Shades of Gray (8 page)

The insectoid alien sat on his cushions, bronze colored stick-thin limbs folded up comfortably, looking into the screen of his comm, a comm that was, unknown to anyone else aboard Kij’ik, currently in conference with his handler on the Camarilla world of Ghioass.

“The null zones around Hunter are surrounding him more and more. They disturb us all,” Kuvaa the Cabbaran was saying to him, her long furry snout twitching in concern. “Potentialities of future around him are more difficult to read. What have you discovered about them?”

“Nothing as yet,” he admitted. “Hunter Kusac beginning his abilities now to question, looking at memories of Kzizysus and his operation more and more. This worries me also.”

“Divert him! When his family he meets, then he’ll be told what they know. Time running out for him and Sand-dweller female Zayshul to form mental Link. Tonight you must push him into this. From his family must he be more isolated, and from Kzizysus this will divert his thoughts.”

Giyarishis spread his small hands wide in a gesture of appeasement. “I believed canceled was this plan as the cooperation between them was achieved.”

“Don’t think, follow orders,” snapped Kuvaa, her vertical crest of hair tilting forward.

“Helpful would be an idea of what potentialities are looming,” he began, thinking how uncharacteristic it was for her to be so short-tempered with him. They must indeed be concerned about the Hunter.

“Not for you to know, that’s for us. Talk in Council of you losing control of Hunter. Prove Isolationists wrong.”

He bowed his head and clasped his hands in front of him in obedience. “Believing I am we never had control of him. Again I will attempt tonight, Phratry Lady,” he said.

“See you do,” she said sharply.

“A matter of delicacy before you go,” he said, hesitating.

“What now? I want to hear nothing about complaints of your colleague Hkairass.”

“Hkairass’ change to female gender closer than he thought,” he said, trying not to glance at the chrysalis standing in the corner of his room, covered with various of his own differently colored spare draperies. “His chrysalis you will need to remove.”

Kuvaa stared unblinkingly at him. “I thought he had another year or two left,” she said quietly. “Annoying, and disappointing. Pity you TeLaxaudin change gender. Have you a retrieval unit?”

“One is left.”

“Fix it to him and activate it. We’ll collect him now and send several units in return.”

He bowed his head again. “The Hunter cub ...”

“Forget the cub. See to what you must tonight.” She cut the connection abruptly.

Giyarishis sat there regarding the blank screen for a moment before pulling open a drawer and extracting an innocent looking device. Then, rising up in a cloud of pale gray draperies, he stalked in his stiff-legged gait toward the chrysalis and pulled off the camouflage.

Kuvaa had not been her usual self at all, he thought as he carefully fixed the retrieving unit into the thick outer shell. Setting the homing signal, he stepped back and watched it until suddenly it winked out of existence, leaving four units lying where it had been.

Meanwhile, in the Camarilla Chamber on Ghioass, Azwokkus, the TeLaxaudin Leader of the Reformist movement within the Camarilla, was Speaking from the lectern.

“The cub must we be watching too,” he said. “Not impossible the null zones of impenetrability around the Hunter are responsibility of him. He is bridge, naturally has what was created in Hunter artificially.” Here he looked at Zaimiss. “Enthusiasm of Isolationists out of control when they decide cub to create without Camarilla permission.”

Zaimiss stood, creating a perfumed cloud of injured innocence as his red draperies gently flapped around his body.“Hkairass not here to Speak in defense of himself,” he objected.

“Many years it will be before she can,” said Htomshu dryly from her corner as Moderate Leader. “Unity tells me Hkairass has changed. Entering her fertile time she is, as is normal with our kind.”

There was a sudden hush, and Zaimiss’ draperies began to move more violently around him, the scent becoming one of sharp anger. “Not possible!”

“Her chrysalis being taken to the breeding quarters even now. Ask Unity,” she said. “Time of celebration for her skepp, this is.”

Aizshuss leaned toward his Cabbaran friend Kuvaa. “Some peace we will now have. Isolationists absorbed in choosing new leader will be for some time since no one is clearly to be chosen.”

Kuvaa’s mobile upper lip pulled back in a smile as her stiff crest dipped forward toward her companion. “It’ll be refreshing,” she said. “Especially now when they push for a mental Link between the Hunter and Sand-dweller when there is no need.”

Aizshuss nodded.

On the dais, Azwokkus continued. “Suggesting I am monitoring of cub as well as Hunter. Null zones might be his making.”

“Seconded,” said Kuvaa, lifting herself up on her haunches to Speak. “Isolate the cause we must. Nothing our attention should overlook.”

“Objections?” asked Htomshu, whose turn it was to head the Council meetings, as she stood.

A low hum and buzz of conversation filled the tree-lined auditorium, but no voices were heard in dissent.

“Passed,” she said. “Let Unity record our decision.”

Recorded
, said Unity, the massive AI that was the core of the Camarilla.
Cub will be monitored to see if there is any connection between him and null-zones around Hunter father.

“Isolationists wish to push for Sand-dweller female and Hunter mental Link still to be established, despite harmony and pact between their peoples,” said Shumass, leaping to his feet in a swirl of green and red strips of floating gauzes.

Azwokkus turned his large swirling eyes on the younger TeLaxaudin male. “Your reason?”

“All agreed it was this should happen ...”

