Then he’d felt as if he was flowing along a rapidly moving current, a kaleidoscope of colors and sensations, leaving him totally disoriented. He had drifted in and out of consciousness, aware Eirene still hovered over him, until a strident male voice broke the energy surge, and he sank into welcome oblivion.
At least that's what Jarek thought he remembered. He hadn't eaten or drunk anything at the Dome, so he couldn't have been drugged. Add to that the amazing fact that he had not only survived a fatal wounding for four hours without medical treatment, but his wound had closed itself.
He thought about these things for hours, considering every angle and possibility, and returning to the same conclusion each time. Eirene had healed him. Somehow, she had channeled a special energy into his body that had healed the wound and replenished his blood supply. He was an educated and well-traveled man. He'd never heard of any race of beings that could heal with pure energy, except one. The race he'd been researching the past season. Enhancers.
But they were extinct. Or were they? In his determined quest to learn all he could about the Enhancers and their possible link to the black hole in the twelfth sector, he had uncovered some unusual tales: accounts of people being born with Enhancer abilities. The occurrences appeared random and were extremely rare, and the people supposedly possessed of such abilities disappeared from sight, probably snapped up by the Controllers or powerful private factions. There was no proof of living Enhancers, yet the tales persisted.
Jarek had listened to the continually circulating stories, and he had long ago learned to trust his instincts. Right now, his every instinct screamed that Eirene was an Enhancer. If he were right, she might be able to help him navigate that black hole. He had to find her.
He struggled off the bed, cursing his weakness, although he was much stronger than he had been yesterday. Already dressed, he scooped up his boots and headed for the entry panel. It opened before he reached it.
"What are you doing up?" Chase demanded, stepping through the entry, with Celie behind him.
"I need to return to Saron." Jarek paused, unwilling to reveal more. If Eirene were an Enhancer, she'd be in danger if that information fell into the wrong hands.
Chase frowned and started to say something, but Celie cut him off. "I'm afraid you won't want to go to Saron, Jarek. Not after you hear my news."
Something in her voice caught Jarek's full attention. "What is it?"
"First, sit down before you fall down," Chase ordered, rolling up a chair. "You're too weak to be walking around."
Jarek sank into the chair, staring at Celie. "Tell me."
Her eyes were solemn. "I've got two things to tell you. The first is good. I may have found equipment for scoping out your black hole."
Yes! Thank you, Spirit. "Where?"
"It's a rather odd situation. The equipment is on Aldon."
"Aldon? That's a Shen colony, isn't it?"
Celie nodded. "Yes. It's their main settlement."
Jarek pondered this. The Shens, whose society had evolved around a magic-based culture, didn't deal in technology. "How would the Shens have come up with such equipment? I can't imagine them interested in exploring black holes."
"Well, no, they're not into space exploration, but they're always interested in making money," Celie pointed out. "They didn't manufacture this equipment. It was apparently left on Aldon."
The situation was getting stranger by the millisecond. Jarek rubbed his forehead, wondering if his faculties were still off balance. "I'm not understanding this. Who left it there?"
"That's what's so amazing about the whole situation. Supposedly, this is equipment Enhancers used, then stored on Aldon, before they became extinct."
Enhancers? Jarek almost bolted from the chair. "Sweet Spirit. Are you sure about this?"
Celie leaned against the counter. "I got the information from Eark. He's a Shen we've worked with for over eight seasons, and he's always been reliable. He says the equipment was left by Enhancers, and it has been on Aldon more than two hundred seasons."
Adrenaline thrummed through Jarek. The Enhancers were supposedly the ones who had traversed the black hole in the twelfth quadrant. And he suspected Eirene was an Enhancer. He didn't believe in coincidences. This was divine intervention. It had to be. "How much?" he demanded hoarsely. "How much do the Shens want for that equipment?"
"Eark wouldn't give me an amount." Celie threw up her hands in frustration. "He was very vague, said it would be negotiated when the buyer got to Aldon."
