The Refugee (The Korvali Chronicles Book 1) (16 page)

As they exited the arena, large crowds of Derovians still gathered outside in the large stone courtyard, enjoying the waning sun. Some excitedly talked about the fights, while others moved their bodies about in strange ways to music, something Catherine called dancing. Derovians often seemed to be dancing. He spotted a few Sunai, but they were not watching him. Instead, they held instruments, creating the music that the Derovians danced to. Others stood by drinking rallnofia, a beverage that Eshel found palatable but that made him feel strange if he drank too much of it.

In an eager desire to be near the music, many Derovians darted around Eshel, separating him from the others. Eshel felt his temperature rise and his vision blur slightly. He reached for his canteen; it was empty. He quickly moved away from the crowd, feeling a small bit of fresh air circulate past him as he spotted a water station nearby with a circular blue symbol, indicating it contained a dispenser for the water humans needed. After filling his canteen, he took a long drink and felt himself cool. He knew he must hurry and find the others, as they couldn’t see him behind the water station and would worry about him.
 

When he turned to leave, he was surprised to find two people standing behind him. They were Sunai males dressed in black trousers with pale rust vests, exposing their dark arms.
Gumiia. Non-military Sunai males of low status
. Eshel immediately recognized one of them from the day he and Catherine were attacked. He did the first thing that came to mind, something Catherine had taught him: he took his fist and aimed for the Sunai’s eyeshades, hoping to catch him by surprise and escape in that direction, where only five paces would render him visible to the crowd.
 

The attack did surprise the Sunai; his eyeshades didn’t break, but having them jammed into his eye temporarily disabled him. However, the other Sunai reacted quickly and encircled Eshel with strong arms. Eshel expected the first Sunai to strike him, but he didn’t; instead he angrily growled something Eshel didn’t understand and fumbled with an object he didn’t recognize.

They had a weapon.

Eshel felt the small metal disk in his own hand, which he’d retrieved from his pocket upon sight of the two Sunai. He pressed the release button.
 

After mere seconds, the Sunai he’d struck stopped fumbling, appearing dazed. The strong arms that imprisoned him became slack and he easily released himself from the Sunai’s grip. Eshel turned and looked at him, presumably the one who’d grabbed him from behind before, whose face he hadn’t seen until now. He wore the same dazed expression.
 

Eshel emerged from behind the water station. The crowd had thinned somewhat, but still contained enough people heading in the direction of the train station to offer him some protection. He couldn’t see Catherine’s red hair or Tom’s fair curls anywhere. He followed the others, taking another drink from his canteen.
 

“Eshel!”

Eshel saw Catherine and Tom emerge from behind a cluster of trees. He scanned the area to see if the gumiia had followed him. But they were nowhere to be seen.
 

April 8th
 

Hi Dad,

So I guess you heard about the CCFs. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about it ahead of time. I never thought the fight would make the news, and I didn’t want you to worry. Please don’t give Tom a hard time either; he did his best to talk me out of it and even used you as an argument, but I told him to keep his big mouth shut. I promise I’m still alive and—other than some broken ribs and a concussion—healthy.
 

But I have to say, Dad, you taught me well. Your street fighting tricks kept my head above water, probably more than my martial arts training did. No one expected me to even survive out there, and not only did I survive all three rounds, the judges called a draw. A DRAW, Dad! The Calyyt have certainly earned their reputation—I had to use every weapon in my arsenal just to stay alive out there, and my opponent wasn’t even one of the best fighters.
 

Yes, he (He? Why haven’t we come up with a gender-neutral pronoun for these people by now?) took a shot at me after the final bell. I thought that kind of thing didn’t happen anymore, so I didn’t see it coming. It was a pretty cheap shot, resulting in the worst of my injuries, and, as you probably saw, it made me madder than you can imagine. I punished him for it, but even though it satisfied my ego at the time, it didn’t make me feel better. The organizers penalized us for fighting after the bell and for engaging in illegal maneuvers. We’re banned from the CCFs for six Earth months. People are already talking about a rematch after the ban lifts (we’ll be encamped at Suna then, so easy enough to get a transport), but I’ve already decided I’m not interested. I got it out of my system and proved I could do it, so I have no need to do it again. Tom and Snow, who were both very resistant to the idea of my competing at all, now can’t understand why I won’t take the rematch and beat him for good! Eshel understands, though.
 

