Anticipating this, he pulled the folded-up paper from his pocket and held it up for her to see. “Here’s my DNA. You can’t deny it when it’s right here.”
“But… how?”
He didn’t know how to answer that question. “I want you to have your bloodwork done. Go see Dr. Lisst and have them check yours.”
She looked at him sharply. “Are you implying that you’re not my full-blooded brother?”
“No, that’s not what I suspect. I think Dr. Lisst doesn’t have a large enough database. How many humanoids visit her office in a year? In ten years? She wouldn’t have the technology needed to check for this.”
“Then why do you want me to go?”
“Because if it comes back negative, we’ll know Mom and Dad never lied to us.”
She gasped and realized what he really was suggesting, that Mom and Dad knew and covered up their heritage. “They wouldn’t.”
“I hope not.”
“And if it does come back negative?”
“Drive to Atlanta and find a better doctor.”
Chapter 15
LIAN STARED down at the console screen. It showed a series of reports between armada ships over the last two months. A lot of activity had happened, especially in this star system. Some good, some setbacks. He was surprised Admiral Alejaro hadn’t briefed him yet.
“Sir,” Candi said, glancing up from her screen. “You have a call from Admiral Alejaro.”
About time. He walked to Candi’s station. “Patch it through.”
The screen flickered for a moment before the Admiral’s face came into view. She was an older woman, though the lines on her face only added to her severity. At first glance, some might call her grandmotherly, but another look into her sharp eyes made them rethink that assessment. She was also a brilliant strategist—raised through the ranks of the Order of Valor. Lian had never questioned her orders, and he knew he never would.
“Admiral,” he greeted, quickly touching his fist to his heart. “You’ve got news about the Dalmin?”
The Admiral didn’t scold him for his lack of niceties. He’d learned to be succinct from her, after all. “Yes, Captain. It’s about the Dalmin. At least, we think so. We’ve been waiting for you to finish your trek through the wormhole so we could relay this message.”
“It’s old news, then?”
She nodded. “About three weeks ago the colony ship Fantasia was destroyed in the Adora System. There were no survivors.”
Lian’s stomach sank, part for the innocent lives lost, part in fear of his negotiations already falling apart. All races had an understanding that colonists weren’t to be harmed. The ships were full of nothing but civilians. No military. No training. No way to combat an enemy force. There’d been no hint of this in the communication log he read. Headquarters would want to keep this secret, especially from other colony ships.
“What’s that to do with the Dalmin, Admiral? With a peace treaty likely, they wouldn’t attack a human ship, especially not a colony ship.”
“I know your last meeting with First Capillto went well, and we seemed to be on the same page. But, this wouldn’t be the first time another race planned to deceive us.”
“What clues point to the Dalmin?”
“There was a transmission of an impact with an unknown object.”
“An asteroid, perhaps? Something hitting the hull could have faulted the wires. It could have been an accident.” As safe as space travel had become in recent years, bizarre occurrences were possible with so many variables on the line.
“We haven’t ruled that out yet. However, after the transmission reached us, the ship’s communication shut off. The ship blew up about five minutes later.”
Lian fingered the top button of his jacket. “A short circuit wouldn’t have taken so long to blow.”
“Exactly. Still, we are running simulations which might account for the time delay. Perhaps the Class Three Mechanic had been able to rig the system to keep life support going for some time.”
“Then some of the escape pods could have made it out.”
“And none did,” the admiral said. “You see my point.”
“Yes, I can see why a hit on the ship would be the most plausible explanation. But it still doesn’t mean it was the Dalmin. It could have easily been terrorists from Rigel.”
“It doesn’t point directly to the Dalmin,” she agreed. “But our information reports no Rigel sympathizers in the area. I want you to arrange a meeting with First Capillto. Circumspectly question him. Do not ask outright, Captain. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Admiral.”
“There is a time for directness, but there’s also a time for tact. We don’t want them to think we’re accusing them.”
