attention to the details of our interface because you enjoy the sense of space it gives. I know you don’t need it to get around the way you did in the beginning. Much of what you see comes from you: from your memory of the world when you lived outside as a human person. She gestured at the houses they were passing. You’ve seen all of these before, in California, Colorado, or on one of your trips abroad. I brought them to life; filling in details from my understanding of human architecture in those places where you were not paying close attention. We have made this place together. The grass you are playing with, its shape, the moisture in it, and its smell when cut originate in you. I take your experience reshape it and give it back to you.

They reached a park square in the center of town. Their destination was on the other side of it. Three great oak trees stood in the square. Paved walks connected them to form a large triangle, and equidistant from them all in the middle a small sapling grew.

Have you ever wondered about these trees? *Nine* asked.

I’ve enjoyed them, and think they’re beautiful, but I haven’t thought much about them.

They approached the nearest one.

This is a tree that makes me think of Vincent Montelle. It stood as silent witness as I entered into a relationship with him both to save his life, and to discover the life and thought inside human beings. She pointed to their left at the tree that stood there. It was not quite as large as the one they were under. That tree makes me think of Jean Paul Hugo, your father, because it is like the tree that stood on the hill above where he found the Ovivium, and became my speaker.

Tristan indicated the last of the three.

What about that one? he said, and tugged her gently in that direction.

She went with him, and said, That one reminds me of you, my love. It is the fine old tree you passed daily on the way to your mine outside of Leadville. You used to look down on it as you came off the hill, and then curve around it just before you reached the parking lot at the mine office. You see this place is our creation together, both of us make it the lovely place it is.

They arrived at the town hall, walked through the foyer, and into a large chamber. The control room was shaped like a piece of pie with the tip cut off. Entered from the end, the walls angled away toward the far wall that formed a connecting arc. That arc was covered with monitors. To one side of the room was a curtained off atrium. The monitors all lit up as they entered the room.

Screens with an R indicated the input from one of 64 ARUs, the remote agents *Nine* deployed in the outer world. There were ten units on Swordfish Island. She had a dozen remotes in space. All of them showed Federation activities in the Solar System. All except one, which suddenly went blank, and then showed an asteroid or small planet with a bluish star in the background.

He touched *Nine* on the arm and pointed at the screen, and said, Is something wrong with R-60? I don’t recognize that scene.

*Nine* glanced at the monitor.

I’ve set R-60 to make a Transfer to Sirius about once a year to keep fresh coordinates for that system. It is so much easier to maintain coordinates than to recalculate them. In my diminished condition making such calculations would take months. You just happened to catch R-60 at the time it made the journey. The ARU will be back after it finishes updating its position.

Tristan nodded. He looked at the monitor designated R-10. It showed a young coed who peered out toward the yard through a slit in the window curtain. He willed to have R-10’s perspective.

That view opened up for him. Visually it felt like he was present in the room, but it completely lacked local noises. He sometimes missed natural sound, but hearing was not part of the ARUs’ design. While in the R-10 perspective, *Nine’s* communications came to him as sound.

She seems to know they are watching her, *Nine* said. She recognizes their truck. If you shift to R-27, you can have a better view of what she is seeing.

R-27 held an elevated position in the air above the road. Beyond and behind the low brushy mound of a hill was the home Tristan built. The men in the blue truck had parked in a place Lida must pass when driving. They were well concealed from the street, but apparently did not realize their truck’s roof was exposed to sight where Lida looked out the upper windows of the house.

I think there are three people in the car, he said.

Come back into R-10, *Nine* said. She has pulled out a rucksack and is beginning to pack.

Do you think she has decided to come here?

*Nine* said, Lida is showing greater independence. Since her Aunt Ruth passed away she continues to sleep in the main house even though Margaret encourages her to take Todd’s old room with them in the caretakers quarters.

She moves slowly toward independence. She still gets adult support from Margaret, and Bob Williams. Margaret treats her like a daughter, and she teases Charles like an older sister. She understands she will inherit my house, and wealth in a few years, and has used that as an excuse to delay making a decision.

It may not matter. She is afraid, and that may make her act.

R-10 had followed Lida back to her bedroom, where she worked at filling the pack. The indecision and increasing tension that had been working in her for weeks seemed be giving way to action.

