“Why not?” Saige asked. “Is it because someone told you not to?”
“It is true that I was asked not to interfere in matters between you and the Lobos,” Lariah admitted. “For the Jasani, such matters are intensely private and personal and should never be interfered with by others. But the biggest reason I don’t want to say anything is that I feel it would be wrong. Too much is at stake for all four of you. I would never forgive myself if I said something that caused you to react in a negative way.”
“I appreciate that,” Saige said reluctantly. They fell silent again for awhile, each lost in her own thoughts.
“By the way thank you for the meds and the toiletries,” Saige said. “I must remember to thank Suly as well for the clean clothes.”
“No need for thanks,” Lariah replied. “All I did was make a vox call.”
As the two women discussed more mundane matters, Saige continued to roll the issue of herself and the Lobos around in her mind, trying to come to a decision.
Val led the way from the patio into the house, across the living room and into the office, Faron, Dav and Ban following behind him. Faron was pleased to see Riata just preparing to leave the office as they entered.
“Riata, we would thank you again for your healing last night,” he said.
Riata smiled at him. “You are most welcome Faron Lobo,” she said. Her eyes grew speculative for a moment, and she smiled again. “Before you ask, let me set your concerns at rest. Yes, Saige has a genetic anomaly as Lariah had. It is not exactly the same, but my guess is that since she is your Arima, she will likely go through the transformation much as Lariah did.”
“We do not know anything about Lariah’s transformation,” Faron admitted. “Other than the obvious fact that it was successful.”
Riata glanced uncertainly at Garen. He smiled. “I greatly appreciate your concern for the privacy of your patients, Riata,” he said. “However this is a matter that concerns all Jasani, particularly those who find their Arima.”
Riata nodded with some relief and turned back to Faron.
“If you would like some privacy for this we will leave you,” Garen offered before Riata began.
“No, we would prefer that you stay, if you do not mind,” Faron replied. “You have been through this and may be able to offer advice that Riata cannot.”
“We do not mind,” Garen said. “Please be seated as this may take some time.”
Riata retook the chair she had just vacated and everyone else found a seat as well, pulling the chairs into a semi-circle so that all could be a part of the conversation.
When everyone was settled Riata began. “I have discussed this matter with the Jasani Elders who are most learned in these matters, and we all agree that during the mating ritual Lariah’s genetic code was rewritten, and her physical body altered to match.”
This was not a complete surprise to Faron. He had assumed as much when the announcement was made that she and his Princes were soul-linked. The first time he saw Lariah transform into her dracon had convinced him further.
“The first injection of serum enhanced her body’s regeneration ability. Which of course is why she survived the stab wound she suffered. However, the serum did not stop there. It went on to completely rewrite her genetic code. When it was finished, Lariah had the genetic code of a Jasani female, but she still had the body of a human female.”
Faron immediately understood the implications of that and his face paled as he glanced at Garen. Garen nodded. “It was terrifying,” he said. “Her vital signs began to fail almost immediately. Her breathing slowed, her heart slowed, her blood pressure dropped. We feared we were losing her, and we would have lost her, if not for Riata.”
Faron turned back to Riata, his heart in his throat at the thought of how close they had all come to losing Lariah. When he thought of the same thing happening to Saige, he wanted to howl.
“At that point, the second serum injection was given,” Riata said, her voice gentle as she sensed the Lobos’ near panic. “Her vital signs returned to normal immediately afterward. The second injection began the transformation of her physical body to match her new genetic code.”
“That was the most difficult part of the entire thing,” Trey said. All eyes turned to him. “Her body underwent a massive change, and it was not without pain.”
Riata nodded in agreement, shivering as she remembered the pain Lariah’s body had endured. “If not for the Dracon’s ability to hold Lariah in a deep sleep, I am not certain how I would have managed to get her through that experience,” she admitted.
“But we were able to keep her deeply unconscious,” Garen said. “I admit that the experience was a nightmare from all of the nine hells for us, but Lariah remembers nothing of it.” His eyes met Faron’s. “If you decide to attempt the mating ritual with Saige, please call on us so that we may perform the same service for your Arima.”
Faron let out a relieved sigh. “We will, Highness, and thank you for the offer. We could not otherwise go through the mating ritual with our Arima knowing that she would suffer such pain.”
Garen nodded in understanding. Faron turned back to Riata.
“Is that it then?” he asked hopefully. “She sleeps while her body changes, and then she is a Jasani?”
“No, not quite,” Riata replied. “Once the physical changes were complete, Lariah was fully a Jasani female, and a dracon. However, when she awoke, she was already deep into the Jasani mating fever.”
Faron shook his head. “I do not understand,” he said. “The two injections were given, but at the same time, an injection is needed to perform the soul-link triad and quiet the mating fever before it kills the female.” He turned to Garen again, an expression of panic on his face.
“We gave her a third injection,” Garen said.
Faron, Dav and Ban gaped openly. “A third injection?” Faron asked faintly. “How is that possible?”
“Our mating fangs did not shed after the second use,” Garen replied.
Faron considered that in silence for a few moments before shaking his head again. “I do not know how you had the courage to take such a risk.”
