darknadir (63 page)

* * *

They went first to the cargo area, where stores were being redistributed throughout the ship. He could spot his fellow crew members easily. They all wore fatigues of a yellowish-green, and they all had implants like himself.
It was merely a matter of checking the readings for each person on the tiny view screen, and if the red figures were different from those in black, adjusting them using the keypad. It was repetitive and boring work, the only interesting feature being that he got a tour of certain working areas of the massive craft.
During lunch break, the doctor went to one end of the mess hall, leaving J'koshuk to join those from the
M'ijikk.
He was wary at first, wondering if they would want revenge on him for carrying out the Seniormost's orders when he'd questioned them. The matter was resolved by them treating him with exactly the same level of contempt and avoidance as they had before. Consequently, he ate alone and was glad when his collar vibrated, calling him back to the doctor.
Their second location was the landing bay. As they came off the cargo elevator, J'koshuk could see suited figures working high above, finishing reinforcing the last section of a repair to what must have been a massive hull breach.
"What happened there?" he asked.
Chy'qui frowned, wondering if he'd allowed him to retain too much curiosity, but then, J'koshuk couldn't help him with these duties if he didn't have enough free will left to question the readings and make the necessary adjustments.
"The Sholans and their companions escaped through that hole," he said shortly, then remembered the task he was actually training him for. "Tomorrow, we reach our destination," he said quietly. "It's a rendezvous with the Sholans. They've taken one of our people captive and we're exchanging him for the Sholan male you were questioning. Do you remember him?"
J'koshuk nodded. Of course he remembered him.
"He is to be exchanged for their hostage. You will be accompanying me. Our guards will be out of range of their Control, therefore they must be monitored by us."
He nodded again. Made sense. His position hadn't suffered, despite the debacle with the Human female, and the implant. He only had to consider what the rest of the crew were doing to know that. Manual work, that was all they were worth, even his old enemy Mzayb'ik. That had made him laugh, but it had not seemed to bother Mzayb'ik at all when they'd come face-to-face.
"Come on, we've another twenty to do before we're finished," said the doctor.
Suddenly, they heard a commotion ahead of them. Someone had fallen to the ground and several tan-clad figures were converging on him, voices raised in obvious concern.
Chy'qui sighed. "There's always one or two," he muttered, gesturing J'koshuk to follow him as he headed toward the group.
J'koshuk glanced at the doctor, wondering why he wasn't hurrying. It could be serious, a life could be at risk.
"Should we not hurry?"
"No point. They have him safe enough for now. When his fit is over, I'll have him moved to Med Research, for what good it will do."
"You know what's wrong with him?"
"Failed implant," said Chy'qui briefly. "He'll not be much use to anyone in a few weeks' time."
The knot of people parted for them. J'koshuk could barely see the figure being held down by three Prime docking hands. He could see he wore the same color of fatigues as the rest of his crew.
"Failed in what way?" he asked, his mouth going dry in fear at the thought of his own implant.
"Imperfect connections between the brain and the implant. He'll have to be terminated eventually."
As the crouching Prime moved aside, J'koshuk recognized the fallen male. It was his general, M'ezozakk. With an effort, he managed to swallow the scream of fear that rose from deep inside him.

* * *

Deep within the heart of an asteroid in the Haven belt, the displays on six cryo units flicked to green. Lights came on in the inner chambers, and with a faint hiss, the vacuum seals were released. As the lids arched back into the units, the sleepers within began to stir.
The Instructor for the facility waited patiently. He'd activated sleepers many times in the past, but only for retraining. Like the others he'd wakened earlier, he'd chosen this group carefully, making sure there were none that would be known to the present-day personnel who'd be at Haven.
He remembered the sensations of waking as he watched them take their first deep breath. He'd experienced it himself several times over the years. The buzz of oxygen to the brain, the feeling of hyper-alertness, of knowing that you were still at the peak of fitness and health, and the knowledge that you'd cheated time itself.
"Well come, Brothers and Sisters," he said, as the last one made his way from his cryo unit to the chairs where he and the others sat. "The year is 1551, and the reason you've been woken is to meet a clear and present threat to Shola."
He waited for the stir of interest to die down. "Background information plus the relevant Sholan and Alliance history to date has been provided for you through the usual sleep tapes as you were being revived. Your assignment is to guard the Sholan negotiators and facilitate the exchange of hostages between the Valtegan Primes and ourselves. You have all been fully briefed, again with the use of sleep tapes. If anyone has any questions on the situation, now is the time to ask." He looked round the two females and four males, but no questions were forthcoming.
"Lieutenant Dzaou, you are in charge of this unit. Your liaison will be Commander L'Seuli from Dzahai Stronghold. He will be here presently to meet you. You are now dismissed to refresh yourselves and get to know each other."
They filed out to the living area, beginning to talk among themselves.
His task done, he waited till they were out of earshot before heading for the adjacent sick bay. From there he passed through the secret entrance to the labyrinth of tunnels where the other sleepers lay. It was time to check the units, make sure all was well with them. As he walked slowly down the rows of darkened cryo units, all the panel lights showed their accustomed amber. They slept quiet and deep, those who came here, he saw to that. It was his task, his penance to the God and the Brotherhood, to be their guardian and Instructor for the next nine years.

