The Cyber Chronicles VI - Warrior Breed (30 page)

Tassin glanced
at Tarl, who sat on the couch beside her. They rose and followed
the soldiers to a docking port, where they entered a luxurious
shuttle. The trip to the Scorpion Ship was mercifully brief, but
worry gnawed at her. When they arrived aboard Fairen's ship, they
were guided to his chambers. Fairen sat on a white sofa, his face
hidden behind the hooded veil, his immaculately cut black suit
stark against it. Floating globes lighted the sumptuous black and
grey room, and screens gave a view of Ramadaus' ship against the
backdrop of stars, Nemesis a speck beside it.

Tassin
approached the young Overlord and bowed her head. "Overlord
Fairen."

He spoke in a
deep, sexless voice. "Queen Tassin. Welcome."

"Thank you for
your intervention."

He inclined
his head. "I am grateful for your message."

"Is Sabre all
right?"

"He's
recovering in my hospital, but his injuries are not too serious."
He gestured to the sofa beside him with a gloved hand. "Sit. Will
you take some refreshment?"

Tassin sank
down, her knees weak with relief. "No, thank you. I'd like to see
Sabre."

"Of course."
Fairen glanced up at Tarl. "You are Tarl, the cyber technician. We
have not met."

Tarl bowed.
"Yes, My Lord. It's an honour."

"You know a
great deal about cybers."

"Yes, My
Lord."

"Good. Then
you should be in charge of Sabre's care." Fairen stood up. "We will
visit him now."

They followed
him through a maze of corridors to a quiet hospital, where Sabre
slept on a bed. Tassin gave a gasp of horror at the sight of his
swollen face and the bruises on his arms and chest that were
starting to turn purple. He was pale and gaunt, bandages swaddled
his shoulder and thigh, and a drip was attached to his left
wrist

"What happened
to him?" she asked.

"Cyber fight,"
Tarl said.

Fairen nodded.
"How did you know that?"

"The bruises
on his arms and chest. Only another cyber could inflict those."

"Ramadaus
sought to execute him using one of his cybers. Plus for
entertainment, I suspect."

"How long did
the fight go on for?"

"I don't
know."

"I do," a
voice said from beyond the partition around Sabre's bed. Tarl drew
it aside, revealing Atrel lying on the next bed, his chest
strapped.

Tarl frowned
at him. "How long?"

"Over an
hour."

"And those
wounds?"

Atrel glanced
at Sabre. "When Overlord Fairen rammed Ramadaus' ship, he ordered
his other warrior to kill Commander Sabre. He used his weapon."

"Laser burns."
Tarl turned back to Sabre, studying the brow band. "Is he asleep,
or unconscious?"

"I was asleep
until you woke me up," Sabre said, opening his eyes.

"Sabre."
Tassin went to his side and took his left hand, raising it to her
cheek. He smiled at her, and she kissed his palm. "You look
terrible."

"I've felt
better, too."

"You've lost
weight."

Tarl nodded.
"Fighting a cyber for an hour will burn up a lot of energy."

"Don't start,
Tarl. If you ask me for my bio-status, I'll kick you." Sabre's eyes
flicked past him. "Fairen."

The young
Overlord stepped closer. "How do you fare?"

"Only a couple
of cracked ribs and a cracked collar bone."

"Good."

Sabre regarded
him. "There's no need to hide your face. Your secret will be safe
with these three."

"It's not so
much a secret, more like a means of intimidation."

"Ah, yes, the
mysterious Overlords, steeped in myth and legend, possibly
monsters. Ravian, the Black Widow, Ramadaus Ice Hand, Fairen, the
Red Death." He smiled.

"Are you
mocking me?"

"I believe I
am."

Tassin held
her breath, wondering if Sabre was wise to poke fun at an Overlord,
even one whom she knew to be a youth.

Sabre frowned
at Fairen. "You don't need to wear a hood. You're far more
intimidating in person than as a faceless figure."

"Really?"
Despite the deep distorted voice, he sounded intrigued.

"Really."

"How so?"

"Hard to
explain. Charisma, I suppose. A powerful presence, and probably
something to do with that pale skin and those piercing blue eyes of
yours."

