Mid-morning ship time he was jerked violently awake seconds before every alarm on both their units went into alert.
“Vanna, get me out of this contraption,” he yelled, straining against the inside of the unit although he knew it was useless. He could sense Carrie again. She had come out of unconsciousness. Her mind was caught in some nightmare, broadcasting waves of fear and terror.
The warning tones dinned in his ears, adding to his urgency. “Turn that damned racket off!” he yelled.
Jack ran over to him, fumbling with the latches while Vanna bent over Carrie, checking her for physical signs of distress. One of the nurses ran to switch off the alarms and silence returned.
“Don’t touch her, Vanna,” Kusac said frantically, rolling off the bed as Jack finally got his cover free.
“Help me get the lid off!” he said, his hands flying over the catches on his side. As he finished, Vanna pushed the lid back out of the way.
“I need a chair,” he said, gently slipping his arms under Carrie and lifting her.
Jack brought one over, placing it behind him.
Kusac sat down, adjusting his hold on her till she was cradled in his arms like a small child.
Vanna held out a blanket. He frowned, looking at it.
“Without fur, she’ll feel the cold more than us,” she reminded him.
He took the blanket, draping it across her. Closing his eyes, he rested his head on hers. There was no need for even a slight adjustment now; their rhythms were perfectly synchromeshed, and he had no difficulty in reaching her dream world.
She was still reliving the scene with her father at the reception. Kusac found the looped thoughts, parted them, and gradually brought her anger and panic under control until she was breathing gently again.
He rested a moment before opening his eyes. It felt good to hold her again after seeing her locked in the IC unit beyond his help. He rubbed his cheek against the top of her head, breathing in her scent as he felt the familiar pull of their Link. In his arms she began to rouse.
“How is she?” asked Vanna.
“She’s fine. Only a nightmare, nothing more,” he murmured, letting the hypersensitivity wash through him. This time it was different. Now there was an anticipation that had been lacking before. He felt relaxed yet alert to the feel of her body against his. She moved, unconsciously curling up closer to him.
“Kusac,” said Vanna, bringing his attention back to her. “I’ve got a room ready next door for you. I think you’d better take her there. When you feel up to it, you can return to your suite.”
Kusac nodded slowly, disinclined to move.
Vanna leaned forward to touch him, then flinched as the sensations coursing through him hit her. It jolted Kusac out of his dreamy state, making him fully aware of what was happening.
“I’m sorry,” he said, getting carefully to his feet as Carrie began to move again in his arms. “With everything that’s happened I forgot what day it was. I didn’t expect our Link to affect me like this.”
“Forget it,” said Vanna, tucking her hands under her armpits. “Just take her into the other room now before she wakes. I’ll check up on you in a few hours. There’s a food dispenser and a communicator by the bed if you need anything.”
Vanna watched them leave, trying to forget the sudden surge of heightened sexuality she had felt from Kusac, and the answering one from Carrie.
“What’s up?” asked Jack as she went back to the desk where they were correlating the data they’d collected from the tests. “Where’s he taking her?”
“To a private room next door,” she said. “It’s their Link day, they need the next twenty-six hours to themselves.”
“Ah, yes. Kusac mentioned it to me yesterday,” said Jack. “Their Link is really that demanding?”
“You’ve read the files,” she said curtly, sitting down beside him. “Yes, it’s that demanding.”
“Excuse me, Physician Kyjishi,” said Draz, standing at the door. “Clan Leader Aldatan wishes to see you.”
“Tell her she can come in, Draz.”
“What are you going to tell her?” asked Jack.
“The truth about their endocrine levels.”
“And your suspicions over the genetic changes?”
“Nothing till I have proof,” she said, gathering her papers together and putting them in her drawer out of sight. “It might never happen.” She stood up as Kusac’s mother entered.
“I wanted to see you on your own, Vanna,” she said, coming over to her desk. “I’m aware my son and his Leska have other matters to attend to,” she said with a faint smile, “so I know they won’t be aware of our discussion.” She nodded to the Terran doctor.
