Authors: Lisanne Norman
Anonymous in his Forces uniform with its green flash of the Communications Guild, Tallinu had ambled off to find his quarters and store his gear. Draz had sent one of his security officers down to the stores on the concourse to collect everything he'd need while Myak adjusted the ship's records to not only list him on the payroll, but to show that he'd been on board for several months. Tallinu handed him a set of personnel records and, within moments, his cover was complete.
An hour or so at his comm and he'd acquired all the relevant data that he needed. Switching it off, he stood up and stretched each muscle group in turn. It was a good job he'd kept in shape over the last ten years. He was stiff and tired.
Striker
might be fast but it was damned uncomfortable. As well as that, his body was on Sholan time, not ship time. It was another six hours before he could call it a day.
Going up to the Admin level on the twenty-first floor, he made his way to the small shrine. Next door to it was the office used by the priest— in this case, the Brother— for their more secular duties. He opened the door and went in.
"I'll be with you in a moment," said the Brother, peering round the doorway of his inner sanctum. He froze, staring at his visitor.
"It looks like I can't call you Dzakayini anymore," he drawled, flicking a coin toward him.
Dzaka's hand reached out instinctively and caught it. "The guild coin," he said. "I knew they were sending someone, but I never dreamed it would be you." He came into the room and, hesitating, handed the coin back to Tallinu.
"Is that all the greeting I get?" he asked, eye ridge raised. Before he'd finished speaking, Dzaka was embracing him.
"It's been so long," said Dzaka, as Tallinu returned the gesture. "I didn't know Ghezu had reinstated you."
"He hasn't, exactly," he said, sitting down on one of the lounge chairs. "I accepted the contract as a free-lance operative. I have all the guild privileges, and a free hand in this one. Now I know why."
"C'shar?" Dzaka asked, moving back into the inner room. "I'd just put some on when you arrived."
"Please. I was sorry to hear about your mate, Nnya. I know what a terrible blow it must have been to you."
"I can't talk about it yet," he said, his voice bleak. "Did you get my report? Is that why you're here?"
"Partially," Tallinu admitted. "I need you to bring me up to date not only on these potential troublemakers, but also on what you've found out about this mismatched Leska pair. I'm here to assess the situation concerning them."
Dzaka nodded to himself as he brought out the mugs and set one down in front of Tallinu. "I thought as much. You know it's got Mentor Mnya in a sweat, don't you? To say nothing of the Commander? He's got his adjutant, Myak, fielding her father and Konis Aldatan, which isn't an easy thing to do considering the situation. No one wants to tell him about his son."
"I'm not surprised. And Mnya? What's got her so worried? The cross-species Link, or the fact they can fight?"
"The fact they can fight," he said, sitting down. "She's afraid that fear of them will start up the post-Cataclysm pogroms again, when telepaths were hunted down and murdered because of their Talent."
Tallinu made a noise of disgust. "The fear of the telepaths back then was because the ordinary people thought they'd caused the Cataclysm."
"I know. There's no reason for her to think that could ever happen again. It's one thing for a race emerging from global destruction to be paranoid and superstitious, but not now, a thousand years later."
"Enough of Mnya's paranoia. Tell me about this group of xenophobic younglings."
"They're not exactly xenophobic. Their logic's a little more complex. There're another two Brothers on the
Khalossa,
and one of them tried to infiltrate their little group but failed. Most of them have known each other for some time, and they aren't about to admit strangers into their confidence now."
"I hear you ruffled some fur the other night at a meeting for those who'd lost family on Szurtha and Khyaal," said Tallinu, relaxing back into his chair.
"I did, rather," Dzaka admitted ruefully. "Tutor Rhuso told me to put this issue to rest once and for all, so I did. I told them what it was like. Before I did, though, I was sitting beside several of that little group and their attitude— then and later— had me worried. It wasn't what they said, because they sat there and just listened. You know how it is, I get a feel for the mood, and I didn't like theirs one bit, especially the one called Chyad."
"Carry on," he said, picking up his mug and taking a drink from it.
* * *
"Kaid, it's good to see you again," said Garras, slipping into the seat opposite his friend. "You got my message, then. I didn't expect to see you quite so soon."
A glass was pushed across the table toward him. "Friends come first. Your message coincided with one from the guild. I was able to combine the two."
Garras lifted the glass gratefully, taking a long drink. "Thanks. I've just come off duty and I needed that. I'm breaking in a new crew."
"I hear you had bad luck with your last one."
"News gets around fast," grunted Garras.
"Particularly when it's news like this."
"What's being said?"
"Chitchat about the Terrans, especially the new Telepath you brought back with you. How she's formed a Leska Link with one of your crew. And of course, Guynor's Challenge and the court-martial resulting from it."