Tristan watched silently for a time, but when she put her Personal in the pack, he said, I think you are right. It looks like she is going to run!

I want to see if she is coming here before I contact her. From my perspective the closer she is to the entrance the better.

What will you do if she heads toward LAX?

If she goes the wrong direction I will speak to her. It is essential for her to come here.

Do you think we have enough time to activate and train her?

We still have some time. The local Federation observers do not have the authority to order extinction. The Sector Director must give the order. The ARUs have not picked up a single transmission from the Sector Director, and that likely means he is not yet in the system.

Lida had multiple choices; the easiest was to do nothing, and pretend that it would all go away. During her growing years Aunt Ruth had trained Lida to be sensitive to her surroundings. She had emphasized the threat from Swordfish Islanders who had murdered her parents and grandmother. If Aunt Ruth were still alive they would likely pick up and disappear like they did when they lived in Santa Monica. Even if she were so inclined she didn’t know how to just disappear.

Besides Aunt Ruth and the Williams, there was another person who was important in Lida’s life. After Grandfather disappeared, Uncle Henry was the person she looked to for help. That was her special name for him; he was Grandfather Tristan’s business partner. Uncle Henry was nice to both her and Todd. He bought her a horse, and taught her to ride. During her early teens he was often with them. She, Todd, and Uncle Henry rode locally and in the mountains almost every week.

Lida’s life got much more complicated the day Uncle Henry opened a safe in the upstairs study, and gave Lida a lemon-sized sphere that looked like green crystal. When she held it, it glowed and made her feel happy inside.

This is your Personal crystalf, he told her. The clear ones are for casual use. This Personal has your signature color. It supplies a path for you to become young again through rejuvenation, but to do that you will need to come to Swordfish Island.

From Uncle Henry she learned that Swordfish Islanders were not a monolithic group out to kill her. Both she and Todd were of island lineage. Her grandfather had entrusted their life-extending crystalfs to Henry, and charged him to see that both she and Todd got them. He was giving her Personal to her earlier than he had planned. Events on Swordfish Island needed his attention. He had to leave and he did not know how long he would be gone.

Things fell apart after Uncle Henry left. She and Todd had been secret lovers, and that relationship began to fray. For a time the discovery of Grandfather’s secret apartment under the house gave them common interest. They talked about running away together to Swordfish Island. Then Todd discovered the genealogy chart that seemed to indicate his father was not whom he thought. Upset and angry, he left looking to find his real father. Todd was gone by the time she found her Grandfather’s instructions that told her where to find his ring, and how to use it to find him.

Her great aunt, Aunt Ruth died only months earlier. Aunt Ruth’s passing was heart wrenching. It seemed like everyone Lida cared about was going out of her life. At the same time, it drove home the importance of her crystalf’s power to rejuvenate her body. At sixty-nine Aunt Ruth was old and had a full life by local standards. Lida knew Uncle Henry was born in 1860. He was over a hundred years old, but rejuvenations made him seem about age thirty.

She had to get away! Should she try to reach Swordfish Island and get help from Uncle Henry, strike out on her own and try to find Todd, or try to find Grandfather’ mysterious hiding place up in the mountains? With a determined expression, Lida picked up her rucksack, and headed toward the door.

CHAPTER TWO

Vasteth

Arrival of Sector Director

20-17-124568

Equatorial Orbit:

Planet 5, Moon 4

About half a billion miles from Earth, aboard a ship in orbit around Jupiter’s moon, Callisto, Sector Director Vasteth stood patiently as he was welcomed aboard the command ship. The traditional welcome assembly helped to provide continuous good communication between the military and civilian branches of the Federation, and was a time when all the various contributing species gathered together. Although not every member of the special task force attended, each species tried to have someone present as a representative. Consequently, as he looked around the room he saw, creatures of different size and shape. They were all expressions of compatible cellular biology because, with a few exceptions, the Federation eschewed trade with species that could not breathe standard air.

There were a few Paglusets (five-limbed furry land-living cephalopods), Fidrotoes (wooly quadrupeds whose forelimbs had hands with retractable fingers), and others, but most of the crew were comprised of four species: Danx, Dolmin, Kapajurl, and Taas.

At seven feet, and twelve hundred pounds, the Centaur-like, Dolmin, were the largest species that crewed on spacecraft, and the coatimundi-like Danx were the smallest. Kapajurl were intermediate in size, looking like six-foot geckos. They dressed in clothing much like humans, where the Danx and Dolmin only wore utility belts and jewelry.

