A Woman's Intuition -- Part One

larm was what Dahl felt when she pulled back the flap of the tent and her eyes met only with darkness. She glanced over her shoulder at Erol, who shrugged. Dahl cleared her throat and took a step inside.

"Wren?" she called, made timid by the unexpected eerieness of the situation. "Are you here?"

There were swishing and whirring sounds as the various systems within the tent suddenly came back on-line. As the lights came on, Dahl could see a large figure at the opposite end of the tent who was hunched over something. The figure spun around and smiled.

"Dahlia," Wren said. "This is certainly unexpected."

Dahl gave a weak smile and took a few steps inside. Erol followed, then Azur, and lastly Mium. They gathered in the center of the tent. Wren stood in a circle of light before them, and the flap of the tent fell shut to the rear. It was all black on either side of them except for the dim light of a few buttons and computer screens, as the lights had come on less than halfway.

Wren looked into the darkness to Dahl's left. "Betty, bring me the first aid kit," he said.

There were muffled shuffling noises, and then a diminutive Whistle-type robot wheeled out into the dull light. The Whistle had been equipped with a side-arm, and on its outstretched hand was a small tray holding several medimate syringes.

"Here, Master Wren," the Whistle said.

"Thank you, Betty," Wren replied with a polite nod. He reached down and picked up a shot of yellow liquid, which Dahl recognized as some of the Quintumate that Wren had just recently invented. Dahl shuffled up behind Wren and craned her neck to look over his shoulder. She saw that, on the table before Wren, was an unconscious Dezorian. His right shoulder had been wrapped in bandages and was caked with dry blood. His face was clammy and completely covered in sweat. He was out like a light, but his eyes were clenched tightly as if he were in deep concentration.

"Oh my God!" Dahl half-shouted. "Wren, what happened?"

"I don't know," Wren said. He set down the empty Quintumate and picked up one of the green Trimates and Quadramates that were still on the tray. "Betty, the Whistle-type to your left, summoned me here, saying there had been an emergency. I see now that she was correct."

"But who is this guy?" Dahl asked. "What's he doing out here? And who did this to him? It looks like he was stabbed."

"Allow me to answer that," said a raspy voice from the shadows.

Dahl heard Azur squeal. The four friends whirled about to see a Motavian stepping out from the shadows on the other side of the tent, to the right of Wren and the Dezorian. He was one of the larger specimens of his kind, standing nearly as tall as Wren. Dahl remarked at how very dark his fur was. It was nearly black. He wore a typically Motavian tunic and cloak, both of which were similar in color to his hair.

The Motavian bowed his head. "Greetings. My name is...Elm."

Azur, who was initially frightened by Elm's appearance and had taken a noticeable step backwards, cocked her head to one side and smiled. "Ah, I see," she said. "How very clever!"

The Motavian looked at Azur. "I beg your pardon?"

"Your name," she said. "'Elm.' It's a Palmalatin word that means 'black.' And your coat is nearly black. That is very unique among Motavians, is it not? In fact...I don't think I've ever seen a black Motavian before!"

Elm chuckled and bowed again. As he did so, he took Azur's hand and kissed it lightly with his brown beak.

"It would appear that you are the clever one, dear miss. May I ask how it is that you would know such a thing as what my name means?"

"Oh!" Azur said, giggling. "Yes, well, I am a historian. It just so happens that my specialty is studying ancient languages. Oh, and my name is Azura Mallos. Doctor Azura Mallos." She added the last part with a crooked grin.

Erol, his arms crossed, cleared his throat. Azur could hear Mium behind her, tapping her fingernails on her emel.

Dahl took a step towards Elm and extended her hand, which Elm took. As they shook hands, Dahl said, "Hello. I am Doctor Dahlia Mallos, Director of Palm II. Azura is my sister, and--"

Elm's eyes grew noticeably wide and he said, almost stammering, "I am...sorry. Did you say...'Palm II?'"

Dahlia's brow furrowed. "Yes..." she said. "You have heard of it...right?"

Elm threw back his head a little and laughed aloud. "Oh yes. Of course! I am simply surprised to meet the director of such an illustrious place in a backwater hole such as this." Elm, still smiling, turned his gaze to Erol. Dahl's eyes grew narrow but she continued her introductions.

