Lyon's Pride

by Anne McCaffrey

  “Just forget that asinine suggestion, Prime, and I’ll forget you made it.”

  Thian shrugged. “As you wish, Commander, but I feel obliged to mention that there would be no risk. The creatures are purpose-built, as it were, and can do no more than they were designed to do—run those small access ways to make necessary repairs.”

  “Repairs are NOT the problem, Lyon. IF,” and the commander’s pause was significant, “and when you come up with any more such bright ideas, use the proper channels.” The screen went blank.

  Flavia then doubled up with a fit of the giggles.

  You were marvelous, Thian, she ’pathed, since she was physically incapable of speaking intelligently through her laughter. Oh, Roj, that man’s been impossible since we came on duty. To begin with, he doesn’t like Talents and resents having to work with us. And the stupid things he wanted Clancy to do…The only one on this watch with any sense is Rame Kloo. SHE thinks we should make a device like the palps of the queen and see if the board can’t be activated by using those.

  Pressure-operated? A sequence needed? What? Which?

  Thian had turned away from the blank screen, his facial expression one of disgust and frustration.

  “Okay, engineer, you got any ideas? I sure would like us Primes to start up that bloody ship of theirs. Hell, we’ve done all the work on it so far, following it, capturing it, stealing it, and bringing it back. Lighting the whole damn thing up so they could see where they were going. And now we’re supposed to turn it on. They’re the naval experts. We’re just lousy T&Ts.” Then Thian let out a long breath and apologized to them for sounding off.

  “You got the right, bro,” Rojer said and then cocked his head. “You got the right idea, too. Only putting one of the queen’s scuttle bugs on the ship isn’t going to solve anything. If I remember correctly, Grandmother Rowan was under the distinct impression that the queens gave all the orders so if the scuttle hasn’t any orders, it’ll just sit there.”

  Thian regarded his brother, flicked his grey eyes to Flavia and a smile started to curve his lips.

  Now, just a minute, Thian, Rojer said with more intensity than he intended, I got in trouble…

  YOU didn’t get in trouble, Roj, Thian said; his eyes sparkled with sudden anger as he corrected his brother. And you had enough smarts to recognize Big Trouble when you saw it. So did Gil and Kat.

  The unexpected reminder brought tears to Rojer’s eyes. This was the first time any one in his family had spoken so bluntly about the incident. But Thian was wound up and Rojer forced himself to ignore that painful reminder and concentrate on what his brother was saying.

  But I think we all have the same idea. Flavia? She nodded. I’ll clear it with Grandad, Thian added. Besides, we’d need his help and Roddie’s at the Observatory. But it could be done.

  The Navy’d have apoplexy, Rojer began, although the idea was taking firm root as the only way to many objectives, not the least of which was confounding people like Admiral del Falco who fundamentally did not like Talents and made their distrust and hatred as obvious as the commander had.

  Okay, Thian, how would we go about it? Rojer asked.

  Thian crossed his ankles, dangling them off the side of his couch, his hands clasped between his thighs. Well, it’d take a fair amount of timing. One, getting Roddie to falsify the recorders in the Observatory so no one knows the queen is gone. Two, we gotta have the queens’ chambers on the Refugee cleared of people and right now technicians are crammed into them, each thinking he or she’ll find the switch-on. Three, we need the right sort of personnel on duty, both ’Dini and Human, so no one panics when the ship turns on.

  How can we be sure the queen’ll cooperate even if we could get her there? Flavia asked.

  If you’d been locked up away from all that was familiar to you, and you were suddenly in a ship you could operate, wouldn’t you try to escape? Thian asked.

  I would, being a Human, Flavia said.

  A ’Dini would, too, Rojer said. But would a Hive queen?

  I think so, Roj, Thian said thoughtfully. You said they didn’t waste any time scramming from Refugee when they were threatened. I think survival is the highest priority of queens.

