The service cruiser and her escort were preparing to return to their posts, and Xi-Kung needed to return to Jasan. But he still didn’t understand what had happened, and was therefore wary. Very wary. Something was warning him that it would not be a good idea to return to Jasani space. But what choice did he have?
His comm beeped. He hit a button. “What?”
“Commander, I’m afraid I have some disturbing news to report.”
“Then report it,” Xi-Kung said impatiently.
“When we exited Jasani portal 2 the other day, it was left open behind us in all the excitement.”
Xi-Kung absorbed that news stoically. It didn’t really matter that much. Portals were not the same as jump points. They could not be accessed without equipment exclusive to Xanti ships. He started to say as much, then paused. This was exactly what he needed, he realized. A good excuse.
“Who was responsible for closing the portal, Captain?” he asked, knowing the answer full well.
“The Chief Navigation Officer,” the Captain responded.
“Toss him out the airlock,” Xi-Kung said. “Before you do, get me Commander Orq-Nunq.”
“Immediately, Commander,” the captain replied.
While Xi-Kung waited for Orq-Nunq, he considered his options and the best course of action. He had to warn Xaqana-Ti, but he needed to be very careful about it. If this went the way his instincts were telling him, his Ruling Queen was going to be very happy with him indeed. If he was wrong, she would be very unhappy with him, but at this point, he considered that to be a very small risk.
“Xi-Kung, how may I be of further assistance?” Orq-Nunq asked abruptly without any of the customary pleasantries. Xi-Kung suffered no compunction whatsoever in sending a ship belonging to another ruling female to its possible destruction. Orq-Nunq’s greeting only served to give him pleasure in the knowledge.
“I’m afraid I’ve just lost my Chief Nav Officer,” he said.
“Lost?” Orq-Nunq asked.
“Yes, he had an unfortunate lapse in judgment and is, as we speak, exiting through the air lock.”
“Ah, I see,” Orq-Nunq said. “That’s too bad.”
“Yes, it is,” Xi-Kung said, though he personally saw nothing bad about it. “Unfortunately, I am no longer adequately staffed to enter Jasani space. I’m sure this will be quite inconvenient for you, Orq-Nunq, but as we are officially at war with Jasan, I don’t have a choice. I hereby invoke the law of our Supreme Queen and call upon you, for the sake of Xantara, to cover my post until I return with a new officer. It should take no more than a week.”
“For Xantara, and Supreme Queen Qarnia, I am honored to assist, Xi-Kung,” Orq-Nunq replied with a definite air of gloating that he didn’t try to hide. “I’m afraid, however, that I do not have the portal codes.”
“Unfortunately, the transmission of those codes in unsecured space would be in direct violation of the Supreme Queen’s law,” Xi-Kung said, trying to sound regretful. “We will open the portal for you, then close it behind you. So long as you keep Blind Sight activated, the Jasani will never know you’re there.”
“Very well, Commander,” Orq-Nunq replied, his tone a bit less gloating. Still, he consoled himself, taking the place of one of Xaqana-Ti’s ships in Jasani space would be a nice mark on his Ruling Queen’s web. Since Xi-Kung had invoked the Supreme Queen’s law, Orq-Nunq had no choice in the matter anyway.
***
Darlene was nervous, though she hid it very well. Only a handful of people were able to see beyond her usual stony expression. Summer Katre was one of them, of course, but Darlene didn’t mind since she trusted Summer completely. Which was why she’d asked to meet her in front of the new clinic for a walk after breakfast. She had to force herself not to pace or fidget while she waited, or to sigh with relief when Summer arrived hand in hand with Maxim. After a quick greeting, Maxim vanished, leaving them alone for a while.
“Why are you so nervous?” Summer asked after giving Darlene a quick hug. Darlene smiled. Summer’s straightforward, direct manner was one of the things she liked most about her.
“Doc asked me to dinner,” she said.
“Tonight?” Summer asked.