Although Taas were a small minority in the Federation as a whole, in this force they were the most numerous. Looking at the Taas, Vasteth recognized his own kind. Their bulbous head and flowing robes made them look like pawns from a chess game. The Taas did not know of the game of Chess, but the appearance of being feeble was intentional and by policy. As to their faces, eyes and ears had similar placement to humans, but what appeared to be a low slung toothless mouth was their nose. They had air-driven speech like humans, but unlike humans a pharynx supplied the sound that was modulated by nose parts. Most were slightly less than five-feet tall. Bipedal, they usually took small rapid steps that made them seemed to flow along across the floor on a cushion of air. Floor-length robes concealed most of their form. Sticking out of the robes were two delicate arms, and small hands each with three digits. They gestured with these limbs and could manipulate small objects with them, but their main use was for feeding. The Taas survived on a liquid diet sucked up though their hollow fingertips.

As he looked at individuals and made eye contact, crewmembers and officers saluted as their forms allowed, some raised a limb, and others bowed. The Director nodded his small round head or waved one of two feeble arms in the appropriate acknowledgement.

Vasteth gave a very brief speech, in Askora, and then dismissed the group back to their various tasks. He chose Askora because it is an almost universal language in the Federation. It is composed of sounds most species can make and understand. He could have spoken in his native Minwee, their utility computers would have translated, but he felt it was more personal to speak directly.

After the reception assembly ended, Director Vasteth and Commander Narba left the ship’s great room and went back into the officer’s wing. Commander Narba led the Director first to the room that would be his personal quarters and then to his office and private conference room.

With eyes over an inch in diameter, Vasteth scanned the latter space. The walls had scenes of different worlds. He made a clicking sound, and then said, Computer, do you recognize that sound?

That is the attention signal of Mauss Vasteth 16 X Doiilo, announced the computer voice. Said personage is Director of Sector 457, supreme authority over that region of space designated by the Federation of Intelligent Species which exists between the coordinates…

Stop! Go to my default settings, Vasteth commanded.

The room dimmed, grew warmer, and the pictures were replaced with jungle scenes.

Is this room secure? he asked.

Yes, said the computer.

Do not record conversation in this room. The constraint is temporary and lasts only until either Commander Narba or I leave.

Commander Narba said, I see that your authority has been fully transferred.

Vasteth released the hold on his cape with his lesser arm. He took it off and draped it over a chair. He stretched and flexed his great arms. Powerful ape-like limbs used by their ancestors to hurl from tree to tree in vast jungles of the home world.

It is supposed to be automatic, but I always like to make sure, he said.

Narba also removed his cape. The two of them stood facing each other great arms extended toward the front. It was an open handed gesture of friendly greeting, for it showed the slit in the center of their palms and that their poisonous spurs were sheathed.

Commander Narba said, It is good to be normal. I get hot in the robes, and wish we could dispense with them. Sometimes I envy the Danx and Dolmin.

Public dress is required when in the Federation, and banned at home; you know the rules.

Yes, Director, he said returning to proper protocol. With the privacy active, I presume you want to discuss the situation.

We can both be more candid if we know the ship’s log is not recording, said Vasteth. I also wanted to know how you are fairing with the Misery.

He manually changed the channel on a wall screen to show the view in space, and then selected a particular sector, centered on a particular star. The star mesmerized them.

Even though I know they will kill me if I try I am tempted to grab a ship and go there.

Vasteth flapped his lesser arms in annoyance, and said, "We all suffer with ‘Call.’ How does it make you feel when you don’t go?’

For me, it doesn’t have the power it has in some, said Narba. I am able to resist, and most of the time can work despite the lethargy and depression my resistance creates. How does it work with you?

The Misery makes me grumpy and aggressive, Vasteth said, so we will have to work around the problem. I don’t want to snap at you and then have you stepping out an air-lock or something.

If the longing becomes so bad that you need to release the stress, our third in command, Commander Paanaana is a good one to pick on.

Paanaana, Vasteth repeated, Is he a Danx? There was a Danx by that name I met in the Palcid System he was captain of a freighter.

He is a Danx. They are probably cousins.

