Between Darkness and Light (12 page)

“In that case, I'll send someone to bring you to Shaidan each day. Your secret's safe with me, Kusac,” Kezule said with a slight smile.

 

Banner was waiting for him in his quarters when he returned.

“I don't want to talk right now, Banner,” he said, heading past his Second for the bedroom. “We've an early start tomorrow morning. I want everyone in here for a briefing at third hour.”

“We need to talk now, Kusac,” said Banner, getting to his feet. “What happened to you back there? You nearly lost it. I appreciate Kezule's taunting you, but the whole situation almost blew up in our faces.”

“Blame Dzaou,” he said, stopping at the door. “His outburst started to escalate the situation. You said you'd spoken to him. Did you?”

“Of course I did, but Dzaou's outburst doesn't explain your reaction. You've got to distance yourself from the situation, Kusac. You're taking it too personally. Dzaou's saying Shaidan's your cub. Of course, none of us believes him, but your reaction didn't help.” He stopped briefly. “Is this because of Kashini?” he asked carefully.

The torc's block on his mental abilities had gone now and Kusac could sense Banner weighing him. Since they'd left Haven, the relationship between them had changed. As the only Special Operative left, his Second had assumed Chima's job even though the original mission was over. Banner was watching him for any signs of instability, or collusion with Kezule, and had orders to stop that happening at any cost, including his life if necessary. It was a very thin tightrope he was walking, and it wasn't going to get any easier.

His headache had returned and suddenly he felt utterly exhausted. Briefly he wished that Kaid and Carrie were there, but they belonged to the past and a life that no longer existed for him.

“J'koshuk had me behaving like Shaidan—never looking him in the face unless he ordered me to, telling him how grateful I was to him and the Primes for letting me live . . .” He stopped abruptly, hoping Banner would think he was being overwhelmed by memories. “It goes against the grain to see a cub conditioned like that.”

“None of us can afford to let it get personal, Kusac,” Banner said quietly, putting a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. “Remember, Kezule didn't condition Shaidan. He didn't harm any of the cubs. In fact he made a point of taking in Gaylla to save her life. Nor did he harm your daughter when he had her. I'd bet my life that Shaidan isn't in any danger from him. Forget you're a father. If you don't, then Kezule will have a hold over you.”

Kusac nodded, forcing himself not to flinch away from his Second. Thank Vartra that Banner didn't know how close to the truth he was.

“Is it just training that Kezule wants from us?”

“I'll brief you and everyone in here tomorrow at third hour, Banner,” he said, putting his hand up to rub his aching head as he turned to go into his room. “I really must get some sleep.”

“The others are waiting for me. I need to tell them something,” his Second insisted. “Especially after you hit Dzaou. That didn't go down too well.”

“Tell them what you want, I'm going to bed,” he growled, stepping into his bedroom and closing the door, angry that Banner expected him to justify his actions.

Giyarishis the TeLaxaudin had made his quarters in the science area of the fourth level. Here, on the topmost floor of the asteroid, under the reinforced arched roof, were the enclosed work areas for hydroponics, the protein vats, the labs that served them, and the empty barns and “field” where herd beasts had been housed then released for Valtegan officers to hunt. Kezule found him overseeing the six civilians who had been designated to help him tend the rapidly growing crops—crops which Giyarishis had already established before they'd reached Kij'ik, just as he'd reestablished the field area and the pool.

“They do well,” said Giyarishis' translator as he gestured delicately toward the trays of foot high vegetation. “Soon ready for all to be eating.”

Kezule eyed the exotic grasses and vegetables dubiously. They ranged from broad-leafed plantains to fleshy water-retaining succulents, and all were unknown to him. Once more he wondered whether the TeLaxaudin had a ship hidden somewhere in the asteroid belt or if he'd been dropped off with his cargo of plants to restock this area. Scans had found no signs of any other craft, and when asked, Giyarishis' translator conveniently spat untranslatable static at them.

Despite Giyarishis' assurance that the plants were not only edible by his species, but also tasted reasonably pleasant, he'd had Zayshul test them in the labs on the Command level. Not only had they proved to be safe, but they held most of the vitamins and minerals their species needed, and could be tolerated equally well by the Sholans.

“Enough feeding,” Giyarishis said to his helpers. “Stasis on again. Not growing while off.” Dark eyes swirling as his secondary lenses adjusted to near sight, he turned to Kezule. “We go talk,” he said before stalking jerkily toward the exit air lock and the control room beyond.

 

“You wanting what?” the TeLaxaudin asked as he folded up his thin frame on the soft floor cushions in his office. “Male has seen offspring?”

“He did. The scent you put on the Sholan child worked well,” Kezule said, lowering himself onto the sofa opposite him. “Kusac thinks my wife is Shaidan's mother. I came to congratulate you.”

“Not do. There already.”

Startled, Kezule leaned toward him. “What? But you told me you'd done it!”

“Said only done.” Giyarishis made a negative gesture with his hand.

“How?” He was confused. If not because of Giyarishis, then why was Shaidan carrying a variant of Zayshul's scent?

“Scent mark contaminate male's breeding sample. Both should not do same time. No matter. You want, you have. What now?”

He frowned. Was it his imagination or were too many people around him capable of knowing what was in his mind? What Giyarishis said was true. The means didn't really concern him. Only the fact that the scent had brought Kusac to him, and had made the Sholan believe that Zayshul was Shaidan's mother was important. He dismissed the matter from his mind for now.

