“Thank you for joining us!” Nell called. The Zang melted into the wall, but a tiny wisp of power floated back to us. She laughed. “Was that a thank you?”
The Kail honked and grunted, but it must have been another private conversation, as NR-111 did not translate any of the sounds for us. Pushing aside the divan, they ran to the wall and pounded on it, causing sections of priceless wood inlay to shatter into splinters. My cousins fled from their path like startled gazelles. The guards hastened forward to form a bulwark between them and the Kail. The pebble-skinned creatures paid no attention to any humans. All they wanted was the Zang.
They stormed back, their feet striking the floor like concrete hammers, heading for the lift doors. Envoy Melarides shot us an apologetic glance. She beckoned to her coterie, who assembled and accompanied her to the exit. The indicator showed them descending, probably back to the cargo level though, I reflected, they could not be certain where the Zang was going.
Another, more insistent wave of energy touched us. It seemed to come up through the floor at an angle. Laine turned to me.
“It wants me. I’d better go. Thanks for a great evening!”
I bowed over her hand. “Thank you for honoring us with your presence,” I said. She blushed, then hurried toward the lift.
“I had better go, too,” Madame Deirdre said, giving Nell an auntly peck on the cheek. “Lovely evening, Lord Thomas!”
“And I,” said Xan’s fencing instructor, a lithe woman with her dark hair clubbed into a bun. One by one, those who were not members of the Imperium nobility rose and made their farewells.
Until all the visitors had departed, we stood in silence.
“I cannot wait until all this is over,” Erita said, with a toss of her head.
“I don’t,” I said, enjoying myself thoroughly. “I think it’s all getting to be more interesting than I anticipated.”
CHAPTER 28
“Thought we were going to lose sight of you on the other side of the jump point,” Captain Bedelev said. The Wichu captain’s facial fur was combed neatly, though that on her shoulders and pate showed no signs of the obsessive grooming the white-coated race normally performed. Parsons was concerned for the mental well-being of the crew of the Whiskerchin. It had been declining steadily since the takeover.
“There’s a lot of traffic coming through here,” Captain Wold said. Dark circles under xir eyes showed that the press of responsibility including the presence of the Kail had caused xir to lose sleep, too. Stress was telling upon everyone. “Our escorts had to form up front and back, and that delayed us a few hours. Nearly two dozen pleasure craft zipped into the queue ahead of us. It’s against all space regulations, but this far from the Core Worlds, they seem to think they’re exempt. Are things all right over there?”
Bedelev made a face. “No worse than before. Fovrates has given up pretending that we run anything. It’s all the Kail’s way now! The vacuum systems run every hour of every shift. The passengers hate it, but the Kail complain if there’s even one hair anywhere but on our bodies. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up shaved bare.”
Parsons shook his head. “That is unlikely, captain. Their actions strike me as having only one purpose, and that is to maintain the Kail as a unit until we reach the platform, when they will undoubtedly make their formal complaint. What concerns me is what comes afterward. Fovrates, if not the others, is too intelligent to think that there will be no repercussions once your crew and passengers are disembarked.”
“So what is their complaint?” the Wichu captain asked. Her question was echoed by the two escort commanders, whose holographic images had been restored to the ready-room council. Parsons and Captain Wold had discussed the matter at length. Because an end-game of some kind was coming, they determined that any discussions they had over open channels were already anticipated by the Kail.
“I’m sending you documentation. We will be notifying the Trade Union that reprisals might be coming from the Kail regarding installations that they have made in Kail space,” Wold said.
“How the hell have you determined that?” Bedelev asked, her big black eyes wide with astonishment. Wold looked a little embarrassed, so Parsons scooped up the narrative from xir.
“Based on information received, we’ve been running a comparison simulation against the navigational atlases from each nation around the Kail’s territory,” Parsons said. “It would seem that there are numerous installations within their borders that they have until now not suspected, and are certain to resent.”
