Mourning Ember Read online

  “I…” He suppressed a chill as he scanned the quiet man. Her cold dismissal baffled him. After all they went through in Arcadia, was she going to cut him off so quickly? “I… I still have questions. About our previous associations.”

  Now is not the time, human. Nara sighed, resting a palm on her visor. “You will be waiting a long time for answers.”

  “I am patient.”

  That’s a bold claim, Nara internally scoffed. “War isn’t a tourist experience, kid. You’ll find nothing here worth your amusement. And you’ll probably get killed in the crossfire.”

  “That isn’t fair of you to judge me like that.” The firmness in his voice caught him off guard, and he quickly cleared away the hostility from his throat.

  Oh, for fuck’s sake. Nara ground her teeth. She examined the human’s face, detecting irritation and uncertainty in his features laced with a heavy dose of dread that he was desperately trying to hide from her. Why the hell am I still entertaining this creature?

  Despite his clumsiness, the human could take care of himself just fine. His insistence on staying in her company confounded her. He was amicable enough, more than capable of making contacts of his own accord. It wouldn’t be long until he could establish a business elsewhere. He just needed time to explore matters for himself.

  Her pessimism began to color her search for his reasoning. What would happen if Galavantier got wind of his whereabouts during his travels? The Biotech’s name was affluent enough to pull strings in GaPFed parliament. That was all she needed, another fleet of GaPFed ships trying to hurl their weight around an argument they have no voice in. She already had to quiet one planet-sized war. She wasn’t about to deal with another one on the galactic scale.

  But one thing was for certain—the human was a living omen. One she needed to keep a watchful eye on.

  “Fine. Come along,” Nara conceded. “Keep covered and stay out of my way.”

  Cain approached them with a small metal container, offering a cache of spare mechanical parts to maintain the guise of a delivery. She met his vibrant odd eyes as she accepted the box, troubled by the concern radiating from the flickering augmented light. The ghostly man never used his voice if he could avoid it, but his language expressed more in these few moments than the entire time she knew him.

  But choices had to be made.

  “Three words, Cain.” Nara turned away and stepped off the ship.

  ##0.4##

  A hollow surge of air droned through the abyss of the fighter bay, forbidding the echoes of their footsteps from touching the unreachable ceiling. The hold was cleansed with blinding white light reflecting off polished chrome walls and floors. Rows of stalwart fighter drones amplified the unsettling ambience. Their flickering red status lights glared warily at the diminutive intruders as they lined the path.

  Tosk marched Nara and Garrett toward a small winged beast gently purring in idle slumber. The creature stirred as they approached, stretching open its jaws with a labored yawn. In a sharp about-face, the commander motioned for their guests to climb aboard. They watched Garrett cautiously as he stepped inside the ship, casting a side-eye at the human’s ingenuous wonder radiating from his aura.

  The beast lazily pulled its mouth shut, awaiting orders while the passengers settled inside. Tosk seated themself into the pilot chair and executed a concise cycle of takeoff checks, pitting the air with a terse flurry of clicks and beeps. A throaty rumble acknowledged their actions, its call elevated to a rushing tumult as the engines engaged, wind pushing against the deck. The beast gradually lifted upward, stretching out the fatigue from its wings in a flowing arc.

  Tosk maneuvered the ship above the legion of drones, gravity pawing at the cabin as they glided toward the opening of the Wake. The energetic membrane of the atmospheric shield warped around the hull as they eased through the force field, pursing back together as the ship left the safety of the hold. When they were clear of the Wake’s jagged perimeter, Tosk ramped speed to join the brood out in space.

  Garrett gripped the arm of his seat, his nervousness combating with his unrelenting excitement for the journey. He made a conscious effort to avert his attention from the cockpit, looking up at Nara for guidance. But she was unnervingly still, her featureless helmet burning a hole through the floor. He squeezed out a soft exhale, trying not to disturb her meditation with the noise.

  A gentle mechanical whirr startled his concentration, and a panel slithered down the ceiling across from him. The screen flickered to life, projecting the viewport of the cockpit. Garrett glanced over to Tosk, just missing their eyes as they turned their head back to the controls.

