Terran Times Second Wave # 10 - Liberty (2 page)

The woman cocked her head. “I am guessing that it is journalism run amok?”

Libby rocked her hand from side to side. “I have been suspected, but the reason for that is the same reason I am here. I see things that haven’t happened yet and not everyone believes that I didn’t plan it to begin with.”

The woman stuck out her hand. “I am Frankie.”

“Libby.” With some relief, she took the other woman’s hand with her own. A bright flash after several hundred if not thousands of years was the way that Frankie would exit existence.

“Pleased to meet you, Libby. I can see the patterns of cause and effect.”

“I can see disasters. I can see death. It makes for lousy party conversations.” Libby chuckled and released Frankie’s hand.

“What do you see for me?”

“I have found that few, if any, people really want to know the answer to that. Are you sure?”

Frankie cocked her head. “Well, is it in the next twenty years?”

Libby sighed with relief. “No. Definitely not.”

“Then, I will have already outlived most of the women in my family. I am good with that.” Frankie smiled.

Libby blinked. “Well, you will definitely live out the next twenty.”

Frankie grinned widely. “Then, I am definitely glad that we were on the same flight. That is a huge load off my mind. They said they could keep me healthy, but I was not sure that they would be able to manage it.”

“You trust me?”

“Nothing you have done is outside your behavioural pattern. I hate to say it, but the logic is sound.”

Libby chortled. “And logic is your line of speciality.”

“It is indeed.”

While they were chatting, they had taken off and were rising rapidly through the skies of their home. They each paused and looked to the thick, clear panels that let them see out. The Earth spun beneath them and they headed toward the moon.

Libby and the rest of the Terrans were silent. Male and female, they all knew that while they could technically return in three years, they wouldn’t want to. There was literally an entire universe to explore, and they had been offered the chance to see it. There wasn’t going to be anyone going back, at least not on this shuttle.

Libby watched the moon as it got larger and larger. She could actually see the moon base. Part of her was excited and the other parts were equally dread and cautious optimism.

Her life was about to take a sudden shift, and she was pretty sure that it was a good thing. Pretty sure.

Libby went through the physical assessments with ease. Her body seemed eager to get going on the new program. The two months in the detention centre seemed to have done her some good. With nothing to do but push-ups and sit-ups, she had quite a bit more muscle now than she had when she went in.

The doctor smiled. “It seems you are ready for combat training, Miss Trout. You can begin immediately.”

The doctor typed a few characters into a tablet, and by the time Libby had sorted out her new grey bodysuit, there was a stranger standing in the doorway.

“This is your combat instructor, Tebila. She will show you the techniques you need for basic self-defence as well as etiquette and language. Put on your gloves.”

Libby nodded to her instructor and tugged her gloves into place.

Tebila gestured for her to follow along and led the way to a gym.

“We are starting right now?”

Tebila smiled, a glowing grin crossed her black velvet features. She nodded and beckoned Libby to enter the training area. With a quick jab, she attacked. Training had begun.

One week later, Libby had control over Alliance Common, Nyal Imperium Standard and a number of frequently used languages. She also had control over her body in the fighting ring and was able to defend herself for two minutes, which was the estimated time for her escort to arrive if she was attacked on any world at any time.

Libby didn’t know why she would be in danger, but she nodded during the briefing and sat through endless rounds of healing to keep her in top physical condition.

The idea of being treated by both a doctor and someone who could lay hands on her took some getting used to, but as she finished her final check, she waved to them both before heading for the administrator’s office. Today, she would find out where she was going to be posted.

“Thank you, Tebila. Your help has been invaluable.”

Tebila smiled. “It has been interesting to learn what your body was capable of. I must confess to some personal disappointment that you rejected my invitation.”

Libby blushed. “I am rather pedestrian in my tastes. Another woman is not precisely my style, though I am sure I am missing out on an amazing experience.”

Her instructor laughed and gave her a hug. “You are definitely missing out.”

