Zealot

by Cyndi Friberg

  Chapter Eight

  When Indigo emerged from Chandar’s suite, she looked rather shaken. Zilor had been enjoying a casual conversation with Danvier, though they were both dying to know what was going on inside the suite. In fact, Zilor had suggested they turn on the audio feed as a safety precaution. Danvier just glared at him. So, they sat on the end of adjacent benches facing each other across one of the closed doorways. Danvier shot to his feet as soon as he saw Indigo then met her halfway across the courtyard.

  “Is she all right? You look pale.” He lightly grasped Indigo’s elbow and Zilor felt his eyes narrow. They weren’t genetically compatible, so Danvier wasn’t competition. Still, Zilor didn’t like to see any male’s hands on his mate.

  His mate? All he had to do was best her other potential matches and convince Indigo of the fact.

  “Chandar’s fine and I’m just tired. You don’t need to worry about either of us.” She slipped her arm out of Danvier’s light grasp and continued across the courtyard toward Zilor. “Do I have enough time to visit with Raina before dinner?”

  “Dinner is whenever we choose to make it, so take as long as you like. Raina stopped by while you were working with Chandar. We weren’t sure how long you’d be, so she just left the suitcase.”

  She glanced around the courtyard. “What suitcase?”

  “I put it in your suite.”

  “Thanks. I hope my mom wasn’t too obnoxious.”

  “Raina didn’t seem upset,” he assured her.

  “Good. And speaking of dinner, where do we go for food?”

  “We wondered the same thing and then Danvier noticed there are seven doors but only six suites.” Zilor motioned toward the extra door which was directly across from the archway leading back to the main complex. When she didn’t immediately investigate, he stood and opened the door. Indigo walked into the newly discovered room, brushing past him in the process. Her scent filled his nose and desire rolled through him, curling his fingers around the edge of the door. Gods how he wanted to touch her.

  “This is cool.” She walked across the room, skirting the round table with its twelve chairs. Contained within a transparent sphere, the room seemed to float in midair. The outer walls presented a stunning panorama of the docking area and the three ships secured there. “Love the view, but how do we make dinner? There’s not even a microwave.”

  Zilor pointed to the large kiosk beside the sink. “Nutrition generator. Most call them nutri-gens. It has a large catalogue of edible options. Unfortunately, not many are from Earth. You might be stuck with a hamburger or pizza until we chase down some other patterns. I know Bandar has uploaded several for Ashley on the ship. I’ll find out what it takes to transfer the info to this nutri-gen.”

  “I’m not hard to feed.” She looked at the machine suspiciously, but didn’t ask any questions about how it worked. Not a good sign. Indigo was always full of questions. “Where can I find Raina?”

  “She’s probably in the jungle. It’s not far from here.” Again she didn’t ask any questions, so Zilor started to worry. He told Danvier where they were going then led Indigo back across the railed walkway and through one of the residential villages. “Did the session not go well?”

  “The session was fine. We’re still very early in the process. Why do you ask?”

  “Because you’re not usually this…quiet.”

  “I’m processing, I’ll admit. But I can’t talk to you about the details. What happens in my sessions is between me and my patients. If I don’t protect their privacy, my patients will never trust me.”

  He wasn’t pleased with the explanation, but he accepted it with a nod. “Is there something in particular you want to ask Raina or do you just need a familiar face?”

  “A little of both. I have some specific questions, but I also need the calming presence of an old friend.”

  “That’s understandable.” He hoped his tone didn’t reveal how disappointed he felt. He wanted Indigo to be comfortable with him, to share her fears and aspirations.

  They walked along in silence for a few minutes. Indigo seemed lost in thought and Zilor wasn’t sure how to reach her. An express passageway led them around most of the industrial clutter and deposited them near the agricultural quadrant, which was informally known as the jungle. He scanned open the door and motioned Indigo onward.

  “Ask her to show you the grotto.” Wanting to respect her wishes, he didn’t follow her inside.

  “Where are you going?” She stuck her foot in the threshold so the doors didn’t close.

