only used by our species, but it is possible another alien life form used the same technology to…”
“Why?”
“For the same reason a bank robber on ancient Earth wore a mask. A disguise allows you to avoid the consequences of your actions. From what you just told me, it sounds as though you did not see your daughter die.”
“I heard her screams. They were enough.”
“They are far more likely to have taken her to sell than to kill her.”
“They didn’t care about taking prisoners.”
“They took you.”
“Because I was standing out in the open when they landed. They saw me. They didn’t see her. They burned….” I can’t talk anymore. I can’t say the atrocity out loud.
Warden touches my hand. That is all the touch I can tolerate now in the midst of pain. I wish I hadn’t told him any of this. It was better when it was buried inside me, a hot coal smoldering at the core of me, revenge taking the place of what used to be my heart.
“I am going to find out what actually happened that day. I swear it.”
I don’t care. Whatever he thinks happened that day is irrelevant, because I lost my daughter that day, and nothing will ever change that.
“Do what you want,” I say. “It was a long time ago, and there is no undoing what was done that day. There is no fixing me, or changing me either. I died that day. I just haven’t stopped breathing yet.”
Vengeance
Warden
I leave Silver to her misery, because there is nothing else I can do for a woman who will not take comfort from me, and I go to investigate. She might think there’s no reason to look into the past, but I disagree. That moment set her on a path which has led her here, to this prison. I want to know why that happened. I want to know who is traveling under a scythkin flag, and what they are doing in our name.
“Tusk, we need to make some calls about Silver. Can you get the IHPZ on the line?”
“Again?” He groans. “But we just went through all of that.”
“I’m sorry, are my orders an inconvenience for you?” I keep my voice calm, with just the right hint of threat.
“Dealing with that place is a pain in the ass. The receptionist is intolerable,” Tusk whinges.
“Is anything intolerable for a scythkin?”
“She is.”
“Make the call, Tusk.”
He does as I tell him. “You can talk to her,” he says. “I’ve opened the channel, but I will not deal with what is on the other side of… that.”
I scowl at him. I’ve never known Tusk to be dramatic or difficult. He is usually as steady as a rock. Is there something in the air today making everybody super sensitive?
“Interstellar Human Petting Zoo, Karen speaking.” A female human voice answers our call.
I see an actual shudder run through nine feet of scythkin warrior at the sound of that voice. Tusk covers his face with his hands. I frown at him, making a mental note to have him seen by the medical team.
“Hello. Karen. This is Warden from the prison where you recently transported…”
“Silver. Yes. I know. We’re not taking her back if that’s why you’re calling…”
“I’m not getting in touch because we want to give her back. I am getting in touch because I want records from the initial incidents associated with her activities, and also the records from Patch. I know the IHPZ brood has dominion over that colony. There was an attack there ten years ago.”
There’s a pause. “Do you have an official information request?”
“This is an official information request,” I growl.
Her voice sharpens and becomes more officious. “Listen. If you don’t have the proper documentation, then you don’t…”
“In that case, I’d like to return the prisoner you recently transported. We don't have her proper documentation…”
Checkmate. Karen does not want Silver back in her world. If I had to guess at a reason why, I’d say Karen doesn’t like Silver. I doubt Silver cares for Karen either. Even as a prisoner, my pet has plainly made an impact on everybody in the IHPZ.
“One moment, please.”
“Dealing with her is a mistake,” Tusk says. “She’s a monster.”
“Hm?”
“Karen,” he says. “Making contact with her is like summoning a swarm of biting fireflies.”
“She’s just a human answering calls. Hardly a monster, Tusk.”
“What do you want? Exactly.” Karen is back on the line. I can actually hear the purse of her lips through light years of space.
“Silver believes scythkin attacked Patch. I believe