Laura Jo Phillips (7 page)

Mara entered the mess compartment and filled a plate for herself.  One thing she liked about the yacht was the unending supply of food, and her unlimited access to it.  She had lost a lot of weight during her imprisonment on Jasan, but it seemed as though she’d put most of it back on over the past several weeks on the yacht.  It had been a deliberate and important part of her plan.  She needed to be too large for Kevlin to easily lift and carry.

When she was finished eating, Mara returned to her stateroom to wait for Kevlin to page her.  She was only a little surprised when the page came from Stalnek instead.  Mara immediately left her stateroom and headed straight for the comm room as Stalnek had ordered.  She didn’t know if he had cameras in her stateroom, but she knew that he had them everywhere else.  Therefore, she conducted herself at all times as though Stalnek were watching her.

When she reached the comm room the door slid open before she had a chance to knock, confirming that Stalnek had been watching her.

“Good day, Stalnek,” she said pleasantly as she stopped just inside the room.  She stood straight, hands at her sides, her chin up, expression calm and polite.

“Kevlin says you offered to accompany him to the space station when we stop to refuel,” Stalnek said. 

“Yes, Sir,” Mara said with a faint grimace of distaste.  “I did make that offer to him.”

“It doesn’t appear that you are particularly excited about it,” Stalnek noted.  “I don’t know why you’d offer to do something you obviously don’t want to do.”

Mara shrugged one shoulder.  “Kevlin waited in an empty house on Jasan for me,” she said carefully.  “I know he did it at your orders, and I am grateful to you for that, but I am also grateful to him.  And he does not like leaving the ship alone.”

“I don’t particularly care whether he likes it or not,” Stalnek snapped grumpily.  “However, there are several items I want him to purchase for me, perhaps too many items for him to easily carry back to the ship on his own.  Therefore, you may accompany him.”

Mara swallowed hard, and once more allowed her mouth to turn down in a careful grimace.  Then she bowed to Stalnek.  “I thank you, Stalnek,” she said carefully.

“Get on down to the docking hatch,” Stalnek said, turning his back to her.  “Kevlin is waiting, and we are about to dock.”

“Yes, Sir,” Mara said.  She turned around and left the comm room, careful not to let herself sigh, or roll her eyes, or grin with the excitement she felt.  Instead, she turned toward the elevator and went straight to the docking hatch where Kevlin was waiting.

“He agreed to let you go with me?” Kevlin asked in surprise.

“Yes,” Mara replied.  “He indicated that you might need help carrying things.”

Kevlin smiled briefly, then turned back to face the hatch as Mara stepped up beside him.  She was infinitely glad that Kevlin couldn’t hear her heart racing.  It was the one thing that could have given her away as she was unable to control it.

Mara’s first step off of Stalnek’s yacht and on to the space station was so exciting that Kevlin mistook her reaction as fear. 

“Are you sure about this?” he asked her as he carefully rested one hand at her elbow, ready to catch her if she fell.  “Perhaps it is too much for you.”

“No, no,” Mara assured him with a tiny smile.  “I’m fine.  Let’s just go and get this over with.”

Kevlin nodded, then led the way from the docking area to the center of Lapu 12 where the supply stores were located.  It was a large station, so it took them a few minutes to reach their destination.  Once they did, Kevlin focused on procuring the items that Stalnek wanted, and forgot about Mara, which suited her perfectly.  She tagged along behind him, close enough to see what he was doing, far enough away not to intrude on his concentration.  She saw him reach up to tap the vox in his ear, and knew that had to be the Captain telling Kevlin that the refueling was complete, and it was time to get back to the yacht. 

Kevlin immediately turned toward the check-out counter, beginning to look a little nervous when the woman scanning his purchases took her time and made a couple of mistakes.  Mara grinned inwardly when she saw Kevlin reach up to tap his vox again.  Stalnek was getting impatient.  So much the better. 