  But if it takes twelve queens to crew a ship, Flavia put in, and that’s what our experts believe now…

  So, if she just stands there as she’s been doing, we won’t have lost anything, will we? Thian said. But look how survival-oriented she is—hatching attendants to tend to her needs first, then the tiny ones she obviously hoped would be able to get out of the facility. She hasn’t done a thing since they failed. Common sense suggests she’d try.

  And that’s all we need her to do, isn’t it? Try? Flavia said. Show us how to start that wretched ship up. Then we can leave this installation and do something more appropriate to our rank and skills.

  Thian and Rojer both regarded Flavia with surprise.

  I’m Tower-trained, Flavia said with a touch of asperity, and while I’ve certainly enjoyed a break from my usual duties, I do not appreciate being belittled by persons like that commander. She pursed her lips and regarded the brothers with a slightly defensive expression, as if daring them to reprimand her.

  Thian smiled, and Rojer rolled his eyes as his brother soothed Flavia. “Yeah, it could get under your skin. But then, you have every right to be annoyed at the treatment we’ve been getting. I’ve been serving on Navy ships so it doesn’t bother me as much but that commander’s attitude needs adjusting.” He winked at Flavia and then Rojer. They’d been reasonably sure that their ready room conversations were being recorded, a standard operating procedure. So, do we put this bright idea through the proper channels?

  Granddad? What if he doesn’t like it? Conflicting emotions which obviously didn’t worry Thian at all besieged Rojer. But then Thian…Rojer canceled that line of thought.

  So, we get our heads handed back to us by one more authority. Thian shrugged. I think it’d be kind of fun to try! Hell’s bells, Roj, it was your notion to begin with.

  Yeah, but… Then Rojer stopped to ponder the ramifications.

  Yeah, but, Thian dared him, if it’s young Engineer Prime Lyon who shows the Navy boffins just how easy it was to determine where to turn the power on…It’d shake a lot of people and ’Dinis up and certainly give us Primes a minor triumph.

  I’m game, Flavia said with a laugh, her eyes twinkling as she was caught up by both mischief and a possible triumph. Then her expression sobered. CAN we transport a Hiver?

  We’ve never run across anything we couldn’t port, Thian said, and both Roj and I have handled some pretty odd packages. Hell’s bells, Flavia, you were in with me and Grandmother stealing that sphere. We just steal the queen—for a few minutes. Okay? And before his fellow conspirators could restrain him, Thian sent a finely tuned message to Earth Prime.

  Are you available, Earth Prime?

  To you, Thian, always.

  We’ve an idea which needs your clearance, sir, and your help.

  Let me have it. When Thian finished the explanation, all three young Primes held their breath throughout the seemingly endless silence from their superior. As the naval operation seems stymied, obviously an unusual step must be taken to break the impasse. Yours makes more sense than any others I’ve heard. And certainly poses no danger to anyone. Of course, the queen might not be docile once she realizes where she is. Can you cope with that possibility and be able to restrain her?

  All we’d have to do is ’port her back to Roddie.

  But should she start the ship up…

  Sir, Rojer said, a ship this size takes time for its engines to warm up to take-off power. We’d have her back in her quarters before she’d get that far in a countdown.

  Look, I’ll hedge that possible problem with a little safety net of my own, Jeff Raven said. I’ll contact Roddie myself to see how we organize the…ah…excursion from his end. I gather she’s in one of her immobile states now.

  * * *

&nbs
p; Lieutenant Rhodri Eagle was only too happy to conspire to “loan” his prisoner to the scheme.

  I’ve kilos of recordings I can set in place. But you are sure she can’t just scuttle out of the queens’ quarters and get loose in the ship?

  That possibility’s being handled, Thian assured his cousin. There had been so many minor injuries of personnel falling into tubes, tunnels and crawl-spaces that grills had been placed over apertures not in use. The ones leading from the queens’ quarters could be telekinetically “locked” down.

  Sort of mean of us, though, isn’t it? Giving her false hope? Roddie asked, showing an unexpected sympathy for the Hiver queen.

  Hey, man, you need a change of duty if you’re starting to think like that, Thian replied.

