strongholdrising

by Lisanne Norman

  “Injected into the growth nutrient,” said Zayshul. “We update the stock racial memory every two generations and use that for the next two. And only the Warriors we’re trying to breed have been kept in the growth tanks until fully mature.”

  Zsoyshuu looked thoughtfully at Zayshul. “We could ask the TeLaxaudin if it’s possible at this late stage,” he said. “You could do that, Zayshul, while I start amending the growth and the sleep tapes for the General’s offspring.”

  “You’ve another problem,” said Kezule, even as he absorbed the fact there were TeLaxaudin in the City. “Prince Zsurtul. If you’ll excuse me saying this, his scent is too like a drone’s for his continued safety with them. He’ll be recognized as a legitimate target. Prey, if you prefer.”

  “Our reports from the Sholans show them to be doing well,” said Zsoyshuu. “There’s no mention of the aggression you’re seeing with the ones here.”

  “I met the Empress today and tried to explain to her the need for her son to be recalled, but she wouldn’t listen.”

  Zsoyshuu looked horrified. “You spoke of this to Empress Zsh’eungee? You can’t do that! There are proper channels to go…”

  “I know all about proper channels,” Kezule interrupted. “I didn’t have time for them. I only found out about the Enlightened One being with them when she told me!”

  “It’s not her you need to convince,” said Zayshul. “It’s the Prince himself. He’s determined to get out and find out about his people while he can, not stay shut up in the Palace like his father. What he wants, he has a way of getting.” She smiled at the memory. “He’s a nice young male.”

  “He could be a dead young male if he’s mixing with the Warriors,” said Kezule. “And it won’t do your treaty any good when those twenty— you did say all twenty are still alive, didn’t you?— go on the rampage against the Sholans. Take it from me, physically the Sholans are inferior. They haven’t our speed, strength, or physical resources. At least the Warriors on Shola haven’t been taught how to use bio-feedback yet.”

  “I thought it was a natural ability.”

  “Some, but training enhances it,” he replied, trying not to look at Zayshul. He’d promised to train her. He prayed to all the God Kings that she’d stay silent about it. “I’d like to see the Sholan reports if I may, compare them to mine. You know I’ve had a high death rate, don’t you?”

  “I’ve read your reports,” said Zsoyshuu. “And the fact that you’ve tried to amend your training regime to lessen them, but with little success.”

  “I told you at the start, Zsoyshuu, you can’t create a Warrior race out of thin air and put it into your culture,” he said impatiently. “You don’t need to reproduce what we had fifteen hundred years ago, you need an army for today’s conditions, today’s Primes, not yesterday’s Valtegans! Give me a ship and a competent crew and I can keep the ones I have usefully employed until mine are ready.”

  “We work with the schematics our Emperor and his advisers decided,” said the Medical Director stiffly, standing up. “I’ll see to warning the Sholans and getting their reports sent to your quarters, and changing the schedule for the hatchlings. You and your wife go and talk to Kouansishus and his colleagues.”

  Sighing inwardly, Kezule got to his feet and accompanied Zayshul to the door.

  “General,” Zsoyshuu called out after him.

  He stopped and looked round.

  “I doubt you’ll get much thanks for this from the royal family yet, but you have mine for drawing this to our attention. It would have been easy to remain silent and let what you predict happen. As the last surviving member of the royal family, you must know you’d inherit.”

  Kezule smiled sardonically. “I’ve no wish to rule here, Zsoyshuu. I’m a military person, I prefer getting my hands dirty, not getting others to do it for me. I never did like watching a slaughter, and believe me, if we don’t address this now, that’s what will happen.”

  “I’ll see what I can do about your ship.”

  “What are you hatching?” asked Zayshul as they walked slowly down the corridor to the TeLaxaudin labs.

  “Me?” he asked, surprised. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “I can tell when you’re turning something over in your mind,” she said. “When are you going to start trusting me, Kezule? For good or ill, we’re both involved in whatever you do. You weren’t being totally altruistic back there.”