* * *

This time, L'Seuli traveled up front beside the pilot as they began to make their final approach to Haven. It was on the outer edge of an asteroid belt circling the nearby gas giant. The largest asteroid was Haven itself. Inside the protective envelope of the belt, he could see smaller craft in parking orbits. A disk shaped trading vessel caught his attention.
"The
Hkariyash
," he said, pointing to it. "It's gotten busy here." The volume of craft there surprised him.
"Yes, Commander," said Chima. "It is the Brotherhood's first major turnout in three hundred years, and then we were only part of the combined Forces."
"Let's hope it remains peaceful. The Chemerian/Sholan wars cost a lot of lives on both sides."
"What's going on here, Commander?"
"Captain Kheal will have you briefed along with everyone else, Chima," said L'Seuli. Then the
Va'Khoi
came into view.
"Vartra's bones!" swore Chima, looking at the massive destroyer. "That's ours?"
"The command ship," said L'Seuli. "Captain Kheal will transfer there sometime today. There should be a fighter carrier around, too."

* * *

As Chima taxied the craft around into the refueling bay, L'Seuli saw one other Striker sitting ready. "General Raiban is going to be most unhappy. We've got half of High Command's new fighters," he murmured.
Ten minutes later, he was heading out of the elevator and along the busy corridor to Kheal's office. The station was quite different this time; there was an air of controlled urgency about the place.
"You'll find us a little busier this visit, Commander," said Kheal, dismissing his aide and standing up to greet him.
"Indeed I do, Captain," agreed L'Seuli, throwing his cloak over the back of the chair before sitting down. "I hadn't thought to be back so soon. When do you expect the
Rryuk's Profit
?"
"Tomorrow, with the Prime ship,
Kz'adul,
not far behind. My orders say you're in charge of the escort for the negotiators and the exchange of hostages. I'll have you ferried out to your unit as soon as you're ready."
"Thank you, Captain. They'll need to familiarize themselves with the layout of Haven. I'd like the exchange to take place on the landing deck here, if you've no objections."
"I'd rather it be here than on the
Kz'adul
," said Kheal frankly. "I've assigned you the office next to mine. One of my senior crew, Sub-Lieutenant Zhaddu, will assist you if you require anything. He'll be running this station, leaving you free for your primary task. I hope that's acceptable."
L'Seuli nodded. "I'll need an aide."
"Zhaddu will appoint one for you. Briefing is at the fourteenth hour and will be relayed from the
Va'Khoi
to Haven and all craft. I'm leaving within the next half hour."
"In that case, I won't delay you. If someone could show me my office and get my belongings stored in my quarters, I'd be grateful. I also need a shuttle to take me to join my unit."
"Certainly," said Kheal, summoning his aide. "I must admit, L'Seuli, I had no idea of the scale of this encounter when you last came," he said quietly. "Did you?"
"I knew what was coming, but not where," admitted L'Seuli. "I'd no idea we could field so many, though."
They exchanged glances, saying no more. Some matters were better not discussed, even among senior Brothers.

