Hathor Legacy: Outcast (3 page)

Much later in the evening Jonathan headed over to see his mother, Estrella. Taking an aircar there was the quickest way, compared to spending an hour tra
velling in a ground vehicle.

After the aircar set down on the pad, Jonathan instructed the driver to wait for him. It was a clear night, the sky filled with countless stars and Demeter shining bright enough to illuminate his surroundings. 

As he approached, he could see activity inside the house. Not that it was difficult with the glass wall encasing the lower level.

"Jonathan." His mother came over to embrace him as he e
ntered the foyer. Dressed in a flowing, sleeveless dress, she gathered her brown hair off her shoulders and twisted it into a knot. "I thought you were coming out tomorrow."

"Are the girls here?" His sisters, Verda and Brisa were 17 and 21, and as far as they were co
ncerned, far from being girls. In fact, he only called them that to tease them, which they usually didn't appreciate.

"Upstairs. Why? Is something wrong?"

"Let's go where we won't be interrupted."

Estrella's grey eyes, the same color as his own, grew wide as she reacted to his words.

"Why can't they hear what you have to say?" she asked.

"I don't want to worry them. Please, it's important we talk."

Instead of questioning him further, she led him to her suite in the rear of the house. Once they were inside, she closed the door and sat in her usual chair by the window.

Jon remembered many nights he'd sat there with her as she told him stories about her life on Hathor. She and his grandparents lived in a place called the West Country. And they'd had a farm, or was it a ranch? He couldn't remember.

The back of the house faced the ocean, and it was quiet enough to hear the waves crashing against the rocks below.

"Have you heard from Dad?"

Estrella's gaze penetrated him like she could see what he was thinking. It seemed strange, but when she looked at him that way, he wondered if she really could read his thoughts. 

"Not yet, but Brandon said he was going to Hathor."

"But he should've arrived by now. Aren't you concerned?"

"No, I'm not, Jon," she said, her voice steady.

"I've heard rumors that he was involved in the theft."

"Jon, I don't care what people think. Your father didn't do it." In spite of her sharp words, there was no anger in her tone or e
xpression. She never spoke to him in anger, but her calm could be much more intimidating. 

"I met someone who overheard the thieves. She's in danger and needs my help," he blurted out.

"Who is this person?"

"I'd rather not say."

"Jon, what are you about to do?"

"If anyone asks, just say I went to Hathor on business."

"I don't want you to go." Estrella came to her feet, her hands balled into fists. "We'll find your father, I'm certain of it. It's not safe for you there."

"Why not? You were born there. It'll be like going back home." He smiled, ho
ping to diffuse her fears. "Why don't you want me to go?"

"Just promise me you won't go."

"When I get there I'll go to company security and ask them to take over the investigation. Don't worry. I'll be back in a few days."

He gathered her into his arms. Usually his mother didn't like a lot of hugging and touching. She'd shown affection to him and his sisters in many ways, but physical closeness like this was rare for her.

"Please don't worry. I won't be in danger," he whispered. He couldn't lie to her. But he could tell her what he knew she needed to hear. 

"Whatever happens, Jonathan, you must never tell anyone that I'm from Hathor. Do you promise? Say nothing."

"Why not?"

"Promise me." She gripped him, her fingers digging into his flesh.

"I promise, Mother. I won't tell anyone."

3
Thieves Like Us

Astarte
-- Morning

Using his father's security clearance, it hadn't been difficult for Jonathan to get the shuttle passes for himself and Ilana. But just to be on the safe side, she suggested he use an alias when getting her passes. That way, no one would know she was on her way to Hathor.

Another advantage of using Brandon's clearance was that they didn't have to go through sec
urity checkpoints. The shuttle to Hathor was usually filled with Novacorp managers and other company workers. Just the group of passengers to mix in with if you didn't want to be subjected to a lot of scrutiny.

Other than Estrella, the only person who knew Jonathan was leaving was his assistant at the club. Not only was she very capable, but she was good at keeping confidences. He'd only be gone for a week or so. She'd have no problem handling things until he got back.

Cat would be pissed if she checked the passenger lists and saw his name. Thinking of it made him smile. He didn't need her a
pproval to look for his father.