They walked to the administrator’s office, and Tebila sat with her while she was given her assignment.

“Three years to be carried out at the Nyal Court world of Miexhar. You will be seer to the Duke of Miexhar.”

There was no room for questions. She had her assignment. She was off to the Imperium for a posting on a world where intrigue was served with dinner.

Her shuttle was waiting.

Miexhar was an architect’s wet dream. Spires, elegant arches, tons of stone held up in a manner that seemed to be supported by vines of marble. It was amazing to behold.

Libby had to be presented at court before she would take on her position officially. It was the only part of this process that was flipping her stomach.

She walked over a dozen pedestrian bridges with Gadget. The other Terran was eager to see her in the proper place, and since her partner had business elsewhere, Gadget was free to lead Libby to her post.

“So, Gadget, how do you enjoy the Imperium?”

Gadget grinned. “It is much more lively than the Alliance but much more dangerous, too. Your contract was carefully negotiated. They initially wanted to buy you outright.”

Libby blinked. “Why am I only learning this now?”

“It is too late to run.”

Gadget’s matter-of-fact words were surprisingly serious.

The robes that she wore over the brown and gold suit were dull and dark compared to the fantastical costumes of the courtiers as they got closer to the main audience chamber.

Libby felt decidedly underdressed.

Gadget was resplendent in her glittering blue suit and cyber-punk aura. She had more presence than half the courtiers they were passing. No one got in their way.

Libby tried to keep herself calm, but she wanted to crane her neck around and stare at all the different species that were getting thicker as they approached the audience chamber.

Two huge doors were spread open and wide. The interior of the chamber was sparsely populated, but one man sat in the central throne, and he sat up slightly as they waited at the threshold.

Libby had been briefed on not staring at the duke. It was a difficult task. He was white and silver with thick, dark lines circling his hot, red eyes.

He raised his hand, and a man in elegant silver and black stepped forward and moved toward them.

“I am Shoklek, the duke’s major domo. You are Gadget and the Death Seer?”

Libby coloured a little, but she nodded and Gadget inclined her head as well.

“We are. Is His Grace ready to see us?” Gadget had nothing but calm in her tone. Libby was impressed.

“He is waiting for you, and it does not do to keep him waiting.”

Shoklek was built in shades of grey from charcoal smoke to a pale hint of silver.

He led the way up the path lined in the polished floor. It led directly to the duke without wavering. Shoklek had a long staff, and it tapped on the floor in a steady rhythm.

This was it. This was where Libby was going to live for the extent of her initial contract. After that, it would be anybody’s guess as to where she was going to end up.

The major domo bowed low and stepped aside. “Your Grace, this is the Imperium Transport Specialist, Gadget, and your new seer, Liberty Trout. Ladies, His Grace Duke Gweahkin.”

The duke leaned forward, his red gaze moving over Liberty with astonishing directness. She hadn’t been assessed like that by anyone. He seemed to be taking her measure, and he seemed fascinated by what he was seeing.

Gadget moved slightly and Libby mimicked her, bowing slightly before standing upright again. As a seer, she had more social standing than most of the men and women in the court, and she needed to remember that or she would lose it. Rank was everything here.

“So, you are a Death Seer.”

Libby confirmed it. “I am.”

“I expected you to be taller or older or have more presence.”

The court laughed.

“I am what I am, Your Grace. Nothing more, nothing less.”

He extended his hand. “Read me, Seer.”

She cocked her head. “I would caution you that it is not wise to know too much of your own demise.”

Duke Gweahkin winked. “I have no fear of death. It will come when it is due and not before.”

“As you wish, Your Grace.” She stepped forward and removed her glove.

When she placed her hand over his, she was struck by the size of it. He was huge if his wide palm and long fingers were any indication. She slowly lowered her skin into contact with his, and the world spun away for a moment while she sought the end of his life.

Her mouth was dry as she pulled her hand from his with as much control as she could manage. With casual determination, she put her glove on again.

