As she made her way through the forest of flowing robes and thin Fielden legs, she heard a roar of anger behind her. Ignoring it, she kept going. Her sense of direction on this ship was perfect, and even though she couldn’t see it, she knew the shuttle door wasn’t far.
By the time she got there, the hatch was closing. She dived through, hitting a support column with her shoulder. She wasn’t fast enough and had to bite back a small cry of pain as the closing hatch grabbed her ankle. The motor paused, and she fought to pull her leg free.
She was frantic, expecting to see a big, green Hissa hand appear to catch the edge and force the door back open.
With one last soft cry of pain, she pulled free. The door finished sliding closed and sealed with a quiet hiss. Her reliefwas brief as her ankle got her attention by sending pain radiating up her leg.
Rolling onto her back, she sat up and inspected her ankle with careful fingers. It didn't feel like there were any broken bones. She’d taken enough falls in her circus career to know when something was broken. She was going to be bruised, and walking was going to hurt, but she was sure it would heal without serious medical intervention.
At least she hoped that was the case.
She looked forward to some pain medication and resting it once she got to the planet below.
Looking up, she noticed that all the Fielden on the shuttle were staring at her, their translucent domes gently glowing with interest as they talked rapidly to each other about her. She only knew a few words in Fielden, but she could tell they were shocked, but not threatened by her actions.
She ignored them for a moment and carefully got to her feet, keeping weight off the bad ankle. The hatch didn’t have a window, but there was a small one in the wall not far from the door.
She peered out only to gasp and rear back when an angry Hissa face took up the whole thing.
He was talking, but she couldn't hear a word he was saying through the shuttle hull. She gave him a big, toothy smile and waved.
“Was he attacking you?” one of the Fielden asked in Space Standard, drawing her attention away from the window.
She turned and debated her answer. She and all the other workers on the Delight were briefed on Fielden customs and morals, and she needed them to be sympathetic to her but not fearful of reprisal from an angry Hissa warrior.
She came up with an acceptable story.
“No, he wasn’t attacking me,” she explained. Even though she addressed the one who asked, she made her voice loud enough to carry so everyone could hear. They were all curious and could end up being helpful. A lifetime of performance made it second nature to enunciate and project without appearing to be yelling.
“He wanted to force me into a breeding contract,” she explains. Fielden society and government don’t have an issue with slavery. Telling them she was running from her new master wouldn’t get her any help. But they also had strict protocols when it came to breeding and children, even for slaves.
“You don't want to enter into a breeding contract with this male?” another asked with sympathy.
“I wasn't asked,” Nova said, and let her head shake a little. Fielden shook their domes when they were severely upset. “My boss signed for me. I was never consulted. I wasn’t allowed a testing period, and he never even gave me a mothering gift!”
All the Fielden around her muttered unhappily in their language. It was clear that they were deeply distressed by her plight.
“What does your life giver say about all of this?” one of them asked in Space Standard.
Mothers were the power in the Fielden families, they were the ones that negotiated breeding pacts and co-signed the final contract.
“I have none,” Nova said with a little wail, making sure to get her voice wobbly. Fielden voices got more wobbly the more upset they were. “She died bringing me to life.”
She could tell by their body language they were all sympathetic to her now.
“Calm yourself,” one of them said. “It's sad you have no life giver to guide you, and this has happened to you, but our shuttle is about to launch and you’re safe. Our planet is large, you can find work in a family compound or a desert circle. All is not lost.”
Nova made a show of quieting the shaking, thankful to be surrounded by such a kind species. If this happened on Bolours, she'd be running from the inhabitants of the planet as well as from the Hissa.
“I dream of a calm life where duty and family guide my every action,” she said, remembering more Fielden cultural information.
There were general words of encouragement from them, and several helped her to a seat. Others gave her a few articles of clothing to cover herself with.
She was still wearing her wild act costume but lost her disguise when the Hissa grabbed her. To the Fielden, she was practically naked.
She thanked them profusely as she pulled on the sand cloak first. They also gave her a shoulder wrap, and several other pieces to drape over her body. Once she was 'properly' dressed, everyone relaxed.
She was lucky that none of these Fielden had seen her show so she didn't have to dodge awkward questions about being a 'wild' human that could suddenly talk and reason.
