Gaze Read online

  Being out of the compression suit she had lived in was a relief. A bot trundled in with her breakfast, and she sipped at a cup of caf while she checked the displays at her desk for relative position to the station. They were about half an hour out.

  She munched the toast and the random spread that Blue had given her today. It was sweet and fruity, so the ship wanted her in a good mood.

  Gwyn checked her messages and updated Nitza with her current location. The regular check-in was important. If anything went wrong with either the experimental ship or the experimental pilot, Nitza was their best lifeline.

  She grabbed the apple off her tray and walked to the command deck, munching away. She settled into her chair and shivered lightly as the jacks slipped through the ports in her suit. Gwyn finished her apple, tossed the core to the waste receptacle and settled her arms on the armrests. The jacks entered her forearms and torso, linking her directly to the outgoing com systems.

  “Ishno Station, this is the Blue Fairy, Guardian Transport. I am requesting docking permission to pick up a passenger.” She watched as her ship crept closer to the station.

  A minute went by and there was no response. “Baby, run the scans over the station.”

  Images started to appear behind her eyes. There were bodies arranged neatly in the station atrium and a single figure walking between them. She saw the figure kneel next to a body and lift the head, holding something.

  The people weren’t dead; the figure was trying to get one to drink.

  “Nitza, I need emergency contact with the Ishno Medical Station.” She sent the signal and waited.

  “No contact is available. I have checked with the Ishno Trade Centre, and they haven’t heard anything for twelve hours.”

  “In that case, we need emergency medical. Does Shiver have a com system in his suit?”

  “A short-range system, yes. I am sending you his frequency.” Nitza paused. “How bad is it?”

  “I won’t know until I get in touch with the only walking body in the station. I think it’s Shiver.”

  “Good guess. If it is a pathogen, he wouldn’t be affected. Keep me posted. I am sending medical as fast as I can, but they need to know what they are going in to.”

  “Understood. I will get back to you as soon as I can.”

  Baby was working on instinct, Gwyn waited as the frequency connected with the single being on the station. “This is the Blue Fairy, Guardian Transport. Please acknowledge.”

  A click on the other end preceded, “Do not dock or share air. The station is contaminated with Drescu sickness.”

  “Understood. What do you need?” She sent a message to Nitza via baby while she spoke. The highly virulent illness was harmless to children but could be fatal to adults if not treated. The medics would have to come in with full gear and plenty of the treatment.

  “I need a full medical team prepared for the sickness and a lot more water on this station. The supply vessel’s crew caught the sickness and are now on the floor of the atrium.”

  “Are you all right to take care of them for a while?”

  She scanned the ships docked at the station while she chatted.

  “I am. Do not come into this station.”

  She laughed. “Got that. I have no urge to contract Drescu sickness. I am a susceptible species.”

  She found the water transport and brought the ship in close. Blue hit the floodlights and she was able to spot the connections. “Well, honey bunny. It looks like I am going for a walk.”

  A voice came to her through her implants. “What did you call me?”

  She laughed as she unlatched herself from the ship. “Sorry. I tend to address the ship by a number of nicknames. I forgot the com was open.”

  “That’s all right. It is good to hear a voice. The population has been sick for a few days. Will you leave the com open?”

  Gaze headed down the stairs. “Of course, Shiver. Call me Gaze.”

  “Thank you, Gaze, it is good to hear a friendly voice.”

  She smiled and moved toward her exterior hatch. Her suit was waiting, and she slipped into it with the ease of a lot of practice.

  “Gaze, what are you doing?”

  “I am going outside to hook up the water supply. Their ship and the exterior ports are accessible with a little effort. I won’t have to expose myself, but I should be able to solve one of your issues.”

  “Are you fully able to manage?”

  She laughed. “I would hope so. Seeing what is hidden is my speciality. Now, bear with me while I put the helmet on and get my jets firing.”

  She sent a signal to Blue and the airlock engaged, purged and spit her out with only her tether holding her to her best friend. The Fairy drifted closer to the station and water transport before locking in position using magnetic grapples.

  In the triangle formed by the ships and station, she came out and floated to the station locks. Her gloves made slow going of the panels and she had to get her ship to override the passkeys, but eventually, she was able to see the access hatch for the water supply.

  The ship was a little more complicated, but she worked the serpentine and rigid hose out until it was hovering just outside the station port. “Okay, baby, wake up the station.”

  The station port opened, and the water feed magnetized to the opening. She hauled herself along the pipe and opened the insulated water feed to refill the station stores.

  “I have water coming in. Can you access it yet?”

  Shiver’s voice came through. “It is coming. Thank you.”

  “Not a problem. All part of the service.” She chuckled and waited while the water continued to flow. Her oxygen was ten minutes from over when the water ceased to flow and she could seal the station. The ship’s line retracted automatically, courtesy of the Fairy, and Gaze headed home.

  Chapter Three

  That first gasp of air when she took off the helmet was always the sweetest. “Oh, yeah. That’s the stuff.”

