Zealot

by Cyndi Friberg

  The connection terminated and Akim gave in to his triumphant smile. This was just one step of many, but at least he was headed in the right direction again.

  * * * * *

  Indigo was prone to vivid dreams, especially when her emotions were unsettled or she was facing an important decision. Still, this dream felt different, more tangible than any dream she’d experienced before. She sat in the front room of Mimi’s house, and this was Mimi’s house, not hers. The décor and the furniture had reverted to the way Mimi preferred things. Mimi’s favorite rocker/recliner was back, the footrest extended as Mimi studied her.

  “Do you believe me now?” Mimi asked with a cheeky grin. Her dark eyes twinkled merrily and her salt-and-pepper curls looked windblown as always. She wore jeans and a tie-dye T-shirt Indigo remembered well. It must have been one of Mimi’s favorites.

  Indigo laughed and curled her legs to the side as she’d done so often while she was still a child. “It’s impossible to deny at the moment, but we accepted that your stories were true shortly after Luna died.”

  “I know. I just had to rub it in.”

  “You’ve earned that much at least.” Indigo stood up and looked around, admiring the details she’d all but forgotten, the collection of thimbles proudly displayed in a wooden shadowbox and the lace-trimmed curtains framing the front window. “Is this a dream or some sort of vision?”

  “It’s something in between.” Mimi folded in the footrest and scooted to the edge of her seat. “Don’t be distracted by the how and where. I’m here with important information.”

  Indigo turned from the window and met her grandmother’s gaze. “I’m listening.”

  “The decision is ultimately Chandar’s, but many will die if she runs from her true life path. You must help her find the strength to embrace it.”

  Mimi was a part of Indigo’s past. It felt strange to hear her speak about present conflicts. “Then I should encourage her toward a complete healing?”

  “She is a gift from the Creator, and you are the instrument through which that gift will be restored to the universe.”

  Indigo scoffed under her breath. “Yeah, no pressure there.”

  “There is one who can help you, one with the skill as well as the power.”

  “Do you have a name and address for this skillful one?” She heard the sarcasm in her words and took a deep breath. Using sarcasm to push people away was a reflex. “Sorry about the tone, but basic information would be helpful.”

  “I wasn’t able to determine his current location, but I know his planet of origin.”

  “Well, give me what you have.” Indigo tried to smile, but failed. She was talking to her dead grandmother. Could this get any more bizarre?

  “Find Vox Loriet. He’s from Bilarri.”

  “Vox Loriet, from Bilarri,” Indigo echoed. “Got it.”

  “One final word of advice before I let you go. Stop trying to analyze what you’re feeling. Love is meant to be experienced not understood. And we both know love is where this is headed, if you’re not there already.” Mimi closed the distance between them and kissed Indigo on the forehead.

  Indigo felt the warm press of Mimi’s lips and her light floral scent filled her nose. “Will I ever see you again?”

  Mimi smiled as the scene began to fade. “You can’t always see me, dear, but I’m always there.”

  Peace flowed through Indigo as the vision gently returned her to sleep.

  Chapter Ten

  Raylon motioned Zilor toward his table as soon as Zilor stepped into the Starlight lounge. Raylon’s responsibilities took him from ship to ship, so he didn’t bother with an actual office. Still, being summoned to a bar didn’t decrease the import of the directive. No one doubted that Raylon was in charge.

  “What’s up?” Zilor asked as he slid onto the empty seat across from Raylon. Many were intimidated by Raylon’s savage appearance and stringent attitude, but Zilor had known him for decades. It was hard not to think of him as Garin’s best friend rather than General Nox’s ruthless enforcer.

  “I need you to chase down a lead for me.” Raylon was always direct and specific with his orders. It was one of the reasons the two men got along so well. Neither had a tolerance for games.

  “What’s involved? I need to keep an eye on Indigo.”

  Raylon shot him a look filled with challenge and disapproval. “You’ve been keeping more than your eyes on that woman. I know where she spent last night. You better not have claimed her or Garin will have your balls.”

