Shades of gray, p.54
Shades of Gray, page 54
“That went better than I expected,” Khassis murmured as the chamber slowly emptied. “So good of Zaimiss to play into our hands with his anger. Not so good you lose your temper,” she added, waving an admonitory finger at Shvosi.
“He is such a meddler, though,” said Shvosi, dropping back onto all fours. “But what does this really represent?” she asked, pointing to the screen as Kuvaa trotted up to join them.
“It is showing the potentiality for great chaos,” said Khassis, moving closer to the screen.
“And it involves several species,” said Kuvaa. “They are all interlinked as usual—the Hunters, the Humans, and the four Sand-dweller worlds, even the dead one. Now why might that be involved?”
“I have no idea,” admitted Khassis.
K’oish’ik, late afternoon
Carrie was fixing herself some coffee later that afternoon when Shaidan, asleep on the sofa, suddenly woke and began to scream. Dropping everything, she ran to the sofa, throwing herself onto it and pulling Shaidan onto her lap. Wrapping her arms around him, she held him close and murmured soothing words.
His body stiffened, back arching till he almost fell off her lap as he let shriek after shriek peal out.
She tightened her grip, pressing the small unyielding body against hers and began to rock him gently, still keeping up the litany of soothing words.
The door burst open, and one of the guards rushed in.
“Get out!” she hissed. “It’s a nightmare, nothing more. And let in no one until I say!”
As he backed out, she called out to the AI, “ZSADHI, reassure those who need it that we’re fine.”
“Yes, Sister.”
Suddenly, his body went limp, and he began to sob uncontrollably.
“Hush, Shaidan. It’s all right,” she said, relaxing her hold and reaching up with one hand to stroke his head. “I’m here, you’re not alone anymore.”
His hands grasped her, holding onto her as tightly as she’d held him moments before. He turned his head, burying it against her chest, and continued sobbing.
With an awful clarity, she realized Kusac hadn’t been exaggerating when he said he was the only stable thing in Shaidan’s world. And now, after turning into a Valtegan, he’d vanished before the cub’s eyes.
“Oh, Shaidan,” she said, rubbing her cheek across the top of his head. “It’s all right. He’ll come back, but you have me, too. Mamma will always be here.” She realized that the distance there’d been between her and Kusac had also been there between her and Shaidan. She’d made no effort to bond with her son until now, and the guilt tore at her as she clutched him every bit as frantically.
Gradually, as his sobs began to lessen, she was able to push aside her guilt.
“That’s better, cub,” she said gently. “I promise you, you’ll never be alone again. We’re your family, and we’ll be with you always now.”
He began to hiccup, gradually relaxing and sitting back from her to rub at his eyes. “I’m sorry I’m being such a baby,” he said quietly.
“You’re not a baby! Seeing what happened to your father would be enough to make anyone cry,” she said, reaching out to wipe the tears from his cheeks and hold him closer. “I’m your mama, and you have every right to come and cry on my lap at any time. We all forget how little time you’ve been awake in our world, but you’re not a baby, you’re almost a kitling in reality.”
“I don’t really know you,” he said with a hiccup.
“I know, and that’s my fault. I promise you, we’re going to get to know each other now.”
“You’ve brought your belongings into the suite,” he said. “And I can smell my father’s scent on you.”
“Your father and I are Leskas again. Do you know what that means?”
He nodded slowly. “It means you share a very close mental Link.”
“It’s more than that. We love each other very deeply, and all our children, and that includes you, Shaidan.”
“But you hardly know me, you said so.”
“I know I love you, and we’ve plenty of time to get to know each other—our lifetimes,” she said, gently touching her nose to his.
The door suddenly burst open, and Kaid came rushing in. “What happened? What’s up with Shaidan?” he asked, running over to them.
“Nothing. Shaidan just had a bad nightmare, that’s all,” said Carrie, signaling him to let the matter drop. “You know Kaid, don’t you, Shaidan? He’s your Triad father. Leskas often form special marriages, and Kaid is the one we chose. Kaid is your other father, that’s why he came here so quickly when he sensed you were upset.”