“No, he’s in Berria right now,” Darlene said. “The day after tomorrow.”
“The day before we leave for Onddo?” Darlene nodded. “Well, unless I’m greatly mistaken, and with my eidetic memory you know I’m not, you’ve had dinner with Doc before,” Summer said. “Many times.”
“This is different,” Darlene replied. Summer waited. Darlene bit the inside of her cheek, then spit it out. “This time it’s more like a date.”
“It’s about time,” Summer said, grinning.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I’ve been waiting a couple of years for one of you to get around to admitting how you feel,” Summer said. “I’m very happy for you both. Now tell me why you’re so nervous.”
“A couple of reasons,” Darlene said. “Intimacy is a big one.”
Summer nodded. She’d never seen all that had been done to Darlene’s body, but she knew enough to know it had been horrific. Doc had fixed much of the damage, but some things could not be undone, and scars were pretty much forever unless you happened to be an Arima.
“Darlene, Doc knows exactly what you look like,” Summer said gently. “He’s also spent the last two years as your friend, and he’s a smart man. He not only knows who and what you
are
, he also knows who and what you
were
. He cares about the person you are right now, this minute.”
Darlene took a few minutes to think about what Summer said. Finally, the corners of her mouth turned up in a faint smile. “Thank you, Summer. That makes me feel better.”
“I’m glad,” Sumer said. “What’s the other problem?”
“I’m not exactly sure,” Darlene said, the worried frown creasing her forehead telling Summer that this was the real issue, whatever it was. “My entire life there’s been something inside of me that always warned against making a serious commitment to any man. I considered getting married several times when I lived on Earth, but I could never go through with it. It wasn’t a strong feeling, but it was a nagging one, always there in the back of my mind. When I was planning to find a wealthy Jasani male-set to marry, it got stronger for awhile, then faded again. Now, every time I think about a future with Doc, that same feeling rears its ugly head and I do not understand it. It worries me.”
“I can see why,” Summer said. “Maybe its your instincts warning you to go slow and be careful. That’s not a bad thing.”
“But we have been going slow,” Darlene replied. “Maybe too slow. I don’t want to ruin this chance, Summer. I know that I can be really happy with Doc. I’ve known it for a long time. But I’ve got this road block in front of me and I can’t see how to get around it.”
“Maybe you’re still in self-protection mode,” Summer suggested. “Keep going slow, take your time, be sure of what you’re doing each step of the way. Just remember one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Your mind is telling you to be careful, and that’s understandable,” Summer said. “But your heart is telling you to take this chance while you have it. Am I right?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Darlene replied.
“You might just have to take a leap of faith with your heart, regardless of what your mind tells you,” Summer said. “Love and logic don’t always see eye to eye.”
“I’ll remember that,” Darlene said. Sharing with Summer always helped her to look at things a different way, and she did feel a bit better now. She turned to thank her friend, then hesitated, noticing for the first time that Summer didn’t look quite right.
“Summer, are you well? Have you fully healed from the attack?” Darlene shuddered slightly at the memory of Summer’s injuries when she’d been attacked a few weeks earlier. Jasani or not, she’d very nearly died.
Summer waved one hand. “Completely,” she said. “We Clan Jasani heal like crazy, you know that.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Darlene asked. “You look tired and...worried.”
Summer sighed. “I will tell you, Darlene, but you must promise not to breathe a word to anyone.”
“I so promise,” Darlene said at once.
Summer bit her lip, and Darlene’s concern rose. Once Summer made up her mind about something, she never hesitated. Whatever it was, it must be bad.
“I’m pregnant,” Summer said in a voice so low Darlene barely heard it. She was so surprised she stopped walking. She knew Summer wanted children, so why the secrecy? Why the worry?
Summer realized she was no longer beside her and turned back.
“You don’t want anyone to know,” Darlene said slowly, “so your Rami are in the dark.”