Jack had gotten up as she arrived and now placed a chair at the other side of the desk for her.
“Thank you,” she said, sitting down. “Do you know yet why Carrie changed shape?”
“I’m afraid I have no idea, Clan Leader,” said Vanna, resuming her seat. “I take it you’ve met Jack Reynolds, physician to Carrie’s family on Keiss?”
“Under less than ideal circumstances,” Rhyasha said. “Do either of you know why her eyes have altered?”
“I’m afraid we don’t know that either.”
“Then what have you found out?” asked Rhyasha, a touch of exasperation in her voice.
“Clan Leader, you have to understand that we are attempting to understand a completely unknown phenomenon here,” said Vanna. “There has never been another telepathic species until now and the Terrans don’t believe telepathy exists. Because of this, unlike us they have no body of knowledge about the mechanics of their people’s Talents. I’m working blind here. The only people who have a chance of really understanding what’s happening to them are your son and Carrie.”
“Your pardon, Vanna, but I know all this,” said Rhyasha. “You’ve been running tests, you told me so when I spoke to you an hour or two after this happened. What were the results?”
“They’re both changing,” Vanna said quietly.
“How?”
“Their endocrine systems are fluctuating.”
“Explain it to me, please.”
“The Sholan and Terran endocrine systems work on the same principle, but at different levels and proportions. Those levels in both of them are changing in relationship to each other. Carrie’s system seems to be tending toward the Sholan balance, and Kusac’s seems to be adjusting toward the Terran one,” said Jack.
“Are you saying my son is becoming more Terran, and…” began Rhyasha, her ears flicking slightly despite her rigid self-control.
“No,” interrupted Vanna. “Far from it. We aren’t sure yet, but we think there is a trend toward a balance of levels between them. In other words, their systems will match.”
“What effect will that have on them?”
“The endocrine system controls a lot of the body’s functions,” said Vanna. “It affects appetite, thirst, the body’s ability to withstand heat and cold, and the ability to sleep amongst other things. They’ll have a variety of symptoms including possible dizzy spells, headaches, feeling washed out and tired at the wrong times of day, and may be generally irritable, unable to cope with stress. Basically, adrenaline levels peak at different times for different people. It means their adrenaline and hormone levels will be in phase with each other. The worry is the fact that their systems are changing at all.”
“Is this due to their mental Link?” asked Rhyasha.
“Almost definitely. We’ve no idea what can happen when two different minds blend so completely as theirs have. Like them, all we can do is wait and see while we record what’s happening.”
“Do you plan to do nothing at all?” asked Rhyasha.
“I don’t want to treat them with drugs because I have a feeling this is a process that must be allowed to run its course. We daren’t interfere,” said Vanna.
“We’ll monitor them both to see when these endocrine changes level out, and to make sure t
hat nothing else is happening. Apart from that, I’m afraid there is little we can do,” said Jack.
Rhyasha sat and digested this. “What you’re saying is that my son and his Leska will feel alert or tired at the same time of day.”
“Essentially, yes,” said Vanna. “Nothing more dramatic than that.”
Rhyasha nodded. “Then there is nothing to worry about.”
“Nothing that we can see,” agreed Vanna.
“Apart from the change in Carrie’s eyes.”
“Clan Leader, Carrie can heal. Not every time, but sometimes. I think like you that she identified so much with Kusac that for an instant she appeared Sholan. She can make tissue regenerate, I’ve seen her do it. Perhaps she used this Talent to change her eyes. Who knows? Probably not even Carrie. It’s one of those things about which we may never find an answer.”
“Thank you, Vanna, you’ve set my mind at rest. Now I must go. I intend to remain on board the Khalossa for some days to continue the treaty negotiations here rather than planetside on Keiss. If there is any more news, please make sure I’m informed.” Rhyasha stood up and took her leave of them.
*
Vanna was in the general medical area when the survivor of the crashed scouter was brought in. She glanced at him in passing, then stopped.