Garen chuckled softly. “We did not,” he admitted ruefully. “It was Riata who figured it out and insisted that we give the third injection. Still, we may not have gone through with it had Lariah not been in such distress, and had Riata not warned us that to refrain would most likely result in her death.”
“Yes, I can see how that might have given you incentive,” Faron agreed wryly.
“Because Lariah’s entire genetic code and her body were altered completely in her transformation to a Jasani female, it was much like being reborn,” Riata said. “Though she looks exactly the same, she no longer has the same body that she had before.”
“You believe that if Saige goes through the same transformation that the damage caused by her disease will be reversed?” Faron asked, hardly daring to hope.
“No,” Riata said. “Not reversed. Erased as though it had never been. Or perhaps replaced would be a better term. Her entire body will be made anew. Whatever the term used, she will no longer have the damage, or the limitations caused by the damage.”
“What about the damage caused by the seizures?” Faron asked. “And the seizures themselves?”
“The disease caused the seizures originally,” Riata said. “However, each time one occurs, it not only causes more damage, but it also increases the likelihood of another seizure. At this point, I can, and will, heal the disease. But I cannot heal the seizures because the damage caused by them is scarring, and I cannot heal scarring.
“It is the scarring that is now responsible for many of her seizures as the medications she takes reduce the disease’s ability to cause them. If she goes through the transformation, that scarring will be erased, as all other scarring is erased. Once the scarring is gone, her seizures will also be gone.”
“Not being able to bear children is a fact that we gladly accept in orde
r to have Saige,” Faron said. “The seizures are a different matter. They could take her from us at any time, and that is something we cannot accept if it can be changed. For that reason alone, we must try to convince Saige to stay with us, and undergo the transformation.”
Riata’s eyes became worried. “Yes, I agree with you that the seizures must be stopped. The amount of scarring she has from them is quite extensive. I cannot guess how many more of them she would be able to tolerate, but I am certain it is few.”
“Is it necessary to heal the disease?” Faron asked. “If the transformation will cause such a drastic change in her body, won’t it erase the disease as well?”
“Perhaps,” Riata replied. “But I am not certain, and I would prefer not to take such a chance. I think it would be better to heal the disease first, before the transformation.”
“Very well,” Faron replied. “We will, of course, follow your advice.” Faron paused for a moment. “I do not wish to place pressure on you Riata, especially after all you have done for us,” he began, but Riata held up one hand, palm out.
“It is mine to Heal, Faron Lobo,” she said gently. “I promise you that it is my intent to heal Saige as soon as I am able. I am sorry that I will need one, perhaps two days of rest before I am able to summon the energy necessary to do so.”
Faron felt a loosening of the tension in his neck and shoulders that he had not really noticed before it relaxed. “Whenever you are ready, we will be most grateful.” Faron knew that there was no more to be said. But he also knew that, should Riata ever have need, he and his brothers would offer all they had on her behalf.
Riata rose from her chair. “I believe that is all you have need of me for,” she said. “I will let you get on with your business.” She bowed to Garen, Trey and Val, nodded to the Lobos and left the room, taking with her the small cloud of peace and serenity that always surrounded her.
“She is an amazing being,” Faron said softly.
“She is that,” Garen agreed.
Chapter 25
Darleen Flowers was still in a snit when she awoke the next morning. She was no closer to thinking of a suitable revenge against the Lobos and Saige than she had been the day before. The truth was, she had no power here on Jasan. Her beauty and sexuality were dull and useless weapons in a world where males were capable of responding to only one female.
She ignored her sister’s queries as she slammed and banged her way through breakfast. Caitlyn quickly gave up trying to speak with her, much to Darleen’s relief. Soon after Caitlyn left to open her shop, Darleen headed back upstairs to shower and dress.
An hour later she was half way down the stairs when the door bell rang. She considered ignoring it, but took a quick peek through the curtains first, and saw a young man with handsome, if delicate, features on the doorstep. She took a quick check of herself in the mirror before reaching for the door knob, already having mentally catalogued and assessed the cost of the man’s outfit to within a credit of its actual purchase price. When she pulled the door open she immediately upped her original estimate by a large margin as she offered him her most carefully uncertain smile.
“Miss Flowers?” the man asked. Darleen immediately changed her estimate of the man’s age. She was too good at fooling others by her own physical appearance to be easily fooled by another in the same way.
“Yes?” she asked politely.
“My name is Lio Perry. I would like to discuss a business proposition with you,” he said.
“A business proposition?” she repeated doubtfully.
“We can speak here or, if you prefer we can go for a walk around your quaint little neighborhood.”
The way he said the word quaint was exactly the same as the way Darleen thought the word. She sensed in this man a kindred spirit, and that made her nervous. “There is a cafe in town called the CoffeeSpot,” she suggested but the man was shaking his head before she finished.
“It would be most unfortunate should we be overheard,” he said.
Darleen had the strongest impression that the misfortune would effect whomever might be unlucky enough to overhear them, rather than themselves. She liked that kind of thinking.
