Infinitys end, p.20
Infinity's End, page 20
“Wait, so is that why you’ve been taking samples from me too? And Evie? How many people did you take samples from?” Cas asked.
“Oh,” Box said, his eyes blinking in surprise. “Um, yes, that is exactly why I took them from you and Evie. Exactly.”
“Box,” Cas warned.
“Okay, fine. I was justtryingtocreatehumanlifebutitdidntwork.” Despite the fact he ran all the words together, Cas still caught it.
“You were trying to create life? As in a baby?”
“Yes,” he said proudly. “That’s what Box does; he creates!” He raised a hand as if he were grasping for something.
“No, it isn’t, and don’t refer to yourself in the third person,” Cas replied. “Why…how on—?”
“See, I knew you’d react this way, which was why I didn’t tell you. I collected samples from many of the couples on board, in the event they might want to conceive one day and would need assistance.”
Cas’s eyes slid to Saturina. “And why did you think you needed samples from me and Evie?”
“Because,” Box said, exasperated. “It was obvious you were hot for each other, and you were the perfect match. I’ve said that from the day you met.”
If he wasn’t positive he would break his hand, Cas would have slugged Box right there. Instead, he took a deep breath and tried to reset himself. “Let’s just…you were able to repair the damage to Zenfor?”
Box didn’t skip a beat at the change of subjects. “Yes. Though, had she been human she probably would have died within seconds. The Sil are a sturdy bunch. Like a walking tank.”
“I know,” Cas said, “I’ve felt the effects before.”
“Box,” Saturina said. “You understand why Cas is upset, right?”
“Yes,” Box replied. “His insecurities about his own sexual prowess as a man have often led him to make rash decisions. Belittling me over just trying to help him with his love life is one of his defense mechanisms. Though I am happy to say since the two of you have begun your relationship, I’ve put all of my research on hold.” Cas’s hands had balled into fists.
Saturina sighed. “I mean about Zenfor.”
“Oh. Not really. Though my skill has been exceptional. Did you know the team and I have been working for almost a full day on her? There were some close calls, but I think with proper rest, she’ll make a full recovery.”
“Is she awake?” Cas asked.
Box made a buzzing sound in the back of his head somewhere. “Of course not. Would you want to be awake after someone had been inside your chest cavity for twelve hours? I don’t think so. I have her sedated so she can rest. And let me tell you, it took a lot of sedative. Like, a lot. You know Humarian Pessooks? Twenty meters tall and all muscle. I used more sedative on Zenfor than it would take to knock out one of those things for a week! Her body does this thing where it can absorb and soak up certain substances; I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“I think it’s how they connect to their ships,” Cas said. “Or it allows them to connect better, through their suits.” He shook his head. “No matter. Was there anything else?”
“No,” Box said, his voice chipper. “Just wanted to let you know what a good job I did saving her life. Perhaps even worthy of another commendation? I can make space right here.” He tapped a space on his chest beside the medal of honor.
“I’m not giving you a medal for doing your job,” Cas said. “Look, I need to get some sleep. Let me know when she’s awake.”
“You got it, boss,” Box replied. “Sweet dreams.”
“And burn that research, that’s an order.” Box made a whining noise, but Cas turned his back to it, leaving sickbay. Saturina followed him into the corridor. “One of these days he’s going to give me an aneurysm, I know it.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him to give you one, then fix it just so he could say he did,” she replied, a smile playing on her lips.
He grinned. “I hope you know to ignore him. He’s…eccentric. Is everything okay in the bays? I’m sorry if I’ve been preoccupied, it’s just after everything that happened with Rutledge, and now Zenfor clinging to life...”
She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair, brushing it off his forehead. “When was the last time you slept?”
Cas didn’t bother to check the time. “Sometime yesterday. Before everything in Engineering.”
“Go to my quarters,” she said. “And turn your comm off. No one will look for you there. You need a good seven or eight hours at least.”
“I can’t afford seven or eight hours.” He appreciated the gesture though. Just the thought of laying down in her sweet-smelling bed made him feel better.
“You can, and you’ll do it or I’ll go back in there and tell our Chief Medical Officer the captain is unfit for duty and needs a sedative.” Even though she was still smiling, he thought she might be serious.
“Damn, bringing out the big guns,” he said, putting his hands out.
“It’s what I do.” She narrowed her eyes.
“We don’t need another mutiny on this ship.” He glanced away. “Speaking of which, have you spoken to the pilots in cargo four lately?”
She shook her head. “No, why? Is there a problem?”
“Vrij asked me to reconsider their…internment. He says something about them has changed. Would you mind speaking with them, getting a feel for what he might be talking about? We might need good pilots but not if they’re going to endanger the ship with some ill-fated vendetta.”
She had turned back to all-business. “I’ll go speak to them now.”
“Thanks,” he said, then headed off in the other direction. A soft bed was sounding better by the second. He might not even make it that far.