  Well, you know, maybe I ought to apply for a transfer. This duty was exciting—for a while. But the glamour has long since worn off. Any chance of you guys speaking up for me? Roddie asked.

  Sure thing. Who to? Earth Prime or your c.o.? What sort of duty did you have in mind?

  ANYTHING. I’ve even learned enough ’Dini to get along with them!

  We’ll tell you when to switch tapes. Get one picked out and ready to substitute because we’ll have to move fast when we do.

  Getting a chance to speak privately with Lieutenant Commander Semirame Kloo might have presented some problems but she solved that by appearing at their table, tray in hand, during the next meal break. They had chosen this end of the officers’ mess room because the next table was empty.

  “Can I join you? Or are you off naval types?”

  “Why would we be?” Thian said, surprised at her query.

  “Baldwin!” she said succinctly, sliding her tray into the surface and seating herself. “I heard how strong he came on today, the xenophobic pea-brain. He hates having to work with mixed crews, and that means you as well as the ’Dinis. He also wants to take all the credit for any progress made on his watch as he’s a little overdue for promotion, you see.”

  Thian grinned at her. This mess hall bug-free?

  Rame Kloo rolled her eyes and grinned at Thian.

  “Sure is. Whatcha got to say?” While her eyes began to sparkle with curiosity and her body tensed ever so slightly with anticipation, she started on her meal, acting in a perfectly normal manner. “But remember to say something out loud so no one’ll wonder why this corner of the room’s gone silent.”

  So Thian began one of the double-talking conversations he was becoming adept at. “Chow’s good today and we sure need the break.” We have an idea that we could get the queen to show us how to power up the Refugee.

  “Hmmm, so it is.” And Rame chewed with evident relish. Tell me more, you delightfully devious man!

  All three Talents took turns explaining the plan, sprinkling innocuous comments now and then. When all was made clear, Rame looked wistfully down at her empty plate.

  “I know that was a good meal but I’ve absolutely no recollection of what I ate…”

  “You nearly choked once…” Rojer said, keeping his face straight with an effort.

  “And had two coughing fits…” Flavia added helpfully.

  “But we can do it,” Rame said. “Only it will have to be on the next watch. I’m on, so is Glmtml….”

  “It’d go along with this?” Thian was surprised.

  “Oh, you’d be surprised,” and she switched to covert speech, at what old Glmtml’d do, it’s so fed up with some of the brass on this project. She blotted her lips with the napkin, rose and picked up her tray. “Thanks for the company. Like to do it more often while you’re here.” I may need your discreet help in rearranging the duty roster? Like having the less cooperative types sent to check out ordnance? She grinned with sheer malevolence. The Refugee had racks of missiles but no launchers set in installations clearly awaiting them: yet another sign of how rushed the Hivers had been to leave their system and its decaying primary.

  “Any time,” Thian said. “See you around?”

  “Yup!” and Semirame Kloo strode confidently toward the disposal slot, slipped in her tray and left the wardroom.

  * * *

  Slightly more than an hour later, Kloo gave a polite rap at the Talents’ ready-room door before she slipped quickly inside, a grin plastered on her face, as she flattened herself against the wall.

  Got some tinkering for you to do with the duty roster. Gotta get it done in the next five minutes. Can you?

  Throw it up in the air and I’ll catch, Thian said without moving from his couch.

  Rame hesitated a moment, shrugged and tossed a folded piece of film up in the air. It disappeared.

  I can have everyone crucial to this operation of yours in position fifteen minutes before this watch ends. Okay? she added.

  Couldn’t be okayer.

  She was gone as smoothly as she’d arrived. Thian spread the film on his thigh and smiled.

  Cover for me, will you, Roj, Flavia? I’ll have to get myself into the main…ah, here. Hmm. That gal’s pretty clever. There, that should do it. Roddie?

  You rang, coz?

  Thian gave him the time.

  Uncle Jeff agreed? Ohohohoho! I take back half the things I’ve said about my illustrious relative, Rhodri Eagle chortled with gleeful anticipation. If he’s going to cover your asses, he’ll cover mine, too. Wow! Why is it that you can never brag about the really neat things you’ve done?

