Somewhere Safe (pt 1)

Thirteen years ago…

“So we can expect you to come by tomorrow?”

“Mom, are we goin’? Mom?”

Cora covered the receiver of her datachron, forcing a smile past grit teeth. “Yes, Jenny, sweetie. Can you get my belt from the bedroom for me? This is an important call.”

Jenny’s made a face at the outdated datachron before swiftly pivoting to scamper down the hall.

“Miss Clearwater…”

“It’s Mrs. Brightmist,” Cora countered curtly, an otherworldly gold glinting in one of her eyes as she looked down her nose to the stars burned into her hands.

“Mrs. Brightmist. The Director has called in your services.”

Cora stepped away from the dining table to the wide picture window to scan the yard and the thin little orchard beyond. “You people do not understand the word ‘retire’, do you?” she asked tersely.

“No one retires, Mrs. Brightmist.”

“Then consider this my formal resignation,” the woman spat in a clipped tone even as her stomach sank. Where was John?

There was silence on the other end for several moments. “We will keep in touch. Thank you for your time, Mrs. Brightmist,” said the cool, neutral voice on the other end of the call.

Cora hung up. Setting the old datachron aside she slowly pressed a hand to her mouth, her feet rooted in place. Shit. Shit. She wanted to blame herself. She wanted to blame the Exile Colonel who kept her in the field… a part of her wanted to blame John for not finding her sooner, but blame would do nobody any good now. This small planet on the edge of nowhere was supposed to have been their escape. A little slice of earth where John had built a little house and planted a little orchard. It was somewhere safe. But no one quit the Domionion, and the Director was the worst of them. There was no hiding from them, either. They were coming.

“… Mom?”

The woman snapped out of her thoughts and turned to see Jenny standing in the doorway. The young girl carefully cradled the gunbelt and rune covered pistols in her arms, and her blue eyes welled with concern. Kids were too smart for their own good.

“Hey, sweetie. Are you ready?”

Jenny made a little harumph. “What’s wrong? We don’ – we don’ gotta practice if you don’ wanna.”

Smiling softly, Cora bridged the space between them, and knelt down, tucking a cascade of silken mahogany hair behind her ear. “We always practice, sweetie.”

“Because cultists are cheaters who will always lose,” Jenny parroted with a proud smile. She took her slinger lessons very seriously.

“That’s right, love,” said Cora with a soft chuckle. The reason for practice was apparently forgotten, but at least the punchline was remembered. Motioning for Jenny to turn around she pulled hair ties from around her wrist and began to comb the child’s fiery hair into two neat little pigtails. “When do we use the Void?”

“Only when we must.”

“Who do we use it for?”

“For those ‘o need ‘elp against evil men.”

“How do we use it?”

“Wisely, fearlessly, respectfully.”

“That’s my girl.”

“Mom?”

Corra took the gun belt and fit it around her daughter’s tiny waist as the girl turned to face her. It looked so big on her. So heavy. “What is it, sweetie?”

Jenny set her jaw in the same stubborn way her father did. “‘o… ‘o was on the chron?”

“Who…”

Jenny sighed and rolled her eyes. “Who.”

“Some old business partners,” replied Cora easily. “I have a little work to get done, but you go ahead.”

“Go without ya?”

Cora chuckled, the musical sound filling the room as she kissed her daughter’s forehead before rising to her feet. “I will catch up. Why don’t we meet up at the landing pad? You can even Gate. The whole way there, as many times as you can.”

It was the perfect diversion, and Jenny’s blue eyes grew wide as she grinned. “Ya mean it?! Wha ‘ do I ge’ if I beat yer record?”

“I’ll teach you how to Gate and Jump as fast as I do.”

“Ahhh! Yes! Yer the best!” Jenny cried in excitement, throwing her arms around her mother before sprinting for the door, the silver Spellslinger pistols at her hips bouncing comically in their holsters. “I’ll see ya there!”

Cora took up her datachron, and drifted down the hall after the girl. Her reality shifted and blurred for a moment as she watched her child gate away in bursts of gold to safety, and she wiped the gathering moisture from her eyes. Hitting the speed dial on her chron she lifted it to her ear and looked to the sky.

“John, love, we have a problem.”