  “To move my things to the Pavilion. Com me when you’re finished and I’ll escort you back.”

  “I don’t need an escort. I’m sure I can find my way back.”

  He moved forward and placed his hands on her shoulders. Awareness arced between them, making his fingers tingle. “Unmated females don’t go anywhere without an escort. It’s one of the new rules. The only alternative is bio-streaming everywhere you go.”

  “Fine.” Rather than twisting away from his hands, she moved closer. “I’ll com you when Raina has had enough of my whining.”

  Encouraged by her reluctance to separate, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. “I won’t be gone long.” Then he bent and kissed her. His lips had barely settled over hers when a shrill alarm echoed through the jungle.

  “In or out,” Raina called from halfway across the large room. “The door doesn’t like to be held open.”

  Indigo smiled then pushed him backward and blew him a kiss. “I’ll com you,” she promised half a second before the door closed in his face.

  Zilor stepped back from the doorway with a smile then shook away the very pleasant distraction and returned to his cabin on the Crusader. Gathering his possessions, he stuffed them into a travel bag. He’d hurriedly packed when Danvier received his sister’s cry for help, so most of his things were still on board the Undaunted. No matter, he’d been trained to adjust to any environment and improvise anything that wasn’t readily available. Battle born soldiers always traveled light.

  It had been a couple of days since he checked in with Garin, but Zilor hesitated to do so now. He wasn’t sure how much Garin needed to know or which facts would needlessly complicate the report. Who was he kidding? He didn’t want to tell Garin about Indigo for very selfish reasons. Garin needed to know a healer had been recruited for Chandar and what they’d learned about Tandori Tribe. However, the rest was debatable. He sighed. Dr. Irron knew about Garin’s compatibility with Indigo so it was just a matter of time before everyone found out. It was probably best if Garin heard it from Zilor. He didn’t want it to seem like he was being evasive. Even if he was.

  After clearing his mind with a deep breath, he accessed the familial link he shared with his brothers and pinged Garin’s mind.

  Garin answered with his usual directness. Where have you been for the past few days?

  Recruiting some help for Chandar.

  He could picture Garin’s thoughtful nod. It was a common expression on the face of the eldest Nox brother. Kotto mentioned something about a hybrid healer. Are her abilities genuine?

  She’s not actually a healer. She’s a soul seer and yes, her abilities are real.

  Hold on. I have to take this. Their link remained active, so Zilor just waited for Garin’s return. Interruptions were inevitable when conversing with someone like Garin. He was one of four generals and even the other generals frequently looked to Garin for guidance. Sorry about that. Is Chandar responding to the treatment?

  We’re hopeful, but it’s too soon to tell.

  Does this new female have the protein marker in her blood?

  And here it came, the point of no return. It would be suspicious as hell’s rings if he confessed that Indigo was compatible, but didn’t tell Garin the rest. Yes. She’s been tested and her profile was run through the new data base.

  A warm chuckle preceded Garin’s next thought. Let me guess, she’s compatible with you? />
  Me and seventy-some others. He used a light, conversational tone, hoping to minimize his next statement. Your name was on the list, in case you’re interested. His entire being froze as he waited for Garin’s response. If Garin displayed any interest in Indigo, Zilor was morally obligated to step aside.

  I haven’t got time for a mistress much less a mate. She’s all yours.

  Zilor grinned, relieved and overjoyed that his brother couldn’t see him. I’m glad you feel that way. She had to be marked before Kotto would allow her on the ship.

  And you selflessly agreed to mark her? Another deep laugh rumbled across their link. Wasn’t that how it started with Bandar and Ashley?

  It was, and they seem happy. I don’t see a problem.

  In an instant, the humor evaporated out of Garin’s tone. Her other matches might disagree. We cannot allow this to become a bride hunt. Each female so far has chosen the first male who had any contact with her. That’s a dangerous precedence.

  Zilor tensed. This wasn’t as bad as Garin showing an interest himself, but allowing competitors anywhere near Indigo was troubling. She must have options. I understand that.