“Of course not. I will be very delicate.”
“Report to me what the First has to say. Over and out.”
The screen cut to black.
Lian looked over his shoulder to Trish. “What do you make of it?”
“How can they be sure Rigel members aren’t in the area?”
“Regulation has the best intel. How many species are our eyes and ears among the galaxies?”
“And how many of those species would slip Regulation false information?”
“Doing so would result in penalties. I don’t think many would risk that.”
She shrugged. “I agree with you, Captain. I don’t think the Dalmin would attack a colony ship. But I also wonder why Regulation is so confident in its information. If they know more, they should share more.”
“Perhaps that’s all they have right now.”
“No,” she said, her black hair swishing as she shook her head. “There has to be more to throw suspicion on the Dalmin.” Then she lowered her voice. “You’re too trusting, Lian. Sometimes you need to question your orders.”
“Obeying orders is what I was hired to do.” He glanced around the room. Those closest had heard the Admiral’s words, so it would be all over the ship soon. “You have command of the bridge. I’m meeting Gin for a training session. Call me if you find out any more information.”
She dipped her head. “I’ll reach out to surrounding ships and the human settlement on Oasha. Perhaps the locals can tell a different story.”
Knowing she had the situation in hand, he headed up to his room. The top level of the ship was the smallest, but it still housed a dozen rooms. Most were used by his officers, but spares were kept ready for dignitaries and visitors. If all went well, he hoped the Dalmin would reside here shortly. It would be a huge sign of trust if they boarded his ship.
His room was at the end, in between Trish’s on the left and Candi’s on the right, and larger than both combined. As captain, he was given the privilege of more space. His suite included a small com room, like a miniature bridge, in case of emergencies, plus he had a bedroom, a study, and a bathroom. As extravagant as a spaceliner could get.
He was about to unlock his door with a passcode when he heard the side elevator ding. Gin emerged, somehow covered in grease. Lian raised his eyebrow as Gin drew closer.
“What happened to your uniform?”
Gin glanced down as if he didn’t understand the question. Then he saw the stains and shrugged. “Sy and I were mapping the Bethany’s fuel lines. One of the wires came loose and started spraying lubricant all over the place. Sy got it worse than me. I hope it’ll come out of his fur.”
“Lubricant? From what?”
“The Bethany’s got an oil line that attaches to the doors and other joints. It keeps the inner workings from squeaking.”
Lian nodded slowly. He knew the basics of the Bethany’s inner workings, but he never gave a thought to oil to keep the doors operating smoothly. The doors had override codes in case the circuits fried or malfunctioned, so having them optimal was necessary.
“Would you like to get cleaned up before we begin? For this to work, your mind must be calm and focused.”
Gin waved his hand. “Nah, I’ll be
fine. Too much work to run down to the showers.”
“I have a shower in my quarters. You can use it.”
The mechanic’s eyes seemed as if they’d pop out of his head. “Use your shower?”
Sometimes Gin’s reactions made no sense. Why would using a shower make his face go scarlet?
“If it will help you keep focused.”
Twin blond tails whipped as Gin shook his head. “No it won’t help.” Then under his breath he muttered, “It’d make things worse.”
Lian turned to unlock his door. He didn’t have the time to puzzle out Gin’s odd behaviors. When the door slid open, Lian gestured inside. “Go ahead.”
Gin entered, eyes curiously scanning the area. It was the mini bridge, with three different consoles, multiple chairs, and lots of flashing lights. The mechanic had been in here once before—that fateful day the real Temina had revealed Gin’s identity—but he likely hadn’t been focused on his surroundings then. “Wow,” he said, and wandered to the closest screen. “You’ve even got a link to the engines in here.”
“I need to be able to access every part of the ship.”
“It’s so amazing, the amount of technology compiled here. I wouldn’t have seen a tenth of this if I stayed in Tallahassee.”