“Well, we don’t have anything like that in there!” Bedelev burst out, then paused, with a cautious look on her face. “… Do we?”
“No,” Parsons said, allowing the left corner of his mouth to tilt upward by a millimeter. “Of all the Kail’s neighbors, the Wichu are the only ones innocent of encroachment, possibly because your ships do pass through Kail space on occasion and can observe their movements directly.”
“That’s good! But don’t ask me. I just run a fancy bus for paying customers. That’s how we got into this mess in the first place! I will never, never, ever pick up Kail again, no matter how much the company is paying me. What do you think they’re planning?”
“It would seem that it involves the Zang,” Commander Atwell said, from his usual seat near the rear of the chamber.
“How can they talk to the Zang? They don’t talk.”
“The Kail must be convinced that they can,” Wold said, crushing another orange nic-tube against the tabletop. “They certainly keep trying. My security staff’s being run ragged, having to keep track of those three all the time.”
“You’ve got complaints?” Bedelev countered, puffing the white fur on her upper lip. “I have a shipful of passengers who are getting vacuumed morning, noon and night! When will they let my ship go? Fovrates doesn’t even answer when I talk to him any more. You think those three Kail have convinced the Zang to blow something up? What?”
“We don’t know,” Parsons said. “We can only speculate. If that is their solution to the intrusions that we have discovered, it’s likely to be reprisals on a similar order to the coming destruction event.”
“Well, I hope it’s not one of our homeworlds!” Bedelev exclaimed.
“If we balance the number of foreign installations in Kail space, the destruction will most likely involve one belonging to the Trade Union,” Parsons said. “At least, that is our estimate. We are continuing to run comparisons. As the Imperium has begun peace talks with these representatives, we are hoping to determine whether any of our worlds are in danger. Naturally, we will try to convince them that no reprisals at all are necessary.”
“Our diplomats are doing their best to obtain a response from Phutes,” Wold said, giving xir fellow captain an apologetic grimace. “Unfortunately, the goal keeps moving farther away. First, they wanted to talk to the Zang. Then they wanted it to listen to them. Now … who knows what they’re trying to get out of it?”
Bedelev growled. “I can’t affect any of that! What’s the difference if they keep my ship or not?”
“It’s not your ship that is important to them,” Parsons said. “It’s your computer network. I fear they will not release it until they have gleaned the information they seek. They know we are capable of turning back an attack on ours. By virtue of Fovrates’s long connection with your LAIs, only yours is open to them. I regret that the Whiskerchin has become a pawn in what seems to be a plan long in the making. You may be comforted to know that it means your ship will be safe until then.”
The expression on the Wichu’s face said plainly that knowledge wasn’t much of a comfort.
“Can’t you do something?” Bedelev pleaded. She ruffled the fur at the nape of her neck until it stood out sideways. “I feel like a hood ornament, not a commander!”
“When we have information, we will notify you,” Parsons said. He nodded to Wold.
“Imperium Jaunter, out,” the captain said. Xe nodded to Ormalus to cl
ose the connection. Xe turned to Parsons. “What next?”
“First, now that we are past the jump point, I have sent a peer-to-peer coded module to the platform, intended for transmission to the Ruling Council of the Trade Union, warning that the Kail might be seeking some manner of revenge for the space station they planted in Kail space. The initial response, as you might predict, asks innocently, ‘What space station?’”
“What? Black holes take them,” Atwell said, in annoyance. “On their heads be it, then!”
“That is not a helpful response, commander,” Parsons said, mildly. “Not when collateral damage might include innocent civilians, particularly the Emperor’s cousins.”
Atwell emitted a lusty sigh that made him deflate to half his normal size. He threw up his hands. “I know, I know! We will be prepared to evacuate the nobles and their party from the platform at a moment’s notice. For all their spoiled ways, they’re absolutely responsive to emergency protocols. It’s the one thing that makes them bearable.”