“Let me grab my purse,” she said. The man nodded and stepped away from the door. Darleen reached for her purse lying on the foyer table, flipped the lock on the door and stepped outside. For some reason, she felt a small thrill of excitement. She did not know what this man had in mind, but she had a feeling she was going to like it.
Chapter 26
“We received a copy of all transmissions made from the Cosmic Glory from the moment we placed it under heightened surveillance, to the moment it was destroyed,” Garen said once Riata was gone and the door firmly closed behind her. “It took some time to weed through the usual vids of the crew to their families, position and fuel reports, and so forth, but we came up with one very interesting conversation between Captain Graey and an unknown recipient.”
Garen leaned forward and pressed a button on the vid screen that was set at an angle so everyone could see it. They all saw Captain Graey’s round, sweaty face appear on the screen, and they all heard him as he spoke. They heard nothing of the other party though, only silence.
As Faron watched the Captain relate every word of his conversation with Jackson Bearen, he noted that the nervously bumbling and confused man that they had met was not in evidence. He was clear, concise, nearly word perfect in his recitation. He did not fidget or even wipe at the obvious sweat beading on his high forehead.
When the transmission ended Garen turned it off. “The Cosmic Glory was destroyed exactly 4.3 minutes after the end of that transmission. One of our planet surface surveillance satellites recorded the ground-car explosion, which took place precisely 2.2 minutes after the end of that transmission. The same satellite also recorded a faint trace of energy directed at the ground-car 45 seconds before the car blew. We would not have known about it if they had not been looking for it. A reverse plot of the energy trace ended in empty space. There is no record of any ship being anywhere near those coordinates for weeks.
“We did not have any equipment trained on the Cosmic Glory at the time it blew that would have recorded, or even noticed, an energy trace like the one aimed at the ground-car.”
“Are we thinking Narrasti?” Faron asked.
“In the past eight and a half months we have had every source we can call into play searching under every rock in the Thousand Worlds for the Narrasti, and we’ve come up empty. I cannot believe that a civilization as advanced as what we are dealing with now could remain in hiding so completely for so long.”
“Advanced?” Ban asked, frowning. “A blocked transmission, a sub-dermal explosive or two in the ground-car and a bomb on the Cosmic Glory don’t seem to add up to an advanced civilization to me. Those are common enough technologies for anyone to get hold of if they wish.”
“That is true,” Garen agreed. “But there was a ship within Jasani space that went unnoticed and unrecorded by any of our system defense sensor grids, satellites or ships. The ship came, and presumably left, without detection by the Joint Forces Defense grid either. Whoever Captain Graey spoke with was able to block their own half of the vid transmission without bothering to block the Captain’s, and last but not least, there is the controller.” Garen paused for a moment. Just thinking about that damn object made him feel ill.
“We do not know exactly how it works as yet,” he said, a note of strain in his voice that he did not try to conceal. “It uses a type of nano-technology that is far beyond anything we have ever seen or heard of. However, according to our scientists, it’s clear that the object is a control interface for a human mind. It is perhaps the most insidious thing we have come across in centuries.”
Every man in the room felt nauseated just thinking of what such an object could be used for. Faron, Dav and Ban all had a very difficult few moments when they remembered that the object they were discussing had been meant for Saige.
> “Please tell us that the Bearens were able to find logical reasons for all of that unclaimed luggage,” Faron said.
“No, they have not,” Garen replied. “At this point there are just over 125 females unaccounted for whose luggage is currently stored at the spaceport. They have sent out tracers on all of them. So far only a few replies have been received, but none of them have been good.”
“Not the Narrasti then,” Faron said. “I agree of course, if they were that advanced, we would certainly have located them by now. But who?”
“We don’t know,” Garen replied wearily. “Here is what we do know: whoever it is, they have been abducting females in route to Jasan for at least two years that we know of. They are able to identify potential Arimas, and are targeting them specifically. We believe they use advanced technology to control their captives. They have advanced enough technology that they have been able to invade our space without giving away a hint of their presence. And, they have found a way to circumvent all of our immigration and security protocols, placing humans and humanoids on Jasan that should not be here.”
“So Lucky, Willy and Frank didn’t have ident cards because they weren’t even supposed to be on Jasan,” Faron said.
“Correct. Nor was there anything in the cargo bay to give us a hint where it came from. The ground-truck had all of its identifying numbers removed, the crate had nothing on it or in it to identify its source. The only thing the forensics team could come up with were the real names for the three human men. All three were convicted small time criminals, and all three were supposed to be serving time on a minimum security prison planet. Their disappearance had never even been reported.”
“I am not sure I understand the overall goal,” Faron said. “Are they attempting to harm the Jasani, or are they attempting to make money in the female slave trade?”
“At this time, we are assuming both,” Garen replied. “That is also the consensus of the council. The Royal Navy has been placed on Level Three alert, and all stations are on Condition Yellow as of about two hours ago. I have called the Bearens in as well. They are activating their replacements at the spaceport and expect to be here in the next couple of days for a meeting with us. After that they will report to the council, then take command of the Planetary Defense System.”
The Lobos' Heartsong Page 21