Once they were onboard, Jonathan led the way to the private suites. An atte
ndant showed them to their room and left them to settle in. Though it was compact, it included a bed large enough for them both. There was even room for a narrow table and two chairs.

Jon dropped his bag and settled down on the bed.

"Jonathan." Ilana plopped down next to him. "Aren't you glad you got one of the executive suites? I told you it would be more comfortable."

He rested against the pillows. "You were right."

Sure, it was comfortable. But one of the basic rooms would've been fine. Why had he let himself be talked into reserving this one? But, maybe she was right. At least they wouldn't be crammed into bunk beds with no room to move around.

"I wish I could've gone back to my place to get my clothing." Ilana pulled off her torn jacket and threw it on the bed. "I must look te
rrible."

"I'll buy you clothing when we get in." Jon drew her into a kiss.

Ilana playfully bit his lip. "We have three days, Jon. I'm hungry. I've always wanted to try the gourmet menu."

The engines started up, sending a vibration through the bed, followed by the ding of a warning bell. The door was closing. 

In a few moments they'd be shooting out into space.  Now he could relax and enjoy three days with Ilana in a private suite. Things could definitely be worse.

*****

Hathor -- Late afternoon

It wasn't often that Nadira was called to her mentor, Zina's apartment for a private meeting. But Zina wanted to discuss the theft on Demeter without having to involve Brant or any of the other Guardians.

Riding in the ground transport vehicle, Nadira studied the pe
ople strolling down the boulevard. Zina's apartment was in the wealthiest part of the city, called the Palatine. It was filled with shops and restaurants catering to the executives and other powerful residents.

The transport pulled out of the traffic lanes and came to a stop in front of an amber-colored apartment tower. Nadira stepped out onto the shiny marble sid
ewalk, scanning the pedestrians passing in front of the tower entrance. Two men walked past wearing the dark brown suits popular with company executives. A city security officer went by in the opposite direction, wearing a black one-piece uniform and shiny helmet.

Nadira was about to walk into the building when she felt it.  A stirring within her that grew stronger. Glancing to her left, she saw a tall, thin man with long black hair walking towards her, his gli
ttering green jacket flapping as he moved. He stopped at a shop next to the building, and entered.

At the shop window she had a clear view of what was going on inside. A man and woman were looking at a necklace the sho
pkeeper was holding. The long-haired man stood opposite them, his back turned. He picked up one of the large green crystals from a display, examined it, and slid it into his jacket pocket.

It was bold to steal from a shop in the Palatine. City security regularly patrolled the area. Should she go back and alert the off
icer? No, Hathor was her home. He was a thief and she had a duty to stop him.

Nadira entered the stop and stood by the door. Now he was e
xamining a yellow stone between his thumb and forefinger, holding it up to catch the light of the late afternoon sun.

She held up her left hand to identify herself to the shopkeeper, showing him the  half-moon line that had formed in her palm after she'd developed her Guar
dian abilities. 

Behind the glass-topped counter, the shopkeeper stared at her, open-mouthed. His custo
mers were transfixed as well. Nadira waited as the thief slowly turned to look at her out of the corner of his eye.

Redness spread up the man's neck and across the side of his face, like a rash. She took a step forward. The crystal he was hol
ding fell from his hand and bounced along the carpeted floor.

He reached under his jacket, pulling out a small oval-shaped object. A stunner. If she gave him time, he'd use the weapon against her and the others in the shop. Taking in a deep breath, Nadira summoned up her energy. It surged from deep within her, rushing through her body like a wave.

Now her heart was pounding faster and faster, the beats vibrating in her ears. She reached out and sent a blast of energy in his direction.

He fell back against the jewelry display, knocking down the glass shelves and sending cry
stals flying across the shop. Dropping to his knees, he clutched at his stomach and cried out.

"AGGGGH!"

Though she was more powerful than most Guardians, her stronger abilities required her to have stronger skills. She had to be careful not to use too much power when confronting a target.

Being hit by an energy blast was similar to experiencing an electrical shock. Sending out more power could disable or even kill. But she'd been trained to use her abilities only to defend--never to a
ttack--unless she had a reason.

