Dance of Time (3 page)

“Why would I—oh wow.” She stared at the heavily protected turtle as it clawed its way up the beach and dug the laying hole.

The vid showed the naturalists attempting to excavate the eggs after the turtle had returned to the sea, but she came back to defend her nest.

Zez winced. “Did the naturalist survive?”

He shook his head. “He did not. The turtle is exceptionally toxic, so even mild contact with it is deadly.”

Zez had to admit that it was a challenge. “What does the turtle add to Lecidia?”

“Balance to the ecosystem. The turtles keep the ocean predators under control. Since the turtles were harvested for their shells, the balance has turned, and the predators are destroying the fish and other wildlife stocks in the area.”

“Right. So, all I have to do is freeze her?”

He nodded. “Watch the video and pick your moment. Your judgment on what will be safest for all is what will be the deciding factor.”

“Right. Have the eggs been laid?”

“Not yet. It will be time when we land. The ideal is that we arrive before the turtle crawls up the beach.”

“How long until we arrive?”

“Fourteen hours.”

Zez nodded. “Great. I am going to work out a little.”

She headed to the cargo area, grabbed her bag and returned to the room she had commandeered. She changed into a clean but old bodysuit and went to the cargo hold again to do push-ups against the artificial gravity and pullups on the cargo netting.

She was sweating lightly when she finished, and a quick solar shower cleaned her up nicely. Naked, she tiptoed from the lav down to her room, closing the door and exhaling with relief.

She pulled on a work suit and put her exercise clothing in the refresher. Zez had already figured out when she would freeze the turtle, but she would have to adapt her plan depending on where they were in the laying cycle.

It was a tricky situation, and the danger did hold a certain appeal.

She was sitting in the galley with her feet up on the bench across from her, reading some short fiction for the purpose of entertainment.

Zez smiled and read the next book in the series, delighted that the Terran archives had been dumped into the Alliance and made accessible.

“We are approaching the planet. Are you ready?” Korlin’s voice came through the speaker in the ceiling.

“I will be by the time we land.” She sighed and got to her feet, stretching and shaking out her robes. She grabbed a bag of water and hiked to the command deck.

She dropped into the nav chair and lifted the data screen again, continuing to read the stories about modern humans and their recent introduction to the Alliance. There was no author listed, but the stories were as stirring as they were graphic.

“What are you reading?”

“Just a story written by a Terran archivist. She—I am assuming it was a she—has written accounts of the first Terrans to meet and mate with members of the Alliance.”

He blinked. “That sounds interesting.”

“It is very engaging.”

“I will have to add it to my reading list. How many are there?”

“So far I have located over a hundred. Did you know that there are Terrans in the Sector Guard?”

He chuckled. “I have met a few, yes.”

“What are they like?” Zez was eager to know.

“Most are intelligent and determined. The Terrans who have been chosen to enter the Alliance are thoroughly screened. Their personalities make it easier for them to act for the wellbeing of others. It was why they were selected.”

Zez smiled. “I would like to meet one, one day. Since they make up most of my DNA, I want to see one in the wild.”

He laughed. “I will make sure that you have the opportunity.”

She could hear the promise in his tone. Korlin was speaking an oath.

She smiled and watched the water-covered world get closer and closer. The landmasses were less than ten percent of the world.

Korlin changed his clothing into something more armoured, and he flew them to the surface where a small outpost had just enough space for them to land the shuttle.

She shook out her robes when she got up. The gold she wore was so pale, it was the colour of ice and sand. Her bodysuit was a deep amber. Both colours were supposed to denote a time specialist. Since she was the only time specialist currently on duty, she guessed that they had made things up.

“Are you ready?”

She smiled at him. “Let’s go and steal some eggs.” Zez paused and took a deep breath. “Partner.”

He gave her a startled look and smiled back.

They walked out of the shuttle together and headed for the small outpost at the top of the hill.

The naturalists on Lecidia came out to greet them, introducing themselves and then rushing Zez to the shoreline on the opposite side of the hill.

The laying had already started.

Zez asked the scientists, “Are you ready to excavate?”

“Yes.”

“Good. This is going to happen the moment she is done.”

The scientists paused.

“What?” Dr. Wellibornaiaten was shocked at her comment.

“I am going to time-lock her the moment she is entering the water. It will buy us the most time. She doesn’t turn fast, so as long as you do your job efficiently and leave at least one egg in the ground. If you don’t, I will let her have you.”

The scientists were appalled.

“We need every egg that she has.”

“And she will stop laying if there is no point to it. Give her what is hers. She isn’t a machine; she is a being trying to bring a new generation. Let her think she is doing it. Taking all the eggs will skew her instincts.”

“How do you know that?”

“I did my research on the way here. She combines the instincts and behaviours of species who mate once and store the semen for use during the laying season. She will lay eggs until she dies. One clutch per cycle. Have you seen her mate?”

The naturalists shook their heads.

“Do you know how old she is?”

They shook their heads again.

She sighed. “Are you sure there are supposed to be more than one?”

They looked at each other, and the doctor finally gave her some good news. “Yes, we have found traces and fossils of a world inhabited by them before the Inkron arrived and began their fishing. The turtles were considered dangerous, so they were exterminated. The records that the Inkron have provided were incomplete, but they gave credence to the idea that there were far more turtles here at one time. We are trying to reset the balance.”

“Well, that shows some forethought. Okay. Let’s do this.”

She led the way down the hill and stopped halfway to the beach. Zez crouched and waited.

The doctor whispered. “What are you doing?”

“I am waiting for her to finish laying.”

“Don’t you want to be closer?”

Zez laughed. “This is close enough. I don’t want to disturb or alarm her. Have your equipment ready. Holding her will not be easy. I need you to make sure that you smooth things out and it looks as similar to when she left it as is possible. Take scans and get it right.”

