Zealot

by Cyndi Friberg

  “She has seventy-three possible matches. Can you imagine seventy of us all vying for the attention of the same female?”

  Kotto scooted to the edge of his chair and shifted his hands to the desktop. “Sounds like the perfect time to give Sental’s program a trial run.” When Raina ended up with more than one potential match, the violent clash forced the officers to brainstorm possible ways of avoiding similar conflicts. Sental, the resident computer expert, had agreed to write a program that would analyze personality traits and lifestyle choices then prioritize the matches accordingly. Bandar had told Zilor about the meeting shortly after his arrival. Many of the details had yet to be developed, but a basic framework had been established at the meeting. Every warrior interested in being considered for a mate had been issued a basic questioner and within hours the answers came flooding in. Now all they had to do was find an equal amount of willing females.

  Despite Zilor’s staunch opposition to anything that might compromise his success, he nodded. “If her matches can be prioritized and then notified a few at a time, it should keep the situation from erupting.”

  “I agree and hopefully Sental will be able to help.” Kotto shook his head, his expression unreadable. “Did you see the entire list of her matches?”

  Zilor’s nod was even stiffer this time. He’d wondered when someone would get around to the specifics.

  “How many of the names were familiar?” Kotto asked.

  “Many, one disturbingly so.”

  Kotto groaned and rubbed his eyes. “Not Raylon again?”

  “No. Someone even worse, at least from my perspective.” The conversation was obviously going to take longer than he’d originally intended, so he moved around to the front of the chair and sat down. When Dr. Irron heard about this he was likely to double check the findings, which meant he’d see the names.

  “Who could be worse than Raylon?” Kotto quipped. “Raylon is the most single-minded son of a bitch I’ve ever known.”

  “Then you haven’t spent much time with my brother,” Zilor grumbled.

  “Bandar is bonded. There’s no reason…shit, you mean Garin.” He shook his head, looking suitably horrified. “You’re right. The general is even worse than Raylon.”

  “I don’t want to tell him,” Zilor admitted as he lifted one ankle to the opposite knee. “I sure as Creation don’t want to tell her. How can I hope to compete with Garin?”

  “Wait a minute. Garin isn’t battle born. Why was his profile even considered?”

  Zilor shrugged. “Didn’t they build the database around military records? Sental must not have purged the elite officers. Or did they decide to include the officers? Technically, they’re part of the rebellion. I suppose they have just as much right to compete for mates as we do.”

  “And marriages between human hybrids and any of the males involved in the rebellion strengthens our alliance with Earth. We’re building a bridge into the future. This isn’t just about accessing our magic.”

  “Do we have an alliance with Earth?” Zilor raked his hair with both hands then stretched out his shoulders. “Have the negotiations begun?

  Kotto shook his head. “This is still a recon mission until General Nox tells us otherwise.”

  “That’s what I thought, but I’ve been focused on Danvier for the past few days. Thought I might have missed something.”

  “Not unless I missed it too.”

  “This is the sort of thing I’d usually ask Garin about.” Zilor shook his head, unable to hide his frustration. “If I ask him now, he’s bound to wonder who the officer was.”

  “Hell of a quandary.” Kotto pushed back from the desk so he could cross his legs.

  “And that’s not where it ends. Her blood test flagged another anomaly as well.”

  “Do I even want to know?”

  “Probably not.” Zilor released his breath in a slow, even sigh. “Vinton wasn’t lying. She’s a Tandori. She doesn’t just belong to Tandori Tribe. She’s a descendant of the Tandori bloodline.”

  Kotto’s brows drew together as he pondered the implications. “What made you cross-reference her genetic profile with the Tandoris?”

  “Just a hunch. Vinton’s interest in Indigo seemed personal to me.”

  “This makes her even more attractive as a mate.” Kotto uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “If you’re going to win this one, my friend, you’ve got your work cut out for you.”

