Within a few minutes, they boarded and found their accommodations. As associates of the ruling council, they were placed in the front car, which held the councilors, security officers, and high-ranking members of Clan Alpha. Olivia searched the various levels of sitting rooms and sleeping bunks for signs of Hernando and Valori.
"Where could they be?" she wondered aloud as she returned to her assigned seat a short time later. "I know for a fact Hernando is coming, and he promised Valori would come as well, but I can't find them anywhere."
"No one has seen much of Valori since this whole thing was exposed at the Alphans' feasting hall," Annara admitted. She took her seat by the window and stared out at the crowd milling about on the platform. "Ah, I see Hernando with Caveman and some of the Deltan Portal technicians approaching now. Dradix is there, too. It's good we're bringing some independent scientists to verify the truth of Clan Alpha's claims about the protective device."
"I agree. How many security personnel do we have on board?"
"A good number." Annara quirked an eyebrow and shifted in her seat. "You've never been curious as to the security precautions before. What's different?"
Olivia averted her gaze. "It's not what as much as who. There are a few things I need to ask Caveman and Hernando and some of the others once they're aboard before I jump to conclusions." Which I've already done, but I have good reason to... I harbor no illusions about how selfish my species will act under these kinds of circumstances.
Annara patted her hand. "Take your own advice and try to relax, okay? We'll need your clear head and observational skills at their best when we get there. You often pick up on many pertinent details others dismiss."
"I'm a regular Sherlock Holmes, huh?"
"The fictional detective?" Annara laughed. "You're better. You don't use illicit chemicals or set fire to dried leaves in a pipe to inhale. Humans acted very odd in those days."
Humans still do when it suits their purposes. "You're telling me." Olivia smiled. "Thanks for keeping me focused, Annara."
Somehow, Olivia didn't think anyone would be able to miss the signs this time, wearing a deer-stalker cap or not.
Olivia observed passengers boarding from her seat window until at last, Hernando and the other councilors, advisors, and scientists came on board. The seats around her and Annara were filling up with other low level functionaries, so Hernando and the others must have reserved seats in another compartment.
A bell rang, warning of their imminent departure. Unlike Earth trains, the massive locomotive engine didn't start slow and gradually build speed. Instead, BloodDark engines were catapulted from their wheelhouse and thrust onto the rails like a rocket launching, attaining speeds which would make a Japanese bullet train conductor envious. Hernando and the others needed to take their seats right away so they wouldn't get thrown about as the train left the station.
Annara closed her eyes and balled her fists. Olivia could tell this wasn't her friend's favorite part of traveling by BloodDark steam transport. Olivia clutched the sides of her armrest in preparation as the deafening hum of the machinery revved up for the slingshot push down the tracks.
"Wouldn't it be nice if Earth had a few steam transports like this?" she shouted over the noise. "It would save on those long waits at the airport with all those security checks."
"Useless security checks," Annara replied through clenched teeth. "Our plane was still hijacked, and we were kidnapped, weren't we?"
The hum raised in pitch. The platform bell rang again to warn the last of the well-wishers to vacant the platform forthwith so the shockwave wouldn't blow them over. The transport's departure could not be aborted now.
"Earthers don't understand that by telling travelers up front what security procedures they'll go through, you give away your advantage," Annara continued. "How can you catch a criminal off guard if he or she can work out ahead of time how to avoid detection?"
"Very good point." Olivia felt the vibrations increase as the launching device engaged. She screwed her eyes shut. "Here we go."
So, this is how it must have felt to go up into space in those very first rockets... Portal transportation is pure bliss by comparison, provided you take the motion sickness medicine. This must be one of the new, faster engines. The one they sent us out to the farm on traveled as fast as a snail. This thing's a cheetah on meth.
I'd like to see a cheetah in the wild someday. Hernando's thoughts calmed Olivia's nerves. Soon they'd reach their cruising speed, and she could stand up and move about the car. There are few cheetahs left in the wild, or so I was told by one of the African ambassadors at a conference. Their habitat is being destroyed. I asked him if he thought they could adapt to life on BloodDark in the deserts. He appeared quite interested in the idea.
We could save the cheetahs by bringing them to BloodDark? Olivia smiled to herself. The intense vibrations were leveling off, and a few brave souls stood up to test their travel legs before toppling back into their seats. Let's take notes on the terrain, prey, and weather and get back to him. Perhaps working together is the answer.
The answer to saving the cheetahs?
She couldn't keep her doubts from him. The answer to saving both our worlds.
More passengers were standing and moving about now. Olivia noticed Annara had drifted off to sleep after closing her eyes for the launch. She got to her feet without making a sound and headed to Hernando's compartment with a minimum of staggering in the aisles. Hearing Hernando's thoughts earlier gave her the sense he was located on the level above her. Sure enough, she spotted him standing on the observation deck one level above hers, deep in conversation with Caveman.
"I see you've got your steam transport legs already." Caveman winked at her as she approached. "This brings back happy
