“I think something got lost in the translation,” he said.

  “I hope so. Otherwise, Sergeant Tsi might have a crush on you.”

  “I seriously doubt that. We’re barely the same species. Completely different evolutionary paths.”

  “Pai, would it be possible to get a change of clothes?” Caleb asked.

  The robot turned to face him. A blue beam launched from its forehead, quickly sliding up and down his body. It reminded Caleb of the beam back on the city-ship. The one that had locked them out of their escape.

  “Requisition transmitted,” Pai said. It turned to Dante and scanned her. “Requisition transmitted.” Then it did the same to Kiaan and Paige.

  “Sergeant, I have to admit, I’m terrified,” Kiaan said.

  “It’ll be okay,” Caleb replied. “They don’t seem all that bad, overall. Let’s try to get comfortable here. Once I get my sit-down with General Goi, we’ll have a much better idea where we stand.”

  “What do you think they’re doing to Washington?” Paige asked. “Do you think they can fix him?”

  “I know we couldn’t,” Caleb said. “But the Inahri have better tech. They figured out how to control an Intellect.”

  “What happened to him?”

  “After the trife came to Earth, society started to break down. There was this group of assholes that took his wife. They did things to her before they killed her. He went after them, followed them right into a trife infested building. Killed all four of the assholes, and about forty trife. He came out covered in blood, his face and neck torn up, right about the time the Vultures got to the scene. I never thought he would make it, but we brought him back to HQ with us. They patched him back together, and he joined the Marines the same day.”

  “Wow,” Kiaan said.

  “Your many-times great-grandmother was there when we found him. They were pretty close. And really, it’s only been about two months of real-time for Wash and I since she died. It’s still pretty raw. I’ve lost too many these last few weeks.”

  “I’m sorry, Sergeant,” Dante said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

  “Thanks. You always think it’ll get easier. It doesn’t.” He sighed heavily and regrouped, turning to Pai. “Sergeant Tsi said you could recharge my arm.”

  The blue beam scanned his prosthetic again. “I will need to take your arm in my hand.”

  “Go ahead.”

  Pai reached up, barely tall enough to get to Caleb’s shoulder. It wrapped its three-fingered hand around the control ring. “Delivering.”

  Caleb didn’t feel anything, but when Pai removed its hand the LED on the ring was green, and his arm was functional again.

  “Perfect,” Caleb said. “One more request.”

  “I am here to serve.”

  “Can you show us how to use the head?”

  “I do not understand.”

  “The latrine? The toilet?”

  “Yes.” The robot walked across the barracks to the cube at the back of the room. “If you are wearing standard issue apparel, you only have to sit. The vaporizer will function through the material. Otherwise, you must first remove your apparel.”

  Caleb still wasn’t sure how it worked. He looked back at the others.

  “You’re in charge, Sarge,” Paige said. “You should be the one to try it out.”

  “Isn’t there a partition or something that’s supposed to come up?” Kiaan asked.

  “I do not understand.”

  “For privacy?”

  “You are all human. Why does your natural organic function embarrass you?”

  “Are you familiar with Adam and Eve?”

  “No. There is no partition.”

  “What about getting clean?” Caleb asked.

  “Again, you must remove your clothing. Then simply stand there until the cleanser turns off. Step out, and you will be free of all contaminants. No. There is no partition.”

  Someone knocked on the door.

  “That will be your uniforms,” Pai said. “I will retrieve them.”

  Caleb grabbed his shirt, pulling it off. He reached for his pants. “Space Force Marine barracks have communal showers,” he explained. He wasn’t embarrassed about his natural organic functions.

  “Men and women?” Dante asked.

  “Yes. When you’re spending your days trying not to be killed by trife, you tend to forget about gender. You just want to get the blood off your face.” He pulled his pants off, and then his underwear. The rest of the Guardians were facing the other way by then.

  “No offense, Sergeant,” Dante said. “But I’m not a Space Force Marine.”