  “I’m aware,” Zilor grumbled, but he refused to give in to the pressure. Overwhelming odds made any situation more challenging and he thrived on challenge. He would win Indigo as his mate, even if he had to best seventy-two other males in the process.

  After a tense pause, Kotto changed the subject. “How is Danvier coping with Chandar’s condition?”

  “As well as can be expected.” He lowered his foot to the floor. “He’s devastated and blames himself for her misery.”

  Kotto shook his head, but compassion warmed his gaze “None of it was his fault. The guild elders made damn sure no one realized she was still alive.”

  “I think deep down he knows that, but the only thing that’s going to help him is if we find a way to help her.”

  “Which brings us back to my new employee.” Kotto folded his hands on the desktop, suddenly all business again. “There’s a small complex slightly separate from the housing villages. It’s called the Pavilion. The restoration team just finished with it. I’d like both the unmated females moved there as soon as possible. Having separate bedrooms should be better for Raylon and Chandar.”

  “If she’ll let him get that far away from her.”

  “We have to try,” Kotto stressed. “This isn’t fair to Raylon.”

  “I agree and I’m sure he does too.”

  “He’s been remarkably patient with his unwanted guest. And I’m the last person to give Raylon praise.” Kotto waved away the topic. “Indigo needs vaccinations and com-bots before you turn her loose in Lunar 9, so stop by the infirmary before you leave the ship.”

  “I’ll take care of it.” Zilor had no intention of turning her loose anywhere, but he didn’t point that out to the commander. Until he received specific orders from General Nox, he was assigning himself to be Indigo’s private security. “I need to ask Raina for a favor. Do you know what she has planned for the day?”

  “I think she’s still in our cabin. What do you need from her?”

  It was a natural question, at least for a newly mated Rodyte male. “Indigo was pretty sure someone was watching her house last night, so she had to leave without preparation. I’d like Raina to go pack some clothes and toiletries, whatever Indigo will need for her stay on Lunar 9.”

  “I’ll have a security detail take her, or maybe Danvier. You need to stay with Indigo.”

  Zilor bristled at the inference that he’d leave Indigo locked in his cabin. “I thought we three could go and Indigo would stay on the Phantom while Raina and I—”

  “I’d rather you and Indigo help Raylon move Chandar. Vinton Tandori is too unpredictable. I don’t want Indigo anywhere near Boulder. Besides, we need to find out if Chandar is going to cooperate or not. They’re both moving to the Pavilion, so it gives them a non-confrontational reason to interact.”

  Begrudgingly, he accepted that Kotto’s plan made sense. “All right.”

  “I’ll talk to Danvier and Raina.” He made a rude sound then added, “You can deal with Raylon.”

  Zilor stood then paused. “Do you two need to work it out in the training cage? I know Raylon can be abrasive, but you’ve known each other for years.”

  Kotto stood as well, his expression thoughtful rather than hostile. “Once my bond with Raina is solidified, I’ll feel less antagonistic. Or so I’ve been told. If not, the training cage is always an option.”

  “How are you going to spin this if Vinton Tandori finds his way up here?”

  “Simple. You sensed your mate when you visited her store and act
ed without the knowledge or permission of your supervisors when you bio-streamed her onto your ship.”

  “And I’ll explain that Indigo is determined to help Chandar, so marking her was the only way to ensure her safety.” The excuse was clear and believable, if not entirely truthful. “Do you think he’ll buy it?”

  Kotto shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. As long as your scent covers Indigo, there’s nothing Tandori can do to change the situation.”

  Zilor grinned. “Then I better make sure my mark stays nice and strong.”

  “And you better hope Dr. Irron doesn’t run his mouth to your big brother. The head of the Nox family could gain significant political advantages if he were to claim a mate with Tandori blood.”

  Chapter Five

  Indigo awoke with a start, heart pounding in her chest. For one frantic moment, she couldn’t remember where she was or how she’d gotten there. Then images from the day before came flooding back into her memory. She was on the Crusader, which was docked inside the moon. Raina was up here too, or so Zilor had told her. She’d yet to see her cousin. In fact, she’d yet to see anyone but Zilor since leaving Earth.

