darknadir (18 page)

* * *

Kaid carried Jo into the middle sleeping room, placing her carefully in one of the strange beds, pulling another over for Rezac and seeing him bedded down beside her, then he left them alone.
"Why didn't you tell me you're carrying our cub?" Rezac asked, his hand caressing her face. "He'll be fine," he hurriedly assured her. "They said he was fine."
"He?" she asked, holding his other hand carefully.
He blinked, realizing that he'd given a sex to their child.
"You said he."
"I just sense it," he said. "Why did you keep this to yourself? Are you ashamed? Do you wish you hadn't conceived?" He tried to keep his voice even, not let her hear his concern.
"No, Rezac, never that. I would have told you when we reached safety. I was just so afraid for us, and for... him."
He nodded. That he could understand. Had he known she was pregnant, his fears for her would have been even worse. Leaning forward, he gently licked her cheek, changing it to a kiss when she turned her face to meet his.
I love you,
he sent, wincing as he hurt his bruised face on hers.
What will become of us, Rezac? Soon I'll be in no state to escape, even if we get the chance. How can we bring a child into this captivity?
I don't know, Jo, but we're together, among friends. We'll survive, never doubt that!

* * *

"The bite went wrong because she was pregnant," said Zashou, joining T'Chebbi at the dining table. "It's a miracle they were able to reverse it. Gods, what a mess!" She pushed a hand through her blonde braids. "Pregnant and captive. She must be terrified."
"How do you feel about it Zashou?" asked T'Chebbi. "Can you cope, having lost your own cub so recently?"
"My cub was born dead, malformed because of the laalquoi in our food on Jalna. It should never have been conceived," she said. "Jo's good for Rezac in a way I could never be." She sighed, looking down at her hands, examining the claw tips. "We were ill-fated from the start. I wish he'd met her before me."
T'Chebbi snorted derisively. "Liar! You love him as much, you just refuse to admit it to anyone, even yourself."
Zashou's ears laid back angrily. "You've no right to say that!"
"Is truth. I feel it. Why not admit it?"
"He has Jo now," she said stiffly.
"Needs you both. Loves you both as much," T'Chebbi said quietly.
"How would you know?" she demanded.
"I'm at the edge of a Triad. I don't even have as much as you."
"And Kaid's besotted with Carrie," snapped back Zashou. "Have you no pride?"
"More than you. I admit my need, and I know Kaid needs me as much as her. Don't be a fool, Zashou. Not too late to tell him how you feel. No disgrace to do it even now. Our situation similar, only Kaid met Carrie before me."
"You were at the Brotherhood together before she even met Kusac! Or was it when he went back in time?"
"He saw her in visions from the God," said T'Chebbi, breaking eye contact. "Rezac's not beneath you. His family is as good as yours."
"You don't know anything about him!" she said angrily. "You and Kaid are equals! It was never that way between us!"
"You sold yourself to keep the family going— married money," pointed out T'Chebbi. "Rezac has too much pride to do that."
Zashou began to growl low in her throat. "Why are you so damned concerned about Rezac? What's it to you? Unless," she stopped, ears pricking forward. "Unless you know something I don't know about Rezac. Is Kaid his father? Is that what happened when they went back in time?"
T'Chebbi looked up, catching sight of Tallis hovering nearby, realizing she'd said too much. She forced a laugh. "They didn't go back that far. Arrived only days before your rebellion struck, told you that already." She got to her feet. "Look at the size of our prison, Zashou. We got to get along. We don't need you and Rezac fighting all the time. Sort yourself out now. Come to terms with what happened. Gods, it's been how long? Two years at least!"
"I had a life before him, T'Chebbi! A husband, a family..." she began.
T'Chebbi leaned forward till her nose almost touched the other female's. "Had Valtegan overlords! Had living in fear as a telepath! You blame Rezac for troubles he didn't cause!" She pulled back and stalked off to the other side of the room where Kaid and Tirak sat deep in conversation.
The damage had been done, though, and as she tumbled ideas over in her head, Zashou wondered if they'd gone back twice because they got it wrong the first time. A shadow fell across her and she realized Tallis had settled down opposite her.
"It must have been a shock for you, that news about Jo," he said, his tone ingratiating. "Now everyone's rallying round them, just because they got injured through their own stupidity. They're making you look like the jealous one. You have my sympathy, Zashou."
She couldn't believe she was hearing this! How dared he say that! She spat a few choice swear words at him, then told him to remove himself before she saw him off. With extreme satisfaction, she watched his ears flatten backward in acute embarrassment as he slid from the seat and beat a retreat to the other, smaller table.
Then she stopped smiling as she realized that if someone like him was scenting her vulnerability, then her relationship with Rezac was a matter for common gossip. T'Chebbi was right. In this close a community, there were no secrets, and if she didn't want to remain an object of ridicule, she'd have to rectify it now. She slid her head down onto the tabletop, resting it on her forearms. Why had it gone wrong? T'Chebbi had been right again, she had liked Rezac at the start. Even
he
knew that because she couldn't hide it from him on their Link days. If only it hadn't been for their damned Link, they might have had a chance at a lasting relationship. She'd never loved Shanka Valsgarth, her husband. It had been nothing more than a marriage of convenience. His money for her family's social position.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned her head to see Kaid.
"Would you like to go and lie down?" he asked. "Tirak and I've been allocating rooms. We put you in the inner one on the right with Manesh and Mrowbay. Thought you'd be happier with some female company at least. We need to keep the middle room free for those with Link days." He hesitated, eyes darkening briefly in a pain she could feel at the memories the phrase engendered. "Jo and Rezac are in there just now. We have two days before Kate and Taynar need it. We'll have space in our room then. I'll leave it up to you three to decide who sleeps where."
"Why are you so protective of him, Kaid?" she asked, too emotionally and physically exhausted to care any more. "Are you his father? Did you go back too soon?"
Kaid looked startled. "Of course not. What gave you that idea?"
"You're so alike. Jo noticed it."
"You've got an active imagination," he said, moving away.
She watched him as he walked back to the table. There was something about him, something in the way he moved, held himself, that reminded her so strongly of Rezac— but she was too tired to think it through. Sleep sounded like a wonderful idea. She pushed herself up from the table and made her way through to the room she'd been allocated.
Lifting off the folded cover first, she flopped down into the giant pillow-shaped bed. Almost instantly, it molded itself to her shape with a fluidity that was quite unnerving. And it was warm against her pelt, almost as if it was alive. She was too damned tired to even care if it ate her while she slept. At least she'd know nothing about it and it would mean an end to her troubles.

