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  Hima paused. “As you like, Xaia. You are the specialist.”

  The chuckle that came through the coms was definitely amused. “You are more blood thirsty than most midwives I have met.”

  Hima murmured, “You would be surprised.”

  As she watched, Ai opened the port in his chest, and he placed his pilot down in the vessel.

  Hima stood and kept watch, murmuring, “That is one way to do it.”

  * * * *

  Ai’s sensors took in the heat coming off the ship from its drop through the atmosphere. “The engines are nearly depleted.”

  “I can see that. What about the computers?”

  “What?”

  “The navigation systems. They are always linked to all the good stuff.”

  “I can’t access them from here. I think I am going to need to take a walk.”

  “It is unwise to leave me with the enemy around.”

  Xaia activated the headset and settled it in place as she disconnected from Ai. “I need to get in there now before Hima rips the whole thing apart.”

  Ai released her completely, and a panel opened on the deck. “Crystals that will record all data on contact.”

  “That is neat.” She skidded to them as he bent over. With the crystals tucked into her tunic, she stepped out onto his hand, and he lowered her into the shattered window that used to be the cockpit.

  The smells assailed her. Xaia caught the weird smell of the forest, the rich, earthy, loamy scent, but there was a trace of body odour, and it wasn’t hers.

  She moved swiftly to the console and the smell grew stronger.

  “Ai, I am not alone in here. If Corbyn or Lido have some weapons, I wouldn’t mind some company.” She kept her tone casual. She had no idea if the person in the space with her could understand her words, but she didn’t want to give anything away via her tone.

  The first crystal was set in place, and it flashed lavender as it uploaded the data. When it shifted to blue, she set the second stone in place. The lavender took over, and when they both hummed pink, she pulled them out and tucked them away. She was just in time to dodge the huge grey fist that slammed down on the console and rendered the equipment useless.

  Xaia ducked and twisted, facing a horror that was a little bit shorter than she thought. He was looking up at her in shock, and she reached out to grab him, smacking him against the command chair.

  Corbyn came in, and she stared at him. “Is that it?”

  “That is it. He is just unconscious, not dead, but I don’t know what he is.”

  Lido came in and looked before she huffed, “I thought they would be bigger.”

  Xaia cocked her head. “We still don’t know what he is. Ai, do you have an identification?”

  “Tokkel. He is definitely Tokkel. His is the race that we faced before.” Ai’s voice was grim.

  Xaia looked at the women around her. “So, who is carrying him back to the city?”

  * * * *

  Lido finished tying the prisoner with strips from fabric in the ship, and she settled him on Cio’s palm as she was lifted into position.

  “Cio, you said you will hang onto him. Are you sure?”

  “I have done it before.”

  “Okay. I will get into position. You do what you are going to do.”

  “Good. I am glad you’re safe.”

  She settled into position and switched her headset out for the full link to Cio. “Were the Tokkel always this small?”

  He flashed images of the Tokkel towering over his pilot. “I can only conjecture that the specimen you have captured is diminutive.”

  She nodded and settled in as the metal wrapped around her. Cio’s body straightened, and she watched him cup his hands around the unconscious body as they turned with the others and walked to the city.

  * * * *

  Corbyn looked over at Cio and frowned. “Something is very weird here.”

  “Is it that Xaia was able to subdue the Tokkel?”

  “That is part of it. Why is he so small?”

  “Perhaps that is why he was used as a pilot. He is not intimidating. Also, that drop was a one-way trip. I doubt that he was in control.”

  “That is a very good point. There was no way it should have crashed like that if he was at the helm.”

  Myx agreed. “You are correct. There was nothing wrong with the vessel aside from lack of fuel. Even the cargo bay was designed to hold five of the bots and it had. I am still glad that you uncoupled the engines.”

  Corbyn grimaced. “It seemed like the thing to do until Len arrived. I had no idea that Hima was so eager to smash and tear.”

  “She is linked to a bot now. That brings out new instincts.”

  “Yes, I have noticed.”

  They continued on their hike to the city, crushing trees as necessary.

  Myx informed her, “We all have docking bays outside the city walls. If you leave us there, you may go in and communicate with the powers that be to get the pilots you want.”

  “It isn’t the pilots that we want; it is the protocol to get you properly trained pilots. This little fray with the worm bots is a perfect example. We could have done so much better if we had the training.”

  Myx murmured, “You all have natural talent. It counts for a lot.”

  “Thanks. But there is tremendous insecurity in not knowing what to do. We have your memories on how your pilots fought, but it isn’t the same as knowing what it felt like for the pilot.”

  “I accept that, but I don’t have to like it.”

  She sent him a mental hug. “You don’t have to like it, but you must be welcoming to your new pilot.”

  “I will be. There, that is my station along the wall.”

  Corbyn looked out, and the word MYX was painted in ten-metre high letters.

  “How do I get out of here?”

  “You take the lift down, and there is a hallway that leads inside the wall of the city. An assistant should meet you there and take you to the council for authorization to release the pilots.”