"Damn." Jarek felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. The Shens were going to demand a fortune for the equipment, and his own resources were severely limited. Then something Celie said registered. "Did you say the Shens would negotiate when the buyer got to Aldon?"
"Yes. I couldn't believe it when Eark told me that."
"The Shens never let anyone visit their settlements. The locations for most of them are secret. Are you sure that's what Eark said?"
Celie nodded. "Yes. He said you could come to Aldon. I asked him again, to be sure I'd heard him right."
Even more reason for Jarek to believe a divine hand was involved. He'd worry about finding enough gold on the way. "I've got to get ready to leave."
"Wait," Celie said. "There's more, Jarek, and I'm afraid it's very grim."
He sagged back in the chair, bracing himself. "Tell me."
"Eark told me that the Controllers are amassing a huge number of troops. Word is they're getting ready to search every moon and asteroid, looking for Shielder colonies. And they've doubled the reward for all Shielders captured, and for information leading to any settlements. They're determined to eradicate the Shielders once and for all."
Acute urgency, laced with bone-chilling fear, pumped through Jarek. Could things get any worse? First the bounty on his head, and now this. They were almost out of time. Hell, they were already out of time! If he didn't gain possession of that equipment and find an escape route, they faced total obliteration. "I've got to leave now."
"Whoa," Chase protested, clamping a hand on Jarek's shoulder before he could stand. "You're not going anywhere until I check you over."
Jarek shook his hand away. "I can't wait around to get better, McKnight. Every second counts. I have to get to Saron." He was even more convinced now that he had to find Eirene. If she really was an Enhancer, she could be vastly useful, both with the equipment and the black hole. He couldn't logically explain how he knew this. He just knew, deep inside, that he needed Eirene. Just as he knew only a miracle could save the Shielders now.
"But I thought you'd go straight to Aldon," Celie said.
Jarek spread his arms so Chase could run a scanner over him, though negative findings wouldn't deter him. "Oh, I'm going to Aldon, all right. But first, I have pressing business on Saron. I'm leaving now."
Chase drew back, frowning, but offered no further argument.
Jarek picked up his boots and headed toward the corridor. Spirit, he was weak. But time was of the essence. He stepped into the corridor, Celie and Chase right behind him.
Nessa hurried toward them. "We have company," she said. "The transport just dropped her off. She's on Sabin's ship and headed this way."
"Who?" All three of them asked simultaneously.
Just then, the airlock connecting Celie's ship with Chase's hummed open. A petite woman, swathed in blue feathers, stepped through the entry. Except for her porcelain white skin, everything about her was blue: her eyes, her long silky hair, her pouty lips, the ridiculous feathered headdress on her head, even her four-inch stiletto heels. She smiled brightly and wobbled toward them.
"Oh, helloooo!" she trilled. "Celie, you're looking wonderful."
"Hello again," Celie replied. "What brings you here?"
"I decided I needed a vacation, and I've come to visit my brother. I only got to see him for a millisecond on Saron." The woman turned toward Jarek, Chase, and Nessa, who all stared at her in utter fascination. "Hello there. I'm Lani, Radd's
sister. Pleased to meet you."
A sudden memory jolted Jarek out of his amazed trance. He'd seen this woman before. She'd been the one standing by Eirene after he'd been wounded. "We've met—kind of," he said. "At the Pleasure Dome on Saron."
She studied him a moment. "Oh, yes! You were the one shot in Eirene's chamber. I didn't recognize you with your clothes on. My, but you recovered quickly. To be honest, I didn't think you'd survive." She sashayed up to him and ran a finger down his chest. "But then, you're quite a specimen."
He stepped back hastily. "Uh, thank you. And thank you for calling Celie instead of the guards."
"Think nothing of it. When you said to contact Celie Cameron, I realized you must be connected to Radd, which meant you were connected to Sabin, which meant—" Lani paused and lowered her voice conspiratorially "—you were probably involved in something you didn't want the authorities to know about."
"Right." Just trying to keep up with her lightspeed chatter was making Jarek dizzy, but he pressed on. "By the way, how is your friend Eirene? I'd like to see her again." From the corner of his eye, he saw Chase and Nessa pry their attention from Lani to stare at him.