* * *

J'koshuk stood at the back of the room watching the wide screen. He had to peer around the group of three gray-robed figures, but he could see enough to know he wanted to remain where he was, at the back, and hopefully inconspicuous. They were watching the crew of the
M'ijikk.
They had been placed in a large, sparsely furnished open room. A dozen tables and benches were all the comforts they had. At one end, a partition had just been drawn back, revealing the cages of their food animals. The doors were triggered open and the terrified animals leaped out and scattered among the Valtegans.
After the initial stunned reaction, chaos quickly followed as people dived in every direction in an effort to catch them. J'koshuk groaned inwardly as he watched the partition close, preventing them from recaging the creatures. Didn't the Primes realize what they were doing? The presence of the Sholans had set everyone's aggression level sky high, then they'd been taken captive without the opportunity to retaliate. Now this. It wouldn't be long before so much fresh blood and raw meat would send his people over the edge. Then they'd turn on each other.
A calmness descended on him as he realized the Primes knew exactly what they were doing. What better way to reduce the number of captives and make sure those they retained were the best of their kind? One island of relative calm remained; those surrounding the general.
It was silent— neither the robed ones nor the guards were communicating verbally between themselves in a way he could hear, and no sound penetrated from the room beyond. It was a stark contrast to the scene they were watching and sent a chill through him.
A hand closed on his arm and he yelped in shock. It was the guard beside him. Silently he followed one of the gray ones out into the corridor, then into a room opposite.
"These are your quarters. When you are not required, you will stay here. Your collar monitors your movements at all times. When we need you, there will be a pulse against your neck like this."
Against his throat, he felt a sudden firm pressure that was gone almost instantly.
"The door will be opened and you will be able to leave. You will come to the room we just left. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"If you prove dependable and worthy of trust, you will be allowed the freedom to leave this room when you finish performing your daily tasks. If you transgress, you will be punished and your freedom revoked. Should you transgress a second time, you will join the next culling. Is that understood?"
"Yes," he croaked, his mouth suddenly dry with fear.
"A nourishment unit is supplied. You will eat and drink what is provided. There will be no more raw food. This is a designated rest period. You will eat and sleep for the next ten hours." With that, he was left alone, the door sealed and locked.

