“An entire segment of his memory has been partitioned. The interesting part? Code’s identical to the rest, nothing that’s been imposed by an outside source.”

Qalu stilled. “He did this to himself?”

“Must have had good reason. Bet you a hundred credits, he knows something dangerous or bad. I can tear the blockade out, but I suspect it’ll be painful.”

“Do it,” Helix said without hesitation.

Her head tendrils quivered in distress. “I ran multiple scans, but I didn’t find the partition. I’m supposed to be an expert! I’m sorry, Helix.”

Trizyt said, “The data lock is well disguised, something he didn’t want found. Only my special sniffers could root it out, so it’s a good thing you ended up here.”

“It’s time to find out what I’m hiding from myself.” Helix reached out and Qalu wrapped her forelimb around his, leaning in so their head tendrils could entwine.

Not sexual, not under the circumstances, but she craved a deeper connection to help him withstand what he was about to face. She settled close enough to feel his breath on her skin, smell the fear rising in his pheromones. Trizyt seemed to be waiting for her permission so she gave it in a tiny voice.

“Go ahead. Try to be careful, hurt him as little as possible.”

The alien made a noise of assent, but after he sent the command, Helix went rigid and a shriek of pure agony echoed in the small space and he reached for her, shuddering so hard that his body might crack in half. His pain hurt her, and she tried to help him breathe through it.

The agony went on too long, much too long. Her fear escalated into terror. Too much and this could cause him actual brain damage, result in—

Suddenly, Helix went limp, slumped against her, and she took his weight, as she had in the beginning when he was so confused about what had befallen him and why he suddenly had a body in the first place. Uncontrollable tremors ran through him and she soothed him with soft taps against his chest, letting her head tendrils stroke his. It didn’t matter that it was too much intimacy in front of a stranger. She couldn’t stop. Wouldn’t, rather.

“It’s done,” Trizyt announced.

“Helix? Can you hear me?”

For several frightening moments, he only stared blankly with no sign of consciousness, gazing off into the middle distance, eyes unfocused. Qalu had no idea what she would do if he didn’t respond soon. She touched his face, trying to bring him back, then she leaned in, letting her head tendrils entwine with his fully.

Did they break him? Those hidden memories.

“Yes,” he said at last. “I hear you. And I remember…everything.”

[  16  ]

Barathi space, half a cycle ago

Helix knows leaving Barath is the best option, considering his unusual development.