Circle's End

by Lisanne Norman

  “I’m sure no one could find fault with that, Majesty.”

  “Tell Garrik. I want to be sure the apartments of Lord Nayash are as welcoming as possible. I want him to know from the start that I value his presence at Court.”

  “He’s young, would make a good ally. He’s not the sort to hold a grudge at losing his young stepmother to you, Majesty.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” said K’hedduk with a smile. “Let’s hope the gift of a sentient wife will sweeten his mood.”

  “My guards tell me she’s also pretty,” said Zerdish. “I called them while you were with the Inquisitor. She is on her way up to the harem now.”

  “Keshti’s a drone, isn’t he? Can such a sexless person as a drone really prepare a female to be an obedient and pliant wife?”

  “I believe so, Majesty,” said Zerdish. “When your brother held his open days and the Court females were all allowed to gather in his harem, Keshti was much in demand by the Lords to add to their training.”

  “Good! Good! I will go speak to Keshti now, be there when this female arrives to see her for myself.”

  Ghioass, Kuvaa’s home, same day

  Annuur the Cabbaran moved restlessly on his large floor cushion, pounding the stuffing briefly with his hoofed forelimbs. “Lassimiss been on M’zull long time, that not in dispute,” he almost snarled, wrinkling his long snout. “What to do with him now is question!”

  “Replace him is obvious,” said Azwokkus, TeLaxaudin leader of the Reformist party. “How is what we discuss!”

  “Too much discussing,” said Kuvaa, reaching for one of the vegetarian tidbits on the low table with her tripartite hoof. “Just take him, put someone reliable in place. Sand-dwellers won’t notice.” She looked across at the spindly-limbed insectoid beings.

  “Is Isolationists we worry about, not sand-dwellers,” Aizshuss, the other male TeLaxaudin present said gently.

  “Ha! Make him squeal like he is killed for Isolationists to hear, no problem then!” said Annuur. “In fact, no bad points to that idea! Him I would like to pound to dust for the damage he has done to us all with his interference!”

  “There will be no pounding, no matter how tempting,” said Elder Khassis firmly, the only female TeLaxaudin present. “His questioning will be enough to strike fear and dread into him.”

  “Kuvaa’s point valid,” said Shvosi thoughtfully, sipping her fruit juice through a long straw. “If he is just taken and instantly replaced by one of us, and death cries transmitted to Isolationists, no one the wiser he not killed by sand-dweller.”

  “Unity will know,” said Azwokkus. “How we hide this from the AI? That is the bigger question.”

  “I heading up a unit of Security for Unity now,” said Kuvaa. “Told you I would make this my work.” Her lips quirked in what was a smile for Cabbarans. “Unity itself is a good teacher. Our long-passed Elders programmed it well.”

  “Tell me you found how Isolationists hide from us,” demanded Annuur.

  “I have not found that yet,” she said regretfully. “But with help of Hunter Kusac, I can record “death” of Lassimiss.”

  Aizshuss drew his bronze spindly form upright on his cushion. “You can? How?” he demanded.

  She wrinkled her long, mobile snout. “Complicated to explain, but we need Hunter to take memories of time with M’zullians from Lassimiss and give to replacement. This we cannot do, as you know. Also, with him in sand-dweller form, if he “kills” Lassimiss, Unity will record it.”

  “Hmm, danger is Hunter really kills him!” said Shvosi, the other Cabarran present.

  “He will,” assured Kuvaa, “but briefly. Resuscitate him here we will.”

  “And how we hide all this from Unity?” Khassis asked skeptically.

  “We don’t, until we return here,” Kuvaa told her confidently. “We teleport to our isolated safe zone and hold him there. Isolationists use another method to hide their doings, but we have cooperation of Unity, as you know.”

  “It could work,” said Aizshuss thoughtfully.

  “Only plan we have after days of thought and hours deliberating today,” said Khassis dryly. “Act as soon as possible, we must.”

  “Can do it now,” said Kuvaa. “Drug I have, and Unity had teleporter pad installed here when I became a Senior member of Camarilla. Importantly, is night now on M’zull world and Hunter sleeps. Tomorrow he will move to underground sand-dweller Palace. Easier to take him from above ground.”

