“Yes, sir,” Rax said.
“It’s Cal or Calan,” he said. “We’re not military.”
Rax nodded and started walking further into the building.
“Feel better now?” Calan asked his brother.
“Cyborgs are dangerous,” Jamerin said. “Are you sure about this?”
Calan shrugged. “People think psions are dangerous. After Aledus, you better than anyone knows that.”
“You have a point. We are dangerous, but we have had the Psion Code of Ethics drilled into us since we were kids,” Calan said. “Cyborgs have a code of ethics too.”
“But we weren’t programmed to be killers,” Jamerin said.
“The download from Cyborg Command should have updated and repurposed him since we’re not at war,” Calan said.
“They provided a security subroutine for his programming,” Parei added. “Besides, Calan can put him on the ceiling if he gets violent.”
“I read him. He feels a bond with us. He’s not going to turn on us,” Calan added. “Now that we have power let's see if we can get water to at least one of the lavatories.”
“If anyone can get a century-old pump working Parei can.” Jamerin grinned and draped an arm around his life mate.”
“Then we can go back to the starport and start unloading the rest of the cargo,” Calan said. “It’s probably going to take at least two trips. If you don’t mind, I think I’d like to spend one more night on the ship.”
“That’s fine, kid. All the stuff to set up your living area is still on the ship. Doesn’t look like they left much behind here.”
“Wonder if we should bring Rax too,” Calan added as they started down the walkway toward the water supply room.
“Maybe ask Rax,” Parei said. “They don’t need that much sleep, and we just woke him up. He might just want to hang out here.”
“Might be a good idea until we fix the locks,” Calan said.
Fortunately, the main water pump that served the front of the building had been well maintained and protected in a hidden room. Whoever had broken into the building, hadn’t vandalized the pump. All they had to do was switch it on and check for leaks.
With power and water established, Calan went to his supplies to get one of the spare com tablets then went to find Rax to let him know they were going back to the starport. He caught up with Rax looking at one of the many alcoves along the length of the building.
In its day it was a state of the art manufacturing facility with five million square feet dedicated to the manufacture of electronics. Now it was predominantly an empty shell.
“Rax, we’re going back to Farringay Starport for the night,” Calan told him. “We have more supplies to unload and transport here. Do you wish to accompany us or would you prefer to stay here?”
“I believe I should stay and secure the building Calan. Scavengers could steal your cleaning robots and power storage cells,” Rax told him. “I will not require respite for several days. I will stay.”
“Thank you, Rax. I’m afraid we have no weapons for you to defend yourself. Are you okay with that?”
“I do not need weapons. I am a weapon.”
“Well, try not to kill anyone.”
“It should not be necessary. I will finish my inspection of the other side of the building. So far, most sections are empty. The materials you brought today are the most valuable things here.”
“We have the water running in the lav at the front of the building. There is a blue plastic crate by the door with food bars in case you are hungry. I will be back in the morning,” Calan said. “Jamerin and Parei are undecided. Here is a tablet to com me if there are any problems. Otherwise, I will see you tomorrow.”
Ajha walked most of the night through the moonlit streets of Farringay, hiding in the shadows of unlit buildings whenever she saw or heard people moving about. As the first colors of dawn painted the horizon, she knew she needed a place to hide. She needed a hole she could crawl into where she could sleep, and the rats or other vermin wouldn’t bother her.
She came to a street with a row of old brick houses in various stages of ruin. She found one with an opening into an old cellar with almost nothing left to scavenge. This looked like as good a place as any to hide and get some sleep. She doubted anyone would bother her there.
Climbing into the hovel through a broken-out window opening, there were cobwebs everywhere. Ajha took her walking stick and knocked them down and found a corner where she wouldn’t be seen from the opening.