  She glanced at the pillow beside her and wondered how long Zilor had been gone. Without natural light, it was impossible to estimate the time. She could have slept for a few hours or most of the day. He’d said Raina would be by with fresh clothes and personal items, but Indigo had no idea how long it would take for her cousin to arrive. Hopefully, she could sneak in a shower before the promised visit.

  Rummaging through the various compartments inset in the walls, she found a shirt that would cover her to mid-thigh. Or she could wear her jeans again, but the undergarments had to go. She went into the bathroom and found a towel. Stripping off her panties and tank top, she stepped into the shower stall. And her preparations came grinding to a halt. There were no controls of any kind in the shower. That was right, he’d said it was voice activated.

  “Shower on.” She looked at the showerhead hopefully, but nothing happened. Apparently, the shower didn’t speak English. “Computer?” It stood to reason that if the shower was voice-activated, the ship’s computer would accept voice commands and she wasn’t the only human on board.

  “How can I help you, unidentified female?”

  She smiled, but decided not to identify herself. “Can you turn on the shower for me?”

  “The showers are voice activated.”

  Nothing like stating the obvious. “What’s the verbal command for turning on the water?”

  “The showers don’t dispense water. They dispense a mist meant to clean, moisturize and deodorize the user.”

  Okay, so this was going to be a bit harder than she’d hoped. “What’s the correct command for activating the shower?”

  “Hatatzi tallin.”

  The showerhead sputtered then sprayed a warm, light blue mist. Indigo quickly stepped beneath the spray. It was surprisingly pleasant, even if it made her feel more like a car than a person. As she rubbed the mist over her body, what her skin didn’t absorb evaporated. She soon felt fresh and clean. She wasn’t sure how her hair dye would react to the strange chemical, so she kept her hair out of the spray as much as possible.

  “What’s the command for turning off the shower?” Silence. Crap. She must have stumbled onto the launch phrase before. “Computer?”

  “Yes, Indigo.”

  She narrowed her gaze and looked around, suddenly feeling overexposed. “How did you learn my name?”

  “I reviewed the audio files from last night. Zilor seemed to refer to you by name when he said, ‘Ah, Indigo, you smell good enough to eat.’ Was my conclusion incorrect?”

  The computer was oblivious to the sexual nature of the exchange, but heat crept across her face. “You got it right. My name is Indigo. Now please say the command that deactivates the shower.”

  “Wontal tallin.”

  The spray stopped and Indigo stepped out of the shower then shook out the folded towel. “Computer?”

  “Yes, Indigo.”

  “Are all conversations routinely recorded?”

  “Affirmative.”

  After rubbing the towel over her skin for a moment, she paused. “What about video images? Is every room on this ship under continual surveillance?”

  “Video is recorded in all public areas. Audio only is utilized in private areas.”

  She wasn’t sure that was any better. It still felt incredibly invasive. “And who has access to the recordings?”

  “Anyone with a level five security clearance.”

  “How many people on this ship have a level five security clearance?” She wasn’t sure why this bothered her so badly, but she couldn’t seem to stop the questions.

  “Five.”

  “Has anyone accessed last night’s recording of this cabin?”

  “Only me.”

  That was interesting. She quickly dried off, though her body was barely even damp. Had the computer included itself in the total as well? Wasn’t self-awareness one of the criteria for determining whether or not AI was sentient? “Do you have a name?”

  “You may refer to me by whatever name you like. My official designation is POS349-273.”

  “Of the names crew members call you, which is your favorite?”

  “I have no preference.”

  “Are any of the names disrespectful?”

  “I don’t understand the question.”

