Page 24 of Origin (Deridia #13)

Hana was the one to open it. So he could watch her eyes go from careful neutrality to something a little too near to horror. “What are you doing here?” she hissed. And he was going to be gentle about it, because she was going to get shrill if he wasn’t careful, and he nodded to the room beyond.

“There is a situation,” Ellion stated as calmly as he could. “One I would like to get counsel about before I take care of it.”

Her brow furrowed. She didn’t step back yet, and if she took much longer, he was going to have to put his hands on her shoulders and urge her back with a little nudge. “Ellion,” she whispered, and he gave her as best a smile as he could.

“Yes, boss?”

She huffed. Stepped back. Much as he thought she would.

The room was crowded. Which was so strikingly different from how it felt when it was just the two of them tucked away inside it, it was almost alarming. The original grey man was seated at the desk. Others dressed much the same lined the exterior. Bottles filled the desk itself, spanning almost the entire surface. Doubtlessly found inside personal chests. Hoarded from past examinations.

“Yes?” the grey man addressed Ellion. “We are in the middle of a situation.”

Ellion nodded. “My apologies,” he offered, which only truthfully belonged to Hana, but he could be generous and include the others as well. “I had a query about my role here. To protect the liaison,” he clarified, in case anyone else in the room needed to know his assigned task. “She’s been threatened. Rather boldly, just now. Would it be within the realm of my position to despatch the offenders, or should I leave that to you?”

The room, which had already felt unnaturally quiet given the amount of people inside it, felt suddenly even more so.

“I beg your pardon?”

He would not grow sarcastic. Enquire after his hearing. He would not. “A man,” Ellion continued. “The one that hired these lot, I’d imagine.” He nodded toward the row of men seated on the floor, staring at the ground. “Has made threats to her. And myself, but that’s less consequential. I’m asking how you’d prefer I handle the matter. Or if you’d prefer to do it yourselves.” He smiled, and he hoped it looked remotely sincere. “I’m quite new here, as you know. I’m not well versed in how order is maintained.”

He could add about his memories. Could ask them to refer to his medical records, to his claims of amnesia when he woke in this dreaded place.

But he didn’t.

He waited. Even bowed his head a little as if waiting for their pronouncement.

Saw Hana’s wide eyes in his peripheral. The expression close to dismay.

“You are asking the limits of your power here?” The grey man’s voice was stern. The beginnings of a chastisement.

“Power?” Ellion conceded, shaking his head. “Not at all. I want to do things right. But I do hope they’ll be done. That is all. I’ll not see any harm done to her, not when I can stop it. But I suppose I’m asking if I’m going to be chucked into the tunnels after and be relieved of my duties. Doing them a little too well, as it were.”

The man was quiet for a moment. Whether considering Ellion’s actual question, or assessing his character he couldn’t be sure. “You certainly do not have clearance to kill anyone.”

Ellion nodded. “Understood.”

One of the men seated on the floor had the audacity to smirk, just a little. They had made no vocal objections to hearing their boss called out in all but name. That would come later. “Maim then,” Ellion added, for their benefit.

“Subdue,” the grey man corrected firmly. “Until a guard can be called upon to enact proper punishment. But as a reminder,” he continued before Ellion could form any argument or agreement. “Time in the tunnels is not always a punishment. It is for the betterment of our Naradian friends, and should be viewed as a privilege.”

It took everything in Ellion not to snort. To ask if the man had been there. Seen the conditions they were so privileged to be kept in.

“My mistake,” Ellion said instead, because he really wasn’t trying to cause trouble. Honest. And he hoped Hana could see that.

Just as he hoped the men stayed outside waiting for them. So Ellion could test the limits of what it took to subdue.

“Just so,” the grey man offered with a stern look. “However, I do not like that our little friend here is being threatened. We take that seriously. Everyone of our participants is equal, and we do not look kindly on people attempting to form a hierarchy.”

There was no attempting at all. It had been formed and done well. “Would any of you like to confirm this man’s accusation? Have you been charged with your thievery or did you act alone?”

They looked amongst one another quickly. It was stupid to ask them altogether like that. One by the one was the way. Apply a bit of pressure. Not too much. A man would say anything with too much force applied, and it didn’t make it truth.

But just enough, and he’d spill his secrets. “You won’t find a snitch amongst us. Not like these two.” The one Ellion had choked was the one to speak, eyes full of anger. Ellion was apparently much better at making enemies than friends. A pity, that.

Maybe he was only ever meant to have the one. Assuming she did not banish him after this intrusion.

He frowned, not liking the prospect of that. It troubled him far more than the possibility of a kerfuffle once he left the office.