Whatever that means. Every Danx calls the others of his kind cousin. If he is typical, he should be a good choice to yell at. They tend toward stable individuals.

Paanaana is even tempered, but he is also competent. You can trust him with anything outside our common secret.

Vasteth sat down and motioned for Narba to do the same.

Give me a brief history of the situation, he said, including any problems posed by the locals or our own people to the solution.

The two of them settled into chairs, and Commander Narba said, We have been watching this system since 91601, almost 33,000 Standard Planetary Years. The primitives that were found by the original survey have been observed since that time on the usual cycle of once every thousand years. Until the most recent survey they noted nothing remarkable.

That was about seven hundred years ago?

Yes. At that time they began to show an accelerated rate of development. The survey crew debated calling a special survey, but finally decided against it. Instead, they left a precautionary alarm as recommended in the Rules of Contact. A little under a hundred years ago the alarm activated. This system is one of the circuit courier’s stops. They picked up the alarm’s signal. We immediately sent a response teams to gather data about current development.

And your analysis shows… what? asked the Director.

They have the typical accelerated growth in technology, pollution, and aggressive behavior that we have been trained to look for. They have nuclear weapons, and have used them in warfare. There are two groups that have large stockpiles of nuclear weapons. In the past several months we thought perhaps there would be a large-scale attack between these two groups. If they destroy themselves we will have no need of a special order. We are still hopeful that they will resolve the question before us, but such a massive attack has not happened yet.

Is there anything that might suggest a reason why they behave this way?

The star system is unremarkable. The planet’s year is about seventeen percent shorter than the standard year, and the day is only one percent shorter than the standard day. The mass is well within standard deviation of habitable planets only fifteen percent below the mean. Stellar output is normal, except in the area of X-rays, which are on the low side… There is much more which is usual, but the brief answer is that we were unable to uncover any physical reason why they are accelerated.

And since they have not blown themselves to bits, you called me in to sign a special order 49-A.

Yes.

Then, you would sign the order yourself, if you were Director.

Yes, it is the required solution to assure the safety of our people.

Let us be clear here because we are making an important decision. The Federation policy to restrict interaction with emergent species is intended to provide a source of innovation for our culture. Each species has a slightly different evolutionary path, and consequently will find unique solutions to common problems. The trick is to allow trade when those solutions are present, but before anything threatening occurs. Here we have a species that seems to be too volatile, and is advancing too fast for us to manage. You are saying it should be terminated before it becomes a threat. You have no doubts or problems with the order, and the loss of a trade resource that will result?

They fit the criteria, so I have no doubt about going ahead, but there is one problem that concerns me.

What?

We are occasionally intercepting unexplained quantum radio broadcasts from the surface. There is no evidence of a technology able to produce such a transmitter. I am troubled at our inability to pin down the source. Are they truly brilliant, or is there some contamination from one of our member species?

They would have to be astonishingly smart to already understand the principles of quantum radio, it more likely a problem of contamination. We shall find out what these broadcasts mean. This is not a situation where we want independent witnesses. We must first identify and nullify the source of contamination, then, if necessary, we shall protect our peoples from this emergent threat. If the quantum radio is not contamination from our culture then our work here is hugely important. It is the kind of service that will achieve the greatest reward: admission to the home world.

A double life! Narba exclaimed.

No, it is a full life. Ours is a diminished life, half what it should be. The Misery cheats us of the full ten centuries enjoyed by our native born kin on Pithani.

*     *     *

The retracted dome shield provided a spectacular view of Callisto and Jupiter from the dining hall. Dining accommodations were varied because of the different sizes of crew. Danx and Taas mainly used the chairs and stools. Kapajurl used their tails as a seat, and the Dolmin preferred to stand.

Already the stimulation of the new environment was waning. Vasteth allowed his eyes to flick up to the starry display, and for brief moment he focused on the home star his precious pinpoint of light. He glanced quickly at the other Taas in the room, and relaxed when none were watching him. Again he looked up, but this time choosing different bit of space, one that showed moon, and gas giant planet that attracted most people’s attention. Callisto was close enough to show its frosty rock strewn surface in detail. Vasteth reacted to the icy view. The scales on his skin hissed in a shivering vibration.

The whisper of your revulsion carries to these sensitive ears, said Commander Narba as he sat down at the table. The local star does not provide much warmth at this distance, though there are delightful areas of jungle on the third planet. I do not like the open window either.