  “If those warriors get out of hand, Zayshul, even I couldn’t stop them,” he said seriously. “All our lives would be at risk. And I only told the truth in there about not wanting to rule. I don’t.”

  “There’s more,” she said, glancing shrewdly at him.

  “You’re getting as bad as the Sholan mind-stealers,” he grumbled, trying to hide his surprise. “We’ll talk about it later.”

  *

  Kezule had seen Kzizysus on the Kz’adul, so Kouansishus and his three companions came as no surprise to him.

  Squatting on his cushioned seat, head to one side and eyes swirling, the TeLaxaudin heard him out. Mandibles clicking gently, hands clasped, the alien took several minutes to reply. A low buzzing hum filled the room as they began to talk among themselves. Finally, the translator began to speak.

  “Difficult. We confer. Later give answer.”

  “We haven’t got long, Doctor Kouansishus,” said Zayshul. “Ten days are all that remain. We need to decrease that time for my husband’s offspring and make them two years older or they’ll not survive against the M’zullians we want to alter.”

  “Soon you told.” Kouansishus pointed at her. “Why egg? Other way give. Why this?”

  “Because I’m from the royal family,” Kezule said suddenly, ignoring Zayshul’s startled outburst. “They insist she do it this way. You can help her, can’t you?” If anyone could, it had to be them.

  Kouansishus looked at him then slowly unfolded himself and stepped down from his chair, picking up a small hand-sized device from his desk.

  As he approached them, Kezule suddenly felt uncomfortable. In his time, the only alien species they’d known had been slaves, inferior beings not fit to be called people. Now, most days he rubbed shoulders with at least one of the Alliance species. Trusting them was another matter. He began to regret his hasty outburst.

  As the ridiculously fragile being stopped by Zayshul and held the device in his hand out to touch her, a series of unexpected emotions swept through Kezule. Protection was foremost among them, protection of his female. The TeLaxaudin had been helping the Primes alter themselves since the Fall. What if that help wasn’t as altruistic as it appeared? As part of his mind found the thought ludicrous, the older, more primitive part wanted to rear up and tear the TeLaxaudin limb from limb. Shuddering, he fought hard to repress the urge: here was a chance of ensuring Zayshul survived the birth of their egg with no dubious commitments attached to it. He couldn’t afford not to take it.

  Kouansishus stopped and glanced at him “Want, or not?” he asked.

  “Want,” said Kezule through clenched teeth.

  “Just a minute,” began Zayshul, looking over at him, then Kouansishus’ device touched her neck and she hissed in surprise.

  Kezule began to rise in his seat only to find it impossible to move. Paralyzed, he watched in fear as the TeLaxaudin made some adjustments to the device then activated it. Where Zayshul’s hands gripped the arms of the chair, he could see her knuckles whiten, could smell her sheer terror. He fought the paralysis, then suddenly the TeLaxaudin moved away from her and he was free, The suddenness of his release catapulted him out of the chair to land on the floor in a heap.

  Kouansishus watched him scramble back to his feet, head on one side, mandibles clicking gently. He could swear the tiny being was amused.

  “Done now. Egg every and this time be fine,” the TeLaxaudin said, shutting off his device.

  “What did you do to her?” he demanded, taking a step forward angrily. The paralysis hit him again, rootin
g his feet to the floor.

  “Fixed she. Too untrusting you. Go. We try later tanked ones fix.”

  From behind him, one of the others spoke. “Not tell fix her. We unfix easily.”

  Shocked, he found himself free again. This time, common sense took over and he forced himself to relax. “You fixed her? How? Are you all right?” he asked, turning to Zayshul who, pale-faced, was getting to her feet.

  “I think so,” she whispered, putting her hand up to her head to wipe the sheen of sweat from it.

  “Said fixed,” confirmed Kouansishus, returning to his chair. “Carry eggs she can. Birth safely.”

  “If you can do it for her, why the growth tanks?” he demanded.

  “Easy correct genetic mistakes. Long time fix Prime breeding. Complicated.”

  “Prime not ask change,” said one of the two sitting behind him.

