Tacenda Read online

  As they passed over the main buildings, she saw no signs of interest amongst the locals. Messenger ships, even unusual ones like Octavia, were not a new sight for them. Arucken pressed a switch to one side. The sounds of the people working drifted through the speakers, clear for all their distance. He liked that to be their greeting to a planet, and she saw the beginnings of a smile across his face.

  Octavia hovered above the landing point, bringing her thrusters to the side before aligning herself for descent. As confirmation radioed in, Kerris sat beside her partner and strapped in for the landing. Octavia took them in smoothly, and vibrated as she settled onto the landing plate. Sometimes the ship seemed as eager as they were to visit new places. Yet nothing compared to the vibrant ascent she’d make to return to spaceflight.

  It made her think of the Explorer, her sister’s first ship. Not far from derelict, it had been an appalling combination of outdated equipment. The shoddy leased crew had seen her sister’s youth as a challenge.

  They had soon learned differently.

  A touch from Arucken brought her back to the present, he was cast in a professional red so dark it was almost black. He liked to mirror her colour sometimes, but she preferred the almost subtle combinations like this one. What other messenger pair, she wondered, had a uniform across their own skins?

  As they gathered their packs and exited their ship, she turned to watch as Octavia drew the ramp back upwards with a slow grace. She made a low humming sound as she rested in her bay. Dwarfed by two large container ships to either side, their shadow cast her bright silver into a dull grey. The soft lines of her curves making her the pearl in the centre of the oyster. A pair of uniformed soldiers, refuelling the ship to the left, glanced across and began laughing.

  Let them. Octavia was often underestimated.

  The port was bare, the early morning rush not yet begun. Apart from the soldiers to one side, there were few to notice their arrival. It was colder than Kerris had expected, and the bare steel girders and lack of signage suggested this was not a well frequented colony.

  A trio of people swept gracefully towards them, hands outstretched. Covered heads did not distinguish between female or male. Their clothing was light and airy, draping them from head to toe in a soft silk like appearance. It was more colourful than the typical uniforms of the rest of the small crowd, standing out like poppies in the field of corn.

  “We are pleased to see you! I am councillor Arahvinth.” a man exclaimed politely. He was tall, brown skinned, with broad shoulders and heavy lidded eyes. Wisps of pale hair escaped from his cowl.

  “A good trip, I trust?” a woman asked after introducing herself as Oleysha. Her voice was low, with a harsh edge to her consonants. She was shorter, with a wide face and friendly eyes. Her skin was black and youthful, although lines around her eyes hinted at more years than this suggested.

  The third was much paler, medium build and height. His eyes were a deep brown and his lower face covered with patches of bristles. He looked them both over with intense eyes, but remained silent.

  Kerris nodded her answer, as they checked over the documents and they transferred the cube. A misnomer, since it was just a flat rectangular shape. It was cool to the touch, edged with silver bands around a black centre. When Arucken took it away to store it, it shone a light blue in his grasp.

  Oleysha spoke more about the mission. Kerris listened with barely concealed impatience as Arucken unloaded the seedlings and directed a small group of plainly dressed residents. She could hear him lecturing them in their care, waving his long, webbed hands as if conducting. He was always reluctant to let them out of his care, but they would need more monitoring before they could be transferred. The unnamed man watched Arucken more than her, his mouth pressed into a thin line.

  Kerris listened to Oleysha with only half her mind. She was eager to get to the sea and discover the ski-boats. Her whole skin itched and it was all she could do to keep still. Cities were not to her liking.

  After a time, Oleysha directed them to the station, wishing them luck on their way. The unnamed man made a polite echo of her wishes, but did not meet their eyes.

  Arahvinth smiled at them, chuckling about how he did not envy them the journey they would have to make.

  “We’ll send those seeds back on after you, yes?” he said with gusto. “But you go on first, they’ll follow!”

  He’d spoken at length about how rough they might find the colonies, and how different to the mainland. His pride in Arroyo couldn’t have been louder if he’d shouted it across the loudspeakers. Kerris made her polite answers, eager to get going.

  As they joined a queue to have their ID checked, the few humans already there gave them a wide berth. It was like there was a wide circle around them. Arucken did not comment, though his inward silence spoke its own language.

  Posters of the Concordat aligned the narrow lines of people waiting for approval. Kerris stared at the spreading branch symbol encased in a diamond, with four diamond pointed tips. Her lips moved with the favoured tagline, before she could stop herself.

  Liberty and Union: Multitudes as one.

  Arucken’s caution steadied her, as anger awoke at the sight of the familiar motto. The Concordat was meant to be so powerful, to keep peace across the species. It was not powerful enough, and it had failed her sister.

