Caffrey - The Girls From Alcyone

The Girls From Alcyone

by Cary Caffrey

This novel is a work of fiction created by the author. All characters, events and organizations portrayed in this novel are works of the author's imagination.

Copyright 2011 by Cary Caffrey

carycaffrey.com

Cover art by Zoedev Studios

Published by Tealy Books, NB, Canada

tealy.ca

All rights reserved.

For Gisele, for all the reading and listening (and the listening, and the reading). With thanks to Pete, Mickie, Flood, Tiffinie, Scott, Kelly, Michael, Bob, Andy and Stef. You all get a cookie.

CHAPTER ONE

Prologue

March 2, 2339

The wet cloak hung heavy over Dr. Lisa Garrett's shoulders. The wide hood kept slipping low over her face so she had to keep lifting it to see where she was going. She cursed as her foot found another deep puddle. Though cumbersome and stifling, the cloak at least gave her some protection from the torrential rains that always fell on Earth these days.

She might have passed unnoticed through the narrow and crowded alley were it not for the three hired bodyguards who shadowed her. The men stayed close to her side studying all passersby, shooting warning looks at anyone who ventured near their ward. They kept their sidearms in plain sight, worn on clips at their hips in easy reach of their hands. There could be no mistaking their intent.

Lisa knew the streets of Earth were no place for a young man or woman to be walking alone, but she felt ridiculous with the hired thugs traipsing after her. She couldn't wait to get back to Alcyone and the Academy where she'd no longer need the service. As much as she detested Earth, she had insisted on coming. Her work for the Kimura Corporation, the small but prestigious mercenary company, was at a critical juncture and she couldn't trust anyone to negotiate the meeting on her behalf. She needed this girl too much.

Kimura hadn't wanted her to make the trip from Alcyone. On Earth, she'd be exposed to attacks from rival corporationseither from those who wished to steal her as an asset or kill her as a threat. While the dangers were real, she was probably at greater risk of becoming the victim of a simple random mugging.

The heavy steel gate of the habitat groaned opened for her as she approached; the security system having already logged her as an expected guest. Inside, the small lobby was decorated in typical Earth fashiongarbage and graffiti, and smelling faintly of urine. She frowned at the puddled floor, almost as wet as the street outside and fed by a perpetually dripping ceiling.

Lisa removed her hood. The constant humidity was doing a number on her hair. She ran her hands self-consciously through her damp chestnut curls. At twenty-five, she was much younger than usual for someone holding Ph.D.s in Neurology, Genetics and Biomechanics. Her soft, curved face and large hazel eyes belied a fiercely competitive nature and a sharp, analytical mind.

Lisa knocked on the armored door of the small, cube-shaped apartment while her bodyguards waited at a discreet distance. "What a shit-hole," she muttered to herself, looking around at the crumbling hallway.

As the door opened, a middle-aged couple greeted her, but Lisa's eyes were drawn to the young girl standing just behind her parents. She recognized Sigrid instantly. Nine years old, with long blond hair, she was very small for her age. The girl was just a tiny, timid thing, but she was perfecta perfect physical specimen, an ideal, and a very rare, genetic match for her program.

Finding her had not been easy. It was only her access to Kimura's vast resources that had enabled her to locate the girl. Now she just needed to persuade the parents to let her take their childaway, halfway across the galaxy. Probably for the rest of her life. At least the family's current financial predicament was no secret. It was hardly an uncommon problem, but such information could prove to be importantand something she could use.

"Mr. and Mrs. Novak," Lisa said, extending her hand. "I'm so very pleased to meet you."

Mrs. Novak took her hand nervously. "Dr. Garrett...yes. Sigrid, come say hello to the Doctor."

The woman urged her daughter forward. Lisa noticed that the woman pronounced the girl's name Seegrid , rather than Zigrid . She made a mental note.

"Call me Lisa." She bent low, extending her hand to the small girl who took it politely.

Mrs. Novak motioned her inside. "Come inplease."

They ushered Lisa into a tiny living room where she took the proffered chair, while the Novaks and their daughter settled on the small sofa facing her. The apartment was typical of the identical habitat units found in any city on Earth; small and cramped, but efficient. The modular structures could be stacked on top of one another as needed. The cramped confines might be called intimate by somemostly by the corporations who sold thembut Lisa found them stifling.

"Lovely place," she observed.

"Oh, thank you so much. It's not much, of course"

Lisa smoothed the pleats of her skirt. She knew how sensitive these meetings were, and how easily things could swing either way. Everything hinged on what she had to say next, and she chose her words carefully. "I can't tell you how happy I am that you agreed to this meeting, Mr. and Mrs. Novak. I know Kimura has already informed you they were considering Sigrid for the Academy"

"It does sound exciting!" the woman blurted.

Lisa cocked an eyebrow, noting the woman's agitated stateor was it anticipation?

"I want you to know that Sigrid is very important to us," Lisa told them. "Many girls are considered for the program, but few are chosen. But in your daughter's case" Lisa's eyes fell to the small girl sitting between her parents. "I'm very pleased to say that she does qualify. We would very much like to have Sigrid come and stay with usif you'll allow it."

The parents breathed a relieved sigh, clutching each other's hands. Definitely a good signthe family was clearly more desperate than she'd thought.

"We're so relievedand so happy for Sigrid!" Mrs. Novak said. "She's looking forward to the AcademyI know it. There'sjust one thing"

Lisa braced for the questionthe question that always came.

"We were just wonderingwe're very grateful, of coursewe know how reputable Kimura is, but this programwhat exactly is it you're going to do to Sigrid?"

Lisa's answer was well-rehearsed, and she leaned forward with a warm smile. "Sigrid will receive the very best education and training from Kimura. I can promise you there's nothing like this program anywhere on Earth. You're very lucky, Mr. and Mrs. Novak. Sigrid is a very special girl. She's been blessed with a unique giftone not found in millions of other girls."

"A gift?"

Lisa nodded and her smile widened. "Yes. And I will show her how to use that gift."

Before Mrs. Novak could enquire further, Lisa took a data-pad from her purse and unfolded it, nudging it across the coffee table to the Novaks. On it was displayed the contract with the very extravagant sum Kimura would forward to the Novaks' accounts. "I believe this will be more than adequate to take care of your entire family's financialsituation."

Discussing the finances always felt perverse to Lisa. Fortunately, Mr. Novak's eyes bulged at the amount displayed on the pad. He pressed his thumb to the screen eagerly.

Mrs. Novak made a show of at least pretending to read the contract before signing. "The program does sound intriguing. I'm sure if Mr. Novak wasn'twell, if Peter hadn't had such bad luck with the markets"

Lisa grimaced. She never understood their need to explain their financial difficulties.

Mrs. Novak sniffed. "No one could have foreseen the downturn in commodities. Still, I'm certain we would have wanted Sigrid in the program, regardless. We always suspected she was gifted. Isn't that right, darling?"