Time Past (27 page)

He let go of my wrist and rubbed his face. “Not from Earth, it won’t.” His voice was muffled. “External Affairs is disgusted with having to leave us to even temporary neutrality. They see it as losing a colony.”

“They should see it as gaining an ally.” The current Earth admin’s attitude had always been two-faced. They expected us to follow their directions but never pushed our interests with the Confederacy. They abandoned Jocasta to the Seouras blockade, then moaned about us losing faith in them.

“So how does keeping the Invidi ship help the neutrality vote?” said Murdoch.

“The Nine also vote. Maybe some of them will support us.”

“I just don’t see...” He stopped, looked at me, then continued determinedly. “I understand why we need neutrality. We can’t risk the Confederacy leaving us to the wolves like last time and we can’t go back to being an Earth colony. Fine. But I don’t see how getting the jump drive to the Nine is going to help any of us here and now.”

I thought of Alvarez, and was glad the photoimage was hidden from where I sat. I rubbed my eyes, and wished I hadn’t, because they were raw and stung.

“I’m not sure I know either.” I’ve been chasing it so long, though, it’s hard to think I might be wrong.

He said nothing, for which I was grateful.

“I think it’s important we understand why An Serat was experimenting with Tor technology,” I said finally. “If it is possible to create jump points off the network, surely we don’t want the Invidi to have a monopoly on that information, too?”

“I dunno.” Murdoch ran both hands over his head. “Is it any better for us or the H’digh or the Bendarl to have it?”

“The Bendarl will get it anyway, if the Invidi have it,” I said sourly.

“If it is Tor technology, how did Serat get it?”

I’d thought about that. When Earth was connected to the jump network and we started learning about the rest of the galaxy, we found that the Tor-Invidi war had been going on for decades. That war must have continued from before the Invidi came to Earth, I now realized, if An Serat had used Tor technology in 2023, Earth time. The war never directly concerned humans and had always been part of the background of the Confederacy. When Jocasta was given to Earth, of course, it became a more personal matter, because we had to deactivate the Tor elements of the station, and they did not cooperate.

The little we knew of the Tor was from their savagely active technology. What kind of species, we’d wondered, would create artificial intelligences whose prime directive seemed to be to take over any other kind of mechanism? The Invidi told us nothing. Any query about the Tor met with a dead end. In popular mythology they were variously represented as monsters, half machine half life form, and as gods. It was frustrating to have information kept from us, and, in the case of rebuilding Jocasta, it had proved fatal for many members of the engineering crews.

“Maybe Serat salvaged something from the conflict, like I did with
Calypso II,
” I said. “It could have been an official experiment to merge Tor and Invidi technology, but then why would Serat go to such trouble to make it an obviously Invidi ship on the outside?”

Murdoch nodded. “There’s some secrecy there. Otherwise why has Serat been up against the rest of the Invidi for years?”

“We’ve only Barik’s word for that.” At the end of the Seouras blockade, Barik had implied Serat’s helping
Calypso
had been without the knowledge of the other Invidi.

“But the Sleepers said the same thing,” said Murdoch. “And Serat was definitely connected to the New Council. No respectable Invidi would work with those terrorists.”

The New Council of Allied Worlds had tried to take the jump drive from
Calypso
because An Serat had told them about its existence.

“Anyway,” I said, suddenly tired of speculation, “I think we should know as much as we can about the ship and what Serat’s been doing. The more we know, the more bargaining power we have.”

“Break their monopoly on information?” Murdoch shook his head. “We can try, I suppose. But you’ll have to work fast. Because when ConFleet comes to get it, we’re going to have to give it to them pretty damn quick.”

I nodded. He smiled, and reached out to touch my hair lightly. “You...” His voice trailed off.

It felt good. Henoit’s presence touched the back of my mind as Murdoch’s fingers had touched my hair. I knew this was not the time or place, but it was hard to look away.

We sat staring at each other across the little table with its EarthFleet logo: a rounded arrow shape against one large star, symbolizing Earth, and three smaller ones, symbolizing Mars and the colonies of Europa and Titan.

This is ridiculous. We haven’t even kissed since that night in the out-town before the Invidi arrived. Keep your mind on business, Halley.

