Circle's End

by Lisanne Norman

  Kaid! The Zsadhi killed Tashraka! Gods, I am not going to even fight her, let alone kill her!

  You may have no choice, sent Kaid his mental tone heavy with sorrow. We cannot let the M’zullians continue in their desire to reconquer the known galaxy. They have to be stopped once and for all. There’s more at stake than just us. I’m sure we’ll be able to stop her,

  Kaid heard his mental howl of desperation as if he was in the cave with him. There was nothing he could say or do, no more comfort he could offer.

  Abruptly Kusac’s presence vanished as he returned to the city.

  Mountain village

  “Shazzuk, we need to mobilize every male who can hold a weapon to find Carrie,” Kaid said. “It may mean going to the city because we believe she is headed there to see the Emperor.”

  “Of course, we’ll help. I personally think this business of legends coming to life is all very questionable. There is no reason why Tashraka should be here now, even if your friend is the Zsadhi.”

  “To stop us from beating the Emperor,” said Kaid. “The plan we have is bigger than you can imagine. Yes, we are running raids and leaving Zsadhi leaflets and graffiti all over the places we hit, but more is happening.”

  “What more is happening?” Shazzuk gave him a perplexed look and waited to hear what he had to say.

  “We need to talk in private,” he said.

  Shazzuk searched his face, then nodded and led him back into his house where the other villagers couldn’t see or hear them.

  “You know about alien races, don’t you?” asked Kaid. “I mean, that they exist? That there is a Prime world where your species originated from?”

  “We know this, and about the slave races.”

  “Well, today those slave races and some others are hell bent on stopping your world from reforming the old Valtegan Empire.”

  “I can understand this. What is your point?”

  Kaid took a deep breath and turned off his chameleon suit, revealing himself as a Sholan. “I’m not a Valtegan, Shazzuk, I’m a Sholan. We were the last slave race, and the one that caused the Valtegan Empire to fall.”

  With an exclamation of shock, Shazzuk backed away from him until he hit the wall. “How many of you are there here?” he asked. “Are you all Sholans? I know Nayash is one.”

  “Not all of us, and we’re not your enemies. We need to stop the M’zullians who are the warrior and officer castes. We’re trying to bring about a situation where all your people can be like you in the mountains—one caste, not three.”

  Shazzuk put his hand up to his forehead, rubbing it as a frown creased his face. “How can you possibly do this?”

  “Let me turn my camouflage suit back on,” he said, activating it again. “I can’t deal with the whole village suddenly knowing what we are right now. We have allies who will help us by taking the warlike natures away from the warrior and the officer castes, and by allowing the females to move freely again in your society.” Kaid could feel and see some of the fear and tension leave the other’s body as he continued to talk.

  “How?”

  “I don’t know the details, but you will be able to ask them for yourself. Nayash wants you to take on the role your ancient forefather had, that of Governor. Your world will need wise rulers to replace the folk like K’hedduk, your current Emperor.”

  Shazzuk looked behind him for a chair and moved to the nearest one, sitting down heavily. “I can’t take this in at the moment, Kaid,” he said, his voice strained as he shook his head. “We have to find Carrie right now. If she reaches the city first, and tells K’hedduk about us, we’re as good as dead. You’re as much at risk as we are. Let’s leave the rest until after this is over.”

  Kaid nodded. “As you wish. Let’s get moving.”

  M’zull Palace, Kusac’s apartment

  Back at the apartment, Kusac tried to calm himself. He’d been without his link to Carrie before. He could cope with that side of things. What he refused to cope with was reliving some Valtegan legend that meant he had to fight his wife to the death! Dammit, Tashraka hadn’t been Zsadhi’s wife, the good sister Ishardia had been. She’d been the one burned at the stake.

  If he could get the damned matter transformer working now, then perhaps with all the M’zullians unconscious, whatever had Carrie in its grip would loosen it once there was no clear enemy and all memories were wiped out. It was all he had that he could try.

