“You have no idea,” he said, putting the mug down. “Thankfully I kept my mental powers, but to lose the use of the senses that I’ve relied on all my life for those of the Valtegans . . .”
“I’m sure they’d feel the same if they were given the chance to morph into one of us,” said Noni placidly. “How’s Kaid doing?”
“I thought you’d be one of the first people wanting to see him,” said Kusac more somberly. “He’s grieving over the loss of his father, as is Carrie over Jo, but it’s a normal grief, completely understandable.”
“I was one of the first to see you all,” said Noni. “I went up to the hospital after everyone was settled in, and examined them myself. But that was two days ago now. I wanted to know how he’s been in the meantime.”
Kusac picked up his mug again. “As I said, grieving in his own way, and spending time with T’Chebbi since they won’t let her out of her bed because of her surgery.”
“She’ll be all right,” reassured Noni, catching his underlying concern for T’Chebbi. “Her arm will be fine for normal life, she just won’t have the strength she needs to be a fighter again.”
“She’ll find that very hard,” said Kusac.
“At first, but when she sets up as a trainer and has those berrans of her own with Kaid, she’ll find life sweet again,” said Noni with confidence.
“Kaid a father with a young cub,” said Kusac with a slow grin. “This I have to see. Actually, I will. There’s his daughter Layeesha that I haven’t met, and Dhyshac, my son with Carrie. They’ll be what now? Just short of two years old?”
Noni nodded. “And Kashini is creeping up on three soon,” she said. “Proper little miss she is! You’ll have your hands full with them as well as the other older cubs.”
Kusac leaned forward, all traces of humor gone from him. “How will the authorities on Shola see the cubs? Will they want to take them into their care and away from us? Do you have any idea what they plan?”
“I’m glad you asked,” she said, eyes twinkling at him over the top of her mug. “I think you need to make a public arrival on Shola. Very public, and very ostentatious. I heard how your entry with Shaidan at the royal banquet went. You need to do something like that. Get some of your alien friends to arrive with you.” She put her mug back on the table. “Land at Shanagi Spaceport. Some friendly press agent getting an exclusive would also help to get the news out to all of Shola.”
Kusac began laughing. “No one could call you naive, Noni,” he chuckled. “If we arrive like that with the cubs, all done out in the open, there is no way they could touch them without a public outcry. Do we tell the truth about their genesis?”
“Yes. Then the authorities can hold nothing about them over your heads. See if you can get that newscaster you had for you and Carrie back in the day to interview you when you arrive. You’ve time enough for her to start a campaign of your organizing in return for her exclusive news of the cubs, and the new alien treaties.”
“You mean that Vorkoh female, Rhaema Vorkoh of Infonet,” he said, dredging up her name from memory. “Yes, I could call her from here and set this up. She’d need a special pass to get access to us, though, and I don’t see the Governor’s office granting her that.”
“Oh, you don’t tell the Governor what you’re doing, lad,” said Noni. “Only person who knows is this Rhaema lass. She’s waiting for you on Chagda space station where you pick her up, then you alert the Governor’s office you plan to land with delegates from the various alien species.”
Kusac stared at her, still laughing, then shook his head. “Talk about making an entrance,” he said. “I’ll need to get Kezule involved and get him choosing a delegation to discuss treaties with Shola. You don’t plan small, Noni.”
“I took a leaf out of your book, Kusac,” she said. “And I can’t take all the credit for it. Conner had more to do with this idea than me. He’s used to that kind of thing, after all.”
“If we make it all public before we even land, and they see who we have as friends and allies, they won’t dare try to hide the cubs from the public, or to take them away from us. They’ll be safe.”
Noni nodded. “Safe to be the cubs they are and grow up knowing the security of Clan and family. How you planning to get home?”