“Ah,” the grey man nodded to himself. “You would not hurl that accusation, I think, if there was no truth in it. You might call him a liar. Even a troublemaker. But a snitch...” he clicked his tongue. “I’ll have a name out of one of you. Or it’s back to the med bay and it will not be nearly so pleasant, I can assure you.”

More looks, this time uneasy.

“Have you one to give?” the grey man addressed Ellion.

He shook his head, more than willing to give it if he had one. “He didn’t exactly introduce himself to me.”

Hana took a breath. “Drummond,” she answered for them.

The grey man’s brows rose. “You knew about this? I must say, that is disappointing, Hana. We rely on honesty here. You know that.”

She had tears in her eyes, and they curdled Ellion’s belly. He wished he hadn’t eaten. That he’d waited for her.

Perched right outside the door so there’d be no missing him when they’d finished. “It’s hard,” Hana explained. It was not a complaint. Just a statement of fact. “This job doesn’t make you friends. And I have to keep some things secret to keep from getting hurt in my sleep. And yes, I asked for a personal guard because there had been some unfortunate incidents when they thought I’d spoken up when I didn’t, and I’m ashamed that Ellion had to do it for me, but the man you want is Drummond, and yes, he brings some into his protection and puts them to work, and others he bullies from what little they have.” She wiped at her eyes. “And I’m sorry I did not tell you sooner.”

The grey man at the desk addressed others in the room. “Go find him. Take him to the ship. I think we’ll have a better conversation there.”

Ellion wanted to put his arm around Hana. Remind her she had done the best she could, and if there was to be any shame, let it be his.

But he couldn’t. But he shifted. Just slightly. Enough that his arm brushed against hers when he breathed, and he hoped it was some comfort.

“It is a pity that you chose not to trust us,” the grey man told the men seated on the floor. “We want to help you. All of you. To make better lives for yourselves. And had you been willing to speak of your employer, your time in the tunnels might have been shorter. But as it is, we have a bit of a mess to clean up. A season and a half, I think. And if you are caught making threats against this woman afterward, it will be another half. I will ask her. And as you know, she will tell my truly. So I suggest compliance in this matter.”

There were glares to the floor but no arguments. Ellion did not trust their compliance, nor that a bit of time underground would solve matters. Hatred had a way of growing in the dark, and that led to more drastic shows of malcontent.

Hana wiped at her eyes. She looked so dreadfully miserable, as if she had failed in some fundamental fashion. He’d played a part in it. Spoken up when she hadn’t. And he hated it. Hated also that there was more he needed to say, and he hadn’t been able to consult with her.

The grey man gestured toward the men on the floor, dismissing them. Perhaps they’d stay one more night. Or perhaps they’d be loaded up and taken to the tunnels, making use of the last of the daylight.

Ellion frowned as they left. “One more query, if you’ll permit me,” he began before the grey man dismissed him as well. “I cannot stand watch all night. Not if I’m to protect her days as well.”

The grey man sighed. “Speak plainly. It has been a trying day, and I’ve reports to make that are less than pleasing.”

“I request to be transferred to her dormitory. The bed beside, at the least. Better yet, I request that she be given separate quarters. One with a lock so she can sleep without being bludgeoned.”

Hana was shaking her head, but Ellion was forced to ignore her. This was important. She might not agree, might think she was fine, but he did not trust anyone here.

Save her.

“Are you suggesting the guards would not be sufficient to keep everyone in their beds?”

Was he serious? “That is what I’m saying,” Ellion declared, which was probably wrong. He should have hedged and placated. They did their checks. Each head was counted multiple times a day. No one was allowed to scuttle over the walls and flee.

But he was tired. Pulled too tight. And he hadn’t got to bash anyone after all, and he’d spent far too little time with Hana, and his mood had suffered greatly for the loss.

He turned his attention from Ellion. “Do you need to have this man argue your case for you? I appreciate his attention to detail when it comes to your protection, but if you find your position lacking in sufficient inducements, that would be a different conversation.”

Hana wiped at her eyes. Stared at the floor rather than at either man. “I value my work,” she reminded him. “Very much. And I want to keep this job. If that means we have to sleep in shifts, then that’s what we’ll do. I just...” she glanced at Ellion. “I see his point. I’ve made few friends with the work I do, and this isn’t a criticism, I promise you. But I’m not entirely certain everyone joined this expedition for the same reasons. Most of us wanted to make something of ourselves. I think others had much the same mind, but for more... selfish reasons.”

She managed to look up. To meet the eye of the grey man across from her. “I don’t want to die,” she managed, and it cut at Ellion far more deeply than he’d imagined. “I want to stay and see good things happen here.”

