Dana Cartwright Mission 3: Kal-King (15 page)

“Where are my boots?” Dana demanded, letting him know she was antagonized, “Did you use a spinal anesthesia on me? My back hurts something awful!”

March groaned. “No, I did not.” He stopped at the door and motioned her to follow into an adjoining office, pointing to a chair where her boots waited. The dagger, of course, was missing.

“So why does my back hurt?”

Dana dropped her pack on the deck, pulled on each boot, moaning from the effort, keeping her back to him, while also checking the secret pocket in the backpack for the medical injector. Unfortunately, it was also gone.

“Would you like me to…” March didn’t wait, but used a medical scanner on her spine since her back was to him. “I detect no reason for any discomfort.”

She rubbed the area around T-2. “Not even here?”

He announced, “Nothing.”

“Odd…” She sealed the pack and announced, “All right then, let’s go see our brother.”

March stiffened. “We do not consider ourselves kinsmen.”

Dana roared with laughter. “What else are we? Litter mates? No…petrie dish darlings?”

March scowled, and raised an eyebrow the way April often did; clearly a learned trait from consorting with Galaxeans.
 

“We have the same father. We all have his mismatched eyes,” Dana said, as they started together down a ramp and proceeded to the end of the corridor.

“So, you’ve met him?”
 

“I found him.”

The announcement didn’t seem to sit well with number three in the clan. “Who is he?” March demanded, skidding to a stop before a set of double doors.

Dana glanced his way, but declined to answer, “Later…”

March touched the lock and the doors spread wide for them to enter a circular conference room with a round table in the center and twelve chairs in an analog clock formation. A man sat at the far chair, at the 0800 position. At many of the other chairs were picture images, some of infants and others much more recent; one of Dana at the first chair, one of March, and one of April at the third and fourth chairs. Even November and December at the eleventh and twelfth chairs. Except for June and July, chairs six and seven, which had none.

“The whole clan,” Dana teased, locking stares with Augustus Kaelin King. His cinnamon colored hair curled long at the nape of his neck, and touched his eyebrows at the front. She knew it was fake, like the wigs Kieran often wore when impersonating ambassadors.
 

August looked younger than March because of it. Unlike March, he had strong Galaxean facial features and ears that gently pointed. However, he had the same slim build and emotionless face. She realized, also, he was severely crippled.

Dana lifted her chin and countered his stare.

March went to the third chair and sat, watching her, the eldest, face-off with the King.

“You are perfect,” August complimented.

“Hardly,” she contradicted. “I am no better than my siblings.” She nodded in the face of his disbelief and sank down in April’s chair to March’s left, as an act of defiance. “So you stole the records from Station Four? Those at Scanlos were incomplete. I searched, all those years, in vain.”

August scolded her with his eyes. She knew that look. It was DOC Cartwright’s look. She ignored his expression. “I tried when I was stationed there to find out the names of our mothers, but it proved impossible. They were merely numbers on an intake sheet.”

“There’s very little in the records; they used code names for the three DNA donors. Nearly impossible to track from such scanty information,” August said flatly, “I hoped that your DNA, being perfect, would shed some light on the issue.

“You have taken samples without my permission!” She turned on March. “Did he tell you that he tried to murder me?”

“I most certainly did not!” August shouted. “I ordered my men to kidnap you. Xavier Via disobeyed my instructions!”

“He paid the price,” Dana answered cooly, turning on March. “You have violated every medical school policy. Did you know that Arturo Garcia, your adopted brother, did the same thing and very nearly faced a court martial for it?”

“Irrelevant,” August gloated. “What we need are your ovarian eggs and March’s sperm to create embryos that are genetically purer to…”

“To cure you?” She knew where this was headed. “It won’t work, August. I had all the tests done at a genetics lab on Earth. We cannot propagate.”

March piped up, “January has had voluntary sterilization.”

“You what!” August pounded on the arms of his robo-chair.