  Despite the fact that Kaid had said he’d contact him, Kusac called Annuur on the translocator.

  “Have you heard from Kaid?” he asked.

  “Yes. Sorry I am to hear of your predicament. Nanites now ready as far as can tell from last update. Need matter transformer working to be able to signal them. Working on fix we are.”

  “Work faster, dammit!” he snapped at the hologram. “I will not fight my wife, Annuur!”

  “Then do not. Keep distance from K’hedduk till nanites work and all are unconscious.”

  “Not possible. If she goes to K’hedduk, then my life and those of my team are all at risk. We have to fight back or die.”

  “Will work on it,” assured Annuur before vanishing.

  * * *

  Outside in the concourse leading to the inner grand courtyard, all was chaos as priests came running out of the Throne Room yelling about the deaths of not just their fellow priests, but also of their Head Inquisitor.

  As Kusac stood in the courtyard flanked by his aides, he was mobbed by the terrified males, all demanding he do something about the deaths.

  He tried to extract himself, saying he would report the matter to Security, but they weren’t listening. Each one yelled louder than his neighbor until one of them finally grasped hold of him.

  Kusac’s temper broke and with a loud hiss of anger, he backhanded the male so hard he flew across the courtyard to tumble against another passerby.

  “Go see to your dead!” he yelled at the shocked group. “They must need preparing for their funerals! I have said I will report the matter to Security and I will. Now get out of my way!” He stormed back to the large waiting room, and from there to the security post where he reported the deaths of a number of priests and Inquisitor Ziosh.

  Heading back to his own apartment again, he told Annuur to tell Toueesut to trigger the explosions at the fleets and in the underground ship parking area. He then headed for the surface to try and find Carrie before she reached K’hedduk.

  The explosion from the outer grand courtyard was all he could have wished for. The ground trembled and shook for several minutes. Flames and clouds of smoke and debris were blasted high into the sky.

  Screaming pedestrians ran in the opposite direction or stopped to stare in horror at the chaos and damage as the dust and debris from the explosion began to fall back down on the city. Suddenly, in the middle of all this, the large view screens came to life with the broadcast Kusac had made as the Zsadhi, telling the people that the false Emperor K’hedduk would be brought down and they should turn now and fight for their own freedom from his repressive rule.

  The broadcast seemed to be on an ever-repeating loop and no matter where in the city he went, all he could see was himself as the Zsadhi telling them that their war fleets had been destroyed and exhorting the population to riot. And they were—worker rioters were everywhere, breaking into the government-owned stores and taking what they needed, causing fist fights with each other, grabbing all the food they could carry from the grocery stores.

  “Captain, it isn’t safe out here,” said Cheelar. “I know we’ve had our scents augmented so that they won’t attack us, but outside the Throne Room, they grabbed hold of you. If enough of them did that, they could have killed you! We should get under cover somewhere we’ll be safe.”

  “Where’s that?” asked Kusac tiredly, leaning against a building at the corner of the street they were on. “If Car
rie reaches K’hedduk, then our lives aren’t worth anything if we go back underground. We’re safer out here, plus there’s a chance we’ll see her.” The stress was making him feel lightheaded, giving him a pain in his chest and making it difficult for him to keep a grip on his M’zullian form.

  “The chance is slim, Captain,” said M’yikku. “Let’s at least head back to the outer courtyard where we’ve a better chance of seeing her.”

  “Lead on,” agreed Kusac.

  M’zullian Palace, K’hedduk’s office

  “What the hell’s going on outside my office?” demanded K’hedduk as the sound of raised voices and crashes penetrated his heavy door. “Zerdish, go and see!”

