"I don't entirely understand either. Vidaaquar is an ancient power. Humans awakened her. I found her. She wants me whole, my memories restored, and so she allows me to speak with you."
"Why not just kill me like you did Terem and take what you want?"
Tears slipped down Rai's cheeks. "If that's what she wanted, it would be." Graeber knew that's how little power Rai held and how it terrified her. "But Vida is pleased with me, and she feels you may be useful later. Don't make her rethink her decision. Please."
"Vessel." The melodic sound rang through his mind, and he knew it came from the other. It filled him with foreboding.
Rai shook her head. "Vida, have a moment's patience! Graeber, I will be restored. There will be a time for your concerns later."
Rai slipped her hand under his cloak, retrieving the data cube from where he'd stored it. She held it between them, the simple black box that held her past. Her memories. "Without returning them to me, what were your plans for these?" she asked aloud.
Graeber didn't utter a single word. He closed his eyes. "I'd planned to destroy them."
Rai slipped back into his mind, effortlessly. "Tell me you don't want this. Tell me you don't want Kilawren whole again."
Graeber's eyes sought hers out, and he strained against the hold she kept over his body. Rage boiled his blood, knowing whatever else laid inside that fragile shell of her mind that Kilawren was lost to him. "It was your sister's idea to neuter you like this. If I'd had my way, we would have fled and taken our chances amongst the rogue planets, far away from the eyes of the Hegemony."
"Thank you." Rai cried again, feeling the raw emotions roiling within him. "I don't know what I can give you, once Vida has her way, but there will be some room for negotiation. Surely."
But Graeber felt the emotions she tried to hide, which flowed in both directions. Rai lived and expressed herself at Vidaaquar's whim. His heart ached in response to Rai's admission.
Rai broke the bond and stepped backward, raising the small black box to her chest between both hands.
"You'll need a terminal interface to upload the data, there's one in the ship," Graeber gestured towards the cave complex.
Rai's words were once again melodious, her eyes dark as pools. "I have no need of your primitive technological assistance." Her finger pads and palms transformed and molded to the storage device's contact surfaces. It made no sound, but the flat surface lit from within, blue lights blinking as data was accessed, retrieved, and downloaded. Rai's eyes glowed throughout, and she stood stock still, digesting the massive array of information. Six hundred years of knowledge gained in mere minutes, what would that do to a psyche?
More concerning, what did Vidaaquar want with that knowledge?
When she was done, the cube crumbled to dust in her hand, never to be used again. Rai crumpled to the ground, head in her hands, shaking uncontrollably, with her eyes wide open. Graeber rushed to her, unsure of how the reintegration may have affected her.
"Graeber!" Bauleel yelled. "Don't!" He stayed his hand, looking to her and Rilte. They'd tied off the horses and approached but kept a respectful distance.
"She might not be able to control her responses right now," Rilte said. "Please, be patient. I doubt whatever is happening now will cause permanent damage, but she could destroy you in a heartbeat without even intending to."
Graeber grudgingly nodded and moved to join them. But his eyes didn't leave Rai's twitching form.
"I gather it's really her, my sister?" Bauleel asked. Graeber nodded. "But what happened to her?"
"It calls itself Vidaaquar," Graeber answered.
"It behaves like a Terror. Or a stable mutation," Rilte replied.
"Or like one of the Core," Bauleel added. "But then that's what we are. Stable mutations, with the aid of the Methuselah treatments."
Graeber crossed his arms and turned towards them. "You don't understand. You haven't been in there. It's not one of us. This is like us, of the same mettle even, but on a whole other scale. It'll squash us like ants."
Bauleel frowned and pursed her lips. "It doesn't have to be a bad thing. She could have killed you just now, and didn't."
Graeber gave Bauleel a harsh look. "Have you been reading the latest transmittals?"
"No," Bauleel replied. "I didn't want to chance anyone finding our location on a back-trace."
Graeber fished out his comm pad and handed it over, his lips pursed into a fine, thin line. "This one is secure. Read the last three days' worth of communiqués. Note the line of destruction headed directly towards us. Now that Rai's here... Rather, now that Vidaaquar is here tell me what you two make of that?"