"That it?"
He nodded, taking a sip from his own glass. "What's left?"
"Depends how you look at it," said Garras. "One hell of a lot from what I can see."
"So. Tell me."
* * *
Vanna had spent an hour trying to find Garras. She finally tracked him down in the main bar on the concourse. Stopping at the doorway, she looked around the crowed area, trying to spot Garras' grizzled head. Not old, she reminded herself with a faint grin, just mature.
Catching sight of him at the far corner, she headed over, threading her way through the crowded tables. As she got closer, she noticed his companion get up and leave.
"Where's your friend gone?" she asked, slipping into the vacated seat against the wall.
"He's due on shift," said Garras. "What brings you down here at this time of day?"
"The need for familiar company," she said. "I look around at these people and I don't know them anymore. It's as if they were..." She stopped, lost for a word.
"Alien?"
"Yes, alien. It's as if they're only playing at what we actually experienced. They ask what happened and when I tell them, they don't understand."
"This is their first real taste of war, Vanna. Apart from policing the odd border dispute between the Touibans and the Chemerians, the Forces don't see any real action. We've lived years of their placid existence in three months, and in a way they resent it."
"I don't know about that, but they seem to think it was exciting. Being holed up in that cave for weeks on end, not knowing if we'd ever get off-planet isn't my idea of excitement!"
"Nor that of any sane person who's actually experienced it," he said soothingly. "Now, what did you really want to see me about?"
Vanna glanced up at him. "I'm beginning to think telepathy is catching," she said wryly. "I'm worried about Kusac and Carrie. I wondered if you'd heard from either of them."
"Me? Why should they contact me?" he asked, cocking his head to one side in surprise.
"No reason really, just a faint hope," she shrugged, looking down at the table again. "After what we've been through, it's natural to want to remain together because of the shared experiences. Especially when no one else understands them," she said with a flash of humor.
Garras looked up and managed to catch the eye of a bartender. Beckoning him over, he handed him his empty glass. "The same again," he said. "Vanna?"
"Oh, c'shar please."
He turned back to her. "Why are you worrying about them?"
"Carrie is still at Rhian's."
"Leskas don't always live together," he said reasonably.
"I know that," she said, her tone almost sharp. "But Kusac looked pretty rough when we saw him yesterday after the court-martial. He's had constant severe headaches since the night you two had your fight in the bar. So has Carrie. Something isn't right."
Garras frowned, ears twitching slightly. "You're not being very specific. Are you concerned that one or both of them is ill, or that they are apart?"
"I can't be more specific. It's more of a hunch, a gut feeling," she said, concentrating on dipping a clawtip in a small puddle of drink on the table. "After living with them on Keiss, I seem to sense when something's not right."
"So that's what you meant by telepathy being catching," he said with an attempt at levity.
She ignored his comment, waiting till the bartender had placed the drinks in front of them. "From what I've been able to find out about Leskas, they need to be together every five days. Be it biological imperative or a psychological need to renew the closeness between them, they need that twenty-six hours together. Kusac and Carrie haven't been alone together as far as I know since Guynor's Challenge. That was sixteen days ago by my reckoning. That's not right or normal for Leskas."
"What's normal for the first Sholan and Terran Leska pair?"
Vanna's ears dipped briefly to the side as she shot him an angry look. She returned to drawing patterns in the spilled drink with her clawtip.
"Drink your c'shar," said Garras placatingly. "When are you due to see him next?"
"Tomorrow," she said.
"Not much is likely to happen between now and then even if you're right. If he's ill, he'll call you. So will she."
"I suppose so," Vanna said reluctantly.
Garras sighed. "If you're that bothered, call him."
"I can't," she said, looking up. "It would be an invasion of his privacy. They're on leave at the moment, so they can adjust to their Link."
"Maybe being so closely involved with them wasn't such a good idea after all," said Garras, reaching out to place his hand on top of hers comfortingly.
"I'm the only one who can do the job at present," she said.
"Then train someone to take over."
"It would take too long, and most of what I know is based on intuition. I can't teach anyone else that."
"Have you managed to get any more information from the Telepath Guild?"
"None. They say we have all the relevant data we need, but I don't believe them."
"Why would they lie about it? They must realize that Kusac and Carrie are more important than keeping guild secrets. You're letting your imagination get the better of you."
"Maybe you're right," she said. "I'm probably looking on the dark side. I was up in my lab this morning when they brought Guynor in, and it's left me feeling down."
"That's probably what's at the base of your 'gut feeling.' Guynor's death."
"You're probably right. This is the first execution there's been on the
Khalossa
in the five years I've served on her. On top of that, he was a colleague of mine."