  Before Zerdish could reach the door, it was flung open with such force that it bounced off the wall. Standing framed in the doorway was a sight that K’hedduk found hard to believe. A Valtegan female, dressed from head to foot in archaic bronze armor—the mail shirt glinted like a second skin in the artificial light, contrasting with the solid embossed greaves and arm guards. On her head she wore a royal crown of pure gold in the form of a blue-feathered raptor. Wings cradled her skull with the tail feathers covering the back of her neck. At the front was a rearing long-necked bird’s head. In her right hand she carried a sword such as he’d only seen in history books—a bronze blade with the grip made of alternating rings of gold, turquoise, and lapis lazuli. A sword, like the armor, from his world’s far past, and one that was slowly dripping blood on his pale carpeting.

  “Which one of you claims to be the Emperor?” she demanded in a harsh voice.

  “I am,” said K’hedduk, getting to his feet. “Who in all the hells are you?”

  “I am Tashraka, the true Queen of this benighted planet,” she said. “Your people are rioting because of the raids carried out by the Zsadhi. Your Lord Nayash is the traitorous Zsadhi. He planned to destabilize your world by attacking prominent people and businesses, and creating fear and havoc everywhere. This he has succeeded in doing. His next stage is to call on his alien allies to land and take over here. Unless you leave now, you will be captured by them.”

  “How do I know you’re telling the truth?” demanded K’hedduk, looking briefly at Zerdish who was moving to his side. “Nayash is no traitor! You could be working for my enemies!”

  “You’ve seen the broadcasts,” she said, pointing to a viewing screen set against the wall. “You know he’s destroyed your three fleets and the space stations, as well as the ships stored underground here. He ensured you killed only the Generals loyal to you, not those who were traitors. I tell you again, there is no escape unless you come with me.”

  “She’s only a female,” scoffed Zerdish. “She knows nothing. How did she get free of her master?”

  Carrie took several paces into the room and pointed her sword at the other’s face. With a gesture, her blade began to glow an ominous dark pulsating red. She spun it in the air, drawing a figure eight that continued to glow after her blade was still.

  “Don’t make the mistake of underestimating me,” she hissed quietly. “I am a sorceress as well as a warrior. Those outside miscalculated and they no longer breathe. Their blood pools on the floor. Will yours join it?”

  Zerdish sneered and reached for his gun. Before his hand was anywhere near it, a knife blade was sprouting from his shoulder. He hissed in pain, hand going instantly to the wound.

  “The next one will be in your throat,” she said quietly. “Now, K’hedduk, shall we leave this place for one that is safer, or will you wait here for Nayash to come and kill you?”

  “Lead the way,” he said, coming out from behind his desk.

  Prime Palace, same day

  Shaidan knew something wasn’t right. He could feel it in every atom of his body. It was his mama this time; he was sure of it. Something was very wrong indeed with her. He had to talk to Unity, find out what was happening, and help if he could.

  Luckily, it was their morning break time when they could do what they wanted for fifteen minutes. After checking that his sister Gaylla was settled with her jegget, Shaidan headed for the library. He went straight for the secret tunnel and locked himself inside it.

  Unity, he sent, consciously using the little metal transceiver woven into his hair. I need to talk to you!

  Welcome, Shaidan. How can I help you?

  Something is wrong with my parents! Mama doesn’t feel like herself. I can sense something really wrong with her, and it’s upsetting Papa.

  How can you sense them from that far away?

  With my help, interrupted a mental voice Shaidan knew well.

  Vartra! I must go help my mama and papa!

  Indeed, you must, youngling. Unity, make it happen if you please, but protect him from the nanites or, because of his Valtegan side, he will risk being memory wiped.

  I can protect him, said Unity. What’s happening to your mama is complicated, Shaidan. An evil spirit is affecting your mother, and she is indeed threatening your father’s safety. As well as that, a device that could end this trouble has been damaged and no longer works.

  How can I help? he demanded. Send me there. There has to be something I can do to help! Tears began to form, which he brushed away with his forearm. His pelt began to bush out, and he had to fight to make it lie flat again. If he was going to help his parents, no one could know what he planned to do.

  The machine needs a bypass, something that will connect two parts of it that are working to make up for the damaged part. I can send you there to apply that bypass.