  He swung round. “You mean that because they haven’t asked you to change it, you’ve left them using the breeding tanks?” He couldn’t believe what they were saying.

  “Not interfere unless asked,” said Kouansishus.

  “The Empress,” murmured Zayshul. “She lost three eggs. The pain and suffering you could have prevented.”

  “Not ask.”

  “We’ve got to tell her,” said Zayshul intensely.

  “Not tell. Balance lost.”

  “What if we ignore you and tell her?” asked Kezule.

  The device came sailing through the air toward him. Automatically he put his hand up to catch it.

  “Take. Use it. Not tell. Keep, will need for your plan.”

  “What?” He looked from it to Kouansishus disbelievingly. How could the TeLaxaudin know what he was only just beginning to consider?

  “Logical. Go now.”

  He looked at the device again. “How does it work? How do I use it?”

  “Only for eggs. Press and works. She tell how long for,” said Kouansishus. “Go. Got working to do.” He waved a hand in the direction of the door.

  Pocketing the device, Kezule took Zayshul by the arm and led her out into the corridor. There he stopped to check she was all right.

  “What did he do to you?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, her voice unsteady. “I was paralyzed, like you, then suddenly I felt everything moving inside me.” She shook her head. “It was really strange, not exactly pleasant, but not unpleasant either.” She looked up at him. “I’m not making sense, am I?”

  “Not at all,” he said, taking her by the elbow. “Can we trust them? Did he actually do what he said?”

  “I think so. They’re so far ahead of us in medical technology that there’s no point in comparing us. We’re lucky to have them as allies. We would have died out as a species after the Fall if not for them.”

  “Why keep this to themselves, though? What do they gain from it? And why give it to me?”

  “They obviously think you’ll need it. As for keeping it to themselves, he said why. They think it would affect the balance in our society. I can’t see how, though. So what are you planning? A hareem of your own?”

  He gave her a sour look. “I’m not, yet. It’s only an idea right now. It needs thought, a lot of thought. And we mention this to no one.” What was disturbing him was how the TeLaxaudin knew to have the device ready and waiting for him. He didn’t believe in coincidences.

  “I don’t intend to. Even asking for help for me was risking your freedom and mine, Kezule. Thank the God-Kings you didn’t ask Zsoyshuu! He’d have had to report us to the Enforcers!”

  He grunted, well aware after his talk with Q’akuh what the penalties would have been. He wondered what Kouansishus had done to her. Made the egg smaller? More than that, surely; he’d said the cure was permanent.

  “When you see your doctor tomorrow, let me know if she finds anything different,” he said.

  “I can give you an educated guess now,” she said. “Either the egg will stay the size it is and any I bear in future will also be small, or somehow he’s enlarged me internally.”

  “Let me know,” he said, looking for a public floater as they entered the more populated corridors. Suddenly his idea had become possible again now she could safely bear his young. And if she could, so could others, and not just his young. He had in his hands the way to breed back into the Primes what had been lost so long ago, to return them to a casteless people. And within the next few days, he might even have a ship.

  Stronghold, Zhal-Vartra, 28th day (July)

  The weekly meeting was being held in Lijou’s office this time. Rhyaz had just finished briefing them on the latest report from their labs at Anchorage.

  “So the journals Vartra gave you were of immense help, Lijou,” said Rhyaz. “All we need now is a live Valtegan on which to try out the la’quo spray.”

  Lijou shifted unhappily in his seat. “I don’t like chemicals being used as weapons, Rhyaz. They’re banned throughout the Alliance, you know that.”

  “It only reduces their aggression permanently, Lijou,” said the Warrior Master. “It isn’t like a nerve gas or a poison.”

  “It destroys several of their glands. That’s tantamount to the Valtegans developing a gas or spray that destroys the area of our brains responsible for our psi talents. How would you feel about that?” he asked. “I know how I’d feel.”

  “It’s a last resort, Lijou. It isn’t as if we plan to go blanket spray their worlds with this, even though they did the equivalent of that to two of our colonies. I didn’t say I was comfortable with it either. I’ve consulted with Kaid and Rezac on this because of their experience with Valtegans and Primes, and they reckon, regrettably like all of us, that we have no option but to continue this line of research.”