31
Regaining consciousness was not easy. It was as if he’d been in a deep cavern, and only the smallest pinprick of light shone at the very end, highlighting the way out. And as he moved toward that light, his appendages became heavier and heavier, willing him to stop and return to his dormant state. But Sesster had been dormant long enough, and even though it was difficult to find his way out, he had to. He couldn’t stay any longer.
But upon breaching the end of the cavern he had found himself in an onslaught of information; too much to process. It assaulted all of his senses at once and what he came to realize was he was experiencing the last ten years of his life in only a few seconds. When he’d “voluntarily” set himself into his hibernation state, his mind hadn’t been completely closed off. It had continued to absorb events around him. If he concentrated, he found he could remember vivid details of conversations he’d never been privy to but had happened in his presence. And when he finally did wake properly and could stand on his own—with some assistance from his fellow Claxians—he found there was only one person he wanted to speak to.
The one person who had continued to stay by his side, and kept her promise to return him home, no matter the means.
Sesster’s mind had reached out for Zenfor, searching far beyond what should have been possible, but instead finding Evelyn Diazal. She had also helped return him to his home, but Evelyn’s heart held a deep secret. A secret which had become common knowledge in the days after the ship had returned to orbit around Hescal, and to which he’d been absorbing over the past ten years without even realizing it.
The humans had taken measures that could have sent the Coalition into a war with the Sil, and they had done it in secret, without the council’s approval.
Part of him wasn’t surprised. They were a child-like race after all, and the Claxians had taken given them everything they had needed. It was funny: human memories were so short. No longer did they remember how they had been on the brink of starvation when they found the Claxians. No longer were they grateful for all that had been provided to them and allowed them to thrive. Sesster had hoped they had grown out of their infancy in the past two thousand years, but it seemed some behaviors were impossible to remove, and it had cost the entire Coalition for them to see that.
And still, the Claxians had known this was a possible eventuality, and they had still given freely. Because the humans hadn’t come to Claxia Prime looking to conquer it, as so many other species had before. They came looking for cooperation, and in that single attribute, had earned the respect of the Claxians, despite all the potential dangers. It was easy to see how some of humanity could become complacent and forget, while others worked to make themselves better. Sesster had to believe the people he’d chosen to work with, the reasons he’d decided to leave Claxia aboard a Coalition starship, were because he was helping the best of humanity. But learning of this deception made him question his convictions. Out of everyone, he had hoped Evelyn would have somehow been ignorant to the whole endeavor; that she wouldn’t have been a part of it. He could only assume Greene had been part of it as well, considering it had been his ship. How could things have gone so wrong? He’d been so sure about them.
I sense you are troubled, brother. R’resst stood nearby, one of his arms outstretched. Sesster’s arm stretched to meet it.
The humans. Did you know about their plan for the Sil weapon?
We found out not long after the fall of the Coalition. It was the Athru who revealed the truth to us. They have not been malevolent toward us; however, they keep a close eye. They know humans hide here, he said.
Here? You allowed them to take refuge on Claxia Prime? He was surprised they hadn’t been banished. He recalled something—the memories were fuzzy—but there had been an incident on Sissk. An event where humanity threatened the planet. He wasn’t sure, but he had the impression had there been any humans on Sissk, it would have been destroyed. Had he dreamed that, or had it happened in his absence? He wished he could read Dr. Xax, communicate with her, but she’d never been receptive to him in any way. He needed Tyler or one of the others.
Not all of us have given up on the Coalition. I suggest you not either. Not all the humans should be held responsible for the actions of a few.
I spoke with one, Sesster said. But she was distant. I didn’t realize I had the capability—
You’ve been under a long time. It is as if your mind has been storing potential energy and now that you are awake, it is being turned kinetic, reaching out far beyond your normal limits.
How long will it last?
R’resst voice came across unsure. I don’t know. But be careful. You are still fragile from your time under.
R’resst dropped his arm and Sesster felt his fellow Claxian move away. It had been so long since he’d been among his own people it felt strange being back. He could sense Xax nearby, but the pilot who’d brought them here was already gone, his deception complete. He could reach out to Evelyn again, but she wasn’t who he wanted to speak with. There was one person he needed to contact and so he focused all his efforts on finding Zenfor. If she had died, he should be able to tell.
All was dark for a few moments as his mind probed further than it ever had. He felt he could reach into a space that transcended the distance between the stars, a place that was only filled with thought. A place—until very recently—he’d thought of as a small box. But now the box’s sides had been blown off and it was expanding, like three-dimensional representation of a four-dimensional object—always moving outward across the space-time continuum.
After a few moments, a familiar setting washed over Sesster, and he realized he’d found Tempest, with the myriad of minds aboard all jumbled together. A few bright spots remained, including Caspian and Tyler, but he ignored them, instead searching out his quarry. And he found her—unconscious in what he assumed was sickbay. Sesster dipped his mind beneath the conscious plane.
Zenfor, do you hear me?
I—hear…Sesster? You are alive? Where are you?
I am back home, thanks to you. They completed their mission; they returned me home. He couldn’t describe how good it was to hear her voice again. To feel her presence near him, even though they were hundreds of light-years apart.
