Chapter 11 – CyprusPsyatic Output: Unavaible

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  Kleth’altho was the most unpleasant pce Cyprus had ever stepped foot on. She had heard the stories about the smell, but nothing could have prepared her for the acrid stench that assaulted her nose. She loo run back to her ship and grab her respirator, but the locals didn’t wear one so her would she. She he Klethonians to respect her, because they o take what she had to say seriously.

  Her and Recli walked the streets of Giantry City, built in the winding space of a ravine. Many of the structures had been quarried into the stoself, burrowing further away from the noxious gas. The occasional elevator could be seen t to the surface, where a massive refinery domihe skyscape. It loomed over the ravine like a giant peering into a jar of is.

  “The Union wishes to absorb this p into their gover?” Recli asked, the distaste in his voice evident.

  He was ed in a massive cloak, which was really just a heavy curtain she had found on Terminus 14. Thankfully, the autonomous p was filled with iant species. As long as Recli’s race couldn’t be identified, no one would ask any questions.

  “Kleth’altho is powerful and far too close to Hokku.”

  Through the shadow of his cloak, his forked toasted the air, “They are worried they’ll join forces with the Snty?”

  Cyprus shrugged, “The possibility is never out of the question. Like I said, Hokku is closer to Kletho’altho than the core is. They have a greater influence.”

  Recli studied her with his golden eyes, “And the headmaster expects you to vihem to join after a hundred years of autonomy?”

  She sighed, “I’m going to try my best. If we assimite them into the Union, we’d stand a better an all-out war.”

  She didn’t tell him that Giantis had practically banished her here. He didn’t really believe that she could vihe Corpos to join. It was just something to keep her busy.

  She risked a g Recli, and tried not to flinch when their gazes met. The predatleam quied her heart rate, and she had to wipe her slied palms on her uniform’s skirt.

  He had insisted that he join her on the surface, and she didn’t know how tue without the risk of losing her head. If the reptile wao follow her into the meeting with the board, she didn’t think she’d be able to stop him.

  “Well, this is it,” Cyprus cleared her throat.

  The municipality building was only two stories tall. Its storucture was bnd, devoid of any color or ornate designs. A yellow fg flew above the door. Depicted on its ter were two crossing hammers, and the silhouette of a refinery behind them.

  The fg was the only indication of any importance. If she hadn’t been looking for it, she would have easily missed the structure altogether.

  She gnced over her shoulder. Recli was watg ily, but he made no move to follow.

  Yes, please stay right there.

  It was being increasingly evident just how intelligent Recli really was. He seemed to grasp the political intricacies of Dromedar instantly, and she only had to expin something once before he began to ask the right questions.

  He was really good at asking questions.

  She had the creeping suspi that this wasn’t the first time Recli had infiltrated a protected star system.

  He stared at her, unblinking, unmoving. Oive step after the other, and she was inside. She risked another over-the-shoulder gnce, and was shocked to discover that he had vahe stark reality of her powerlessness made her extremely unfortable. If he did decide to go on a rampage, there was nothing she would be able to do to stop him.

  You ’t think about that right now. You have a job to do.

  The inside was just as b as the outside. The foyer was a rge, empty room, with stark grey walls. At the end of the room was a desk, aed behind it was a human female. She had short, blonde hair, and sharp, pointed features.

  Cyprus gave the woman her frie smile, “Good m! I’m an Atik. I’m here to meet with the board.”

  The woman raised her eyebrows, “You’re Kaiprus Atik? I was expeg someone’s grandmother.”

  “It’s Cyprus, actually.”

  “Cyprus…” The girl pursed her lips and shamelessly looked her up and down, “You’re really part of that snooze fest in the core?”

  She raised an eyebrow, “It’s hardly as b as you must think it is.”

  “Really?” She flipped her blonde hair and leaned forward on the desk, hands on her and elbows beh her. “Don’t you guys just sit around a big table and talk?”

  Cyprus’ smile slipped, “It’s more than that, we–we talk about important things.”

  The girl giggled.

  “We do!” Cyprus crossed her arms across her chest, “It’s more than just talking. It’s an opportunity for ge—for a.”

  “Seems like they didn’t like the kind of a you were suggesting.”

  She frowned, “Why do you say that?”