  Shiver’s voice was amused. “What are you doing now?”

  “Breathing in my beloved ship’s air, how are you doing?”

  “I am watering as many of them as I can. I would grow a few extra arms but this suit isn’t designed for it.”

  As Gaze slipped out of her suit and she hung it in the testing unit, she asked, “Can you really pick any form you want?”

  “I can.”

  “What shape are you in right now?”

  “A male Kozue. They don’t frequent this area, but they are rather striking.”

  She chuckled. “Do you like for folks to think you are pretty?”

  “Of course, don’t you?”

  “Physical appearance is not one of my primary concerns, no.” For years, she had just hoped that no one mixed up her hangars or lied to her when she shopped at a clothing store.

  Trust had been her primary concern. She had been forced to trust those around her, and it was a very wearing thing. Deciding to go to college and leaving the mapped out, fully counted safety of her home had taken all her nerve. Finding her way to classes each day had burned like acid across her self-control, but she had managed it. Frankly, they were lucky that she didn’t wear her bathrobe to classes.

  Her white cane had made her stand out no matter what she wore. While she had used it, it was the only thing that it seemed people saw when they looked at her. Well, that had been her perception. She couldn’t actually see what the expressions were.

  “Interesting. You will be the first female I have met that has not had looks as their primary focus.”

  She snorted into the com. “I am learning about vanity. My features were touched up a little when they gave me my additions.”

  “Touch ups?”

  She laughed. “I am Guardian Transport. We all have enhancements.”

  “It sounds intriguing. I look forward to meeting you.”

  “I have gotten a ping from the import hub. They are sending medical staff for full containment. Nyal Imperium virulent specialists will be here shortly to back up the medical teams.”

  “Excellent. As soon as I get a full decontamination, I will request permission to come on board.”

  “Good. I hate surprises. Do you have food preferences?”

  “I can eat just about anything. I would like to thank you in advance for your hospitality.”

  “It is simply part of my duties. Nothing more, nothing less.”

  There was silence for a moment. “Then, I thank you for your attention to duty.”

  Gwyn laughed. “It is no trouble. We had no other plans.”

  “Are there others on board the ship?”

  “There is myself and the ship. Should there be someone else?” Gwyn smiled. She was used to the Guardians forgetting about the ship itself before they got on board, but the ship didn’t let them forget it after they were within the confines of her hull.

  “I will respect the honour of your hospitality.”

  “Thank you. Now, what kind of games do you like to play? I have nineteen board games and several card decks from all over the imperium.”

  They got into a discussion of the varieties of checker-like games, and before she knew it, there was a medical team docking with the station. She ran scans to make sure that all of the staff were who they said they were. Convinced that they were who they said they were, she watched the scans as people were moved into treatment clusters through the atrium, clumped by their relative health.

  It took twelve hours before the first of the ill parties began to rise and stagger around the space. More ships with better equipment arrived. They set up clean rooms for the workers to rest and installed air scrubbers to remove the traces left in the environment. It was a hard
thing to sterilize an occupied station, but it seemed they were making headway.

  An airlock ran a sterilization protocol, including a blast of heat that should have killed the occupant. “Guardian Shiver requesting that the Blue Fairy dock for boarding.”

  “Blue Fairy complying. Docking at port sixteen.” Gaze eased the ship into position and settled the seals.

  “Acknowledged. Proceeding to the entrance. Sterilization protocol is complete.”

  “Appreciated.”

  The seals locked, the link pressurized and she opened her hatch to the new Guardian.

  Shiver walked in, waited while her ship’s systems ran a complete purge on him and then strode onto the decking of the Blue Fairy.

  The ship sent her avatar down to lead him to the command deck while Gaze detached the hatches and prepared for launch.

  “Nitza, I have possession of Shiver. Where am I taking him?”

  “Thank the stars. I was worried. I am giving you coordinates. He is on his way to officiate at a wedding. Better get a move on, you have a long way to go in a very short period of time.”

  “I will. I hate to be late to a wedding. Blue Fairy and Gaze, engaging in transport.”

  “Acknowledged. Advise me of arrival.”

  “Will do. Gaze out.” She disconnected the com link, letting the Fairy fall completely away from the station. Once out at a safe distance, she took the coordinates and mapped the destination through three systems and around the edge of a nebula.

  Footsteps sounded behind her, and she turned her head. “Welcome to the Blue Fairy.”

  The armoured form stepped lightly for such a huge bulk. “I thank you, Blue Fairy and Gaze, for your offer of hospitality.”

  Gwyn smiled. “You are most welcome. The avatar you followed is the Fairy’s personal representation. It changes now and then, but she usually zips around the ship in that bright ball of fun.”

  The ball in question hovered in front of the armoured suit; only the dedicated vision of a true seeker could see the tiny figure inside. It was fun to see the reflection of the glowing blue in the golden armour.

  “I shall look forward to her presence. Now, shall I remove my helmet or do you prefer me to converse this way?”