  Waking up with Indigo in his arms had been one of the sweetest experiences of Zilor’s life, but dragging himself out of bed had been torture. He wanted to make love to her over and over, absorb her scent and fill his mouth with the taste of her passion. Her surrender the night before had only fueled his determination to claim her as his mate. He would spend the rest of his life with Indigo by his side or die trying to make the fantasy a reality.

  “My balls are perfectly safe,” Zilor stressed. “Indigo is still unclaimed.”

  Raylon looked as if he’d say more then shook his head. “All of that is between you and Garin, but this can’t wait. One of Garin’s spies claims Akim visited a bondage club in Outpost LA. According to the source, Akim walked into the club, bold as brass, but he never came back out.”

  “When was this?”

  “Two days before we rescued Chandar. I asked her about the club, but she still remembers nothing about her past.”

  “Akim’s visit might not have had anything to do with Chandar. It’s no secret Akim is into pain. He spent decades as the crown’s inquisitor, for gods’ sake. He might have gone there for the same reason as everyone else.”

  “Not unless he’s still in there,” Raylon insisted. “Garin offered a sizable bounty for information leading to Akim’s arrest. This particular spy was determined to collect and staked out the club for nearly a week. Akim walked inside, but I’m pretty sure he bio-streamed out. Something happened while he was inside that club that made him risk streaming through the outpost’s defenses and revealing his position to the entire security team.”

  “Is that what you want me to confirm?”

  “I want you to find out what he was really doing in that club, what happened while he was there, and if anyone knows his current whereabouts. You were stationed at O-LA for a couple of years. Did you know anyone at Club Norax?”

  “Never set foot inside the club. Whips and chains are not my scene. In fact, it’s doubtful anyone I knew is still at the outpost, but I’ll ask around for you.”

  “Good,” Raylon smiled, “because it wasn’t a request. The Phantom has been maintenanced and is ready for departure. Try to be inconspicuous.”

  “Who’s guarding Indigo and Chandar?” Zilor wanted to know.

  “Danvier is with them now. I’ll be there tonight.”

  “I shouldn’t need to spend the night.”

  Raylon’s perpetual scowl darkened. “Don’t rush this. Indigo will still be here when you return.”

  * * * * *

  Indigo sneaked across the courtyard and into her own suite as Zilor went off for his meeting with Raylon. Chances of discovery would have been lessened if she’d dragged her butt out of bed hours earlier, but she hadn’t found the strength to leave the security of his embrace. Images and sensations from the night before lingered in her mind, teasing her with possibilities and urging her to surrender. She was starting to understand why Ashley and Raina had given in so easily. Zilor had only shown her a glimpse of what being bonded would be like and she had been unraveled by the intensity.

  She was the first to admit she enjoyed sex. Her unconventional upbringing had freed her from the shame so many battled their entire lives. She found the naked body beautiful in all its infinite variations. Giving and receiving pleasure was natural and fun. She’d never understood why so many people complicated a biological function with unnecessary entanglements.

  But last night had been so much more than sex.
Zilor had opened his mind, allowed her to experience life from his perspective. They’d shared an intimacy deeper than any physical exchange. For the first time in Indigo’s life, she understood what it meant to be Rodyte. And Rodytes bonded for life.

  She showered, brushed her teeth and dressed, thrilled to be back in her own cloths. Rodyte males might prefer their females in dresses, but Indigo was feeling particularly rebellious this morning. After wiggling into a pair of snug jeans, she chose a cropped sky-blue sweater with a bold geometric pattern. At first glance the outfit appeared modest, almost demure, but a hint of skin was revealed whenever she lifted her arms and the well-worn denim clung to her hips and behind. Slouch boots with crocheted toppers completed the ensemble. And, not wanting her hair to be a distraction, she worked it into a loose braid, securing the end with a cloth-covered band.

  The active link between Zilor’s mind and hers made her more aware of her com-bots’ functions. She could sense other frequencies, many of them, waiting in the distance. All of the computers seemed to be intuitive. Would the implant figure out what she was trying to do?

