Dark Nadir

by Lisanne Norman

  He snarled, trying to pull away. He didn’t want to move. Fight what? That was what he wanted to know. A sudden rush of energy flooded through him. He felt clearheaded and stronger than he had in weeks. It was like a drug rush. That was it. She’d said he’d been drugged. He was to fight the drug he’d been given.

  Stopping dead, he saw Zsurtul coming toward him, just as he’d done many times before in his cell. Pain had always accompanied him, and the priest. What was it about the priest? Bracing his legs, he tried to sink his claws into the deck, refusing to move any farther. He needed to work this out right now. It had been the priest who’d demanded information about Carrie, who’d known her sister. But the voice had said the priest had tried to protect him—the same voice that told him that Zsurtul had been his torturer. Again the pain stabbed him, this time at the side of his neck. He put his hand up to it, feeling the shaved area and the edge of the implant. He began to growl deep down in his throat.

  * * *

  “What the hell’s up with Kusac?” muttered Rezac. “He looks like he’s ready for a Challenge.”

  “Something’s gotten to him for sure,” said T’Chebbi. “That’s no way to get free. He knows better.”

  “I’m getting nothing,” said Carrie, clutching her rifle tighter as Kusac began to growl. “What’s wrong with his neck? Why’s he touching it?”

  The implant, sent Brynne. He’s touching the implant.

  Dzaou’s getting damned twitchy, sent Rezac.

  Watch him. Don’t let them interfere, ordered Kaid. Brynne, see if you can reach Kusac. Find out what’s wrong.

  * * *

  Kusac’s arm was jerked again. This time, he turned on the guard, tail lashing, snarling his fury. “Don’t pull me!”

  Zsurtul was getting closer. He could see his features now. Hate and anger combined in Kusac in a deadly mixture. He wanted to sink his claws in him, rip him to shreds. Beyond the Valtegan he caught sight of Carrie, knew by the way she stood she was afraid. The priest, she was afraid of the priest. He looked back, searching for J’koshuk amid the Primes, finding him standing on the edge of the Seniormosts. The memory of Carrie’s cry for help echoed through his mind, and he felt again his impotent hatred and fear of what the priest was about to do to his mate.

  “Carrie! Not Carrie!” he howled, twisting himself free from the guard and flinging him aside. Stumbling, Kusac caromed off the Prince, then staggered a few steps till he righted himself. Zsurtul’s scent was in his nostrils now. He didn’t know him, had never met him. It was J’koshuk he wanted. He’d raped Carrie. Oblivious to the Valtegan pistols aimed at him, he spun round, his predator’s instinct finding the priest again instantly.

  * * *

  Chy’qui had watched Kusac become more and more agitated as he was led out for the exchange. Everything had been going as planned: all eyes were on Kusac and the Prince, no one noticed J’koshuk surreptitiously using his wrist control.

  The Sholan had suddenly called out the name of the Human female and broken free from the guard with such force he’d spun into the Prince. Then, instead of attacking Zsurtul, Kusac had turned away. Chy’qui knew his plan was beginning to go very wrong.

  * * *

  “You! It was you all along,” Kusac snarled, raising his hands and reaching out for the priest.

  J’koshuk began to back away from the Primes’ group, fear written all over his face and scenting the air.

  The memory of Carrie’s mental cry was still there, as was Kaid’s presence. And more—the gestalt. Kusac felt it whisper at the edges of his mind.

  The priest had turned, was beginning to run for the shuttle.

  Kusac’s vision narrowed as he targeted J’koshuk. He saw nothing but him, smelled only his scent. The blood roared in his ears, his head pounded with pain. Reaching within his mind, he grasped the memory of the Link and then beyond, finding not only the web of six, but the gestalt.

  Behind him, the fallen guard rose, pulling out his sidearm.

  * * *

  Zayshul cried out in fear, clutching at Chy’qui, demanding he do something. Chy’qui pressed frantically at his control pad, trying to shut the guard down. He couldn’t allow the Sholan to be shot in the back, not while there was still a chance he’d turn on Zsurtul. The guard stiffened, then dropped to the deck.

