“No!” he shouted, trying to back away even as the maelstrom engulfed Him.
*
Consciousness returned. Darkness, relieved only by pinpoints of light, surrounded Him. Rising to His haunches, He crouched there, waiting, flicking His tail tip gently on the ground beside Him in a display of unconcern He was far from feeling.
I thought I was done with you. Why have you called Me? He sent.
We have work for You.
Haven’t You plagued Me enough?
The Balance is shifting again. All must work to restore it.
He stilled his thoughts, knowing it was the truth.
The Hunter is ready. You must awaken him.
Knowledge of who and what the Hunter was came to Him. You place too great a burden on him!
The choice was not Ours. He’s Your kin. Only You can reach him, prepare him for what comes. You must wake the Hunter.
Leave Me in peace! I’ve done Your bidding long enough!
You cannot refuse. It’s your geas. Wake the Hunter!
Falling, the lights spinning crazily round Him, He tumbled end over end until finally He was hurled into the void between the realms.
the Couana, the same day
The memory of his row with Kaid finally released him and he came to curled in a ball, arms wrapped protectively over his aching chest. Tears were flowing down his face and the pain he felt wasn’t dimmed by the nine days that had passed since then. He felt gentle hands holding him, stroking his head as he attempted to calm himself.
“You did what was needed,” a soothing voice said. “If your Triad built your relationships on rock, then it will survive, Kusac. This was the last of the memories. What have you learned from them? How can they help you in what lies ahead?”
“I’ve learned how many people I’ve hurt,” he whispered, rubbing at his eyes to wipe away the tears.
“Not you. That person was the one J’koshuk tried to beat into submission,” the voice whispered, its breath warm against his face. “In these last three days, you’ve learned that by seeming to bend to his will, you did survive. He did not win.”
Banner didn’t talk like this. Confused, he raised his head, blinking as he tried to see the speaker but his eyes were still too swollen and gritty. He smelled nothing recognizable and opened his mouth, flicking his tongue tip out to taste the air.
A hand gripped him tightly by the scruff, forcing his head down again. “Listen to me, Kusac Aldatan! What did you learn?” The voice was hard, commanding him to answer.
Nung blossom! He tasted nung blossom. “I survived,” he whispered, beginning to believe it. “They tried to destroy me and my Triad but we all survived— until I…”
“You did what had to be done,” repeated Vartra, loosening His grip and letting him move. “What else did you learn?”
He uncurled, feeling his chest for the deep scratches he knew had already healed before looking across at the male crouched by the side of his bed. “That until now I’ve been driven by memories of the past, of what happened to me on the Kz’adul. I need to go beyond them. I need to face Doctor Zayshul and find out the truth.”
“Good,” purred Vartra, sitting back on His haunches, eyes glowing as they reflected the dim light of the room. “You progress well. It’s time your Talent awoke again, but before it does, I give you one piece of advice. Tread warily with the Liege of Hell, Kusac. Remember my prophecy to Kaid. There must be an alliance between you.” In one fluid move, Vartra rose to His feet, the dark gray of His tunic filling Kusac’s field of vision.
He felt a hand touch the top of his head, then agony exploded inside his skull. Crying out, he clasped his hands to his head, keening softly as he curled up on himself again, barely hearing the Entity’s last words.
“The pain will last only a short time, Kusac. Use wisely what’s been returned to you. Remember, the only boundaries are those you create yourself.”
Anchorage
“The Hunter’s awakened,” said Naacha, stopping in front of Annuur and Sokarr. “I feel him.”
“At this distance?” asked the Cabbarran, long thin ears and stiff crest tilting forward in concern. “Not possible.”
“Warned you of hidden power sleeping there.” The tone was censuring. “Is greater than what we did. Only needed awaking, not enhancing. Balance be overturned if he destroys sand-dweller.”
Annuur regarded his mystic. “We did what Camarilla ordered,” he said. “A Skepp Lord is with sand-dweller. Little as possible being left to chance. They must combine.”