Mara slipped a tiny blade from her pocket to her hand, then walked toward Kevlin.  Suddenly, she tripped for no apparent reason.  She fell to the floor, banging her head against a shelf.  She let out a short yelp of pain, one hand flying to the side of her head.  One deft stroke with the blade and her scalp began to bleed profusely.  Mara’s eyes rolled up into her head and she fell back to the floor with another bang, flicking the blade beneath the shelf behind her with a practiced gesture. 

“Mara!” Kevlin yelled, rushing to her side.  He knelt down beside her, his hands hovering over her prone body indecisively.  He had no idea what to do. 

“Mara?  Wake up,” he urged, close to panic as he watched the blood begin to seep into a puddle around her head.  But Mara did not wake up.  She remained motionless and limp on the floor. 

“Excuse me, Sir,” a new voice said.

Kevlin looked up to see two guards standing behind him.

“If you will step back, we may be able to help her,” the female guard said.  Kevlin quickly got to his feet and moved away, more than willing to let someone else take over.  He watched anxiously as the guards knelt down beside Mara and began checking her.

“She is unconscious and has a head injury,” the female said to Kevlin.  “We have med-techs on the way.”

“Med-techs?” Kevlin asked numbly.  What the hell was he going to do?  There was no possible way that Stalnek would wait for Mara.  Nor was there any way that he could pick the woman up and carry her back to the yacht.  She weighed more than he did.

Kevlin stepped away from the commotion on the floor and tapped his vox. 

“What?” Stalnek barked in his ear.  “Are you back on board yet?” 

“No, Sir,” Kevlin replied.  “Mara had an accident.  She fell down and cracked her head.  She’s unconscious and bleeding profusely.  Med techs are on the way and I do not know what to do.”

There was a long silence that was so heavy Kevlin barely breathed.  “Leave her,” Stalnek decided.

“Leave her?” Kevlin asked, dumbfounded.  “You want me to just leave her here?”  

“Why not?” Stalnek replied.  “She’s of no use to us now.  The Jasani certainly aren’t going to welcome her back, and she’s told us all she knows.  I don’t want to risk being here any longer than we have to, so get your ass back to the yacht.  Now.”

“Yes, Sir,” Kevlin replied reluctantly.  He hard the click that indicated Stalnek had disconnected and tapped his vox off and sighed.  Poor Mara.  She had not wanted to leave the yacht, but had done so just to help him out.  Now she would awaken to find herself abandoned on this deep space station, with no money, no idea where to go, and no friends. 

When Kevlin hurried back to where Mara had fallen, he was shocked to see that the med-techs had arrived, and that they already had her on a stretcher and were preparing to take her away.

“Wait, please,” he called.  The med-techs stopped, looking up at him in surprise.

Kevlin took his pay-card from his pocket and slipped it into Mara’s jacket pocket.  “I’m sorry, Mara,” he said softly before backing away.  He felt a little better knowing she had some money at least.

“Sir, we must take her to the med-center,” one of the med-techs said.  “You can come and see her as soon as we have her stabilized.

“Yes, go ahead,” Kevlin said.  “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

A few moments later, Kevlin retrieved his purchases from the scan counter and headed back across the station toward the yacht.  He felt terrible about leaving Mara behind this way.  It was wrong, and he knew it, but he had no choice but to follow Stalnek’s orders. 

On the other hand, she would probably be better off here, he decided.  He’d been worried about what would happen to her once they reached Onddo anyway. 

Feeling a little better, Kevlin picked up his step.  Ten minutes later, the yacht pulled out of the docking slot and resumed its journey to Onddo, leaving Mara to her own devices.

Chapter
6

 “I apologize for interrupting dinner last night,” Aisling said as she took her seat at the breakfast table the next morning. 

“There is no need to apologize,” Rudy said as he slid the coffee carafe toward her.  “We are sorry that we carelessly said something that upset you so much.”

Aisling smiled as she poured herself some coffee.  “None of you said anything wrong, and as you don’t know me, there is no way to know what subjects I may find upsetting.  Truly, you have nothing to apologize for.”