Oh… I just got a message from Commander Steele. He wants me in his office immediately. That can’t be good.
 

Let me know what’s happening with you…

Love,

C

P.S. The emitters are down, so no holo-chat for a while.

Catherine braced herself as she approached Steele’s office. She was tired, injured, and bruised… maybe Steele would go easy on her. She entered, saluted her commanding officer, and stood in her usual spot in front of his desk, knowing that he wouldn’t ask her to sit. Steele glanced up at her, but continued reading something on his electronic pad. Several minutes passed; Catherine waited, refusing to speak or otherwise indicate her presence. She knew this game and was prepared to stand there all day, if necessary.

Finally, Steele spoke. “You may recall, Lieutenant, my rather stern warning about the consequences of discussing genetics with our Korvali crewmember, Eshel.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“You may also recall that violation of that order would result in your being sent back to Earth.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Then perhaps you don’t value your position here, on this ship,” he said, staring at her with cold blue eyes.

“How so, Sir?”

“I have reports that you violated this order.”

Catherine felt her stomach jump, a slightly sick feeling coming over her. Her mind flashed back to a somewhat foggy memory of the previous evening, of her conversation with Eshel. Catherine began to speak, but hesitated, unaware of any response that wouldn’t make things worse.

Steele continued. “I’ve reported your infraction to Captain Ferguson and Commander Yamamoto. They will deal with you.” He leaned back in his chair. “I knew from the moment Eshel arrived on this ship that you couldn’t be trusted. You don’t deserve your post.” He turned away. “Dismissed.”

Catherine left, fury building in her as she walked back to her quarters. Her contactor chirped again. Yamamoto.

Fuck
.

Catherine slowly made her way up to the seventh deck, her stiff and tired body resenting having to climb the stairs, her mind too preoccupied to acknowledge those she passed. She arrived at the XO’s office, pausing before she walked in. She took a couple of deep breaths. Finally, she entered and saluted.
 

“At ease, Catherine. Sit down.” Once she eased herself into the chair, he began. “Your commanding officer has spoken with the Captain and myself about his concerns that you’ve potentially violated the Alliance’s rule about discussing genetics with Eshel.”

“Yes,” she replied, doing her best to keep the anger out of her voice. “The Commander just told me as much.”
 

“Did you discuss genetics with Eshel?”

She sighed. “Last night, when I was on pain meds, I told Eshel the details of my mother’s cancer diagnosis and failed treatment, which… which were genetic in nature.”

Yamamoto asked her to elaborate. Her mind still foggy, she did her best to recount what she’d said during her medicated and fatigued state.
 

“Did you talk about other topics pertaining to genetics?”

“No.”
 

“What did Eshel say in response to what happened with your mother?”

She thought for a moment. “Nothing at all. He just listened.”
 

It struck her how cold that seemed. She realized that Eshel hadn’t encouraged her to speak about her mother out of friendship, but did so merely out of scientific curiosity. And now, when under fire, he’d broken his promise to her, divulging what she’d told him in order to protect himself and his own interests.

“What else was discussed?” Yamamoto asked.

She shrugged. “The fight. Normal stuff. Perhaps a little about my frustration with Commander Steele.”

Yamamoto sat in his chair, studying her. “What brought up the topic of your mother?”

She could tell that Yamamoto was looking for something. “I don’t recall…” Then it came to her. “Wait. I do recall. He lost a parent too. His father.”
 

“Ah,” Yamamoto said, nodding in acknowledgement. “That may explain his sensitivity about that topic.”
 

Catherine held her breath, afraid that Yamamoto would probe her for more information about Eshel’s father. Her instinct was not to repeat it; but given the situation, she may have to. And why shouldn’t she? Fortunately, Yamamoto didn’t pursue it.