Kaid knelt down beside them and reached up to ruffle Shaidan’s hair, then gently tweak one ear. “She’s right, cub. Kusac is your biological father, but I’m your father by marriage, and I care about you as much as he and Carrie do.”
“Is the nightmare all gone now?” asked Carrie.
Shaidan nodded, looking dubiously from Kaid to her.
“How about I get you a hot chocolate drink. Would you like that?” asked Kaid.
“Yes, please,” said Shaidan quietly, still holding tightly to Carrie.
Kaid ruffled his hair one more time, then got to his feet and went over to the drink-dispensing unit to fetch a hot chocolate.
“I need your help tomorrow, Shaidan. How would you like to go on a trip to Kij’ik with me? It seems an old friend of yours has reappeared. His name is Vartra.”
Shaidan sat up abruptly. “Go up to Kij’ik? But it’s far away.”
“Not anymore. General Kezule had it brought here to help defend this world. Would you like to come with me?”
The cub looked at him suspiciously. “How do I know we won’t stay there?”
Kaid laughed as he brought the drink back over to him. “You’re obviously Kusac’s son,” he said. “And Carrie’s! You’re as suspicious as both of them put together. We’re coming back because I prefer living on the planet to living on a space station, and we’re waiting for your father to return.”
“Why do you need me to come with you?”
“Because Vartra can be persnickety and may not want to talk to me. However, He does know you, and you’re related to each other.”
Shaidan took the proffered mug and sipped carefully at the hot drink. “Related how?”
Carrie began to laugh gently. “I’m going to enjoy this explanation.”
“Err, well … Vartra isn’t quite the same as us,” began Kaid.
Shaidan gave him an old-fashioned look. “Of course he isn’t. He’s an Entity.”
“You know?” Kaid asked in surprise.
“How else could he remain hidden from everyone else?”
“Very true,” murmured Kaid. “Well, a long time ago, he married a female from your family, the Aldatans. Their children were your ancestors.”
“I’ll go with you,” he said, mouth opening wide in a yawn. “If I can sleep here tonight,” he added, his eyes blinking slowly as they grew heavy. He handed Kaid the now empty mug. “Thank you.”
“Where else would you sleep?” asked Carrie, hugging him. “It’s early yet, but if you want to curl up in your pappa’s bed now, you can. Kaid, would you make my excuses to the King and to Rhyaz and Alex, please?”
I’m not leaving Shaidan, she sent to Kaid as she sensed his hesitation.
“Of course. They’ll understand your place is with your son at this time,” he said, leaning forward to stroke her hair and plant a kiss on her forehead.
Keiss, next day, 3 years ago
Morning came, and the nightmare was still with him. Once again, Kusac tried to retreat from the forefront of his host’s mind. After a breakfast in the Officers’ Mess of mostly cooked food, the Valtegan went to his office and sent one of his underlings for the Inquisitor.
Minutes later, J’koshuk, carmine robes swirling around his booted feet, strode into the General’s small office.
“What do you want, Chokkuh?” he demanded, stopping before the desk. “Some of us have real work to do.”
Chokkuh frowned. He despised the Inquisitor. “Watch your tongue,” he snapped. “This is a military establishment. You will observe the protocols when addressing senior officers.”
“I’m Chief Inquisitor, and you’re interrupting my work. Interrogation is an art form where timing is vital …”
“I want answers! Locations of the rebel camps!” roared Chokkuh, thumping a fist on his desk for emphasis. “I didn’t give her to you to play with! What have you found out so far?”
“Nothing! I had her softened up last night, ready to start today—only you demanded my presence.”
“Go, get out of here,” said Chokkuh, not bothering to hide his repulsion for the other. War was clean, honorable: kill or be killed. The Inquisitors’ world of torture, spying, and rooting out supposed treachery among their ranks was not.
