Chapter 13

There were five trials during breakfast, each as impressive as the last. After which, the women were free to explore the compound. Mia had eaten her fill of soft bread and sweet preserves and had tried several of the fruits offered, as well. She watched this time as the meal ended and realized that it was the men who did all the work for both preparation and clean up. They were making their way through the door of the hall when she caught a hint of a conversation.

“It's the same thing every morning, I haven't eaten breakfast in days. I can't stand this plain food they have. God what I wouldn't give for a non-fat latte with caramel.”

“I don't like these clothes, either. They must have had something better in the city shops they could have picked out, or maybe their people just sucked at that, too,” another voice answered. “Inferior materials always irritate my skin. I swear I'm going to be a walking rash soon.”

Mia looked around for the speakers. She found them to her left, making their way to the door just as she was. Despite having been deprived of such essentials as Starbucks, the group of women had a more polished aura about them. They were really no different than any of the other women she had seen since arriving. They were no more attractive than the others, their clothing was similar, and, like the other women, they were sans makeup. It was their manner that set them apart, even in the way they moved through the crowd.

She had met women like them several times back on Earth, ones who thought status was gained by making sure everyone around them knew how special they were. Mia had always avoided them like the disease-ridden socialites they were, she had no time for such nonsense.

Someone elbowed her in the side and she turned to find Pheobe leaning in toward her.

“See...personality deficiency.”

Ah. So these were the group Pheobe had warned about. Were these complaints real, then? Or part of their plan to be returned to Earth? They hadn't seemed directed to anyone in particular, none of the men had even been within ear shot.

They stepped outside into a bright morning. The sun had risen above the horizon and sparkled playfully on the dew ridden grass of the park. Mia paused in front of the hall and took in the sight.

“What would you like to do now?” Pheobe asked. “They have offered a class, if anyone is interested to learn to read and write the language they speak here. I think they have several million books downloaded into their little light tools, but the neurotransmitter only takes care of spoken language, and not writing, so none of us can read them. Or, we are free to explore the compound. A few of the women have taken up small garden plots, just for something to do. If you have any hobbies you could ask them, too. They've found supplies for a few of the women.”

“I don't want to do any of that. I think I'll go back to the dorms.” It was Ashley who spoke. She had been sullen and quiet through the meal, and Mia sensed she wasn't doing as well as she tried to present herself as doing.

“I'm going to explore the compound. I want to know the layout of everything, and I'd like a better look at their energy shield,” Mia turned to Ashley. “You sure you don't want to come?”

“No, I'm good.”

Pheobe stayed with Mia and Becky as they made their way around the complex, giving them what information she had already gathered, and telling them snippets from events that had taken place since her arrival. The dining hall, she discovered, also housed most of the men, a sort of male dormitory, on the second and third floors. Some of the men, the leaders and higher ups, stayed in the house that she had met Draven in the night before. There was the shower building, which reminded her of a gym back home, and Mia was surprised to discover in another room of the gym, a deep round pit that had once housed what she had thought might be a pool. Behind the six buildings she had noted upon entering the compound there was a complex assortment of cube-like buildings. They were arranged in groups of six, each group surrounding a separate courtyard. Without visible doors, it was hard to decipher their purpose. That is, until Pheobe strode up to one and it opened easily for her. Each cube was divided again by four units. Living spaces, almost like apartments. None of the doors were locked and no one seemed to mind when they entered to have a look around. Three or four rooms made up the main part of the units, with two to three sleeping rooms arranged usually at the back and in a neat row. Empty as they were, it was difficult to tell what the purpose of each room might have been. The only hint for one was the amount of ledges that stuck out from the wall like counters. Mia assumed that might be a kitchen, though she didn't see any appliances, so she couldn't be certain. Still, the sitting room in Draven's house had seemed nice enough. She could imagine that, when decorated properly, these spaces might make a decent home.

She left off the buildings after that, even though there were a few for which she couldn't guess their purpose and Pheobe had no clue, either.

The energy field was a large dome that provided a barrier around the compound. It was mostly invisible, especially in the daylight, but the little flecks were still visible if you looked hard enough.

“Don't touch it,” Pheobe warned. “It gives one hell of a shock, and the Livarian's get pretty worked up over it. It sets off all sorts of alarms.”

“Where does it come from?” There had to be a point of origin. It piqued her curiosity how the aliens managed to come through the destruction of their world and still have access to technology that was better than anything Earth had yet produced.

“I'm feeling a little gross,” Becky announced when Mia turned down the third street, aiming to look at the field at the end and determine if it was the same as the last two sections she had studied. “I think I'll go back to the dorms and lay down.”

Mia hesitated. She was too wound up to stay in one spot right then. Even with the sweat beginning to pool on her skin again, she didn't want rest.