On his knees now the thief reached out, attempting to grab her leg. Dodging out of his grasp, she avoided him. Groaning, he fell flat on the floor, his face down against the carpet.

Zina had taught her to remain distant from her work, to do what needed to be done with no emotion. For the most part she was able to follow that directive. But at times it was difficult to watch someone suffer and know that she was the cause of it.

"Guardian--thank the stars!" The shopkeeper rushed over to her, mopping his fleshy face with the back of his hand.

"Don't you have a security guard standing by?" she asked.

"I sent her to my other store to retrieve an item," he replied, prodding the u
nconscious thief with the toe of his shoe. "What about this slag?"

"Contact city security to take him to detention. I'll wait."

Continuing to wipe the sweat off his brow, he bowed and hurried to the rear of the shop. The couple he'd been helping took turns staring at her and at the man lying at her feet. She'd seen that look before, a mixture of awe and apprehension. Almost in unison they backed away from the jewelry display, whispering to each other.

"That's a Guardian? She looks like everyone else. What did she do to him?"

"Shhh--don't say anything," the man replied.

Moments later, two city security officers burst into the shop, grabbed the thief and hoisted him to his feet. Groggy and mu
mbling to himself, he stumbled as they dragged him out of the store.

Stopping the man hadn't taken much effort. Even though her hands were trembling, the co
nfrontation had barely tired her. Her heart rate would be back to normal soon. And once she regained her full strength the trembling would go away too. 

Nadira stood by the window watching the officers push the thief into a waiting vehicle before climbing in. Behind them, the thick metal door slid into place with a loud clang. 

4
Lost and Found

Three Days Later
-- On the Shuttle to Hathor

Jonathan spent most of the trip planning what he and Ilana would do when they docked on Hathor. At least they had recycled water for showering instead of the waterless soap passengers in the basic rooms had to use. When he stepped out of the shower, Ilana was already dressed and sitting on the end of the bed.

"Are you in a hurry?" he asked.

"I think we should go to the hotel separately."

"Why?" He sat down next to her.

"Just in case we're being followed."

"That doesn't make sense. We should stay together."

"Jon…" Ilana tugged at the towel he'd hitched around his waist. It came loose and she reached under the folds. "We've had so much fun together and we'll have more when we get to the hotel."

He tensed as she aroused him to the point of exploding. Damn. If only they had more time.

Ilana trailed her hand across his thigh. "Haven't you had enough?"

"No," Jonathan said, leaning her down across the bed.

The warning buzzer sounded. They'd be docking very soon. 

"Jonathan." Ilana slid out from his grasp with more force than he'd expected. "There's no time for that now. We've got to get out of here." 

He got up and reached for the towel. When he looked over, Ilana was turned away from him, putting on her jacket. Might as well get dressed.

After they docked, the warning bell sounded and the engines powered down. Occupied with throwing his clothes into his bag, Jonathan didn't notice Ilana hea
ding out the door.

"Ilana! Wait!" Grabbing his things, he raced after her.

Passengers clogged the aisle before he could get to the exit. He'd been locked away for so long that he'd almost forgotten there were over 100 people on the shuttle. And it seemed like all of them wanted to get to the door at the same time.

Pushing past the slower travelers, he got a glimpse of Ilana on the exit ramp. Luckily, her silver jacket made her stand out. In front of him was a sea of people in grey and brown suits and the occasional person dressed in dark blue mining overalls. Black-garbed security officers stood off to the side, their faces covered by shiny helmets.

The ramp opened up into the main concourse of the terminal. Advertising vids flashed on the walls, while announcements blared from the loudspeakers.

"Nova City Entertainments announces the grand opening of their complex for executive-level luxury."

"Visit the brand new Galaxy dance club tonight and receive an exclusive--"

"--our newest apartment tower, now open for rentals at the city's most excl
usive address--"

All around him people were rushing in what seemed like a hundred different directions. Holographic signs displayed the arr
ivals and departures, while news alerts were being broadcast on floor to ceiling glass panels. Bright sunlight poured through the arched, glass ceiling and reflected off the jewel-toned walls, creating the illusion the floor was covered with precious gems.