“Bill, how can I investigate that ship if I’m under arrest?”

He smiled wryly. “You haven’t technically been charged with possession of jump technology because there’s no solid proof. I mean,
Calypso II
isn’t here. After all those records disappeared, I reckon they’ll have trouble proving you did anything wrong at all.”

“Maybe they’ll ‘find’ those records if they need them.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me. But my report says you’re assisting us to answer questions regarding EarthFleet resources used in your research activities. The charge will probably be misappropriation of funds. We’ll refer the suspicion of possession—that’s for appearing here in an Invidi ship—to the Confederacy when we’ve finished here, like we do with any Confederacy offense.”

“Possession has always been fully prosecuted. And Con-Fleet will court-martial me.”

“I think you should talk to deVries about that.” He meant Lorna deVries, the chief magistrate.

“Veatch said he’d talk to her. I’ll give him a bit longer, then call her.” I yawned hugely. “Sorry.”

“I’m sorry about the quarters.” Murdoch waved his hand at the room.

“It’s fine. Thanks for getting my things out. My old room is being used, I suppose.”

“We had a big staff quarters rearrangement a few months ago,” he said. “I signed for your stuff, being executor and all, but Helen Sasaki took care of putting it in storage. Getting it out tonight was her idea.” He seemed about to say more, but stopped. There was a silence full of something.

“I’m sorry you got dragged into this.” As I said it, it struck me that it should have been said sooner.

He snorted. “If I’d been worried about that, I wouldn’t have gone looking for you in the first place.”

More silence. I looked at his hands again, then at the dark curve of his forearm. His closeness filled all my senses except for the sixth, within which Henoit’s presence stirred up and down my skin in a shivering wave.

I stood up abruptly. “We’d better get some rest. I need to be fresh to look at that ship.”

Murdoch stood up, too, and shoved the table to one side with his knee. “Are you really sleepy?”

His arm slid up mine. I forgot Henoit and stepped into Murdoch’s embrace, my body pressed against his, our faces close in the first tentative nuzzles of a kiss. His tongue licked the edge of my jaw and I reached up impatiently to turn his mouth to mine.

Déjà vu. We’d kissed like this in the out-town. The night before the Invidi arrived, the night of the fire. Will interrupted us. The pang of loss cut through pleasure. Murdoch felt the change and drew back.

“What’s wrong?”

As if in answer, the door buzzed.

“Bloody hell,” said Murdoch and took his hands away from my waist.

“Door open,” I said hoarsely.

This time it was Veatch. He came in and stood, antennae drooping apologetically, just far enough inside the door for it to shut again.

“Commander Halley, please excuse this intrusion. Chief Murdoch, I was hoping to confirm your availability at 1000 hours to discuss and process the filework for your investigation.”

“Veatch, why didn’t you use your comm link?” I said.

“I did not wish to disturb you if you had retired.”

He could have asked the interface if my room was on rest cycle. He must have something on his mind that he couldn’t ask or say outright. The telltale signs of discomfort were there: antennae curled tighter than usual, shuffling four or five handcoms in front of him.

“Chief Murdoch, you also need to fill out your leave forms correctly,” he continued, bringing the bottom handcom to the top of the pile. “Plus the groundwork for your charges against Commander Halley.”

“I’m no sooner home than you’re trying to get rid of me,” I said with deliberate humor, wondering if Veatch would get the joke. If he was relaxed, he could usually follow human humor.

“On the contrary, Commander, I am attempting to make it illegal for you to be arrested twice.”

“Can’t it wait...” Murdoch began, then caught my raised eyebrow and stopped.

“Do you think it likely ConFleet will break the neutrality provision to come and get the ship?” I said.

“I do not have sufficient information to estimate either way,” said Veatch. “However, I believe they may make some kind of move later today. Mr. Stone’s message should have reached An Barik or an alternative Invidi by then and...”

“Hang on,” said Murdoch. “What do you mean, Stone’s message?”

“Mr. Stone has continued private communication with An Barik since the Invidi left Jocasta,” Veatch said, with an air of “didn’t you know?”

“When was that?” I said. When I left, An Barik was living on Jocasta as the Confederacy Council “representative” rather than in his previous role as “observer.” He’d still remained a virtual recluse in the Smoke, the non-oxygen breathers’ section of the station.