"The death of someone you know always makes you aware of your own mortality," he said, tightening his grip on her hand. "At least you know he was guilty of attempted murder."
"That doesn't really help, and that's the worst part."
The intercom chimed melodiously. "Vanna Kyjishi to Med level, lab three."
"I've got to go," she said, withdrawing her hand and standing up. "It could be them."
"Do you want to meet later?" Garras asked, looking up at her. "If you're feeling that low, company would be good therapy."
She hesitated. "I'll get back to you, if I may."
"Leave a message on my comm," he said. "Personnel will give you the code. I'll authorize it with them."
Vanna hurried into her office, going straight to the comm. The monitor glowed red in the left corner, indicating a message.
She keyed in the command for a hard copy and the unit erupted into life, spitting sheets of paper into the tray. Picking up the first sheet, she scanned the top, wondering what could have been so urgent as to necessitate her being paged.
At the top it read, "Kusac Aldatan to Vanna Kyjishi" and was dated for the following day's transmission.
Frowning, she sat down to read it. She soon realized that here was the information she was lacking— the medical data that the Telepath Guild claimed didn't exist.
Grabbing a medikit, she rifled through its contents, adding extra ampoules for the hypoderm gun. In her haste, she dropped one. It fell to the floor, smashing and spreading its contents round her feet.
Swearing, she hopped out of the way, yelling for one of the nurses to clean it up. The last thing she needed now was a cut foot.
Less haste,
she told herself as she cursed Kusac in every direction for being a fool.
Replacing the broken ampoule, she snapped the case shut, heading at a run for the nearest elevator.
When it stopped, she shoved her way out, upsetting several people in the process. She went down the corridor at full lope until she reached Rhian's and Askad's quarters. She punched the chime, tail lashing impatiently from side to side as she waited.
* * *
Raguul switched off the comm and looked up at Myak. "Where is she?" he asked succinctly.
"Still at the quarters of Rhian and Askad, our other Leska pair."
"And our runaway?"
"He's in his quarters," replied Myak, heading unobtrusively toward the cupboard in the far wall.
"I want her here, in my office in an hour's time," Raguul said. "I want the Mentor here now. This Link of theirs has to be dissolved."
"I'm afraid that's not possible, sir," siad Myak, coming back across the room to the Commander and offering him his medicine.
"I didn't ask for that," said Raguul, nonetheless automatically taking it from him. "What do you mean it isn't possible?"
"I can contact the Mentor without difficulty, but the Terran girl, I'm afraid not. There's some kind of medical emergency involving both of them. I don't have any details at present, but it's being dealt with. Doubtless the Mentor will be able to tell you more when she arrives."
Raguul gave him a pained look, then drank the contents of the glass. He handed it back to Myak without a word.
* * *
Myak ushered in the Mentor.
"Commander," she said, taking the chair beside the desk. "How can I help you"
"First, what's all this about a medical emergency involving Kusac and Carrie?"
Mnya smiled. "Nothing that hasn't been satisfactorily dealt with."
Raguul blinked, surprised. "I expect you don't intend to discuss it any further," he said, "but I expect a full report on it tomorrow. Meanwhile, you're aware that we've opened negotiations with the Terran's home world, Earth, aren't you?"
"I had heard that everything was progressing well."
"It was with Keiss, until Earth became aware of two things. Keiss' independent status and the fact that we have a Terran female, daughter of Hamilton, the planetary Governor, on board."
The Mentor looked puzzled. "I fail to see a problem."
"The Terrans wish to retain absolute control over all negotiations. They and only they will make the treaty with us. Keiss is their colony and will do as it's told. Hamilton is having none of it; he's holding out for independence. Earth threatens to cut negotiations completely if we make a treaty with Hamilton."
"What does Alien Relations say?"
"That we deal with Keiss."
"And Earth?"
"We point out that their participation in guarding their sector of space from possible Valtegan incursions would be useful, but not necessary to the Alliance. Basically, they can sink or swim on their own."
"Harsh words," murmured the Mentor.
"Oh, they'll come round. That isn't the real problem. While Earth was arguing with Hamilton, they pointed out that we are holding his daughter as a hostage. Hamilton has now demanded the immediate return of his daughter or he'll cut off all negotiations with us."
"This is unfortunate."
Myak returned bearing mugs of c'shar.
"Thanks," grunted Raguul, taking his. "You might as well remain," he said, nodding to a companion chair by the Mentor. "This is more than unfortunate. The whole treaty now hangs in the balance because of their damned link!"
"It's hardly their fault, Commander," said the Mentor, taking a sip of her drink before placing the mug on the desk.