“Get the information I need as quickly as possible, J’koshuk. If you take too long, the rebels will realize she’s been captured.”
“As you order,” hissed the priest as he left the room.
It was late afternoon before Chokkuh went to the interrogation room. Kusac tried to separate his senses from his host’s, but he couldn’t. The metallic scent of blood hit him as soon as the door was opened. This was no sterile, white tiled room as it had been on the Kz’adul. The walls here had been coated with a plastic-like surface, and the floor was made of the pressed metal usually found in ship corridors. Here and there, drain holes had been inserted so the floor could be sluiced down.
“Well? Chokkuh demanded.
J’koshuk turned away from the group of people clustered around the figure strapped to the examination table and stepped forward to meet the General.
“She’s given us nothing but old information,” he said. “She’s strong, stronger than the Human males I’ve interrogated. Her pain tolerance is remarkably high.”
“I don’t want to hear that,” Chokkuh hissed, pushing him aside and striding into the room. “What are you doing to her now?” he demanded, looking down at the obviously unconscious female.
“Keeping her alive,” said J’koshuk dryly.
“I don’t intend her to live,” Chokkuh said, grasping hold of Elise by the jaw and turning her face from side to side.
He didn’t want to look, he couldn’t, but he did. Her face was livid with bruises, as was her body. Her arms and thighs bled sluggishly from several knife cuts as well as many scratch and puncture wounds left by the clawed hands of her captors.
It’s not Carrie, he thought, trying to force himself to remain detached, but it was impossible when he knew Elise’s injuries were mirrored on his Carrie’s body.
“I need to keep her alive long enough to get your information,” said the Inquisitor. “If she goes into shock, she could die.”
Releasing her, Chokkuh reached for the neural prod hanging at the belt of one of the guards. Flicking it on, he pressed it hard against Elise’s ribs.
She let out a piercing scream as her body jerked upward, back arching in agony.
J’koshuk grabbed for the prod and wrenched it from the General’s grasp. “I told you she needs a break!”
Chokkuh raised his hand to hit the priest, but the guards were instantly between them, weapons drawn in readiness.
Kusac’s mind reeled in shock. Had Elise actually felt that? Was she so weak that she was actually feeling pain now?
“She’s my captive now, General,” said J’koshuk coldly. “I suggest you go and play with your soldiers. Have a drill, or an inspection, and let me do my job.”
“I’ll have you on report to the Commander!”
“Do that. He’s just as anxious for the information as you are. I wouldn’t draw any more attention to yourself than you already have, if I were you,” said J’koshuk. “It was your incompetence that allowed her to spy on you in the first place.”
With a loud hiss of displeasure, Chokkuh left.
Still fuming, Chokkuh headed for the Command Center where the military governor, General M’ezozakk, was conducting the search for the aliens who’d escaped from the scout ship they’d shot down a few days earlier.
Heavy blizzards had hampered their efforts, forcing them to remain on their base and covering the aliens’ tracks. The bitter temperatures outside had necessitated them turning up the heating as cold weather made them sluggish. The snow had stopped for now, but the leaden gray skies promised more to come.
As he entered the room with its wall-mounted tactical screens and a dozen workstations, the lights dimmed, then flickered, almost fading before they steadied at half the level they’d been before. The TAC screens abruptly shut down. M’ezozakk hissed in anger.
“Divert the power to the main screen,” he snapped. “Chokkuh, get down to the generator building and see what caused this brownout! I want full power restored here immediately. Shut down whatever you need to achieve it!”
For a split second, Chokkuh contemplated refusing the menial job; then, saluting smartly, he turned on his heel and left. A trip across the bitterly cold compound to listen to more of the Humans’ excuses was preferable to remaining in close proximity to the thwarted Governor General.