  “At least now we have a good working knowledge of the Valtegan Warrior anatomy, thanks to Vartra and his people,” said Noni. “We can be ethical and dead, Lijou, if you prefer.”

  This was the first time she’d been called to Stronghold to take part in such a discussion and she was rather pleased. It was her medical knowledge they needed, and they’d called her in rather than their own physician because he owed his loyalty to the Medics guild. With Noni, they knew where they were.

  “No, I don’t prefer,” he said. “But I don’t have to like it.”

  “Are you saying we need a live subject?” asked L’Seuli.

  “I’m afraid so,” said Rhyaz. “It has to be tested.”

  “In what form?” asked Yaszho. “Are we talking chemical missiles from fighters, or up close and personal?”

  “Up close,” said Rhyaz. “We need to capture a ship and its crew, preferably a small craft, and take them to Anchorage where they’ll conduct the experiments. A method of delivery has to be decided, be it a spray or a projectile pellet.”

  Lijou looked up. “We should be there, Rhyaz. If we’re going to order these experiments, then we should be there to witness just what suffering we’re causing. It makes a difference when you know what damage your weapons do. You aren’t so ready to use them.”

  “He’s right,” said Noni unexpectedly. “You should go. We can’t afford to be as careless of life as them.”

  Rhyaz nodded slowly. “Very well. Lijou, L’Seuli, and I will go when they’re ready to start the experiments. I’ll issue the appropriate orders after this meeting. I’ve got some more welcome news now. The Free Traders Council has agreed to us starting a unit made up of our people and theirs to patrol the shipping lines as discussed last meeting. Each member species will initially supply three craft built to specifications being agreed by the Touibans and the U’Churians. It will incorporate the Prime stealth technology. They will be six-to eight-person small scouters, capable of jumping in half the time it currently takes us thanks to the new hull and drive configurations. Initially we’ll have fifteen such vessels because with our currently limited resources, it has been agreed that our contribution will be to provide the training and the base of operations. When we can, we’ll provide the wherewithal to h
ave our three craft built.”

  “I take it the Touibans make up the fifth species,” said L’Seuli, examining the plans.

  “They do. We aren’t currently expecting that level of contribution from the Sumaan because they’re still in the process of being released from the Chemerian contracts, but they are interested in helping crew them.”

  “What about Shola? When do we tell our own people?” asked Yaszho.

  “Once we’re installed in Haven Stronghold, and the unit has been activated,” said Rhyaz. “Which it will be within the next few months.”

  “What’s the unit going to be called?” asked L’Seuli.

  “We decided on the name Watchers,” said Rhyaz, with a glance at Lijou. “It encompasses all our functions of watching for any threat from the two Valtegan worlds, plus protecting the Traders.”

  “Watching has always been our traditional role,” said Lijou. “We hope to have at least one telepath on each ship.”

  “Then I assume our core recruitment area will be from Valsgarth estate,” said Yaszho.

  “Not necessarily,” said Rhyaz. “We have a few telepaths among our own members. Crews, where they exist, will be kept together. But our first Watchers will be taken from among those currently training with Kaid and Garras. Captain Tirak’s people come to mind.”

  “We’re a religious order, Master Rhyaz. What will hold other species together the way our beliefs hold us?” asked Yaszho.

  “We’ve given it a lot of thought,” said Lijou. “I’ve gathered what information I could on the religions of our allies and had my students working on collating common viewpoints.” His mouth dropped open in a slight smile. “That’s what all that work was in aid of, Yaszho. Deities, or concepts relating to them, vary from the sentience of planets that the Cabbarrans believe in, to the prophet Kathan of the U’Churians, to the belief we are all the stuff of Deity from the TeLaxaudin, to the personification of God in the form of their Divine Emperor.”

  “The Primes,” murmured Rhyaz.

  “Us and the Humans with our pantheons of Gods, the forests of the Chemerians…” he stopped for breath and spread his hands expressively. “You name it, someone has deified it.”