The room was in darkness, but the flickering lights from the two control consoles created more than enough illumination for him. Five minutes later, he slipped back out into the corridor.
Three weeks later: Recreation lounge, Zhal-Kuushoi 18th day, Month of Winter (December)
“Have you heard anything I’ve said in the last half hour, Kusac?” asked Banner, covering Kusac’s hand with his own in an effort to get his attention.
“Of course I have,” Kusac said, becoming aware again of the sound of laughter and conversation around him in the recreation room. He waited a moment before carefully removing his hand. “You were telling me how your visit to their new temple went.”
“Thinking of home?” asked Banner sympathetically.
“Yes,” he replied, because it was better than the truth.
“It’s coming up to Kashini’s first birthday, isn’t it?”
He closed his eyes as a feeling akin to pain swept through him. How could he have forgotten his daughter’s first birthday? “It was on the seventh,” he said quietly. Was he losing all touch with his old life these days?
“I’m sorry you missed it,” said Banner sympathetically. “You’ll have a lot of catching up to do when we finally leave here.”
He waved his hand dismissively, shutting his distress away. “Tell me again what you were saying.”
“I was telling you that they’ve asked if they can join us at our midwinter celebrations.”
He raised an eye ridge and picked up his glass for the first time, draining the small shot of spirits. “What do the others say?”
Banner shrugged. “Dzaou, predictably, was the only one to object. I think we should let them. It isn’t as if there will be any dancing.”
“We don’t even have drums,” he murmured, fleeting images of the previous year’s festival passing through his mind. How would she see such a celebration? What would impress a Prime female, he wondered, then dismissed the thought in horror.
“Khadui’s already working on several ideas for that. When did you start going native?”
The question jerked his attention back to Banner. “What?”
“The beaded bracelet,” his Second said, pointing to his right wrist. “It’s what several of the Prime females are wearing.”
He looked down at the broad band tied on round his wrist, seeing as if for the first time the animalistic shapes on it picked out in different colors of beads. “Shaidan gave it to me. He’s been taught to make them for their festival.”
“He gave it to you three days ago. Why are you still wearing it? Dzaou and Khadui are complaining about it.”
“That’s their problem,” Kusac responded curtly, pulling his sleeve over his wrist. “Why should I upset Shaidan to please them?”
“Why should it upset Shaidan if you stop wearing it?” Banner asked reasonably, taking a sip from his glass. “I think you’re getting too involved with this kitling, thinking like a father. He isn’t your son, Kusac.”
“He needs someone to be involved with him if he’s ever going to adjust to being Sholan,” he said, getting to his feet and going over to the bar. He closed his eyes briefly, wondering how much longer he’d be able to hide his son’s true identity from Banner and the others.
Taking the two fresh drinks back to the table, he put one in front of his Second before sitting down.
“Kezule is using the cub against you, Kusac. He knows your vulnerabilities, can’t you see that? Let one of us teach him, distance yourself while you can.”
“No,” he replied sharply. “It has to be me. No one else can teach him what he needs to know.”
“Because you were a telepath?” Banner asked quietly, leaning closer. “Every time you’re with him, you risk both of them finding out you’ve got a device that gives you some of your Talent back. If that happens, we lose our advantage, maybe even our freedom.”
“No,” he said, looking up as he picked up his glass. “This is my mission. I didn’t ask anyone to come with me. I play it my way.”
“You may be fooling yourself, Kusac, but no one else. Kezule is running this show from start to finish! How much longer does he intend to keep us here?”
“I’ve told you before, you can leave any time,” he replied, taking a sip of his drink, aware of the scent of two female Primes approaching their table. “But I notice you’ve been finding the company here interesting enough to stay.”
Banner frowned. “What the hell do you mean by that?” he asked as the two females stopped beside them.
He looked up, acknowledging their presence with a nod. “Do introduce me to your friends,” he said pointedly, looking back at Banner.
