darknadir (53 page)

"Why didn't you tell us all this in the beginning, instead of treating us the way you did?" asked Kaid. "Why didn't you just ask us for help?"
"We did. When we took you telepaths, we asked you then. You refused us."
"We were never asked anything," said Kaid.
"It was done when we took you from your quarters. We couldn't let you know we were Valtegans, otherwise you would have refused us outright."
Rezac made a noise of extreme disgust. "We were drugged then. You expect that to make us change our minds?"
"You said you only found my cryo unit. Is that true?" asked Carrie suddenly.
He looked at her, hesitating, obviously weighing his answer. "We found the second unit," he admitted.
Hope leaped inside her. "And?"
"He lives. He's on the
Kz'adul.
But he's changed. You were found first. We operated on you as soon as we were able. He had seizures when we woke him. The doctors had to take desperate measures to ensure his survival."
"What measures? What have you done to him?" Her voice caught in her throat.
"I knew nothing about him until a few days ago," he said. "But I believe they had to permanently suppress his telepathic ability with an implant. I know he is your other mate and I wish I could tell you more, but I'm not a medic."
Carrie felt the surge of anger and grief from Kaid match hers. To go from knowing he was alive to this was just too much for her to accept right now. She forced it deep down inside, trying to distance herself from it.
"We want him back," she said, getting to her feet and leaning toward him. "If we don't get him, then they don't get you!"
Closing her mind to Kaid, she turned and left the mess. Too many emotions were fighting for dominance right now, and it could only affect what Kaid was doing, the decisions he had to make. She would have to deal with this alone.

CHAPTER 15

Commaner Q'ozoi looked up from his comp reader as Doctors Chy'qui and Zayshul entered.
"Chy'qui, what in the name of the God-King were you doing letting Prince Zsurtul conduct an experiment with J'koshuk? And why wasn't I informed first?" he demanded angrily. "Seems to me that since you took over Med Research, there's been a lot going on there that's been purposely kept from me."
"The Enlightened One insisted, Commander," said Chy'qui, taking a seat at the conference table opposite him. "He led me to believe you were aware of what was happening."
"Enlightened One be damned! He's still got shell between his toes!"
Zayshul winced at the blasphemy as she sat down beside Chy'qui.
"He isn't old enough to know what he's doing," the commander continued. "You should have refused him. You know that getting this treaty with the Sholans is our main objective. J'koshuk's gotten the one in the IC unit looking like a piece of raw meat! Which one of you authorized letting that damned M'zullian priest loose on the Sholan?"
"The Prince did, Commander," said Chy'qui. "Like yourself, I'd no idea J'koshuk was being so violent until almost too late. As for Prince Zsurtul, he is the heir to the throne, whether or not he's fully adult. You try reasoning with him when he says he'll inform the Emperor that we've been disrespectful of his orders. It makes my position as Head of Med Research and one of the God-King's counselors even more difficult."
"He's with us as the Emperor's personal representative," said Q'ozoi, pulling the comp reader in the center of the table over. "Not as a research scientist! And as for you, Zayshul, what possessed you to take him with you yesterday when you went to talk to our guests from the
Profit
? It's thanks to you he's been taken hostage by them!"
"He said the Emperor wanted him to have experience of the work we were doing with the M'zullians," interrupted Chy'qui.
"Commander, it isn't as easy for us to deal with Prince Zsurtul as it is for you," Zayshul said, shooting an angry look at Chy'qui. He invariably took every opportunity to remind the commander he was now in charge of Med Research. "I don't know about his interest in the M'zullians, but he's fascinated with our guests. It's difficult to turn him away when he has his own bodyguard. As for yesterday, he joined me at the last moment. I didn't take him with me."
The commander's forehead creased in a frown. "I suppose that does make sense. He was the one pushing for them to be released yesterday, to the extent of wanting to contact the Emperor if I wouldn't authorize it. Does he use his personal guards to threaten you?"