“My ship the Venture’s been here for months. Right now, a Prime work crew is changing the Captain’s lounge and office into a dorm and play area for the cubs. They’ll be sleeping right beside Carrie and me. Most of my people will travel back with me—she’s big enough to carry nine folk, three as passengers, the other six will be needed as crew. I’m getting Banner and Jurrel to travel with the Prime scouter as they know the finer points of navigating to the space station, while two of them, probably Cheelar and Noolgoi, travel with us. Toueesut is returning with us, so Kitra and Dzaka are traveling with him.”
“Sounds like you’re able to change out your crew to give everyone some down time. And with a fine escort of your alien friends’ ships, you should easily get home safely.”
Kusac got to his feet and leaned over to plant a kiss on Noni’s forehead. “Bless you, Noni, we’ll be fine. I’ll get right on with contacting Infonet and Toueesut now. When do you plan to go home?”
“In a month or two, when our work here is done.”
The Venture, Zhal-Nylam 6th (September)
The Venture sat on its launch pad at the Prime spaceport just outside the City of Light. The Couana, their crew having already said their good-byes, waited for them at the orbital space station along with a ship belonging to the TeLaxaudin. On it, as Ambassadors, were Azwokkus and Khassis, as well as the Cabbarans Shvosi and Kuvaa. Ready to join them were the Watcher ship crewed by Tirak and Annuur and their crews, and the Vanguard, a Prime scouter, crewed by Cheelar and his brother M’yikku.
Public leave-taking had been done back at the Palace, but Kezule and his wife, Doctor Zayshul, had been joined by King Zsurtul and Queen Zhalmo to actually see them off.
Banner nudged Jurrel. “Let’s get settled on the Vanguard,” he said. “Leave the brass to say good-bye.”
“Aye,” said Jurrel. “Be good to get home and drink c’shar from real mugs again!”
“I grabbed a couple mugs and some brew from the Venture for us,” said Banner. “It’s in my backpack. I figured since they’d have to have a couple of those bowls and some maush for M’yikku and Cheelar, we could have our share of the drinking rations!”
“Sweet,” said Jurrel. “Maush is all right, but I’m used to c’shar.”
“I didn’t get a lot of it, so we’ll likely have to drink maush as well, but at least it will be from mugs.”
Banner caught Kusac’s eye and signaled to him they were going to their berths on the Vanguard. Kusac nodded his assent and turned back to his conversation with Zsurtul.
“I enjoyed my time on Shola,” the young King was saying reminiscently. “I would like to visit again some day.” He smiled as Zhalmo reached out to touch Gaylla on the cheek. “We will both miss the cubs a lot.”
“You can come to visit us any time you wish,” said Carrie, adjusting her hold on Gaylla as the young female leaned over to return the gesture with a pat of her own to Zhalmo’s cheek.
“Come visit us when you has your baby an’ we’s can play wif him,” said Gaylla with a smile. “Be more fun then.”
Shocked exclamations from Carrie and Zsurtul were met with embarrassment from Zhalmo, and a knowing look from Kusac, over the top of Shaidan’s head, to Carrie.
“I was going to tell you later today,” the young female murmured to her husband. “I didn’t want to overshadow the leave-taking with my news.”
“It’s wonderful news,” said Zsurtul, putting his arm around his wife and pulling her closer to his side.
“You shouldn’t tell people that kind of news,” Shaidan said quietly to his sister. “That’s too personal.
”
“I’ll explain it to her later,” Kusac said quietly, settling Shaidan on his hip again. “You’re getting heavy,” he said. “Must be all that good food you’ve been eating! Time we got you back to doing some exercises with M’Nar and Jerenn.”
“Can we do that in the Venture?” asked Shaidan hopefully. “It’s so boring being ill.”
“There’s enough room in the cargo hold for some practice,” said Kusac. “It would be cold down there, but I’m sure there’s a way to get it heated. We’ll talk about that later.” Kusac held his hand out to Kezule. “Thank you for your help in getting Shaidan back,” he said. “It took us a while, but eventually we grew to appreciate each other.”
Kezule took the offered hand and shook it. “It was a rather trying relationship for a long time, mainly because of me,” he admitted. “You taught me a lot about myself that I won’t forget.”