Wold drummed on the tabletop. “What about freeing the Whiskerchin? I won’t put the nobles into avoidable danger. Do we have a plan?”
“We do,” Parsons said. “That is part two. The preparations that I put into place will lay the groundwork. I believe that Fovrates will be rushing to complete his comparison before we reach the platform. Once we have arrived, the chances are too great that he will allow the Wichu to leave but remain in control of the Whiskerchin. In the meantime, while we are in transit, he will feel that his position is unassailable. He will be paying little attention to what is going on around him. Therefore, the responsibility for maintaining his hold over the ship will fall to the LAIs that he has corrupted. I plan to take action before we arrive, at that psychological moment.”
“And when will that be?”
“At a psychological moment as yet to be determined,” Parsons replied.
“You are being too mysterious,” Atwell complained. “I don’t like it.”
“I’m afraid this goes beyond need-to-know, commander.”
Wold frowned, but Parsons knew he could count upon xir not to press where it was not only unnecessary but fruitless. “Will it put anyone on this ship in danger?”
“It should not. Even if the three Kail on board react to the capture of their fellows, they are outnumbered. Unless they have a means of enlisting the Zang to aid them in retaking that vessel or taking over this one, the problem will be moot.”
“When will it occur?”
“I will inform you before it occurs.”
“How long before you take action?”
“I regret to say the interval may be very short,” Parsons said. “But as it will not involve any of the personnel under your command, you need only safeguard your mission. Please don’t voice any of your speculations outside of this room or over any electronic medium. We can’t be sure if any deep penetration of the system persists. Even though the protocols that Lieutenant Ormalus have put into place show no signs of corruption now, the same might not be true minutes or even seconds from now.”
“How? The Kail aren’t allowed access to any technology.”
“But one,” Parsons reminded them. “NR-111 has been ring-fenced, but if the means exist to break her programming, she is the most likely weak link.”
“Can we remove her? Replace her with another LAI?”
“At this point, better the devil we know,” Parsons said. “There are only two other LAIs in the diplomatic party, and neither have been vetted for security protocols. I would rather not insist that Melarides replace her. I’ll have security step up spot checks on her programming.”
Wold smacked a fist down on the table.
“Curse this trip! I wish we had never taken the Kail on board! I wish we had stayed back in the Core Worlds.”
Lieutenant Ormalus looked sheepish. “Still, to admire the spectacle,” she said.
Wold grimaced, but allowed xir face to relax. “You’re right. At least we’ve got that to look forward to. Once we dump the Kail off for good.”
Proton Zang felt the first .004% of the shock waves vibrating through the fabric of space as Low Zang and its colleagues began concentrating upon the subject of their coming spectacle. It was a pleasurable sensation, one to be enjoyed at leisure. With tendrils of energy that reached far ahead of the small corporeal expression of itself, Proton felt the electric radiance of stars, the solidity of planets and the rush of the edges of black holes pulling matter through themselves and exploding them into glorious energy. Its fellows approached the meeting point at a pace over 2.587 times swifter than the human shell that it occupied. Proton did not mind the creeping of the ship. Everything added texture to life, even the impassioned shriekings of the stony beings close to it in the oxygen-rich chamber.
“How do the preparations go?” Proton asked. “I can feel excitement from all of you.”
“They are going well,” One Zang said, sounding amused. “Did you bring your pet along?”
“Yes. Observations she makes are intriguing.”
“You always were the odd one.” One chuckled. “You have had this pet a long while. How long do you plan to keep her?”
With affection, Proton brushed the tiny envelope that was the human female’s energy shadow. “Until she ceases to amuse me. Or amuse herself. It has been eons since I felt this vitality.”
“You don’t need it,” Zang Quark said. “You can renew your own vitality.”
Proton was amused at its unbecoming impatience, but went back to the subject. “I have surveyed this part of space, as I am sure all of you have done. Are you certain this is the correct planet to be removed? It never struck me as one that needed to be taken away. Its irregularity adds a certain degree of insouciance to this system.”