  “No offense, Sam,” Caleb said. “But right now, you’re more important than a Space Force Marine. You’re one of the only people Metro can rely on to fight for them.”

  The statement caused Dante to turn back around. She kept her eyes locked on his face, but she didn’t speak. Then she started taking off her combat armor.

  Caleb walked over to the toilet. There was no opening. No water. Just a metal surface with a cradling slope. He sat down on it, finding the seat was already warm.

  It got even warmer, and he felt that heat go up into him, his muscles relaxing uncontrollably. When the warmth faded, not only was his bladder empty, but his bowels felt completely cleared out too.

  He stood and went over to the other device. A blue light turned on over his head when he stopped on it. He felt a tingling sensation along his body that faded within a few seconds. The light turned off, and he moved out, feeling as though he had just taken a long, hot shower.

  Dante was taking her turn by then, while Pai was placing uniforms on each of the mattresses. Paige had already removed her SOS, following Dante’s lead, while Kiaan was doing his best to both be part of the team, with everything that entailed at the moment, and avoid looking at the other naked humans.

  Pai walked over to him and held his uniform up. Theirs were different from the others he had seen outside the barracks. Black instead of purple or green.

  “What does the color signify?”

  “It means you are in trial,” Pai said. “You have not proven your value to the Free Inahri .”

  “How do we prove our value?” Paige asked.

  Caleb slid the loose-knit tunic over his head, finding it warmer than his discarded clothing despite the lightness of the material. He slid the pants on, noticing he had been given a simple leather-style cinch to wrap around his waist.

  “There are many ways,” Pai replied. “I’m certain you will find one.”

  Caleb finished dressing. “How do I look?” he asked.

  Dante was finished with the cleanser and was walking to her rack. “It works for you, Sarge. Which one of these is mine?”

  “Third from the top,” Pai said.

  Dante grabbed the underclothes and slid them on. “Perfect fit. And comfortable.” She pulled on the black tunic and pants. “I feel like I’m wearing pajamas.”

  “They are comfortable,” Caleb agreed.

  “Which one is mine?” Paige asked.

  “Third from the bottom,” Pai replied.

  Caleb found Kiaan standing closer to the head, still dressed. His clothes had been soaked through by the rain, stained with trife blood, and torn, but he was still uncomfortable getting out of them in front of the others.

  Caleb went over to him. “Kiaan, it’s not a big deal. We all did it.”

  “It’s not right,” Kiaan replied, eyes pleading. “I didn’t ask to be a Marine or whatever. I don’t want to shoot things. I just wanted to fly the transport.”

  “Things are going to get worse before they get better. I respect how you feel about this. We’ll face the other way. But you need to think about how something like this translates to being out there. The more comfortable you are with your team, the harder you fight for them. They become your family.”

  Kiaan nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  Caleb turned around, returning to Paige and Dante.

  “Kiaan’s a little shy. Just give him time.”

  “So am I,” Paige said. “That wasn’t exactly easy.”

  “That vaporizer thing is amazing,” Dante said. “I wish I had one of those in my cube.”

  “Roger that,” Paige said. “And—”

  She stopped talking when the door to the barracks slid open. Caleb glanced over as Washington bent slightly to get through the too-low doorway. He had traded his SOS for a black tunic and pants that matched the rest of the team’s, and he had a fabric band wrapped around his neck. The band glowed a soft blue at its base, and had other powered threads woven through it, creating an intricate pattern of gentle light.

  “Wash,” Caleb said. “Are you okay?”

  Washington smiled and started to raise his thumb. He stopped. “I’m good, Sarge,” he said, his voice a little raspy but otherwise functional. “Real good.”

  Chapter 14

  The Guardians were sitting around the table when Sergeant Tsi returned. They had all calmed considerably by then, and having Washington among them with his voice restored had given all of them, Caleb especially, a fresh hope that maybe things would work out. The Free Inahri had treated them with unexpected kindness and hospitality, and a comfort Caleb hadn’t felt since…he couldn’t remember when. Probably since the trife had arrived on Earth.