“Thank you for looking after our cubs,” Carrie said to the Doctor. “Without your and your husband’s care, neither Shaidan or Gaylla would be with us today.”
“They were just children. What K’hedduk planned to do with them was just dreadful,” she said. “We had to help them, that’s why Kezule went to rescue them.”
“Not everyone would have done that for the children of their enemies, as we were seen at that time.”
Zayshul made a gesture of negation. “Kezule never saw the cubs like that,” she said. “Only as children in need of rescue.”
“Time to go,” said Kusac. “Garras is telling me Tirak and M’yikku are ready for liftoff, as is he.”
“Good-bye and we will come and visit you soon,” said King Zsurtul, clasping Kusac by the hand.
“Good-bye, Zsurtul and Zhalmo. Be well,” said Kusac as Carrie gave the queen a hug.
Sholan Space, Zhal-Nylam 27th (September)
“Approaching Shanagi Spaceport,” said M’Nar’s voice over the ship’s com. “Coordinating landing with the Couana, Vanguard, Watcher, and the Telaxaudin’s Ambassador. Telling Shanagi we want five adjacent landing pads. Waiting their reply now.”
“Acknowledged,” said Kusac, raising his voice slightly before turning his attention back to Rhaema Vorkoh who had been talking to the cubs.
“Okay, younglings,” said Carrie, getting to her feet. “We’re landing shortly, so it’s time you got yourselves ready. Hair brushed, clothes clean and tidy. Yes, that includes your dolly, Gaylla,” Carrie said in response to a look from the young female. “Then when the command comes, get yourselves onto your designated bed or seat and pull the crash net over you. I’ll come round to check you’ve all got it right.”
As they sat there looking at her, she clapped her hands together. “Scoot! I want you to do this now!”
A chorus of “Yes, Aunty Carrie,” with a “Yes, Mommy,” in there, greeted her as they began to get up and scatter to their room.
“I can’t believe it,” Rhaema said, scribbling on her tablet. “And they really are only about a year old?”
“As near as we can work it out,” said Kusac. “Don’t be misled though, they have the functioning minds of ten-year-olds.”
“Oh, I can see that!” she said. “Apart from the one called Gaylla, that is.”
“Yes,” said Carrie, getting to her feet. “We think there was a fault that caused a delay in her being birthed from the tank and she suffered some oxygen deprivation. Whatever the reason, we are keeping her with us as a member of our family. Kusac, I’m going to see to Shaidan. He’s wanting me to see to his hair. One of his braids has come undone.” She laughed gently. “He does so like to have his hair done the same way as his father.”
“Shaidan does seem very different from the others—more mature.”
Kusac nodded. “He’s been their leader, watching out for them all, but especially Gaylla. But every now and then, like the others, he has a childish meltdown as if he was a four-year-old. They’re becoming more normal every day.”
Rhaema looked up at Kusac. “I’m sure they are. And sure that having fine braids at the front of your hair will become a new fashion,” she said. “Where did that idea come from?”
“The Primes,” said Kusac. “Not having hair, they often have circlets with fabric braids that they’ll wear. While they were helping to look after Shaidan, they braided all his hair to make it easier for them to cope with.”
She nodded, and finally put her tablet away. “So does Governor Nesul know you are arriving today with Ambassadors from four alien cultures?”
“If you contacted his office, then he’ll be sure of what’s happening,” said Kusac. “I called my father, Konis Aldatan, a day ago, to let the Governor know what we were planning. So far, Governor Nesul hasn’t contacted me.”
“Am I right in saying your hope is that by arriving so publically, with the story of the cubs and their genesis not only on the front pages of Infonet, but also going out live as we speak, that your children will be allowed the peace and privacy to grow up on your estate with their parents?”
“Yes, we want to ensure they don’t become test subjects for the medical profession to examine and poke and prod. These are our cubs, our sons and daughters, they deserve a life of quality and family after such an uncaring beginning. And we plan to make sure they get it.”
