Infinity's Shore

It took just one blast of concentrated sound to knock him in a double flip, with tremors shaking every muscle. Paralyzed, he distantly sensed the two male foes move off … taking his love with them.

“You feeling better now?” Brookida asked. The older dolphin cast a sonar sweep through Kaa’s innards, checking on his progress. Some mental clouds were parting. Enough to recall a few more facts. The shattered habitat — not worth revisiting. The hopelessness of pursuing a speed sled, even one burdened with three passengers, since night was soon approaching.

Both arms of his harness twitched as his rattled brain sent spasmodic commands down the neural link. Kaa managed to lift his head a bit, the next time he breathed, and recognized the shape of nearby coastal hills. Brookida was herding him closer to the native fishing town.

“Mopol and Zhaki wrecked the cables and transmittersss, back at the dome. But-t I figure we can find the lines leading to the spy drones in Wuphon Port, tap into those, and contact the ship-p.”

Some order was slipping into Kaa’s chaotic thoughts. Enough to comprehend a bit of what the old fin said. This return of sapiency left him with mixed feelings — relieved that the loss was not permanent, plus regretful longing for the simplicity that must now go away, replaced by urgent, hopeless needs.

Trinary came back more easily than Anglic.

We must pursue the—

Spawn of syphilitic worms,

While their sound spoor’s

fresh!

“Yes, of course. I agree. How awful for Peepoe, poor lass. But first let’s contact Streaker. Maybe our crew mates can help.”

Kaa hearkened to the sense in that. One of the first principles of human legality that dolphins clearly understood was that of a posse, which had analogies in natural cetacean society. When an offense is committed against the pod, you can call for help. You should not face trouble alone.

He let Brookida lead him to the site where fiber cables from the onshore spy eyes all converged below. Booming surf reminded Kaa unhappily of this morning’s lovemaking. The sound made him squeal a Primal protest, railing against the unfairness of it all. To find a mate and lose her on the same day.

The water tasted of qheuens and hoons … plus wooden planks and tar. Kaa rested at the surface, sifting his mind back together while Brookida dived down to establish the link.

A saser … Zhaki shot me with a saser beam.

Dimly he realized that Zhaki might have saved his life. If that bolt hadn’t stopped him, Mopol would surely have fired next, using the more powerful unit on the sled.

But saved me … for what?

Ifni tell me … what’s the point?

Kaa didn’t figure he still had his nickname anymore.

A few hours … now it’s gone again. She took it with her.

Brookida surfaced next to him, sputtering elation, having achieved quick success.

“Got it-t! Come on, Kaa. I’ve got Gillian on the line. She wants to talk to you.”

Sometimes life is filled with choices. You get to select which current to ride, which tide to pull your destiny.

Other times leave you torn … wrenched apart … as if two orcas had a grip on you, one biting hard on your flukes while the other plays tug-of-war with your snout.

Kaa heard the order. He understood it.

He wasn’t at all sure he could obey.

“I’m sorry about Peepoe,” Gillian Baskin said, her voice crackling over the makeshift comm line, conveyed directly to Kaa’s auditory nerves. “We’ll rescue her, and deal with the deserters, when opportunity permits. Believe me, it’s a high priority.

“But this other task is crucial. Our lives may depend on it, Kaa.”

The human paused.

“I want you to head straight into Wuphon Harbor.

“It’s time one of us went to town.”

Sooners

Ewasx

MY RINGS, IT HAS FINALLY HAPPENED. Rejoice! Your master torus has ultimately managed to recover some of the fatty memories you/we/I had thought forever lost! Those valuable recall tracks that were erased when brave-foolish Asx melted the wax!

That act of wrong loyalty stymied the usefulness of this hybrid ring stack for much too long. Some of the Polkjhy crew called us/Me a failed experiment. Even the CaptainLeader questioned this effort … this attempt to convert a wild traeki into our loyal authority on Jijoan affairs.

Admittedly, our/My expertise about the Six Races has been uneven and fitful. Mistakes were made despite/ because of our advice.

BUT NOW I/WE HAVE REACQUIRED THIS SECRET! This conviction that once filled the mulch center of the diffuse being called Asx.

Deep beneath the melted layers, a few memory tracks remained.

DO NOT SQUIRM SO! Instead you should exult in this recovery of something so important.

The Egg.

So far, we have seen only insolence from the sooner races — delays and grudging cooperation with the survey teams we send forth.

No voluntary gathering of g’Kek vermin at designated collection points.

No migration of traeki stacks for appraisal-and-conversion.