  * * *

  He’s gone feral, Kaid! Carrie sent. What the hell’s happening to him?

  I don’t know! He was on the verge of going kzu-shu, and the Prince was within feet of him. Brynne?

  Nothing. He’s too tightly blocked. Is he being controlled?

  Then Kaid felt his mind grasped, whirled in with Carrie’s and their web as, in front of his disbelieving eyes, the priest stopped dead in his tracks. The web shattered as energy was ripped from their minds, and later, Kaid swore he actually saw a bolt of pure energy hit the priest full in the back.

  “Burn in hell, you nest-raiding lizard!” Kusac yelled.

  J’koshuk fell like a stone and the air began to reek of scorched flesh. Above his body, a small cloud of smoke hung in the still air.

  * * *

  Somehow, Chy’qui realized, Kusac had managed to break through the drugs and conditioning. How? Had he forgotten something? In a flash of understanding it came to him. The female, he’d forgotten that J’koshuk had raped the female. That was what had angered the Sholan far more than the torture!

  He heard Kusac shouting, then watched as a pulse of energy hit the priest’s back, knocking him to the ground. How, in the name of all that was holy, had he done that? Had he gotten hold of a firearm from somewhere?

  “The guards! Stop the guards!” Zayshul shouted.

  “Do it!” Q’ozoi snapped. “We can’t risk the Prince!”

  Cursing, Chy’qui entered the override code that deactivated all the guards as Kusac took a staggering step toward the Prince. Now he was praying the Sholan wouldn’t attack Zsurtul.

  * * *

  Still shocked by what had happened to the priest, Kaid watched disbelievingly as the Prime guards suddenly all fell to the deck. “What the hell’s going on?” he demanded.

  Too stunned to react, they all, Sholans and Valtegans, stood and watched as Kusac spun round to face the Prince. His hands went up to his neck, clawing at the implant as, snarling, he took a staggering step toward him.

  * * *

  Kusac looked straight at Carrie and Kaid as he took another lurching step toward the Prince. The mute appeal in his eyes was visible even from that distance. Nobody moved, and for the first time in his life, Kaid froze. Not just his body, but his mind. He knew what was at stake, but this was Kusac, his sword-brother, his Triad partner.

  Kaid heard the whine of a single shot and Kusac suddenly collapsed at Prince Zsurtul’s feet. The sound of a gun hitting the deck echoed through the landing bay, shattering the unnatural silence.

  “Get the Prince back to his people now!” yelled Carrie, her voice breaking.

  Banner was the first to move, running out to grasp hold of the Prince. Dragging him forward, he thrust him into the heart of the group of Valtegans. Then, with a glance at J’koshuk’s body, he sprinted back to the safety of his own side.

  Kaid could sense nothing from Carrie. Her mind had gone as numb as he’d been moments earlier. He heard the guns powering up around him and spun round. The Sholan camp had split into two factions, with his people turning their weapons on Dzaou’s, and Dzaou’s aimed at the Primes.

  “Hold fire!” he roared. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? We’ve a Brother down! Get the medics out to him, fast! The rest of you, power down and about face! Immediately!”

  After a moment of hesitation, Dzaou dropped his rifle, then the others of his unit followed. Satisfied, Kaid turned back to the Valtegans.

  The Seniormosts stood in a confused and vulnerable clump, staring at the Sholans in fear. He needed to do something now to retrieve the situation. “Take command, T’Chebbi,” he ordered. “Rezac, with me.”

  “Aye,
sir,” she said crisply.

  Grasping Carrie’s arm and pulling her close to his side, he strode out across the open area toward the Primes. As they passed where Kusac lay, hidden by medics, she tried to stop, but he pulled her on, thanking Vartra that they’d had the sense to surround him.

  “I shot him,” she moaned. “I can’t believe I shot him!”

  You did what I couldn’t do, you saved his life! We’ve got work to do, Carrie, he sent. So have they. I need your help to read the Primes.

  * * *

  Zayshul slowly backed away from where her people were huddled together. Everyone’s attention was on the approaching Sholan and Human. With luck, her actions would go unnoticed. A shiver of fear ran through her as she recognized the Sholan male. He was the one who’d almost shot her when they were escaping. She prayed he wouldn’t see her now, but she had to get to J’koshuk’s body.