  She’d promised Chandar she’d chase down some sort of pregnancy test and it was important that she keep her promises. Rather than summoning an escort to take her to the infirmary, she pictured Dr. Irron in her mind, focusing on his image until one of the dormant connections began to vibrate.

  I’m here, Indigo. Who taught you how to ping? That was rather skillfully done.

  Shocked by her own success, she allowed herself a smile. I wasn’t sure if I could make it work, but I had nothing to lose by trying.

  What can I do for you or were you just experimenting with your implant?

  No, there’s a reason for the call. Chandar is concerned about pregnancy. We both know it’s unlikely, but she’d feel better if she knew for sure.

  That’s not something I generally stock, but I’m pretty sure I can find a pattern. Give me a few minutes and then I’ll send a runner with what she needs.

  Thank you.

  You’re welcome.

  The link disconnected and Indigo enjoyed the sense of accomplishment. She’d just made her first telepathic phone call. What would the day bring next?

  When Indigo emerged from her suite, Chandar was sitting in the courtyard, staring up at the simulated sky. “It’s really quite convincing.”

  It was a rather abstract greeting, but Indigo went with it. Sitting on an adjacent bench, she said, “It’s refreshing to know if it’s night or day. It’s easy to lose track on the ship.”

  “It’s always dark inside Zilor’s cabin?” One corner of Chandar’s mouth lifted in a secretive smile.

  Indigo’s first instinct was to ignore the question, but there had to be a reason Chandar kept bringing it up. “Why does my relationship with Zilor bother you?”

  Chandar turned her head and looked at Indigo. Simulated sunlight gleamed in her silvery hair and revealed the strange pearlescent quality to her skin. “Are you in a relationship with Zilor? You wouldn’t even admit that much before.”

  “Why are you so interested in my social life?”

  After a lazy shrug, she said, “You want to hear all my dirty secrets. It seems only fair.”

  Generally, Indigo insisted on professional detachment. She was a conduit through which wounded people learned to heal themselves. But trust was fundamental to the process, and Chandar’s case was extreme. Maybe by sharing a few personal facts, she could help Chandar feel less vulnerable.

  “I’m extremely attracted to Zilor, but he wants forever and it’s hard for me to commit long-term.”

  “Why? What makes it hard for you to commit?”

  Indigo smiled. Now Chandar sounded like a therapist mining for information with open-ended questions. “I’m a product of my environment, I guess. I was raised by a fiercely independent woman who has little use for men. I’m not a man hater or anything. I just refuse to depend on anyone else for my happiness.”

  “Those are your mother’s words not yours.” Chandar shook her head. “You stopped believing them a long time ago.”

  The statement reverberated through Indigo, stripping away her defenses. Rather than risk angering Chandar with another denial, Indigo remained silent.

  “I even know how it happened.”

  That was unexpected and Indigo refused to let the comment slide. “So enlighten me. When and why did I stop believing in my mother’s way of life?”

  “When your grandmother’s voice replaced your mother’s. As you read the journal entries, you could feel Mimi’s pain, her loss. Yes, she was a prisoner—which was all many people heard. But there was a deeper message, more subtle, yet even more meaningful. For a few blissful months, Mimi experienced life with her mate, then duty tore them apart. Her life path drew her back to Earth and his took him to Rodymia. Mimi’s daughters helped fill the emptiness in the years that followed, but she still missed him, longed for him, every day until her last.”

  Indigo’s heart missed a beat as tension wound through her belly. “Did someone tell you about Mimi’s journals? How do you know all of this?”

  Chandar’s smile made her look like a naughty child, yet her eyes were filled with wisdom far beyond her years. “Mimi was here last night and we both know it. She came to speak with you, but her energy triggered images, visions.”

  A chill dropped down Indigo’s spine. If Chandar had been anyone else, Indigo would have been skeptical of the claim. But Chandar was a harbinger. She’d been born with a powerful gift. According to multiple sources, she could see into the future and more. Was this even surprising?