  She wrapped her fingers around the straps of her bag, staring blankly forward as they shuffled through the line. Each monochrome poster had a companion in the tiny black cameras below, peering across the rows of silent people. Circles of different species, holding hands in a very human gesture, flattened and pinned to the wall. She hated those posters, recruitment drives that told a very simple lie. It worked, she guessed. It had caught both her and her sister.

  At the end of the line, they approached the desk as individuals. A young dark-haired woman checked over each ID from a fragile looking desk. She waved them past with a cheer Kerris suspected could not stand up to the long hours she must work here.

  They exited the building into a livelier rush of people. Dressed with the same rainbow hues as the councillors, but with heads bare to the light touch of an older, red sun. Carts rumbled across recently finished streets, pointing at a far busier centre. The scent of cut grass and fresh bread was a faint touch in the air, promising to grow stronger.

  A brisk walk led them to a station and soon they were on a train to the outer shores. It arrived at the station in silence, although a low electric hum began as the doors slid open to welcome them inside. They soon found a quiet corner to sit in, underneath subdued pale hues, and a solitary advert with a familiar emblem.

  They were not happy we used Shamibala. Arucken said after a time. Apparently they have a preferred Seedport.

  Any other would have taken us weeks away! Kerris answered, in annoyance. It was always an irritant when a client gave arbitrary criteria, well after the action had been taken. If it was that important, they should have said. Although it would have vastly upped our fee!

  I pointed that out. They didn’t take it well. There are some politics here I’m unsure of Arucken said.

  Shouldn’t affect us. Kerris answered, although it was more of a hope than any strong belief. She’d seen the signs of a bickering community. They could only hope the island colony was a little more pulled together. Forget it, we need to grab the Dolphins and get over whilst we still have the light with us.

  Dolphins? Arucken queried, sending a sense of disgust for the idea of riding an animal he knew to be sentient.

  Just a name. She answered. A vehicle only. Anyway didn’t you see they’ve not been approved to add any sea creatures here?

  Kerris checked the details of where they could rent the short, powerful ski boats. She was looking forward to the journey, but could still sense Arucken’s reluctance. The weight of it was heavy, and she sighed. They both tried to shake off Talibeth’s barbs about human centricity, but there was still some truth to them.

  Balancing a
wkwardly on the edge of a seat not made with his species in mind, Arucken was a pale pink colour, with a tinge of darker greys. It wasn’t an angry colour, or a sad one, but it wasn’t one she liked to see on him. He was mentally fatigued, whether he’d admit that or not.

  Not. He said, a touch irate. Does your species always have to think so loud? Did you not consider that I’m looking out for you as well?

  He shut her out before she could respond, but she drew herself back anyway. He was right, she hadn’t thought that. She’d taken all the guilt onto her and never thought that perhaps he was helping her keep grounded after the loss of her twin.

  Her mind sheared away from the thought, and she turned back to planning their journey. It was easy to distract herself with the technical aspects whilst watching the scenery pass by their windows.

  Arucken hummed to himself, and it was a pleasant offset to the busy noise of the wheels.

  Once or twice, a human approached their cabin, saw Arucken, and retreated. She could tell he noticed, but other than his custom raised eyebrow - he made no comment. They’d seen a few other species in the crowds, but they were still the minority.

  When the train slowed they both exited at a rather tatty, small platform. It held only a simple raised surface of wood with a sign carved on a large rock at the base of a couple of steps. Nothing lay in sight but the glitter of the sea, a far distance across several hills. They were the only people who exited.

  Definitely this one. Kerris sent.

  Definitely. Arucken said, without a trace of sarcasm. He frowned. I guess we make for the sea?

  The train sped off without them. A few faces pressed to the window, pointing and chattering a bit freer now that the targets could no longer hear them.

  Kerris shrugged, and started walking. A faint track to the ground suggested they at least were not the first to do this. They soon fell into an easy rhythm. The landscape was sparse, with plain, spiky looking plants jutting out from the rough earth.

  A flying animal rode the winds above them, bright white wings outstretched. The air was cool, and the tang of salt became heavier with each step. They both shared a lighter spirit as they journeyed in silence, with no need to break it.

  After an hours walk, the path was better kept. Stone markers scrawled with the agreed signs for port led them onwards.

  The markers for the port led them to a small floating dock, boats moored in small berths on long twists of rope. They could see a lone figure, refuelling one of the large vehicles.

  As they approached, he turned off the hum of the machine and came to meet them on the stony pathway. “I was told to expect you!” he said, in a jovial tone. Only his eyes, resting on Arucken, betrayed his uncertainty.

