Circle's End

by Lisanne Norman

  “Tirak, you remain here for now,” said Annuur. “Guard the cell till Azwokkus sets up security. I talk to him now about it. Will get his homekeeper to bring you food and drink while you wait.”

  “Chair in here,” said Shvosi, trotting into an adjacent room to start dragging a chair out for him.

  Tirak went to her aid. “I’ll get it,” he said, picking it up and carrying it out into the hallway. “You aren’t exactly designed to go carrying chairs.”

  Annuur laughed and rose up on his hind legs to pat him on the lower chest. “That, friend Tirak, is why we are Family,” he said. “You do the jobs we cannot.”

  Ghioass, Camarilla chamber, later that day

  Azwokkus sat on his cushions in the Reformist area of the Camarilla’s main hall. It was still daylight and the windows were tinted to protect those inside from the glare of the sun. He sat quietly, watching the literal hum of activity from among those in the Isolationists’ camp.

  “It will be amusing, will it not, to see if they say anything,” said Aizshuss.

  “I think they will not be so bold,” murmured Azwokkus as Kuvaa came trotting over to take her place among them.

  “All has been arranged as you wished,” she said quietly, making herself comfortable on her sloping padded seat. “Ayziss was with Kouansishus when we took him. He had to be knocked out. Likely he be conscious now and has returned to Ghioass.”

  “So we start winnowing out the bad,” said Azwokkus. “When the Hunter comes, must be ready to answer to him.”

  “Do you think our answer be good enough?” asked Kuvaa.

  “It better be,” said Aizshuss, eyes swirling as he looked into the distance to better see Shvosi and Annuur approaching. He glanced from them toward the podium and the huge screen that displayed the current potentialities.

  “Something is happening,” he said abruptly. “Look at potentialities—new nexus occurring. Who Speaker today?” He looked round, seeing Needaar, the Cabbaran Elder, moving forward to take the podium as one of the circle of U’Churian guards ringing the chamber brought forward a special padded seat for her.

  “Silence,” said Needaar, once she had arranged herself facing the hall, her voice ringing out both in her native language, and translated into the humming and clicking tones of the TeLaxaudin. “A new nexus we have suddenly, unlike any other. Must examine the potentialities, see what occurs because of this. Questions I take,” she said.

  Shumass, a TeLaxaudin of the Isolationist party, raised his arm. When he received permission to speak, he asked, “On which world is this?”

  Needaar peered at the screen, adjusting it with the controls at the podium so the small roiling mass of color that was the new nexus was centralized in the view. “Difficult to tell. Could be on either of sand-dweller worlds, M’zull or K’oish’ik,” she said. “Nkuno, your question.”

  “The identity of the nexus, can we tell it?” the Cabbaran Elder in the Reformists asked.

  “Not at this time,” she replied. “Elder Khassis.”

  The TeLaxaudin Elder got to her feet. “Can we make educated guess? Or at least know race of new nexus?”

  “Welcome you are to come and examine potentialities,” said Needaar, “but from what showing here, I cannot tell more than there is new player in this volatile situation.”

  “More information we need,” demanded Shumass, standing up, spindly arms waving in emphasis. “Someone should go to observe!”

  “Speaking out of turn are you, Shumass!” said Needaar. “You, an Isolationist, want to interfere? Who do you suggest we send to planet full of sand-dwellers? None of our races do they know, apart from their Emperor! As always, we wait for potentialities to become more clear, then we can act.”

  “Waiting is for . . .”

  “Remove the member,” said Needaar loudly, drowning out the rest of what Shumass had to say as she gestured to the nearest U’Churian guards. “Warned before you have been about outbursts! Not to be admitted until apologies can he offer!”

  Htomshu, the Elder in the Moderate party lifted her arm, waiting patiently to be noticed. Needaar nodded in her direction as the central air strove to wipe the hall of the outraged scents that Shumass was emitting as he was unceremoniously taken out.

