Playing God(43)

“I am a representative of the Queens-of-All,” Praeis announced in a clear, strong voice. She scooted sideways into the bus's central aisle. “I make no criticism, nor do I feel any disrespect for you, Prime-Sister, but hope you have papers for this.”

Uncertainty showed in Prime-Sister's face, and Praeis felt all the skin on her back tighten. Something was not right here.

“I have all the papers I need,” replied Prime-Sister. “You come with me, make sure they're treated all right.”

“I will be doing that.” The escort slid past Praeis.

“No!” The tallest of them brandished the papers. “We are t'Theria! You have no right.”

“Prime-Sister, you may discharge your duties as soon as the escorts and I have seen your papers,” said Praeis evenly, letting the armed escort get in front of her. “And even then, you have the right of appeal,” she said to Tallest. “Under the Confederation treaty they can do no more than detain you and must notify your family as to what's happened and why.” She'd been up most of the night studying the convolutions of the treaty so she could better understand what her sisters and the Council were objecting to. The Queens had, after all, charged her with smoothing over differences and garnering support.

Praeis's gaze flickered from the prime-sister, to the driver gesticulating angrily outside with the remaining arms-sisters. She tried to hear the fourth escort, who stood behind her. Praeis desperately wanted to turn to see if she had her sidearm out. Something was very wrong here. Praeis felt her jaw struggle to open so she could pant.

“If you need to see our papers, you are welcome to step outside with us, then.” Prime-Sister leveled her gaze at Tallest. “Now.”

Tallest glanced at Praeis. Praeis dipped her ears. The skin on her back twitched and rippled, even though she fought to keep it still.

Tallest looked down at her three sisters. One of them, who'd had her ears torn ragged in some fight or the other, had her mouth open and panted restlessly as the muscles in her face jumped under her skin.

“We'll go outside.” Tallest stood. Clutching her precious papers to her chest, she slid down the aisle between the prime-sister and the third-sister. Tom Ears was still panting, but she stood up and walked out after Tallest, with Third and Fourth crowding behind her. The escort looked at Praeis, her face smooth and stiff. Praeis nodded again and followed the escort off the bus. Praeis very deliberately did not look back at her daughters.

Outside, the rain had cleared up without taking any of the heat of the day with it. The concrete steamed, and the scent of wet pavement and wet bodies surrounded her. The accused t'Ciereth sisters huddled together, flanked by the four passenger escorts, who were facing down the four arms-sisters. The driver stood between the two groups, with her arms folded and her ears flat against her scalp.

Praeis stepped up beside the escorts. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see faces pressed up against the windows of the bus. She instantly picked out Theia and Res.

Sit down, my daughters. Sit down and stay calm, she willed them silently, and to absolutely no effect.

“Now, we are all outside,” said Praeis to the arms-sisters. “We are delayed, and we're standing here in the midday steam. You say you have papers to hand over to our sister escorts. Let's have them.”

Prime-Sister glanced at her backup, and put her hand to her sealed wallet at her side. Third-Sister shifted her grip on her gun. Praeis heart seized up inside her, and her foot rose reflexively to step backward.

Oh, no. Oh, no. Please, no.

Torn Ears let out a strangled shout. She dived at Prime-Sister and wrapped her arms around the arms-sister's head, dragging them both down to the ground. Third-Sister jumped backward in time to avoid being knocked over. One of the escorts raised her gun, but Third-Sister already had hers thrown against her shoulder.

Praeis measured her length on the concrete. A shot burst out followed fast by screams, shouts, and the stench of gunpowder, more shouts and the creak of metal and the sound of running feet. On her belly, Praeis scuttled toward the shelter of the bus.

“MOTHER!”

Res. Theia. Running for her. Praeis heard the shots, and the screaming, and all she could do was lunge toward her daughters as they ran for her, knocking them both flat against the pavement covering them as best she could with her own body.

Red rage boiled through her. Who did this! How DARE they endanger my daughters!

More shots, screams, running feet. Grunts and screams and the nameless straining shuffle of two or more bodies straining to overpower each other.

Praeis risked a glance up. One of the escorts grappled with an accused t'Ciereth. Another faced off against Prime-Sister. Both had knives in their hands. A bunch of passengers had mobbed Torn Ears and pinned her to the ground. An arms-sister stood over Torn Ears, pointing a gun down. Tallest lay bleeding on the ground, her guts half hanging out of her shredded pouch.