The Falcoran’s Faith

by Laura Jo Phillips

  “Only raktsasa that don’t receive love and affection from their bonders become temperamental and dangerous,” Gray said, reining in his disappointment at Tristan’s continuing refusal to agree to claim Faith as their Arima. “Faith’s nature is gentle and sensitive, so that will not be a problem.”

  “And we’ll be with her throughout the selection and bonding process,” Jon added. “I think it’s exactly what she needs. Once bonded, a raktsasa will defend her to the death and they are formidable creatures. Once Faith realizes that, she will feel safer.”

  “When can we do this?” Tristan asked. “We’ll only have one day on Jasan before we’re scheduled to depart for Onddo.”

  “One day is enough time so long as there’s a broker in Badia when we get there,” Jon said. “I suggest we begin making arrangements now. We have two days before we dock, which is ample time to get a broker in place.”

  “Make the arrangements,” Tristan said. “But make sure that the broker knows not to mention price in Faith’s presence. They are extremely costly as I recall, and I don’t want her balking because of it.”

  “Good point,” Jon said, walking toward his vid terminal. “Shall we keep this a surprise?”

  “I think so,” Gray said. Tristan nodded in agreement. “Let’s offer to take her shopping in Badia. She mentioned a need to pick up a few things before leaving for Onddo, so I’m certain she’ll agree.”

  “On that subject,” Gray continued, walking toward his vid terminal and pressing a few keys. “I got a copy of the meal plan she worked out with Joseph, and did some research on her dietary requirements. Several small meals a day, high protein content, low sodium, low fat, etcetera. After a process of elimination, I came up with several possibilities. Since she told us specifically that disease was not a factor in her condition, that narrowed things further. Eventually I was left with only one probability.”

  “Which is?” Tristan asked.

  “Severe abdominal trauma resulting in reduced stomach and/or gastrointestinal function and/or size,” Gray said.

  Tristan thought about that for a few moments. “If she were injured in such a manner, wouldn’t a healing tank have effected repairs?”

  “Not necessarily,” Gray said. “Healing tanks have limitations. If an arm is severed, and a physician reattaches the limb before placing the patient in a healing tank, a human will almost certainly regain full use of it. However, if the arm is missing, the healing tank can only heal the open wound left behind. It can’t create a new arm. The same is true for internal organs. If a large portion of the stomach were completely destroyed, it could not be regenerated by a healing tank, or even by an Alverian Healer, for that matter. If it’s a small section, then there’s a good chance it would be healed without so much as a scar left behind. It’s a matter of degree.”

  “What other limitations do healing tanks have?” Jon asked.

  “They can’t heal disease, birth defects, injuries caused by radiation or anything else that effects the genetic integrity of the tissue. Nor can it recreate complex organs, or correct injuries that have already been healed. It can’t be used to remove scars, or straighten bones that have healed crooked, for example. On the other hand, a bone can be rebroken, then healed correctly in a healing tank, so there are ways around some limitations.”

  “Lets assume, for the moment, that she does have an injury such as you describe,” Jon said, keeping his eyes on the screen in front of him, “would the transformation ritual correct it?”

  Tristan and Gray both thought about that for a moment. “We know that it recreates the body using altered DNA,” Gray said slowly. “It didn’t cure Saige Lobo’s disease so much as it erased it, much as it erased the scars Berta Falcoran had. I think there’s a good probability that it would reconstruct her internal organs to their optimal size and shape since the requirements for those organs will exist in the new DNA. But, since a great deal of the transformation process is magical in nature, there is no way of knowing for certain what can, or cannot, be done until someone tries it.”

  Jon nodded, then began preparing a message to the Eyrie. He flagged it High Priority Red, and Secret so that no one on the Eyrie would inadvertently say anything ahead of time. He sent the message and leaned back in his chair. He had a good feeling about this. So long as Faith didn’t have an aversion to small, furry animals, he thought a raktsasa was just exactly what she needed.