  “Can examination of the potentialities be had?” she asked, resting back down on her cushions.

  “Certainly, Elder Htomshu. Can come up here and look now, or in own quarters examine them on a replica of this screen.”

  “Seeing now would be preferable,” said Htomshu as she pushed herself up from her nest of cushions.

  As the Elder made her way up to the podium, Zaimiss, leader of the Isolationist party entered the hall, his hand raised as his blue-and-purple draperies swirled gently around his spindly legs.

  “Leader Zaimiss, you may speak,” said Needaar, pointing to him.

  “I wish to examine potentialities, too. Not for one party this should be but all.”

  “As you say. Leader Azwokkus, would you be wanting to come up, too?”

  “Most assuredly. Intrigued we are as to new player in midst of turmoil already happening there,” said Azwokkus as he got to his feet and began to approach the podium.

  Before any of the three leaders reached the podium and the huge screen, Needaar called on Unity.

  “Unity, raise protective screen.”

  “What protective screen is this?” demanded Zaimiss as he stepped up to the podium. “Why I not hear of it before now?”

  Screen raised, Speaker Elder Needaar, said Unity as a faint glow seemed to suddenly place itself between the screen and the rest of the room.

  “You hearing now,” said Needaar. “Screen ordered by Unity’s security. It prevent any interference with potentialities while we wait for resolution on M’zull to play out as per will of Camarilla.”

  “I hear of it only now, too,” said Htomshu, “but I applaud foresight of member who ordered this.”

  Kuvaa raised herself on her forelimbs before sitting back on her haunches and stepping off her chair. “I, security agent for Unity, ordered this. Vital no one interfere with potentialities at this time. When crisis over, protective screen will be removed so changes to potentialities can be made.”

  “I object!” said Zaimiss. “Who you to decide when potentialities can be altered?”

  “I am will of Camarilla, Security for Unity. Camarilla voted on outcome on M’zull. Now, only days away from resolution, no one can be allowed to interfere. I see Camarilla’s will be done,” she said, bowing her head to the assembly.

  “Decision taken with quorum of Elders,” said Needaar. “Has precedence, happened in past when waiting for Camarilla decision to play out. Matter is now closed. If you wish to examine screen and potentialities, Elder Leader Htomshu, Leader Zaimiss, and Leader Azwokkus, please step forward and do so. If not, return to seats.”

  All three leaders stepped up to the screen and peered carefully at the swirling nexus of colors.

  “It’s growing,” said Azwokkus, tapping the protective screen. “Not fast, but it is growing.”

  “Wasn’t there a secondary nexus before today?” asked Htomshu. “Smaller than this one?”

  “Kuvaa, you know this better than the rest of us,” said Needaar. “Come to podium.”

  Kuvaa made her way along the plant-lined path up to the podium, her small hooves tapping out the rhythm of her steps. Once there, she sat down on her haunches by the screen.

  “Beginnings of this one I think it was,” she said. “Difficult to tell as not always there. Came and went.”

  “Surely that is impossible,” said Htomshu.

  “Unlikely, not impossible,” corrected Kuvaa. “Yet it happened. Potentiality building in nexus person, then dissipates as they take no action. Builds again till we have situation like this.”

  “How we know this is same o
ne?” demanded Zaimiss.

  “We don’t,” said Kuvaa. “This is all potentialities, what most likely to happen, not what will, or must happen. You know we deal not in probabilities, but in possibilities of the future.”

  Needaar nodded. “Kuvaa speaks the truth. We all know we look at possibilities of how future will unfold, and adjust it to get best possible outcome. Nothing, even what we arrange, is definitive, only prospective.”

  “Then all we can do is monitor the situation,” said Htomshu, turning to walk back to her seat.

  “This is so,” agreed Needaar. “If there is any further change to this or the main nexus, then you will all be notified and we will convene again here.”

  “I expect to be informed immediately,” stated Zaimiss, exuding the scent of imperiousness.