  Yes! Send me there, Unity!

  As for your mother, perhaps seeing you will be enough to dispel the evil presence.

  Trying something is better than sitting here feeling the wrongness, he sent. Let me get my knife, then you can send me to my papa and mama.

  I will have to bring you here first to get the bypass instrument and tell you what to do. I’ll also charge you with the same nanites as your father has, so you’ll not be affected.

  Let me get my knife, he repeated.

  M’zull, outer courtyard, west side

  Shaidan materialized right beside the alien matter transformer. “Thank you, Vartra and Unity!” he whispered, clutching the rod that would help fix the machine. Looking round, he saw the chaos that the underground explosion had wrought. The artifact squatted to one side of what was left of the courtyard, the very center of which had been blown to smithereens. In the distance, he could see a group of people emerging from one of the buildings that ringed the courtyard. He knew that one of them was his mama, but he had a job to do before anything else. Everything depended on him performing this bypass.

  He walked round the device quickly, finding a place where he could start to climb it. Near the bottom, where the plinth on which it stood had been destroyed, he saw the black marks left by the explosives. Down by the ground level, he could see the web there had been broken by the explosion. He needed to get up onto the top of the device and find the nearest two webs. Once there, he had to expand the small pole they had given him until it was long enough to link them together. When it was in place, the last thing he had to do was to press a switch placed on the middle of the pole to activate it.

  Finding a foothold, he began to climb slowly up the artifact. It wasn’t easy because it was so rounded that his fingers and feet kept slipping off—it was difficult to get a good grip even with his claws. Finally, he made it to the top. He reached for the pole where it was clipped to his belt. Tugging it free, he fastened one end of it over the nearest web, then began expanding it until it reached the other web some two feet away.

  A stone bounced off the artifact, startling him and making him look up. A crowd of angry looking people were standing not far from him, yelling and shouting. Another rock came sailing through the air. Shaidan ducked just in time, so it missed him. He pressed the button on the pole, then rummaged in his pocket for t
he translocator. Pressing it against the artifact, he slid back down until he was on the ground again.

  The transformer began to hum into life, lights glowing and flickering on the webs where he’d placed the bypass.

  Looking round, he got his bearings again. Slipping under an extruded limb section of the artifact, which was now warm to his touch, he found himself facing the group of people which contained his mother. Then he saw who she was with—it was Dr. K’hedduk who had birthed them from the tanks and had kept them prisoners in his lab!

  He shuddered, looking away as fear coursed through him. Fighting it, he glanced back to see that the group had stopped and were staring at him.

  * * *

  Kusac let Cheelar and M’yikku lead him back to the Palace. Their route brought them out on the western side of the open air grand courtyard, near groups of workers quarreling among themselves and pelting the now glowing matter transformer with stones.

  “Someone’s managed to bypass the damage,” said Cheelar in surprise.

  Kusac saw a small black figure sliding down the side to crouch on the ground at its feet. “Shaidan!” he exclaimed. Then, as Cheelar looked at him in surprise, he said it louder, pointing. “Shaidan’s there! Over by the transmitter!”

  “I don’t see him. Are you sure?”

  “He’s round the other side of it now. He didn’t see me.” He reached out with his mind, but the cub was focused on his task and didn’t respond.

  “Over there, look,” said M’yikku, grasping his arm. “Isn’t that . . .”

  “Carrie,” he said, looking. “With K’hedduk.” He clutched his chest. The pain was like a knife cutting at him now, making his breath come in short, agonizing bursts. He could feel his consciousness beginning to fade in and out.

  “Captain!” hissed Cheelar. “You’re doing it again, almost changing into your Sholan self!”

  “I can’t control it!” he said, falling to his knees as the change dominated his senses. He crouched there on his hands and knees, his clothing splitting and falling away as his muscles changed, grew larger, and his skin went from green to black. He tried to howl his pain, but all that emerged was a hiss of anguish.