“Leave him, Rezac,” said Jo, holding onto him.
“What do you know about this, Jo? What the hell’s going on here? Why has no one told me?”
Keeping an eye on Rezac, Kaid finished punching in the sequence. Kusac’s unit began to move forward to join Carrie’s.
Take the third unit, he sent to Jo. A premed will put you out almost instantly, the unit will automatically do the rest, even after it’s launched.
Jo threw him a terrified look and shook her head. Tesha’s more frightened than me.
You’re more at risk, and more valuable alive.
No.
Kaid nodded, and stepped up to the bulkhead where the final launch controls were situated. A sudden fear that he was doing the wrong thing swamped him. He pushed it aside. No time for doubts or second thoughts now.
He hit the hatch activator. The bulkhead hissed back, hydraulic motors engaging the two units in the launch tubes. As the hatch closed again, sealing them in, he leaned against the wall, watching the amber light, waiting for it to begin pulsing.
“I hope you know what the hell you’re doing, Kaid. You may be in charge, but by the Gods, you assume too much responsibility!” said Rezac angrily.
“You think I want to kill them?” he demanded. “No one is dearer to me than them, Rezac! They are my life!”
The light blinked at him. He reached up and hit it, watching the green one come on. It was done now, for better or for worse. The hull vibrated as the units were expelled from the ship into the darkness of space.
May the Gods protect you, he prayed, closing his eyes briefly. And forgive me. He hadn’t even had time to say his farewells, to look at them one last time.
He felt exhausted, but there was still so much to do. Rousing himself, Kaid sent to Jo. You need to warn Rezac that M’ezozakk may recognize you.
He hadn’t felt this empty when he’d put them into cryo. Then there had at least been hope. Now the odds on his Leska partners surviving were stacking up against them.
I can’t!
You must. If you don’t, I will. When she didn’t reply, he stood up and reholstered his gun, looking pointedly at Rezac.
“I can’t believe that you’d do something as stupid as this! You sent them out there to die, Kaid! To get blown up by the Valtegans—or worse, to drift until the power supply runs out!”
“Gods, I’ll be glad when you’ve finally grown up enough to use that brain of yours!” Kaid snapped back.
“Shut up, both of you!” said Jo angrily. “You make a great pair, each as bad as the other! Kaid, why didn’t you just tell him why you did it? It would have been the sensible thing to do!”
“I’m not answerable to him or anyone!” Kaid snarled.
“I’d swear you could be brothers, you’re both so damned arrogant, independent, and determined to be responsible for everything!” She turned on Rezac. “As for you, did you stop to think just how long they’d have survived once the Valtegans found them? Or do you think they’d be altruistic enough to wake them and heal Carrie? You know them better than that!”
Rezac glowered angrily at her. “Are they even designed for survival in space? The debris from the explosion is floating around us out there! How does he know it won’t damage the units?”
“I don’t know,” said Kaid, shocked into an icy calm by Jo’s unwitting recognition of their family relationship. “It’s a risk I have to take. That debris is their camouflage.”
“Of course they’re equipped for space,” said Jo. “The units were sitting in launch cradles. Forget about them for now, Rezac. We’ve got larger problems.”
“What? What could possibly be worse than the situation we’re in?” he demanded.
“The captain of the Valtegan ship knows me,” she said quietly, looking away from him.
The angry swaying of Rezac’s tail stopped abruptly and his jaw dropped open in shock.
“He’s General M’ezozakk. He was the Overlord of Keiss, commander of the permanent garrison that was there until your people came to liberate us,” Jo continued.
“He brought your stasis cube to Jalna,” added Kaid.
Rezac found his voice. “He’s one of the ones you had to pair with for the resistance.”
She nodded, looking up at him now. “I think he’ll recognize me. If he does, it won’t take him long to work out I was a spy.”
“You’re right. We have a worse problem,” he whispered, feeling behind him for a bed to sit on.
“Carrie’s identical twin, Elise, worked there with Jo,” said Kaid. “M’ezozakk had her tortured to death. With Carrie gone, Jo’s got a better chance of not being recognized.”