"Mnya, that Link has got to be dissolved. I have to return the female to her planet," Raguul said, leaning forward, ears flicking.
"Impossible. It's too late now, even if there had been anything we could have done."
"Dammit, Mnya! It's a cross-species Link, not even a real one! There has to be some way to break it. Can't you people do something to her mind, shut it down or something?"
"Have you any idea what you're suggesting, Raguul?" the Mentor asked, her anger evident in the set of ears and eyes. "That is tantamount to blinding and deafening an unTalented person! The girl has done nothing wrong to deserve such a punishment even if it could be done! And what about Kusac? Do we just 'shut him down,' too? The shock of doing that could kill them both!"
"If it saved the treaty, I'd order it. Without her Talent, Kusac would no longer be Linked to her which would get rid of our other problem. She has to be returned to Keiss, and on her own. Find a way to do it."
"Their Link is as real as any Sholan Leska Link."
"I don't think you're considering the political or military consequences if we don't return her, Mnya. And Kusac must remain here. His father is trying to get his service in the Forces terminated," said Raguul. "Hard though it is, this has to be done."
"Raguul, you are the one ignoring the political consequences," said Mnya stiffly. "When I said it's impossible, I meant it cannot be done, unless you want to return two corpses!"
"Come off it, Mnya," said the Commander, sitting back in his seat. "I know you want to study her Talent, but the treaty has to come first. If you wanted to, you could find a way to do it, I'm sure."
"Raguul, kindly grant me the courtesy of believing I know my own craft," said Mnya, her tone biting. "By now their Link is complete. Their minds are working as one, in a way no Sholan Leska Link does! This Link of theirs is abnormal, yes, in its intensity. They have exchanged Talents and memories to a degree never known by our guild before!" She leaned forward. "As for the politics, do you really want to return Hamilton's daughter to him as a corpse? And Konis Aldatan's son? Head of Alien Relations, Lord of the Sixteen Telepath Clans? Return his son dead because of a treaty? I'm sure he'd understand," she said sarcastically. "So will Rhyasha. She's got two other children, after all. One of them can be heir instead of Kusac. I'd understand perfectly if I were them."
Raguul flinched. "Konis doesn't know about their Link as yet."
"Well, I'm not going to tell him!" she said tartly. "You're being foolish in the extreme to even think of risking their lives. In their case there can be no doubt that if one of them dies, you'll lose them both. Take that as a certainty."
"How can you be so sure?" demanded Raguul, regaining a little of his equilibrium. "You haven't had time to verify all that you've told me."
"I don't need to. Kusac did it. I received a locked and dated file that he had intended for the physician, Vanna Kyjishi. I've no idea how it landed on my desk, but I'm damned glad it did! It puts paid utterly to lunatic suggestions like yours!"
"There's no need to be offensive, Mnya," sighed Raguul. "So, like it or not, we're stuck with their Link. What the hell do I do about Hamilton?"
"Tell him. Once he knows, he won't risk her life either."
"I'm not going to tell him!"
"Ha! So who is?" demanded Mnya.
They sat and looked at each other in silence. "Excuse me," said Myak. Taken by surprise, they both looked round at him.
"Why not let them tell their own fathers? That's what would normally happen with our people. I should imagine it's the same for the Terrans. Kusac will definitely want to speak to his father himself, and probably Carrie's as well."
Raguul's expression relaxed into one of relief. "What could be more natural? The female is, after all, only Kusac's Leska. It's not as if he's contracted to her as a mate."
"I for one will be glad not to have to face Konis' anger," she said candidly. "What about Hamilton? He's going to take none too kindly to his daughter having a relationship with Kusac. At least Konis has dealt extensively with aliens. It won't be quite such a shock to him."
"If the female talks to her father and makes it clear she intends to stay with Kusac, then he'll have to accept it."
"If we had an official reception, Hamilton could come and see her for himself. He would know it was her decision and nothing to do with the treaty negotiations," ventured Myak.
"It might work," said Mnya thoughtfully. "If we adapt our Attitude Indoctrination sessions to cover that, it should answer most of the problems Hamilton will come up against over their relationship."
"Myak, contact the girl and Kusac. Have them come up here so we can contact Hamilton and then Clan Lord Aldatan on the comm. The sooner it's done, the better."
"No, Raguul," interrupted Mnya. "They're together now. Leave them. It's the first of their Link days. Stall Hamilton and the Clan Lord for now. Myak can think up many reasons, he's good at that. I know from personal experience," she said, grinning.
Myak lowered his ears, refusing to look at the Mentor in the face.
"Yes, at least you have the grace to be embarrassed about it! Give them till tomorrow, then if their parents call, inform them and let them deal with it in their own way," she said, picking up her drink.