darknadir (51 page)

Kaid grasped the Prime guard from Giyesh. "Keep moving," he said tersely to her as he put the gun to the side of the Valtegan's head.
The Valtegan began to struggle, letting out a shriek of terror as Kaid pulled the trigger. The cry was cut short as his body began to sag. Kaid flung him aside and reached for the gray Seniormost.
"That's one gone!" yelled Kaid, pulling her in front of him.
A scuffle from the rear of the group, then the second guard made a break for freedom.
Kaid was about to fire on the fleeing Valtegan as a shot rang out, hitting the guard square in the upper back, felling him instantly.
Got him,
sent Rezac.
Good shot.
"She's next!" Kaid yelled, putting the gun to her head as he kept moving slowly toward the
Profit.
"Tell them that," he snarled in her ear. "You're next, then the gold one."
Green skin almost white with terror, the Seniormost shrieked out the warning as, stumbling, she was dragged closer and closer to the
Profit.
They were in the lee of their ship now, protected from the Primes behind them.
"Take it easy. We're not out of here yet," Kaid warned them as Giyesh began to move a little faster.
At last he felt the
Profit
's ramp under his feet. Dragging his captive with him, he backed up a few feet before stopping. "Rezac, bring the gold. Use him as a shield. Those with weapons, up front with me now. The rest of you, board! Tirak, get her fired up, ready to go!"
Carrie, Jo, and Jeran joined him, giving cover to the others as they scrambled for the safety of the
Profit.
As soon as he saw her, he knew T'Chebbi had been hit.
She's fine,
sent Carrie.
Flesh wound, upper arm.
Before his eyes, an old vision briefly exploded, showing him T'Chebbi, her upper arm wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage. It hadn't happened on Jalna, but it had happened.
"All on board," reported Rezac. "Our turn."
"We want a treaty with you," said the Seniormost urgently as Kaid hauled her up the ramp with him. "We must talk of this now!"
I'm picking up someone out there,
sent Carrie as she ducked inside the
Profit
's cargo bay.
If we don't agree, they plan to wait until we've left, then put that beam on us to bring us back unconscious. They'll keep several of us as hostages and release the others with the offer of a treaty.
"Why?" demanded Kaid, tightening his grip on the Seniormost's arm. "Against whom?"
"The Valtegans from the
M'ijikk
and others. We're threatened by them. We need allies who can fight for us."
"Your people couldn't even keep the safe passage agreement! Do you really expect us to want an alliance with you?" Kaid stopped at the edge of the
Profit
's cargo bay, standing behind the Seniormost.
"He was a bodyguard and unstable! We're not responsible for them! We treated you well! We examined you only to find out how much you'd changed since the fall of our Empire."
"What's your world called?" demanded Rezac, rejoining Kaid.
"K'oish'ik."
He let out a hiss. "The world we were on. The Emperor's world."
"We have no warriors now. Those from M'zull and J'kirtikk will find us soon. They have an ancient prototype weapon of ours. It's the one they used to destroy your two worlds. It must be retrieved and destroyed. You're as much at risk from them as we are. They hate you more," she added.
There was truth in that. But an alliance with less hostile Valtegans to fight a war not of their making? Vartra's words about a pact with the Liege of Hell came back to him. Shola had to be warned.
"We'll take this Enlightened One of yours back with us to plead your cause. He does talk, doesn't he?"
"Take me," she said anxiously. "I can put our case better."
"I will go," said the gold-robed Prime from where he stood with Jeran and Jo inside the cargo bay. "I came to present our arguments to you in the first place. I had documents..."
"Don't need documents," interrupted Kaid. "Tell your people we've listened to you and that the gold one can put your case to our leaders. Tell them not to bother using that beam weapon of yours on us again. If you do, he dies."
"How will we know your decision?"
"Stay here. We'll send a message," he said, pushing her down the ramp and ducking out of sight inside as Carrie shut the bay door. He hit the communicator control set into the bulkhead. "Tirak, Kaid here. On our way up. Get us out of here immediately."