"Yes. This here is Doctor Erol Grant, head of Palm II's Climatrol Palmaforming Department."

Erol did not unfold his arms. He nodded and said, "Hello." He was not smiling.

"You've already met my slightly overzealous sister, Azura," Dahl said.

Azur smiled and blushed. She stepped aside so that Mium came into view.

"And this is Mium, our assistant, as well as friend."

Elm took a long step towards Mium. "Forgive me," he said to her, "but you are a simply captivating creature. I...do not believe I have ever seen a Palman such as yourself. There is something...you probably hear this all the time...but there is something very...unique...about your eyes."

Mium chuckled. "That would be that they don't blink." She gave Elm her hand. "I am a Mieu-type android. I startled you, no?" She smirked.

"An android, you say...?" Elm asked. "How interesting. My experience with androids has been limited... I have never seen one of your...make before."

"That isn't surprising," Mium said. "It would appear I am the last in Algo!"

"Okay, anyway," Dahl said. "I was sort of wondering what happened here."

"Ah, yes, that," Elm said. "Doctor Urbanich, who is now upon that table there, is a geologist and zoologist studying these glaciers and the creatures who dwell in them. I am his assistant." He pointed to the Whistle. "And that is my assistant, Betty, who you have already been introduced to."

Betty's optic focused and refocused. Mium, having a positronic brain similar to Betty's own, knew the gesture to be the method of acknowledgment used by non-humanoid robots, who obviously couldn't nod.

"I am pleased to meet all of you," Betty said.

"The good doctor met with an accident while out patrolling the ice this morning," Elm went on. "It is not clear what exactly transpired. The state he is in now is the state he was in when our two worker robots discovered him a few hours ago."

Erol looked around. "Where are those robots now?" he asked, one eyebrow raised. His arms were still folded.

"Oh, I'm sure they're around here somewhere," Elm said. "But as I was saying, Dr. Urbanich had just radioed a message to our station, saying that he had discovered a new species. It was as Betty was noting this accomplishment on the datanet that our transmission was lost." He looked at Betty. "That is correct, is it not?"

Betty refocused her optic again. "Yes...Elm," she said. "I sent Bartholomew and Belthasar, the worker robots Elm mentioned, out to retrieve Tiro at once."

"You were sure he had been hurt?" Mium asked.

"Yes," Betty said. "We long believed this region to be almost completely devoid of life. However, it has come to our attention that there are many strange and dangerous creatures in this area..."

Elm's eyes narrowed.

"...and I did not wish to take any chances with Tiro's life."

Mium nodded. "I see."

"We lacked the resources to tend to Tiro's wounds," Betty continued, "so we called for Master Wren to come, knowing he can handle anything." She added, only to herself, "Or nearly anything..."

"What's up with the lights?" Mium asked. "It's creepy as all get-out in here..."

"That we're not sure of yet," Elm said. "I was hoping Wren could help us, but I would feel guilty if we kept him any longer."

Dahl heard Wren closing something. She turned to see him sealing his medical kit.

"I have changed Dr. Urbanich's bandages and tended to his wounds," Wren said. "I believe he will be fine." He faced Elm. "I will be more than happy to examine your systems further, and to remedy the cause of your loss of power."

Elm nodded. "That is very good to hear. And thank you."

Dahl stepped up to Wren and grabbed his wrist. "Well, can you take a break, Wren? I really need to speak with you."

"So that is why you have come here, Dahlia," Wren said. "I was meaning to inquire..."

"Yes, can we please go and talk?" she asked, sounding almost anxious.

Wren looked at Elm, who nodded. "Of course," Wren said. He set the medical kit down. "We may speak outside." He gestured for Dahl to go, and he followed, closing the tent flap behind them.

Dahl pulled up the hood on her teal fibercoat, which had fallen away as she entered the tent. She huddled close to the tent's outer wall and allowed Wren's enormous frame, which as a child she had found so intimidating, to come between her and the bitter Dezorian wind.

Wren looked down at her with a pleasant smile on his face. "Yes, Dahlia," he said. "What may I do for you?"