  “Do we know Lassimiss’ current location?” asked Aizshuss. “You become a dangerous person since your elevation, young Kuvaa.”

  “In his quarters at the Palace, alone, Unity tells me,” said Kuvaa after a moment.

  “Dangerous as befits a Security head for Unity,” Annuur responded quickly. “Training her I have been, but now you need more security yourself, Kuvaa. I lend you my family—Tirak and Mrowbay, security experts. They ensure you safe.”

  “Not necessary . . .”

  “Take them,” ordered Khassis. “Essential to all we do are you. Your loss a blow we cannot afford.”

  “That means opening up secrets to them,” objected Aizshuss.

  “If we cannot trust my Family, who can we trust?” asked Annuur sharply, raising himself up onto all fours. “Then let us do this deed now, stop the rot on M’zull from going further.”

  “A moment,” said Kuvaa, getting up, too. “Decide who replaces Lassimiss you must as I get drug and dispenser.”

  As she trotted off into her work area, the other four looked from one to the other.

  “One of impeccable trust must it be,” began Shvosi.

  “Who knows what they take on,” agreed Khassis.

  Azwokkus’ pale gray draperies stirred around him. “I will go,” he sighed.

  Annuur’s head swiveled round to look at the TeLaxaudin. “You? But you dislike conflict!”

  “In my younger days, that was not always so. As Khassis will agree, my personal arsenal is formidable. Equipped I am with knowledge and experience to handle this.”

  Khassis ducked her head in agreement. “Is true, wild he was in his youth.” A buzzing laugh accompanied her words. “Better this kept among us.”

  “I see sense in this, but Kuvaa will not like exposing her mentor and friend to this risk,” Shvosi warned.

  “Who better to keep me safe?” said Azwokkus, bringing his small hands up to his face in an expansive gesture.

  “I fetch my Family first,” said Annuur, heading for the transporter plate in Kuvaa’s atrium.

  * * *

  “Kathan help you if you’re hiding anything else from us, you dirt-grubbing rodent, Annuur!” Tirak was swearing as he materialized in the indoor woodland of Kuvaa’s home.

  What else he had to say was cut short as he took in his surroundings, ears laid back in disbelief. At his side, Manesh, hand on his newly returned pistol, was silent, as was Mrowbay.

  “Come,” said Annuur as he led the three U’Churians at a trot into the living area. “Polite you be, these are old friends and colleagues.”

  At around six feet tall, the feline U’Churians were used to dwarfing many of the Alliance races, except the Sholans whom they resembled, but neither of them were used to the TeLaxaudin. Small, with spindly stick-thin bronze colored limbs and huge eyes, they were indeed one of the more exotic known species. Rarely seen off the Prime world, Tirak was surprised to say the least to suddenly be face-to-face with three of them.

  Khassis began humming in a high-pitched tone, then her translator cut in. “Captain Tirak, a pleasure to finally meet with you. Much have we heard of you in Agent Annuur’s reports.”

  “Khassis this is, Elder female of TeLaxaudin,” said Annuur, sitting back on his haunches. “Aizshuss and Azwokkus these are. My people are Shvosi, and this,” he pointed to Kuvaa as she, hearing the strange voices, scampered ba
ck hurriedly, her small hooves beating a tattoo on the wooden portions of her floors. “This is our hostess, Kuvaa, and the one you will protect like Family.”

  “U’Churian warriors,” whispered Kuvaa in awe as she skidded to a halt. “You honor me, Annuur.”

  “Kathan’s Blessings to you,” said Tirak, saluting reflexively. “Merchants, actually.”

  Annuur snorted. “Who believes that?” he asked of no one in particular.

  How much do they know, Annuur? sent Khassis over their private mental link through Unity.

  Enough, he replied briefly. “Kuvaa works as Security head on our advanced AI here. Have reason to believe faction antagonistic to us will attempt to harm her. This must not happen.”

  “How do we know you have the right of this matter?” Mrowbay, Medic on Tirak’s ship crew asked. “Perhaps you are the ones we should guard ourselves against.”

  “Do you trust me?” asked Annuur, looking up at the three black-furred males.

  “We did,” said Manesh. “But now we find out you have more secrets than a smuggler!”