“I didn’t realize he’d recognize Carrie.” He reached out for Jo, holding her tightly.
“You didn’t want to,” said Kaid. “You see your own arrogance in everyone but yourself. Stop fighting me, Rezac. I’m not your enemy.”
“You’re dismissing him too easily, Kaid,” said Jo, stroking her lover’s head. “He knows the Valtegans better than anyone, better than I do. Yes, he’s young and hot-headed, but you two need to work together if we’re going to survive this.”
Rezac looked over to him. “What about the last cryo unit, Kaid? Could we put Jo in it and leave her here?”
“And risk M’ezozakk blowing up the ship once he has us?” asked Kaid.
“We could launch it like the others! There’s time, surely?”
“I suggested it and she refused.”
“Damned right I did!” exclaimed Jo. “I’m not the only one he’ll recognize. How could I protect myself yet leave Tesha and the others to cope?”
“Let’s hope he doesn’t remember you,” said Kaid. “We have to return to the bridge. If M’ezozakk does recognize her, Rezac, for Vartra’s sake, contain yourself. If you don’t, you’ll put all our lives at risk, including hers. We don’t know what happens to a Third when the Leska pair dies, and from what Jeran’s told us, M’ezozakk would delight in killing you. I’ll get T’Chebbi to break the news to Jeran’s group that we’re surrendering.”
* * *
Tesha and Jeran had said little when they’d been told the news. Tallis, however, began to rant and rave. “Why don’t you stand and fight? You’re Brotherhood, or so you say,” he snarled, rounding on T’Chebbi. “This is the coward’s way out!”
“Not,” said T’Chebbi firmly. “We fight, we die. Is simple. And next ship from Jalna gets taken instead.”
“So what? You think I care? It’s those damned U’Churians! If they’d gotten their act together, we could’ve escaped! There’s got to be some guns on this damned ship somewhere! That’s it! We could pretend to surrender and . . .”
“Shut up, Tallis,” said T’Chebbi in disgust, turning away from him. “Their ship is twice our size, more crew than us.”
Tallis lunged out and grabbed her by the arm, swinging her around. “You’re selling us into slavery! You don’t know what these people are like!”
T’Chebbi’s hand closed on his. A quick flip and he was sprawling on the floor. “Enough!” she roared at him. “Is done! Get down to vehicle deck with others, now!”
* * *
He’d gone, muttering and cursing all the way, but when the Valtegans actually came through the hatch, he fell silent and slipped to the back of the group, hoping to remain unnoticed.
* * *
This was T’Chebbi’s first encounter with Valtegans. Narrowing her eyes, she began to study the nearest one. Topping six feet tall, and dressed in khaki fatigues, he was humanoid in appearance. Green-skinned, his round, hairless head had a forehead that unlike a Human one sloped straight down to become the nose. Eyes were large and yellowish in color, and lashless. His ears were small and set low against his skull, the bottom edge of them level with the slightly V-shaped upper lip. Three-fingered hands with an opposable thumb gripped the rifle firmly, knuckles showing a lighter color. Like her, he had claws, but large, non-retractile ones. A commotion from behind her made her tear he
r gaze away and turn round just as the soldier became aware of her curiosity.
* * *
As M’ezozakk’s carmine-robed torturer came through the hatch, with a howl of anger and rage, Tesha propelled herself at him.
“Tesha!” yelled Jeran in horror, stepping forward instinctively to stop her. Kaid’s hand clamped over his, pulling him close to his side and holding him there. “No!” he hissed. “Be still! It’s her choice.”
She didn’t get far. An energy bolt hit her full in the chest, knocking her from her feet and flinging her backward into their midst. As they scattered to avoid her, Kate gave a tiny cry and crumpled to the ground. Rezac bent down and lifted her up as the rest of them regrouped.
Kaid kept his hold on Jeran. “Don’t look,” he said, keeping his voice low. “They’re hoping for an excuse to kill all of us. Don’t give it to them.”
Jeran swallowed hard and nodded, once, but his body remained stiff and unyielding in Kaid’s grasp.