  Is the secondary database functional yet? Irron seemed confident that they could mitigate this sort of thing.

  Sental was still tweaking it, but the trial runs were encouraging.

  Good. Prioritize her list and notify the top five matches.

  Zilor clenched his fists in an effort to keep the anger from his voice. And if I’m not one of her top five?

  You’ll wait your turn, like all the others. This has to be fair for everyone. I can’t make an exception for you. After a tense pause Garin asked, Do I need to have someone else assigned to protect her?

  No, sir. I understand your expectations.

  Garin sighed and his voice softened, took on the protective tone of a big brother rather than the autocratic snap of a general. I know that seems harsh, but the example we set now will determine how we interact with humans for years to come. We can’t be above our own rules or we’re no better than the elite.

  I know, and I agree. But you haven’t met Indigo. She’s special. And she’s mine. He didn’t transmit the last thought, but it resonated through his soul.

  You’re special too, Zilor. If you’re meant to be together, you’ll top her list.

  Zilor knew he should tell Garin that Indigo was a direct descendant of Tandori Tribe. Mating bonds were frequently used to solidify alliances. Garin might not have time for a mate. However, it was likely he’d make time for a beneficial alliance. Zilor formed the words, intending to share the detail with his brother, but the revelation lodged in the back of his mind.

  Let me know how things turn out with Chandar. Impatience crept back into Garin’s tone.

  Of course.

  Without bothering with goodbye, Garin simply pinched off the connection.

  * * * * *

  “This place is amazing.” Indigo slowly turned around, taking in the multi-level plant trays and simulated sunlight from every angle. The enormous room went on and on, challenging the scope of her vision. Once returned to full capacity, the crops grown in this area would provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the occupants of Lunar 9. “Why do they call it the jungle?”

  Raina laughed as she wiped her grimy hands on her jeans. “You should have seen it two weeks ago. Believe me, it deserved the name.”

  Completing her circle, Indigo faced her cousin. “How did you get it under control so quickly?”

  “With a small army of battle born workers. All you have to do is give these men a mission and stand back and watch it happen. They’re very industrious. It’s a tragedy that all that potential has gone to waste.”

  Apparently, Raina wasn’t just enamored with her mate. She’d also fallen under the spell of his comrades. The battle born cause was compelling. Who wasn’t moved by the age-old struggle for freedom or the cry of the oppressed? But Indigo was still afraid that battle born warriors were willing to gain their freedom at the expense of human females.

  “Okay, it’s just you and me.” Indigo waited until Raina looked at her to continue. “How can you be sure that anything Kotto tells you is true? They could be here paving the way for a massive invasion force.”

  Raina dismissed Indigo’s concern with the wave of her hand. “If the Rodytes wanted to take over Earth, they would have done so a long time ago. Our natural resources are more plentiful than theirs, but their technology has made them less dependent on such things. If they were interested in colonization, they’d choose something closer to home and much less populated. There’s little room for expansion on Earth. To put it bluntly, Earth is simply more trouble than it’s worth.”

  “But how do you know that? Everything you’ve learned about Rodymia comes from Kotto.”

  “That’s not true. I needed to be able to read reports and understand diagrams, so I underwent a language infusion. Now that I’m literate in Rodyte, I’ve done all sorts of research.”

  “Ever heard of propaganda?” Indigo challenged. “If the sources you researched were in Rodyte, they might not be objective.”

  Raina smiled, unfazed by Indigo’s skepticism. “I thought I was the Doubting Thomas in our family. There’s no need for your suspicion. I have access to numerous sources in a variety of languages. Mimi wanted her journal entries registered with a specific group of scholars. Do you remember their name?”

  “The Symposium. They manage the Wisdom of the Ages.”

  “That’s right. I’ve submitted numerous information requests to the Symposium. Do you trust the results of those inquiries?”

  Indigo had spent her entire childhood and much of her adolescence thinking Mimi’s stories were fanciful tales concocted by an imaginative, but lonely relative. It felt so strange to realize her grandmother had been recording actual events. “There really is an intergalactic internet?” Raina nodded and her smile widened. “And that information confirms what Kotto told you?”