  Angle, “Well, you’re here. Hoarsecs from the core? Seems like this is the farthest pce you could get from ving any of those old geezers to ge.”

  Cyprus sighed. Even a random receptionist could see the obvious punishment in her reassig.

  “I don’t o vinyone. I’ll make the ge myself and I’m exactly where I o be to make that happen.”

  The receptionist snorted and pushed herself off the desk, “Well I hope that all works out for you, and if it doesn’t, you always have my job. It sucks.”

  “I think I’ll pass.”

  “I don’t bme you.” She checked the small holo in front of her and made a lih her mouth, “They’re ready for you. Good luck, grandma.”

  She checked the girl’s ag, “Thanks, Jessica. I’ll .”

  Jessica grinned and motiooward the massive double doors. They were grey like the rest of the stone walls, but carved in the ter were tinted, gss panes. Cyprus quickly checked her refle, and smoothed her dark green uniform. The pleated skirt fell past her knees, and her colred shirt hugged her neck.

  It was a fttering outfit, and it boosted her fidence.

  You got this!

  She grabbed hold of the smooth, metal handle and pulled. The doors swung open to reveal ane room with a regur table. The chairs were empty, except for a male Myrd. He sat on one end of the table and motioo the empty seat beside him. She fshed a smile and was careful not to rush. Slow and deliberate strides indicated fidenbsp;

  “Miss Atik,” the Myrd said, his voice hoarse from years oh’altho, but not too deep. “A pleasure.”

  The Myrd was the color of dried mud, with leathery skin and six sets of limbs. He was old, but the corded muscles that rippled beh his hardened skin showed he still posed the strength of his youth. It was no surprise to find o the head of the table. Their intelligend vicious tendencies ofteed their careers.

  Regardless, Cyprus’ heart sank. They were almost as stubborn as humans.

  “The pleasure is mihank you for seeing me, Mr…”

  “Siraith.” His business smile revealed rows of sharp teeth. “We would never deny a request from our friendly neighbors. We have not heard from the Union in quite some time.”

  Cyprus smiled, “Well I’m hoping to ge that. Terminus 14 is under my and for the foreseeable future.”

  “Yes, I heard about your…reassig. I hope the outer yers have been kind to you?” The Myrd’s yellow eyes mimicked Recli’s predatleam.

  She suppressed a shudder with a forced smile, “It’s not so bad. In fact, I think all this talk of the dangers out here was a little exaggerated.”

  The Myrd’s smile never slipped, “Oh, it usually is, but I assure you some dangers are quite real. Though, you’re safe here. Kleth’altho is a sanctuary for the outer yers.”

  She raised an eyebrow, “I ’t say I’ve ever heard that title being thrown around.”

  Siraith bobbed his head, “Oh, you will. The Corpos have worked hard to protect our autonomy. I hope that’s not why you’re here today, Miss Atik. We’ve made our case quite clear to the Union.”

  Damn it.

  “Of course, and we would never do anything to promise your iy as pary leaders, but we would like you to sider a partnership.”

  Siraith’s smile grew deadly, “The Union refused that proposal—our proposal.”

  “That was a long time ago, and the situation is different. Times are ging. I’m sure Kleth’altho has experiehis.”

  The Myrd’s lips twitched, “Perhaps, but we excel at adaptation.”

  “And how are the Corpos adapting, Mr. Siraith?”

  The air in the board room seemed to cool, and the Myrd’s yellow eyes fshed. “I’m not sure I uand what you’re implying.”

  Don’t falter but be smart.

  Her politi's grin made her cheeks ache, “It’s that you have powerful neighbors. I’m sure that be quite tempting.”

  Siraith’s smile vanished as his lips peeled ba a ferocious snarl, “The Snty is no longer wele here. We cast them out a decade ago. The day the Corpos crawl back to those spineless vapor rats is the day our p is obliterated. Kleth’altho is indepe, and we always will be.”

  Stay calm. The anger isn’t directed at you.

  The Myrd’s corded muscles tensed, and he smmed two of his hands down onto the table. It was clear that she touched a nerve.

  “Yet, you allow Hokkonians to travel down to your surface.”

  Siraith growled, “We have no desire to start a war. They hated it here, so it was easy to push them out. But to deny a HWND pilot is foolishness. No one refuses them passage anywhere.”

  Cyprus took a deep breath, “I did.”