“Get them into the M’ijikk,” said the officer in charge, lowering his gun. “I want no more casualties. I’ll flay the first one to fire a shot!”
* * *
“You tell him,” said J’koshuk. “It’s not my job. You’re the First Officer, and in charge of this detail.”
Mzayb’ik regarded him with naked hate. “I saved your life in there! One day, J’koshuk . . .”
“You’ll what?” asked the priest, folding his arms across his carmine robes. “Our Church is strong, Mzayb’ik. Since we fled Keiss rather than return to M’zull, I have been surrounded by heresy. We should have returned to expiate our disgrace in an honorable death. We did not. As first officer, you are as guilty as the general for making that decision. A charge of heresy laid against you, even should you disprove it, would hardly further your career.”
“What career? As you said, we have no home!” hissed the other. “Unless the general’s plan succeeds, we’re dead now, living on borrowed time!”
“The auguries predicted success . . .”
“The auguries!” spat Mzayb’ik, tongue flicking out angrily. “You tailor them to suit the general’s wishes! You lick his eggs as willingly as would any drone!”
Skin flushing a darker green in anger, J’koshuk turned away, ostensibly to watch the four Cabbarans being escorted into the turbo lift to the upper levels. “I suggest you don’t keep him waiting any longer for the news. It will not improve with delay,” he said coldly.
With a final hiss of anger, Mzayb’ik stalked off to the vehicle dispatch office to make his call.
M’ezozakk’s face filled the small vid screen. “Well? Have you got them secured in the cargo holds yet? Are the Cabbarans on their way up to the brig?”
“Yes, General. All went smoothly. As we thought, the craft was U’Churian. Their captain suffered a minor concussion but is coming round now. The four Cabbaran navigators are on their way up even as we speak.” He hesitated. There was no way of knowing how General M’ezozakk would react.
“What is it, Mzayb’ik? Don’t keep me waiting.”
“There are Sholans on board. We got back three of the ones we sold on Jalna, but one died in a suicide charge on the priest,” he said in a rush. “And we have Humans. Two females. What do you want us to do with them?”
Speechless for once, M’ezozakk stared out of the screen at him.
“General? What shall we do with them? The scent of the Sholans is affecting my troops badly, especially since the female got shot.”
“I’m on my way down.” The screen darkened abruptly.
Mzayb’ik returned to the main loading area where the air lock between the two craft was being sealed. Twenty of his soldiers ringed the small group of aliens who had come off the U’Churian craft. Even inside the office, he’d been able to smell their volatile mood, and the scent of the Sholans.
It was the scent more than the sight of them that made his skin feel slick with sweat and triggered his desire to destroy them in the most primitive, physical way. He fought against it, knowing that, though joining his men in ripping the Sholans limb from limb might satisfy his primal urges, he would have to face the wrath of his general afterward, and nothing was worth that. At least M’ezozakk had said nothing about the dead one—yet.
J’koshuk intercepted him again on his way across to the captives. “And what did our good general have to say?”
“He’s coming down,” said Mzayb’ik, continuing to walk, making the priest trot to keep up with him. He stopped just outside the ring of soldiers and rounded on him. “I won’t forget this, J’koshuk,” he said quietly, eyes narrowing as he stared at him. “One slip, one mistake, and you’re mine!”
J’koshuk shrugged and smiled, showing his razor sharp teeth in a wide grin. “I don’t make mistakes.” He held the final sibilant in a prolonged hiss.
Mzayb’ik snarled and pushed his way through his men till he faced the motley group of aliens. He wished he could have gauged the general’s mood better, but that one was too good at keeping his reactions to himself. He looked at the females. It had been a long time since they’d seen Humans—or females. They looked almost like people, if lesser creatures could even be called people. At least they weren’t covered in hair like the U’Churians and the Sholans.
The smaller one looked scared. He took a step closer, breathing deeply to check, then berated himself mentally. Of course she was scared! What other emotion could she feel in the presence of her obvious superiors? He tried to make eye contact with her, but like the other, she kept her head down, looking only at the ground.
