The Xenocide Mission Read Online Free Page B

would have known immediately where she was.
    ‘I’ve been on a habitat before,’ she said.
    ‘Indeed, Learned Mother?’
    ‘It was for a conference. I didn’t like it then –’ she stopped, and swung round to glare at the young male – ‘and I like it even less now! How dare you take me from my sleeping cave and bring me here, to wake up alone and friendless? By what right?’
    ‘You are on the Reserve list, Learned Mother,’ Fleet said, with just a touch of reproach. He was glancing anxiously from side to side and making vague, fluttering gestures with his feeding hands. He didn’t want them to be overheard.
    ‘That’s for national emergencies.
National
emergencies, which by definition happen to nations. Which are back on Homeworld. So what am I doing out here? What nincompoop on the High Command decided it would be a good idea?’
    Fleet’s apologetic expression froze. ‘My mother, Barabadar,’ he said. ‘The Marshal of Space,’ he added, just in case the name itself didn’t narrow down the range of Barabadars that Oomoing had heard of.
    Oomoing subsided. ‘I’m sorry, Loyal Son. But can you tell me anything at all about what’s going on?’
    Fleet gently nudged her out of the way of a groundcar and they fell into step together.
    ‘All I can tell you, Learned Mother, is that my mother requires the services of the best forensic scientist we have. My orders were to bring you out here to await your wakening, then to escort you to our final destination.’
    ‘I see . . .’
    ‘And I have to tell you one more thing, Learned Mother. Habitat One is an international project with an international complement of crew, but for the time being this is a purely internal matter. In fact, my mother’s orders are that you speak of this to no-one to whom I have not personally introduced you. Is this clear?’
    Only the knowledge that he was just passing on orders kept Oomoing from biting the young snot’s head off.
    ‘I accept these conditions,’ she said tightly.
    ‘We’re here,’ Fleet said.
    The Waking Hall was quiet, secluded, dark. It even smelt as it should: polished wood, the right amount of incense in the background. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to make the surroundings familiar and comfortable. Not everyone in the Space Presence was an idiot.
    A Sharer came towards them, white robe crisp around her, a welcome resonant in her tone.
    ‘The Learned Mother has just awoken . . .’ Fleet said.
    ‘Of course, of course.’ The Sharer’s forehead wrinkled in a kind smile at Oomoing and she barged Fleet out of the way in her bustling eagerness to be helpful. She was good at her job; just the right level of reassurance, of motherly bonding. ‘This way, Learned Mother, please.’
    ‘The Learned Mother has some most important Sharing to do first . . .’ Fleet began. The Sharer lashed out with the talons of her left hunting arm in a move that could have taken off half Fleet’s face if he hadn’t been quick enough to pull back. As it was she just nicked the tip of his nose.
    ‘Later,’ she said firmly. Oomoing was pleased to note that Fleet had enough self control not to strike back, and not to put a hand to the wound while the females were watching. He let the blood well and drip instead. She just had time to hear Fleet’s courteously angry protest before she was whisked away into the female quarters and the door was shut firmly in the face of the seething young male.
    Well, let the pup simmer a bit
, she thought – she liked Fleet already, but one had to have priorities – and then she spent a glorious half hour being bathed, and having her fur brushed and her mane knotted in a manner appropriate to her rank.
    When she was offered a proper waking meal she turned it down, deciding to meet Fleet halfway. He was pacing backwards and forwards in the Sharing area, a secluded passage with curtained alcoves down either side. His nose was already scarring nicely. He made a visible effort not to snap