  She chuckled. “Dress yourself in any way you like. I wear this bodysuit because I have to. Within these walls, there are no rules aside from keep it neat.”

  He nodded, and he unsealed his helmet, revealing features that were so perfect, Gaze had to recalibrate her implants in an effort to find a flaw.

  “Wow. You were not kidding. You are stunning.”

  He blinked at her with golden eyes framed by sooty lashes.

  There was something weird about his pupils, but without using her enhanced vision, she couldn’t tell what it was.

  His skin was an even mahogany; his braids were thick and heavy. As he shook his head, the braids slipped out of the body of his suit and swung across the slick surface of his suit.

  He neatly tucked his helmet under one arm. “Can you or this charming ship show me to my quarters?”

  Gaze grinned and put the ship in high gear, not that it had gears, but it was a phrase she had heard often enough back home. Once the Fairy knew where she was going, she would make a beeline for the jump site.

  She released the jacks and wiggled her hands and feet before she stood. She had gauged his height correctly. He was six and a half feet as a minimum estimate.

  He looked surprised as she got to her feet.

  She snickered. “You thought I was fused to the chair?”

  He laughed. “Something like that.”

  “Come on, this way.”

  She led him down to the centre level, and instead of the larger left room, she had to show him the room on the right. “Sorry about the accommodations, but my last guest was a real jackass.”

  “A small closet would be fine.”

  “Oh, I can do better than that. Baby has scanned you, so you can come and go to any areas of the ship that are open for public access. Basically, that means anything except my quarters.”

  “Understood.”

  “You are free to un-form if you wish. With a little more exposure, I will be able to identify you no matter what form you take.” She opened the door and stepped aside.

  Shiver passed her, and he smiled brightly as he took in the neatly arranged space. “This is more than I need. Thank you. Is that a com station?”

  “It is. It is a secure link so that you can file your reports without me directly listening in.”

  “Good. I need to do some catching up. Where is my next assignment?”

  “At a wedding in the Gollani cluster. You are the official conducting the wedding.”

  “Excellent. I do love a wedding.” He smiled, and with that grin, she was almost blinded.

  “Right. Well, I am heading back up for a meal before we reach the jump point. You are welcome to join me.”

  He inclined his head. “I will join you as soon as the Guardian dispatch has my status report. I will have them request official’s robes for me when we land.”

  “Excellent. As you are not particular, I will make a few selections for you, and they will be ready when you are.”

  She headed down the hall and back up the steps. The strange feeling of being a good host was one she enjoyed and rarely got to indulge.

  Gaze got a platter of tidbits out and put them in the heater. She enjoyed having food with different shapes and textures in front of her. The delight of attractive snacks was something that she had not even suspected before she gained sight.

  A quick check on their position let her know that she had two hours before the first jump. It was plenty of time to have a nice meal if Shiver joined her.

  She prepped some tea and removed the platter from the heater. She settled down on one of the bench seats and took a few of the small items, placing them on a plate and nibbling them one by one.

  The heater had brought them up to room temperature, which allowed the vegetables and meats to shine in their individual portions between a dazzling array of breads. It was a treat to eat and look at. The caterers had outdone themselves on this one.

  She linked with the ship and checked on Shiver. He disconnected the call on the com and exited his room. He was on his way.

  She straightened and touched the side of the teapot. It was still hot, so she poured another cup and set it across from her.

  Shiver arrived a moment later. “This is quite the ship. I have never gotten such a swift connection before.”

  “It is one of the miracles of the Nyal Imperium.” It was actually living com systems, but she didn’t know if he was cleared for that.

  “Interesting.”

  “Isn’t it? Do you have details on the wedding we are heading toward?”

  He beamed, his perfect features shifting slightly into a more distinguished arrangement. “My protection-daughter is getting married. It is why I have been summoned to perform the ceremony. She wants me there.”

  “I didn’t know that Nishans had that kind of social structure.”

  “We don’t. I met Hargu’s parents when I was an officer in a police action. They were trapped in a falling building, and I got them out. Hargu was just at the age when she needed a protection-father, so in the rubble, I was given the duty of protecting her whenever she should call on me.”

  “And this week, she called.” Gaze smiled. “It is a good thing to deliver a Guardian to a joyous event for a change. Have you met her betrothed?”

  He shook his head and sipped at his tea. “General Haynin is supposed to be the best protector that their world has seen. She will be a good wife.”

  Gaze blinked and cocked her head. “Both females?”

  “Indeed. It is encouraged in the Gollani cluster to choose the mate of your heart. Hargu has found that mate, and I respect her choice, though I do look forward to meeting the general face to face.”

  “Your features are shifting. Is that normal?”

  “When I was in the Gollani cluster, I looked different, and so, I will return to that form for this event.”

  Gaze looked at him and saw the life pattern that her enhanced vision gave her. It was definitely distinctive. A few more days and she would be able to find him anywhere. It was like staring into a lava stream made of molten gold and copper.