“Mother wanted us to go to Bionus because of their enhancing treatments. Mother said I needed one before I competed.”
Nas glared at his mother, who just sniffed and raised her chin slightly. He turned back to his sister. “I’m sure you didn’t need any of that.”
“That’s what my father said, but mother insisted. So, we went.” She looked to her mother, then leaned in closer to Nas as if sharing a secret. “I was only with my consultant for an hour. She showed me how to apply enhancements so my eyes would stand out on stage.”
“I see. What are you competing in?”
“Vocal,” she told him proudly. “I love to sing.”
“I’m sure you’re very good.”
She gave a little shrug. “People tell me I am, so I guess we’ll see.”
“That’s enough.” Pooja put a hand on Talyani’s shoulder, pulling her away from her newly found brother. “If the ship is secure, I want you both to leave. NOW.”
“But, Mother…”
“Quiet, Talyani.”
Nas didn’t like how his mother’s hand tightened on his half-sister’s shoulder, but as the wife of a Supreme Judge, he had to obey her. Keeping his eyes locked with his mother’s, he slowly rose. Pulling on his tactical glove, he swung his rifle around, letting its muzzle remain on her for a moment before aiming it at the deck. The widening of her eyes let him know he’d made his point.
“Let’s go, Nas.” When Nas didn’t move, Reiji hardened his voice. “Lieutenant! Now!”
That had Nas moving, but when they reached the lift, he looked behind him to find his mother and half-sister had followed them and knew he had one more thing to say. “I’ll make sure to watch your performance, Little Sis.”
“Really?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Really.” With that, he left.
One month ago
Talyani hurried towards her father’s office. She’d been working in her private wing of her parents’ estate when the news report came across the music channel she’d been listening to. She knew it had to be false. She just needed her father to verify it.
Some thought it was strange she still lived on her parents’ estate. After all, she’d won the Worlds vocal competition at thirteen. Since then, she had become the most popular vocalist on Kirs and their closest neighbor, Bionus, where she traveled several times a year to perform.
It wasn’t that she didn’t have enough credits to purchase her own estate. As Supreme Judge, her father’s security rivaled that of the emperor’s, and she needed that because she had some rabid fans.
She knew this was a bad time of day to interrupt her father, and his assistant was going to block her, but she’d long ago learned how to get around that pesky man.
Slipping out through a set of glass doors, she made her way along the stone terrace curved along this side of the estate, including her father’s office. As she approached the clear doors that led into his private office, she discovered they were already open and heard the raised voices inside.
“But, Badar…”
“No, Pooja, there’s nothing I can do.”
“But he’s my son!”
“Keep your voice down. Do you know what I had to do to ensure no one ever discovered that? Do you want me,us, to lose everything for which we’ve worked? Our standing? Our home? Think what would happen to Talyani.”
“I know, and I don’t want anything to change either, but isn’t there something you can do? You’re a Supreme Judge, for God’s sake.”
“Which is why I can’t do anything. The emperor isn’t just gathering up cyborgs, Pooja. He’s gathering up their entire family and any friends he even thinks might sympathize with them. He means to send them to Tyurma.”
Her mother’s eyes widened. “What?! But that means….”
Her father sighed and shoved a hand through his hair. “Now, do you understand why there can’t be even the slightest hint you have a son that’s a cyborg?”
“Yes, Badar.” Her mother deflated as if all the air had been sucked from her.