darknadir (67 page)

CHAPTER 19

THEY stood against the wall by the elevator in the landing bay, watching as the Primes' shuttle maneuvered into the position drawn out for it on the deck. As it settled to the ground, the whine of the engines began to slow to a gradual stop.
Kaid glanced down the line at Carrie, Vriuzu, T'Chebbi, and L'Seuli, who, like himself, were helmetless. "You hear the siren, go for your helmets," he reminded them quietly. The rest, designated as guards, were fully armored.
Dzaou led his group forward, rifles at the ready as they formed a line forty yards from the shuttle's air lock. As the iris opened, the first of the Prime guards appeared. In quick succession, seven of them emerged, armed with energy pistols. They fanned out ten feet from their vehicle, giving cover to their negotiators as they came down the ramp. J'koshuk's unprotected body and red robes stood out visibly against the black-armored Primes.
Keep calm,
Kaid sent to Carrie as he felt her stiffen beside him.
He can't get near you. If he tries, he's dead.
Kaid led the rest of the group across the deck to take up their positions behind Dzaou. As L'Seuli, Vriuzu, and Lydda formed a third rank, Brynne neatly stepped past Kaid to stand behind Rezac.
"Open order," murmured Dzaou. The front rank parted, allowing Kaid and Carrie through. At the rear, L'Seuli moved forward to take their place, leaving Vriuzu and Lydda in the rear rank.
"Close order," said Dzaou, and the ranks closed up. Now they were ready.
From the other side, a figure wearing the gray tabard of a Seniormost stepped out from behind the guards. He wore no helmet, and Kaid noticed his tabard was edged with gold.
Link with me,
he heard Carrie send to the other telepaths. He sensed the network build until she drew him into its web to complete it. Through it, he became more aware of those around him, and the Valtegan standing opposite.
"I am Commander Q'ozoi, of the
Kz'adul,
" the Valtegan said.
Kaid remained where he was. "I'm Kaid Tallinu. I speak for Commander Kheal of Haven, and the people of Shola. I believe we have hostages to exchange."
"We have, but that's only part of our purpose. We wish to negotiate a treaty with you. An alliance against a common foe."
"Hostages first," said Kaid firmly. "What better measure of good will can we show each other?"
"As you say. You have a member of my crew. Zsurtul."
"We have Prince Zsurtul," corrected Kaid. "And you have Kusac Aldatan."
Commander Q'ozoi made a gesture of embarrassment. "You indeed have our Prince. Let me see him and I'll have Kusac brought out."
Kaid raised his hand in a signal to the medics still standing by the elevator. They parted, revealing Prince Zsurtul standing in the charge of Banner. Leading him forward, Banner escorted the Prince toward the Sholan group, taking up a position with him at the end of the front line beside Maikoi.
"You can see that your Prince is safe and well," Kaid said. "Now Kusac."
Q'ozoi turned to a guard, issuing a guttural command, then waited while he ran to the shuttle, shouting up to someone inside. At the open air lock, two armored figures, one without a helmet, emerged holding a wrist-cuffed Kusac by the arms.
Kaid could hear Carrie sucking in a gasp as she saw him, felt her shock ripple through their web. Kusac looked dazed and confused, and at one side of his neck, the hair had been shaved back.
Cold and calm,
he reminded her.
Can you pick him up at all?
No. There's nothing, not even a sense of him being there.
Then he's either drugged or they've got a damper on him.