"No, not exactly," replied Zayshul. "He lets their presence intimidate. You know yourself that they're more likely to overreact than the regular guards because of their specialized implants. Normally, we aren't exposed to them, but they're wherever he is, and they're programmed to see everyone but the royal family as a potential threat. It's difficult not to feel intimidated by their very presence."
"If we get him back, what's left of his damned bodyguard gets shut down till we get home," hissed the commander angrily. "That incident in the landing bay nearly cost you and him your lives! Why didn't you tell me about this long before now?"
Chy'qui and Zayshul exchanged glances, for once in accord with each other.
"Point taken," sighed Q'ozoi. "Zayshul, how likely are the Sholans to harm Prince Zsurtul? I know you were doing most of the treatment to their injured personnel. After your experiences as their hostage, you probably know more about them than anyone on the
Kz'adul.
"
"It depends on what he does," said Zayshul. "They did kill one of his guards and shoot the other when he ran." A visible shudder ran through her at the memory of the murder. At that point, she'd been sure she was going to be next. "But they didn't harm me when they could easily have done so. And they worked as a team, all of them, despite the fact they belong to four different species."
"Damned overzealous bodyguard! The implant control room should have picked him up and neutralized him," said Q'ozoi. "I seem to remember from the reports that the only other time our guests offered violence to anyone was to the priest, J'koshuk."
Zayshul grimaced. "He's an animal. Why do we need the M'zullians' genetic material? The thought of hundreds of him running around is awful."
"Because the alternative is implanting volunteers, you know that," snapped Chy'qui. "We need reliable warriors who can breed. Implants become sterile. I disagree with Zayshul's opinion of the Sholans. I've viewed the log tapes of the incident in the hangar. There was no need to kill that guard just because he ran. They're killers as ferocious as the M'zullians. Look at the behavior of the one who mated with the injured female when he was returned to his companions. He ripped the room and its furnishings to shreds! He was looking for an opportunity for revenge on us because of what J'koshuk did. And he took it the first chance he got. By killing two guards and taking Prince Zsurtul."
"They don't know who he is," said Zayshul quietly. "They thought he was an officer. I don't think they'll harm the prince, Commander, because the one called Kaid saw him when he was brought to the stasis room to collect his mate."
"He'd no business being there," began Chy'qui but the commander waved him to silence.
"Why did you separate them, Zayshul? What was the point? If she'd been returned with him, then this regrettable incident couldn't have happened in the first place."
"I didn't separate them, Commander," said Zayshul. "I wanted her returned but Doctor Chy'qui overruled me. Said there were further tests he wanted to do. She was fit enough to be returned in my opinion."
Q'ozoi turned a questioning look on him.
"I wanted to be sure she wouldn't go into convulsions like the Sholan male."
"Highly unlikely, in my opinion. And not returning her was what made her mate, Kaid, trash the room, not a violent nature!" she said, thanking the spirits of past God-Kings that Chy'qui had been off-duty when the incident with J'koshuk had taken place. Had it not been for the Prince's backing in demanding the commander be involved immediately, she was sure the Human female wouldn't have been returned to her mate.
Q'ozoi had turned his attention to the reader again. "Chy'qui, have the M'zullians from the
M'ijikk
all been processed? Have you gotten all the genetic samples from them you need?"
"Yes," hissed Chy'qui. "They were handed over to Personnel for training assignments about a week ago."
Q'ozoi nodded, placing the reader back on the table. "Chy'qui, you were in charge of the Sholan male, Kusac. I see you had him implanted. Why? Surely the device is too specific to our own species to use on them? And why was he kept separate from the rest of his crew?"
"It's in the records, Commander. I had him implanted because when he was woken, he began to go into uncontrollable seizures. His very life was at risk. All I had left to try was the implant. Once it was in place, the seizures stopped. As well as saving his life, because he's been implanted, there are certain tests I'm able to run that are increasing our knowledge of their telepathic abilities. I couldn't do them if he'd been kept with the others."
"I see he's a telepath, one of a threesome with the Human female from the other cryogenic unit. Given the strong nature of their mental links to each other, they'll want him back. We can offer an exchange. Kusac for Prince Zsurtul and this General Kezule."