The commander moved slowly, heavily, with Misery: symptoms obvious to any of the Taas in the room.

Most of the crew takes pleasure in the scene, Vasteth said neutrally. Do you have anything new to report?

Commander Narba set his bowl of broth on the table. He put one of his lesser hands in it and began to suck up the fluid through his hollow fingertips. As he ate, he stared at Vasteth, his enormous eyes mere slits.

Nothing of great moment, Director, he said distantly. The only new item is a notice from engineering that the primary construction is finished on Asteroid One. I sent it on to your office.

Vasteth ignored his lethargy. At least we move ahead in that area. Did you tell them to begin integrating and testing the systems?

Yes.

Any new quantum radio broadcasts?

One or two, but the source seems to disappear when we try to get a fix on it.

With the hand that was not feeding, Vasteth made random sucking noises with his fingertips against the table.

Narba watched him blankly.

Vasteth cleared his pharynx and said in their native language, I hate unsettled details. Circumstances are squeezing us. The creatures are in space. They have landed on their moon.

They have reached into space, but they do not have a presence in space, Narba said. We still have some time, not a lot of time, but some time.

Vasteth suppressed a shiver, but the scales on the back of his neck stood out showing his irritation. He left the table, started towards the door, but slowed to watch Arathic, a Danx microbiologist, drop from his chair, and waddled out of the room on two legs. He followed him into the hall in time to watch him go down on all four feet and move along more comfortably. Arathic trotted to the junction where he turned aft in the starboard hall. As soon as he was out of sight Vasteth also traveled aft, moving quickly along a duplicate hall on the port side.

*     *     *

Arathic saw Commander Paanaana as he entered the corridor from the navigation room.

Cousin! he hailed, coming back to an upright posture and sitting on his haunches.

Yes, Arathic, what is it? And please do not use the family term in public.

Cousin, I was wondering about that request I made… The one to see if it would be permissible to move the biology lab into the storage room near the lounge.

I sent the request on to command, but you must know it is a very low priority item with Commander Narba. I hope you are not in a rush.

Arathic said, Though I am in a rush, there is nothing I can think of that would make them want to hurry for me.

As he spoke his body color changed slightly. The Danx body covering looked like fir, but is actually very fine masses of tiny silver-gray feathers. They are capable of shifting toward colors, blues greens, and even purples, a sort of prism affect with the ambient light. Color change indicated a change in skin tension, a sign of distress.

Paanaana noticed.

What has you so upset? he asked.

It is immature of me, but I hate the long walk from the lounge to the lab. Most of the time I can make the trip, but sometimes I feel like I am in danger.

That is illogical. There are ways that you can come to harm on the ship, but none that I can think of in the hall between the lounge and your lab.

I never said it was logical. It is just the way I feel.

Your feelings are not something that will motivate command. Because I see you are in distress, I will check on the request, and see if I can move it along.

Commander Paanaana turned toward the lounge. Arathic watched him a moment, and then continued on toward his lab. About half way there a faint scraping noise triggered his apprehension. He stopped, came up on his haunches, and scanned the area ahead and behind. There was no one in the corridor but himself. The sound came again. His head spun to the rear, and then snapped back. A ping and soft clink made by the ventilation system brought no reaction. It was just one particular sound that made him tense. Ears twitching, he moved slowly forward.

Suddenly there was a flicker of movement flashing down from above. Arathic squeaked in pain and grabbed the side of his head. He looked back and forth along the hall, but did not look up. He looked at his hand. There was a small amount of blood on it. He wobbled, but before he could fall, long strong arms came down, and lifted him from the floor.

CHAPTER THREE

Lida’s Run

Lida knew she was in trouble. When she turned off the Interstate 5 at the Frazier Park exit, in the VW’s mirror, she saw the old blue pickup. It was in line three cars back. A grimace of anger and fear passed across her face.

Damn! she whispered to herself, I didn’t loose them.

Still, she didn’t panic, but stayed at the speed limit through Frasier, and Lake of the Woods. Then she blasted along the straight sections of Lockwood Valley with the accelerator to the floor. The crystal ring she wore dug into her soft pale fingers as she gripped the steering wheel, and especially when she came flying out of the big dips in the road.

Grandfather, Melusine, where are you when I need you. Everyone else is gone. I need some help here, she said in a tense monotone.