* * *

The air in this landing bay was chill and held familiar scents. The guard gave Kusac a shove, urging him out.
"Don't push him," Zayshul said angrily.
A shiver ran through him as he began to walk down the ramp. The lights were bright in comparison to what he was used to, making him blink rapidly, trying to ease the discomfort.
"You have seen Kusac," he heard someone say. "Now show us Kezule."
"After we have Kusac."
The voice sounded familiar. He tried to remember.
"That's not acceptable."
"My decision is non-negotiable."
It was Kaid.
"This is Haven," said Zayshul quietly as they came to a stop. "You remember Haven? You told us to bring you here."
He nodded. The chill air, coupled with the cold of the deck beneath his feet, was making him shiver after the warmth of the shuttle. He moved his hands, feeling the weight of the cuffs round them. "The collar. Do I still wear it?"
She looked at him closely, examining his face, then shook her head. "No, I removed it several days ago. It should never have been put on you. It's a punishment collar and rarely used."
He looked around, seeing only the wall of Seniormost and Prime guards. Then he saw the red robe in front of him.
"J'koshuk," he said quietly.
"Yes, the priest."
A figure to one side of them turned round and scowled. "Zayshul. You should be here with the commander," Chy'qui said, trying to keep his voice low. "Leave the hostage with the guard."
"I have to go," she murmured as she left his side. "Remember what I told you."
The guard took him forward to stand in the open in front of the priest. Memories of his imprisonment were beginning to drift back. Hadn't J'koshuk tried to stop one of the Primes from beating him?
Frowning, he looked across the open space at the group of armored figures opposite. Sholans. Some he knew. Was that Carrie? It must be. She'd been on the ship with Kaid, and he was here. He could see him now, talking to one of the Primes. The priest had said Carrie and Kaid were safe, but she hadn't been. Then he saw the sand-colored Valtegan at the end of their line. He recognized him instantly. Zsurtul— the one who'd beaten and tortured him.
Slowly at first, his anger began to build. His pelt was starting to rise, bushing out around his neck and shoulders, making his hair stand away from his scalp. A draft of air from behind brought a scent to him, a scent he knew only too well. The priest's. J'koshuk had wanted information about Carrie, information he'd tried to keep from him despite the beatings. He frowned as another memory contradicted this one. How could it have been the priest? It was the one standing with his people, Zsurtul, who'd done that. Those memories of being repeatedly struck by Zsurtul's hands were so clear. But scents didn't lie, and the scent that filled his nostrils when he remembered the pain came from behind him, not in front.
He was confused, and his head had begun to hurt. He shook it, hearing her voice again. What had she said? Remember. Remember to... Fight. He was to fight. Fight what? Or was it who? Frustrated, anger surged through him again, and as the hair on his spine began to rise, he began to sway his tail in short, infuriated arcs. As the guard jerked him forward, pain lanced through his head, making him shake it again.
He snarled, trying to pull away. He didn't want to move. Fight what? That was what he wanted to know. A sudden rush of energy flooded through him. He felt clearheaded and stronger than he had in weeks. It was like a drug rush. That was it. She'd said he'd been drugged. He was to fight the drug he'd been given.
Stopping dead, he saw Zsurtul coming toward him, just as he'd done many times before in his cell. Pain had always accompanied him, and the priest. What was it about the priest? Bracing his legs, he tried to sink his claws into the deck, refusing to move any farther. He needed to work this out right now. It had been the priest who'd demanded information about Carrie, who'd known her sister. But the voice had said the priest had tried to protect him— the same voice that told him that Zsurtul had been his torturer. Again the pain stabbed him, this time at the side of his neck. He put his hand up to it, feeling the shaved area and the edge of the implant. He began to growl deep down in his throat.

* * *

"What the hell's up with Kusac?" muttered Rezac. "He looks like he's ready for a Challenge."
"Something's gotten to him for sure," said T'Chebbi. "That's no way to get free. He knows better."
"I'm getting nothing," said Carrie, clutching her rifle tighter as Kusac began to growl. "What's wrong with his neck? Why's he touching it?"
The implant,
sent Brynne.
He's touching the implant.
Dzaou's getting damned twitchy,
sent Rezac.
Watch him. Don't let them interfere,
ordered Kaid.
Brynne, see if you can reach Kusac. Find out what's wrong.

* * *

Kusac's arm was jerked again. This time, he turned on the guard, tail lashing, snarling his fury. "Don't pull me!"
Zsurtul was getting closer. He could see his features now. Hate and anger combined in Kusac in a deadly mixture. He wanted to sink his claws in him, rip him to shreds. Beyond the Valtegan he caught sight of Carrie, knew by the way she stood she was afraid. The priest, she was afraid of the priest. He looked back, searching for J'koshuk amid the Primes, finding him standing on the edge of the Seniormosts. The memory of Carrie's cry for help echoed through his mind, and he felt again his impotent hatred and fear of what the priest was about to do to his mate.
"Carrie! Not Carrie!" he howled, twisting himself free from the guard and flinging him aside. Stumbling, Kusac caromed off the Prince, then staggered a few steps till he righted himself. Zsurtul's scent was in his nostrils now. He didn't know him, had never met him. It was J'koshuk he wanted. He'd raped Carrie. Oblivious to the Valtegan pistols aimed at him, he spun round, his predator's instinct finding the priest again instantly.

* * *

Chy'qui had watched Kusac become more and more agitated as he was led out for the exchange. Everything had been going as planned: all eyes were on Kusac and the Prince, no one noticed J'koshuk surreptitiously using his wrist control.
The Sholan had suddenly called out the name of the Human female and broken free from the guard with such force he'd spun into the Prince. Then, instead of attacking Zsurtul, Kusac had turned away. Chy'qui knew his plan was beginning to go very wrong.