Chy'qui frowned. "Commander, if he's to be returned, then my research..."
"Will stop immediately," interrupted Q'ozoi. "Getting our Enlightened One back is more important."
Zayshul hid a smile behind a hastily raised hand.
"This implant, can you remove it now he's cured?"
"I'm afraid that isn't so easy," said Chy'qui. "The implants aren't intended to be removed, Commander. Once attached to the recipient, they bind themselves into the brain tissue."
Q'ozoi sat up in his seat, eyes narrowing as he glared at Chy'qui. "Why wasn't I informed about this matter before he was implanted? We could have returned him to a stasis unit and given him back to his own people to cure."
"I believe that was why he was in their cryo unit in the first place, Commander. And there wasn't time. We had no drugs we could use, and his condition had deteriorated too much for stasis to be an option. In the circumstances, an implant was worth trying."
Q'ozoi hissed angrily as he got to his feet. "I question your judgement, Doctor. The
Kz'adul
's mission is to pursue a treaty with the Sholans. You may be a counselor to the Emperor, but your decisions over allowing Prince Zsurtul to experiment with J'koshuk and implanting the Sholan are flawed in the extreme. They could cost us our only useful potential allies! You're relieved of any responsibility for the Sholan. You will confine yourself to attending to the M'zullians. I had none of these problems when Doctor Zayshul was in charge of Med Research! You can be sure I'll lodge a complaint with the authorities when we return home."
He turned to look at Zayshul. "Doctor Zayshul, I'm putting you in charge of our Sholan's well-being. Get the TeLaxaudin onto it. Tell them they have to find a way to remove that implant. Once repairs to the hull have been completed, we'll be following the U'Churian ship. I want this Sholan fit to hand back to his people as soon as possible."
"Yes, Commander," said Zayshul.
"I'll expect a report from you within the next six hours," he said, heading for the door. He stopped, turning round to look at her one more time. "Glad you managed to survive the hull breech, Doctor. We lost too many people before we got the force field up."

* * *

Consciousness returned suddenly, bringing with it the smell of antiseptic and an awareness of paralysis as Kusac tried to move his head and found he couldn't.
"Don't be alarmed," said a voice nearby. "I am Commander Q'ozoi of the science ship
Kz'adul.
You were injured and have been sleeping in our medical center while your injuries healed. In a few days, we hope to rendezvous with your people and return you to them."
A voice, not a translator, speaking Sholan. It sounded like J'koshuk's but it wasn't. He took a deep breath, searching underneath the antiseptic for other scents. Valtegan, but not one he recognized. One of M'ezozakk's crew?
"I need some information from you."
He tried to laugh and found himself coughing and beginning to choke.
"Release the restraint field and get him some water."
A guttural reply was cut short by an explosive comment, then suddenly he could move again.
Immediately he rolled on his side, a task made difficult by the formfitting bed, and continued to cough. A bowl shaped cup was handed to him and he took it gratefully, gulping down all the water. His throat eased, he looked up. Standing by his bed, clad in a military style gray one-piece, stood a Valtegan. He looked unlike any Valtegan Kusac had seen before. The hairless skull wasn't smooth, it was crested with a knobbed rigid extrusion, like a continuation of its spine, running back from where his nose joined the forehead. Below it, dark green, slightly bulbous eyes regarded him.
Kusac pushed himself up into a sitting position. The bed seemed to relax around him, losing the configuration of his body and reverting to an oval shape.
He moved slowly and stiffly, finding he still hurt in many places, principally his head, ribs, and groin muscles.
"I thought J'koshuk had beaten everything you wanted to know out of me," he said.
"You have my apologies for that. He should not have been allowed near you. He has been dealt with."
Kusac stared at him. "Sure," he said, looking beyond the Seniormost to the armed guard standing behind him.
"You are probably wondering how you come to be on our ship. A signal was recently received from an ancient device of ours, one associated with the Sholans. The
Kz'adul
was sent to investigate and to make contact with your people. As we approached Jalna, we saw an enemy ship, the
M'ijikk,
attack and board your craft. We decided to intervene on your behalf. The crew of the
Rryuk's Profit
have been well treated, and the Human female was healed. You were taken ill when you were revived so we kept you separate."
