Shadows of Mars (Broken Stars Book 1) I.O. Adler (read people like a book TXT) 📖

“What does that mean?” Barrett asked.

“Not sure. The second light just popped up. It’s like there’s a conversation going on and we’re not part of it. Hello, can you hear me? What’s going on?”

“The Cordice are upset,” She Who Waits said. “They were almost at a conclusion in their deliberation when a communication came from a Melded ship approaching from the Framework. The incoming visitor is demanding the harvester for themselves. And now the Cordice are accusing you of contacting them in order to surrender it.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Carmen was stunned. “We didn’t do anything. None of us talked to anyone else besides the Cordice. We don’t even know how. You’ve been here the whole time. Tell them.”

“I have,” She Who Waits said. “And some among the Cordice have suggested that I had a part in relaying messages to the Melded. My coming aboard the ship uninvited is being used as proof of my duplicity.”

She stated all this with the calmness of someone reading a shopping list.

“You’ve just been trying to help us. We brought them the harvester. Put them through.”

“They won’t allow a second conversation as I am in the process of relaying a discussion between the Cordice and the incoming Melded ship.”

“Who are these people that are coming?”

“Designate Melded. They are one of several voices among the survivors on the Framework who make the case that the enemy needs to be confronted. Like the Cordice, they too have rescued many during their travels. Their ships, along with most of the marooned, have suffered substantial damage. When the Cordice departed the Framework, the others had been unable to follow. That is no longer the case.”

“So they’re coming to just take the harvester?”

“Yes. They claim they assisted in its repair after the attack.”

“And if the Cordice refuse?”

The diamond pattern inside the pillar became a flurry. “I do not know. But their ships carry armaments.” Both her red lights resumed blinking. “The Melded are no longer responding. They will be here in minutes.”

“What can we do? Jenna hasn’t released the harvester. Couldn’t she keep them from boarding?”

“She’ll do nothing of the sort,” Barrett said. “We’re not getting involved in a fight we don’t understand.”

“Will they hurt us? Will they hurt the Cordice?”

“I don’t believe so,” She Who Waits said. “Although some of the newer and younger among the Melded can be irritable.”

Carmen only had a moment to ponder what that meant before the ship once again began to vibrate. This time the sound of scraping metal lasted for several seconds. A violent bang caused the floor to lurch and made her grab hold of Barrett to steady herself.

She Who Waits began to move out into the hallway. “I have been requested.”

“We’ll come with you,” Carmen said.

“If you follow, it’s your decision. My work with the Melded requires my presence. I can’t say how they will react to any impression of interference.”

Barrett joined them as they left the medical bay. Carmen watched to make sure the door would close after they left. Leaving Jenna behind felt wrong. But as long as her mom was inside the simulation, their fate was now linked with the Cordice.

The thing charging towards them down the corridor of the home ship’s spine was a creature that had escaped from a fevered dream. A bloated worm the size of a bull, it rolled across the floor in a rapid undulating motion, with multiple body segments wrapped in a space suit made of material that looked like tan woven fabric. A massive helmet with a reflective visor and copper valves covered its head. The valves spat steam or thick white vapor. In two of its six arms it held what Carmen guessed were weapons: a pair of short black boxes, each with a barrel and handle.

It raised one of the weapons at her.

Several smaller beings followed, but none were like the worm. They walked on either two legs or four. All but one were covered by helmeted suits, with the last in line stripped bare to the waist, revealing a lean body thick with fur and a pair of mechanical arms. They were all armed.

The worm reared up before them and croaked as more vapor shot out of its face mask. Its neck pressed against the ceiling as it jutted its head forward, almost touching She Who Waits.

Carmen had positioned herself behind the translator. Barrett had taken several steps back and looked ready to bolt. The hallway had a hatch they could close if they had to retreat, but if the Melded could board without a problem, Carmen doubted any of the doors on the ship would slow them down, and at that moment she knew turning her back on the worm was a bad idea.

She Who Waits had a single red light. She let out a series of husky screeches. The worm interrupted her, answering back with a massive blop! followed by several evenly-spaced deep-throated grunts. The exchange continued, with She Who Waits starting what Carmen could only guess were intelligible sentences, followed by the worm, who didn’t appear capable of letting her finish.

Carmen stepped to the wall to get a better look at the other Melded. They were waiting behind the worm, still poised as if at any moment they would continue their stampede. Glowing displays were visible on their face shields.

The hairy Melded without a helmet had one brown eye and one that shone brilliant green. His fur was gray and matted. He consulted a device on one of his metal arms and tapped it a few times as if recording some tidbit of information. He then narrowed his eyes as he looked up at them.

Carmen waved.

The Melded didn’t react.

Tough crowd.

The worm’s interjections grew more and more strident until finally it brushed past She