  Chapter Twelve

  Xi-Kung was troubled. Something wasn’t adding up, but he couldn’t quite decide what that something was.

  The service ship had finally arrived in the Terien system, the ‘back end’ of the secret portal carved into the Jasani system. Service ships were always escorted by battle cruisers since they were not battle ships themselves, though they intentionally looked the same as any other battle cruiser. It was critical that service ships be guarded at all times since the service techs were not Xanti. They were a cross section of the enslaved races who’d actually created and built the ships, weapons, and other technologies used by the Xanti, which was a closely held Xanti secret.

  Xi-Kung had exchanged pleasantries with Commander Orq-Nunq of the escort ship as politeness demanded, then he’d gone back to worrying. After waiting nearly twenty hours while the service techs crawled all over his ship inside and out, he’d been told that everything was in working order, including Blind Sight.

  Xi-Kung had reviewed the recordings of the Jasani incident and knew damn well that the Jasani had known they were there, though he was not sharing that information with anyone outside of his own ship. If Blind Sight was working, what had happened? Had the Jasani broken through the newest Blind Sight system so quickly? It was possible, of course, but he doubted it. The manner in which the Jasani cruiser had followed their movements hadn’t been as precise as it should have been. He strongly suspected that the Jasani had been aware of their presence in some way, but that they hadn’t actually been able to see them.

  The service cruiser and her escort were preparing to return to their posts, and Xi-Kung needed to return to Jasan. But he still didn’t understand what had happened, and was therefore wary. Very wary. Something was warning him that it would not be a good idea to return to Jasani space. But what choice did he have?

  His comm beeped. He hit a button. “What?”

  “Commander, I’m afraid I have some disturbing news to report.”

  “Then report it,” Xi-Kung said impatiently.

  “When we exited Jasani portal 2 the other day, it was left open behind us in all the excitement.”

  Xi-Kung absorbed that news stoically. It didn’t really matter that much. Portals were not the same as jump points. They could not be accessed without equipment exclusive to Xanti ships. He started to say as much, then paused. This was exactly what he needed, he realized. A good excuse.

  “Who was responsible for closing the portal, Captain?” he asked, knowing the answer full well.

  “The Chief Navigation Officer,” the Captain responded.

  “Toss him out the airlock,” Xi-Kung said. “Before you do, get me Commander Orq-Nunq.”

  “Immediately, Commander,” the captain replied.

  While Xi-Kung waited for Orq-Nunq, he considered his options and the best course of action. He had to warn Xaqana-Ti, but he needed to be very careful about it. If this went the way his instincts were telling him, his Ruling Queen was going to be very happy with him indeed. If he was wrong, she would be very unhappy with him, but at this point, he considered that to be a very small risk.

  “Xi-Kung, how may I be of further assistance?” Orq-Nunq asked abruptly without any of the customary pleasantries. Xi-Kung suffered no compunction whatsoever in sending a ship belonging to another ruling female to its possible destruction. Orq-Nunq’s greeting only served to give him pleasure in the knowledge.

  “I’m afraid I’ve just lost my Chief Nav Officer,” he said.

  “Lost?” Orq-Nunq asked.

  “Yes, he had an unfortunate laps
e in judgment and is, as we speak, exiting through the air lock.”

  “Ah, I see,” Orq-Nunq said. “That’s too bad.”

  “Yes, it is,” Xi-Kung said, though he personally saw nothing bad about it. “Unfortunately, I am no longer adequately staffed to enter Jasani space. I’m sure this will be quite inconvenient for you, Orq-Nunq, but as we are officially at war with Jasan, I don’t have a choice. I hereby invoke the law of our Supreme Queen and call upon you, for the sake of Xantara, to cover my post until I return with a new officer. It should take no more than a week.”

  “For Xantara, and Supreme Queen Qarnia, I am honored to assist, Xi-Kung,” Orq-Nunq replied with a definite air of gloating that he didn’t try to hide. “I’m afraid, however, that I do not have the portal codes.”

