This Alien Shore (77 page)

T
HE OBSERVATION LOUNGE was nearly deserted when Sonondra Ra came into it. The lush padded seats surrounding glass tables were empty. The bar was shuttered, and the illumination had been turned down, allowing the distant station lights to cast gleaming lines across the floor.

Phoenix stood by the vast window looking out at the rings of Paradise. Though he had lived here for much of his life, he had rarely been in a place where such a view was possible. From here, inside the Guild complex, one could see all the rings of the station sweeping across the glittering sky, and the stately dance of pods and transports as they wove in and out of them, seeking sanctuary.

She came up beside him and just stood there for a while. Sharing the view, and the silence of the moment.

Then she said, very quietly, “You miss her a lot.”

“Yeah. Pretty stupid, huh?” He brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes, then lodged both hands deeply in his pockets. “I only knew her a few days. Never figured anyone could get to me that fast.”

She said it gently: “You know it had to be done.”

“Yeah. I know.” He sighed. “Earth aggression and all that bullshit. Had to be dealt with.”

An outship was disengaging from the inner ring; its docking lights swept across the darkened room. “Tell me again how she's happier where she is.”

“Her nature is Gueran. She belongs among us. Maybe not by birth, but after what Shido did to her, she has no place among Terrans. Guera will accept her for what she is. And now that Tridac's been fooled into thinking she's dead, there'll be no one coming after her. She'll have time to come to terms with what she's become. And in time she'll realize that on Guera she has no need to hide her nature.”

“I would think she'd have it hard there,” he said. “Your kaja system seems rather static. I mean, she's not going to change her face paint each time she ... each time she . . . well, shifts. Is she?”

She chuckled softly. “My dear boy, there's no condition of the human soul that Guera hasn't dealt with. There are kaja even for the changing ones. Special customs, even for them.”

He turned to look at her. Guidelights from the main docking ring reflected highlights across his face. “Why did you spare her life? It would have been so much easier to kill her. I m sure the others would rather have had it that way.”

Sonondra Ra smiled. “You do understand so little of us, don't you?” She gazed out at the starscape with rapt attention. “There were other Guildmasters who wanted her dead. Therefore I saved her life.” She chuckled softly. “It will all make perfect sense to you once you understand our ways. As you will someday.” She paused, and for a moment merely observed it all: the stars, the station, him. Then she asked, “Have you thought about my offer?”

He drew in a deep breath, and felt like a swimmer about to immerse himself in measureless depths. “You sure you want to do this?”

“I hire non-Guerans occasionally. You must know that.” She paused, and it seemed to him that the strange diamond eyes glittered with amusement. “Of course, if you don't think you're up to the challenge of hacking Guild systems—”

“Like hell I'm not!” That brought a grin to his face. “Look, I really want to do this, I'm just surprised you ... you know, trust me. Being an outsider and all.”

“Trust you, my dear boy?” she smiled. “Perhaps not. But know you? Yes. Yes, I think I do.” She placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently. “Come. I need you. Delhi just brought in a team of encryption specialists, and I think she's up to something. Pays us to find out what it is, don't you think?”

Phoenix nodded, and with one last look at the starscape, followed her back into the station.