  “You say that like it has happened before.”

  “I have walked with a dying pilot before. That was his protocol.”

  She swallowed and nodded. “I am sorry that you lost your pilot.”

  “After the third, it stops hurting.”

  She sighed. “Don’t lie.”

  He shared the moment of grief, and then, he walked to the wall that was slightly taller than he was, and he turned to fit himself into his spot, his scanners watching the skies. “I am in. Take the headset and let me see how the city has changed.”

  She grinned. “It has been two hundred years.”

  “I know. I look forward to their progress. I know that the progress in Bot City always astonished me.”

  The headset slid into place, and she fastened it to the connection points on her neck. She inhaled and exhaled. “Right. Well I wish you luck with your pilot, Myx. This has been interesting.”

  “I wish you good fortunes through this war.”

  She paused on her way to the lift to stroke the control panel. “You too. Stay in one piece, big guy.”

  Corbyn squeezed into the lift and closed her eyes as she was carried down to the lower exit. With the low hum of the speaker in her ear letting her know she wasn’t alone, it wasn’t such a claustrophobic trip.

  * * * *

  “I am heading for my dock. It will recharge me and offer automated repair.” Len was calm.

  “Right. So, I guess this is it.”

  “Is your arm repaired?”

  She wiggled her fingers on her left hand. There was still pain, but it had only been a few hours with his nanites trying to repair her body. He had done a great job, considering. “It is good. I am sure that they will have some medics who can assist me in completing the process.”

  “I am sure they will. Are you all right? It has been an eventful few hours.”

 
; Hima chuckled. “I am very good, considering that my blood is all over the interior of your hull. So, how do I do this again?”

  “You exit via the lift, get into the long hallway and an attendant should meet you. I am sure that Kab and Iff have already checked in, so you should be met before long. They will take you into the city, and you can make your request for a pilot there.”

  She swallowed. “Right.”

  “So, take your headset and call on me if you need any information or anything. Even if you just need to chat.” Len was chatty himself.

  “I will.” She settled the headset in place and finished the connection. “I will even tell you if your pilot is good looking, just to build the suspense.”

  Her AI laughed. “It will be good to know that the contents match the packaging.”

  She was grinning as she left the cradle and slowly made her way to the lift. Her blood was smeared all over the place and left a distinct coppery smell in her nostrils as she descended to the lower exit. It had been quite the adventure, but now, it was time to hand Len over to the professionals.

  * * * *

  Nyvett and Duel were waiting in the hall when a cluster of figures approached them.

  Nyvett didn’t say anything, but she looked at the faces of those approaching her in astonishment. They looked like humans, but their ears were pointed and their eyes had slit pupils.

  “Engineers. Welcome to Hera City.” The male in front opened his arms in what appeared to be a welcome.

  Nyvett stepped out of the shadows, and the gathering came to a sudden halt. “We are not here for pleasantries. We are here under Code Angur-Dock. The cities are under attack.”

  The male in front looked at them and frowned. “This is not a matter for public discussion. Please come with me.”

  Nyvett looked to Duel before saying, “The other four are docking as we speak.”

  He blinked. “There are more of you? You are so young. How is that—never mind. They will be brought to us.”

  Nyvett heard the whisper in her mind, “Don’t worry, we are watching.”

  Duel smiled and linked arms with her. “Come on, cousin. It is time to see the city.”

  The male smiled brilliantly, and his fanged teeth gave them something else to be concerned about. Nyvett smiled. “Please, sir. Lead the way.”

  Chapter Eight

  The lounge that they were brought to was light, bright, and had food and beverages just lying around on the side tables.

  Hima sat gingerly with her arm still in a light silvery wrapping.

  Their host smiled and then frowned at Hima. “Are you injured?”

  “I am. There was an explosion when I was approaching my bot. One of the projectiles that the orbiting ships were firing made it into the valley.”

  “Ah, just a moment.” He pushed back his silvery sleeve and entered a code on the screen embedded in his flesh. “A medic will be here shortly. Now, ladies. What can I do for you?”

  Duel cleared her throat. “We are here for pilots. The agreement after the last war was that we would maintain the bots and you would maintain pilots of pure bloodlines who are coded for our machines.”

  The man sat back, and he stroked his chin with elegant fingers. “I suppose we could try to find citizens who had the correct bloodline, but to be honest, we are shocked that you even exist by now.”

  Corbyn frowned. “Who are you?”

  “Ah. Where are my manners? I am Mayor Otta. Now, that brings me to my question, how are you even here? We cut off supplies to the valley over a half a century ago. We believed you had already died out.”

  Corbyn was shocked, as were most of the others. Nyvett was the only one who simply winced.

  Corbyn tensed her lips but asked, “So, where are the pilots? We are under attack, and the pilots are needed.”

  Otta waved his hand. “We have the training program, but you will be hard pressed to find anyone in this city of ten thousand who has pure bloodlines. Sex is a delightful way to pass the time.”

