Lyon's Pride (20 page)

You rang, coz?

Thian gave him the time.

Uncle Jeff agreed? Ohohohoho! I take back half the things I've said about my illustrious relative
, Rhodri Eagle chortled with gleeful anticipation.
If he's going to cover
your asses, he'll cover mine, too. Wow! Why is it that you can never brag about the really neat things you've done?

Because
then
they wouldn't be the
neat
things
, Flavia said unexpectedly. “I do believe they have the life-support system on line,” she added out loud. “D'you think
sgit
leaves
will
make a difference…to the quality of the oxygen, I mean?”

“They do on all the ships I've been on which added
sgit
leaves to their plant banks. And the 'Dinis never have foul air.”

“In'trusting,” Flavia said, drawling. “Well, it will save the drain on the Moon Base supplies, of course.”

Because the Talents were more on a stand-by basis now that the Refugee's interior had been diagrammed, the rest of the watch seemed to drag almost interminably.

My crew's in place, Thian
, Rame said. Then over the com unit, “Ah, Prime Thian, this is Lieutenant Commander Kloo. Can you stand by? We're effecting a decontam drill.”

“We heard you, loud and clear, Commander. Work away.”

Rojer caught a shadow out of the corner of his eye and, turning to investigate, nearly fell off his couch.

Granddad's here
, he tried to whisper to Thian.

Thian didn't turn his head but grinned broadly.

Sort of thought you might, sir
.

Since I might have to save your asses, as Roddie so inelegantly put it, I thought I might as well be in on the fun
.

And as backup, too. Don't you trust us, sir?
Thian said, only half in jest.

I trust you all right, Thian. It's that elongated insect that worries me. We know so little about their psychology
.

Ready when you are
, came Rhodri's cheerful voice.

Your plan. Go ahead, Thian
, Jeff Raven said, folding his
arms and standing approximately where Rame had earlier in the watch.

Merge, Roj, Flavia
, Thian said.

The three minds linked neatly, just as if this wasn't the first time they'd made such contact. With Thian in the lead, Rojer was more aware of the strength of both minds than he'd been during their more or less solo workings on the Refugee. He was also conscious of another potency which both bolstered and encouraged, yet was not a part of the triple merge.

They had no difficulty finding the Hiver queen where she nestled in her shavings bed, her attendants polishing her body parts and smoothing the fine hairs of her limbs. The sting-pzzt from her was unbearably acute as the Thian merge made contact but the hesitation lasted only that brief second of surprise and then they neatly placed her in the now darkened queens' quarters of the Refugee: in one of the larger chambers.

Somehow Rame had rigged “night” lighting which showed the watchers the queen's form. She had been in a semi-recumbent position in her shavings, but the Merge had placed her upright and she had to adjust her limbs for the standing position. That done, she remained motionless.

Hell's bells
, Thian said,
we don't have
days
for you to decide where you are and what to do
.

Stay calm!
said the confident watching potency.

Abruptly the queen moved into action with such speed they nearly missed her first movements. Palps reached ceilingward, seeming to slide across the panels. She had also rocked back on one set of nether legs, freeing the front set to dance across the floor panels. Instantly orangey lights came up around the room in the tubes that had been theorized to be Hiver lighting. Next the panels lit, decorated with odd symbols and different shadings.

We got power all over the fucking place
, Rame said, in choked amazement.
I'm not sure I can explain this
.

Don't bother
.

Oh Lord, engine room's going crazy. Hey, I think this has gone far enough, Thian!
Panic colored Rame's tone.

Don't worry, Commander
, Jeff Raven said.
This ship's anchored so tight not even full speed forward could break her loose
.

I know the sequence to turn the power on
, Rojer said.

I've got the pattern of how she activated everything
, Flavia said.

Sorry, gal, your parole just got canceled
, Thian said, and the Merge replaced the queen in her prison.

What'd you guys do to her?
Rhodri complained.
She's going wild!

Can't say I blame her
, Jeff remarked placidly.
I'd be a bit pissed off, too, if I thought I'd just seen the way home and it disappeared
.

Your decontam drill just finished, Rame
, Thian told her.
Queen's back in stir and doing a mad dance
.

Wheeee! But can you start it all up again when
we
want you to?
the commander asked, doubt coloring her tone.

Any time we want to
.

For all the good that does
, Jeff remarked.
Well done, Primes, not an ass in jeopardy. I'll leave you to the fun of explaining it all to the admiral. But I'll be listening, so don't say anything I'll have to apologize for
.

Granddad!

“A
DMIRAL, it was a concerted effort,” Rojer repeated, an edge on his voice now because he was growing weary of the barrage of naval doubts and, particularly, del Falco's aggressive interrogation. He was sorry that, as the engineer of the three Talents, he had volunteered to answer any technical questions. “Any” had turned into an incredible “many.” And none of his answers pleased xenophobic Baldwin who was as close to sulking as a grown man should get. All three Talents had been particularly careful in answering his stabbing questions since his suspicions were so clearly “heard” in his public mind. “Given the height of the queen,” Rojer explained patiently, “the positions of her manipulative limbs and her optics, the upper panel was the logical main control, while she received status information from the lower one. The three of us merely fiddled with variables until we hit the right combination. I think it was Flavia who actually got the lights turned on.”

“The queen's upper limbs have triangular-shaped
palps,” Flavia said, her voice falling into a “rote” pattern as she repeated her part of the explanation, “so that was the form of pressure I used.”

