Chapter 6 — by johnnedwill

 "We will shortly be arriving at Talált Station. Please gather your belongings and prepare to debark." The synthesised voice of the flight AI echoed through the shuttle's compartments and companionways. "Be prepared to present identification tokens to the transit authorities. Thank you for choosing 'Knife's Edge'." There was a chime from the PA system's speakers, and then the information was repeated in the various different forms of Standard.

Sanju raised xemself from the acceleration couch xe had been assigned for the journey to the Elveszett nexus. "Come on. Time to go," xe remarked.

H'ver's golden sphere emerged from a niche in the bulkhead next to Sanju. "Ready."

"Good." From outside the cubicle came the sounds of the other passengers making ready to get off the shuttle. There was the clamour of voices, the rattle of baggage being hefted out of storage units, the bustle of movement. Sanju reached out with a long arm to retrieve xeir pack. "I would like to get on board Talált Station as soon as possible. There is some business that I have to attend."

"Business? Clarification needed," H'ver responded.

Sanju's skin pigmentation shifted from xeir usual deep purple to a carmine-tinged hue — a colour that to those knowledgeable in hiwjshi biology indicated that xe was slightly annoyed. "Why do you ask?"

"Purposes of efficiency. Will I be required for business?"

"No." Sanju's colouration shifted towards the blue end of the spectrum. "But remain with me for now. Understood?"

H'ver took up station slightly behind Sanju's left shoulder. "Compliance."

Sanju emerged from the cubicle into the main companionway, H'ver following xem. The announcements from the ship had ceased, but the air was redolent with the tang of communication pheromones that the shuttle's air conditioning system had not yet absorbed. A ragged queue of sentients was forming, ready to get off the shuttle as soon as it docked. Sanju pushed in, ignoring the protests from the being behind xem.

As promised, it was not long before the Knife's Edge nudged up alongside Talált Station. Sanju felt a slight discomfort as the shuttle's gravity compensators synchronised with those of the space station. From ahead came the sound of motors as the airlock doors were opened. "Welcome to Talált Station," the Knife's Edge announced in Standard. "Please debark in an orderly fashion." The queue started forward.

The VIP customs and immigration station was filled with light. Holographic signs and virtual projections guided the shuttle's passengers towards the waiting officials. Sanju found xemself peering down at a scaled creature about a hundred and fifty centimetres tall, an official-looking medallion hanging from a ribbon around its neck. "Personal designation?" the creature enquired in Standard.

"Sanju of the clan Areh," Sanju replied. Xe held out xeir identity disk. The scaled creature ignored it, preferring to concentrate its attention on the dataslate it was holding.

"Purpose of visit?"

"Official business."

"Please state the nature of your official business," the scaled creature said.

It was as if Sanju had broken out in a rash; small, yellow spots erupted on xeir skin. Xe thrust xeir identity disk in front of the bureaucrat. "Official business," xe repeated. "Check my credentials."

The official looked at Sanju with blank eyes, then ran a digit across the surface of the black disk. A maze of golden lines appeared on the surface, and the official's dataslate came to life. "Official business?"

"Yes." Sanju took back the identity disk. "I will only discuss this with the station manager, the station security chief or their designated deputies."

"That would be Sentient Thomas," the scaled creature said. "Do you wish to make an appointment?"

"Sentient Thomas?" Sanju processed this piece of information. "I would prefer to speak with them immediately."

"Sentient Thomas is busy, but he will be available shortly."

The yellow spots on Sanju's skin started to subside. "When?"

"Shortly."

"And where will we meet?"

"Sentient Thomas will come to you."

Sanju considered this. "That will be satisfactory," xe said.

The official tapped at its dataslate. "Welcome to Talált Station, Sanju of the clan Areh. Please avail yourself of the facilities." A glowing line appeared in mid-air, showing xem which way to go. As Sanju stepped forward, the line disappeared and a red cross hung in front of xem.

"Is there a problem?" Sanju asked the official.

The scaled creature gestured at H'ver. "The artificial — it has not gone through the entry procedure."

"The droid is with me. It is covered by my credentials. If you had bothered to check them properly, you would have known that."

"Ah." The official consulted its dataslate, tapped on its surface, and the red cross vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. "Apologies. Please proceed."

"Thank you," Sanju replied with just a hint of annoyance.

It did not take long for Sanju to find a cubicle in the transient section of the station. It wasn't much — a few cubic metres of privacy, with the barest of facilities. Still, it would do for the time that Sanju would be here. Elveszett Nexus was a major junction in the portal network, with links to five major chains. It served as a transit node for the entire sector. Based on the intelligence that xe had received, Sanju knew that the Human - Hana Reyna in her culture's system of nomenclature — would have to pass through Talált Station. Every vessel that came to the nexus had to. All that Sanju had to do was wait. Or rather ...

The communicator plate on the wall chimed. Sanju raised a claw and swiped it across the surface of the communicator to activate it. "This is Sanju."

A distorted voice replied. There was no picture. "Sentient Sanju? Good. I am Sentient Thomas, seneschal of Talált Station. I was informed by one of my staff that you wished to speak with me. How can I be of service?"

"It is a sensitive matter." Sanju paused to collect xeir thoughts. "Sentient Thomas, I would rather discuss it in person, if we may?"