“Did you sleep well last night?” Olaf asked, feeling that a change of subject was in order.

“Oh yes,” she said, “I slept wonderfully, thank you.”

“So did I,” Karma added as she entered the dining room and took her seat.  “Biggest bed I’ve ever slept in, and the most comfortable.”

“We are pleased,” Olaf said.  “I know I’ve said this before, but if there is anything you need, don’t hesitate to let us know.”

“Actually, I’d really like to do some shopping, if that’s possible,” Aisling said.

“Of course,” Olaf replied.  “Will this afternoon work for you?”

“That’d be great,” Aisling said.  “But it doesn’t have to be today.”

“After we leave you at the Council Complex, we have some matters to tend to, but this afternoon we will be free,” Olaf said. 

Aisling turned to her breakfast, sensing Olaf’s reserve.  She didn’t understand why she sensed the Gryphons’ emotions when she was close to them.  She only knew that they seemed to become increasingly tense whenever she was with them.

An hour later Aisling and Karma were greeted at the Council Complex door by Elder Vulpiran.  Once the Gryphons were gone, Aisling  relaxed and turned her thoughts to her upcoming task. 

Elder Vulpiran led them back to the office set up for them, and this time Aisling paid more attention to it’s location.  She needed to know exactly where she was in the building, and where the exits were.  Just in case.

Elder Vulpiran opened the door and stepped back, allowing Karma and Aisling to enter the office before him.  Both women smiled at the transformation that had taken place in just a few short hours.  From an almost bare room the day before, the office was now fully furnished and, if not warm, at least comfortable looking.  Two desks with vid-terminals sat facing each other at one end of the room.  The other end of the room was arranged as a sitting area with a thick rug, sofa, a couple of chairs and low tables.  A counter top with a small sink was installed along one wall, along with a chiller and a food regenerator. 

“This is great,” Karma said as she crossed the room to the chiller and opened it, bending down to look inside. 

“If there is anything specific you would like, we will be happy to provide it,” Elder Vulpiran said again. 

“Thank you, Elder Vulpiran,” Aisling said, wanting to focus on the work she needed to do more than the food in the chiller.  “Can we get started now?  I admit to having more than a little curiosity about this new talent of mine.”

“I imagine so,” Elder Vulpiran said.  “But, if you don’t mind, there is another subject I would like to discuss with the two of you first.”

Aisling glanced at Karma, who shrugged.  “Sure,” she said.

“I would ask if either of you would mind providing us with a small sample of your blood?”

“Probably not,” Aisling said.  “But I’d like to know why first.”

“We are attempting to identify potential
berezi
,” Elder Vulpiran said.  “The Xanti are marking
berezi
for abduction, so they have a method of identifying them that we do not.  If we can identify these women first, it is hoped that we can better guard them before they are abducted.”

“The Brethren abduct women they think may be
berezi
as well,” Karma said. 

“These tests will give Clan Jasani a marked group of women to search for Arimas,” Aisling observed.  “Forgive me, Elder Vulpiran, but that is true.”

“I am not offended by the truth, Miss Aisling,” Elder Vulpiran said.  “And yes, what you suggest is a possibility.  However, it has been determined that finding one’s Arima in such a manner would be without honor.  Therefore, the results of the tests are for the eyes of the High Council, and the Princes only.  And the women themselves, if they wish to be informed.  Otherwise, the samples will be coded, and the women’s identities will be hidden.  Those identified as
berezi
will be guarded, but the true reason will not be disclosed.”

“Thank you, Elder Vulpiran,” Aisling said.  “In that case, I have no objection to such a test.”

“Nor do I,” Karma added. 

“We are most appreciative of your cooperation,” Elder Vulpiran said.  “I will send someone to take a sample from each of you before lunch.  Now, we can get down to our main business, if you like.”

“I would like very much,” Aisling said, smiling.  “Does it matter which terminal I use?”

“No, either one will do,” Elder Vulpiran replied, following Aisling over to the desks.