Low Zang gave off waves of hurt.
“You always strive for symmetry. The destruction will render this system clean and even!”
“And sterile,” Proton said. “I say the truth that I see. It may become perfect, but even perfection needs to maintain interest. I don’t see that.”
“Would you prefer to destroy the perfect moon beside it? I would rather have it take the ruined world’s place in orbit. We’ll have eons of interesting movement while it settles!”
“I am only thinking ahead, young one,” Proton said.
“Are you saying I am making a mistake?” Low sent.
“No, only that it is not a choice I would have made.”
“You say that now? When we are so close to the event?”
“I have had more time to study it, Low Zang. I only ask that you consider my thoughts.”
“You don’t believe in me!”
“Please,” Charm Zang said, sending wave upon wave of comforting and peaceful impulses. “No need to be a disruptive presence.”
Proton read from her emissions that Low had retreated away from the group. It was surprised at the young one’s lack of confidence.
“I apologize for being disharmonious. I am sorry, Low Zang. I don’t question your artistic sense. It merely differs from my own. I have had a great deal of disruption around me. It interferes with my serene state of mind. One of the less-ephemeral species has been bending the sound waves around me. It interferes with my studies.”
“What does it want?” Low Zang asked, appeased by the apology and curious in spite of itself.
Proton shook off the uncomfortable vibrations coming from near it. “Why listen? It will be unimportant in the scheme of things.”
“I would listen,” Low Zang said.
“If you wish to,” Proton said, “you shall. They have stayed close to my core throughout this moment in between boarding the human shell and when I will join you.”
“I will,” Low said. Privately, it resolved to do so. If such an elder as Proton could keep pets, it could, too.
CHAPTER 29
We had a long wait before being able to make the final jump deep into Zang space, and a long period of nothingness awaited us aft
erward until we would reach the platform. Though it was by far the shortest interval remaining in our long journey from the Core Worlds, it seemed as though it stretched on beyond infinity.
“Possibly even as long as a Zang’s memory,” I suggested, as Xan paced the floor.
“Why can’t we just go?” he asked, kicking the edge of the rug with a peevish toe. “Who put that there?”
“It has been there all along,” Leonat said, sitting crosslegged on a padded footstool, with her elbows balanced upon her knees. She gestured to the couch beside her. We could chide Xan openly, as the present group contained only family. All of our retainers and Laine were spending the early part of the day-shift going about their own business, preparing for arrival. “Do sit down, Xan. It doesn’t make things go any faster while you walk up and back.”
“I’m bored!” Xan declared, as though it was a sensation new to him. He stormed toward the far wall. It had been repaired so that the damage done by the Kail was invisible. Then he returned and glared at all of us as though we had been the ones to scatter handfuls of smaller ships in our own path. “I’m tired of the Kail being everywhere we go. They’re such a nuisance! They behave as if we are beneath dirt. It’s horrible. The way they look at me makes me feel filthy.”
“Well, they do bathe far more often than we do,” Leonat said. “They’ve got a huge, freshwater pool in their cabin. They smell of rain-washed stone. It’s the nicest thing about them.”
“When they don’t stink of burning sulfur!” Rillion said, kicking off his shoes and lying prone in his stocking feet. His long red hair spread over the carpet. “You must not have been around when they emitted gases. Then they glare at one as if it was one’s fault. Oh, stars, Xan, sit down! You’re going to step on my hair.”
“I can’t,” Xan said. Rillion scrambled up out of his way and flopped down on a nearby couch. Xan continued to pace.
I waited until he had made one more annoyed circuit. I had observing him all my life, of course, as he was one of my favorite cousins, but of late I had taken to watching him and the others more closely, the better to work them into a grand performance with which I planned to conclude our journey when we returned home to Keinolt. There was no difficulty in giving them a bit of a preview. I sprang to my feet.
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