  “Then best you set one of your people to keep watch on the potentialities!” snapped back Azwokkus. “Phratry Leader Kuvaa has much to do, more than just sitting watching screens for us!”

  “Phratry Leader Kuvaa will report what she sees when she has time to do so among her other duties. This meeting convened by her contacting me with changes in nexus. I remain Speaker for the next several weeks should you need to call for a meeting to be convened. Any other business to be discussed?” She looked round the hall, but despite some low muttering from the Isolationist enclave there was no one claiming her attention. “Then meeting is closed,” she said.

  M’zull Palace, same day

  “I’m sick of pretending to be ill,” Kusac hissed, pacing back and forth in his bedroom. “Enough is enough! I can’t even go to see Carrie and Kaid in the mountains in case someone comes from K’hedduk to inquire about my health! Today I am well, even if it means I am at risk again. Has Rezac closed down his mission as Lord Lorishuk? Is he back at the mountain?”

  “You know he is, Captain,” said Cheelar soothingly. “He’s ready to come here with Noolgoi and Noi’kkah as soon as you are ready to discuss the details of the next raids.”

  “Besides, you were ill,” said M’yikku. “You did have a fever.”

  “Only for one day! I just overdid it on the last mission. I need to get out and see what has happened in my absence from the Court.”

  “We have kept you posted,” said Cheelar. “The main thing that’s happened is that K’hedduk has had that device dragged up out from the labs to the main courtyard above ground.”

  “I want to know why he did that.”

  “Best I could find out is so he can destroy it,” said M’yikku.

  “We can’t let him do that! We need it to accept the Ready signal from the nanites, then to switch them on!”

  “How robust is it?” asked Cheelar.

  “Pretty strong. According to Annuur, this is a machine that got lost thousands of years ago in hyperspace. It was finally found and given to the M’zullians to help their war effort,” said Kusac.

  Cheelar grinned. “Then hopefully it can’t be blown up and the TeLaxaudin can come get their missing matter transformer back. Or the Touibans can claim it as war plunder. I bet they are itching to get their hands on it.”

  “That’s a certainty,” nodded M’yikku.

  “I need to try and persuade K’hedduk not to blow it up,” said Kusac. “You’re missing the point here—any damage to it and the Cabbarans’ plan goes up in smoke with the matter transformer!”

  There was silence. “How do we do that?” asked a chastened Cheelar quietly.

  “I have no idea right now because I’ve been stuck in this room for the last two days! Now let’s get out of here and see what we can find out,” said Kusac, opening his bedroom door and stepping out into the hallway.

  “Can you at least stop for breakfast first?” asked M’yikku, hurrying after him.

  “Yes! Maalash, tell Laazif we want breakfast served in the dining room now,” he said, heading left at the junction down to the dining room and the main door.

  * * *

  As they were eating, a message came in from the Emperor, demanding his presence. “Time I reported in to him,” said Kusac. “Tell the messenger I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  Laazif nodded and withdrew to deliver the message.

  Kusac pushed his chair back and checked to make sure he was presentable. As they headed out of the dining room, Cheelar grabbed Kusac’s cap along with his own and handed it to him.

  “Thanks,” said Kusac as they swept down the corridor then out into the main passageway for the Palace.

  * * *

  “Well, at last you are back to duty,” said K’hedduk, his tone irritable. “I expected you to be up and about before this!”

  “Majesty, I apologize for my illness, but it was unavoidable. I am fit and well again, and at your service.” He bowed deeply, tucking his cap under one arm.

  “You know this Zsadhi struck my temple, don’t you?”

  “Yes, Majesty. My aides informed me of that once I was well enough. May I see what he did?”

  “The damage has been reversed, and there is nothing left to see now,” said K’hedduk harshly. “More than ever, I’m sure it isn’t one person. It must be a group of people.”

  “I’m sure you’re correct, Majesty. There’s been just too much damage on each raid for one person to achieve in such a short time.”