“Approximately twenty days ago,” said Veatch.

“Seven days after I left,” said Murdoch, considering.

“Why is Stone sending him messages?” I said.

Veatch managed to convey the essence of a shrug without moving his elegant shoulders. “Perhaps it is an arrangement by your ministry,” he said. “Perhaps An Barik asked Mr. Stone and he could not refuse.”

“I don’t see that this changes anything,” said Murdoch. “
Vengeful
sent a courier with the news to Central anyway. An Barik will still hear about it.”

I wondered why An Barik had stayed on Jocasta after the neutrality provision came into effect. Opinion on the station was clearly against the Four’s continued domination of the Confederacy Council and against the Confederacy owning Jocasta. It can’t have been comfortable for him.

Unless he was waiting for us to return from the past. Our return must be a big enough “node” or disturbance in their fabric of time for him to “see.” And he knew about
Calypso
’s arrival, my departure with
Calypso II,
and An Serat’s involvement with the causal loop. Perhaps if he was here, An Serat couldn’t or wouldn’t come.

What had kept Barik away from Jocasta at the critical time of our return? Something more critical out there in the Confederacy, perhaps countering An Serat’s influence. Or, conversely, our return with Serat’s ship was not as critical as I thought.

“Does Stone know you know he’s sending messages to An Barik?” said Murdoch to Veatch. “I assume so.” Veatch’s eyes were pools of liquid innocence.

Humans are pre-programmed to rely on eyes for subtle clues to intention. Unfortunately, Melot signal their subliminal clues through other means, antennae or body position, and it takes a while to learn these. I was out of practice and couldn’t place Veatch’s intent in telling us about Stone. When I first arrived on Earth in the past, the endless array of human faces, unbroken by alien colors or features, seemed monotonous and oppressive. Now I was having trouble remembering which alien expression meant what.

Veatch certainly seemed more relaxed now that he’d told us about Stone. And he hadn’t yet implied we owed him something in return.

“You mean you haven’t told him,” said Murdoch, resigned. “Like you didn’t tell Halley when you were reading her mail.”

It was unfair of Murdoch to bring up that incident, part of the events surrounding the Q’Chn we had on the station at the end of the Seouras occupation and therefore over and done with.

Veatch remained relaxed. “I have not discussed the matter in detail with Mr. Stone. However, I assumed that as he is generally an efficient and thorough administrator, he is cognizant of my arrangements.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a backhanded comment against my nontalents as an administrator or not. “Do you enjoy working with him?” I said.

“Mr. Stone shows some understanding of complex concepts of organization. I am impressed that your species is capable of this,” said Veatch.

“That must make your job easier,” I said, stung.

“It removes much of the necessity to recheck procedures. And perhaps smooths the interactive aspect of my job.”

“It’s late,” Murdoch said. He reached out and put his arm around my waist. The open gesture of affection shocked me as much as it seemed to surprise Veatch, judging from the way his antennae stiffened.

“Let’s continue this after we’ve had a couple hours’ sleep, okay?” said Murdoch.

Veatch gathered his handcoms to his chest. “Yes, that would seem to be the best approach. Good night, Commander, Chief.”

“Good night, Veatch,” we chorused.

The door swished shut behind him.

Murdoch’s arm was warm around my waist. I should go up to the dock now and study the ship. ConFleet or An Barik could arrive sooner than we expected and I’d lose the chance. But I was so tired... I shook my head angrily. What happened to all that energy I had during the blockade? Maybe age is catching up with me.

“What’s wrong?” Murdoch squeezed gently.

“I was thinking I’m getting older.”

“It’s all that time travel, takes it out of you.”

“I should go up and look at the ship.”

“You’re not going to find out anything if you’re half asleep.” He tugged on my arm. “Sit down, huh?”

“Bill, I haven’t got time. We don’t know when Con-Fleet...”

He tugged again. I sat, mainly to avoid overbalancing. Once seated, it seemed very comfortable. I leaned against him, as I’d done a couple of times in the out-town. We’d watched televid in Levin’s house like this. But in Levin’s house Grace or Will had always been present. Now it was just Bill and me.