Banner’s ears twitched back fractionally in annoyance before righting themselves. “Lorish and Kiosh,” he said, trying to keep his tone light. “Our Captain, Kusac Aldatan.”
“Nice to meet you, Captain,” said Kiosh, taking an empty seat. “We’ve come to ask you to help with our celebration ceremony since you’re the only serving priest among our people—and yours.”
“Excuse me?” he asked, startled for the second time that evening. “Who told you that? We’re all priests.”
“We know that, the General told us,” said Lorish, taking the other chair. “But you’re the only one who wears the priest’s robes, and you were working for your temple before you came here, so Banner told us.”
“That makes you the natural choice,” added Kiosh, smiling.
“I know nothing about your religions,” he said, not wanting to get drawn into this. “I’ll be of little help to you.”
“On the contrary,” said Lorish, reaching out to catch his hand where it lay on the table. “Seeing you willing to take part would be most helpful. It would encourage all our people to come. What we’re doing would be considered revolutionary on our world where the Emperor is still worshiped as a God.”
Carefully, he removed his hand, picking up his glass as he did to hide the fact that her touch was disturbing him.
“I know. I discussed the matter with Kezule several weeks ago,” he murmured, sitting back a little way from them so their scent was less strong. “We’ll all come, of course, but I really can’t get involved in the actual ceremony.”
“It’s nothing that would offend your gods,” Kiosh reassured him. “Gifts are brought and we would like you to be one of the bearers, nothing more.”
“You don’t have much involvement with the civilian side of our lives,” said Lorish. “This is the first time you’ve come to the rec room. Taking part would show everyone that you, the Warriors’ teacher, see value in the spiritual side of our lives.”
“That will be obvious on the twenty-sixth at our midwinter celebration,” he said before taking a sip of his drink.
“But it’ll make more impact at our ceremony,” said Kiosh quietly. “Doctor Zayshul suggested we ask you. She”ll explain what you need to know tomorrow.”
He turned his head to look at her, aware of the underlying tone of conspiracy in her voice. “Doctor Zayshul will be there?” he asked as casually as he could. “I’ve been trying to speak to her for some time now.”
“She’ll be there,” said Kiosh. “At 13:00 hours in the temple.”
He finished his drink and put the glass down on the table. “I’ll be there,” he said, getting to his feet. “But I can’t promise I’ll be involved in your ceremony. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you in the company of my Second. A headache has been plaguing me all day.”
“Would you like me to bring something from the sick bay to your quarters? I know the Doctor has listed the medications you can use.”
“Sleep is all I need,” he replied, seeing Banner’s eye ridges meet as he picked up his Second’s concern. “Good night.”
Banner had watched the interchange between the two females and Kusac with interest. He, Khadui, and Jayza had spent enough time in the rec room over the last few weeks to be reasonably relaxed in Prime company now. The females were interested in all
the Sholans, but particularly in Kusac. With him, they seem to instantly adopt an intimacy that he knew wasn’t warranted: him alone they were anxious to touch as freely as if they, too, were Sholans.
“Your Captain doesn’t relax easily, does he?” said Kiosh as if she’d been following at least part of his thoughts. “How did you manage to persuade him to come here tonight?”
“I did nothing special,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I said I was coming, that’s all. Tell me, what’s his attraction?” He made his tone light, widening his eyes ingenuously. “You females seem to like being around him.”
Kiosh looked at Lorish then back at him.
“He’s a leader,” said Lorish with a grin, blinking her large eyes slowly. “We don’t see him often as Kiosh said, nothing more.”
“There’s more than that, I’m sure,” he said, idly swirling the remainder of his drink round in his glass. “You all fuss over him given half a chance.”
“We fuss over all of you,” said Kiosh, leaning forward to stroke his cheek briefly. “You feel so soft with all that fur.”
With his empathic senses, he could pick up a mixture of uncertainty and concern from them now, despite Kiosh’s bravado in touching him. “Let me guess,” he joked, pursuing the point. “You have a wager to see who’ll be the first to seduce one of us.”