“Why did you call a decontam drill at that time, Commander Kloo?” Baldwin demanded, abruptly switching to the other “culprit,” the duty officer.

“Sir, if you will remember, you yourself suggested that we start emergency drills on the Refugee, due to the fact that the life-support system was only just on line,” Semirame said in an earnest tone, leaning slightly toward him, not quite apologetically but with an air of gentle reminder.
Actually, he gives so many orders, he'll never remember he didn't. A drill is s.o.p., especially with a new installation. If he hadn't ordered it, he should have
.

I don't know about you and Rojer, Thian
, Flavia said with considerable vexation in her voice,
but I find their attitudes suspicious, disagreeable, ungrateful and positively spiteful. What difference does it really make who found out how to turn on the power in that wretched old ship? It's never
going
anywhere. But it IS now powered up and I do not like being accused of “going behind their backs for personal glory,” or “overstepping” the parameters of our “assigned functions.” We kept their personnel safe and we made the ship just that bit more safe when we turned on its lightning system. We've explained and explained and diagrammed as much as we know, so I think it's time to leave this merry-go-round
.

With no brass ring. And I concur with your analysis, Flavia
, Thian replied.
I'm fed up with such a catechism. We have finished our “assigned functions.” Therefore we can
leave.
Rame, will our stalking out in indignation put you in jeopardy?

Don't know how you've stood it as long as you have. As I was busy overseeing a decontam drill and nowhere near
the site of your crime, they can't even pin dereliction of duty on me. 'Sides, del Falco's not after me. I'm crew. He's after you because you're not
.

Flavia, do you wish to make the statement aloud or should I?

You'd better do it, Thian
, Flavia replied.
I might lose my temper
.

Thian and Roger exchanged surprised looks.

“Mr. Lyon!” del Falco said, obviously having had to repeat the call to attention, for he was scowling with annoyance. Both Mr. Lyons regarded him.

He asked you why you chose that precise moment to try out your theory
, Rame supplied.

Thian rose, the signal for both Flavia and Rojer to follow his example.

“We chose that moment because the queens' chambers were empty and we would not be jeopardizing anyone's safety in case we hit the wrong buttons,” Thian said. “Now you can turn the panels on and off at your discretion. The ship is thoroughly and safely explored, independently lit and supplied with oxygen, so our assignment has been completed. Earth Prime has just informed me that we must return immediately to the Blundell Cube. It has been our pleasure to assist in this project for the Navy on Mars Phobos Moon Base, Admiral, Commander Baldwin, Commander Kloo, Glmtml, and sirs.” Thian bowed to the panel of Humans and Mrdinis that had been interrogating them for the past three hours; then he strode from the room.

The courtesies that Rojer and Flavia gave their inquisitors were as polite but briefer and then they were in the corridor.

Let's blow this joint
, Thian said.

They all heard the commotion inside and 'ported to their
quarters, where they collected their possessions in deft sweeps of closets and drawers.

Where away?
Rojer asked Thian.

Blundell, of course
, Thian replied as if there could be no doubt.
There's a large enough carrier on the transport deck
.

They met there moments later, Flavia looking attractively flushed by their dramatic and precipitous exit.

And we won't even have to use the Base generators
, Thian said, chuckling, last to enter the carrier. He pulled the lid firmly shut.
Okay?

At Rojer's mirthful shout and Flavia's giggle of acknowledgment, their minds merged and they propelled themselves off the Moon Base and down to the headquarters of Federated Teleport and Telepath on Earth.

You're a cheeky lot
, said Jeff Raven, but he, too, was chuckling.
Report to my office so you can repudiate the blast I'm getting from Admiral del Falco
.

The man is not only ungrateful
, Flavia said firmly,
but unmannerly. He never so much as thanked us for solving his problem for him
.

'Port right up to my office, kids, I've cleared the way for you
, Jeff said as the lid of the carrier was opened by the head expediter of Blundell facility.

“Boss wants you pronto,” but he was grinning broadly.

Is the word out all over the world yet?
Rojer asked Thian on a very thin line.

No, nor will it be
, Jeff answered, having no trouble at all insinuating himself into his grandsons' link.
Hurry up. The admiral's just getting to the part about gross insubordination, exceeding orders, and I suspect mutiny will figure in there soon
.

“Sorry,” Thian said to the expediter and 'ported himself as ordered, Rojer and Flavia a nanosecond behind him.

Knowing Jeff Raven's office well, all three made sure to arrive at a point out of range of the occupant on the screen. Admiral del Falco, Commander Baldwin visible on his right, was waxing eloquent about the “antics” of these “unruly, undisciplined and unprincipled Talents.”

“I thought you kept more control on your people, Raven. You told us they were well trained, skilled and capable of the assignment. They walked out of a half-finished debriefing with many questions unanswered. I don't mind telling you that I, Commander Baldwin here, and…” He turned to his left and his scowl deepened before he gave a snort of displeasure and faced directly into the com unit again. “We will not recommend that those three receive assignments from any Navy unit again.”

“Oh, really?” Jeff said. “How odd. Because I've had twenty urgent requests,” and he lifted a pile of message flimsies from his desk into plain view of the Admiral, “…from naval exploration groups, Squadrons C and D, now refitting at Clarf, and from Captains Osullivan, Ashiant, Cheseman, Quacho, Prl, a priority urgent one from Captain Spktm of the
KLTS
and another top security assignment which I don't believe you are cleared to know.”