Naacha grunted. “We suffer if Camarilla wrong. If war happens, all will be engulfed as four combine against rest.”
“Camarilla is aware. You not only one to see this potentiality.” Annuur quashed his personal worries, trying to convince himself that the Camarilla had, indeed, foreseen all possible futures.
“I see maybe we created something cannot control,” grumbled Naacha, dropping back to all fours and turning to leave.
“Concealed Camarilla weapon fully installed in Watcher ship,” said Sokaar helpfully, breaking the silence that had fallen.
“Good,” said Annuur absently, his mind on other matters.
the Couana, the same day
Showered, pelt brushed as best he could manage, he made his way to the mess. Banner and Chima were already there, sitting at one end of the largest table. Stopping to get a coffee and a pastry from the dispenser, he went over to the command panel in the wall and toggled the ship’s comm.
“All hands to the mess. Briefing in five minutes,” he said.
“I tried to call you half an hour ago but the door was locked,” said Banner as he joined them at their table.
“I fixed the lock,” he said, taking a sip of his drink and concentrating on his pastry. “I was meditating and didn’t want to be disturbed.”
Banner gave him a long look over the top of his own mug before putting it down.
The other three arrived together, grabbing drinks of their own before joining them. Their intense curiosity and expectation battered at the edges of his mind, threatening to pierce his mental shielding. He regretted turning down the torc’s sensitivity, but for a wonder, his own shields held.
“General Kezule has stolen a small destroyer class ship and left the Prime homeworld with some sixty people. The Primes are searching for him. However, several days ago, a message was received from Kezule at Haven, telling us to meet him at the coordinates I gave you at the beginning of this journey. He claims he has something of interest to us. Our mission is to meet him, get whatever he has, find out why he left and what he’s planning to do, if we can, then head for Haven.”
“Why steal the Couana?” demanded Dzaou.
He turned to look at Dzaou, waiting for a moment before replying. “It would jeopardize our treaty if we were seen meeting secretly with him.”
“Do we report his position to the Primes once we’ve gotten what we want?” asked Khadui.
“No. Our priority is to get what we’ve come for and take it to Haven,” he said.
“Why are the Primes after him?” asked Chima. “And why send you?”
“They say the Emperor values Kezule, he’s not being hunted for any crime. As for why me, Kezule asked for me in person.”
“It strikes me this could well be Kezule’s revenge on you for bringing him forward to our time,” said Jayza thoughtfully.
“Too complicated, and too obvious,” said Chima. “Sixty people on a destroyer: if they had warriors, I’d assume it was a raiding vessel, but they don’t. I wonder what he’s up to.”
“We should have brought a telepath,” said Khadui, then looked stricken as he realized what he’d said.
“Kezule specified no telepaths, that’s why he asked for me,” he said, ignoring it.
“Do we negotiate with Kezule for whatever it is he has?” asked Banner, filling the silence.
“No. He gives it to us or we take it, with lethal force if necessary,” he replied. “We reach the�
��”
“Hold on,” said Dzaou. “I’m not happy with this. No negotiating? I don’t think so, Kusac. I’m Challenging your judgment on his mission. It’s well known how much you dislike the Primes, and given that Kezule had your sister and daughter captive for several days, I think you could be twisting this your way to get your own revenge on him. I don’t trust you to be objective. I believe you should stand down and hand this mission over to Banner.”
He looked at Dzaou, seeing through his newly awakened senses that the male’s hatred and paranoia seemed to surround him with a dark aura.
“You’re entitled to your opinion,” he said, fascinated by the effect, even as it faded. “You have, however, been told the mission objectives and you will follow your orders exactly.” He returned his attention to the group as a whole. “We reach the rendezvous in just under two hours. Chima, Banner, check your personal weapons, armor and air supplies. You have until the twentieth hour, at which time, in full combat armor, you’ll relieve the bridge crew. I’ll meet you there. Dzaou, Jayza, Khadui, you’ll then do the same and report to the bridge at 20.45 hours, when we’ll take up our battle positions for the final approach. Dismissed.”