“I came to ask you if you could alter the adult Sholan's scent mark. Not now, but when I'm finished with him.”

“Bound to him it is. Only female can change. Wife must do.”

“No,” he said unequivocally. “The scent was artificial, put there by another female, not her. You communicate with scents far more than we do. Surely it can be undone the same way.”

“Too difficult. Easy do natural way.”

“I said no. It's likely the scent was created by the TeLaxaudin on the
Kz'adul
anyway. If he could do it, you can undo it. You find a way. There's no rush,” he added, getting to his feet hurriedly as he began to smell the harsh scent he knew denoted TeLaxaudin anger.

The TeLaxaudin was beginning to hum. “Why undo?” the translator demanded.

“I don't want him permanently fixated on my wife,” he said, backing toward the door. He had no desire to find out what the TeLaxaudin could do if really angry. “It's used by the females to identify desirable partners. It attracts them.”

“She do. Either way, same method deliver. Hunter-male coupled once with your species, will do it again. Unlikely want clinical interference.”

“What he wants doesn't matter! I don't want his obsession reinforced or her taking that risk,” he said hurriedly as the door slid open behind him. “I have to go now. I'll see you in the Command level labs later.”

 

Giyarishis sat looking at the closed door thoughtfully for a few minutes then got to his feet and headed for his desk. Leaping up onto the pile of slightly firmer cushions, he took a small device from the belt he wore round his waist. Clipping it onto the side of the communications unit, he switched it on. Moments later, using his secret system, he was through to his contact in the Camarilla.

“Phratry Leader Kuvaa,” he said, dipping his head slightly and making a gesture of greeting to his Cabbaran colleague.

“Giyarishis,” said Kuvaa, her long nose wrinkling in concern. “All is well? No signs of our Children's presence preparing the Outpost for the sand-dwellers has been discovered, has it?”

“None, Phratry Leader. The sand-dweller's curiosity about us is contained as the Camarilla planned. It is about another matter I contact you.”

“Proceed, then.”

“The Hunter has arrived and believes his son is shared with the sand-dweller female.”

“As was predicted,” said Kuvaa.

“The cub's ability is as powerful as we anticipated. I am watching his development but seldom he is allowed to use it. Sand-dweller gene traits not yet noticeable.”

“Watch the sire more,” said Kuvaa sharply. “He is the weapon. No time has there been for him to train properly. You must find the opportunity to take him aside, assess him, if necessary guide him. You altered DNA test results of cub so sand-dwellers know nothing of his true heritage?”

“Was done,” he confirmed. “All believe hunter-cub is only Human/Hunter hybrid. Genetic material of Doctor mixed for now dead Prime female scent marker. Was bound into Hunter sire's sample when she mated with him on
Kz'adul
. When his mate's egg fertilized, sand-dweller genes present too. Cub is product of all three species. Regrettably he also carries la'quo defect. Two instabilities. That is why I also watch him.”

“Conceded, but focus on his sire for now. Cub is merely the bridge, sire is the weapon.”

He dipped his head in affirmation, keeping to himself his thoughts that the cub was equally important. “The sand-dweller just requested me to prepare means to remove scent mark from Hunter when he is done with him so mating imperative removed.”

“Is progress,” said Kuvaa, obviously impressed. “He becomes aware of needs of those once he considered his enemy.”

“Wishes removal to be done medically. Not willing to have his mate do it. I have said not possible.”

“Tell sand-dweller only way is with female of his species naturally carrying chemical marker,” Kuvaa said. “The Doctor, his mate.”

“When you wish me to give sand-dweller last of his ancient racial memories?”

“Soon. When it does most good, diverts him from other courses back onto ours. You will know when. Is there anything you need?”

“Yes, Phratry Leader. Need birth tanks for sand-dwellers. Soon will want to breed.”

“Sand-dweller has the means to alter the females of his kind to birth own eggs now. Kouansishus gave it to him.”

“Will want tanks,” insisted Giyarishis. “And wants female Sholans.”

“No more Sholans,” said Kuvaa unequivocally. “Will give hunters more reasons to be defensive. They and the sand-dwellers must learn to need each other, learn trust, make alliance, or we are all lost.”

Giyarishis made a skeptical noise. “How, when such enmity exists and is fostered by presence and heritage of cub?”

“We have seen the potentialities, what can be. All is part of the wyrd. With your help, we will guide it to what must be. Tanks we will deliver in two days. Look for them in usual place, Giyarishis.” With that, the Camarilla Phratry Leader cut the connection and left Giyarishis no more reassured than he had been before.

Unable to sleep, Kusac had risen early and after mapping out a training program for Kezule's people, he made his way along the main corridor to the exercise hall. Though cooler than the rest of the Outpost, it was still warmer than the average Sholan home in winter. It was a large room, with a square, roped area for a fighting ring on one side and piles of mats on the other. The floor was covered with some absorbent material that cushioned his bare feet as he walked past the office and across to the benches on the far side. Primes, like the Humans, protected their feet from the ground. Coming to a stop by the benches, he bounced experimentally on the spot, finding the surface gave slightly like the sprung wooden floors in the gymnasiums back home. On a surface like this, even the Primes could work barefoot.