The duke’s lips were quirked in amusement. “You will join me for dinner and let me know what you saw.”

He turned his attention to Gadget. “You have delivered her to me as promised. Thank you for your diligence.”

“It was my pleasure, Your Grace. I will be checking on her well-being throughout the contract. You are on notice.” Gadget’s lips twitched in amusement.

“I am on notice. Thank you again.” The dismissal was obvious.

Gadget turned, and with a small nod to Libby, she turned and left the court of the Duke of Miexhar.

Shoklek stepped forward. “Shall I show her to her quarters, Your Grace?”

“Thank you, Shoklek. Have someone find something for her to dress in for dinner.” The duke waved his hand.

Dismissed, Libby turned to Shoklek, and he inclined his head with a smile. “This way, Death Seer.”

She followed him, and the tapping of his staff on the stone had folks clearing to the sides of the halls, and with each doorway, there were less and less strange folk until they walked through an archway flanked by two heavily armed guards with traditional and modern weapons strapped to their thighs.

“These are the private quarters of the highest members of the duke’s court. There is an element of trust required for the duke to extend secure hospitality to a member of the court.”

“I have received that trust?”

“He allowed you to seek signs of his death. That should prove his trust.” Shoklek grinned and glanced at her over his shoulder.

She nodded and continued to follow in silence.

They passed another guarded doorway, and he brought her past it by three doors. “These are your quarters for the time of your contract.”

He swung the door open and stepped to one side. Libby passed him and walked into the tremendous expanse of the rooms she had been given. The front room was huge and had an office and a couch as well as a view screen. A door behind the ornate desk led to her bedroom, and after that, there was a dressing room and closet, plus a bathing chamber and lav.

Shoklek trailed after her. “Do you like it?”

“It is wonderful. I wish that I had more than this uniform to fill that closet.” She chuckled.

“Oh, you will be dressed suitably to your station. The dressmaker was summoned as soon as it was mentioned.” He slowly moved his fingers on the staff of office, and she could see myriad bumps and nodules on the otherwise smooth surface. “He will be here momentarily.”

“He?”

“Is his gender an issue? He is the best on Miexhar.”

Libby bit her lip. “If he is what is called for by this situation, then I will greet him graciously and thank him for his assistance.”

Shoklek nodded. “I thought you would manage to adapt. It is the hallmark of your species.”

She blinked. “You know about my species?”

“We would never have allowed you here if we had not done our research.” He smiled. “I will return when the dressmaker arrives. Relax and get used to your new quarters.”

She inclined her head. “Thank you, Major Domo Shoklek.”

“Just Shoklek. I will see you in a few minutes.”

He left her alone, and she walked from one room to the next, finally walking out onto the balcony outside her room and staring at the alien world spread out beneath her.

The clouds were pink, the sky lavender and there was one large sun and one small making their way across the arc of the heavens. She breathed deep and took in the thinner air as well as the tastes and smells of Miexhar.

The wind tugged at her clothing, and she absorbed the nuances of the feel of suns and the breezes on her face. It was the only part of her exposed, and her cheeks heated at the solar caress.

Abin-Da was a master seamstress, or tailor, he was fine with either description.

She stood in the centre of the dressing room, and to her surprise, he tapped the floor and a fitting station rose out of the stone.

“Remove that serviceable garb, and we will get to work. I brought a few things with me that will be appropriate and easy to alter, though you are a little shorter than I anticipated.”

Libby blinked at the man who was a similar mix of grey to Shoklek. They were in the room alone and she wasn’t sure of the protocol.

She took her courage and removed the robes, folding them over her arm before she tugged off the gloves. Once her hands were free, she unsealed the closure of her suit and peeled it down and off.

Abin-Da smiled when she stood there naked. “Perfectly formed. No wonder you were so eagerly anticipated.”

Libby blushed hotly as he measured her with easy motions and made notes on a small pad he had brought along for that purpose.