  Siraith paused, his eyes narrowed. “What?”

  “A HWND pilot that came from Kleth’altho. He wao board Terminus 14 and I refused.”

  Siraith’s four arms crossed, “Are you a plete idiot? If the Hokkonian were here oh’altho then it was food reason. The same be said for your station. The Snty might be governed by braindead vapor rats, but the HWND pilots operate with some level of pruided purpose.”

  “But they are Hokkonian all the same. Like I said, Mr. Siraith, times are ging.”

  Bring it back. Don’t lose the versation.

  “The Union will adapt, I promise you that, so it is up to the Corpos to decide where Kleth’altho will stand when that ge es.”

  She was breathing hard, and csped her hands together to hide the anxious tremors.

  Siraith’s bulbous lips closed over his teeth ailted his head, “I ’t imagihat’s an official statement made by the Union.”

  Cyprus let out a shaky ugh, “Not yet, but it’s my goal to make it so.”

  Siraith studied her, before nodding approvingly. “The gap between the Snty and the rest of Dromedar diminishes with each passing rotation. The creation of their HWNDs has crippled them.”

  She leaned forward, “What do you mean?”

  “They’re no lohe pinnacle of Hokku’s Navy. They are Hokku’s Navy.”

  “Hokku’s fleet?”

  Siraith shrugged all four shoulders, “Gone. We haven’t seen a fgship in years. The only patrol our freighters have run into are the Novawolf M-42s. The Snty is pulling back their forces, and we have no idea why.”

  “Do you think they’re pnning something?”

  Siraith shrugged, “It’s hard to say, but my gut tells me it’s an act based purely on their own arrogahey think their precious HWNDs are enough.”

  “Judging by the way you said that, I’m going to assume you disagree with that se?” Cyprus pressed.

  The Myrd scoffed, “We’ve had to struct our ow just to protect ourselves from the raiders. Though, I should thank their naval inadequacies. Kleth’altho is no longer depe orength of another nation.”

  Cyprus crossed her arms. If what the Myrd was saying is true, then the Hokkonians were even more vulnerable thahought.

  “If the Union does make that decision, where will Kleth’altho stand?”

  Siraith licked his lips with a long, ft tongue, “I do not speak for the other members of the Corpos, but I assure you we have no love for the Hokku Snty.”

  She nodded, “That’s enough for now. Please pass my message along to the other owners. Maybe the Corpos and the Union e to an agreement some time in the near future.”

  She dipped her head and pushed herself out of the chair. The Myrd did the same and he rose a few heads taller than her. He shook her hand with a surprisingly gentle grip.

  “Thank you for your time, Mr. Siraith.”

  “Anytime. The Union is a friend.”

  Just as she turo leave, Siraith cleared his throat. “If you’re truly serious, I would pay a visit to Relo.”

  Cyprus frowned, “I thought Relo was annihited.”

  “Close, but many survived. They spend their lives fighting now. I don't know if they've made much of a difference, but perhaps they’re the reason the Hokku Navy has been so distracted. They could be valuable, even if used as a means to an end.” A dangerous smile twisted at the ers of his mouth.

  “I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.”

  Siraith waved a hand, “Stay safe out there, an.”

  Cyprus closed the door behind her, let out a breath, and rexed her ched fists. Her legs wobbled and she stumbled past the desk, holding a hand to her head.

  “He’s so scary, isn't he?” Jessica was leaning against the ter again, her pointed nose wrinkled as she gave Cyprus a knowing grin.

  “He’s definitely intimidating.”

  The girl shuddered, “Myrd’s just give me the creeps, especially the ohat sit behind a desk all day. I feel like it’s more natural for them to be is, tearing arms off of one another.”

  Cyprus ughed and thought of Frayioch, the old Myrd representative ba Gasaan. He had definitely seemed like he wao kill some of the other cil members.

  “I agree, I–Jessica? What’s wrong?”

  Jessica’s good-natured grin was repced with a look of terror. Cyprus followed her gaze and whipped her head around. Recli was standing in the doorway, hunched so he could fit through the opening.

  “What is that?” Jessica’s horrified whisper was almost inaudible.

  Cyprus' heart lurched ihroat and she hurried over to the lizard. “What are you doing here?”

  “I gave you an appropriate amount of time,” Reever took his eyes off the receptionist.