  “It’s also a question of how the damage is being done,” said K’hedduk, getting up and resting his hands on his desk. He glanced at Zerdish, standing behind and to the side of him. “If I was a superstitious person, like the vast majority of M’zullian workers and soldiers, I would suspect that there were supernatural powers at work here. Even we cannot melt stone the way they can, and diorite is one of the hardest stones to carve!”

  “I doubt there are supernatural powers at work, Majesty . . .” began Kusac.

  “Then there is the fire at your father’s funeral, with flames reaching high into the sky. Another almost supernatural act!”

  Kusac waved his free hand helplessly. “I really don’t know what to say, Majesty. I am sure there is a rational explanation for these events. We just need to find it.”

  “No! You just need to find it,” said K’hedduk. “I tasked you with finding this Zsadhi person, or group. What progress have you made?”

  “We closed down all the print shops before I took ill, Majesty. Have there been any other attacks or desecrations since I’ve been ill?”

  “ You should know the answer to that question, not me!” K’hedduk hissed angrily.

  “Apologies, Majesty. I meant to say there have been no incursions since then, have there?”

  “One,” said Zerdish. “Three days ago. A paint factory for fighter craft. The damage was substantial.”

  “Ah, I hadn’t yet been informed of that,” Kusac said apologetically. “I hear that there is a piece of equipment you found in one of the labs that has been taken to the surface?”

  “Yes. What of it?”

  “It might be connected to the people doing the Zsadhi attacks. I’d like to have a look at it.”

  “How could it possibly be connected to that?” demanded K’hedduk angrily.

  “I don’t know. That’s why I want to look.”

  “My best scientists have tried to make the damned thing work to no avail! What makes you think you can have any effect on it?”

  “Were they looking to see if there was any way it could be responsible for the melting stone?”

  “No.” There was just a note of hesitation in K’hedduk’s voice now.

  “It wouldn’t take long for me to look at it. Perhaps there was a detachable part of it that someone in the Palace knows how to use. A quick study of it could tell me that. Now that it’s out in the open, having it guarded by security cameras might be a good idea, to see if anyone comes up to examine it in the night.”

  K’hedduk straightened up and placed his hands beh
ind his back. Kusac could sense a newfound confidence seeping into the M’zullian’s mind. He was thinking that he knew it was an alien device, and just perhaps the alien left behind after the raid knew something about it that he didn’t.

  “It’s possible there is more to be learned from that object. I’ll give you two days to come up with some answers before I decide whether or not to dispose of it.”

  “Thank you, Majesty. I’ll get right on it,” said Kusac, bowing and backing his way out of the Emperor’s office.

  I got two days, Kusac sent to Rezac and Kaid.

  L’Shoh’s realm

  L’Shoh met Ghyakulla and Vartra by his throne and led them to the suite of rooms he had beyond it. A fire blazed cheerily in the hearth, and heavy crimson drapes shut out the perpetual howling of the wind.

  He gestured to them to be seated, then offered them a drink from a tray.

  “Fruit juice for you, Ghyakulla,” he smiled. “I haven’t forgotten your preferences, and a good red wine for you, Vartra. One from the Western Isles, I believe. I think you’ll like it.”

  Vartra accepted the glass with a nod and tasted the wine. He wasn’t a connoisseur, but it was pleasantly rich and fruity.

  “Why are we here?” he asked L’Shoh.

  “We,” L’Shoh indicated himself and Ghyakulla, “need your help. It’s time you took a hand again in the affairs of our people.”

  “Who this time?” he asked sardonically. “Kusac or his children?”

  “Both. We almost lost control of him during his last mission in the temple. He suffered a high fever caused by pitting his mental will against ours. I don’t know if we can maintain our influence much longer.”

  “So you want me to do what exactly?”

  “Be with him, ease the way on this mission to the harem. It’s essential we have him hit the harem to further destabilize K’hedduk. He will see it as another personal insult to him. We need Kusac to phase in and out of almost Sholan form so he appears as a black-skinned Valtegan to the females of the harem.”