  “Yes, but it’s more than just my research. My bond with Kotto allows me inside his mind. I see what he sees, feel what he feels and know what he knows. He couldn’t deceive me if he wanted to, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t.”

  Indigo brushed her hair back from her face, feeling restless. “All right. So their cause is just. Tell me about the actual transformation.”

  “I haven’t started the process yet. You might want to talk to Ashley. She’s about half-way through the process.”

  The evasion set off alarms inside Indigo. “Are you afraid?”

  “Of course I’m afraid. I understand how rapidly mutations can go wrong. I’m terrified, but nothing worth having comes without risk. I’ve been asked to participate in an experiment that is decades, perhaps centuries ahead of anything humans can accomplish. I’m a scientist. How could I refuse?”

  It might be that cut and dry for Raina, but Indigo was still not convinced. “Zilor told me to ask about the grotto. Will you show it to me?”

  “Of course.” Raina started walking down one of the narrow aisles between two plant trays.

  Indigo followed close behind. “Raylon and Kotto beat the crap out of each other this morning. Did you hear about that?”

  Raina stopped walking and looked back, eyes wide with dread. “What are you talking about?”

  “Zilor and I were looking for Raylon so he could help us move Chandar to the Pavilion. We found him in the gym. He was in this energy cage ‘sparring’ with Kotto. Only it looked more like they were trying to kill each other than any sort of training exercise.”

  “Were either of them hurt?”

  “They were both bruised and bloody, but I don’t think they broke any bones. Zilor said they were fighting over you. Want to tell me about that?”

  Clearly uncomfortable with the topic shift, Raina started walking again. “I’m genetically compatible with Raylon and Kotto, so when Kotto marked me before Raylon had the opportunity to so much as shake my hand. Raylon took exception. Hostiliti
es have been simmering ever since.”

  “I think it’s safe to say that simmer came to a roaring boil this morning.”

  Raina glanced at Indigo as they reached a storage room. “Is this just curiosity or is there a reason you’re asking about Raylon?”

  “Oh there’s a reason, one whopper of a reason. I’m genetically compatible with seventy-three men including both Zilor and Garin Nox.”

  After motioning Indigo inside, Raina let the door swing shut. “But Zilor marked you.” Her eyes rounded and her steps faltered. “The others don’t know?”

  “The doctor said something about a database that will prioritize the names for me. It sounded like they’ll be notified a few at a time.” Before Raina could comment on the development, Indigo hurried on, “But I’m here to help Chandar and that’s all. None of the rest means anything to me.”

  “Really.” Raina scanned open a door in the back corner of the storeroom and led Indigo onto a raised landing. Rather than heading down the metal stairs, Raina faced Indigo again. “I know what it takes to mark a female. You felt nothing the entire time you spent in Zilor’s bed?”

  “I didn’t say that. He’s a fantasy come to life. Any heterosexual female would enjoy being marked by him.”

  “But not any heterosexual female is genetically compatible with him.” Indigo started down the stairs, but Raina stopped her. “You’ll never convince me it felt no different than with a human lover. I’ve been through it, Indigo. I know better.”

  She looked away from Raina with a sigh. They knew each other too well for pointless denials. “It was different, much different. But I can’t let that matter. I wouldn’t mind having some fun with Zilor for the next six months, but I’m not interested in a permanent relationship. What would happen to the store? I can’t abandon my mother.”

  Raina shook her head and let go of Indigo’s arm. “You can’t have an affair with Zilor. The mating pull is too strong.”

  “So Zilor told me. Repeatedly.” They descended the twisting stairs as memories from the night before mocked Indigo. Each kiss, each intoxicating touch had felt as if Zilor was drawing her closer, merging their beings in a way she’d never experienced before. And all he’d done was touch her. How much more consuming would it be if they actually made love? “Will it be like that with any of the guys who are on that list? Does genetic compatibility automatically equal mind-blowing sex?”