"Don't..."
Fairen shook his head. "Describe me."

"Trust me, you
don't need it."

"And now it's
redundant." Fairen pushed back the hood and unclipped an instrument
that covered his mouth.

Tassin stared
at him, even though she had seen him before. Tarl stepped back,
looking disconcerted.

Sabre smiled.
"It's good to see you again, my friend."

A faint blush
coloured Fairen's pale cheeks under Tassin and Tarl's scrutiny. He
turned to Tarl, who lowered his gaze.

"What
treatment do you advise for Sabre?"

"A gag might
help."

Fairen smiled,
then burst out laughing. Sabre made a rude gesture at Tarl, who
grinned.

Fairen said,
"A little late for that, but seriously..."

Tarl studied
Sabre. "He needs to eat. I'm guessing that's an energy drip in his
arm, but it's not enough. Cybers have a metabolism that's in
overdrive. They need special food, and he's burnt up all his
reserves. Do you have cyber rations?"

Sabre groaned.
"You're not shovelling that shit into me."

Fairen shook
his head. "No, but if you describe it, I will have some made. Is
that all?"

"Assuming that
his wounds have been properly dressed, the only other thing he
needs is rest. Enforced, if necessary."

"That can be
arranged."

Sabre snorted.
"All I want to do is sleep."

"Then we'll
leave you to it," Fairen said, turning away.

Tassin kissed
Sabre's cheek, and he squeezed her hand. She and Tarl followed
Fairen back to his private chambers, where they accepted
refreshments. Fairen turned to Tarl when they were settled on the
sofa.

"How long
could a cyber fight for?"

"In tests on
Myon Two, the longest recorded fight was six hours, thirty-two
minutes and fifty-four seconds. At the end of it both were too weak
and exhausted to continue, and their control units shut down. That
was unarmed combat, though, Sabre's wounded as well."

"I wish I had
seen it."

"Yeah, me too,
although it would be hard to stand by and do nothing if it was
Sabre who was fighting."

"Yes."

"Will you take
us to Omega Five?" Tassin blurted, then bowed her head in shame
when Fairen raised his brows at her. "Sorry, My Lord, that was
impertinent and ill thought out."

He nodded.
"But I understand your desperation. You've had nothing but hardship
in your quest to return to your home. The Trykon warship, however,
is well armed and fast. I don't see why it cannot convey you safely
to Omega Five. I shall give you a beacon that will inform those
along the way that you have my permission to travel to Omega Five.
Ramadaus won't bother you again."

"Thank you, My
Lord."

"Sabre will
remain here until I am called away, and you may remain also, if you
wish."

"I do."

Fairen smiled
and sipped his drink. "I thought you might."

"What will
happen to you now?"

"Me?" He
looked startled.

"For attacking
Ramadaus."

He smiled
again. "Nothing. I doubt Ramadaus will tell the others about this.
His part in it is more likely to provoke their disapproval than
mine. Not only did he try to execute a man who has committed no
crime, he also knew that Sabre was under my protection, and he had
been warned not to harm him. In addition, he refused to communicate
with me when I arrived, thereby provoking my attack. He committed
three breaches of protocol. I committed one."

"Is there a
senior Overlord?"

"No, we're
equals, except... some have more abilities than others."

"And who is
the most powerful in that respect?"

"I am." Fairen
sipped his drink. "And Ramadaus is the least of us."

****

Sabre looked
up as Fairen entered his room, putting aside the vidbook he had
been reading. His right arm was still strapped to his chest and his
bruises were black now, his right eye completely closed.

Fairen sat in
the chair opposite and studied him. "You look horrible."

Sabre
shrugged. "I think the other guy looks worse."

"Most likely."
Fairen considered him. "You're troubled. What is it?"

"Nothing you
should be concerned about."

"I decide what
I should be concerned about."

Sabre looked
down at his hand, spreading it to study the faint scars on the back
of it. "Did you ever want to be normal? Just another average human
being living an average life?"

"All the time.
But we have to play the hand we're dealt. It's no good wishing for
another."

"Even when you
know you're going to lose?"