Dana understood the problem. He was bent, unable to stand without mechanical legs aiding his own, trapped in a hovering chair. He wanted a cure.
 

She felt sorry for him. “April is a hematologist. It may be possible to filter your blood of certain mutations and…”

He slammed the table top with a deformed right hand. “We’ve tried all that! Damn it! Damn you! You let them destroy our only hope!”

Dana shut up. Her empathetic senses screamed to be careful. August had other deformities and mutations, perhaps even psychiatric issues. Megalomania came to mind.
Be careful
. However, she had an idea.

“We need father’s DNA. His is pure.”

“Who is he?” August demanded. “The records tell us nothing.”

“I know how to reach him,” she assured.
 

“How?”

“I do not have his permission to reveal a name, but I can get it.” Dana turned to March. “Come with me?”

“No!” August protested.

“Go where?” March wondered. “Earth?”

“No…The Enturian delegation is expected at The Crossroads Great Conference and we…”

“He’s Enturian!” August hissed, full of venom.

Dana froze, terrified by his reaction. She felt hatred and sensed even more. She feared he wanted to kill the Republic ambassadors — not just the Enturians — all of them!

“It’s all their fault!” August spit at her.

“You blame the Enturians? Don’t be silly. We are here, today, because of love; because a man and a woman loved and wanted that love to be born as offspring.”

“Crossbreeding is an abomination! We-are-an-abomination!”

January got to her feet, small as she was. “I AM PERFECT! That’s what you said. I am not an abomination. I am Dana January Cartwright. I am unique and so are you. So is every being in this Universe. Put away your hate, my brother, before it consumes you!” She stared him down; though she did not, for even one
 
moment, believe he would or could change.

One thing was certain, she needed help; March, obviously, could not be depended upon to assist her. If she could get to the conference and get a message to Kieran — or to someone in the Star Service in charge of security for the conference…
 

I wish I could mind-link with Kieran
. She lamented that, and more. With the tracking device now removed, he had no clue where she was. Only if she could get to the conference…

March stiffened, worried that she dared to contradict the King. She, the January — the perfect one — had to be correct; she being perfect could not err. Yet…

August demanded, “And what exactly do you plan to do,” he appended, “sister?”
 

She sensed how very hard it was for him. Unsure exactly what to propose, but needing to stall, she offered, “Father was in a coma for a score of years. I’m sure they took his sperm without permission; perhaps even hoping to cure him with embryonic stem cells or such. It won’t work, of course, but that information may still exist at a genetics lab on Earth. If we can get his permission…”
 

Dana focused on August, “He’s a wonderful man. You’ll like him. We’ll need the Enturian delegations’ help and access to their genetics labs at Luandra, Anestia Province, as well.” She felt certain neither March or August realized she was making it all up, offering a ruse.

“We need to get underway. I can have Kell prepare
Kal-King
…”

August shook his head negatively. “We will take
Kalis
. A Dagger Class is faster than
Kal-King
.”

That decision made, Dana demanded, “I’m starving. Are you two going to feed me or not? I hope you’re both vegans like April and I are.”

August groaned.

Dana felt a twinge of pride. DOC Cartwright always manipulated conversations; like father — albeit adoptive father — like daughter.

After some form of hand signal, March got up from his chair and suggested they visit the galley.

He supervised the slaves, ordering meals. “They cook everything fresh. There are no duplicators. August doesn’t like duplicated foods.”

She shrugged, commenting, “It does taste rather like glue. I got used to it at academy.”

About the time the food was served,
Kalis
lifted off. Dana knew the unmistakable sensation of interstellar engines engaging.

“March? You’re a doctor. In your professional opinion, is August sane?”

Her brother answered in a whisper, “He is angry, obsessed, at times delusional, even cunning.”

That meant, yes.

“Am I in danger?”

He answered with a silent nod. She sensed fear; perhaps that even their conversation was being monitored. Using the ancient Galaxean tongue, she asked March if he trusted her.

His hesitant, yes, likely meant, not entirely.