He headed along the corridor to the relief guardroom for an escort of four soldiers. They’d learned the hard way that only a show off force kept the enslaved Human population under control. Apart from the rebels who’d left the settlement, the Humans weren’t foolish enough to stage an outright rebellion. They used other, less overt, methods to make daily life on Keiss a constant battle of wills between their species.
The heated light-combat armor was stored here. Once they were suited up, he had the Duty Sergeant punch the day’s codes into the weapons locker and dispense energy rifles. Though all troops stationed permanently on Keiss went armed, armor and rifles were only issued when leaving the Command Center.
Intrigued despite himself, Kusac began to mentally uncurl from the corner of Chokkuh’s mind where he’d taken refuge. He was getting an unprecedented picture of the M’zullian warriors’ lifestyle, albeit on Keiss, but it might expose some weaknesses that would be exploitable. By now, he had realized that as long as he didn’t draw attention to himself, the Valtegan was totally unaware of his presence.
He listened as Chokkuh repeated the orders to the Sergeant before they left the Command Center.
The outside video feed, on backup power, had shown the area around the exit to be clear. Chokkuh ordered the outer blast door opened.
Helmet faceplate open, the freezing air almost burned his nostrils, but it was crisp and clean and a welcome change even to the Valtegan after several days cooped indoors by the severe weather. Kusac could sense his host’s dislike of the cold, and as he carefully probed for more, memories of cold-weather training surfaced. Temperatures like this, below freezing, made them slow and sluggish, and they were trained to find or make a safe shelter, eat at least half their rations, then go into hibernation sleep until found. Kusac filed the information away for later—this was an important aspect of their training that his Prime commandos lacked, and it needed to be addressed as soon as possible.
Power was generated by burning a local fossil fuel mined in the mountains. The storms had prevented the cargo shuttles from collecting fresh supplies. Naturally, the Humans hadn’t bothered to let their overlords know that stocks were dangerously low until now. However, the break in the weather meant six cargo shuttles had gone to collect the coal and were due back anytime. Until then, it was a matter of rerouting power to essential areas.
Chokkuh and his escort headed out into the cold and trudged along the paths cut through the deep snow to the routing station. There he gave orders to close down the recreation dome and route all remaining power to the Command Center, medical facilities, and the sleeping quarters until the temporary fuel shortage was over.
That done, he called the comm center and ordered them to inform everyone to return to their quarters and remain there until they were given fresh orders.
Chokkuh’s memories told Kusac this happened two or three times each winter. The Valtegan hadn’t punished the labor force since the shortage wasn’t technically their fault. Besides, the Humans had a nasty habit of going on strike and refusing to work if any of them were singled out for punishment. Kusac mentally chuckled at the reality of the overlords being at the mercy of a workforce that downed tools at the slightest opportunity. There was indeed much to admire about the Human colonists on Keiss who had helped form the character of the woman he loved more than life itself.
As Head of Security, with much of the base closed down, Chokkuh ordered an extra two units of guards to patrol the dome and the troop quarters. Sabotage was rare, but a situation like this provided an ideal opportunity.
He spent the rest of the day in the Command Center helping to oversee the scouting parties searching the plateau and nearby woods for any signs of the crew of the wrecked scout ship. All they knew for certain was that they were bilateral and ferocious warriors. The firefight there had cost both sides dear, and all they had to show for it, apart from half a dozen of their own dead and wounded, was the burned-out shell of the shuttle and a few charred bone fragments they couldn’t identify.
Heavy snow had covered their tracks, but Chokkuh had known they’d make for the forest and the cover it afforded, so he’d ordered his troops to search there.
By late afternoon, the expected delivery of fuel from the mine had arrived. The first large flakes of snow began to fall as they were unloading, and he had to order the scouters to pick up the search teams before it became the expected all-out blizzard.
All day, Kusac had remained a passive observer. He knew on one level that the other him was aware of Carrie and was struggling through the snow on his injured leg, trying desperately to reach the village in which she lived. Her memories of the terror and agony she’d gone through as J’koshuk tortured Elise were also there.