"In the game
of life, the only ones who lose are those who give up. Even if you
never achieve your goals, trying makes it worth it. I would say you
have a better hand than most; you should make the best of it."

Sabre sighed.
"Sometimes being a killing machine has its disadvantages."

"Nobody is
perfect."

"I just want
to be normal."

"Wanting
something impossible is futile. What is it that troubles you
so?"

"You wouldn’t
understand."

Fairen
hesitated, then pulled off one of his gloves and placed his palm on
Sabre's brow, closing his eyes. Sabre watched his face, surprised
by the peaceful expression that came over it. Several minutes
passed before Fairen removed his hand and opened his eyes, looking
puzzled.

"There's a
wall in your mind. Part of you is locked away. I cannot reach it.
And you're afraid of it. But you shouldn't be; it's part of your
humanity."

"How do you
know that?"

"Because the
wall was built by the computer, not you. You must break it
down."

"What if I
don't like what's behind it?"

"If you fear
that, you're not ready to face it. Give it time; one day you'll be
ready to find out what it is." Fairen pulled his glove back on. "I
must go. I came to tell you that I have to go and settle a squabble
between a world and its colony, which seeks to be independent. War
is imminent there. Ramadaus will leave soon to seek a world where
his ship can be repaired, which I'll have to do as well. I'll stay
until your ship has entered the next corridor. I don't trust
him."

Fairen stood
up, and Sabre rose to face him. "Thank you. You saved my life."

The young
Overlord dug in his pocket and took out a silver band, clipping it
onto Sabre's left wrist. "I consider you my friend, and the only
one I have. If you need my help again, use this. Try not to break
it this time."

Sabre nodded
and held out his hand. "Thanks."

Fairen clasped
it and pulled Sabre into a brief embrace, then stepped back and
swung away to stride out.

****

Tassin ran
into Sabre's room, pulling on her robe. He thrashed on his bed, his
face twisted, groaning in a soft, husky tone that tore her
heart.

"Sabre! Wake
up!"

He jerked at
the sound of her voice, gripped the sheet and ripped it like it was
paper. She hesitated, afraid to go closer in case he lashed
out.

"Sabre!"

Still he
continued to writhe, and she ran into the washroom to fetch a cup
of water, which she flung in his face. He sat up with a gasp, his
eyes opened wide and flicked around the room, coming to rest upon
her. His expression changed to one of intense relief, and he slid
off the bed and drew her into a one-armed embrace, since his right
arm was still strapped to his chest. Since his injury, the painful
bruises and strapped arm had forced him to sleep in his own bed,
and she had missed him terribly.

"You're safe,"
he whispered.

"It was just a
dream." She hugged him.

"You were in
terrible danger, and I couldn't help you. I was chained... I
couldn't break them."

"It was just a
dream."

Sabre nodded,
and she wiped the water from his face, surprised when he pulled her
close again and buried his face in her hair. His rare shows of
affection were usually brief and a little awkward, made with a
great deal of shyness and some reluctance, as if he expected
rejection. She got the impression that this time he would not have
let her go even if she had wanted him to, which was odd. Several
minutes passed before he raised his head and released her, took her
hand and drew her over to the bed, where he sat and looked up at
her.

"That felt
bad. It hurt, here." He touched his chest.

She nodded, a
lump blocking her throat. "I feel that pain every time you're in
danger." He looked away, and she sat beside him. "Would you like me
to stay with you?"

He inclined
his head, then bowed it, closing his eyes.

Concerned, she
put a hand on his chest and found that his heart raced and his skin
was hot. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's
just a reaction to the dream."

"The cyber put
you into... what do you call it?"

"Combat mode.
No, the cyber doesn't seem to perceive my dreams. I did it myself."
He raised his left hand, which trembled, and frowned at it.
"Stupid."

"No it's not.
You can't help it. Dreams can seem very real."

Sabre looked
up as the door chimed, frowning. "Enter."

Vior, the
fourth lieutenant, came in, looking surprised to find Tassin there.
"Commander. We've received a distress signal. Do you want to
respond to it?"

"We're sub
light?"

"Yes, we left
the last corridor two hours ago. We're stationary, awaiting your
next instruction."