Dahl looked around and tapped her foot. "Well..." she whispered. "I want to know more about where I come from."

Wren cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. "I do not understand. You come from Zelan."

Dahl rolled her eyes. "That's not what I mean. I want to know where my Palman DNA comes from."

Wren tipped his head back and rubbed his chin. "Interesting," he said. "I did much studying of Seed's records when the idea first came to me to design a Numan. His plans were intricate; some parts of it were difficult even for me to understand. However, never did it occur to me to try to trace the history of the Palman DNA Seed used..."

"Does the information even exist?" Dahl asked, blowing a frozen strand of her hair out of her face.

Wren nodded. "Yes, indeed it does. I cannot tell you how much there is to learn about the source of the DNA, but I am certain that at least a donor name exists."

Dahl beamed. "You're kidding! This is far better than I expected! Wow, who could he or she have been?"

Wren shrugged. "I would imagine it could have been anyone."

Dahl rubbed her gloved hands together. "Yeah, that's what Demi said." She stared up directly into Wren's eyes. "So, when can we go back to Zelan and find out?"

Wren stepped past her and back into the tent. "I am afraid I do not have the time for such an activity right now."

Dahl's jaw dropped and her face turned beet red. She stormed into the tent after Wren. "What do you mean you don't have time?" she shouted, causing the others assembled inside to turn about suddenly and stare at her. "Wren! This is too important!"

"I am sorry," Wren said. He stepped over to where Dr. Urbanich lay and stood beside Elm. "I have other obligations at the moment."

Dahl took a deep breath. "Wren, you said the doctor was going to be just fine, and I'm sure Elm and Betty can handle things for a while."

Wren shook his head. "I am sorry, Dahlia. Upon further consideration, I have decided that Dr. Urbanich's condition is still too volatile to be left unobserved."

Elm crossed his arms and nodded.

Dahl took another deep breath. Her mouth hardly moved as she asked, "So, when do you think we'll be able to look into this?"

Wren closed his eyes and shook his head. "I do not know. It could be a week, perhaps longer."

Tirotul suddenly began to lurch. His eyes flew open, though he was still in the depths of coma, and he began to cough up a thick, tar-like substance that smelled like the rotting pits of Skure. Azur, Mium, and Erol all gasped and took a step backwards. Even Dahl was surprised and disturbed by the display.

Elm whirled about and pointed to the door as Wren and Betty began attending to the doctor. "I am afraid I must ask you all to leave!" he said. Elm then whispered something to Wren and stepped back into the shadows, disappearing from view.

"Wren!" Dahl called to Wren as Erol led her outside. "You'll be hearing from me soon!"

Wren nodded but did not turn away from his work.

And as she left the darkness of the tent for the second time, Dahl muttered, "And don't think you'll be rid of me so easily. Not this time."

As they emerged from the tent, the foursome from Palm II were surprised to find a young girl pulling up outside on a small ice scooter. She was Palman and appeared to be around fourteen years old. She wore a bright pink hooded fibercoat that had pale tufts of fur around the cuffs of the sleeves and the opening of the hood. The gloves, boots, and leggings she wore were as white as her skin, which was itself as white as the snow. She had unusually large blue eyes and a friendly smile. The girl got off of her scooter, brushed some snow out of her face, and stood before Dahl and her friends.

"Hello...?" the girl said, curious. "May I help you?"

Dahl, Erol, Azur, and Mium all exchanged confused glances.

"Uhhh...I don't think so," Dahl said. "We were here to visit Wren. And we're just on our way out."

The girl pushed back her hood. Long blond curls framed her face. "Wren?" she asked. "We don't have any androids here..."

Dahl looked at Erol, who shrugged, frowning. "This may sound rude," Dahl said to the girl slowly and carefully, taking a half-step forward, "but just who are you?"

The girl smiled. "Oh, how silly of me. My name is Favia. Favia Urbanich."

Azur put her hand to her mouth. Mium pointed right at the girl and said, "You are related to Dr. Urbanich?"

"He looked pretty Dezorian to me," Dahl said.

"Yes," Favia answered, still grinning. "I'm his fourth cousin. Tiro's grandpa was a Palman relative of mine. You know Tiro?"