The grey man sighed deeply. Stood.

Walked around the desk to stand in front of her. “We take the safety of our volunteers very seriously.” He glanced toward Ellion only briefly. “I will have to trust that you are making the request earnestly, in genuine fear for your life rather than fishing for perks? Trying to manipulate me into special accommodations?”

Hana’s eyes widened, and suddenly she did not struggle to meet his eye at all. She held it. And Ellion knew what he saw. The earnest look, the dismay that he would think her untruthful. Every bit of her character, laced out in misty eyes and too many curls.

His boss was magnificent. Utilising every bit of her charm without ever knowing she possessed it.

He waited for her to speak. He did not expect for her fingers to go to the top lacing of her shirt, pulling at her collar. “See this scar? Someone snuck into my bed after a run to the tunnels. They were freshly released and I don’t know what they used. The flat of a rock, maybe. Drew blood and told me they’d cut deeper next time if I ever gave them an assignment to go back there.” She went for her cuffs next. Places he had not adequately explored. Stories he hadn’t heard. “They found me inside the washroom. Took a torn up cloth and tied my hands behind my back. Shoved my head into a filled-up sink and told me snitches were better off dead than allowed to wander around unchecked, spying on everyone.”

Ellion found it hard to take a breath.

Why hadn’t she told him?

Never mind him. Why hadn’t she told the grey man during his visits?

The man had much the same question, his hands coming to pick up Hana’s wrists and view them in the light. “Why was this never a part of your report?”

Hana took a breath, and it wavered. She was going to cry, and Ellion couldn’t bear it. “Because I want to keep my job. And I didn’t want you to think I could not handle it. Handle them. So then, when I found someone I could trust, I asked him to help protect me.” Another breath, this time stronger than the last. “And he’s been brilliant at it. So if he thinks there’s trouble, I believe him. And if all we can ask for is that he take the bed next to mine, I’ll be grateful.”

The grey man released her wrists.

And for one horrid moment, Ellion remembered Hana’s earlier fears. That if Ellion proved himself too capable, too valuable , they’d pick him instead. Why give special provisions to two, when they could dismiss Hana entirely and utilise Ellion’s gifts? He could protect himself better. Didn’t have stories of unreported horrors. Set her aside, make him do it instead.

Easy.

He wouldn’t do it. Not without her. He wasn’t benevolent like her. Didn’t care about their great work. A prison pretending to be a colony. Practicing for when they made a real go of it.

He kept quiet, but only just. Waited. Don’t be rash—he could practically hear Hana hissing in his ear. He’d already risked too much, and he would go no further. Not without proper evidence it was needed.

“You have my most sincere apologies for what you have endured,” the grey man offered, finally sounding almost genuine. His eyes were sober, his mouth was twisted into a proper frown. “If you made a report of their misdeeds to the guards and it was not relayed to me, you may tell me. Ours is not a perfect system. But it can be, if we are all in this together.”

Pretty words, but Ellion did not trust them.

Hana wanted to. It was plain in the way her eyes shone, the little smile at her lips. She wanted that to be real so badly.

But then she remembered herself. Remembered how she hadn’t spoken of it. And the smile fell and her gaze along with it. “I asked them to keep an eye on me,” she admitted. “But I didn’t want to make trouble.”

The grey man shook his head, sighing. “A pity. Makes me wonder what else you’re keeping to yourself, only to have it trickle out after the fact.”

She looked no different than if he’d struck her across the face. Which he hadn’t, so Ellion shouldn’t feel the need to push himself between them. To tell the grey man to back off, to stop crowding her. To stop hurting her further when it was more than apparent she had suffered already.

“I was not told you would be interested,” Hana answered, which was not at all what Ellion expected. For her to blurt out the full nature of their relationship. That the bed he’d requested for her would not be occupied alone. Something of that sort.

Not as close to a chastisement as she would ever offer.

The grey man gestured about the office. To the others still smattered about the room. “What do you think we are doing here?”

Hana swallowed. “Inspecting.”

“Correct. We have our lists and our protocols, and we see how they function in a real-life scenario. No simulations. How can those prove accurate to the fullest if I am not informed of what is really going on?”

Hana blinked rapidly, her gaze fixed on the floor. “You can’t.”

“You claim to care for your job. For the work we are trying to accomplish here. I take my role just as seriously. I do not appreciate being undermined.”

“I understand.” Her voice was hoarse. She was very near to crying in earnest, and Ellion was forced to stand there. To let it happen.

To intervene would be worse. He knew that.

He did not know these people. Did not know how far to push without getting beaten down afterward.