* * *

The suite was large, meant for six if the number of bed units was an accurate guide. There were two main rooms— a lounging area and the sleeping one, as well as bathing facilities. He found a small pile of leisure items— games and reading material— from the
M'ijikk
in one of the beds, and a change of his own clothing. He'd been expected, like the Sholans.
His stomach growled, reminding him it was many hours since he'd last eaten, and he went to investigate the nourishment unit. He'd gone beyond fear now, and was working on autopilot.
The unit had been relabeled in his own language, just as when he'd been alone with them, his captors had communicated with him in Valtegan. The food, however, was alien and cooked, and included items labeled:
Meat with green plants; Meat with liquid and green plants 1; sweet, sweet with liquid 1.
Drinks were no better. He chose meat without liquid and a drink of plain water.
The food arrived hot and steaming gently. The smell turned his stomach, but mindful of the warning of his host, he took it over to the table and began to cut it up with the provided cutlery. The knife was so soft that it barely sliced through the meat and the pronged thing he gave up on, using his fingers instead. At least the meat was still pink inside and hadn't been cooked all the way through.
It lay in his stomach like an inert lump, making him feel bloated and uncomfortable. The water did little to help digest it and he got up to investigate the unit again. Perhaps there was something listed that would ease his discomfort. He staggered a little, catching hold of a chair back to keep his balance. He felt weak. This cooked food just didn't agree with him.
Trial and error produced a brew that though warm, had a vaguely familiar taste to it. As the warmth spread through him, it began to ease the pain in his belly. He headed toward one of the padded chairs this time, lowering himself into it with relief. Eating cooked food might give him a pain in the gut, but if it kept him from the culling he'd just witnessed, then it was a small price to pay. He took a large mouthful of the drink, his thoughts turning to Mzayb'ik, wondering how he'd fared. Had he been one of those who'd stood by the general? Likely. Mzayb'ik wasn't a true opportunist like him. He had too much of a sense of loyalty, which got you nowhere at the end of the day. Lifting the small bowl, J'koshuk took another sip of what he assumed was an herbal tea, then rested his head against the back of the chair and yawned. All he had to do was follow their rules— for now at least. There had to be a chance for advancement if the Primes intended to keep them all captive. Whatever their ultimate purpose and destination, he would do well to be indispensable long before they arrived at it. It was what his caste were best at, after all. Surviving.

* * *

"The Cabbarans won't like this," said Sheeowl, pushing her food about her plate with the bendable fork. "It's mostly meat, and half raw!"
"They'll like the vegetables, though," said Giyesh. "Nice and crunchy."
"Mine's all right," said Kate. "You need to change the settings, that's all. I put them on high and the meat's cooked right through."
"Could be worse, could be raw meat," observed T'Chebbi, munching contentedly on her meal. "Wonder what they gave the Valtegans."
"You realize that the food could be drugged," said Tirak, eyeing a chunk of meat he'd finally managed to impale on his fork.
Kaid had already finished. "I know," he said. "That's why I'm not eating much and only drinking water from the faucet. Even if it is, we don't exactly have an option, but we'll have an idea of what it does."
"At least they gave us our own food and drink replicator," said Jeran.
"I think I'll follow your example," said Tirak, pushing his half finished meal aside.
"Nothing is free. It's the price they'll ask for all this that worries me," muttered Tallis.
"There's no point in worrying about that now," said Tirak, getting up from the table. "I'm convinced that these are the Valtegans' enemy. Kaid, a word if you will."
Kaid joined him on the couch farthest from the others.
"We need to work together on this. My priority is escaping. What's yours?" asked Tirak.
"The same, or getting a message out to my people telling them what happened."
Tirak nodded. "So far, so good. Have you any thoughts on how we'll accomplish this?"
"None yet. We're not far from the flight deck, that's a plus. The corridors were deserted but we don't know where in their daily cycle we are. It could be their night for all we know."
"It might have been deserted, but you can be sure they've got us and the corridors under surveillance. They know too damned much about us for my liking."
"I wonder if they found out about us before they took the
M'ijikk,
or after. They could have been pacing it, waiting for an opportunity to attack."
"Some attack! Not a shot fired, we were all out cold on the deck!" snorted Tirak. "They must have been on top of us by the time that alarm went off. Why didn't M'ezozakk spot it? Not much you can do to defend yourself against that type of technology. And how the hell did they get our craft into their hangar?"
"Possibly some kind of beam, maybe magnetic. We've certainly nothing like it. If we do get back to your ship, we'll have that to contend with when we try to escape. But our first step is to get out of these rooms, and stay out long enough to board the
Profit.
For that we need some of those suits, enough of them to look like a party of guards escorting the prisoners."
"They wouldn't be taking them back down to the flight deck."
"Perhaps they want information from the ship's computer, or if I'm right and the elevator's next to their sick bay, maybe they're escorting them there for a medical."
"Rezac had medical attention. Perhaps he remembers where he was taken," Tirak observed. "Jo's unlikely to have been aware of anything much."
Kaid shook his head. "He said something about a medic treating him in the hold. I don't think he'll be able to tell us much."
"Worth a try. So for now, we observe."
"We observe their routines, listen to noise levels outside, and look for opportunities to escape. We let them relax, think we're afraid to try anything. One day, they're bound to make that one slip of attention that'll give us our opportunity to escape."
"Agreed. Tell me, Kaid. Why d'you launch the cryo units?"
"M'ezozakk would have recognized them from Keiss," he said. "It was their best chance for survival."
"And now? Will you tell these aliens they're out there?"
"I can't. We don't know how safe we are. At least out there, they have a good chance of getting picked up by our people when they come looking for us."
"Let's hope you're right," said Tirak, getting up.
Kaid leaned against the back of the seat and closed his eyes. He wanted to sleep, to forget the happenings of the past few hours for a little time at least.