  He led them to the mooring, giving brief instructions for their journey. Two small ski-boats floated to the corner of the mooring, held in places by twists of sea-dampened rope. Dwarfed by the backdrop of the larger round-bellied hull of a passenger boat, they looked tiny against the backdrop of the ocean. Kerris tried not to look at the rust coated sides.

  The proprietor's speech was patterned with the usual self-deprecating phrases Kerris had learnt to hate. “Now I’m sure I don’t need to tell you…” he said, with a nervous grin as he fiddled with the controls of the nearest ski boat. He pointed at the clearly labelled controls, his eyes refusing to settle on either of them.

  It was an uncomfortable conversation; especially given he’d forgotten to give his name. He couldn’t understand whether to talk to the human female, or the nestling humanoid. It didn’t help that Arucken, with his unlined face with the single striped length of dark hair from head to back, showed no signs of aging. Maylith Tara was a society arranged by age, and Arucken was ageless.

  Kerris made her own checks as her partner drew the owner off to discuss payments. She inspected the rust and peeling paint, frowning. Yet when she slapped the sides they rang solid, sloshing with fuel. She could see Arucken gesticulating to one side, the shifting feet of the bearded man as he failed to meet her partner’s eyes. She kept her grin to herself. It always helped to negotiate when the owner was already a little unsettled.

  It bothered her that she wasn’t given the full details of their message. The information they carried was not dangerous in her eyes - at least not from the preview she’d been given, damn thing was encoded. She checked the fuel gauge, reassured to see it full.

  “Nestling.” Arucken corrected, following another confused appellation from the owner. He was leading the owner back to Kerris, payment made. He ran his hands across the controls of the vehicle and pulled himself across in one fluid motion. Kerris loved to see him move like that, it held a grace a human could only envy. And sometimes, feel so slow, large and clumsy in comparison.

  Rocking on the Dolphin, Arucken smiled at the owner. It was a clear smile, friendly and unassuming. “Good machines, I see. We are all set, yes?”

  The owner nodded, managing an answering smile despite his uncertainty. It was clear he held a pride in his machines. “The weather will hold you.” He said, looking at the clear sky they could not have failed to notice. “But you’d best be off to beat the dark!”

  Ignoring the proffered arm from the owner, Kerris pulled herself atop her own Dolphin. She gripped it between her thighs, resting her arms across the controls. It rocked only lightly, she matched the weight of her body to it, breathing in the chill air. Arucken grinned at her, the owner already returning to the abandoned fuel pump of the passenger boat.

  “Come on then!” she said aloud, twisting the ignition. The roar was more a splutter, easing into a slow roar. They set off with only a few false starts. The sound of the water cascading back was incredible, only increasing with the speed. It was like a waterfall, pouring behind them as they sped away from the beachfront.

  It was exhilarating. The wind shot across Kerris’ skin with a knife’s edge, her throat raw within seconds from the sheer volume of it crowding into her lungs. They turned with ease, responding to controls with a feather touch. Secure against her back, the pack was only a slight drag into the wind.

  Sometimes I could hate your species. Arucken said into her mind, his own vehicle a small shape beside her. And then they come up with something like this!

  Kerris laughed, both out loud and sending the thought to him. It was a tad smug, she admitted. He’d not shared his reluctance but his colours and mood had been plain to her. It made communication easy, but there were many ways in which it was hard for him to hide.

  The sky darkened, but it was just a slow fading and the water was calm and empty. Jets of water surged behind her, her hands were cold and aching around the handlebars but it was a good pain. A clean, healthy pain. Kerris felt new tears sting her eyes. They were not from the salt.

  As the sky grew darker the land came in sight, and Arucken’s skin came alive. He darted in and out of her sight, fast and playful and the bare skin she could see rippled with colours, glowing.

  As they raced she saw his glow came from patches in the waters around him, a bioluminescence that splashed across him. Small, glowing creatures covered the water's surface, casting a pale multi-coloured light. The crest of each wave shone, and where the darkening sky touched the water it was washed in a pale illumination.

  Arucken took one long limb off the handle of his vehicle and waved at her, arching round in a loose, looping trail. She’d never seen him look so beautiful, he so often had to keep his colours in check. She knew her eyes only caught a fraction of their range.

  She felt dull against that wonder, but it could not break her joy for him.

  ***

  They made land far too soon, the mooring easy to spot with ropes tied across in the same type of small berths. They pulled into silence, dismounting from the dolphins with some reluctance.

  As they tied the vehicles up, Arucken tapped his hand against the tank. It rang empty. It was odd to see the other berths in the dock lay empty. They looked to be the first visitors for some time.

 
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