“Not agreed by all,” broke in Kuvaa, raising her snout. “Only one more vote you Isolationists had.”

Shumass hummed angrily. “Passed by Camarilla, not yet achieved.”

“Time has run out,” said Azwokkus. “Tomorrow they leave Kij’ik.”

“Tonight remains. Insist will of Camarilla done!”

Shvosi rose onto her hind legs. “What point in this? Potentialities still on chosen path, pact made, no need this action to be forcing.”

Zaimiss, still on his feet, his draperies beginning to settle, raised his voice. “I Second Shumass.”

“Cannot vote on this issue second time,” began Azwokkus.

“Isolationist issues sidelined by Camarilla!” said Shumass, his voice getting higher in pitch as the thrumming sound he was making increased. “Insist it carried out!”

Aizshuss unfolded himself until he was standing. “Out of time are we,” he said. “Inappropriate this now is since achieved already goals are.”

Shumass rounded on him, mandibles audibly clicking in anger. “Reformist, be silent! Your ideals beneath my feet are dust!”

“Shumass, desist!” said Khassis from her cushions among the Moderates. “Young you are to be on Camarilla, but outbursts of childishness not tolerated.”

“Any insulting further of Camarilla members and removed you will be from chamber,” said Htomshu, exuding anger scents as harsh as her tones.

“Matter already was debated, decision reached. Not all matters can we accomplish in details discussed here. Goal achieved as said rightly by Shvosi. That important issue,” said Aizshuss.

“Demand will of Camarilla be done. Tonight remains,” said Zaimiss insistently. “Losing control of Hunter are we, if ever we had him in control. Easier female Sand-dweller is to influence. Through her regain control of him. Unity will confirm my demands within laws of Camarilla.”

Htomshu reluctantly asked.

Zaimiss looked around the assembly, spreading his arms triumphantly. “I cannot be denied this.”

Azwokkus looked to Htomshu for support, but the position of the TeLaxaudin female’s hands showed her inability to help him.

“His demands are lawful,” she said, her tone reluctant. “Kuvaa, tell Giyarishis to achieve mental Linking between Sand-dweller female and Hunter tonight.”

“We run danger of Hunter reading all that was done to Sand-dweller if this is done,” warned Aizshuss. “Unwise this is!”

“Decision made, Aizshuss,” said Zaimiss. “I will tell Giyarishis, Htomshu. Let not Shvosi be troubled.” He bowed to her and began to move between the cushions toward the exit, his draperies now exuding triumphant scents.

“Then I Speak for making this the last attempt since goals achieved. If Giyarishis fails tonight, no more attempts be made,” said Aizshuss.

“Seconded,” said Khassis before anyone could speak.

“Passed. Record this, Unity,” said Htomshu.

“If failure, Giyarishis him should accompany. I so order,” said Khassis.

“At least we’ve achieved that much,” said Kuvaa with a sigh of relief to her companion.
Why is Zaimiss so obliging?
she sent to Shvosi, her fellow Cabbaran, ignoring Aizshuss as he began to give reports on how matters were progressing with the raiders out in the vicinity of the world Vieshen, one of the trading partners of the Prime world, K’oish’ik.

He is getting what he desires, and the Isolationists don’t trust us,
the older female replied.

He is hoping to win the position of Isolationist Leader now Hkairass is no longer concerned with such things,
replied Shvosi.

Shvosi gave a mental laugh.
We will be, as they dance around each other trying to outdo themselves to be picked as Leader!

That I would not rely on,
sent Azwokkus, joining their mental conversation through Unity.
A feeling have I this matter decided some time ago and Zaimiss elected is already. Pushing mental Link is not wise. As Aizshuss says, risking Hunter discovering more than what Kzizysus told his family.

We can do nothing,
replied Kuvaa sadly.
Except hope their failure over this is our success.

Kezule found Giyarishis alone in the main lab, sitting on a pile of cushions by a low table, holding a wide-mouthed bowl of some sweet-smelling warm liquid. He felt a reluctance to actually enter the room and remained by the doorframe. He found the insectoid TeLaxaudin intimidating.

“Giyarishis, I need to know if anything happened to the Captain, would my wife be affected in any way?” he asked without preamble.

The TeLaxaudin looked up at him, large eyes swirling as he adjusted them for longer vision. “Why would that be happening? Is only scent marker, nothing more. Anticipating something happening to Captain, are you?”

“Of course not, but we’re about to mount a mission to retake the Palace of Light. In war, anything can happen. I just need to know that my wife will be safe.”

“Yes,” he said shortly and returned his attention to his drink, long tongue uncurling from inside his mouth to daintily suck up the liquid.

“Have you come up with any way to turn off the scent marker yet?”

“No. Computer simulations progress, but nothing have I discovered. Solution may come naturally now you allow them to couple.”

Kezule stiffened. It was one thing to turn his back on the Captain and his wife, another to have it discussed openly in front of him. “That is none of your business,” he said icily, turning away from the door. “Just keep trying.” For some reason, he didn’t trust the TeLaxaudin. He intended to take Zayshul with him so he was on hand if anything happened to the Sholan or her.

 

He made his way to the sick bay where he found Zayshul and Ghidd’ah putting together supplies for them to take onto the
N’zishok
.

“I hope you asked the Sholans for more medicines and dressings for us,” she said. “We are very short on the smaller ones and on all analgesics.”