Chapter Nine – Jada
Jada wasn't sure what she had been expecting from Sildon's home planet, but it wasn't this. It was one of the dirtiest places she had ever seen. Layers on layers of dirt and grime covered the dome-shaped buildings. Garbage was strewn everywhere. The ground felt marshy under her feet. It was clear after only a few moments on the planet that their ship was the most technologically advanced thing these people had seen in quite a while. Dozens of people of all sorts of species were already starting to gather and stare. They were as dirty as the rest of the planet and all carried weapons.
She shuddered as she held Isabel close to her. The sooner they found what they needed, the better. If any of them fell ill here, it would certainly be the death of them. Even the air had a putrid stench to it that made her gag.
"Stay close to me," Sildon warned as he shut the gangplank behind them. "And whatever you do, don't look scared."
"Sure, no problem." Jada threw back her shoulders in an attempt to look braver. "Where do we start?"
Sildon glanced around for a moment, then strode off confidently. "We walk around until something looks familiar."
Jada rolled her eyes. Why couldn't they just ask for directions? But when the people started following them, hands on their weapons, she understood. Any sign of not knowing what they wanted would be taken as weakness, and that could end fatally. She adjusted Isabel as the baby looked around with wide eyes. Maybe it would be a better idea to just stay in the ship while Sildon searched. But they were already so far from it, and she didn't want to be the one to tell him to turn around.
"That's my house," he said suddenly. He grabbed her hand. "Look."
She followed his gaze to a fairly large building. It was shaped like an igloo, domed with a small, circular entrance. There were no windows or doors that Jada could see, and the outside had a distinctive shiny quality to it beneath the grime. Sildon started pulling her towards it.
"It was an old weather observatory. When the United Species pulled out, my mother moved in because it was sheltered from the brimstone hail."
"Brimstone hail?" What kind of place was this?
"At the time, there were several active volcanos, and the snow would pick up the ash and debris, turning into hail. Something it looks like they still deal with." Sildon's black eyes were focused on the building as he strode up to it. He released Jada's hand and drew his sword. "I am the son of Matka and I wish to speak to the residents of this building."
There was a long pause before a wizened figure scurried out from the circular entrance. It was a Trioeil, with three huge eyes, one of which had gone milky-white, and a head that looked too big for its skinny body. From the figure, it could have been a woman, but she was swathed in so many layers of clothing that it was hard to tell.
"Sildon?" The Trioeil rasped. "Is that you, little one?"
Sildon's eyes widened. "Pogi! You still live here?"
The Trioeil cackled. "You expected that they would have gutted me by now? But old Pogi has tricks up her sleeve. They think I'm a witch, you know. They all come to me when they have ailments, and I'm the only one who can — what's that? Is that a human?"
Jada shrunk back against Sildon as Pogi's gaze landed on her. Maybe it was the mouth full of gaping teeth that looked out of place with her rough appearance, maybe it was her own prejudices coming to the forefront, but the Trioeil gave her the creeps.
"My mate," Sildon said. "Jada, this is Pogi. She and my mother lived together here when I was young."
Jada nodded in greeting, trying not to react to Sildon calling her his mate. T'shav didn't marry, and mates were complete commitments. But he must only be saying that so Pogi wouldn't get any ideas about selling her off or something.
"Matka. A name I haven’t heard in years. She was my best friend." Pogi paused and glanced behind them, at the gathered crowd. She made a hissing noise in her teeth and ran at the other villagers, waving a stick above her head. They scattered away like mice. Pogi cackled again. "Come inside, where we can speak in privacy."
The wizened woman wiggled her way back into the observatory. Jada watched Sildon, hoping he wouldn’t follow, but he sheathed his blade and entered. The human scowled, glaring first at the entrance and then at the faces that were beginning to appear in the gaps between buildings behind her. Holding Isabel close, she ducked her head and followed. The entrance wasn't as small as it had first appeared, opening up to stairs right away. As soon as Jada was in, a blue energy barrier sprang over the passage, blocking it.
When she caught up with Sildon and Pogi, they were sitting at a table, staring at once another.
"Matka would be so proud to see the fine, strong warrior you've become," Pogi said eventually. "Little Sildon, a grand soldier. Have you come to right the wrongs you see here? Did you bring me gifts?"
"I came for answers." Sildon's voice was rough. "You were like a second mother to me when I was a child, but when Matka died, you sent me away. I heard you promise her that you would make sure I was looked after. Why didn't you keep me?"
"Keep you?" Pogi closed her eyes, shaking her head. "Keep you. I, keep a child? I was hardly more than a child myself. I didn't have the experience or patience to raise you. A second mother, you say? Matka would have sliced my head off if she could have seen the way I treated you after her death. Don't you remember the beatings I gave you? I sent you away because of the bruises I put on your body, Sildon."
Jada wasn't sure she should be there, listening to this. But where else could she go? She sank into a chair next to Sildon and put a hand on his arm, silently trying to comfort him. He was coiled like a spring. Her heart ached for him.
He opened his mouth but closed it again. Silence fell, and Jada wondered what he was thinking. Was he remembering those beatings and looking at the Trioeil with new eyes? Was he regretting coming here?
"I don't remember you hitting me," he said eventually.
"I did." Pogi opened her eyes again and gazed sadly at him. "You did not deserve that abuse."
But he was abused anyway. Maybe he wasn't beaten by the people who adopted him, but he had told her enough to know that they left scars of a different sort on him. Her teeth clenched. What a pair they made. Both had suffered abuse in their lives, though Jada was the first to acknowledge that Sildon had gone through much worse. Most of her pain came from her inability to bear children and the men who threw her away because of it. Yes, her heritage had been under attack, but she was from a generation that was beginning to retake their pride. Sildon was still suffering first-hand.
"Did you know who my father was?"
"No."
Isabel squirmed, her face twisting and her neck straining. Jada recognized the signs. She hoisted the diaper bag back onto her shoulder and sighed.
"Is there a place I can change her?"
Pogi glanced at the baby. Her face twisted in disgust and she pointed. "Clean room is there."
Jada muttered her thanks and followed the directions. Luckily, this room had a door that swung shut behind her. It wasn't much. There was a hole in the ground that must serve as a toilet, with lasers that crisscrossed as far down as Jada could see. She dropped a tissue down it; it was soon burnt away. So that was how waste was disposed of? Ew.
There didn't appear to be any sort of shower, but there was a curved table that Jada tested before putting Isabel down on (spreading a blanket behind her first). She changed the diaper quickly and wrapped Isabel in a fresh blanket. The baby needed to sleep, and she had a feeling that Pogi would not be kind to a screaming child.
Just as she was about to leave, something caught Jada's eye. A pile of medical bottles sat in a jumbled heap on the floor. On closer inspection, she saw they were for Direata, a strong narcotic used on people undergoing massive surgery. There were dozens of bottles here. Was Pogi an addict? How did she get this stuff?
Jada shuddered and hurried out of the room, back to Sildon's side. He stood and put an arm around her waist.
"We're going back to the ship now."
Her shoulders sagged in relief. She tried to smile at Pogi. "It was nice meeting you."
Pogi snorted and turned her back. "Sure, sure. Human. Never thought I'd meet a human."
Sildon pressed his hand against her lower back. Jada was all too happy to let him lead her out of this dismal building. But she knew they would not be leaving the planet. Well. She would just have to deal.