  She’d seen him backing off from the main group, just as she was doing now, and fiddling with his wrist. There was only one explanation for his behavior and Kusac’s aggressiveness—he was using a control unit on the Sholan. And the person who’d shown him how to use one, whose assistant he was, was Chy’qui.

  * * *

  The Valtegans with sidearms pulled them out, aiming at them as they approached. Kaid ignored them, pushing them aside till he faced the commander.

  “Who ordered Kusac to be implanted?” he demanded. “He’s being controlled by one of you through that device on his neck!”

  A female pushed forward to the front. “Not me,” she said hastily as Kaid turned toward her. “Commander, I think I know who’s behind this, and I believe I can prove it.” She handed Q’ozoi a slim tape. “Someone searched my office last night. I believe it was for this. I took it from Kusac’s room a couple of nights ago and didn’t realize I still had it.”

  Q’ozoi took it from her. “What is it?” he demanded, turning the tape over in his hands.

  “Kusac’s sleep tape. I was called because his monitor alarm went off. His hormone levels were much higher than they should have been. I adjusted them and removed the tape. I think his tape was switched for this one.”

  “What’s the purpose of the tape?” demanded Kaid. Read them, Carrie!

  Zayshul turned to look at him. “We use them for healing. Soothing and uplifting sounds and images. They’re used for learning as well.”

  “Are you saying he could have been programmed to kill the Prince?” asked Q’ozoi.

  “It’s possible, yes. The tape will prove it one way or another.”

  “Who do you think is responsible?”

  “The only person in the area at the time was Doctor Chy’qui. He was treating J’koshuk in the next room, one with a door leading into Kusac’s.” She handed him something else. “And I found this on J’koshuk. A wrist control unit for the implants. Kusac was being controlled by him, that’s why he was so aggressive.”

  She’s telling the truth, sent Carrie. The Prime backing off, near the shuttle, he’s Chy’qui.

  Rezac, bring him here! ordered Kaid.

  Aye!

  “It’s been melted,” said Q’ozoi, looking at the control unit. “How did it get melted?”

  “J’koshuk was killed with some kind of energy weapon,” said Zayshul, aware that the truth was quite different. “I saw the priest wearing and using this. It’s what we use to control the guards when they’re off the Kz’adul, Commander. J’koshuk is Chy’qui’s assistant. He was doing the rounds of our M’zullians with him a few days ago. Chy’qui is the only one supposed to be using a unit here.”

  They heard a scuffle breaking out by the shuttle and looked around to find Chy’qui being dragged toward them by Rezac.

  “Does this tape hold evidence of a plot against my life?” Zsurtul asked, his voice deceptively quiet.

  “I protest, Commander! This is a further Sholan violation of our neutrality!” said Chy’qui, trying to shake himself free of Rezac. “First they kill J’koshuk, and now they take violent hold of me.”

  “Does this tape incriminate you?” the commander demanded.

  “It’s nothing to do with me, Commander. Zayshul’s been jealous since I came on board. The plot is hers to discredit me.”

  “You took charge of the Med Research unit when you boarded this vessel at K’oish’ik,” said Q’ozoi. “You were responsible for the actions of the priest and, I believe, for this attempt on Prince Zsurtul.”

  “He’s wearing a psi damper,” Carrie said. “On his armor somewhere. Take it off him and I’ll tell you if he’s guilty.”

  “Strip him,” ordered the commander. “Psi damper?”

  “They suppress our telepathy,” said Carrie.

  Q’ozoi shook his head. “We don’t have anything like that.”

  Carrie traded glances with Kaid. Chy’qui. He’s the one who separated us.

  “While we were with you, our telepathic abilities were limited by a damper field outside the room, and on an individual basis,” said Kaid. “I know I was given psi-inhibiting drugs and their antidotes several times.”

  “Chy’qui ordered the drugs,” said Zayshul. “I know nothing about the dampers.”

  “When you get back to your ship, I suggested you look around the suite we were in. You’ll find a damper unit somewhere,” said Kaid.