“Thank you, Kusac Aldatan, of the En’Shalla Clan, for sharing not only your hopes but letting me meet your cubs for myself.”
The recording light on the small drone camera she had brought with her winked out. “I appreciate your contacting me with this story, Captain Aldatan. It’s going to make the other networks absolutely mad with jealousy! You are going to be the main topic of news for several days now.”
“Well, we don’t want to deal with any other stations, Rhaema, so if you need more information from us, please contact me at the number I gave you. If you can keep the others off our backs, you can have the exclusives.”
Kusac got to his feet. “I have to go to the bridge now. Lieutenant T’Chebbi will look after you as we make our approach to the spaceport and land there.”
* * *
Kusac walked smartly down the corridor to the bridge, keying in the security code and letting himself in. He slipped into his seat at the main console, ready for the chatter with the flight tower.
“Tower to Venture, you and your party are clear to land at bays twelve through sixteen. Bay twelve has been allocated for you.”
“Thank you, tower,” said M’Nar. “Proceeding to bay twelve. Incoming call from Governor Nesul,” he added.
“Put it through to my board,” said Kusac. “Governor, how can I help you?” he asked.
“I’m disappointed in you, Kusac. I thought you would have landed quietly in your own estate, not go for something this public.”
“It was the only way to be sure our cubs are treated like the children they are and not have them end up in some laboratory.”
“They are unique, Kusac. I am already inundated with requests by various departments, all wanting to study them.”
“Then this makes it easy for you. They are our cubs, but will also be part of the trade and peace treaties with all the species accompanying me today. You will be given full transcripts of the cubs’ genesis, and all the particulars of their early days, but that is all. They will not be subject to any tests or interviews by anyone. They will be left alone to grow up as normally as possible, given they are physically ten years old with minds that have only been awake for about a year.”
“What about the technology to grow them to that age? I know our medical experts badly want that. It could be invaluable for organ transplant alone.”
“Nothing to do with me or the cubs. That technology belongs to the TeLaxaudin. I don’t know if they plan to make it available to you. That is something you will have to discuss with them.”
Kusac caught a hand signal from M’Nar and abruptly ended the c
onversation . “Sorry, Governor, but I am needed on the bridge. This will have to wait till later.” He cut the connection and began to ready his board to take over the landing sequence from Garras.
* * *
“Keep her engine ready to take off, Garras. This is only a short stop till we head back to the estate with Toueesut and my sister and Dzaka.”
“Aye,” said Garras, powering down the engines to an idle.
“Home,” said Jerenn. “Hardly seems possible. Must be worse for you, you’ve been away so much longer.”
“Nearly two years for me,” said Kusac, unfastening his restraints and getting to his feet. “How long for you, Garras?”
“Coming on eight months, I think,” he said, getting up from his post and stretching from head to tail tip. “Vanna’s got them into a frenzy of cooking at the main house. We’ll be eating till our sides split if they’ve any say in it. Who you taking out with you?”
“Kaid, M’Nar and Jerenn, and Cheelar. I want you all armed and ready to form a barrier between the cubs and the authorities if need be. Carrie will be in charge of the cubs, I’ll be with you as the spokesperson. Garras, be ready to take off at a minute’s notice, just in case it all goes wrong out there.”
“Will do,” said the older male, sitting back down at his post and pulling up the view outside the Venture so he could watch everything for himself. “Your father’s there,” he said a moment later.
Kusac nodded as he headed toward the bridge door. “I know, we’ve been chatting mentally for a few minutes,” he said. “We should be all right as they’ve not had the time to put any kind of opposition together. This has been as sudden for them as we hoped it would be. Now let’s get outside and get this over with,” he said, activating the bridge door.
* * *
“You said I wouldn’t have to do this again,” said Shaidan, as he stood with Kusac before the closed air lock door.
“Last time we were alone,” said Kusac. “Just you and me. This time it’s all of you cubs, and you have both Mama and me with you.”
Circle's End Page 50