  “A whole world we knew nothing about, where our people live with you and the TeLaxaudin,” said Tirak. “Alliances with other aliens we didn’t know existed, and technology we could only dream of, and you ask if we can trust you?”

  Voices rose around them as Khassis, Shvosi, and Aizshuss began to talk all at once. Only Azwokkus and Kuvaa remained silent.

  Rising to her haunches, Kuvaa said quietly, “Do you trust the Sholan Hunter Kusac? Do you wish to protect his mate and their children, like Shaidan? We do. The Hunter is on M’zull with his warriors, trying to bring down the Emperor K’hedduk.”

  The others fell silent, letting her continue.

  “He will need help, and to give him it, we need me to work with Unity, the AI here. Others work against him, and to stop us, would do us all harm. We risk as much as them to stop the darkness of the sand-dwellers spreading over our galaxy. Will you help us?”

  “A pretty speech,” said Manesh, “but can you prove it?”

  “I’ll believe it from Kusac himself,” said Tirak after a small hesitation. “You can contact him, I take it?”

  “You hurt my sensibilities,” said Annuur soulfully, gesturing to nearby vacant cushions. “Did we not help him retake the Prime world? Were you not there target-marking for the fighters of the Touibans?”

  “Take him with us to deal with Lassimiss,” said Azwokkus. “Simpler.”

  “Us?” echoed Kuvaa, rounding on her friend, head crest dipping toward him and mobile snout wrinkling in distress. “You are going? Tell me you not replacing Lassimiss? The danger!”

  The TeLaxaudin patted her arm with his small hand. “Peace, youngster. We need me to go. I have knowledge and protections to accomplish this task. I be safe. Instantly I can transport home if trouble emerges. If not ourselves we risk for what we believe, then who?”

  “But you not field agent!” she wailed, butting her head up against him.

  “In his day, he was,” said Shvosi, nodding her head. “He can do this.”

  “Sit,” Khassis’ translator said to the three U’Churians in a tone that brooked no refusal. She pointed to a jug and three clean drinking bowls. “Your caution is good, but for now, drink, take snacks. You, Tirak, will accompany Annuur to visit the Hunter shortly. You can speak to him yourself.”

  M’zull, that night

  A damp nose snuffling in his left ear woke Kusac. With a stifled cry, he leaped out of the other side of the bed, pistol already in hand.

  “Is only me, Kusac,” said Annuur’s quiet voice from the darkness. Don’t call others, the Cabbaran warned mentally.

  “What the hell do you want now?” demanded Kusac, lowering his gun, tail lashing from side to side. “You’re lucky I didn’t shoot you, I’m in Sholan form right now. You even aware of the concept of privacy?”

  “Important this is,” said Annuur as he turned on a dim bedside lamp. “Tirak needs to talk to you.”

  “Tirak? He’s on . . .” He ground to a halt as Tirak, ears laid back and blinking in confusion, suddenly appeared beside the Cabbaran.

  “No time for that. Mission we have. Must do this tonight,” said Annuur.

  “I’m doing nothing more for you,” snarled Kusac, leaning forward to take a swipe at the Cabbaran, surprised when he actually contacted flesh and fur. “What the hell? You’re really here this time!”

  “Owww! Abuse me if it pleases you,” snuffled Annuur, sitting up and rubbing the side of his head. “But work we need to do now!”

  “I didn’t believe you could do this,” said Tirak, glancing round the room. “Is this M’zull? Are we really here?”

  “Yes. I don’t know how you got here, but you’re jeopardizing my mission by your presence! What the hell do you want?”

  “Has Annuur been helping you?” Tirak demanded. “We’ve learned a lot that’s unbelievable in the last few hours. I need to know which side he’s on.”

  “His own, like the rest of you. Where it coincides with ours, he has helped, though,” Kusac admitted grudgingly.

  “See?” said Annuur, looking at Tirak. “What I tell you? Now to business.” He looked back at Kusac. “We need to remove TeLaxaudin helping K’hedduk and replace with one of us. Tonight, before more damage he does.”

  Kusac rubbed a hand over his sleep-heavy eyes. “Hold on a minute. Where did this TeLaxaudin come from, and why is he helping K’hedduk?”