Sesster, you must warn Diazal. The Sargan can’t be trusted—they’ve—
I know, he replied. It has already happened. They took her and her mother away from here.
We are coming to you, she said. To Earth. There was an ambush here, and Caspian has convinced the Sil to engage the Athru. But we need the data from Diazal. We are coming in blind.
Here? He asked. You can’t, the ship will be destroyed. Why must they be so arrogant?
He felt her presence shift. I have never heard you speak of them that way. What has happened?
I know of the deception, he replied, the memory reverberating through him. I know what they kept from me. Even those I thought I could trust, such as Evelyn and Captain Greene.
They had no part in the mission, Zenfor replied. It was all Rutledge’s fault. And I have taken care of him.
If they had no part, then why did they cover it up?
He could feel her mentally tense, as if she were gearing up for a fight. They told everyone when they returned from Hescal—the Athru planet. Even though they hadn’t made the decisions to make it happen—and Caspian had even sacrificed his career to try and stop it, they knew revealing the truth would seed cracks in the Coalition. They tried to take care of it themselves, but it was too late. By the time we returned, it had been much too long. All those who had a hand in the plan were dead, except for Rutledge. He felt her swell with satisfaction. And like I said, he has been dealt with.
Sesster resigned himself. I just don’t know.
Do you remember what you told me about them? Just before Volf decided to take us back into open space—to leave the Coalition behind?
I do, he replied.
You need to tell them. You need to help them remember their own past. They deserve to know, and you can show them. If you can reach me, you can reach them.
Zenfor…I don’t know how they’ll handle it.
They’re stronger than you think, she said. They might surprise you.
Sesster contemplated the idea a moment. If he was going to tell them, he’d didn’t want to do it like this. It needed to be more personal. That was, if it even mattered. How close are you?
I don’t know. Days, at least.
I need to think it over.
Don’t wait too long. The more they know, the better prepared they will be. It might even help find a way out of this.
Sesster took a moment for himself. I’ll speak with you again soon. Once I’ve made my decision. Will you be awake by then?
I hope so.
Then I anticipate the next time we are together.
As do I. As he pulled away, he experienced an overwhelming sense of satisfaction and happiness from her, something that was rare for the Sil. He hadn’t realized just how much it meant to her that he arrive back home alive. When they’d met, though they’d been kindred spirits, she’d been closed off and distant. But now…
Perhaps she really did love him, after all.
32
“Here, follow me,” the guard said, crouching down behind a low barrier in the long room. Evie had managed to propel them back down to the underside of the ship, though they’d had to stop once to regroup and make sure neither one was suffocating. She still hadn’t reached the limit of how long she could stay in space and when she’d been out there her skin had gone that ashy gray color again but returned to normal as soon as they were back inside. The guard had led them into an access portal and then into this long room which as far as she could tell was empty, but he knew this ship better than she did.
“I don’t even know your name,” she said as they low-walked from one barrier to another. Evie shot a glance down the long hall, seeing nothing.
“Kithal,” he replied. “Third class Master.”
“Evie,” she said, “human/Athru hybrid.”
“I still can’t believe I’m doing this; I should have arrested you as soon as I had the chance.” He paused a moment, then motioned for her to follow.
“Sorry, Kithal, I don’t think it would have happened. Considering…” She motioned to herself with one hand.
Kithal glanced back at her, his small mouth in a frown. “Right.” He stopped them in thier tracks. “And you still promise you won’t hurt the people on this ship? Most…” He sighed. “Most aren’t largely in favor of what we do. Some are. But I think many of my people have become apathetic to our…instructions. Except for our leaders, they are the passionate ones. And we follow their lead.”
“It sounds like you’re not so sure yourself,” Evie replied.
Kithal set his features. “My loyalty is to my superiors and my people. It’s just sometimes it feels like those two are in opposition to each other.” He motioned for them to continue along the low walls, moving up the corridor.
“Did you know, about my mother and her group?” Evie asked. “Were they common knowledge?”
“After they defected, yes. We were ordered to seek them all out and bring them to justice. As far as I know there were only two left: your mother and the one called Martial.”
Evie pushed her feeling back, not wanting to get emotional in front of him. “Now there is no one.”
Kithal stopped. “I’m…sorry.” He glanced up, his eyes scanning above them. “Come, we’re close now. We need to get there before they figure out what we’re doing.” He broke into a fast walk, staying below the barrier until they cleared the corridor and came to a T-junction with a series of rooms along the adjacent wall. He checked the length of the corridor in both directions and led Evie to the largest of the doors. “This is it. Typically there’s a guard posted down here but they must be using everyone they can to find you. And I’ll need to report soon.”
“What will you tell them?” Evie asked.
“I can make my way back up to our concourse without being seen. I’ll say I was rendered unconscious when I tried to stop you. It’s the truth. Once I’m confident they’ve stopped looking for you, I’ll return.” He pressed his hand on the door and it slid open without a sound, revealing a large black box situated in the middle of the room. Evie approached it and the sides opened like a cabinet, revealing a table inside, tilted at a high angle she could lay up against.
