Chapter 8: Agent Nemo

The Floran midnight sky dazzled overhead as Nyk lay stretched out on the sand in the bowl-shaped depression down the slope from the bluff. His eyes were fixed on the bright white star and its four dimmer companions. A meteor streaked overhead. He closed his eyes.

Someone’s nudge awakened him. “Nykkyo ... Nykkyo...” He looked up.

“Andra?”

“It’s Janna,” she said. “Come, it’s time to go.”

“Go where?”

“To Earth. This is the real reason I’ve come to Sudal — to take you to Earth in our diplomatic transport.”

Nyk sat up. “Of course.” In starlight he could see Janna was wearing a long, sleeveless gown. She was wearing her hair up, in a twist and a tiara sparkled on her head.

She handed him his Earth clothing. “Slip into these and come to the skimmer.”

“I must say goodbye to Andra.”

“No. You mustn’t disturb her. I’ll explain why — once we’re under way. We can drop you off outside Earth’s heliopause. Andra thought you might have a way to the surface.”

“Well ... the shuttlecar! I have a shuttlecar parked by the sea research facility on the coast. I don’t suppose your diplomatic vessel can accommodate it.”

“We have a new diplomatic transport since our previous one was lost during the insurrection,” she replied. “It’s a converted deep-space tender shuttle. We bring our own skimmer, and I’m sure we can make room in our cargo bay for your shuttlecar. Here, get dressed and we’ll take you to fetch your craft. You can follow us to the Sudal shuttleport.”

Nyk slipped into jeans and shirt. He followed Janna to the skimmer. The pilot nodded to her as she climbed aboard. Sonita was seated and holding Mykkoin, asleep in her lap. The pilot shut the door, startling the boy. He reached for his mother and Janna took him. “Sit by the pilot,” she said. “You can direct us to the research facility.”

“Head south,” Nyk said. “Follow the access road.” The skimmer lifted off and hovered above the road surface. “Turn here and set down.”

He popped open the door and dashed to the shed. The shuttlecar came to life and he backed it onto the roadway. The skimmer lifted off and traveled a straight line toward the shuttleport. Nyk set the Z vector for lift and followed. A low power advisory flashed on the shuttlecar’s control panel.

The skimmer banked and circled around the rear of the spaceport and Nyk saw the Lexalese craft parked on a corner of the polymer concrete apron. It was a large, ungainly looking vessel bearing the Lexalese colonial emblem. The clamshell door swung open and the skimmer slipped inside. Nyk set the shuttlecar down.

The pilot waved him in. He touched the unistick and the shuttle rolled forward, up an incline and into the cargo bay.

Janna approached him. “Come, sit with me in the cabin. Our pilot must make a preflight check. It’ll be a short while before we can lift off.”

Nyk sank into an overstuffed seat, upholstered in blue velvet. He ran his hand along the fabric. Janna sat in a similar one, reached under to release a catch and swung to face him. “Why couldn’t I say goodbye to Andra?” he asked.

“Andra has spent the entire evening in deep meditation. She’s driving knowledge of what we’re doing into the far corners of her mind.”

“Why?”

“For your protection — and for hers. Knowledge is a dangerous commodity. If she’s interrogated about your disappearance — and she fully expects to be — her memory of this event will be locked away where even truth drug can’t reach it.”

“She can do that?”

“Anyone can do it — who knows how. Few do. If she’s questioned, she’ll cooperate fully. She’ll even volunteer for truth drug. If she receives the truth agent, she will relinquish her mind to it readily.”

“And, she’ll truthfully say she doesn’t know.” He looked into her eyes. “Is this something you’re taught at the academy?”

“Yes — although the academy will deny it. When you find yourself in a position to contact her, tell her you’re safe. Don’t tell her how you got there. She is even erasing her knowledge of my visit today.” Janna handed him a green polycard. “This is my personal locator code. The day may come to uncover the secrets she’s burying. When it does, call me — and I’ll unlock her memory.”

“Won’t you tell me how?”

Janna smiled. “That, Nyk, is a secret academy sisters share with no one.”

“I hope you or your husband won’t feel consequences for what you’re about to do.”

“You are now on Lexalese soil. Should Floran authorities insist on bringing charges — they would need to extradite you first. And, Mykko and I are beyond Floran’s jurisdiction.”

“Can’t they trace your flight ... or Andra’s calls?”

“This is the advantage of being on a diplomatic mission, Nyk. My pilot files no flight plans ... and calls to heads of state are privileged. They can’t be recorded — they can’t even be logged.” She smiled. “Mykko has never shirked from doing what’s right, even if his actions make him unpopular. Andra believes this is right.”

“Do you believe?” Nyk asked.

“I don’t need to. Andra and I are academy sisters, and sisters come to each other’s aid. Andra asked me to help, and her request sounded reasonable and within my powers.”