  Because then they wouldn’t be the neat things, Flavia said unexpectedly. “I do believe they have the life-support system on line,” she added out loud. “D’you think sgit leaves will make a difference…to the quality of the oxygen, I mean?”

  “They do on all the ships I’ve been on which added sgit leaves to their plant banks. And the ’Dinis never have foul air.”

  “In’trusting,” Flavia said, drawling. “Well, it will save the drain on the Moon Base supplies, of course.”

  Because the Talents were more on a stand-by basis now that the Refugee’s interior had been diagrammed, the rest of the watch seemed to drag almost interminably.

  My crew’s in place, Thian, Rame said. Then over the com unit, “Ah, Prime Thian, this is Lieutenant Commander Kloo. Can you stand by? We’re effecting a decontam drill.”

  “We heard you, loud and clear, Commander. Work away.”

  Rojer caught a shadow out of the corner of his eye and, turning to investigate, nearly fell off his couch.

  Granddad’s here, he tried to whisper to Thian.

  Thian didn’t turn his head but grinned broadly.

  Sort of thought you might, sir.

  Since I might have to save your asses, as Roddie so inelegantly put it, I thought I might as well be in on the fun.

  And as backup, too. Don’t you trust us, sir? Thian said, only half in jest.

  I trust you all right, Thian. It’s that elongated insect that worries me. We know so little about their psychology.

  Ready when you are, came Rhodri’s cheerful voice.

  Your plan. Go ahead, Thian, Jeff Raven said, folding his arms and standing approximately where Rame had earlier in the watch.

  Merge, Roj, Flavia, Thian said.

  The three minds linked neatly, just as if this wasn’t the first time they’d made such contact. With Thian in the lead, Rojer was more aware of the strength of both minds than he’d been during their more or less solo workings on the Refugee. He was also conscious of another potency which both bolstered and encouraged, yet was not a part of the triple merge.

  They had no difficulty finding the Hiver queen where she nestled in her shavings bed, her attendants polishing her body parts and smoothing the fine hairs of her limbs. The sting-pzzt from her was unbearably acute as the Thian merge made contact but the hesitation lasted only that brief second of surprise and then they neatly placed her in the now darkened queens’ quarters of the Refugee: in one of the larger chambers.

  Somehow Rame had rigged “night” lighting which showed the watchers the queen’s form. She had been in a semi-recumben
t position in her shavings, but the Merge had placed her upright and she had to adjust her limbs for the standing position. That done, she remained motionless.

  Hell’s bells, Thian said, we don’t have days for you to decide where you are and what to do.

  Stay calm! said the confident watching potency.

  Abruptly the queen moved into action with such speed they nearly missed her first movements. Palps reached ceilingward, seeming to slide across the panels. She had also rocked back on one set of nether legs, freeing the front set to dance across the floor panels. Instantly orangey lights came up around the room in the tubes that had been theorized to be Hiver lighting. Next the panels lit, decorated with odd symbols and different shadings.

  We got power all over the fucking place, Rame said, in choked amazement. I’m not sure I can explain this.

  Don’t bother.

  Oh Lord, engine room’s going crazy. Hey, I think this has gone far enough, Thian! Panic colored Rame’s tone.

  Don’t worry, Commander, Jeff Raven said. This ship’s anchored so tight not even full speed forward could break her loose.

  I know the sequence to turn the power on, Rojer said.

  I’ve got the pattern of how she activated everything, Flavia said.

  Sorry, gal, your parole just got canceled, Thian said, and the Merge replaced the queen in her prison.

  What’d you guys do to her? Rhodri complained. She’s going wild!

  Can’t say I blame her, Jeff remarked placidly. I’d be a bit pissed off, too, if I thought I’d just seen the way home and it disappeared.

  Your decontam drill just finished, Rame, Thian told her. Queen’s back in stir and doing a mad dance.

  Wheeee! But can you start it all up again when we want you to? the commander asked, doubt coloring her tone.

  Any time we want to.