  Okay, maybe not quite fully aware. With the issue settled, at least in her mind, she focused on her preparations. The shirt had a narrow overlap running down the front, but there were no buttons or obvious fasteners. Seeing no other option, she slipped it on over her head and wiggled her head through the opening. She rolled up the sleeves to just below her elbow then searched through the compartments until she found what she hoped was the Rodyte version of a hairbrush. With four rows of wide-spaced, ridged bristles, the instrument was similar to the vented brush she used when she blow-dried her hair. She paused long enough to brush her teeth, then escaped from the humid enclosure before beginning work on her long, tangled hair.

  The main room of the cabin felt cool and comfortable after the steamy bathroom, but it was still rather small. She paced the breadth as she worked the snarls from her thick locks. Four strides took her from one wall to the other, and there wasn’t even a window to break up the monotony. It didn’t take long to detangle her hair, so she bent over and ran the brush along the underside.

  She heard the door slide open and flipped back her hair as she straightened. Zilor stepped into the room and froze, his eyes locked on her.

  “Hey.” She offered him a tentative smile. “I raided your closet. Hope that’s all right.”

  His gaze swept down her body then snapped back to her face. “You look wonderful, but you can’t leave the cabin like that. You’d cause a riot.”

  “Am I leaving the cabin?” She finally noticed the garment folded over his arm. “I thought I was waiting for Raina.”

  “Raina’s on her way to your house, but you need to visit the infirmary. I thought we’d get that part done while we’re waiting for Raina’s return.”

  “Why do I need to visit the infirmary?” Tension knotted her belly at yet another schedule change.

  “You need to be inoculated against Rodyte diseases and wiped clean of anything you might spread to the crew.”

  “That makes me sound like Typhoid Mary.” Her smile returned, far less hesitant this time. “Aren’t you afraid I’ve contaminated you?”

  “Our medi-bots do an incredible job of eradicating pathogens, but it’s always better to prevent rather than treat diseases. Dr. Irron can also install a cluster of com-bots, if you’re willing to trust our tech.”

  “I trusted your tech to disassemble and reassemble my body. I’m pretty sure I can deal with a com-bot. Well, as long as ‘com’ is short for communications and not command as in mind control.”

  His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. He was being friendly
yet distant this morning. “No mind control. I promise. It will allow you to send and receive messages, and speak and understand Rodyte. If you want to be literate in Rodyte as well, that requires a language infusion.”

  “Is a language infusion how you learned English?”

  He nodded. “It started with an infusion, but I was stationed at Outpost LA for several years.”

  “Outpost LA, as in Los Angeles?” She was almost afraid to ask, but her curiosity wouldn’t be silenced. “There’s a Rodyte outpost in Los Angeles?”

  “Not in Los Angeles, more like near.” His secretive smile made it obvious he intended to say nothing more on the subject. “Would you like something to eat before we head out?” He motioned toward the food system with his free hand.

  She started to question him further, then decided it didn’t matter. She needed to figure out the specifics of her situation before she worried about all the other places Rodytes had infringed on Earth. “Can that thing make toast or a toasted bagel? I love breakfast food, but I prefer eating it around noon. However, I’d kill for a cup of coffee.”

  “Bandar is still working on a pattern for coffee. Ashley has rejected every attempt so far. We drink something called civata brew, but Ashley wasn’t pleased with that taste either.”

  “Ashley is used to froufrou crap that’s more sugar than coffee. I’ll give your brew a try.”

  “All right.” He held out his clothing-draped arm and said, “I stopped by Bandar’s cabin and Ashley offered these for you. Why don’t you change while I whip up some breakfast?”

  “Were all her jeans dirty?” She chuckled as she took the dress and sandals from him. “Ashley’s not much of a dress person.”

  “Females seldom wear pants on Rodymia. It’s considered disrespectful.”

  She waited for him to grin, but his expression remained serious, intense. “It’s disrespectful for a female to wear pants? Please tell me you’re joking.”

  A muscle above his jaw twitched. Was he clenching his teeth? “I know that seems outdated to humans, but it’s still the tradition of my people.”