"Taking off in two minutes," came the captain's reply. "To the bridge, on the double."
They raced across the
Profit
's hold toward the elevator, feeling the ship begin to vibrate as the sound of the engines changed. They made it, but only just. T'Chebbi was sitting at the nav console, arm being dressed by Mrowbay as she worked.
Tirak turned his chair to look at them as they entered. "Take him to the mess and watch him," he ordered, pointing to their hostage. "Need you to tell us where we're heading," he said to Kaid.
"T'Chebbi, you coping?" Kaid asked.
"Almost done." He could hear the pain in her voice, see it in the set of her ears and the way she held her head.
Mrowbay looked up at him as he fastened off the bandage. "I want her in sick bay the moment she's through. This is only temporary."
"She will be," Kaid promised, flicking the safety on the pistol before sticking it in his belt.
"I'll go with her," Carrie said to Kaid.
"How fast you want to be there?" asked Annuur's voice through the comm.
Tirak raised an eyebrow at him. "I'd say as soon as possible."
"Shortest possible time," agreed Kaid.
"Can do five days," said Annuur. "But risky. Margin for error much less. Leave us exhausted. Ship need overhaul."
"Do it," said Kaid. "I want as much distance between us and them as possible. I've got to get a message out to Haven and our ship at Jalna immediately. It's ready encoded in with the nav data."
"Route it to Giyesh's board," said Tirak. "She'll send it."
"Done," sighed T'Chebbi, falling back in her seat. "Nav comp back on-line for Haven."
"Dorsal turret on-line," reported Sheeowl. "Ventral turret on-line. Batteries armed and ready. Waiting instructions, Captain."
"Five days it is, Annuur," said Tirak, turning back to his console. "Start powering the jump drives, Sheeowl. Sit in on nav, Kaid. Nayash will help you if you need it. Where we heading for?"
Kaid moved to the front to take Sayuk's vacant seat. "A Brotherhood outpost called Haven," he said. "It's in the outer reaches of the Chemerian sector."
"The Primes haven't opened the landing bay doors, Captain," said Nayash. "Switching to forward view."
"I figured there might be a delay," Tirak said as the screen changed to show the roof of the hangar. "Nayash, I'll take her out. Ventral turret, fire rearward on my command. Dorsal, fire at will: aim for the bay doors. I want a hole big enough to get out through."
"Understood." Manesh's voice sounded remote through the ship's speaker.
The engine noise increased until Kaid felt the
Profit
start to lift. He began to smile. "We're going to leave here like a cork out of a bottle," he said.
"That's the idea," agreed Tirak. "And do some serious damage in the process. Brace yourselves. Ventral turret, fire!"
The kickback from the missiles hurled the
Profit
toward the closed bay doors as simultaneously, blossoms of red began to mushroom across them filling the interior with smoke. Then the vacuum outside started sucking at them, pulling everything inside the hangar toward the hole Manesh was still blasting in the hull.
"I can't see for the smoke," said Giyesh, a tremor in her voice as they hurtled toward the center of the vortex they'd created.
"Don't need to," said Sheeowl calmly as the ship was buffeted from side to side. "We'll be pulled through the hole whatever we do."
Suddenly the buffeting stopped and they were floating free in the blackness of space.
"By Kathan, that looks good to me," said Tirak with feeling as he switched his controls to the pilot. "Full speed, Nayash. I want to jump as soon as we can. Rear view, Mrowbay."
"Aye, Captain," Nayash said, turning his head briefly to grin at everyone.
This was their first view of the Primes' ship. It was large, very large; a flattened diamond shape, with a gaping hole in the hull near the nose, around which floated a large mass of assorted debris and dead bodies.
"They won't be trying to take us back on board in a hurry," observed Tirak. "Or follow us."
"They don't appear to be powering up their weapons, Captain," said Mrowbay.
Kaid began punching details into the nav comp as Sheeowl continued to run the pre-jump checks with Nayash.
"Ready to jump, Captain," he said a few minutes later.
"Engage jump," said Tirak.

