Star of Sound

Chapter 8

SINA KISSES ME awake, or tries to, I've been in a deep sleep and need time to come around.

"What?" I mumble.

"Kinlan is back."

"Okay."

I crawl out of bed, not really awake. Sina drags me into Sudak's room, not hers. Waiting for me are Sudak's five units, one of Kinlan's, Nari, Priar and Lorn. The room is crowded and feels like Hren's prison cell.

"The situation is this," Kinlan says. "Sudak killed a total of ninety-five of Hren's units, including one of her speaker units and several units of a guard swarm in her employment."

"That's her own damn fault," I say.

"Saros thinks so too. Your abduction was caught on camera. We have your wounded hand and your and Sudak's accounts of the incident. Can I see Flinx?"

"Sure." I stumble to my room, and fetch Flinx. He hums very sleepily, not helping me to wake up. Kinlan takes Flinx into his antennae. Instead of completely ignoring him, Flinx's tone changes minutely into something that sounds like "leave me the hell alone".

"We also have Flinx as proof," Kinlan says. "He was clearly put into acid, which is forbidden under Heelith law. Harming a crystal is equivalent to harming its partner." He hands Flinx back to me and I cradle him in my good palm. The "leave me alone" element disappears immediately. He sings quietly, tired like I am. "Hren will deny ordering Sudak to use the death tone. But I believe you and Saros believes you as well.

"In the light of this evidence, Saros will drop the charges against Sudak. Unfortunately that doesn't mean you have won. Sudak cannot go home to his apartment. Sudak's actions have made him a prisoner. For the unforeseeable future, Sudak must stay in this room here." Kinlan turns to Sudak. "You'll get the one next door as well."

"Thank you, Kinlan."

"Guards will go to your apartment and bring you your personal things."

"Much obliged."

"Why can't Sudak return to his apartment?" Sina asks.

"Hren will try to kill him. There may be assassins lying in wait."

Sina gasps. Kinlan turns back to Sudak.

"I cannot even guarantee your safety in the Assembly, Sudak. I'll install permanent guards around your rooms and those of the humans, but if you choose to venture outside these confines, you'll do so at your own risk."

"I understand. Thank you for giving me a chance for survival."

Kinlan turns to me. "That is all I can do for Sudak. You'll get a bodyguard detail at your disposal, Jaiah."

"Thank you, Kinlan."

"I'm very sorry this happened. But as I told you before, I can guarantee your safety here at the Assembly, but not outside."

"It's my fault because I ventured out?"

"I didn't say that."

I sigh and give in. "Well, thank you for the bodyguard detail. What about punishment for Hren, for her actions?"

"I don't recommend it," Kinlan says. "No human or manipulator has ever sued a parliament member before. If you do that, and demand punishment or reparations, Hren will take you apart. Hren is better at Heelith politics than you are, Jaiah, take my word for it. Your reward is Sudak's life and your own. I strongly suggest you leave it at that."

"Wow. So your parliament members can freely abduct humans and manipulators without consequences?"

"Yes. Humans are a lower lifeform whose rights are not our first priority. Manipulators are outcasts."