Her heart sank. That changed the equation.

“My back hurts,” she moaned, bringing the meal to an end. “We’re about a day out from The Crossroads. I need some rest.”

She got up, collected her backpack, and waited.

March showed her to a lavish guest cabin and left. First thing, she nosed about, looking for spy devices and hidden cameras. In the process, she found that
Kalis
had all the best of amenities, although no duplicators. The sonic shower tempted her.
 

However, Dana dropped her pack near by the bed and sank down carefully, worrying and wondering why the pain in her spine was centered just above T-2.

Janz Macao felt the cool cloth pressing against his forehead, but struggled to come fully awake.

Princess Micah smiled down at him, so daintily and sweetly, he had to whisper a “thank you” and offer a smile.

Shalee nagged him and had him repeat, “My wife wants me to ask, when is your child due?” He turned a shade darker, embarrassed at being the middle man.

“Two months,” Micah admitted.

“Shalee wishes you great joy and happiness.”

“Korwin hopes for a son,” the Princess answered.

“All men do,” Macao chuckled.

The tender-hearted Princess offered a smile. “Shall I fetch my husband to tend you?”

Janz nodded, struggling with the pain of just shifting his hip, wincing and gritting his teeth. A few moments later, Prince Korwin knocked and stepped in with a medical kit in hand. The Princess retreated a few steps.

After taking a few more readings, the Prince programmed the DIA-injector, commenting, “Just a pain inhibitor for now, since we are a few hours away from the rendezvous.”

“The opening ceremony has probably started,” Princess Micah observed.

Macao apologized for keeping them from it.

“Not to worry,” Prince Korwin assured, “and security is aware that we are arriving late.”
 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Dana tried to categorize the pain. Sharp and stabbing at times, but now just a dull throbbing. What could be causing it? She had no idea. March said he detected nothing. Was he lying?

Dana…

She heard her name and started to sit up on the bed. It repeated in her mind; more than a whisper, it was a woman’s voice.

An image among her memories flashed upon the screen of her mind. She reconized Janz Macao’s mate, Shalee Raja.

Dana folded her legs just the way Janz did when meditating before the illumined life-star. She recalled vividly the kaleidoscope of colors from the gemstones upon it. By focusing, she could now see the ghostly form of the Shonedren Captain hovering beside her life-mate.

Oh
, Dana realized.
He is alive!

His back was injured again.

I am empathetically feeling his pain.
Dana didn’t ask how this was possible, but the Shonedren answered.

You were once linked to him; I revived that link.

Janz sat up beside his mate, a ghostly form now, as well.

Dana? I need your help. Another surgery is required. I trust only you.

She blinked. The image of her former Captain and his mate grew stronger.

You’re dead…Kieran showed me.

That was Jad, one of the twins. Do you remember him?

I do. Oh…
Dana understood now; it all became clear.
Where are you?

Aboard the Alphan Ambassadorial shuttle,
Katana
, heading to The Crossroads for the Great Conference.

I am, too. I found August and March, my brothers. Well, they tricked me. I’m aboard the Dagger Class private yacht,
Kalis
.

Can you do surgery on my back? I trust only you.

How did you injure it?

He gave her a flood of memories of the caverns, and of Dec. It overwhelmed her until she pleaded,
Stop! Too much too fast.

I am empathetically linked to you. I can’t stop. You’re feeling my pain.
 

If I had an N-link, but mine is gone.

Princess Micah has one,
Janz reported.
Prince Korwin won’t do the surgery.

He’s afraid,
Shalee whispered.
He’s afraid to operate on spines.

Shalee coaxed Janz to lie down and his image faded.

Dana felt a tugging at her heart.

So this is what it would be like for me, if I mated with Kieran? A jumble of images? Never knowing mine separate from his?

Shalee’s radiant smile came in answer.
The joy outweighs the sorrows. Kieran’s love for you is deep.
 

I’m not Alphan.

Nor am I
, Shalee answered.
Nothing can compare to the joy when two become one.