  “So what did Mimi tell you?” Chandar asked. “She wasn’t here long.”

  Not yet ready to broach Mimi’s recommendations about Chandar, Indigo admitted the more personal suggestions. “She told me to stop trying to analyze love and let my heart lead me.”

  “Do you agree with her?”

  “I know what my heart is telling me to do,” Indigo admitted, “but I’m not sure the situation is that cut and dry.”

  “It’s only as complicated as you allow it to become.”

  Indigo looked at Chandar for a moment. Never before had the harbinger been this calm, this self-assured and focused. She seemed to do better when she remained focused on others. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Purposeful footfalls interrupted their conversation and drew Indigo’s attention to the archway across the courtyard from where they sat. The same runner who had brought her the datapad with the list of her top matches came to an abrupt halt in the archway, silently waiting for permission to enter.

  Indigo stood and motioned him forward. Tall and lanky, with lavender phitons, the boy couldn’t be more than twelve. Just how old did someone have to be to join the Rodyte military?

  He handed her the package with a tentative smile, clearly afraid to meet her gaze. “What’s your name?”

  “Eton Indor, ma’am.” He swallowed hard. “Have I done something wrong?”

  “Absolutely not. I was just wondering how old you are.”

  “Don’t know exactly.” His features tensed and pain flared in his expressive eyes.

  “How long have you been in the military?”

  “Nine years. The first eight were strictly training. This is my first post.”

  “I see.” She didn’t, but her curiosity was making him uncomfortable. She’d ask Zilor later how many children served in the Rodyte military. “Thank you for this.”

  “Anytime.” He ran back the way he’d come without a backward glance.

  “What is that?” Chandar asked as she pushed to her feet.

  “A pregnancy test.” She held out the package with a reassuring smile. “It’s going to be negative, but I understand why you need to verify.”

  “Thank you.” Chandar took the package then set it down on the bench nearest her suite. “I promised to teach you how to speak Rodyte. Do you still want to learn?”

  The offer was likely another stall tactic, but Indigo want
ed to encourage Chandar’s open mood. “At heart I’m sort of lazy. How hard is this and how long will it take?” She was willing to play along for a little while, but they really did need to get to work.

  “Piece of cake.” Chandar smiled, mischief gleaming in her silver-ringed eyes.

  The phrase surprised Indigo. Zilor used Earth vernacular fluently, but Chandar’s speech had always been rather formal.

  Unsure how long this would take, Indigo sat down on the edge of the fountain. “Understanding Rodyte seems to be automatic. How do I use my com-bots to speak Rodyte?”

  “First of all, it’s not just Rodyte. Your com-bots will translate any language in our database. By the way, there are eleven Earth languages, so you can understand Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, and so on.”

  “Unbelievable.” The prospect of becoming multi-lingual was thrilling, but the presence of Earth languages in a Rodyte database also spotlighted the depth of Rodyte interaction with humans. Secret bases and government-sponsored experiments, these things had been going on for decades, perhaps centuries.

  “Understanding a language is more or less passive, as you’ve discovered. You hear the words and a voice inside your head provides the English equivalent.” Chandar strolled closer. She was wearing one of the outfits Danvier had provided. The navy tunic, which fell to just below her knees, brought out the blue in her eyes and the intricate embroidery perfectly matched her silvery hair. Rather than gray pants, however, Chandar’s tunic was worn over an ankle-length dress. She looked like an iron-age Viking noblewoman preparing for the yearly Thing.

  Rather than slow down the lesson with a comment, Indigo nodded.

  “Do you still hear the inner voice whispering each word or do you just access the meanings?”

  “I still hear the voice from time to time, but mostly it just flows.”

  “Then this won’t even be a challenge for you.” Chandar pointed toward the fountain at Indigo’s back. “What’s the Rodyte word for fountain?”

  Chandar had used the ship’s computer to translate before she’d received her com-bots. She let her inner voice ask the question and was thrilled when she heard an unfamiliar word inside her head. “Seatine,” she provided with a pleased smile.