A stir from behind alerted him to the arrival of General M’ezozakk. He turned round to greet him, steeling his expression and suppressing his anxiety, hoping that he was exuding the correct scent signals.
M’ezozakk stopped beside him and scanned the group.
“They’ve been searched and I’ve separated them into species,” said Mzayb’ik. “Nine U’Churians, two Human females, and five Sholans, including two of those we had before.”
“I can count,” said M’ezozakk testily, moving closer to the U’Churians. “Which one is Captain?” he asked in bad Port patois.
Tirak, pushing away Mrowbay’s support, stepped forward. “Me. I take it you’re the commander of this craft. What is the meaning of this piracy? You have no right to perpetrate an act of war on peaceful traders.”
M’ezozakk stared at him, blinking once, slowly. “Why are you transporting these creatures?” he asked, indicating the others. “What purpose is behind this?”
“Profit,” said Tirak. “They’re passengers who paid us to be taken off Jalna.”
“To where?”
Tirak stared back at him. “What business is it of yours? To my world, if you must know. They had nowhere else to go.”
M’ezozakk looked consideringly at him, then with frightening speed, backhanded him across the face. “You lie. They have a world to go to.”
Tirak staggered against Mrowbay, putting his hand to his face as he clutched at the medic to regain his balance.
“Never lie to me again,” said M’ezozakk, turning away from him and walking toward the Sholans.
He stopped in front of Tallis, reaching out to grasp him by the tunic and pull him closer. “We meet again. You didn’t like Jalna?”
Tallis began to whimper in terror.
“Where were you going? Not home, we destroyed it.” He shook him briefly and Tallis began to babble incoherently. With a hiss of disgust, M’ezozakk flung him back. “A coward. You’re useless. You’d tell me anything you thought would please me,” he said in disgust. He looked at the rest of them.
“A new one. Where from?” he demanded, hand snaking out to grasp Taynar by the throat.
Terrified, Taynar hung limp within his grasp. He looked frantically at Rezac, then over to the U’Churians. “Keiss.”
M’ezozakk grunted then released him, pushing him aside and turning to Zashou. “A female,” he said, then glanced over at the Humans. “Three.
” Frowning, he breathed deeply, then began to advance on them.
“You, I know,” he said in Valtegan, stopping in front of Jo. Reaching out, he took hold of the hair that now just touched her shoulders. “It’s been a long time. You’re the one I sent for many times on Keiss.” His hand curled round her throat, non-retracting claws overlapping as he circled it. “What brings you so far from your world? Not a desire for my company, I’m sure. What are you Humans plotting this time, I wonder?” He forced her chin up till she was looking at him.
Behind him, Rezac stirred, beginning to growl low in his throat. M’ezozakk ignored him.
“Answer me!” he said, giving her a small shake. “How is it you and the Sholans are here at Jalna in the company of these traders?”
Jo put her hand up to cover M’ezozakk’s and smiled. “We came to rescue the Sholans, General, nothing more. Our ship was damaged on landing so we chartered Captain Tirak’s. I had not thought to see you again,” she said in his language.
M’ezozakk watched her face carefully, reading her scent signals. She was afraid, but then her fear was pleasant, had always added spice to their encounters at the base. “We will talk more,” he said, relaxing his grip, letting his hand slide down her throat to her shoulder. “Renew our closeness.” He rubbed his thumb gently across her throat, his forked tongue flicking out to touch her cheek.
This time the commotion behind him could not be ignored. He swung round, glaring at the scuffle within the Sholan group. One of the males was having to be subdued by his own people.
“Bring him here,” he ordered, closing his hand over Jo’s shoulder till his claws began to penetrate her clothing.
Rezac was dragged, struggling, before him. The reason was instantly obvious to him: they carried each other’s scent. What he had assumed was due to her traveling in close proximity with the Sholans was actually caused by their relationship with each other.
“Ah, you’ve been mating with this one.” M’ezozakk was prepared to be amused. “A strange choice, but then, I see none of your own males among this group.”
“Leave her alone,” snarled Rezac, struggling within the grip of the two soldiers.
Dark Nadir Page 12
