Borne On Wings of Steel (13 page)

"A whole different subject. Any way, let's eat.” Krinia said forcefully, changing the subject. “And afterward, we need to make our way back to Mother. I think we've had enough excitement for one day."

"But let's check my queries first on the way back!” Elise said eagerly.

As their food arrived, the three eagerly dove into it with smiles and murmurs of appreciation.

The trio never noticed the two muscular Harg as they sat down at a table directly across from them. Nor the secretive glances they cast in their direction.

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"DOESN'T SEEM TO be a very happy place, eh?” Jaric confided to Kyle and Rok as they walked down the main thoroughfare.

"It looks like a typical residential section—like back at RahajMr.” Kyle glanced at the entrances to the single-family enclaves that lined the walls and upper levels above them. But unlike RahajMr, small groups of aliens sat outside many of the doors. As the trio walked past, they felt the suspicious looks following them.

"But it seems like everyone stays at home over here. And you're right, they're not smiling very much."

"I assume they do not have work, so most of the family groups stay close to their homes,” Rok surmised. “These are aliens on hard times, remember. They are all refugees, looking for a new home, a new life."

"Well, they could at least be friendly.” Jaric smiled at another group they were passing, but the aliens simply stared back in return, their scale-covered faces devoid of emotion.

"Oh well,” Kyle whispered to Jaric. “Let's just find the Ialliaz—or humans."

"Look, there's a Mrad security officer.” Kyle pointed ahead to a uniformed Mrad. “Let's see if he can direct us to the Ialliaz. I'm not sure if this is the right street or it's the next one over."

"Excuse me, Officer,” he called out as they approached.

Kyle waited as the Mrad turned to face him.

"Can you tell us if this is the block that houses the families of Ialliaz who recently arrived?"

His black eyes surveyed Kyle and the other two carefully before he answered. After a moment, he seemed satisfied. “No, it's the next one up. Then go down three blocks. They live in the enclaves all along the right side from there to the end of the street.” He paused a moment. “I don't suppose you're here to accept them as immigrants to your planet?"

Kyle was taken aback. “Well, not exactly. I mean, we're just here to talk with them."

The officer nodded apologetically. “Well, I was just hoping. They're a sad bunch, more so than the rest. I don't meant to butt in, but I like to know what's going on with the residents under my jurisdiction.” His eyes became far off. “I'm always happy when some of them find a new home. It's what they all want—a new home."

"Yeah,” Jaric agreed. “We understand all too well."

Jaric and Kyle exchanged knowing glances.

"Looks like most of them are pretty forlorn,” Kyle said with a sigh.

"Well, they're all refugees. They have no homeworld anymore. And most have experienced things we can't even imagine.” A deep sadness etched the Mrad officer's face. “By the way, my name is Aje Veeio.

"Officer Veeio, nice to meet you,” Kyle mumbled, still lost in his own troubled thoughts.

"Actually, we can imagine. We're refugees ourselves,” Jaric added.

"Then you know.” Officer Veeio raised his arm toward the street where the Ialliaz lived. “They were conquered by a heartless race called the T'kaan. But everyone has a story here—some lost their homeworlds to natural disasters, or disasters they brought on themselves, and now their planet is uninhabitable. For others it was disease, unimaginable plagues. But for most, war and persecution drove them here.” A great sadness swept the Mrad's face.

Rok's eyes narrowed. “There is tragedy here, I can feel it too. You can see it in the faces and the eyes of these aliens.” Rok turned his head as he looked at the haunted expressions. “There is pain here, terrible pain."

"Yeah, this isn't an assignment most Mrad relish. But I like it."

"Why?” Kyle asked.

"Our government provides these aliens with housing, food and clothing. We get them registered in our computer system and allow them to search for other worlds that are accepting immigrants. And with the high volume of traffic to our cities, there is ample opportunity for the refugees to find a place where they can find work, find a place where they can start over.” Aje Veeio paused. “But the reason I volunteer for this assignment is that these people need protection—from con artists and other criminal elements, sometimes from each other if there's trouble because of different ethnic attitudes or other historic animosity."