“And Eshel didn’t talk of his own knowledge of genetics, or attempt to pry information out of you?”

“No. He hardly talked at all.”

“And that is your sworn word, to your mentor and XO?”

“Yes, Sir, that is my sworn word.” She paused. “Will I be discharged for this?”

Yamamoto shook his head. “I see no violation in talking about what happened with your mother, even in such scientific detail. I do, however, highly recommend you avoid the topic of genetics with Eshel in the future, if you want to avoid further scrutiny.”

She sighed in relief. “I will, Sir. Thank you.” She paused. “Why did Commander Steele seem so convinced I would be sent home?”
 

Yamamoto was silent for a moment as he stroked his chin. “Catherine, I must ask you a question that is personal in nature. However, there is good reason for my prying.” He paused. “Are you romantically involved with Eshel?”

Catherine felt her face grow hot. “Are you serious?”

“When have you known me to be silly, Catherine?”
 

“Sorry, Sir,” Catherine replied quickly. “No. We are not involved in any way. But with all due respect, even if we were, why is that anyone’s business? He doesn’t report to me.”

“Given the situation, such an involvement would create suspicion among many, especially Commander Steele, who must oversee the protection of highly sensitive information.”

Catherine could tell from Yamamoto’s tone that his statement wasn’t merely a justification for suspicion. It was a warning. She nodded in acknowledgment. “We’re only friends, Sir. He shares very little about himself. And he shows no interest at all in… in any of that. I don’t understand why anyone would think otherwise.”

“Apparently, it is known that Eshel was in your quarters last night, and that he didn’t return to his own quarters until a very early hour this morning. Reports from several crewmembers were such that suggested a romantic connection between you.”
 

She shook her head again, recalling Middleton’s complaining that everyone knows everyone else’s business on a starship. She wondered if perhaps he wasn’t quite so whiny after all. “I see Tom and Snow nearly every day and no one says anything about that. Eshel was in my quarters last night, but only because he insisted on making sure I recovered from my concussion, as the doctor asked him to.”

Yamamoto smiled. “And how often does Eshel tear himself away from his studies to spend time with others, much less spend twelve hours tending to someone’s bedside?”

She let out an exasperated sigh. What could she say? Yamamoto and these other people didn’t understand. They didn’t know Eshel, that he’d ratted her out to cover his own ass, that he’d come close to getting her discharged.

“I will let the Captain and Commander Steele know we have spoken. However,” he added, “I strongly urge you to be cautious, Catherine.”
 

“Yes, Sir.”

Catherine left Yamamoto’s office and walked back to her quarters, praying she would hear no more chirps for a while. She lay on her bed, exhaustion suddenly overcoming her. Her head hurt. While relieved that her talk with Eshel hadn’t landed her in any real hot water, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that Eshel had betrayed her. People said the Korvali weren’t trustworthy, that they were calculating. Perhaps, in her friendship with Eshel, she’d forgotten that, had let down her guard too much.

Just as she rose to get a pain pill, her door sounded. She scowled. Eshel. She voiced him in.
 

“Why did you do it?” she demanded.

Eshel didn’t reply. She could tell he knew exactly what she referred to.
 

“Don’t pull that goddamn silent treatment with me, Eshel,” she hissed at him. “I know you ratted me out! Tell me why you call yourself my friend and ask me to tell you about my mother’s illness, promise to say nothing to Steele or to anyone else, and then go right out and tell him.”

“It was necessary.”

“Necessary? I could have been discharged!”

“You weren’t.”

Catherine shook her head at Eshel’s annoyingly cold response. She felt her head throb again, and sat down on her bed, her weariness catching up with her again.

“You look unwell,” Eshel said. “Do you require your pain medication?” He began walking to her table, where the small dispenser sat.
 

“Don’t.”

He ignored the medication and faced her. “My betraying you was necessary to convince Commander Steele that he can trust me, that I do not keep secrets from him regarding you.”