  “Unfortunately, the transmission of those codes in unsecured space would be in direct violation of the Supreme Queen’s law,” Xi-Kung said, trying to sound regretful. “We will open the portal for you, then close it behind you. So long as you keep Blind Sight activated, the Jasani will never know you’re there.”

  “Very well, Commander,” Orq-Nunq replied, his tone a bit less gloating. Still, he consoled himself, taking the place of one of Xaqana-Ti’s ships in Jasani space would be a nice mark on his Ruling Queen’s web. Since Xi-Kung had invoked the Supreme Queen’s law, Orq-Nunq had no choice in the matter anyway.

  ***

  Darlene was nervous, though she hid it very well. Only a handful of people were able to see beyond her usual stony expression. Summer Katre was one of them, of course, but Darlene didn’t mind since she trusted Summer completely. Which was why she’d asked to meet her in front of the new clinic for a walk after breakfast. She had to force herself not to pace or fidget while she waited, or to sigh with relief when Summer arrived hand in hand with Maxim. After a quick greeting, Maxim vanished, leaving them alone for a while.

  “Why are you so nervous?” Summer asked after giving Darlene a quick hug. Darlene smiled. Summer’s straightforward, direct manner was one of the things she liked most about her.

  “Doc asked me to dinner,” she said.

  “Tonight?” Summer asked.

  “No, he’s in Berria right now,” Darlene said. “The day after tomorrow.”

  “The day before we leave for Onddo?” Darlene nodded. “Well, unless I’m greatly mistaken, and with my eidetic memory you know I’m not, you’ve had dinner with Doc before,” Summer said. “Many times.”

  “This is different,” Darlene replied. Summer waited. Darlene bit the inside of her cheek, then spit it out. “This time it’s more like a date.”

  “It’s about time,” Summer said, grinning.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because I’ve been waiting a couple of years for one of you to get around to admitting how you feel,” Summer said. “I’m very happy for you both. Now tell me why you’re so nervous.”

  “A couple of reasons,” Darlene said. “Intimacy is a big one.”

  Summer nodded. She’d never seen all that had been done to Darlene’s body, but she knew enough to know it had been horrific. Doc had fixed much of the damage, but some things could not be undone, and scars were pretty much forever unless you happened to be an Arima.

  “Darlene, Doc knows exactly what you look like,” Summer said gently. “He’s also spent the last two years as your friend, and he’s a smart man. He not only knows who and what you are, he also knows who and what you were. He cares about the person you are right now, this minute.”

  Darlene took a few minutes to think about what Summer said. Finally, the corners of her mouth turned up in a faint smile. “Thank you, Summer. That makes me feel better.”

  “I’m glad,” Sumer said. “What’s the other problem?”

  “I’m not exactly sure,” Darlene said, the worried frown creasing her forehead telling Summer that this was the real issue, whatever it was. “My entire life there’s been something inside of me that always warned against making a serious commitment to any man. I considered getting married several times when I lived on Earth, but I could never go through with it. It wasn’t a strong feeling, but it was a nagging one, always there in the back of my mind. When I was planning to find a wealthy Jasani male-set to marry, it got stronger for awhile, then faded again. Now, every time I think about a future with Doc, that same feeling rears its ugly head and I do not understand it. It worries me.”

  “I can see why,” Summer said. “Maybe its your instincts warning you to go slow and be careful. That’s not a bad thing.”

  “But we have been going slow,” Darlene replied. “Maybe too slow. I don’t want to ruin this chance, Summer. I know that I can be really happy with Doc. I’ve known it for a long time. But I’ve got this road block in front of me and I can’t see how to get around it.”

  “Maybe you’re still in self-protection mode,” Summer suggested. “Keep going slow, take your time, be sure of what you’re doing each step of the way. Just remember one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Your mind is telling you to be careful, and that’s understandable,” Summer said. “But your heart is telling you to take this chance while you have it. Am I right?”

  “Yes, that’s right,” Darlene replied.

  “You might just have to take a leap of faith with your heart, regardless of what your mind tells you,” Summer said. “Love and logic don’t always see eye to eye.”