* * *

"You read the messages?" asked Rhyaz.
"Yes. Thank Vartra they escaped!"
"My feelings entirely. The first arrived this morning, the second several hours later. Our Brothers have been mobilized and are on their way to Haven. I've put Kheal in command of the forces gathered there. L'Seuli is taking charge of our negotiators' escort, and I'm remaining at Stronghold to coordinate. General Raiban is already complaining at the lack of our personnel, and the fact that we took her ships and left her crews." He opened his mouth in a wide grin. "She won't be bothering us, though. The arrival of the messages has given her more than enough to do. Maybe next time they'll listen to us. Couldn't get in touch with you sooner, I've been up to my ears in complaints and protocol, among other things."
"Your plan worked well, then. Are they finally increasing planetary defenses?" Lijou asked.
"Yes, and sending an Alliance presence to Jalna. The Chemerians are screaming that they're most at risk, as usual, and as usual no one's taking the slightest notice of them. The
M'Zekko
is still there, after all. One surprise. Kishasayzar, captain of the
Hkariyash,
which is still berthed on Jalna, requested coordinates for Haven. Says he wants to help his Sholan and Human friends. Not like the Sumaan to desert their Chemerian merchants."
"Most unusual. What did you do?"
"Gave him coordinates to meet up with an escort ship to take him there. Worth keeping an eye on that captain. He's not far from completing his indenture to the Chemerians. If it's not too much, we might be able to buy him out. Wouldn't do any harm to have an independent Sumaan ship and crew as our own allies."
Lijou flicked his ears in agreement. "A useful, if unexpected, ally. When do you expect the
Profit
to arrive? Is this Prime ship likely to be following them?"
"Message said five days. I'd believe them, they've got Cabbaran navigators. And, yes, I'd be surprised if the Prime ship wasn't following them."
"Warn our people to be careful, Rhyaz. Remember Brynne's vision of conflict. No news of Kusac yet?"
"At best, he's dead. At worst, he's still on the Prime ship," said Rhyaz, ears dipping in regret. "Kaid does have a bargaining point, though. A Valtegan, an officer or something. If Kusac's still alive, then perhaps an exchange can be arranged. As you saw, the second message was brief. We'll have to wait till they reach Haven for a full debriefing. Meanwhile, we prepare for the worst."
"I take it you've contacted the Chief Instructor."
"Yes, I have. I've apprised him of how many we need to crew our vessels. I need you to confirm the request. Do it when I sign off. This line is secure."
Lijou nodded. "How many are you requesting?"
"We need to more than double our current number, that's all you need to know."
"Do you need me to return?"
"No, stay where you are for now. Brynne might come up with something new. Don't say anything to Clan Lord Konis till we've spoken to Kaid personally. The Leska telepaths arrived an hour ago. All sworn in and signed up to the Brotherhood now. Pleasant couple. They're in touch with Haven on the comm link. Seems they can sense Vriuzu and Jiosha while they're using it. Useful."
"Very," agreed Lijou. "While I'm here, do you want me to recruit the gene-altered telepaths on the estate? They're all En'Shallans and so are ours by right."
Rhyaz hesitated. "Do it," he said. "Vartra forbid we need to call them up because of their telepathic Talents, but we can if they're Brothers."
"What about Kezule? Any sign of him yet?" asked Lijou. "They had a scare out here ten days ago. Someone briefly picked up a strange mental pattern. They sent a couple of units out to search the land around the main gatehouse but found nothing."
"We've found nothing either. Raiban finally gave up on the spaceport idea, though we still have a small presence there, and I've had to reassign those at Chezy. I'm afraid we've got larger problems right now. If the estate's secure, Lijou, that's the best we can hope for. I have to go. Raiban's baying for me again on another line. I'll be in touch."
"I may move up to the main house when we have concrete news on Kusac."
"Very well."
Lijou sat looking at the blank comm for a few minutes before mentally shaking himself and getting up. It wasn't fair to keep Ghyan out of his office for much longer. Kusac dead but Carrie still alive? He knew that the three of them had shared a full Link. The Gods knew they were all Level One telepaths, but had Kaid been able to step in as her Leska? It had happened with Josh and Mara. He sighed. Things were changing fast these days. It would be a tragedy to lose Kusac, but at least there were still two of them alive.
He realized he hadn't told Rhyaz that Brynne could see distant places. It could wait now until he'd gotten him to try his skill out properly. Maybe he could reach Haven. Was there anyone there he knew? Not yet, but he could request an image of the station interior, perhaps the area where Vriuzu worked. Maybe just seeing and talking to Vriuzu on the comm link would be enough. It would be a good test for him.
On his way out, he thanked Ghyan, and with a heavy heart, headed back to Vanna's and Garras' home.

* * *

It was some time later before Kaid was able to go to sick bay to check on T'Chebbi for himself. Mrowbay had already been in to find Carrie had redone his quick dressing from their own medikit and had given her the appropriate shots.
T'Chebbi, however, refused to lie down and rest, and had remained sitting on the bed with Carrie beside her.
"I'm fine," she said testily as Kaid came over to her. "Only a scratch. Bloody fuss over nothing. Will heal in a few days."
Carrie got up. "I'll catch you later in the mess," she said to Kaid.
"No need for you to go," said T'Chebbi.
"I'll see you later, too," she said, firmly, leaning forward to brush her cheek against T'Chebbi's.
Kaid sent her a grateful thought as she left. He took her place. "I was concerned for you," he said awkwardly. "I had to see to locking our guest safely away from Rezac before I could come."
"Wise."
Tentatively, he put an arm around her shoulder, urging her closer till she leaned against him.
She scowled up at him. "You're going soft," she muttered. "You treat all your operatives like this?"
"No, only those who're my lovers," he grinned, ruffling her ears, glad she'd lightened a difficult moment for him. "You should rest, sleep if possible. Do you want me to take you to our room?"
She sighed, but it was with contentment at being asked, and for this time alone with him. "No, you need your privacy with Carrie. I'll be fine here."
"You'd not be intruding," he said.
"Not for you, but she's not used to our ways, only what telepaths do. She's not at ease yet with your new relationship, and if she isn't still having nightmares of J'koshuk, I'd be surprised." Her voice was getting drowsier. "Dammit, she gave me too strong a dose," she muttered, trying to sit up, but Kaid prevented her.
"You need me, too," he said, scooping her carefully into his arms and standing up. "No need for you to give up your bed. Carrie agrees with me." Not strictly true, she did, but she had a few concerns about their lack of privacy, despite the movable partitions between the beds.
Standing up, he carried her to the room opposite that they'd shared with Jeran and Tesha. "Only Jeran here now, and I reckon he'll be trying to arrange something with Giyesh."
"Kaid, these new Valtegans, the Primes. They're not so strong out of their armor. Or as violent. Very different from what you said Kezule was like."
"You're right," he said thoughtfully as he pulled back the blankets on her bed and sat her down. "I'd noticed it, even told J'koshuk he was different, but I couldn't put my finger on it till now."
He watched her fumbling with her belt and gave her a hand to strip, then covered her up. "You sleep," he said. "I'll wake you at mealtime." He reached inside the covers and pulled her long plait free. He knew she hated getting caught up when she lay on it.
"Got no option thanks to Carrie," she grumbled, turning on her side.
"She gave you the right dose," he said, leaning down to run his tongue across her cheek.