"Hmm." There was a pause, then: "I am rather busy, Sentient Sanju."

"I take it you are aware of the organisation that I represent?"

"I scanned your documentation. I can make myself available — say, in another hour? Would that suit?"

Sanju nodded. "That would be more than acceptable. Where should we — ?"

There was a chuckle from Thomas. "I'll send a drone for you. In the meantime, Sentient Sanju, I can recommend a very nice eating establishment. It has fresh Cerberos sawfish that I believe may be to your taste."

Sanju considered this for a minute. Xeir instincts told xem that Thomas was trying to establish some kind of rapport with xem. Fair enough, Sanju thought. "Thank you, sentient. I think I'll take you up on your offer. I'll see you in an hour."

"In an hour."

At the appointed time, a bronze droid in a humanoid form approached Sanju as xe was eating. The droid stood in a position of respect, waiting for Sanju to notice it, before addressing xem. "Sentient Sanju of the clan Areh?"

Sanju picked a shred of sawfish from between xeir teeth. "Did Sentient Thomas send you?"

The droid nodded and gestured with a hand. "If you would please accompany me?"

Sanju stood up from the table, unfolding xeir limbs. H'ver took up its position just behind Sanju. The droid stopped. "Is this accompanying you, sentient?"

Sanju glanced back towards H'ver's golden orb. "Yes. Is there a problem?"

"I do not know. I will have to seek further instructions."

"Well, you can take me to see Sentient Thomas while you are waiting for your instructions, can't you?"

The droid seemed to consider the logic of the question before answering. "Very well. Please follow me."

Sanju followed the bronze humanoid through the public areas of the station, then through a hatch and into service corridors. The transient areas had been bright and colourful, with illuminated signs and holograms everywhere one looked. The service corridors, however, were drab and utilitarian. A few beings - obviously station staff — hurried from place to place; a maintenance technician glanced at Sanju before turning back to their task. The droid led xem to an unremarkable hatchway and stopped.

"Please hand over your weapons."

Sanju did as xe was asked, passing over xeir needle gun and stunner. The droid looked at H'ver. "This unit has been identified as a possible threat to the station systems."

"And that is exactly why I wish to see the station manager," Sanju replied.

Again, the droid paused as if considering what to do next. "Very well. Be aware — at the first sign of trouble, both you and your droid will be destroyed."

Sanju bowed xeir head. "Of course. And since I'm not going to be causing any trouble ... ?"

The hatch ahead of them opened. "Please enter," the bronze droid requested.

The compartment on the other side of the hatchway was a sphere, the interior walls covered with banks of screens. Each screen showed either a part of the Talált Station or a display of data that was incomprehensible to those who had not been initiated into its mysteries. At the centre of the compartment was a metallic throne suspended on servomotors and actuators, on which was sitting a humanoid. From Sanju's point of view, it seemed that the Human was wearing a skintight suit covered in circuit emblems. The Human raised a hand in greeting. "Sentient Sanju."

Sanju stared at the man on his throne. "You are Sentient Thomas?"

Thomas extended a hand. "I am. Welcome to Tanált Station. You said you wanted to see me. How can I be of service?"

"You are the station manager?"

"Manager, security chief and many other things. I prefer the term 'seneschal'. It's an old word, but it appeals."

"Ah." Sanju looked around for somewhere to sit down. "You are not what I was expecting."

"Pardon?"

Sanju gestured. "You are — "

"Augmented. A cyborg. Yes. The implants help me interface with the station's systems." Thomas frowned. "I hope that you have no prejudices against cyborgs. Some cultures do, but I was not aware that the Hiwjshi were amongst them."

"No. We are not."

"Good." Thomas sat back in his throne and seemed to relax. "Now, as I was saying, how can I be of service?"

"Sentient Thomas — have you ever heard of a human called Hana Reyna?"

"Accessing databases." Thomas frowned. "I have no record of such a person. Should I have?"

"No."

"May I enquire why you are interested in this person?"

"I need to trace her."

The cyborg shifted uneasily. "So, why are you telling me this?"

"I am asking your permission for H'ver —" The spherical droid moved forward so that Thomas could see it better "— to access Tanált Station's systems. Just the traffic records." Sanju hoped that this would not be too much to ask. "Then, when Sentient Reyna passes through, H'ver will follow her to her destination. I could have done this without asking your permission, but I thought it would be better if I was to inform you in advance. There is less chance that you or the station staff will interfere in my assignment."

"I see." Thomas looked at H'ver. "I assume that you have the appropriate authorisations to carry this out. With or without my permission."

"I do."

Thomas shrugged. "Very well. Provided you register the information with my staff, then I shall comply." Sanju held out xeir identity disk, but the cyborg waved it away. "Forgive me, but I am busy. There are matters that need my attention."

The hatch behind Sanju opened. Outside the compartment, the bronze droid that had brought Sanju here was waiting with electronic patience. Xe took the hint. "Thank you for your time, Sentient Thomas."

There was no response from the cyborg. He was already absorbed in the functions of Tanált Station. Sanju turned and left.

Dedicated to my late wife, my inspiration, and my partner-in-writing, Sue.

Interview with the author of this chapter