“Hey!” she called out to the orderlies who were taking him to one of the emergency treatment rooms. “Wait a minute!”
They stopped, the floater bobbing gently between them. “Yes, Physician?”
She ran over to them and looked closely at the male lying unconscious under the bloodstained cover.
“I’ll see to him,” she said abruptly. “Take him up to my lab.”
“But, Physician…”
“I gave you an order,” she said.
“Very well, Physician,” the orderly said, turning round to tow the floater toward Vanna’s lab.
*
Tallinu came round as Vanna finished spraying his thigh with sealant.
“Are you in pain?” she asked, binding a dressing over the wound.
“My shoulders,” he said, his voice barely audible. “I fell through the trees. And my leg.”
Vanna loaded her hypo and gave him a shot in the arm, then sat down beside him.
“I want to know exactly what you were doing in that crashed scouter, Kaid,” she said.
He lay there silently.
“Don’t try to play dead with me. I know you’re conscious, I can tell by your readings on the telemetry comm. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t call Security, Kaid. Or is it Tallinu?” she asked, dangling his ID tag in front of him.
“Don’t call Security,” he said, eyes flicking open. Slowly his head turned to face her. “Was I the only survivor?”
“Yes. The other three died in the explosion.”
The tension went out of his face. “Gods, I feel like shit,” he groaned. “What’s the extent of my injuries?”
“I’m still waiting for my answer, Kaid, or whoever you are,” she said, her voice taking on a hard edge.
“It’s Kaid Tallinu,” he said tiredly. “You’re Garras’ companion, aren’t you?”
Vanna’s ears flicked angrily. “Yes, if you need to put it like that.”
“He’ll tell you. I’m working for your friend Kusac now.”
“What?” The shock was evident in her voice.
“Ask Garras,” he repeated. “Your turn. Tell me what’s broken.”
“You know about your thigh injury,” she said. “You’ve cracked a couple of ribs and probably have torn ligaments in your right shoulder as well as a couple of badly broken claws.”
“I have to be on my feet again today.”
“Forget it!” she said. “My patients stay put till they’re capable of getting up. Ultrasound will deal with your shoulder and help your ribs, but your leg isn’t going to support you for a couple of days.”
He swore graphically for a full minute.
“Have you quite finished?” Vanna asked in amusement.
“Yes!” he snapped. “I’ve a job to do. I’ve got to be up today.” He struggled to rise, but Vanna pushed him gently back down.
“No, you don’t. In another minute the sedative I gave you will kick in. You aren’t going anywhere for at least fifty-two hours.”
He looked at her, eyes narrowing, then gave a slight grin. “You win. If I stay put, will you get me on my feet as soon as possible?”
“What’s so urgent that you need to be up and about? What’s this job you’re supposed to be doing for Kusac?”
Kaid’s eyes began to glaze slightly, the inner lids starting to close. “Ask Garras,” he said, his words beginning to slur. “Don’t tell your friend Kusac. He isn’t to know. See Garras first.” His voice trailed off as the drug took effect.
Chapter 8
Vanna had tracked Garras down to his quarters. She pressed the chime and waited impatiently for him to respond. The door slid back.
“Vanna!” said Garras, surprised to see her. He stood aside for her to enter. “I thought you were on duty.”
“I’ve been permanently attached to Kusac’s staff,” she said, going over to one of the easy chairs. “I’m on call, not on shifts. Did you know that a scouter crashed on Keiss earlier today?” she asked abruptly.
“Yes, I heard it mentioned when I came off duty,” he said, returning to his seat. “It went down in the forest around Valleytown-exploded just after crashing. Three lives were lost. What brought it to your attention?”
“I was in the sick bay reception when the only survivor was brought in,” she said, watching his face closely.
“I hope he wasn’t too badly hurt.”
“He wasn’t, but that’s not what I’m talking about, Garras, and you know it.”
“Excuse me?” he said, looking baffled.