  “I’m not finished.”

  “Do not keep me waiting for your own pleasures, Cyprus.” There was a murderous glint in his e eyes.

  Cyprus bowed her head in a meek dispy of obedience. She turo look at Jessid saw her obvious fear. Yet, when they locked eyes, Jessica showed genuine .

  “A–are you okay?” she called.

  Cyprus wao run to her, and fess to everything—who she was and what she po do. She didn’t want to sell her soul to the cloaked monster. Yet, despite her instinctual fear, she did want to watch the Snty burn.

  She gave Jessica a tight smile, “I’m okay.”

  ***

  The two of them walked briskly through the streets. It was getting dark, which could only mean the release of the refinery workers. The city would be getting much busier, and they couldn’t risk Recli’s presence being revealed. She was just thankful the reptile didn’t demand the life of the receptionist.

  “Well?” he growled.

  She sighed, “I doubt they’ll help. The Union relies on them for Rylon fuel, but that’s where our retionship ends.”

  “But will they wainst us?”

  Cyprus shook her head, and a strand of her hair came loose from her tight braid. “No, that was made clear. But…”

  Recli eyed her, “What is it?”

  “There is another p, potential allies. They hate the Hokkonians more than anything. The Relos.”

  “Why did we not go there first?

  “Because Relo has no structure. In terms of their identity as a she Unio even reize them. I always thought they weinct after the crusade. They got hit the hardest and the entire p burned.” Cyprus pursed her lips as she thought ba that history lesson.

  “Doesn’t sound too promising,” Recli hissed.

  “No, but apparently there’s still some life left. The Myrd mentioned a military group that’s mao exist sihe genocide. It might be worth cheg out.”

  Recli was silent for some time as they walked back to the nding bay. Cyprus was thankful for it, but even in silence, his atmosphere was suffog.

  “If Relo is as dead as you say, perhaps there will be room for my people.”

  Cyprus shot him a look, “I think you might be right.”

  The nding bay was just ahead, and through the open gates she could see her ship. But standing beside the open doors was a young woman, who was screaming something inaudible.

  “Sounds like we found another ally,” Recli’s rumbling chuckle turo a cough.

  She gave him a puzzled look but when they got closer, she heard it.

  “I’m going to kill them, every one of them! The HWNDs must die! Burn them! Burn them all!” a woman’s voice screamed.

  The owner of the screeg had the unmistakable look of torpe abuse. Her bloodshot eyes were sunken into her skull, and her bloody lips were scarred. Her screaming opped. The occasional passerby gave her an odd look but opped walking.

  On a world like Kleth’altho, it robably on.

  When the junkie saw Cyprus and Recli, the senseless screaming ended. “You. You’re with the Union, aren’t you?” She stumbled closer, “Take me with you. Take me to Hokku, They o die. They took something from me.”

  Cyprus dodged the desperate outstretched hand, “I’m sorry. There’s nothing I do.”

  She swiped for Cyprus’ jacket, “You have to do something—make them pay for what they’ve doo us.”

  Recli stopped walking, f Cyprus to do the same.

  She bit back a curse, and smiled at the woman, “What’s your name?”

  “Kyrin Ammend. Please, you have to help me.”

  “What did they take from you?” she reached out for a f shoulder pat, but retracted her hand before she could touch the scabbed skin.

  The addict’s eyes welled up with tears, and her face went sck, “He took him. He took Jericho away from me.”

  Recli shouldered Cyprus out of the way and k so the woman could see his face. To her credit, she didn’t flinch or look away.

  “Are you willing to die for them?” the lizard asked.

  “Yes,” the woman whispered.

  Recli’s reptilian lips pulled ba a fearsome grin, and saliva dripped from his stained fangs. His forked toasted the air a few inches from the woman’s face. “We will e back for you.”

  Cyprus shot him a surprised look. Why would they ever return for this crippled woman? She would only be a hindranbsp;

  “I’m sorry, there’s nothing we do for yht now,” Cyprus had to tug her arm away from the junkie’s grasp.

  Kyrin tried to keep up, but she stumbled and fell. “Wait, don’t leave me here! Take me with you!”

  As they left the area, Cyprus could hear the girl wailing, “Don’t fet about me! Don’t leave me here!”

  She looked at Recli. The giant lizard’s face was unreadable.