  “Thank you,” Garrett attempted, but only silence replied. He focused on the screen, shaking off the discomfort clawing at his skin.

  The gas giant swallowed the view as they approached, revealing whirls of currents defining its pillowy surface. Gaps broke apart the striated patterns as thorny ships emerged from the body, the engines stirring and blending the shades in a foamy celestial concoction.

  Tosk’s ship slowed to a gentle coast as they pierced through the clouds, the blue mist curling around the beast in fibrous plumes. Scores of mechanical winged insects danced inside the fluff, excitedly scanning the area with rays of probing light. The antics of the swarm abruptly halted as the creatures spotted the intrusion, darting for the ship in aggravated droves. A wave passed their feelers over the hull, gleefully transmitting their approval with chattering bleeps. They scattered as quickly as they arrived, whizzing through the cloud to find another shiny object to harass.

  The ship emerged through the barrier into a layer of empty space, revealing the cosmic candy center of a terrestrial planet, considerably smaller than what the cloud implied. Lilac clouds wisped lacework over green-blue seas, the landmasses an attractive gradient of teals and greys. From behind the earth, the gas cloud revealed its illusory magic, its ephemeral form bending light to its will, displaying an unobstructed backdrop of the fleet haloed by the searing rays of a lonely star.

  I haven’t seen the sun in thirty years, Nara lamented, her gaze tracing around the light of the celestial body. Even Arcadia forbade me that luxury.

  The jewel-toned planet claimed their focus as they neared, showcasing the facets of the continents that adorned the surface. Tongues of warmth lapped the hull as Tosk edged the ship into the glittering atmosphere, the interior shuddering as they contested with physics. The environmental shields proved a worthy opponent, warping the forces of gravity around them to provide a gentle descent for the passengers.

  Buildings began to take shape as they hovered near the surface, clusters of metallic columns that barely reached above the trees. They blended seamlessly with the foliage, the synthetic structures imitating the surrounding wood, overtaken by the waves of greenery stretching over the land.

  Tosk steered toward the outer reaches of a populated zone, aiming for a clearing near a warehouse facility. The ship groaned in compliance as it gently lowered to the docking pad, rustling the trees with a swirl of its exhaust. The creature quieted down with Tosk’s firm assurance, filling the cabin with a compliant murmur.

  Garrett immediately forgot how to breathe as the hatch opened, awestruck by the mystical world of greenery unfolding before him. The trees appeared more like minerals than plant life, their crystalline foliage of teals and pale blues scintillating in the radiant sunshine. Each towering structure was armored with a rocky chrysalis, the legions forming a variegated spectrum of maroons and plums.

  Nara snapped him back to reality with a jab at his shoulder. He cleared his throat and rose from his seat, shaking out the travel fatigue from his arguing limbs as he headed for the door. Frigid air pricked his neck as he edged forward, flicking his nerves with a shudder. He absentmindedly shook the sensation away, engrossed by the splendid alien world.

  “Elam,” Tosk called to Nara, their expression softened. “You have my direct line.”

  “Is that a fact?” Her eyebrow raised. Sh
e didn’t know the commander personally, much less their affiliation with Fariem. As a foreigner on her own planet, she was hesitant to entertain the notion of allies from the other forces.

  “Xannat’s favor, Warlord.” Their evasive confirmation pierced her suspicion.

  “I’d prefer to depend on yours,” Nara retorted as she disembarked. Luck was an adversary that she refused to acknowledge.

  Chapter 1

  ##1.0##

  Nara left Garrett to his own devices, heading straight for the warehouse. She stepped under the simulated leafed canopy draped over the frame of the loading door, shedding her mask as she examined the maze of laboratory equipment and computers.

  Everything is where it always was. She steeled herself as she approached an aged individual hunched over a console screen. Their expression focused as they vehemently combed a stylus through ashen jade hair.

  “The rumors were true, serr’kahn,” the figure replied, looking up from their work. “Words cannot express your presence appropriately.”