“Yes, Specialist.”

They were quivering with eagerness as they watched the huge creature down on the beach beginning to deposit her eggs.

Two hundred eggs—each ten inches around—were laid in the span of ninety minutes, and the huge beast made her journey toward the ocean after covering her brood.

Zez waited until the turtle was just about to enter the area where the surf would touch her, and she froze her.

“Go. Now. I am holding her.”

A stream of scientists coursed down the beach, and Zez held the turtle in a moment of time. The turtle was fighting her the entire way.

Immune moved down the beach and posted himself between the naturalists and the turtle. He was the protective measure in case her prisoner got loose.

She relaxed and focused on holding the deadliest creature she had ever seen, outside of her own mirror.

The gathering took sixty eggs and left the rest. Zez was happy to see that they were following her directions carefully. They smoothed the sand and arranged it into the swirls that matched the flippered swipes originally in the sand.

“Are you ready?”

The team was halfway up the hill, and Zez hoped it was far enough. This creature was old, and fighting against time was second nature to her.

Zez remained on her perch on the hill.

When Immune gave her the signal, she released the turtle and nearly moaned with relief at the lack of pressure on her mind.

The turtle turned slowly and looked directly at her. It turned back to the nest site and nudged the sand a few times before returning to the sea.

It seemed that she was content with the situation.

Zez was drawn to the sand and the water. She drifted down the hillside and walked to the edge of the sea, staring into the distance. There was something about the expanse of the water holding entire worlds of species beneath it that drew her.

“Zez. Hold very still.”

A rush of water later and she was face-to-face with the turtle.

The animal had huge, soft grey eyes. They gleamed and glittered as the turtle took the measure of Zez.

The question pressed in her mind of why they took some eggs.

“They wish to ensure that all of your children hatch and grow, to inhabit this world once again. The beings who live here upset the balance and only more of your kind can restore it.”

The question rose in images. If the turtle wanted to kill Zez, could she?

“You could kill me, if I let you, and I would not allow it. I am attached to survival, and that is why the doctors here have taken a portion of your babies. If the naturally hatched ones all live, that is great, but if more can be introduced, it will be better.”

The image filled her mind of dozens of small, deadly turtles flapping around.

“I think it will be a very good thing as well. You have done well and survived this long. Survive a few clutches longer and your kind will return to this world.”

The turtle nodded slightly and eased back into the water.

Immune came to her side. “What was that?”

“She had a few questions, and I could answer them.”

“She spoke to you.”

“We were looking at one of the last of the dominant, intelligent, natural species on this world.”

A few feet from shore, the turtle rose again. This time, she had an image of micro people crawling around, and Zez and Immune watching the combination of their genes.

Zez smiled. “It doesn’t quite work that way, but I will be happy to explain it to you during your next clutching cycle if you would let me.”

The turtle sank back beneath the waves.

Zez looked to Immune. “How much did I earn for that?”

He chuckled. “A day per viable egg.”

She shrugged. “Hopefully that is still two months.”

“They are examining them. Let’s go find out.”

Together, they walked up the hill and to the research centre.

Incubators covered every wall; they were all filled to capacity.

Immune asked the doctor, “How many are viable?”

“All sixty. We expect them to hatch in ninety days. This is fantastic.” The doctor smiled brilliantly.

“I will be checking on them. Their mother is willing to accept the experiment.”

That got his attention. “She is sentient?”

“She is. For the right mind. She speaks in pictures.”

He blinked. “I see.”

“No, you don’t. Get the Citadel to send a Minder here, and they can probably set up a communication solution for you.”

The doctor looked out the window where the bulk of the turtle could be seen watching over her clutch. “I think I might do that. Thank you.”

Immune touched Zez on the arm. “Our mission is complete.”

She nodded. “Right. Good incubating!”

She followed her partner out and down the other side of the hill to the shuttle.

“We already have our next assignment waiting.”

She smiled. “That was quick. Where are we going?”

“To a wedding. Clothing has been provided for this sort of contingency.”

“Why am I needed at a wedding?”

“Two warring families and plenty of death threats. Once the ceremony is completed, the bride and groom will end two hundred years of conflict.”

“And I have to make sure that the ceremony is completed.”

“
We
have to. I will be on my own best behaviour for this, keeping my eyes out for any dangers.”

“Fine. Set the course for the wedding.” Her sarcasm bled through when she said, “I can’t wait to find out what I am wearing.”

He smirked. “Neither can I.”

Korlin resumed his more casual-clothing appearance, and Zez got herself a cup of tea while he did preflight checks.

She sat next to him as they headed skyward and watched Lecidia disappear into the blackness of space. This was her life now. One visit to one world at a time.

The fitted bodice was a little on the snug side, and the skirt was attached with silver rings. She brushed her hands down the silken fabric and grimaced.

Dressing for occasions had been part of her training, but it still felt weird to be in a skirt.

She covered her clothing with the cloak that had been provided and headed to her seat so she could watch their approach.

Korlin was in contact with air traffic control, and he made their way through the access corridor, the escort ships were ready to blast at them with a moment’s notice, so he stayed on course.

“You aren’t in your formal wear.” She commented in a low voice.

He shivered, and a moment later, he was wearing an outfit in shades of gold and brown.

“So, you know what I am wearing.” She smirked.

His clothing was an echo of hers in a masculine style.

“Of course. I chose it.”

She was less surprised than she should have been.

Zez kept an eye on the threatening ships on either side of them as they pulled into the spaceport.

A security team was waiting to escort them to the facility where the wedding was going to take place.

The officer who would be performing the ceremony embraced them both. A security guard removed Zez’s cloak, and she was left standing with the breezes stroking her and ruffling her skirt.