  Pai had revealed the two metal plates against the barracks wall as refrigeration and hydration units and had served them to a simple meal of some sort of soft whole grain like porridge and water infused with a native leaf that gave it a sweet taste. The meal was filling and had also helped to re-energize the group.

  The Guardians all turned toward the barracks door when it slid open. Sergeant Tsi stepped in with Private Gol and the Intellect.

  “Caleb,” she said. “General Goi will see you now.”

  “Just me?” Caleb asked.

  “Yes. You are the Sergeant of this squad and my charge.”

  Caleb nodded. He stood and faced his team. “Wash, hold down the fort for me?”

  “Yes, Sergeant,” Washington replied.

  Caleb was still amazed that the Inahri had repaired his voice so quickly and easily. It was great to hear Washington respond, but it would take a while before he would stop looking for the familiar thumb instead.

  He turned back to Sergeant Tsi. “I’m ready, Sergeant.”

  “First, you must learn basic protocol,” Tsi said. “You will bow your head to your superiors when they address you. You will keep your head bowed determinate to the position of the superior who is addressing you, or to whom you are being addressed.” She glanced past Caleb to the other Guardians. “This is true for all of you. When you are beyond the barracks and not in combat, and your Sergeant addresses you, bow your head. Before you address your Sergeant, bow your head. Understood?”

  “Yes, Sergeant,” the Guardians replied.

  “In the case of General Goi, you will hold your head bowed for the count of three. One… Two… Three… Understood?”

  “Yes, Sergeant,” Caleb said, bowing his head slightly.

  Tsi smiled. “Good. You are a fast learner. Private Gol will remain to stand guard over your squad.”

  “Is that necessary, Sergeant?” Caleb asked. “They aren’t going anywhere.”

  “Yes,” Tsi replied simply. “Follow me.”

  Caleb followed her out of the barracks with the Intellect. He noticed the air didn’t seem as cool as before, his uniform keeping his body heat contained and helping him stay warm.

  “You’ve been so kind to my team and me, I was starting to forget we’re prisoners,” Caleb said as they walked.

  “In all other cases, we have taken in defectors from Arluthu’s Inahri ranks. When our sensors detected the energy field surrounding the city-ship had vanished, we were uncertain if it was a result of the actions of the newcomers, or our misguided brothers and sisters. It’s not desirable for us to kill our own if it can be avoided. Even so, it’s also not common for our opponents to exhibit such fearlessness and sacrifice. I have awarded you an honor, Caleb. Most who are put on trial are not treated poorly, but they are also not granted personal space and privacy. You are different.”

  “I didn’t do anything special.”

  “That you believe those words so firmly is proof that you did.”

  “Pai said these uniforms mean we’re on Trial, and that we have to prove our value. What does that entail, exactly?”

  “I will leave it to General Goi to explain. Do not be concerned, Caleb. Your value is apparent to me. It will be obvious to the general as well.”

  Caleb glanced over at Tsi’s face. Her expression was serious. She wasn’t flirting with him or trying to butter him up. For whatever reason, she believed strongly in him, and the decision she had made to support him.

  They crossed the village, passing through the center circle and turning left toward the back of the cavern.

  “How does the hologram hide this place from sensors?” Caleb asked. “The Guardian Intellect didn’t know you were here. I assume the Relyeh don’t know you’re here either.”

  She pointed to the sides of the cavern. “The rock is infused with a heavy metal we call Datrium. Its primary value is in its ability to block even quantum waveforms.”

  “But you said you knew when the Guardian Intellect went offline. You must have units on the ground, outside the cavern.”

  “Yes. We call them Dancers.”

  Caleb imagined the real Inahri word sounded more impressive than the Intellect’s translation. “And they’ve been watching the Deliverance too?”

  “Your ship? Yes.”

  “How are things going over there?”