  Corbyn looked to the other ladies and shrugged, “We wouldn’t know.”

  Mayor Otta looked around, and his slit pupils flexed and widened. “Ah, of course. Well, in addition to the pleasures of the flesh, my citizens also enjoy genetic enhancement. It is an excellent way to personalize one’s body.”

  Lido piped up, “It is already your body, how much more personal can it get?”

  The mayor stared at her as if she had two heads.

  A soft knock on the door let the mayor welcome in a medic who looked them over and walked to Hima without hesitation.

  Hima winced when the woman took charge of her arm, but she remained as still as possible as the medic got to work.

  Corbyn was still trying to get the idea of genetic tampering through her head when the mayor huffed and crossed his arms. “I can’t help you.”

  * * * *

  Nyvett got to her feet, prompting the mayor to do the same. His size made him appear to be a fifteen-year old, but his attitude said that he was fully grown.

  “Why aren’t you reacting to the news that there is an attacking force coming for you?”

  He waved it off. “They have been in negotiations with us. They want the hot sands and were just trying to clear the remains of your civilization from it.”

  Nyvett smiled slightly. “And you authorized it.”

  He nodded. “Of course. With the lack of supplies, you should have been down to a few dozen women.”

  “And you did not feel it necessary to warn us that the attack was incoming.”

  He shrugged. “Communications have been spotty. We told them to wait for the sign of the burn. That would get the majority of your population out to witness it.”

  The other women were shocked, but Nyvett had to draw this all out. “What of the equipment that has been repaired for the city? The plasma generators that now make up the emergency dome?”

  “I never denied that the city of engineers wasn’t useful, but when the Tokkel offered their medical technology to us, it was thought of as a fair trade. You for us.”

  Nyvett paced slightly. “Your population has decreased by more than half from what it was a few decades ago.”

  “Not everyone was compatible with the new technology. There were casualties.”

  The casual way he mentioned the loss of life made her jaw clench. “You mentioned pilot-training units?”

  “Sure. There was one for every bot. I could show you. They are in storage but still in good repair.”

  She gave him a blank smile. “That would be great. Hima, are you done?”

  Hima was flexing her left arm, and she nodded. “I am back to normal, Nyvett.”

  The medic smiled. “You were down to a sprain and a hairline fracture.” She was nearly a standard human, but the ridges of bone running from front to back made her head look like a melon.

  Mayor Otta inclined his head. “Please follow me. I will take you to the storage area where we keep the teaching units.”

  The rest of them got back to their feet and followed him down the hall. He glanced back occasionally. “Are all of those who remain so... tall?”

  Nyvett smiled. “We are. It is an average height for our people. It was a good thing that we were able to live off the land when the rations stopped or things could have gone another way.”

  “Lived off the land?” the idea was obviously foreign to him.

  “Oh, yes. Hera has an abundance of nutritious and deadly animals, so we had to gain the skills to get enough to feed our people. There is nothing worse than watching a child starve when it could be prevented.”

  “Ah, right. Yes, that would be horrible. I wonder what my grandfather was thinking.”

  That got her focus like nothing else would. “Grandfather? It was only fifty years ago. What is a life span in the city?”

  “Forty. It was decided that it would make the dead more attractive to the mourners, and it is the si
de effect of the Tokkel genetic gift.”

  The other five from the valley murmured in amazement. When a woman was forty, she had either had her child or was focused on her occupation. There were recreational aspects that could only be exerted at that age, such as marriage. A partnership formed at forty could last another ten decades if health was maintained. Forty was the start of carefree life for a woman in Bot City.

  Nyvett smiled slightly when he looked at her as if expecting a reply. “It is an interesting age.”

  He huffed. “Well, how long do you live?”

  “If nothing interrupts our genetic life span? Several decades more than that.”

  “But you age.”

  Nyvett wrinkled her nose. “Not really. Our diet as teens has an effect on the aging process. We really don’t. A woman at twenty looks similar to one who is eighty.”

  “I don’t believe it. How old are you?”

  She grinned. “Thirty-three. The others are of similar ages.”

  “Well, you are holding up well then.”

  She didn’t want to, but she had to ask. “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-five. I don’t look a day over seventeen.”

  She nodded politely while wincing inwardly. If that was what men looked like at twenty-five, she was glad she was raised in a city of women.

  The halls inside the wall were silent. There was no one to see or speak to.

  When they got to the storage area, it was on the inner section of the wall, and Mayor Otta pushed the door open with great difficulty. Nyvett pushed it above his head, and the door slammed back into the wall. He stood and looked smug, as if he didn’t know his own strength.

  “This way. There is power here, but the panel is at the back of the chamber. You are engineers, I am sure you can figure it out.”

  He waved them into the space, and when they were all inside, he pulled the door closed and sealed it.

  Nyvett could hear his shout. “Sorry about this, but we really do want to make sure that the valley is clear for its new occupants. With the bots here, it should be easy.”