"Why are you telling me this?" he asked, mildly curious as he continued looking round the room. It was large, well lit, with three more intensive care beds like his. All were empty. By the door stood another two armed guards.
"Because we have a common enemy and wish a treaty with you."
Kusac looked back at the Seniormost. He felt anger, but it was distant, as if not really part of him. "What common enemy?"
"The Valtegans from the
M'ijikk
whom you fought on the Human world of Keiss, and the J'kirtikkans with whom they're at war."
"You're from another Valtegan world?"
"We're from the home world, yes."
"The world that ruled your empire?" His interest was beginning to grow a little. Memories of Valtegans on Keiss were coming back to him, of their fear and psychotic hatred of Sholans.
"Our ancient empire, yes. These days, we only wish to defend ourselves against the M'zullians and the J'kirtikkians. Now that one ship has discovered Jalna, others will follow. All who trade there are at risk from the M'zullians' and J'kirtikkians' warlike nature. Our envoy explained this to your crew, but they chose to leave without taking the treaty papers. Why would they not agree to an alliance?"
He was having difficulty getting past the fact that he was having a rational conversation with a Valtegan. "I don't know. Perhaps they didn't think you were hospitable enough." This was confusing. Was he saying they'd escaped? If so, then his family were safe. The knowledge should please him, he knew it should, but again, he felt remote from it.
"We need your help. We can't be sure those on the
Rryuk's Profit
will present our petition accurately. The location of your home world, Shola, is known to us. We wish to go there but you have system defenses. We need you to take us through them so we can put our case to your leaders ourselves."
Shock reached through the indifference, but only just. He concentrated on what the Seniormost had just said. It sounded so logical that he began to wonder what was wrong with him. "I need to think about that," he said, lying down again. "I'm tired. Your priest hurt me too much and the drugs make it difficult to remember." Around him, the bed began to conform to his shape again.
There was a short silence. "As you wish, but the matter is urgent. I can give you an hour to consider your answer."
He heard the footsteps of the Seniormost and the guard recede into the distance. Turning his head, he saw the two at the door remained. They wore no armor now, only black fatigues, but they were still heavily armed. He looked at the ceiling, trying to marshal his thoughts. It was difficult to concentrate. Had they drugged him into complaisance? He remembered being controlled before, but not completely. They weren't able to force him, otherwise he'd have agreed to taking them into Sholan space.
Putting his hand up to his face, he felt the bruising and swelling on his cheeks and eye ridges. There was very little pain. How long had he been here? Reaching lower, he felt tentatively under his left ear. The implant was still there, he could feel the edges of it. He felt sick then, and his body begin to shake with reaction. Not drugs, it was the device controlling him. He checked his neck, feeling the warm metal of the collar. For all the commander's fine words, they hadn't removed that.
He let his arm fall back to his side. If they were telling him the truth, he was alone on this ship. There'd be no help for him. Kaid must think him dead, so must Carrie. Instinctively, he reached out for them, feeling the collar round his neck start to tingle and send a similar sensation down his back. He ignored it, pushing his mind harder, trying to find them mentally.
The tingling increased to a level of pain that threatened to break his concentration. Remembering what had happened to them on Jalna, he shifted mental wavelengths and immediately found that the pain began to recede and his head began to clear slightly.
Fear hit him. Now he realized fully just what they expected him to do. To betray his home world. If the Primes got a scent of the fact he could combat their implant at all, they could adjust it till he had no will of his own left. The commander might try to present the Primes as having been altruistic toward the rest of the crew, but he suspected the truth was quite different.
He remembered quite clearly a Seniormost bringing J'koshuk to him the first time, remembered the questions he'd been asked by him, and J'koshuk's torture. It wasn't possible that it had happened without the knowledge of their commander.
Somehow, he had to prevent the Primes from reaching Shola. If Kaid thought there was a possibility of being followed, he wouldn't head for home, he'd head somewhere farther away, somewhere capable of defending itself. Somewhere like Haven.