  “It’s nice to see you too, Fariem.” Nara’s lips twitched as she tried to force a smile, bringing her gaze down as their eyes passed over her. She remained still as the petite figure paced around, discordant emotions impeding her ability to discern their reaction to her presence.

  “Ki’nit, Syf, look who is here.” Fariem beckoned a pair of individuals cleaning a stack of sample trays. The associates’ faces lit up as they noticed Nara, gliding over to her with relief and fascination.

  Though the duo hailed from different clans, they were united by a far-reaching thread of fate. They shared a unique psychic bond, their pointed features carved from the same stone. Even their movements were in synch as they curiously circled Nara like a gentle flow of water.

  “Greetings, Warlord,” Ki’nit said. “We thought we had lost you.”

  They were both much younger than Fariem, yet at least five centuries older than her. Their physical appearance was the key to distinguishing them, their differences reflecting in their mannerisms. Ki’nit’s cool, calculated ocean blue eyes sought order from the world, their sight unhindered by their gleaming raven hair forcibly restrained in a tight pleat.

  “My, how you have grown since last we met,” Syf added with a head tilt. “It was not even that long ago.”

  Syf viewed the world differently, mirroring their counterpart with a void of blackened eyes that divined secrets from otherworldly realms. Their roguish streak was amplified by the cerulean flyaway strands of hair encircling their blithe expression, deserters that broke free from the halfhearted bonds of the loose tail playfully brushing against their shoulders. Together they were an equalized force, each counteracting the extreme of the other to maintain a peaceful balance in their relationship.

  Though the duo had always projected a soft demeanor, Nara broadcast her discomfort at the scrutiny. Fariem and their two assistants were her caretakers, the closest semblance to family. They were safe people, or at least they were before her exile. She was unable to witness their reaction to her downfall, and Fariem’s role in the Council injected her with apprehension.

  “You must be exhausted. Come along inside.” Fariem took the box from her hands, then projected disapproval when she spotted Garrett quietly marveling at the faux tree bark coating the warehouse’s exterior. “Who’s the meat bag?”

  “Ow, Fariem.” Nara scowled. “Contractor with a mutual enemy.”

  “I see.” They scanned the human up and down.

  “Garrett, this is Fariem,” Nara introduced in Trade. “A developer of experimental medicine by profession.”

  “Pleased to meet you…” His voice trailed off as Fariem sharply turned their back to him.

  “You’re injured.” They jabbed Nara in the armored abdomen with a scolding finger. “Off with it, immediately!”

  “It’s not that bad.” Nara gave off a rumble as she raised a palm to her forehead.

  “Do not stab me with your impertinence.” Fariem scowled. “You’re a terrible liar. I know exactly what ‘not that bad’ means to you.”

  “Ugh.” Nara peeled back the armor to reveal the ichorous medical patches sticking to her flesh. After the altercation with the security droids during their escape, Cain’s medbots kept her together enough for her natural healing to take over. But Fariem was a stickler for efficiency and would not have her depending on substandard technology.

  Fariem tsked at the sight and waved at their minions. “Serr, help Elam out.”

  “Yes, Serr’Maht.” The duo bowed and flanked Nara, slipping their arms around hers.

  I guess nothing has changed. Nara groaned, submitting to her captors as they ushered her deeper into the complex.

  Garrett jogged to keep up with the brisk stride of the group, following them down a charcoal-walled hallway. The aesthetic of the facility was pleasantly clean with bold streaks of martial order. It was not stiflingly uncomfortable like a makeshift Undercity hospital, and certainly not as luxurious as Upper, but the rigid bellicose structure of shapes and forms cast an imposing shadow over him.

  Nara was led into a room appearing more like an apartment than a medical station, complete with a living room and kitchen facilities. The furnishings matched the blend of militaristic yet bizarrely reassuring atmosphere of the building. Their solidly built boxy structures displayed limited artistic expression.

  The duo practically hoisted her onto the bed, echoing sympathetic hums as they scrutinized the patches plastered over her shin. Blood trimmed the edges of the material with a crusted barrier, flaking away as she was jostled. Her abdominal plating began to protrude through the bandages, peeling back the spongy material from her skin in shredded tatters.