“And think of what we could accomplish once we complete this treaty with the Dalmin. We could merge our tech with theirs and make something new. It could lead us to star systems currently unreachable.”
A flash of something like desire flirted across Gin’s face. His pupils dilated and his lips parted.
Lian felt a touch of heat in his cheeks witnessing the intimate emotion in the other man. Though their paths were near opposites, he suddenly understood he and Gin weren’t so different.
“Why don’t we head back to my room? There’s a couch and a chair in the study. I could put on soothing music, if it’ll help.”
The sparkling light in Gin’s eyes dimmed, but didn’t diminish.
“Let’s go.”
Chapter 16
GIN FOLLOWED as the captain led the way to the adjoining door. It opened into a narrow corridor, which lead to the other rooms in the suite. Gin marveled at how much space they gave Captain Lian, and he wondered if the captain ever used the rooms. Gin’d heard anytime a crewmember went looking for Lian, they always found him on the bridge.
Lian opened the center door. It was the study, and the first room Gin had seen to have a rug. The area was plush—the rugs, the couch, and the chairs—and all in shades of blues and grays. The far wall was lined with bookshelves from floor to ceiling. Gin skimmed the titles and saw books on humanoids—a hole where the one on Valkeans usually sat—spaceliner manuals, and even some that appeared to be fiction.
Gin liked the room, and he almost forgot to wait for Lian’s nod before claiming one of the chairs.
“Make yourself comfortable,” the captain said. He sat on the couch, poised on the edge as if he meant to jump up at any moment. “How are you feeling? Any better?”
Gin shrugged. “I guess. I told Temmy about it, and I asked her to go see our local doctor for her own bloodwork. I don’t think hers will be different,” he added quickly when Lian seemed about to jump to the same conclusion Temmy had. They were too identical to be only half siblings. “I hope it’s only an error of technology. Dr. Lisst didn’t have all the up-to-date equipment.”
“And if it turns out your parents held it back?”
Again, Gin lifted his shoulders. “I don’t want to worry about it until we know for sure.”
The captain nodded. “Well, I can vouch for how difficult it is growing up a mix. Though I blend in with humans, for the most part, there were many things that set me apart.”
“Where did you grow up? Franklin?”
Lian smiled, and it added a crinkle to the corners of his eyes. As Gin gazed at the green irises, they seemed to shift a shade lighter. “No. I’ve never lived on Earth. I’ve never been there for more than three days at a time. I grew up on the Olton.”
“The armada flagship?”
“Not anymore. They retired him three years ago, when the captain died.”
“Were you a lost humanoid baby, picked up by the crew?”
A loud laugh came from Lian. The sound startled Gin at first, but then he realized he’d never seen the captain amused before. It was a little frightening how much he sounded like Doc.
“No. My mother was the captain, Annie Hartford. I was born on the ship, and when I was old enough, I joined the crew.”
Gin’s mouth fell open. To actually be born on a spaceliner? He didn’t realize Regulation allowed families on vessels other than colony ships. Then Gin remembered what Lian said about the captain dying. That was his mother he’d spoken of.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
Lian waved a hand. “Thank you, but it’s not necessary. These things happen. It’s a natural part of life.”
Gin nodded, but didn’t quite agree. Yes, death could be natural, but sometimes lives were taken too soon—like with his parents. They hadn’t died of old age. There was nothing natural about the accident. Still, the captain didn’t seem to want to continue a conversation on that topic, so Gin dropped it.
“So you grew up around humans, not Quifante?” Gin asked to shift the discussion back to something safe.
“Correct. My crew is the exception to the armada. We’ve got about fifty percent human, fifty percent humanoid, or mixes. Every other ship has a much lower ratio of humanoids. Sometimes the percentages are less than double digits.”
“I’m sure you’re the only captain with mixed blood.”
“Yes, and that’s why the crew is comfortable on the Bethany. They know things are different serving under me.”
Gin chuckled. “Kinda ironic that I wound up here, too.”