* * *

"You! It was you all along," Kusac snarled, raising his hands and reaching out for the priest.
J'koshuk began to back away from the Primes' group, fear written all over his face and scenting the air.
The memory of Carrie's mental cry was still there, as was Kaid's presence. And more— the gestalt. Kusac felt it whisper at the edges of his mind.
The priest had turned, was begining to run for the shuttle.
Kusac's vision narrowed as he targeted J'koshuk. He saw nothing but him, smelled only his scent. The blood roared in his ears, his head pounded with pain. Reaching within his mind, he grasped the memory of the Link and then beyond, finding not only the web of six, but the gestalt.
Behind him, the fallen guard rose, pulling out his sidearm.

* * *

Zayshul cried out in fear, clutching at Chy'qui, demanding he do something. Chy'qui pressed frantically at his control pad, trying to shut the guard down. He couldn't allow the Sholan to be shot in the back, not while there was still a chance he'd turn on Zsurtul. The guard stiffened, then dropped to the deck.

* * *

He's gone feral, Kaid!
Carrie sent.
What the hell's happening to him?
I don't know!
He was on the verge of going kzu-shu, and the Prince was within feet of him.
Brynne?
Nothing. He's too tightly blocked. Is he being controlled?
Then Kaid felt his mind grasped, whirled in with Carrie's and their web as, in front of his disbelieving eyes, the priest stopped dead in his tracks. The web shattered as energy was ripped from their minds, and later, Kaid swore he actually saw a bolt of pure energy hit the priest full in the back.
"Burn in hell, you nest-raiding lizard!" Kusac yelled.
J'koshuk fell like a stone and the air began to reek of scorched flesh. Above his body, a small cloud of smoke hung in the still air.

* * *

Somehow, Chy'qui realized, Kusac had managed to break through the drugs and conditioning. How? Had he forgotten something? In a flash of understanding it came to him. The female, he'd forgotten that J'koshuk had raped the female. That was what had angered the Sholan far more than the torture!
He heard Kusac shouting, then watched as a pulse of energy hit the priest's back, knocking him to the ground. How, in the name of all that was holy, had he done that? Had he gotten hold of a firearm from somewhere?
"The guards! Stop the guards!" Zayshul shouted.
"Do it!" Q'ozoi snapped. "We can't risk the Prince!"
Cursing, Chy'qui entered the override code that deactivated all the guards as Kusac took a staggering step toward the Prince. Now he was praying the Sholan wouldn't attack Zsurtul.

* * *

Still shocked by what had happened to the priest, Kaid watched disbelievingly as the Prime guards suddenly all fell to the deck. "What the hell's going on?" he demanded.
Too stunned to react, they all, Sholans and Valtegans, stood and watched as Kusac spun round to face the Prince. His hands went up to his neck, clawing at the implant as, snarling, he took a staggering step toward him.

* * *

Kusac looked straight at Carrie and Kaid as he took another lurching step toward the Prince. The mute appeal in his eyes was visible even from that distance. Nobody moved, and for the first time in his life, Kaid froze. Not just his body, but his mind. He knew what was at stake, but this was Kusac, his sword-brother, his Triad partner.
Kaid heard the whine of a single shot and Kusac suddenly collapsed at Prince Zsurtul's feet. The sound of a gun hitting the deck echoed through the landing bay, shattering the unnatural silence.
"Get the Prince back to his people now!" yelled Carrie, her voice breaking.
Banner was the first to move, running out to grasp hold of the Prince. Dragging him forward, he thrust him into the heart of the group of Valtegans. Then, with a glance at J'koshuk's body, he sprinted back to the safety of his own side.
Kaid could sense nothing from Carrie. Her mind had gone as numb as he'd been moments earlier. He heard the guns powering up around him and spun round. The Sholan camp had split into two factions, with his people turning their weapons on Dzaou's, and Dzaou's aimed at the Primes.
"Hold fire!" he roared. "What the hell do you think you're doing? We've a Brother down! Get the medics out to him, fast! The rest of you, power down and about face! Immediately!"
After a moment of hesitation, Dzaou dropped his rifle, then the others of his unit followed. Satisfied, Kaid turned back to the Valtegans.
The Seniormosts stood in a confused and vulnerable clump, staring at the Sholans in fear. He needed to do something now to retrieve the situation. "Take command, T'Chebbi," he ordered. "Rezac, with me."
"Aye, sir," she said crisply.
Grasping Carrie's arm and pulling her close to his side, he strode out across the open area toward the Primes. As they passed where Kusac lay, hidden by medics, she tried to stop, but he pulled her on, thanking Vartra that they'd had the sense to surround him.
"I shot him," she moaned. "I can't believe I shot him!"
You did what I couldn't do, you saved his life! We've got work to do, Carrie,
he sent.
So have they. I need your help to read the Primes.