  “I will leave it to General Goi to debrief you.”

  “He said interrogate earlier.”

  “Perhaps the Intellect chose an unsuitable word.”

  He preferred dancer.

  They reached the edge of the center circle. A long building sat at the back, a pair of guards flanking the closed door. Caleb thought that would be the General’s quarters or the CIC, but then Tsi led him around the building, to the structure behind it. It was half as wide and twice as tall, but otherwise as nondescript from the outside as any of the Inahri buildings. There were no guards here, but a man in dark blue robes emerged from the building as Tsi and Caleb neared the entrance.

  “Bow your head,” Tsi said, lowering hers. Caleb followed her lead, keeping his head down until the man had passed. He noticed the Intellect did the same.

  “Who was that?” Caleb asked.

  “Premier Atolate,” Tsi replied. “General Goi is in charge of the compound. The Premier monitors the general for the civilian council.”

  “You aren’t all warriors?”

  Tsi smiled. “No. Many are, but we have others. They live deeper inside. That way.” She pointed to the back of the cavern.

  It reminded Caleb of the story that had been passed down through Governor Stone’s family. The people of Metro had spent their lives believing they were in an underground bunker instead of on a starship. These Inahri were living underground to evade notice by both the Intellect and the Relyeh. He hoped they didn’t think they were on one of the city-ships.

  Sergeant Tsi led him into the building. It was less open than the barracks, with a hallway leading to separate rooms and a set of stairs leading up to the second level. All of it appeared to be carved from a solid block of stone, as though they had made everything while excavating the cavern.

  They probably had.

  A female guard stood just inside the entrance. She bowed her head before saying something to Tsi, who responded with authority. The guard spoke again, only bowing the first time, and then motioned for them to ascend the stairs.

  “General Goi has arranged all of the senior staff to attend,” Tsi whispered. The Intellect matched her volume relaying the message.

  “The more, the merrier,” Caleb replied. Tsi gave him an odd look after the translation. “Some things don’t translate well,” he added. She nodded in response.

  They reached the top of the steps. The entire upper floor was one open space and appeared to be the Inahri ’s command center after all. The back of the room was lined with stations where a handful of Inahri in green uniforms sat, monitoring different flows of data on holographic terminals. Ahead of them, a surface that reminded Caleb of the holotable on the bridge of the Deliverance, and ahead of that a group of eight male and female Inahri , sitting cross-legged on small pillows, gathered around a flat, stark white mat.

  Sergeant Tsi brought him to them and bowed her head. Caleb did the same.

  “Esteemed,” she said. “I present Sergeant Caleb of Earth, who I did capture aboard the Seeker soon after the fall of the waveform from that place, and who I have taken as my charge in advance of the Trial of both himself and his captured Earther companions.”

  She kept her head down as she spoke. She didn’t raise it until General Goi responded from his place on the other side of the mat.

  “Sergeant Tsi, you are welcomed to this meeting of the Esteemed, and offered a place at my side for the proceedings.” Goi motioned to an empty pillow beside him. Caleb quickly noted there was only one empty pillow. “Sergeant Caleb of Earth, please take a place in the center of the proceedings.” He motioned to the white mat.

  Caleb bowed his head again. “Yes, General,” he said, before moving past the other members of the Inahri military. He stood at attention there, facing Goi.

  “You may sit,” the General said. Goi looked pleased he had remained standing.

  Caleb sat facing General Goi, matching his pose and posture. He didn’t speak, waiting for the general to address him.

  “Sergeant Caleb,” Goi said. “Tell us how your ship arrived on New Inahri .”

  “Yes, sir,” Caleb said. “We launched from our planet, Earth, seeking to escape the trife. The uluth. They destroyed our society. Our civilization. Billions of us died. We were looking for a new home.”

  “And how did you come to choose this planet?”

  “Sir, we didn’t. We were supposed to rendezvous with the larger group of fleeing ships in the Proxima system. A star system only four light years from Earth. We had…complications.”