“Just a damned minute,” said Dzaou, getting up. “I said I don’t trust you— I want Banner in charge…”
He didn’t get the chance to finish as Kusac lunged across the table and grasped him firmly by the throat.
“You are Challenging me,” he said, his tone almost conversational as his claws tightened in Dzaou’s flesh. “Leadership of this mission is not open to discussion. You’ve been given your orders, carry them out or face the consequences.” He flung him backwards, watching in surprise as Dzaou traveled the length of the mess, hitting the wall by the entrance before sliding, stunned, to the ground. Unconsciously, he glanced at his hand, remembering how Banner had been sent flying the length of his cabin only a couple of days before merely by touching him when he’d been sleeping without his torc.
He turned back to the others. “Anyone else want to Challenge me?” he asked with deceptive mildness.
“No, sir,” said Jayza, getting up and going to help the stunned Dzaou to his feet. Angrily, the bruised male pulled himself free, stalking out of the mess, tail flicking angrily. The others followed, leaving him alone with Banner.
“The memories are finished, aren’t they?” Banner said quietly, getting to his feet. “Your Talent’s returned. You used psi power to throw him across the room, just like you did with me the other day when you were asleep.”
“We’re about to go into combat, Banner. You have your orders,” he said quietly, sitting down and lifting his mug. “I’ll see you on the bridge in forty-five minutes.”
*
The rendezvous was on the edges of a small uninhabited solar system. After Kusac had transmitted the ID, they parked in orbit around the second world’s moon. They weren’t kept waiting for long.
“We’re being scanned, Captain,” said Khadui.
“Incoming transmission,” said Jayza.
“Play it,” ordered Kusac. “I want that ship located now, Khadui.”
“M’zayik to Touiban vessel. State your purpose in this system.” The Prime spoke perfectly accented Sholan, with only a trace of a lisp.
“Got it! It’s hiding just on the edge of the horizon of this moon, Captain. Small vessel, well armored. Their weapon ports are open and they’re powered up. Eighteen life forms, Primes from the looks of them, but there’s an area that’s showing up blank. The scanners won’t penetrate it.”
“That isn’t the ship they took from the Prime world,” said Dzaou. “That’s only a scout ship.”
“Acknowledged. Open a channel to them. Get me a vid link. I want to see who we’re talking to,” he ordered. The voice wasn’t Kezule’s, or Zayshul’s.
“Establishing vid link. Channel open, Captain.”
The main screen now showed the interior of the vessel hailing them. Lighting was at a lower level than theirs, and sitting in what he assumed was the Captain’s chair, was a Valtegan. A Prime, he corrected himself, hands clenching on the arms of his chair as he recognized the sandy green skin of the male looking out at him.
“This is Kusac Aldatan of the Couana,” he said. “We received a message to meet General Kezule here.”
“Captain Zaykkuh of the M’zayik at your service, Captain Aldatan. The General requests that your crew remains here in orbit and you transfer to your shuttle and join us.”
“You’ll understand if I decline your invitation, Captain Zaykkuh,” he said. “My appointment was with your General. Call me when he’s prepared to talk to me himself.”
“I wouldn’t be so hasty if I were you, Kusac Aldatan,” said a voice he recognized. Another male came into view, peremptorily gesturing the Captain out of his chair.
Kezule had changed. The face that regarded him from the comm screen was relaxed now, his confidence echoed in his body posture as he lounged back in the command seat. “I see you’re dressed for combat. That’s not why I sent for you. Our mission is peaceful.”
“I’m sure that as a warrior you’ll appreciate our caution,” he said. “Why have you dragged us all the way out here?”
“Patience, Captain. I don’t think you want me to show you what I have on an open ship to ship channel. You have a shuttle. Join me and find out.”
“Bring it here, Kezule. I’m not leaving the Couana.”