The grey man stalked back to his seat at the desk. “In summation, we have uncovered that our liaison has been grossly mistreated. That volunteers have been stripped of their medications, presumably to be traded for. Need I ask what was given in payment?”

Hana took a breath. Forced herself to look at him. “Depended on the sex,” Hana answered, and her voice didn’t waver. She was pulling herself together. A report, not a defence.

The grey man had the decency to pinch his lips together. “And you thought I would not be interested.”

Hana shook her head. “It happened in my old prison. All the time. And I came here, and it was still happening, so yes, I wrongly assumed it was permissible. The guards never put a stop to it. As long as we were all accounted for, they didn’t much care what happened to anyone else in the meantime.”

It was more than she meant to say. That much was obvious. “Ser,” she added, bowing her head. “That was out of line.”

The grey man leaned back in his chair, his hands perching on his middle as he watched her. “I believe I see the error,” he acknowledged after a long pause. “We have focused too much on administration. And perhaps the fault is mine that I thought the rest of the role to be implicitly understood.”

He sat forward. Tapped his thumb against the desk. “I do want a spy. I want a snitch. I want to know when our volunteers have debased themselves into less than pristine behaviour. Is that clear enough for you?”

“Yes, ser,” Hana answered swiftly. Without thought. Without care.

That seemed to placate him, if only slightly. “I want this to work for you, Hana. Mistakes are to be expected—none of us are perfect. But I will end this accord if you cannot grow past them. Do we have an understanding?”

She nodded quickly. “We do.” She didn’t offer another apology. Just stood, head slightly bowed, hands clasped in front of her. Properly chastened, Ellion thought, a tug of unease in his belly.

“As for your concerns,” the grey man turned his head to address Ellion directly. “Given...” he paused. Glanced at Hana. “The unfortunate nature of some past events, I can see how your request is prudent. But we do appreciate equity in this colony.” A strange choice of word, given it was a prison. “There is a difference between a few perks as inducement for cooperation and special treatment.” Ellion couldn’t think what that difference might be, but he’d used up all of his good fortune and kept quiet. “Besides, how would she provide valuable insights in to the interworking of our establishment if she was not quartered amongst the general populace?”

Because she had eyes and ears and would eat and bathe amongst them.

That too, he kept to himself.

“I will approve a shift in your dormitory,” he added. “And I will consider your proposal of separate accommodation to be addressed in our next meeting.” He waved a hand at the both of them, and Ellion took that to be a dismissal. Not the answer he wanted—not in full, anyway, but he hadn’t been ordered to the tunnels for impertinence. No more running between buildings, pretending every night he would not slink off to be with Hana.

They were nearly at the door before he spoke again. “A bit of advice.” Ellion paused, Hana already through the door. She’d been there far longer—standing at that. Her legs must be tired. She’d need to eat.

All things that mattered.

And yet he paused. Listened.

“Your request might have more chance of approval if you have a tangible location in mind. Out of the way. We don’t want to foster discontent, do we?”

Ellion gave a nod. “Of course not.”

“Of course not,” the man repeated, nodding his head. Then he flicked his fingers and Ellion was quite sure they were truly done.

Hana was waiting for him just outside, and she very nearly collapsed into him as soon as the door shut. It was meant to be a hug; he was fairly sure, but she felt unsteady on her feet, so he took more of her weight than a simple embrace. “That happy to see me?” he teased, more than happy to hold her.

“You were an idiot for going in there,” she chided, but her arms were tight about him, so the insult had little sting.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he promised her. Which wouldn’t stop him from doing it again in the future if needful, but now was not the time to mention that. “You able to walk, or shall I carry you?”

She groaned, but pulled back enough to indicate her choice. “As if you could,” she mumbled, shaking her head and beginning the trek back... to where exactly? The mess hall would be closed by now. Perhaps she had special privileges and might entreat one of those sweet-bars from the staff. To her cupboard? He didn’t want to take her there until after he’d collected his belongings.

He frowned. He did not have a new key. Did Hana have access to those? Or would she have to go back and ask the grey folk for it?

Definitely not doing that.

His things could bunk with hers, then. Till it was sorted. Presumptuous of him, perhaps, but apparently he was full of that today.

She paused rather suddenly, before he’d quite made out where she was leading them. “You weren’t serious. In there. About Drummond.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “They made me go to mess without you. He took advantage. Thought he could make a deal.” He watched her eyes widen, much like they had in the office when he’d told the story before. “You thought I made it up?”

“I hoped you had! I thought you just wanted to have an excuse to come in there and I was going to clobber you for it.”