Lani waved a blue-tipped hand dismissively. "Oh, she didn't stay around after you were shot. I tell you, no one has a decent work ethic any more. Why, we can't keep anyone—"
Jarek cut her off before she could go off on a tangent. "Do you know where she went?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. I was worried about her. When I saw her leave, I followed her to make sure she was okay. She went to the transport station and bought a ticket for Elysia." Lani blew out an exasperated breath. "Didn't even tell me good-bye. How rude."
Jarek couldn't believe this turn of fate. Again, he was struck by the fact it wasn't coincidence that Enhancer equipment had been uncovered on Aldon, or that Lani had arrived with the information he needed to find Eirene. As far as he was concerned, it was divine providence. He took only long enough to kiss Nessa and shake Chase's hand, and give Blake some final instructions. Then, ignoring their vehement protests, he headed for the airlock.
He was going to Elysia. And he would locate Eirene. He was the best reconnaissance scout in the entire Shielder militia. It didn't matter how far she ran.
He would find her.
Chapter Four
The big event was at hand. Today Eirene had her audience with Darya. Meeting the great healer had been only a distant dream when Eirene was on Travan, seemingly trapped, with no options other than living her days out in servitude to the men there. Yet fate had intervened, giving her this wonderful opportunity, and she intended to take full advantage of it.
Unfortunately, she'd awakened feeling ill, weak, and flushed with fever. Nothing of any concern, she insisted to herself. Just a minor virus, probably caught on her jaunts through the marketplace. She dressed with care, ignoring the shakiness in her limbs. Nothing would keep her from this audience. Too queasy to eat, she drank a little water and set off for Darya's quarters.
Traveling through the crowded marketplace, she felt even worse, but pushed forward. The usual mental bombardment must be making her symptoms seem more pronounced. Regardless, she couldn't miss this appointment with Darya. She might not get another chance. People jostled her, and she stumbled twice, but pressed on. Nothing would prevent this meeting.
A sudden jolt of mental energy spiked through her like a knife. She swayed to a halt, grabbing a vendor's cart for support. Surely the energy burst was simply the normal emotional turmoil churning through the masses. She could block it out if she could only concentrate. Another mental jolt speared her, staggering in its intensity and focus. This time, the energy was more definitive. An insidious, seeking force—terrifying, as its tentacles seemed to wrap around her. Tracking her, only her.
Adrenaline shot through her body. Who—or what—was it? Her uncle wasn't capable of broadcasting such energy, but he might have hired a psychic tracker. Yet she should have been able to block any probes. Where was the transmission coming from? Behind? Ahead?
Her heart pounding, she pushed away from the cart and shoved through the crowd, oblivious to the protests. She had to evade her anonymous pursuer. Darya…she must reach Darya.
* * *
He found it. A faint mental trail, the same energy he'd sensed in Eirene's chamber at the Pleasure Dome. Not the same pattern he would pick up from another Shielder, yet distinct and recognizable. Jarek felt certain Eirene was emitting that energy. He pushed forward, scanning the crowd up ahead, the psychic trail getting stronger as he advanced. He focused all his concentration on the glimmer of energy, locked on to it. It was directly ahead of him. He was closing in.
There! A flash of silver and a glimpse of dark hair bobbing through the crowd. Eirene. He speeded up, forced harder, jostling bodies aside. He'd been on Elysia four cycles now, checking every departure from the transport station, patrolling the marketplace for any sign of her. He would not let her get away.
She must have sensed him, because she began running, edging to the side. Jarek took off, leaping from the pathway and dodging in and out of stalls. She went faster; so did he. Fortunately, he was recovered from his injury, well rested and in good physical condition. He gained on her rapidly.
She was just ahead of him now. Almost in reach…until a vendor pushed a cart into his path. He crashed into it, the hard yarton wood slamming the breath from him. The impact spun him into another stall, as he battled to regain his balance. A shelf of Saija silk halted his spin. He found himself on the ground beneath several bolts of colorful fabric.
