Seri grimaced—great, cold. He didn’t hate the cold…it just wasn’t his favorite thing. Cold temps also usually meant that unless they were hot springs, the water sources nearby were freezing. Not that he’d likely get to use any. Wait… “Wouldn’t it be better if I got off this planet?”
Severo gave him a weak smile. “There are benefits and disadvantages to both. On discussing them with Ender…we decided that it was best to stay.”
“Nice of you to discuss them with each other. How about you do it with me now,” Seri snapped with a glare.
“Fair enough,” Ender chuckled, holding his hands up. “No offense meant, Seri. We just were working ahead while you got some much needed sleep.
“Leaving the planet sounds good and all. Getting further away, in most situations, would be better. But not here.
“For one, my organization hasn’t spread that far out into space yet. Meaning we can’t help you as much there. And out in space, if Preston gets ahold of you, it will be harder, and take longer, for us to get you back.
“Frankly, if he nabs you in space, you could end up being dragged anywhere. Despite his strong hold being here on Earth, that man has a fleet of private ships all over the place out there. He has homes everywhere. Probably even more out there than here.”
Seri blanched. “He does?”
“That he does. Preston seems to prefer staying at his main house on Earth in Kansas. But that could change easily. What it comes down to is that there is always the chance that if he gets ahold of you out in space, he will take you to a planet or moon or whatever, that is outside jurisdiction for everyone.
“Now we’d still work on getting you back, no matter what. But if you stay on Earth, the most likely place he’d take you is to his home in Kansas. Having that location will make it a hundred times easier to get you away from him.”
That was all well and good, but… “All this is riding on him finding me.”
Severo sighed. “Likely, with all his connections…he will eventually find you.”
Seri hissed. “THEN WHAT IS THE F—” He cut off, letting out a frustrated huff, before breathing in through his mouth, letting it flow through his gills as he tried to clamp down on his anger.
Skya was no longer drinking, but looking up at him with wide, startled eyes because he raised his voice. Hands shaking, he gently brushed his fingers through her curls soft that had gone from a simple patch at birth to covering her whole head, before calmly saying, “Then what is the point of me even running?”
“Time,” Ender said bluntly. “Time to dig, time to plan, time to gather as much evidence as we can. So when he does come for you, we can take him down. Well, not us per se, but so Cyrus and his people can take Preston down. While we are all hoping that can be done before he finds you, we can’t bet on it.”
Smile still in place but tense, Severo explained. “While Ender’s people will be there to help us directly in Alaska, they also will be feeding information they find to me, that I will then pass to the CEB. At the end of all this, the goal is you and Skya living freely, without fear. The only way that is going to happen is if Preston is not only locked away, but locked away for years to come. Which can only happen if he is cut off from his resources, from all his contacts.”
Seri knew they were right. He’d never be able to live out in the open if Preston was free. But…sitting around, waiting to be taken…sounded nightmarish to him. “I-I have information,” he stuttered. “I can…”
Severo reached out, lightly gripping his shoulder. “And we do want that information. It will help…but it won’t be enough, Seri. He’ll wiggle free. You are just one person, against who knows how many he has under his thumb. We have to break the connections. Dig up all we can first, so that when you do tell us everything you witnessed, your voice won’t get buried under the corrupted ones he has in his pocket.”
Seri licked his lips and sighed. “Fine…”
He jumped when Ender clapped. “Great, now that all that is out of the way, on to the disguises.” He snapped his fingers and three men walked in. “Crew, Seri and Severo. Seri and Severo, crew. Together we will create several new identities for you, and more along the way, if need be, in case you need to run again. So, who would you two like to be?”
Seri eyed the three men he’d never seen before, while Severo released his hold on his shoulder with a hum. “Well…I suppose what would make the most sense if he changed gender and pretended to be my wife. As he so pointed out, my female voice is horrible. And I can always change my appearance too…so.”
“No,” Seri said sharply, not even daring to let the idea ruminate in his mind.
The Dweller looked at him, brow raised. “It wouldn’t be permanent, just for the trip. And I’d change your appearance anyway.”
“I said no!” Seri snapped. “And I won’t say it again. I won’t change! I shouldn’t have to change. I’m a man, not a woman. I’ve never been a woman, I’ll never be a woman. I’m a man and I’ll stay one! So, drop it!”
He gasped, blinking when Skya began to cry. His breath was coming out too fast to his ears, each draw in was flowing out fast from the gills in his neck. Heart pounding, he glanced around. The concern and shock on the faces of those around him had him looking away.
Skya continued to cry… She must have been scared. He’d probably been yelling. Eyes slamming shut, he enveloped her into his arms as he hunched in on himself, wanting to just hide from the accusing, questioning eyes.
“Seri…” Severo started softly. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to change, it was only a thought. And I didn’t suggest it because I thought you were a woman. I know you are a man…we all do. But I shouldn’t have pushed. You said no, so the answer is no. No one here is going to make you do anything that you don’t want to.”
He fought the tears forming in his eyes, and didn’t respond or look up, holding tightly to Skya while she clung to him, her crying dwindling to sniffles.
“Would you like us to leave the room for a bit?” Severo asked, his voice remaining soft.
Seri clenched his hands.Pull it together, Seri!he told himself.