He gave a rueful sort of smile. “I’m sorry to disappoint, but no. He had a couple of lackeys coming after me when our conversations didn’t go his way. I could have held my ground.” He liked to think so, at least. “But I thought it was better to define the parameters of my employment before I was the one doing the clobbering.”

She was looking him all over, presumably looking for evidence they’d got a few whacks in before he’d sought the comparative safety of the office. He let her look. Even opened his arms and would have turned around if she kept at it any longer. “You’re infuriating.”

“Really?” he teased. “I was expecting a compliment. I got our beds together, didn’t I?”

She made some sort of sound that was half a growl, half a groan. He would have liked it better in a different context. “I don’t have time to argue with you,” she bit out, and he wondered if they were about to have a genuine quarrel. “I’ve had to go for ages!”

Ah. The lavatory, then.

He didn’t go in with her. The door was perpetually propped open, the hinge sticky and needing more force to close it than most cared to give. So he didn’t have to worry about her being pinned to a sink.

It took a few deep breaths to move past those images. She might have been killed. Hurt in ways he did not even want to consider. Because she was a target, and people could be cruel. And what had he been doing?

He rubbed at his head, leaning against the wall of the building. The second sun was setting, the compound taking on an eerie quality. Shadows were too long, the world too dim, and there was work yet to do. Namely, fetching his belongings. Then deciding how he was going to manage not sleeping for the next few weeks until he could be certain no one would come prey on them.

Hana stepped out. Her hands were tucked together, and she took a deep breath. “I was harsh,” she conceded. “Matters were... urgent, but that’s no excuse.”

He hummed, trying to come out from under the cloud of ugly thoughts he found himself trapped in. All that could go wrong. All that already had. He’d made choices today. Ones with inevitable consequences. “Sounds like a good one to me.”

She shook her head. “Still. I’m sorry.”

He reached out. Picked up a lock of her hair and slid it over his forefinger. Soothing, in its way. He liked it better when it made her take a step forward. Not quite leaning into him, not yet, but closer. “You said terms were for life here.” She moved a little nearer.

“Getting rid of me? Just because I was cross?”

He shook his head. “Never,” he swore, and he meant it. “I’m wondering if they’re going to take Drummond with them. Deal with it that way. If he impeded their grand plans for this place.”

Hana blinked. “Oh. I’m...” her head turned.

“Only, they didn’t bring him to the office. They took him to the ship. But we know they like to be in and out of here in a day. They could bring him back, I suppose, when they’re done with him, but is it possible they’re just going to take him away again? Rescind their invitation?”

Hana blinked. “I don’t know. That hasn’t happened before.”

Ellion hummed, stroking that single lock of hair over and over. She was real. Unhurt. He hadn’t bungled everything too badly.

“Someone will take his place,” Hana added grimly.

“Will they?” Ellion asked. “A steep price. Assuming they want to stay.” He frowned. “Or maybe that’s the trouble. If they make poor behaviour the way to get a ticket out, then a lot of desperate people might make a go of it.”

“And he’ll be back,” Hana added grimly.

Ellion abandoned her curl. Pulled her all the way to him. Tucked her into him and held her close because he needed it. “Guess we’ll find out,” he murmured, and he felt her nod, and he kissed the top of her head because he could. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Ellion asked. He hadn’t meant to. Those were her hurts, her history, and she could keep them to herself if she wanted to.

But the words slipped out, and he felt her stiffen, but only for a moment. “Because it would upset you. And I didn’t want to do that. It was over. No point in dwelling on what happened.”

Which might be true, but it still made him ache for her. Wondered what else he’d missed, what else had happened. If he had the right to ask. To know.

He took a shuddering breath. Not a right. That was far too presumptuous. “Not afraid I’ll feel the need to avenge you?”

Hana turned her head so she could look at him. Her eyes were misty and her smile wobbled, and she was due a good cry. Too much stress, too much time spent waiting. She needed a release, and that was as good as any. “Afraid I’ll ask for it,” she admitted, and it cost her something to make such a confession.

He pulled her back in and got them moving.

Back to his dormitory. Which wasn’t his any longer, was it?

To fetch his things.

Then back to hers. Which was theirs now. For as long as it took him to figure out where else they could make up their quarters.

He excepted a long talk. A few tears. Maybe even another confession of other wrongs done to her during her time here.

He didn’t expect the ship to take off so soon. A rumble of earth and sound as thrusters engaged, and it went from hovering to flying.

He did not expect for the sound to be familiar. To make him wistful. To wonder if maybe he was a mechanic. On a ship, maybe. A pirate, after all.

And he certainly did not expect for a piece of that ship to fall off. To plummet.

To hit the edge of the office.

And for there to be a gaping hole where a pristine building had once been.