  “And how long has he been helping him?” demanded Tirak.

  “That we will find out,” said Annuur grimly. “He is member of Isolationist faction among our peoples, us and the TeLaxaudin. They wish us to isolate ourselves from you younger races. We, as Reformists, wish to help you all, as this danger to you is also danger to us.”

  Kusac digested this for a moment. The door behind his visitors opened quietly and Rezac, in Valtegan form, slid into the room.

  “What the hell?” he hissed.

  “Rezac, greetings,” said Annuur, glancing over his shoulder briefly, putting a restraining hoof on Tirak’s hand as the other reached for his sidearm. “On mission we are, to replace traitor TeLaxaudin aiding K’hedduk. Kusac’s help we need.”

  “Playing both sides against the middle, were you?” asked Rezac, coming further into the room. He nodded at the U’Churian in passing. “Tirak. No surprise to see you here.”

  “I only just found out about all this,” muttered Tirak. “Don’t include me in this conspiracy!”

  “We have good person to put in place of Lassimiss,” said Annuur. “He will frustrate K’hedduk while aiding you. Even you must see need to remove him at least.”

  Again Kusac hesitated. Granted the Cabbaran had been of some help in the past, and removing anyone helping K’hedduk with access to the tech both those races possessed was a big plus in his book, but he still had his doubts.

  “You’ll have to earn my trust, Annuur,” he said, coming out from behind the bed. “I’ll help remove this Lassimiss, but I want something in return first.”

  “Depends. What you want?” asked Annuur, the suspicion clear in his voice.

  “I need Carrie and Jo transported to our mountain base. It’s just too dangerous for them to be here.”

  Annuur nodded his assent. “That I can do,” he said, lifting a forelimb and pressing buttons on the wrist pad there. “Is done. Honorable friend Shvosi will take them now.”

  Kusac reached mentally for Carrie, sensing her surprise. He waited till he had her assurance that she and Jo had arrived safely at the base.

  “Thank you, Annuur,” he said. “We’ll help you remove this Lassimiss. Who are you replacing him with?”

  “Admirable friend called Azwokkus,” said Annuur. “Of use to you can he be when you in Palace. Plus you and he can communicate when wished. Can make yourself a niche with sand-dwel
ler Emperor by handling this awkward alien for him,” he said with a chuckle.

  “Dangerous to do that if he’s feeding false info to K’hedduk,” warned Rezac.

  “Indeed,” agreed Kusac, sitting on the edge of his bed. “So what does this mission entail? And where is Azwokkus?”

  “You need to be Valtegan,” said Annuur. “I transport you to Lassimiss’ rooms and there you overpower him using drug I give you so his arsenal he cannot activate against you. This slows him. Then you kill him using another drug injected into him. When clinically dead, we appear, take him and revive back on our world, and Azwokkus takes his place. Valtegans cannot tell difference.”

  “Sounds simple enough. Where’s the catch?” asked Rezac, staying between them and the door.

  “Catch?” asked Annuur, turning his head to look at him, crest tipping momentarily back. “No catch, except . . .”

  “Ah, now we have it,” said Rezac.

  “They’re all linked into an AI called Unity,” said Tirak. “It needs to see a Valtegan kill Lassimiss for the Isolationists to believe he’s dead, and not in Reformist custody.”

  Kusac stared at Annuur as pieces of the mystery of the voices in his mind on Kij’ik, and the Prime world, suddenly began to fall into place.

  “This AI,” he said slowly. “Can it act independently, or only through one of your two races using it?”

  Annuur’s small ears tilted forward in concern. “Why you ask?” he demanded.

  “Because something has been trying and, in part, succeeding in influencing me for some time. I sensed a network on Kij’ik and on the Prime world.” Realization hit him. “And even on your ship, the Merchanter’s Gamble, Tirak! Dammit, Annuur, is there nowhere your hoofs don’t get involved? You tried to make me let King Zsurtul die!”

  “Not us,” assured Annuur. “Nor Unity. The rot has gone further than we knew. Aware that Isolationists been interfering with you, and they are trying to trace where we are right now.”

  “It’s linked into lighting,” said Rezac. “The lights would flare, on the Kz’adul, then we’d lose time and things were changed, people went missing . . .”