For a moment he didn't know where he was going. People knocked into him, almost turning him around in their hurry to get past. Damn it. He had to get it together. Scanning his surroun
dings, he saw an exit sign ahead. Maybe he could catch up with Ilana before she got outside.

Quickening his pace, he dodged the oncoming foot traffic and a few aut
omated luggage carts. Just before he got to the exit doors, he saw Ilana standing in front of a lift. Breaking into a run he called out to her.

"Ilana! Wait up!"

When the lift doors opened, she turned and their eyes met.

"Ilana!"

Instead of responding, she ran inside and stood in the rear, her arms crossed.

Wait!" A luggage cart zoomed in front of him, forcing him to stop short before he barged into it. Pushing it away, he picked up the pace again. He'd hitched his travel bag across his body, and it banged against his back as he ran.

Just as he got to the lift, it closed in his face. Slamming his hand against the metal door, he waited for it to slide open again. But it didn't.

"Damn it!" What the hell was Ilana thinking? He was trying to help her.

"Jonathan. What's wrong with you?" A man's deep voice boomed from behind him. "I've been chasing you across the place."

Spinning around, he faced a slightly taller, older man with straight, steel-grey hair that fell to his shoulders. He wore a dark purple jacket, trimmed with gold and dark grey pants. On his fi
ngers were gold and silver rings that glistened as he gestured. 

"Matt!" Jonathan relaxed as he was pulled into the older man's embrace. "What are you doing here?"

Matt grinned, grasping Jonathan's shoulder with a hearty shake. "Your mother sent me a message. She told me you were coming in. How the hell are you?"

Jon hadn't thought of contacting his father's friend. But of course his mother had. It had been several years since they'd seen each other in person.

There were a few more wrinkles around his brown eyes and across his forehead than Jon remembered.  But being out of the mines, and spending more time outdoors, had given Matt's face a suntanned glow. An improvement over the pallor a lot of miners developed after years of working in the caverns, no matter what their skin tone.

"Who were you running after?" Matt led the way towards a row of glass doors.

"Just someone I met on the shuttle," Jonathan replied. "Still got the club?"

"Sure. It's doing great. It's a private club for executives, you know. Didn't your father tell you? He was here on business a few months ago."

"No, he didn't mention that. Have you heard from him lately? Mother said he was supposed to come back to Hathor."

"Brandon didn't say anything about coming back here," Matt said, as they e
xited into the bright sunlight. "Is Estrella doing okay? She's not worried, is she?"

"No. She's fine," Jonathan replied.

"I couldn't believe it when I heard about the explosion." Matt's voice was quiet. "What's going on with the investigation?"

"I'm trying to figure that out." Jon debated telling his father's friend exactly why he'd come. But he didn't want to share what Ilana had overheard. Better to not involve Matt and enda
nger him as well.

"We'll get a transport to my place," Matt said. "I've got lots of room."

"I've got reservations at the Emerald Club. Can you drop me off?" 

"Sure…if you want."

"Thanks for the offer. But I'm meeting someone later." 

They walked over to a row of ground transports parked at the curb. As Matt approached the first one, a shiny, ruby-colored model, the door slid back. Jon climbed in after him and settled himself on the long, cushioned seat.

"Emerald Club," Matt instructed the autodriver.

The engines powered up with a low hum, then the vehicle pulled away from the curb and into the traffic lanes.

Matt put his feet up on the seat opposite them. "I heard the company is investigating the explosion like it's an inside job."

"Do you think my father was involved?" Jonathan asked.

"Hell, no. Your father's my oldest friend. He had nothing to do with this. Just telling you what I heard."

"Sure."

"Back when I was in the mines, they had lots of explosions from sabotage, disgruntled workers, stupid asses who didn't know what they're doing-–shit happens all the time." Matt shook his head, his hair falling across his shoulders. "Saw a lot of it when I worked with your father."

"Hey, didn't you have the tats last time I saw you?" Jonathan pointed to Matt's bare wrists. Resembling dark red tongues of flame, the tats were applied to a miner's wrists once they signed on with Novacorp. They were encoded with the miner's ID and made it easier to track them when they worked at the various company installations.