The turn-off came into view. It went ahead up the hill while the highway curved right. She shot up the winding dirt road that lead deep into the backcountry of the mountains. The road wound up to a pass and then snaked its way down to a small valley on the other side. It forked, and then forked again. Lida turned right then left skidding on the loose dirt.

As her car splashed through a stream she looked quickly all around. This doesn’t look right, she muttered. Its the other canyon… The one with the old cabin… Maybe the old cabin… It might work.

At the very next turn in the road, Lida took the VW up a dirt track that climbed out of the canyon. It ended at a graded ridge area, a rutted old pad for a dilapidated cabin. Unglazed windows with tattered curtains blown from the inside flapped listlessly against the exterior siding. The wood was rotten, split, and dry to the point the rusty nails could be lifted out of the holes they had been driven into.

Lida dashed straight through the house, out the back door and onto a deck. The deck was cantilevered out over a low cliff. Below was a gently sloping brush covered basin, and beyond, a nicely framed view of rugged mountains.

She quickly kicked away a block that was wedged between the deck and the house siding. After securing the screen door flat against the outside of the house, she dashed to one side and squeezed beneath the deck. There she found the ground dipped toward the center forming a trough.

On the other side of the house she heard the truck arrive. She began to reach, to move a branch out of her way, and saw it move by itself. Then came a sound like sand sprinkled on dry leaves. She jerked back her hand and gave out an involuntary shriek. Snake! The fat western diamondback faced her, its tongue tasting the air.

The snake was not aggressive, and fortunately there were a few other branches, real branches, available too.

Lida did not have time for finesse. She picked up a stick, braced herself, swooped it just over the snake’s head, slammed it down on the ground and dragged it sidewise over the snake’s body. The snake did not like the feeling, buzzed angrily, and prepared to strike.

Her second sweep hooked a coil and she was able to flip it over the edge of the cliff into the brush below. At the same time she let out another scream, and positioned herself where the snake had been. She lay on her back with her legs in tight ready to thrust up against the joists.

In the momentary quiet she heard the snake rattle it’s complaint at her abuse. One of the men entered, and went through the cabin, while the others went around the sides. Lida held her breath as the one who went through stepped on the deck just above her. He stood there looking around making a sucking sound through his teeth. Through the space between the weathered boards she could see his Asian features. Slowly he went forward. She quickly grabbed onto a brace, pulling down to balance his weight as he passed the main beam and stepped out onto the cantilever. He stood at the rail. The rattlesnake was still buzzing intermittently.

I think she went down there with the rattler, Shorty, said one of the men from the side.

I do not see her, the Asian answered with a thick French accent.

The two other men came on the deck at the same time. One had dirty blond hair, and the other’s hair was brown. Lida waited and watched through the crack as they passed the fulcrum. Then she pushed up with all her might.

What the f—

Hey. Hey!

Noooo!

Three astonished and overlapping ejaculations reached Lida amidst the popping and screeching of the deck. She watched fascinated, for it seemed to move in slow motion. It tilted sharply, bumped on an outcropping and then slid like a toboggan for about ten feet until it hit the base of the cliff. The rail had held during the short slide down the cliff, but it failed at the bottom. The three men spilled into the bushes with the irate snake. The latter rattled even more furiously.

Eeeoow! The brown haired man fairly flew out of the place he had landed. It almost got me! he said as he scooped up a rock and flung it near where he had just been.

Leave the snake, Jack, said the Asian, We are after the girl.

Jack looked up, and saw her.

I’ll get you, bitch! Damn bitch! he said, and launched himself up the tilted deck. He almost reached the top before sliding back. Lida bolted for the car, and sped back down the hill.

*     *     *

The R-10 screen showed events as they were happening. *Nine* and Tristan followed the pursuit closely. Tristan paced back and forth in the control room.

*Nine* said, Lida is being very resourceful. She remembered how dangerous the deck was from the time she and Todd were out there on horseback, and used it to advantage. The presence of a rattlesnake not only didn’t stop her, but actually became a useful tool to bring the men onto the deck.

Shorty is in the truck! Tristan exclaimed. They plan to take her.

I certainly hope not. She must reach the door.

He looked over at *Nine*, Are you sure we can’t help her?