Lian smiled again. “It is. Now, why don’t we get to the point. Doc’s theory, if you can call it that, is your Valkea abilities are similar to my Quifante abilities. I see no reason for her to be right, but there’s also no harm in trying. First, I’ll demonstrate what I can do.”
Gin tensed. He’d seen pictures of Quifante in textbooks but never in real life. Would the captain look shockingly different? Or gross? Or perhaps more alluring? It was no wonder Gin found himself more and more aware of Lian’s good looks—with the metal walls of the Bethany as his backdrop, Lian was confident, cool, poised, and gorgeous. The more Gin learned about the captain, through talks like this, or when he’d visited Gin in his room, or stories told by Angie and Sy, the more appealing he became in a nonphysical way.
In actuality, Gin was smitten. His first impression of Lian had been a heartless man, interested in his own affairs and to hell with others. But now he saw it as a way for Lian to keep his composure. The whole of Regulation judged him based on his parents, so he kept himself apart from it all. But here, with his crew and his home, he was safe and those protective walls dropped. Maybe smitten wasn’t quite strong enough.
Lian closed his eyes and his skin tone began to shift. It turned a light blue, as if all his veins were suddenly the top layer of his body. His brows became more prominent, bulging just a bit, and when he lifted his eyelids, the pupils were large and took up the whole iris. Other than that, Gin saw no difference.
He didn’t know how to say it nicely, so he settled for blunt. “That’s not how Quifante look in the textbook I saw.”
Lian’s blue skin suddenly shifted back to his normal tawny shade. “I can’t hold it for long if I’m not underwater. My form isn’t a true Quifante shape. A full-blooded Quifante is able to take their cells at a molecular level and shift them mentally. As a mix, I’m more of a chimera. I have two sets of DNA within me. One dominant, one recessive. My human genes are dominant, only by chance. Others like me may have Quifante be dominant, and they would mimic the Quifante shape more closely and only be able to shift into a half human.”
Gin’s expression must have shown his confusion because Lian raised his hand and ran it th
rough his hair. “I’m not explaining it right. My double DNA can be shifted if I concentrate hard enough. But I can’t hold it for long because I don’t have enough practice. If I were around Quifante, I’d be more apt to mimic them—the way Doc has no problem fitting in as human. She’s been in this form for so long, it’s normal for her now.”
Gin nodded. That at least made sense. “You lack some of the things that other Quifante have?”
“Yes, I am a mix, after all. You may not have had a good look, but my digits do sprout suction cups when I’m in my Quifante form. Plus my skin does turn a typical blue. My pupils widen for seeing underwater. My neck forms gills to take oxygen instead of my nose or mouth.”
“I hadn’t noticed,” Gin said faintly. He really wished he could have seen Lian’s gills or suction cups.
Lian seemed to sense Gin’s desire. “I’ll try again, and I’ll walk you through what my mind is thinking.
“First, I have to still my thoughts. Turn off all sight, or sound, or scent. Focus only on yourself. Feel your every limb, your every hair, your every skin cell.”
Goose bumps broke out on Gin’s skin listening to the soothing tone Lian adopted. That was enough to still his own mind.
“Once I’m sure I’m completely in tune with my body, I can flip my genes so my human DNA becomes recessive and the Quifante becomes dominant.”
He fell silent and Gin leaned forward eagerly. The captain’s skin began to turn blue again. Once it all showed the same shade, Lian opened his eyes and lifted his hand.
Quivering, Gin reached out and touched it. There were suction cups along his fingers. They were tiny, a few millimeters long apiece. Despite no moisture in here, Lian’s fingers were clammy and damp. The suction didn’t stick to Gin’s skin and he wondered why. Maybe if he pressed down harder?
But just as quickly, Lian was back to normal, his flesh warm and smooth once again. Gin drew his fingers back sharply.
Lian chuckled. “I know it may be difficult to get used to. It is for me too.”
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