  Chy’qui brazened it out, continuing to protest his innocence, but once he stood clad only in his fatigues, Carrie was able to get the information she wanted.

  “He’s guilty. The tape has the evidence you need. He’s also responsible for the death of someone in your computer section. Something to do with locked files.”

  The commander handed Chy’qui’s control unit to Zayshul. “Reactivate the guards, Doctor. Counselor Chy’qui has committed treason against your person, Prince Zsurtul. He’ll be questioned tomorrow, but he must be returned to the City of Light to face Emperor Cheu’ko’h.”

  Around them, the guards began to stir, getting to their feet. The sight unnerved Kaid. It was like watching toys receive new energy cells. They stood motionless, guns ready, waiting for fresh orders.

  “Secure Counselor Chy’qui so he doesn’t escape,” Q’ozoi ordered the nearest one. “Return him to the shuttle and remain with him.”

  Rezac handed him over to the guard.

  “Fire!” yelled someone, pointing to the now thick cloud of smoke hanging above J’koshuk’s body.

  As the Primes scattered, Kaid saw flames begin to lick at the edges of J’koshuk’s clothing. The air began to reek with the stench of burning flesh. “I don’t believe it,” he murmured. “Kusac must have fried him from the inside out.”

  Sholans with extinguishers rushed past them.

  “I need to see Kusac,” said Carrie, beginning to move away from him.

  “No,” he said, grasping hold of her wrist. “When he’s been seen by the medics, I’ll come with you.”

  “Let me go,” she said, squirming in his grip. “I need to see how badly I hurt him.”

  “Dammit, I can’t come with you now!”

  She broke free and headed off across the bay at a lope, slowed down by the weight of her armor.

  He turned to the nearest Prime. “Go back to your shuttle till we’ve cleared this mess up,” he said, indicating the smoldering body of J’koshuk and the fire-fighting team. “We’ll meet again in half an hour.”

  Zayshul nodded, and Kaid took off after Carrie.

  * * *

  The physician looked up briefly as Carrie lumbered over. “Good shot. Took the head right off this little device and disabled it. You only just grazed his neck.”

  Kusac was on a floater now, a drip attached to his arm. His tunic was spattered with blood. One medic was carefully swabbing more off the side of his neck while another—Jurrel—was checking the implant, making sure the circuits weren’t shorting.

  “How is he?” she asked the physician, trying to crouch down beside him.

  “Unconscious. He’s high as a kite on epinephrin, but we�
�re bringing him down now. For the rest, I won’t know until I do a detailed analysis in sick bay, especially because of this implant. I don’t even know what the hell it does.” He stood up, taking her by the elbow and drawing her aside. “Get him ready to move,” he said to Jurrel over his shoulder.

  She turned back, seeing Jurrel begin to fasten the restraints. “What are you doing?” she demanded. “Why are you tying him down like that? He’s no danger to us!”

  Kaid arrived, taking in the situation immediately. He placed himself firmly between her and the floater as it rose up to a comfortable towing height. “Let them get on with their job, Carrie. We know he’s had at least one set of seizures. If he has another on the way up to the sick bay, he could fall off the floater.”

  How can you stay so calm about it all? she demanded.

  Because I have to. The situation’s too explosive, Carrie. All our lives are at risk. This could still end in war.

  “He’s waking,” said Jurrel, looking over to Carrie.

  She pushed past the two males to Kusac’s side. Pressing the release on the nearest wrist restraint, she took hold of his hand.

  “Lo, cub.” His voice was a barely audible murmur. “Your aim’s improved. Say thanks to T’Chebbi for me.”

  “Kusac.” Her voice broke and she couldn’t continue. Instead she lifted his hand to her lips.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered, his voice growing a little stronger. “My mind’s been empty without you.” The he saw Kaid. “Codes. You had to know if you gave him the codes.”

  Kaid looked puzzled, then put his hand to Kusac’s face, stroking the edge of his jawline with his thumb. “You just rest,” he said. “You’re safe with us now.”

  “Asked me to tell you when I knew. Worked it out while I was with them. Ghezu.”

  “That! Gods, it’s not important now, Kusac.”