“I'll come back with you,” Pheobe offered, her tone relieved. Mia hadn't realized she was wearing the two women out. Pheobe turned to her, “how about you, do you want to come back?”

Mia shook her head and looked down the street once more. A lone figure stood at the end. One of the Livarians. Curious, she had rarely seen any of them alone.

“Ok, see you later then. There's a tone that rings when lunch is served.” Pheobe smiled. “I hope you find whatever you're looking for.”

Pheobe moved off, but Becky lingered.

“What is it?”

“You don't mind, do you?” the woman wondered.

“Of course not. Exploring was my idea, anyway.”

“Okay, I just thought you might not want to go alone. You're the first person in a long time who's been so nice to me. I want to be a support for you, too.”

Mia smiled. “I don't think I need support on this particular venture,” she told Becky. “I just want to know about this compound. I don't like being uninformed. It's a flaw of mine, I guess. I'll feel better if I learn more about it, I think.”

“I'll see you later, then,” Becky looked to the figure at the end of the road, “be careful.” She offered a small smile. It was the first time the woman had been anything other than sad and quiet and it transformed her face. The bruising had faded over their journey and her lip had healed quite a bit as well. Becky was surprisingly beautiful when she smiled. Mia smiled back.

Mia made her way to the end of the street, where the dome met the ground. Beyond the energy field, the road continued, the structures changed, becoming a little more complex. What had been their purpose? Shops? Or more elaborate housing, maybe? What lay beyond them?

She was nearly to the barrier when she finally recognized the figure. It was Kenahi, and he was pacing, looking out into the city like a trapped animal. He wore his armor, and it was in what she was coming to think of as battle mode.

“Hey,” she called when she neared.

He whipped toward her, his posture tense and ready, but his frown softened when he recognized her.

“Is there something you need, Mia?” He adjusted something on the armor's face and it shifted to provide a belt of pockets along his hips. The long black blade she had become accustomed to slid into his palm. He watched her, his brows raised.

“You look as though you're preparing for battle,” she observed. What would he be fighting in the city?

Kenahi grunted and looked at himself, as if just realizing he was outfitted for war.

“We must gather supplies for the next few days.”

“Are the supplies going to fight back?” Mia gestured to the weapons.

A grin quirked the right corner of his mouth. “They sometimes do. Once, we were securing preserves for the chef and Lim pulled out a box of jams. It happened to be one wall of the nest of a Brikan. The mother was not impressed and he had to defend himself vigorously.”

“Brikan?”

“It is a smaller mammal, much like the Earth raccoon, but with spines more like a porcupine, except with venom. They are very nimble, and Lim was attempting to subdue to creature without causing its death. He didn't want the nestlings to be without their mother.” Kenahi shook his head. “He's a bit of a sentimental fool.”

Mia decided she liked the sentimental fool. “Is it very dangerous, gathering supplies?”

Kenahi tilted his head “Only mildly. Sometimes, a predator finds its way into the city, seeking out the smaller pray that hide here. They are typically only dangerous if startled. They rarely hunt our kind, we are too much trouble,” he patted his sword, but she got the feeling that more had been bothering him than simple predators. “You look worried. There will be others with me, if you are concerned for my safety.”

She blinked at him, startled. His lips were quirked up to the side and she realized he was teasing her. Flirting, maybe.

“I was mostly wondering if I might be able to come along. I want to see the rest of the city.”

Now Kenahi frowned. “You want to leave the safety of the compound to explore the city and gather supplies?”

Mia nodded. “If it is only mildly dangerous like you said, then there shouldn't be any problem, right? It's not like it would be a repeat of the journey here.”

Kenahi's face grew shuttered and Mia remembered that they had lost a man on that journey and no one seemed to know how. Maybe she shouldn't have mentioned it at all.

“I don't think the prime would approve, I most certainly don't. Why take the risk?”

Mia tilted her head, thinking. For some reason, it felt vastly important to her that she was able to leave the compound. Somehow, she was already feeling trapped and claustrophobic with her limitations. She certainly couldn't mope around every day eating their food and doing crafts to pass her time. Not that exploring the city would get her home faster, but it was something at least.

“Last night, your prime offered me a gift of my choosing. I refused, but I've changed my mind. If the offer still stands, I would like the freedom to explore outside of the energy field. At least, when there is already someone going. I would be happy to just tag along, I can keep out of the way.”

Kenahi frowned at her. “You refused Draven? Why would you do that?”

“No, not Draven...the prime, his gift. He offered a house, separate from the dorms. I don't want that, I would like this instead.”

The sound of muted conversation drew their attention and Mia saw that several men in their combat clothes were approaching.

“I cannot grant you this without the prime's permission. I do not think you'll like his answer, but I'll ask.”

Mia nodded. “That is enough, thank you.”