"It burns my heart to know that the weak and helpless can be treated this way.” Rok sighed.

The Mrad's eyes widened with approval. “Yes, these people have been through a lot. They've seen a lot of pain, a lot of death, you name it. But they're in my jurisdiction here, and I look after them, protect them."

Rok looked deep into the Mrad's eyes. “An honorable task. You have my respect, Officer."

"Thank you,” Aje said simply. “But sometimes it's a thankless job, and even the refugees themselves give me trouble."

"They should know who is taking care of them,” Rok said. “And respect them for that."

"And sometimes there is worse.” The officer's eyes became hard.

"Worse?"

"The refugees are supposed to check in when they find a new home, or before they leave. So we know when their homes are going to be empty and we can give them to new families. And to ration the food and other articles appropriately.” Officer Veeio stared at Rok. “But the last year or so a good number of them just seem to disappear from the face of the universe—individuals mostly. But sometimes whole groups. I don't like it when they just disappear."

"Maybe they forget to check out before they leave?” Rok countered.

"Maybe. Maybe not."

An ominous silence settled upon them.

"Do a lot of worlds offer immigration?” Jaric asked.

"Not in this Sector right now,” Aje replied. “Most planets are overflowing with their own peoples. And work is fairly scarce with the recession in the Quadrant. But some Sectors are still accepting refugees."

"Well, maybe the Ialliaz will be finding a new home soon,” Kyle said. “And us too!"

Jaric smiled with anticipation, but his smile faded as the Mrad spoke.

"Right now, only the Argias and the Cends are accepting. And the Paum Sector.” The uniformed Mrad grew silent after he uttered the last word. “But they're just a little too eager in their offers, if you know what I mean.” His voice took a serious tone. “Most of the refugees only take them up as a last resort—if everything else falls through.” He drew a deep breath and held it a moment. “But the Paum are always accepting refugees."

"You said that last sentence with hesitation,” Kyle commented.

The Mrad officer nodded. “The Paum have a reputation. They're a secretive kind of people, nobody knows a lot about them outside their own systems.” The Mrad's eyes narrowed; his face grew hard as granite. “It's whispered that they're a strict and severe society.
Anything
one does must be in harmony with the High Paum, or you do it in fear of your life. Everything is controlled by the Paum."

The Mrad's eyes gazed far off. “They like to say, ‘Life must be guided by Paum, or else it is evil. And all that is evil must die.’”

This time the silence wrapped them in an icy embrace. Their hearts beat faster with a feeling of dread, almost as if something evil reached out to them that very moment.

Officer Aje Veeio looked intently at the trio. “Not the kind of lifestyle one would run to join, in my opinion."

"Well, I don't think I'd want to go there either,” Kyle agreed.

They thanked the officer for his directions and headed toward the Ialliaz. As they found the street and made their way toward the block indicated, Kyle and Jaric felt their hearts begin to beat faster with their rising hope.

"I think we're really going to find them this time,” Kyle said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"I feel it too,” Jaric agreed. “Their description fits, and they were conquered by the T'kaan. That's us too."

"Be patient,” Rok warned them. “Do not arouse your hopes until what you seek is within your grasp. Or else you risk disappointment."

"But everything fits,” Kyle argued. “And this is a place full of refugees. I mean, if you're a refugee, this is the place to come to, sooner or later. And now we're here!"

"You have sought this
life-altering moment
for a long time now—that of finding other humans. But such momentous events are rare in life.” Rok gripped each of them by the shoulder. “You must not
expect
great things but accept what each day gives you—great or small. It is my experience that many things do not live up to their hype—and there is a terrible let-down afterward."

Kyle stared silently at the Kraaqi.

Jaric's expression changed too as he pressed his lips together as his eyes reflected a deep sadness.

Rok shook his head slowly. “Perhaps you expect that finding other humans will change everything for you—that it, and only it, will bring you some kind of happiness or joy that is missing from your life today.” Rok looked deeply at both of the young men. “But even if you find other humans, you will still be you. It may not change your life the way you expect or want it to. It may not change anything—inside you.” The Kraaqi pressed Kyle's and Jaric's shoulders harder.