“Then unfortunately, you’ll be none the wiser. My offer is nonnegotiable. If you want what I have, come to me.” The General’s tone had sharpened, grown colder. “I take a great risk meeting you like this.”
“True, but then so do I. I’ve no way of knowing that we want what you have.”
“Oh, you’ll want them,” said Kezule softly, making a slight hand gesture to someone off-screen. “Shall we say that I want to return some items acquired the same way you were by the Kz’adul?”
“Does he mean other Sholans?” asked Banner in an undervoice.
“I’m picking up Sholan life forms, Captain,” said Chima quietly. “Two.”
“Send them over, Kezule,” he said, claws extending until they punctured the padded arm coverings.
“You come to me, Kusac,” said Kezule, the sibilance suddenly noticeable in his voice. “They cannot easily be transported. The shock of contact with you will be too great.”
He frowned, wondering what Kezule meant.
“You may bring one other crew member with you,” Kezule said abruptly. “And you may carry weapons. If you delay any longer, I may change my mind.”
He got up. “We’ll be there,” he said, cutting the connection. “Chima, take the bridge. Banner, you’re with me.”
*
“You’re playing into his hands,” warned Banner as they powered up the shuttle.
“He’s got two Sholans over there, maybe more. Vartra knows what state they’re in. We came here for them and if this is the only way we can get them, so be it,” he said, letting the shuttle drop down out of the Couana’s bay doors.
*
Ten minutes later, they emerged into the cargo bay of the Prime scout ship. Their eyes took a moment or two to adjust to the dimmer light. When they did, they saw the black-clad Captain they’d spoken to earlier. He was accompanied by two soldiers in green fatigues, energy rifles slung across their backs— all Warriors, if he read their scents correctly.
“Only one’s a Prime,” said Banner quietly, resting a gloved hand on the butt of his pistol. “And they’re armed.”
“I know,” he said briefly, lowering his mental shields just enough to send a gentle questing thought out toward them.
Immediately he sensed the psi dampers fitted to the ship. Retreating, he opened his mind, allowing himself only to absorb passively for now, not that he’d be able to sense much. If they were using psi dampers, they’d be alert to any psychic activity and he didn’t want to let them know that his Talent was functioning again. His hand went to his weapons belt, unconsc
iously checking on the loaded la’quo pellet gun hidden there.
“Captain Aldatan,” said Zaykkuh, inclining his head slightly. “My name is Zaykkuh. You may leave your helmets here if you wish. You won’t need them.”
“We’ll keep them,” he said shortly, adjusting his grip on the lightweight vacuum helm.
“As you wish. Please follow me.” The Captain gestured to the door behind him.
*
After his time on the Kz’adul, the smells were familiar to him: the distinctive odor of their recycled air, the dry leathery scent of the Valtegans themselves. As he fell in behind the Captain, memories of his captivity came back to him, but now that his fear of them was gone, they held no power over him.
The metal-floored corridor was cool beneath his feet as they followed the Captain down the main corridor to an empty recreation room.
“General Kezule will join you shortly,” said Captain Zaykkuh, gesturing them to enter.
There was an appearance of age about the room, a faded look to the paintwork and a faint mustiness in the air at odds with the pristine condition of the landing bay. Cupboards lined two of the walls and in the third was set a large vid screen. Several worn easy chairs were grouped round low tables. It was obviously a recreation lounge. And like the landing bay and the corridor, it was fitted with psi dampers.
“Rather well worn, isn’t it?” said Banner in a low voice.
He’d no chance to reply before the sound of approaching footsteps drew their attention back to the door.
“You can relax, Kusac,” said Kezule, as he strolled into the room, hands in the pockets of his black fatigues. “Unlike you, we’re unarmed.” Behind him was Doctor Zayshul.
“You’ve armed guards outside the door,” he said, eyes on the Doctor as, hesitating in the doorway when she saw him, she followed Kezule in.
“A precaution because we allowed you to retain your weapons. I believe you know my wife,” Kezule said, walking past them toward the chairs and sitting down.
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