  “Ouch, would you look at that ineffective garbage?” Fariem shook their head admonishingly as they began to pluck back the bandages. “You’re in good hands now.”

  “I’m sure.” Nara rolled her eyes. “What’s the situation in the Council?”

  “You have barely just arrived and you ask a loaded question like that?” Fariem chastised, pawing through their tools. “I bet you want to march off to meetings immediately. You certainly haven’t changed a bit.”

  “The pain, the grief, Fariem,” Nara cursed.

  Fariem planted a hearty shove on her chest, pushing her back against the bed. “Relax first, then you can talk filth. I’m sure Ren will visit you tomorrow anyway to discuss it.”

  Nara stifled a grumble as the duo began work on her. Good to know Loremaster returned without incident.

  “Now let us see what you have been up to.” Fariem waved a scanner over her, uttering an escalating chorus of disgust as they uncovered Nara’s battle history through an infinitely scrolling list. “Whoever worked on you had no idea what they were doing. Leaving all this behind, I can see every hole and scar. Rusted knives, that’s what they are.”

  Nara couldn’t help but smirk. Back on Arcadia, Declan had more than the capability, but he always made sure she felt the consequences of her actions, doing the bare minimum to try to teach her a lesson about caution. It never worked, and he stopped trying. Eventually.

  Fariem snapped their eyes up. “And can you please explain to me why your left arm is approximately two-and-a-half decades younger than the rest of you?”

  Nara clicked her tongue and averted her gaze, focusing on the work of their assistants. Yeah, that wasn’t a fun ride.

  “I see.” Fariem grumbled more curses. “I can fix it all later with a few sessions in a biotherapy tank, but seeing as it’s mostly cosmetic, I suppose the priority isn’t high. Still, what an infuriating lack of professionalism.”

  Nara didn’t acknowledge the ranting, instead observing the sorcery unfolding on the talon wound in her shin she’d endured from the security bots upon her exodus from Arcadia. Though she could see the incisions and the jabs the pair of assistants drove into her muscle, her nerves remained calm, devoid of pain. She had forgotten how gentle medical procedures were here and how much care was taken to
ensure the comfort of the patient. It was a nice change to the dire conditions of Undercity, but she was almost guilty for not experiencing her mistakes on a visceral level.

  “I have your house, by the way,” Fariem added. “They certainly took no time with decommissioning it. You can probably find a nice discreet field to settle in.”

  Her living arrangements were far from Nara’s immediate concerns. It would be unwise to let others find her by building her residence exactly where it was. But traversing through the forests sent a sickening revulsion coursing through her guts.

  “I’d rather stay somewhere familiar.” Nara flexed her fingers uncomfortably.

  “Suit yourself. You can make an extension on the lab in the meantime,” Fariem said.

  Nara rumbled in acknowledgement, half hearing the offer. The web of political intrigue began to wrap itself around her brain. Her knowledge of the current power structures was a blank slate, uncertainty and suspicion coloring her previous affiliations. How many knew of her coming, and how many were as helpful as they claimed?

  “Tosk, huh?” Nara raised an eye at Fariem.

  “The humans overstretch your vocal chords too?” The medic ignored her venomous glare. “Qu’ol is a good friend. And owes me quite a lot. They’ll do you no harm.”

  Nara considered their admission in silence. Fariem was not forthcoming with the extent of their emotions toward her arrival. She could sense their relief, yet an underlying conflict teased around their presence. But they habitually guarded their concern from the outside observer. Perhaps that’s where she learned it from.

  “I appreciate you, Fariem.” Nara attempted to provoke a reaction. “I thought I should tell you since I haven’t before and was granted this second chance to do so.”

  “Quiet. I’ll have no sentimental pains gnawing on my skull while you are here.” Fariem dodged her attack, storming off to wash their hands. They then shattered the air with a sharp clap to summon the attention of their minions, who wordlessly bowed and skirted toward the door. “Now rest.”