Their body language gave them away instantly, even if their emotions hadn’t.
Lorish giggled nervously. “What a strange thing to think,” she said.
“Not really,” he said, mouth widening in a smile like theirs. “It’s what our females would do if the situation were reversed.”
“That’s dreadful,” Kiosh laughed. “All right, you’ve guessed our secret!”
“Kiosh!”
“What’s wrong with telling him that?” said Kiosh defensively. “He said they’d do the same.” She turned back to look at him. “Your Captain’s more distant than any of you, except for the one called Dzaou. He’s just rude.”
“Ah,” he said, raising his glass to his lips and taking another sip. They were telling him part of the truth at least. “So he’s more of a challenge.”
“It makes him more attractive,” agreed Kiosh. “Not that we’re blind to your charms, of course.”
“Of course,” he agreed. “Tell me more about this ceremony of yours.”
Hydroponics level: Zhal-Kuushoi 19th day (December)
Kusac was watching a group of three M’zullians work their way toward one of four on the newly configured assault course when Banner touched him on the arm.
“General’s here,” Banner said in a low voice.
“I know,” he acknowledged, continuing to watch the M’zullians as the attackers dodged the hail of electronic shots from the four defenders.
“He wants you.”
Kusac sighed. “Take over,” he said, handing him the reader. “Keep an eye on Chazukk. He’s still trying to edge Zarkil away from the rest of his unit so he’ll get picked off.”
He turned and headed over to the low fence where the General waited, Shaidan standing his usual six steps behind.
“How would you and your crew like some time planetside?” Kezule asked when he joined him. “I think it’s time my people put into practice what they’ve been learning.”
Surprised, Kusac glanced back at the M’zullians. “You’ll need more than us to control them,” he said. “They’re far more volatile than the ones we trained on Shola.”
“I intend to include some of my officers as well. I believe you Sholans enjoy a wager now and then. I’ve a fancy to have a little one with you.”
“I’m not here to make bets with you, Kezule,” said Kusac, suddenly impatient. “I want to get this job finished and take my son home.”
“We’ve still a way to go yet, Captain, you might as well enjoy what entertainment you can find here,” drawled Kezule, giving him a long look. “I’m aware of how intriguing our females find you and your crew. So far you’ve ignored them, but you’re at liberty to accept any invitations.”
Kusac bristled, disliking the implications, feeling his hair starting to rise. With an effort, he forced it down again.
“Perhaps you’ll find what I’ve planned more to your taste, then. We’ve been surveying a planet in the adjacent solar system. It’s uninhabited by higher life-forms as yet, but it does have some interesting herd beasts. I believe it’s the one my contemporaries used to keep the Outpost stocked with fresh food. I’m proposing a hunting trip lasting three days to capture livestock and fresh meat. My officers will be commanding groups of M’zullians and civilians. You can lead your own crew, Captain.”
“Hankering after the smell of blood and raw flesh, Kezule?” asked Kusac, raising an eye ridge in mock surprise. “And here was me thinking you’d given all that up. I’m surprised you’re suggesting we hunt on our own. Aren’t you afraid we’ll disappear?”
“Not in the least,” said Kezule, ignoring the gibe. “I know what you want and it will remain here, secure on Kij’ik. As to the wager, I’ll bet any group of my people against yours for the larger total of kills and live captures.”
“What’re the stakes?” he asked. “Since you’re not paying us, it can’t be money.”
Kezule turned to Shaidan. “Go and find the TeLaxaudin and see if he needs any help,” he ordered. “I’ll meet you in his office when I’m finished.”
Shaidan ducked his head in a sketchy bow and ran off. Kezule turned back to Kusac. “I’ll wager what you want most, not for two hours, but for two nights.”
Kusac stared at him. “In return for what?” he asked slowly. This offer was totally unexpected. Kezule obviously assumed he’d want Shaidan to stay with him for the extra time, but did he? His relationship with his son wasn’t going smoothly. The kitling still resented having to come to him each evening, despite his interest in the information he could access through the comm unit. More exposure to him would not improve the situation.