The brief answer is no. I am damaged. Since *Five* parted from me I have no one to mask my energy. The leakage isn’t large, and so I was able to function without tripping the monitors the last FIS survey team left on the moon. Now that an investigative force is in the system, one that is looking for anomalies, they will spot my radiation quickly if we go outside. Unfortunately, the repair you supply as a vital reference, does not fix that.

We have to do something. What about the ARUs? We can use them.

I am not allowed to use remotes until we choose her. It is against the Imperatives. We are very constrained by the presence of Federation vessels above.

We know Shorty is dangerous. The Federation is a more distant threat in this case.

There is very little we can do without putting us all in jeopardy. I will activate the directional ring when she is close enough.

Why not do it now?

The ring is a quantum radio device. If she takes too long to get here, its activity will also alert the Federation.

Tristan said, Can’t we use the remote to talk to her?

Yes, but I will only use them if you can assure me she will get here, she answered. If I talk to her, and then she is captured we are in serious trouble.

If we don’t help, she may not be able to get this far.

I balance the probabilities. As I said before, she is being very resourceful. Her trick with the deck showed surprising adaptability.

*     *     *

Lida stopped the car at the first landmark, a ten-ton stone shaped like a bed pillow, and split open with a large diagonal crack. According to the instructions she had found at Grandfather’s place, she need only follow the forest service trail until she spotted a stream that came down from her left. With her small rucksack on her back she dashed away, but not quite fast enough.

Rick pushed scraggily blond hair out of his eyes. He saw her silhouette against the sky when she reached the top of the first hill.

There she is! he called.

Go after her! ordered Shorty. I’ll park the car.

He leapt from the car and sprinted up the path. Jack took a moment to grab his pistol before racing after him.

Lida managed to stay ahead of them for two ridges. At the third they caught up enough to see her from the crest as she struggled up the mountainside opposite them.

Rick said, She can move pretty well for a pudgy kid.

You go get her. I’ll keep her pinned down with this, Jack answered, and waved his pistol.

I don’t think that’s a good idea.

Go on! Shorty wants us to get her.

When he still hesitated, Jack gave him a shove to get him started on his way. Rick went skiing down the loose sandy soil, his arms waving in the air as he tried to keep his balance. Jack watched to make sure he was going to continue. Then he began shooting at Lida, but Lida did not duck for cover. Instead, she ran towards the top as fast as she could go.

Shorty was only a short distance back on the trail. He heard the shots and shouted, No! Damn, damn! Don’t shoot her! Jack continued to fire ignoring his calls.

Lida kept moving, though her pace was hardly a run. She was reduced to a weaving stagger by the time she approached the crest. A clean escape was in sight. Then she went flying down on her face.

There was a satisfied smirk on Jack’s face even as Shorty slapped his arm down.

Give me the gun, Shorty said.

The Jack swung the weapon toward him with his finger still on the trigger. Shorty turned and gave a practiced kick which sending it flying. Then he slapped him firmly twice across the face.

I do not want the girl dead, he hissed through gritted teeth nose to nose. If you use the weapon again irresponsibly, I will personally shove it up your butt and pull the trigger! Now, go get it and lets see if Rick has found her still alive.

*     *     *

While standing, Tristan gripped one of the chair backs shaking it. We have to do something! he shouted.

What would you have me do? *Nine* asked. Shall I save your granddaughter only to call down an attack that destroys all humanity?

Tristan didn’t answer.

She is not seriously injured. Something in her pack deflected the bullet. We are fortunate that her avoidance system did not come on. It may be early, but I have activated the directional ring on her finger.

Tristan closed his eyes and shook his head. It is so little, he moaned.

*     *     *

It took Lida only moments to recover. She crawled a few feet, then got up and continued along the trail on wobbly knees. As soon as she spotted water, she left the trail, and turned up the stream. She gained assurance that she was on the right track as the ring became active and began to guide her. She held her hand out before with splayed fingers; only one of which vibrated indicating the way she should go.

I don’t see her, called Rick from the ridge.

Lida looked for a hiding place, and found a small cave, not much more than a cleft obscured by wild raspberry bushes. She forced her way into the tight space, and pulled the vines closed behind her.

Within minutes the men hiked past her spot. Later she heard Shorty call out to her.

Leda—Leedaaaaa! he said in his accent. Lida did not answer. "Come out Leda. I want to tell you something. Todd gave me a message