KYLIE'S SONG #SciFriday

Chapter 8

They fell into a descending orbit as the planet settled in its new path. Twenty heavy cruisers boxed them in on all sides and Kylie had surrendered the weapon and been confined to quarters.

"The DNA sample has arrived," Zader motioned to the outer airlock where a skiff slid up to their ship.

"Report?" ordered Fiona.

"One humanoid type life form on board, no weapons, it's clear."

"Why are they sending a person to do a robot's job?" asked Fiona.

"Maybe they're scared of Artificial Intelligence," grated Quint. He had just finished welding the ventilation duct in Kylie's room and she seemed normal enough but he was still creeped out. And he couldn't stop thinking about her. Not in a perverted, middle age man robs the cradle kind of way, but he wondered who she really was and what kind of hell they were walking into.

"Open the airlock, we'll see soon enough."

Ariel and Branson were down in the hangar bay waiting while the pressures stabilized.

"Did we check the air?" he asked.

"If they want to kill us, what's the point in worrying?" Lights turned green, the door slid open, and a girl emerged with ratted hair and torn clothing. There were scrapes on her knees and the dress hung like a rag on her thin frame. Yellow flaked blue eyes darted back and forth like a caged animal and she was in desperate need of a bath.

"Are you getting this captain?"

"Roger that, Marconi, keep her down there while I find out what the hell is going on." Fiona hailed Vardek on the secure channel. When he came on the screen she got right to the point.

"Why did you send us a slave?"

He smiled as if she had just divulged top secret information without even knowing it. She realized everything might be a test and tucked that away for later. They knew nothing about Avalon's social structure.

"I can assure you captain, she is a model citizen who is held in high regard. You can extract the DNA from her." When Fiona remained silent, he continued. "So you can be sure we didn't tamper with the sample."

Faint understanding registered on her face.

"Fiona, there's one more thing. Our laws and customs differ from yours."

"I'm sure," she spat in disgust, "what's your point?"

"Melvina has been through so much, but she's the darling of the people, much like your own Kylie. She adheres to the laws and abides by the customs of the Sadrasitic people. We will be boarding in an hour."

The screen went blank. Strella and Quint dove at their computers and began talking between themselves.

"Does anyone know what he's talking about?" asked Fiona.

"There's one person on this ship who does, why don't you ask her."

Forty minutes later found Branson delivering the results. "They're human with one difference."

"Go on," said Fiona while the rest of the crew paused for the results.

"They have Telomerase enzymes across the cell spectrum."

"Meaning they've beat aging right," said Quint.

"As far as I can tell, yes."

"But we all know there's something off, right?" asked Ariel.

"Just like there's something off about Kylie," added Quint.

"Will Melvina tell us why our instincts say run like hell?"

"I've been talking to her, and she says she wants to see the princess."

"Ok, set it up," ordered Fiona, "but don't leave them alone. We have twenty minutes before we're homeless."

"What if they make me work for them on the gravity drive?" asked Zader.

"We all have our lot, but it's better than dying. Besides I doubt they will keep us together."