Erol cleared his throat. "I'm afraid there's been some sort of accident... Dr. Urbanich has been hurt."

Favia gasped and her hands flew to her face.

"Wren from Zelan -- you've probably heard of him -- is inside with the doctor right now." Erol stared down at his boots.

Favia instantly began to tear up. "Excuse me," she whispered, slipping past the four and into the tent. Azur followed her.

"Az, where are you going?" Dahl hissed. But her sister was already inside.

Favia entered the dark tent and ran towards the table upon which Tirotul lay. But before she could reach it a lumbering android with jet black hair stepped out the shadows and stopped her by placing his massive hand upon her shoulder. As he did so, an equally black Motavian appeared, wearing dirty-looking raven-colored robes.

"Who are you?" the Motavian asked.

"I am Favia Urbanich," the girl said to him. "I came here to see Tiro. But I... What...?"

Elm looked to Wren, who did not move or speak. Then he looked back at the girl.

"Something has happened," Elm said quietly. "You are related to the doctor? Then you may stay..." Elm turned to face the tent's entrance as Azur stumbled back inside.

"Heh, just me again..." Azur said nervously. She gave a small wave.

"What are you doing here?" Elm cried. "I told you all that you had to leave!"

"I wanted to make sure that Favia was okay," Azur said, meekly.

Favia walked slowly to Tiro's side and looked down at him. She took one of his damp hands and whispered, "I'll be fine... I'm just... I'm just a little shocked by all of this..."

Azur nodded. "I understand. Well..." She shut her mouth after catching an enraged look from Elm. "I guess I'll be going then..."

Dahl stuck her head back in the tent. "Come on, Azur," she said. "We don't need to stay where we aren't wanted!"

Azur nodded again, sadly, and joined Dahl in the snow.

"Imagine the nerve of that Wren!" Dahl shouted as she dragged Azur back to the ship. "Blowing me off! Again! Well, I'm not going to take this any more."

Azur stopped walking and forced Dahl to turn and face her. "You can be so insensitive! Just look at that poor girl in there! She's scared to death!" Azur exhaled and stared deep into Dahl's eyes. "And just what do you mean by that?" she asked. "Dahl... What are you planning?"

Erol and Mium, who were ahead of the sisters and nearly to the ship, stopped walking and faced Dahl. They waited a few seconds and she spoke.

"I'm going to Zelan, with or without Wren," Dahl said. "And I'm going to sift through his records myself."

Azur and Mium both gasped.

"What's the big deal about that?" Erol asked.

"The big deal is that no one is allowed to see those files," Azur answered him. "Wren has them under lock and key... Even the keys are under lock and key! No one knows what all is in the files. I don't think even Demi knows. Some of the documents are thousands of years old... From the Collapse Centuries! And Wren told Dahl and I both a very long time ago that keeping the information in them a secret was key to the safety of Algo!"

"Dahl, you can't just go rifle about through such sensitive documents," Erol said, knowing better than to not keep his distance. "We all know how important this personal quest to learn about your origins is to you...but you can't risk the safety of all of Algo on your whim!"

Dahl whirled about and nearly screamed at Erol. "Do you really think I would risk the lives of everyone in Algo just to satisfy my own curiosity?" she asked. "Have you forgotten that the good of Algo was the excuse Wren used to make Azur and I? What sort of monster do you think I am, Erol?"

Erol stammered, having no idea what to say.

Dahl continued. "That's the whole question, isn't it? Just what am I, and who am I? Well, I want to know! Wren was exaggerating when he talked about the importance of those files. It's not the survival of Algo that's at stake; it's nothing but the fragility of Wren's ego. It's Wren's ability to sustain the wall he keeps about himself." As she spoke, Dahl trudged past Erol and Mium and continued the approach to the Landale IX. The snow had started falling again and Dahl wanted to get out of it.

"Well, Wren's ego and Wren's coldness are not what I'm most concerned about right now," she said. "In fact, I'd like to see them both go the way of the Mother Brain. And if Wren's not going to help me..." She paused as she climbed into the ship. Her face was solid red, and hot. Her teeth were tightly clenched and her eyes as narrow as slits. "If he won't help me do it, then I'm just going to have to do it myself!"