“You didn’t know your friend Kaid was on board?”
“My friend Kaid?” said Garras.
“He claims to be your friend.”
“Does he?”
“Garras, don’t mess me around,” she said, exasperated. “His name is Kaid Tallinu. He told me he was working for Kusac and that you would explain it.”
“Where is he?” asked Garras brusquely, leaning toward her, the polite interest gone now.
“I had him taken to my lab as soon as I recognized him.”
“Thank Vartra for your presence of mind! How badly injured is he?”
“Garras, what’s going…?”
“Vanna, I haven’t time to explain to you now. I need to know how badly he’s injured,” said Garras, cutting her short.
“A couple of cracked ribs, a puncture wound in his thigh caused by a piece of wood, and torn ligaments in one shoulder.”
Garras got to his feet. “I need to see him now,” he said, turning toward the door. “Come on.”
“It won’t do you any good,” said Vanna, getting up. “I sedated him. He’ll be out for about eight hours.”
“Why the hell did you do that?”
“Because it isn’t normal for an adjutant to be on active duty in a scouter! I know nothing about him. He could be trying to kill Carrie or Kusac for all I know.”
“Quite the opposite,” said Garras, stopping at the door. “In fact, this incident could have blown his cover. Can you bring him round so I can talk to him? I need to find out what has to be done to cover his tracks.”
“His system’s taken a hell of a beating with the injuries he’s sustained, Garras. The last thing he needs is a stimulant. And I certainly won’t give him one without knowing what’s going on!”
“Kaid’s a bodyguard. There’s likely to be a search for the missing crewman that you treated, and because he was the only survivor, they’ll want to question him about the accident. It won’t take Security long to find out he’s Kusac’s adjutant and that you treated him personally. We could all very shortly find ourselves under a cloud of suspicion. All this can be avoided if you let me speak to him.”
; She hesitated.
He reached out and took her by the shoulder. “Vanna, trust me on this. I must talk to him now.”
“All right,” she conceded. “But you realize I’m doing it against my better judgment. And I want to know what the hell he was doing on the scouter!”
*
Vanna put her hypo gun away while Garras settled himself on a chair beside Kaid.
“Kaid, it’s me, Garras,” he said quietly as his friend began to stir.
Kaid’s eyes flickered open, the inner lids still partially visible. “She’s good, that little female of yours,” he said slowly, with a wry grin. “Slipped a sedative on me, then threatened me with Security. How long have I been out?”
“An hour and a half.”
“Knew you’d bring me round. Contact Draz. Tell him code Three, Seven, Green.”
Garras raised an eyeridge. “Flying high.”
“Very. That’ll cover it. Dzaka’s on board, at the temple. Tell him, too. Next, I need to get up,” he said, beginning to move fretfully. “I’ve got to meet the Clan Leader today. It can’t wait. Speak to your female. She’s got to patch me up somehow.”
“She can speak for herself,” said Vanna coldly.
“Vanna,” said Garras, turning to her. “Do it. There’s more at stake than you want to know.”
“I’ll do it on your risk, Kaid, not mine, and only for two hours. Then I want you back here.”
“Deal. Garras, I’ll need robes. She mustn’t see my injuries. There’re some in my quarters in the Ambassadorial Suite. Where’re Kusac and his mate?”
“Here,” said Vanna.
“Good, then the Clan Leader can come to me, which should please you, Vanna,” Kaid said with a half smile. “You can keep an eye on me then.”
“Damned right I will,” she growled. “For two reasons. I know where you’re from.”
“Vanna, we’ll talk later,” said Garras, putting a hand on her arm and squeezing it gently. “Leave it till then.”
Reluctantly she nodded.
*
Kaid met Rhyasha in one of the small side rooms adjacent to Vanna’s lab. Shutting the door behind her, she turned to him. “What’s been going on?” she asked without preamble. “Your reports have been lacking much vital information. Why? You made no mention of the fact that the Terran girl was also my son’s Leska, nor more recently of the attempt on her life.”
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