Star of Sound

Chapter 4

SINA AND PRIAR are shocked, to put it mildly. We meet in Sina's room and try to digest the information. I cannot fathom what consequences all this will have.

"We have to inform High Command," Priar says.

"I think they know," I say.

Sina and Priar stare almost accusingly at me.

I shrug. "I'd be really scared if they didn't know. If our intelligence is that bad, then it's a miracle the human race survived so far."

"Why would they not tell the rest of us?" Sina asks.

"If it's true that we would've lost the war if not for Saros, that's not good news," I say. "Nari believes it's true. She was born here and that's what they taught her. We have no way of telling who's right and who's wrong."

Sina sighs from the bottom of her heart. "Oh man."

She doesn't want to be here, I can feel that. She doesn't want to be involved in all these big things. I'm not sure if I want to be involved either. But I don't want to leave, not yet. It just got far more interesting. And the presence of two thousand humans eases many of my worries.

There's a knock on Sina's door. She looks anxiously at us, then lets one of Kinlan's speaker units enter.

He looks extremely alien in Sina's room. We have no Heelith chair for him.

"I apologize that you found out like this, Jaiah," he says, "I wanted to inform you after you had adapted a bit." He sounds sincere.

"That's fine, Kinlan. I'm not upset. I'm wondering why I'm not upset. Is it because this is bigger than you or me? I'm mostly relieved that we're not the only humans here, and that the resident humans know a lot about you. I have several requests though. I want the freedom to talk to Emre and Nari and other humans in the Assembly whenever we wish. And I want free access to Sudak. He saved our lives. I'm very sure that talking to a manipulator will help me understand what's going on among the Heelith. There's a lot he can do with his voice, isn't there? But, as you may have noticed, it affects me differently. I got a nosebleed while your people collapsed. I don't think he can command any weird stuff to me, can he?"

"That's unlikely, Jaiah. However, I cannot grant your requests. That's up to President Saros. I'm sure Nari will be able to arrange an appointment with him soon."

I bow my head to him. "Thank you, Kinlan."

He nods his fly-head back at me. "The funeral for Hriff will be held tomorrow morning. I assume you wish to attend?"

"By all means."

"Some of my units will pick you up tomorrow morning then."

"Thank you, Kinlan."

Kinlan leaves and after a short silence, I say: "I didn't get much of a nap, thanks to Nari showing up. Let's have dinner now, and then I'd like to go to bed early."

Sina and Priar nod their agreement. We eat some pasta from our supplies, then I retreat to my room. I haven't slept with Sina since we came down to Gaalan but I don't feel like it tonight either. Too much has happened. I lie in my bed and stare at the ceiling in the dark. How does Admiral Delaro feel about two thousand humans on Heelith Homeworld? What does she think about human bodyguards for the leader swarms? How can she keep a straight face and do all her interviews with such knowledge in her head? I'm convinced that she and all of High Command know--the false bastards.

v

Kinlan's units have picked us up and we're flying to an unknown destination. So much for staying safe in the Assembly. I'm not particularly concerned, neither is Priar, but Sina clearly is.