"It
will
change everything,” Kyle growled.

The air became electric between them.

Kyle's piercing blue eyes stared into Rok's steady gaze. Without warning, he shook Rok's hand from off his shoulder with a violent jerk. “You don't understand, Rok! Even after all these months with us, you don't understand."

The Kraaqi warrior watched Kyle with a wary surprise. There was a look in Kyle's eyes now, a flash of intensity as if he were going into battle. Rok's eyes narrowed as he waited for Kyle to continue.

"This is all I want, Rok. Understand?” Kyle shook his head from side to side. “It's my only dream, my only hope. It's all I really want."

Rok grunted with a noncommittal sound in his throat.

Kyle rolled his eyes as if in total disbelief. He looked at Rok as if he were seeing him for the first time.

"If you wanted to, you could go home tomorrow."

Rok's eyes glimmered with the beginning of understanding.

Kyle saw it, but he didn't feel any satisfaction. Instead, his anger rose like a storm inside his heart.

"You see, I can't go home. I've got no homeworld, no hometown. I don't even have a village, or a single street, that I can call home. I've got no people.
No one
.” Kyle's eyes moistened. “I can't go home. No matter how bad I want to, I can't go home. It doesn't exist for me."

Rok stared with full realization of the pain inside Kyle's heart.

Standing silent beside Kyle, Jaric bowed his head with sadness.

"But you can, Rok. You could go back to your world, to your people—
anytime
. You have a home.” Kyle blinked his eyes rapidly, fighting his tears. “And that's what I want. And that's why I search so hard. And why I never give up.” Kyle became silent, staring off into the distance while Rok studied his face.

"You are right, my Brethren. I did not fully understand."

Kyle turned his head slowly to face Rok.

Rok nodded at him. “You have shared your heart. And I thank you.” Once again Rok took Kyle by each shoulder and held him firmly in his grip. He looked deeply into the human's eyes.

"But you are wrong on one point. You do have a home, and a family to return home to whenever you wish. And a mother."

Kyle looked deep in Rok's eyes as he weighed the Kraaqi's words. A faint sigh escaped him.

"It's a dysfunctional family at best."

"But it is a family—your family. And it is as good a family as I have ever known.” Rok tightened his grip and then released him with a shake of his head.

"Come on, Big K. Rok is right,” Jaric said, surprise in his voice. “We might not be the ideal family, but we are family!"

Kyle looked away, avoiding Jaric's pleading gaze.

"Come one, Big K,” Jaric repeated. “Lighten up.” Jaric looked from the stern face of Rok back to the angry countenance of Kyle. “Let's forget this serious stuff and get back to having a good time!"

Kyle and Rok eyed each other warily.

Kyle turned to start walking again when Rok spoke.

"I would like you to remember this one thing before we finish."

Kyle hesitated.

"Go on,” Kyle said with a questioning look.

"I hope one day you will realize what you really have—how precious it is. Far too often we only realize this fact after it is gone. And once it is gone, no matter how badly we wish it back, it is gone."

Kyle stared at him evenly, but he did not speak.

"Reflect on what you have today, young human. It may be of more value than your greatest dream.” Rok carefully studied Kyle's face. “The Kraaqi have a saying, one of my favorite—
It is the simple things that bring the greatest joy
."

Kyle's eyes narrowed as his mind carefully digested Rok's words.

The tense silence softened.

"Whew!” Jaric whistled in a second attempt to lighten the mood. “That was deep, Rok. Maybe you should find a mountain and make a home on top of it. That way everyone can go seek out your fabulous wisdom!"

Jaric laughed, thumping first Rok and then Kyle on the arm to try and get a chuckle out of either of them.

Kyle smiled. And with a confident air made his way forward again.

"I still feel good about this,” Kyle said a little too enthusiastically. “Let's go on and see what we'll find around the next corner!"

"Yeah! There's more refugees here than we've ever run into or even heard about in one place before. This city is like a clearinghouse for refugees. It makes sense other human survivors might find their way here,” Jaric added.

"That's right,” Kyle agreed quickly. “It all makes sense."