  “I’ll remember that,” Darlene said. Sharing with Summer always helped her to look at things a different way, and she did feel a bit better now. She turned to thank her friend, then hesitated, noticing for the first time that Summer didn’t look quite right.

  “Summer, are you well? Have you fully healed from the attack?” Darlene shuddered slightly at the memory of Summer’s injuries when she’d been attacked a few weeks earlier. Jasani or not, she’d very nearly died.

  Summer waved one hand. “Completely,” she said. “We Clan Jasani heal like crazy, you know that.”

  “Then what’s wrong?” Darlene asked. “You look tired and...worried.”

  Summer sighed. “I will tell you, Darlene, but you must promise not to breathe a word to anyone.”

  “I so promise,” Darlene said at once.

  Summer bit her lip, and Darlene’s concern rose. Once Summer made up her mind about something, she never hesitated. Whatever it was, it must be bad.

  “I’m pregnant,” Summer said in a voice so low Darlene barely heard it. She was so surprised she stopped walking. She knew Summer wanted children, so why the secrecy? Why the worry?

  Summer realized she was no longer beside her and turned back.

  “You don’t want anyone to know,” Darlene said slowly, “so your Rami are in the dark.”

  Summer said nothing, but the expression on her face was answer enough for Darlene. She frowned, still trying to work it all out. “You’re not telling them because you think they’ll change their minds about going to Onddo.”

  “Yes, and I have to go to Onddo, Darlene, you know that,” Summer said.

  “Why?” Darlene asked, her voice calm as always, though her eyes betrayed the depth of her concern.

  “I’m supposed to slay the double-headed dragon, Darlene,” she replied. “You were there when Sensei spoke of it, and also when Calnic of the Li-Hach-Aki said it. The Bearens fought it while they were on Earth, so we know it’s Narrasti, which means it’s on Onddo. That is where I must go.”

  “How do you know that you have to fight the dragon now?” Darlene asked. “It could mean next year, or ten years from now.”

  “That’s a very good point, which is why I contacted Sensei yesterday,” Summer said. “He said that, according to the legend that told of my coming for the katana, this is the time that the double headed dragon must be destroyed. If it isn’t, the Thousand Worlds and all her people will face annihilation.”

  Darlene felt a chill race down her spine that had nothing to do with the cool weather. But Summer was still her main co
ncern. “How far along are you?” she asked.

  “Not long,” Summer said. “My katrenca told me two days ago. About a week I think.”

  “It will take months to reach Onddo,” Darlene said. “You won’t be able to safely shift by the time we get there. Will you fight this dragon in human form while you’re seven or eight months pregnant?”

  “If I have to, yes,” Summer said.

  Darlene was not surprised by Summer’s answer. Summer was the most determined woman she’d ever known. But this was beyond dangerous. “Summer, I know that you have long wanted to have children.”

  “Yes, I have,” Summer admitted. “But I have no choice, Darlene. Surely you must see that.”

  “I do understand,” she admitted reluctantly. “But if anything bad happens, you will never forgive yourself.”

  “No, I won’t,” Summer agreed. “That is exactly why I cannot tell Maxim, Loni or Ran. If they knew, and agreed to my going, which they must, then they would never forgive themselves, either. This must be kept secret for as long as possible.”

  Since she’d already given her word, Darlene nodded. She would never betray Summer’s trust. But she was very worried about this.

  ***

  Jackson Bearen read Tristan Falcoran’s latest transmission with interest. Faith had found another Xanti Door within Jasani space. Sensor readings from the cutter verified that it was virtually identical to the one next to the Skyport, and that it was closed. Ships had already been dispatched to watch it, and the new jump points she’d found to Sheara 3 and Teira.

  Faith had been as helpful as they’d hoped, and more successful than they’d dreamed. Not only were they now aware of chinks in the armor of their System Defenses that they’d never suspected, but the new jump point to Sheara 3 would shave months off the travel time to and from Onddo.