"I had them removed." Matt absently rubbed his wrist as he stared straight ahead. "I'm a businessman now, not a laborer."  He pointed over to a building they were passing on the right. "Look over there. I just invested in it. It's a new exclusive apartment tower. A couple of months ago I got a big house out in the North overlooking the sea. If you'll be here for a while, I'll take you to see it."

"You have lots of credits to spend."

"That's why I'm here. Brandon's got a good position, but he'd be wealthier if he'd stayed here on Hathor. Do you still have your club? Your father hoped having a business would keep you out of trouble."

"It doesn't." Jonathan grinned.

"You're just like me, Jonathan." Matt laughed. "Who the hell wants a quiet life? I'd rather be here in the heart of everything."

"My mother thinks I'm in danger. You know what that's about?"

"She's a mother." Matt looked down and picked at bits of lint on his pants. "She wants to keep you safe."

"So all these people live here?" Jon asked as he watched the crowds filling the streets. Even the transport traffic lanes were clogged with vehicles, slowly trundling down the boulevard.

"On Hathor, you're either connected to Novacorp or you're a civilian," Matt said. "Or, you're one of the Guardians."

Jonathan tensed. "They really exist? I thought those were st
ories."

"They exist. They're descendants of the original settled who came here generations ago. Even before Novacorp was here." Matt patted Jonathan's shoulder. "They're more powerful than co
mpany security. Some of them can even read what you're thinking. But as long as you stay out of trouble, they won't bother you."

*****

Twenty minutes later, the transport dropped Jonathan off in front of the Emerald Club, a thirty-story building that resembled layers of glittering green glass. Striding across the gleaming marbled sidewalk, he passed a row of gold, manicured trees lining the entrance. 

The glass doors swooped open to admit him to a gold-toned marble lobby. An attendant dressed in a dark green jacket and pants took his bag and led him to a private alcove.

"Mr. Keel," the bald man motioned to an ornately carved chair. "My name is Mr. Renard. Please have a seat and we'll take care of everything."

"Did my guest arrive yet?" Jon asked.

"Um…no…no one else has arrived in your party. May I verify the name?"

"Cintra Ansi."

"No, she hasn't arrived. When do you expect her?"

"I thought she'd be here. We just got in on the shuttle."

"Oh yes." The attendant touched the glass tabletop with his fingertip. Jon couldn't get a good look at what was being displayed there, but he could tell from Mr. Renard's quizzical expression that something was wrong.

"There's a slight problem, Mr. Keel. You made the reservation through Brandon Keel's co
mpany account?"

"Yes." Jon shifted in his chair. "He's my father and the CEO of the mine on Demeter."

"I'm sorry, but your father's account has been locked."

"What?"

"It says here," the attendant replied as he pointed to the display, "that the CEO's account was locked this morning."

"Who did it?"

"It's by order of Demeter Mine Security. There is no explanation," Mr. Renard replied, a look of discomfort on his face. "Is there another account that you would like to use?"

Jonathan grabbed his bag and dug through it, buying a few moments to think. Mine Security? It had to be Cat. Damn. 

He could use his own account to check in. But what if security was alerted when he used his ID? He was being paranoid again, wasn't he?

"I'll check in later," Jon said. "If my guest arrives before I get back, ask her to wait here."

"Yes, of course," Mr. Renard replied.

Jonathan barely waited for the doors to open before he hurried outside. Where would he go now? He could call Matt and stay at his place. He spotted an information kiosk at the corner. Pe
rfect. It should be easy to find Matt in the directory and get the location of his apartment.

"Mr. Keel."

Startled, Jon stopped short. Turning to his left he looked into the blue eyes of a woman dressed in a smoky grey uniform. Perhaps he hadn't been so paranoid after all. "Yes?"

She managed a tight smile. "Lieutenant Kira, Novacorp Sec
urity." She patted a row of four small crystals on her jacket collar. "Please accompany me to the Novacorp Administration building. We have a few questions for you," she said, her voice monotone. 

"Is this about the account?" he asked.

"They're waiting for you. You must come with me now."