Loud, angry voices jabbered as he managed to untangle himself from the silk and struggle to his feet. A large, bearded man, bare-chested, with gold cuffs around his bulging biceps and numerous gold hoops in his ears, shook his fist in Jarek's face. "You son of an Antek!" he bellowed. "I brought that silk all the way from Vilana. Now you've ruined it!"
Jarek backed away, his hand going to his stunner. "I apologize. I'm sure the silk isn't ruined. All you need to do is brush it off and—"
"You broke my cart! And you terrified my babies," a strident female voice came from behind him. "Just look at them."
He whirled to stare at the first vendor, a tall, thin woman with garish orange hair and a long, sour face. Babies? Worse and worse. He glanced up the pathway. Eirene was nowhere in sight. Damn!
"Your babies?" he asked cautiously, edging the direction she had gone. A group of grim-faced merchants blocked his retreat. Great. They competed ferociously among each other for business, but were tighter than a miserly Shen if one of their own had an altercation with an outsider.
"They're everywhere," the woman sniffed, waving a thin hand toward the ground.
Jarek looked and saw them: lightspeed-quick balls of fur, chattering and darting into nearby stalls. Lanraxes. One maroon baby lanrax scampered toward him, obviously terrified, and squealing in distress. It leaped onto his leg and dug in its magnasteel-sharp claws. He winced and unthinkingly pulled the small creature off his leg.
"Here." He thrust it toward the woman. "I'm sure you'll be able to round all of them up. I'm sorry, but you pushed your cart into me." He eyed the terrain, looking for the quickest escape route.
The woman grabbed his arm. "You'll pay! For my cart, for these babies, for—"
"And my silk!" The man grabbed Jarek's other arm. "It's worthless now, I tell you."
Jarek had to get out of here. Eirene was getting away. He wrenched his arm free from the woman. No such luck freeing himself from the man. The lanrax squealed and leaped to his chest, digging in and pressing against his neck. Blazing hells.
"Look," He said to the woman, peeling off the lanrax so he could see, "I didn't even dent your damn cart. It's yarton wood, for Spirit's sake." He turned to the male merchant. "And Saija silk can be cleaned. I suggest you let me go before you regret it."
"He's a thief," another merchant muttered, and they moved closer.
Jarek groaned in abject frustration and urgency. He had to
take desperate action, as much as he hated to do so. He drew his stunner, which he kept on a low setting, and put the silk merchant out of commission. The man sagged to the ground, sunlight flashing off his gold jewelry. The woman began to wail and scream for help, while the other merchants drew back, terror replacing their anger.
"I'm sorry," Jarek called over his shoulder, as he darted around the cart and made a run for it.
Despite the cries of outrage from behind him, no one tried to stop him. Dangerous criminals and petty thieves abounded in the marketplace, and few beings were willing to accost a possible felon. The apparent exception was the maroon lanrax that had reattached itself to Jarek's leg and was clinging for dear life.
He ran up the pathway, skirting the masses of people, careful to avoid any more disasters. He couldn't concern himself with his aching ribs, which must have been bruised from the impact with the cart. Nor did he take time to remove the lanrax or give it any consideration. He was focused on one thing only—Eirene. Which way had she gone?
He mentally scanned for the energy pattern specific to her, but didn't find it. He picked up other Shielders in the vicinity, but not Eirene. Where was she? He searched the marketplace, despairing that he'd lost her. He finally found a faint trail, along a path that forked to the left. He veered up the path, rapidly edging along the crowd, but more cautious of carts this time.
He almost passed her in his haste. She was huddled beside a stall, her arms wrapped around herself, and trembling violently. Her head was down, her hair shorter and not as dark, and the blue robe gone. But he knew it was her. Same slight build and, more importantly, the same energy he'd sensed at the Dome. He stopped beside her. She appeared oblivious to his presence. "Eirene."
Her head snapped up, her blue eyes widening in shock. "No!" she gasped, scrabbling along the stall, trying to rise to her feet. "Go away."
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