* * *

"Attention!" said Dzaou, jumping to his feet as he saw L'Seuli enter the small mess area.
"Good evening. At ease, Brothers, and Sisters," he said, taking the vacant chair at the top of the table. "I'm Commander L'Seuli. Introduce yourselves, please."
"Lieutenant Dzaou, Commander, and this is Brother Maikoi," he said, indicating the male on L'Seuli's right. "Sister Zhiko next to him, Sister Taeo, and Brothers Kholgou and Ngio," indicating those on his own left.
L'Seuli nodded to each of them in turn. They were of differing ages, but all were at least in their late forties. Seasoned warriors. He also knew what very few others did, that they'd been in cryo for an average of two hundred years, give or take the odd six months for retraining every thirty years.
"I believe you've all been
fully,
" he emphasized the fully, "briefed on the situation we are about to face here at Haven."
"Yes, Commander," said Dzaou.
"Our task is to ensure not only the safety of our negotiating party, but also that of the hostages. The first of ours is the Valtegan Prime, Prince Zsurtul. The other is a Valtegan general from a world called Kiju'iz. His name is Kezule, and like yourselves, he's from an earlier time than this. We hope he will be here before the Primes arrive in two days."
"Who are we getting in exchange?" asked Dzaou.
"A Sholan mixed Leska telepath named Kusac Aldatan. He's the Clan Leader of the En'Shalla Aldatan Clan. Have you been told of the complications concerning him?"
"We've been briefed on the En'Shallans, Commander," said Dzaou. "Seems to me that even with the possibility of a treaty, this is an uneven exchange."
"The importance to Shola of the return of our Brother is immense," said L'Seuli carefully. He'd been well briefed himself on how to handle the sleepers. "And we have no option over the meeting with the Primes, not least because they know the location of Shola. I expect you to let his own Triad members deal with Kusac. They are telepaths and will be able to judge the situation quicker and more accurately than you can."
"When are we going over to Haven, Commander?" asked Taeo.
"As soon as we've finished here. I want you to familiarize yourselves thoroughly with the station. We hope the exchange will take place in the landing deck here, rather than on the Prime ship. The all-crew briefing is at the fourteenth hour tonight. My office is next to Captain Kheal's. He's handed over command of Haven to Sub-Lieutenant Zhaddu, who'll carry the rank of captain for the duration. My aide is Sister Lydda. You'll meet her on the shuttle when we leave. I'll meet you tomorrow in my office at the ninth hour, Lieutenant Dzaou, to discuss your plans for the deployment of personnel during Contact and the hostage exchange."
"Aye, Commander," he said.
L'Seuli got to his feet. "I suggest we waste no more time in getting over to Haven."

CHAPTER 18
Day 41

"Y'KNOW, I miss all this," said Zhiko, skinning an apple with her knife.
"What? The crappy food?" asked Ngio, pushing his plate away in disgust.
"No. The noise, the bustle. There's none of this at training."
"I can't believe I'm seeing this," said Maikoi, looking round the mess hall. "Humans and Sumaan at a Brotherhood outpost, when not even our own Forces know of its existence."
"There are several Human Brothers now we have mixed species Leskas," said Taeo. "What do you think, Dzaou?"
Dzaou took a sip from his mug before answering. "I think it'll get even more interesting when the
Rryuk's Profit
arrives tomorrow— if it does. Damned place'll be crawling with aliens. Not what I'd call security. I want all those off the
Profit
kept well out of the way during the exchange. Especially the female Human that's the Leska of the Primes' hostage."
"Alliance members, though. First time in a long while there've been new ones," said Zhiko, looking at a table nearby where two Human males sat with several Sumaan. "And we get to meet them."
"This is my last tour," said Kholgou, staring into his mug. "I stay out this time."
"Time's up, eh?" said Maikoi.
He nodded. "I only signed up for three awakenings. This is it."
"Tried it once," said Ngio. "Lasted three months before I beat down the door at Dzahai Stronghold asking to go back. Can't think why. Don't feed us properly, even now. Nothing changes, only the faces."
Dzaou listened to them with half an ear. They'd hung around for most of the day waiting for the
Profit
to arrive. Finally a message came saying they'd be a day late. Now they needed to let off some steam. Sleeping got to you like that. Right now, he was watching the same Sumaan traders and their Human companions as Zhiko. They seemed to be getting on well. Unusual for the Sumaan. They were usually taciturn and kept themselves to themselves. Was it something to do with the nature of the Humans? The sleep briefing had said the Humans were also a telepathic species, he remembered.
"Hey, boss, we getting leisure time tonight?" asked Zhiko.
He turned his attention back to them. "Yeah. You got four hours. I want everyone in their own beds— alone— by nineteenth hour. Don't drink much. Keep alert and see what you can find out, especially from the Humans."
"Funny that," purred Zhiko, getting to her feet. "Just what I had in mind." She walked away from their table, tail and hips swaying.
Maikoi and Ngio exchanged grins with each other, then looked at Dzaou. He shook his head, trying not to smile. "Get out of here," he growled. "Go find some amusement of your own."