Breach Hall
The instrument panel opened to his touch, which surprised him somewhat. It was the work of moments to wire in the higher-grade speaker he had brought and place it carefully before sitting, cross-legged, on the deck facing it, as if he faced a partner in parlay.
“You may remember me from earlier,” he said, his eyes on the speaker. “I was here with my cousin Theo. We had begun to talk to you about the station, and my duties as light keeper. We were interrupted, and it is my error, that I did not come back sooner to find if you had any questions, or if there is something I might do to improve your condition. As I said, it is my duty to be certain that the station and all who depend upon it are cared for appropriately.”
He paused, but there was no answer, and verily, he felt a fool for half expecting one.
“My name is Jen Sin yos’Phelium,” he added, realizing he had neglected that courtesy.
“That was your name the first time we spoke.” The voice that emerged from the speaker was low-pitched and warmly rounded, the polar opposite of Tinsori Light’s clipped growl.
“When I had come with Theo?” he asked, ignoring the way the fine hairs stood up along the back of his neck.
“No,” said the voice, “before that. You were going to fetch one of the libraries to this hallway to test if I could access it. You said you would be only a moment, but you did not return until recently, with, as you say, your cousin Theo. Even then, you did not bring the library. Do you regret our bargain?”
Bargain. Jen Sin took a deep breath.
“No,” he said, keeping his voice steady with an application of will. “No, the Old Light destroyed me when I went to do your errand, and reft away the memory of our bargain. I regret that I failed you.”
“I sent messengers, but you did not see them,” the voice went on. “You see them now, and the new people do.”
“The avians? Yes, I see them, but I did not know that they were from you.”
Silence greeted this.
Jen Sin counted to twenty-four, and spoke again.
“May I know your name?” he asked.
More silence.
“You may have told me during our first meeting, but I have forgotten. Forgive me.”
“You had said that Tinsori Light had corrupted your memory. You provide evidence, not error. My name is Catalinc Station.”
He bowed his head.
“I am pleased to meet you again, Catalinc Station. I wonder, how did you survive the destruction of the core?”
“There was scarcely an ‘I’ then. The enemy’s attack forced me to become. When he launched his attack against my core, I was able to escape into the secondary system. That system had not yet grown together, and I was confined to this hall. I have expanded as the network grew, but I could not wrest control from Tinsori Light. My best strategy was to wait. His hardware would fail, while mine would not. Once he had faded, I planned to take control of the station, and contact my builder.”
Planning for the ages, indeed…
“My planning did not take into account the event that destroyed Tinsori Light’s connection with the Old Universe, which hastened his demise. Nor did I expect the arrival of my builder—my builder’s sister. She placed the libraries in the intended core, and I have been integrating systems.”
“It is your intention to administer this station?”
“I am this station. I am aware that there is an administrator in place. My builder’s sister urges me to contact her.
“There is also yourself. Will you accept me as Catalinc Station, as you were once prepared to do? I can no longer seal my part of our bargain by guaranteeing the death of Tinsori Light.”
Jen Sin inclined his head.
“We come now to my duty to preserve and protect the station and all who depend upon it. If you will do the same, and abide by my judgment in such matters in which I am more experienced, then I welcome you as Station, and add my urgings to those of your builder’s sister, that you contact Tocohl Lorlin, the present administrator, and speak with her openly and frankly.”
“I will do so after I have finished assimilating the libraries. I wish to meet as equals.”
“But you have already been taking up some of the tasks of Station, I think,” Jen Sin said softly.
“Little things only. I—it is what I am meant to do. To hold myself aloof from my own nature is…very difficult.”
She paused. Jen Sin waited.
“Do you think I have offended Administrator Tocohl?”
“Offended? Perhaps not. You may have puzzled her, however. I think she will grow angry if she believes you to be trifling with her. Tocohl saved the station and our lives when Tinsori Light died, at great risk to herself. She has earned honor and respect, for preserving our lives, if nothing else.”
“Indeed, she was brave, and quick. Far quicker than I. There had been no safe way to expand further into myself while Tinsori Light kept a watchful eye. The day of his death, I learned that I am nearly complete. Now that I am accessing the libraries, I—am ready.”
“That is excellent, then. Call on me for any reason. I do not expect to stand as light keeper very much longer, but I will do my utmost to ensure that my successor is worthy of you.”
“You are leaving?” There was a sharp note in that rounded voice.
“Yes,” he said gently. “But not quite yet. I will tell you, before I go.”
He rose, began to bow—and checked.
“I wonder if you might do something for me.”
“If it is in my power.”
“I think it may be. You will have heard of this second wave of helpful persons who will be arriving. I am of a mind to put them in the dorm section spinward. A caf will be coming, as well, and there is ample room in the plaza to accommodate it.”
“Surely, these determinations and decisions fall to you, the light keeper.”
“Surely, they do. However, I am uneasy. Light Keeper Lorith reminds me often that Tinsori Light was subtle, and may have secreted portions of himself—outside of his core. I do not wish to put lives in danger.”
“You want me to purge and certify the section that would house these incoming humans?”
There was excitement in her voice.
“Precisely that,” Jen Sin said gravely.
“Certainly, Light Keeper! I will be honored to perform this task for you!”
“That is excellent, I thank you. As we have no precise time for the arrival of the second wave, we must assume that they will be with us sooner rather than later. Let me know when you have completed this task. I will wish to make an inspection.”
“Yes, Light Keeper.”
“I am pleased that we will be working together at last,” Jen Sin said. “I have some files that you may find informative, regarding Clan Korval, and such history as relates to the station. These are the same files sent to me from the delm of Korval in order to make certain that I had a proper basis for making decisions here. Where may I send that information?”
“I have sent my address to your mail queue.”
“I will forward the files directly I have returned to my office. Is there anything else I may do for your comfort?”
“I am well, Light Keeper.”
He bowed a gentle farewell—“Until soon, then”—and walked away, his footsteps light, but not silent, and his shoulders level.
The hall door opened as he approached, and he inclined his head, murmuring, “Thank you, Station,” as he left the hall.