Summer said nothing, but the expression on her face was answer enough for Darlene. She frowned, still trying to work it all out. “You’re not telling them because you think they’ll change their minds about going to Onddo.”
“Yes, and I have to go to Onddo, Darlene, you know that,” Summer said.
“Why?” Darlene asked, her voice calm as always, though her eyes betrayed the depth of her concern.
“I’m supposed to slay the double-headed dragon, Darlene,” she replied. “You were there when Sensei spoke of it, and also when Calnic of the Li-Hach-Aki said it. The Bearens fought it while they were on Earth, so we know it’s Narrasti, which means it’s on Onddo. That is where I must go.”
“How do you know that you have to fight the dragon now?” Darlene asked. “It could mean next year, or ten years from now.”
“That’s a very good point, which is why I contacted Sensei yesterday,” Summer said. “He said that, according to the legend that told of my coming for the katana, this is the time that the double headed dragon must be destroyed. If it isn’t, the Thousand Worlds and all her people will face annihilation.”
Darlene felt a chill race down her spine that had nothing to do with the cool weather. But Summer was still her main concern. “How far along are you?” she asked.
“Not long,” Summer said. “My katrenca told me two days ago. About a week I think.”
“It will take months to reach Onddo,” Darlene said. “You won’t be able to safely shift by the time we get there. Will you fight this dragon in human form while you’re seven or eight months pregnant?”
“If I have to, yes,” Summer said.
Darlene was not surprised by Summer’s answer. Summer was the most determined woman she’d ever known. But this was beyond dangerous. “Summer, I know that you have long wanted to have children.”
“Yes, I have,” Summer admitted. “But I have no choice, Darlene. Surely you must see that.”
“I do understand,” she admitted reluctantly. “But if anything bad happens, you will never forgive yourself.”
“No, I won’t,” Summer agreed. “That is exactly why I cannot tell Maxim, Loni or Ran. If they knew, and agreed to my going, which they must, then they would never forgive themselves, either. This must be kept secret for as long as possible.”
Since she’d already given her word, Darlene nodded. She would never betray Summer’s trust. But she was very worried about this.
***
Jackson Bearen read Tristan Falcoran’s latest transmission with interest. Faith had found another Xanti Door within Jasani space. Sensor readings from the cutter verified that it was virtually identical to the one next to the Skyport, and that it was closed. Ships had already been dispatched to watch it, and the new jump points she’d found to Sheara 3 and Teira.
Faith had been as helpful as they’d hoped, and more successful than they’d dreamed. Not only were they now aware of chinks in the armor of their System Defenses that they’d never suspected, but the new jump point to Sheara 3 would shave months off the travel time to and from Onddo.
The task force’s new route to Onddo had been approved just that morning. Once Garen told the Shearans about the Xanti’s artificial jump points, and Faith’s ability to spot them, and see through Blind Sight, they’d practically fallen over themselves to agree.
The only part of the whole deal that Jackson didn’t like was that now there were even more people who knew about Faith and her unique talent. Sheara 3 was an honorable world with an honorable government, and they’d given their word to keep the secret. They didn’t know her name, of course. Or even her gender. Only her codename,
Unblind
. But Jackson was security minded, and he was uncomfortable with it. A secret that was known by so many people could no longer be considered a secret.
There was no help for it, though. The information had to be shared so they could get permission to cross Shearan space with a Naval task force. Besides, if Jasan was successful in carrying out its current plans, the Xanti would no longer be a threat to anyone in the Thousand Worlds.
Without warning, his office door flew open and Clark filled the doorway, one hand on the vox in his ear, Rob right behind him. “The sensor readings have just changed,” Clark said. “The Door
just opened.”
Jackson didn’t ask any questions. He stood up, turned sideways, and disappeared from the room. A second later Clark and Rob disappeared as well, reappearing a moment later in the room near the top of the Jasani Skyport set up to monitor the Xanti’s Door into their space. Jackson was already getting a report from Landor Bearen-Hiru.