“What you’ve refused to give me. My wife and the TeLaxaudin want to do a brain scan and run some tests on you to make a series of learning tapes. When they’re done, I’d like you to take a sleep tape yourself about our culture so you can compare it to your own and really start working on the main purpose of your visit here.”
His anger flared and he opened his mouth to refuse when an image of acceptance flashed into his mind’s eye. It had happened to him before and in the past he’d trusted it. “I can ask for anything?” he said, suddenly confident that if he lost, with the torc’s help, he could withstand any brain scan.
“Within reason,” said Kezule. “I will not deprogram Shaidan for that time.”
“I accept,” he said. “If you allow me some time alone with your wife.”
Shock and surprise crossed Kezule’s face. Obviously it had never occurred to him he’d be interested in anything other than Shaidan.
“Out of the question,” began Kezule, skin darkening and crest beginning to rise in anger.
“I’m asking for a few hours to talk to her,” he interrupted. “Nothing more. I need some answers about my time on the Kz’adul and only she can give them to me.” He tilted his head to one side, mouth widening in a humorless grin. “You aren’t jealous, are you, Kezule? I hear you don’t restrict yourself to your wife, that you’ve two other females as well. Even if I did want her company overnight, she surely has the same right to choose a lover as you do. Our females have. More accurately, they allow us the same rights as they take!”
“Out of the question!” repeated Kezule with a hiss of anger.
Kusac shrugged and turned to rejoin Banner. “Then there’s no bet.” If he’d judged Kezule right, the General would change his mind.
Kezule’s hand clamped round his arm like a vise, jerking Kusac back to face him. “You can speak to her alone for an hour, no more!” he hissed, claws digging into Kusac’s arm.
“Unacceptable,” said Kusac, reaching up his other hand to pry himself free of Kezule’s grip.
The claws tightened, resisting him. He felt a brief tingle from his torc, then a rush of light-headedness before a feeling of displacement came over him. As if he was standing outside his body, he watched himself force the General’s hand away from his arm with a strength that made Kezule wince—a strength that until that moment, he’d never possessed. Suddenly he was back, looking out at the General from behind his own eyes with a clear knowledge of how Naacha, the Cabbaran mystic, had taught him to reach deep within himself to enhance his strength.
“Don’t ever do that to me again, Kezule,” he said gently, watching the Valtegan flex his bruised fingers. “I’m not your prisoner. You need my cooperation. I want three hours with Zayshul. Alone.”
“Two, dammit! You can have two hours, no more,” Kezule snarled, tongue flicking out as he spoke. “Tell your trainees there’s a briefing about the trip in the assembly hall at 19:00 hours—and be there yourself.”
Watching the General’s back as he stalked off toward the hydroponics lab, Kusac was quietly pleased. He’d expected only one hour. Now all that remained was to win the bet.
“What was all that about?” asked Banner as he rejoined his Second.
“Later,” he said briefly, as he focused his thoughts on Naacha. Bit by bit, what had happened after Annuur and Kzizysus had operated on him to restore his Talent was coming back to him. He remembered how the Cabbaran had made him angry to prove to him that the neural damage caused by the pain collar during his captivity on the Kz’adul was cured. He’d been determined to leave the shuttle, and had headed for the air lock. Tirak, the U’Churian, had tried to stop him but he hadn’t listened and had attempted to force his way out, but the door had been trapped. The electric shock he’d suffered only enraged him further and Tirak had to shoot him with a trank dart.
The effects had only lasted a few minutes, long enough for him to calm down and for Tirak to haul him off to the small mess area for first meal. Now he remembered that after they’d eaten, Naacha had come for him, taken him to their labs, and started to train him in how to use his newly returned psi abilities. Except that as well as relearning to use those he’d had, Naacha had taught him more. He forced the memory further, but the details were vague and his mind began to wander. Obviously Naacha had locked the memories away until they were needed, as some were now.
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