Bauleel and Rilte scoured the logs. Bauleel paled, and Rilte rubbed his stubble down with both hands. When they were done, Bauleel handed the pad back with a look of disgust on her face.
"So many lives lost. What do you think its purpose is?" Bauleel asked.
"Per the message she sent out via Ponar at Jeweled Cove, she's here to wipe out the colony. Now she's here and whole with Kilawren's memories. But what does that gain her?" Graeber asked.
Rilte put his hands on his hips, an exasperated look on his face. "Our entire colony history, for one, even the original intent of the settlement when you set out on your mission. It gets her everything. Everything she needs to understand the human colonists, from start to finish."
All three turned to stare at Rai, whose shaking had ceased. She lay still, apparently dozing, but Graeber doubted she slept. Vidaaquar had already decreed an end to this colony. Would she seek out other human colonies as well? What had he done in handing over Kilawren's memories? What other choice had he had?
Rai opened her eyes and turned to face them. Standing up, she walked over to join their conversation. Rai moved with slow deliberation, seeming to take some care not to startle them.
Graeber studied her for outward signs of changes. "Your eyes are hazel now." No longer green. And your hair is darker, longer, as Kilawren's was, but you still have your auburn curls."
"Yes, I suppose I would look different. Although I've regained my past, I haven't given up my new parts. It's all me," Rai explained. She looked vulnerable, the alien absent again. Was that a good sign, or was the behemoth busy planning?
"How do you feel?" Bauleel asked. "I was never sure how, technically speaking, this part of the process would work, assuming we could do it. And this wasn't at all how I'd imagined it would go."
Rai gave her a half-hearted smile. "A little shaky. The memories feel like a dream, and altogether too real, and too much all at once. There's just so many of them, reintegrating it all in chronological order's hard. It'll take me time to sort it out. I'm sure Vida will have it worked out before I do."
Graeber shifted uncomfortably at that notion. "But it's all there?"
Rai's eyes met his. "Oh yes. I know who I am again. I know who the two of you are, and who you are to me. But I have no clue who you are, Rilte. However, I see Bauleel claims you for her own." To which her sister flushed. "And that's good enough for me."
"Should we call you Kilawren now?" Rilte asked.
Rai shook her head. "No, that was my old life. I've become something new. Kilawren remembers being sentenced to death by the Core. She remembers being hunted by them, and when she ran, you drew the blade across my neck," she said to Graeber.
"Like I'd have let them rip you to shreds?" His words were ice. The others had been intent on savaging her, tearing her to pieces. With a single, damning stroke he'd thwarted their butchery.
Rai nodded. "And I remember you, my sister, reviving me, and concocting this scheme to remove my memories and shift me into another form."
"It worked for a time. We kept you hidden. In your new form, you behaved differently. Mostly." Bauleel wrung her hands.
"I didn't want you to try and save me, and I should have told you that. I should have made you both let go," Rai replied. "It would have been safer for you."
Graeber swore and grabbed her by th
e shoulders. "I should have run with you then. Gone far away from all this madness. We can still run now. Everything is at the ready."
A look of profound sadness overcame Rai's features, and she tilted her head to the side. Her hand slid up to cup Graeber's face, and she pulled him into her thoughts.
A profound sense of visceral need surrounded him and images, memories of Kilawren's life, kept flashing by at random intervals. Were these remnants of the reintegration process? It took every ounce of self-control not to act on the intimacy of this moment she'd invited.
"I may have her memories, but I am no longer your Kilawren," Rai said. "She died back in that forest, and only shadow memories and reflections remain of the person you once loved."
Graeber felt profound loss at her words, knowing them to be accurate through their skin bond. "I understand."
Rai nodded, and then a flash of iridescence colored her eyes. "The Core is upon us," Rai said.
Graeber's heart skipped a beat. "We have to flee them!"
Rai shook her head. "Look, deeper." She opened a window into her depths, and he glimpsed Vidaaquar...amassing herself? Growing larger, denser. "Yes, that's correct. She's preparing for them. We have nothing to fear. Besides, I see through Vida's mind's eye that they bring weapons. They anticipated your attempt to escape and are prepared to shoot down the transport ship, if necessary. Your attempt would have failed in death."
Graeber cocked his head. "You wouldn't be coming with us?"
"Vida isn't done here yet. I am her vessel. That she's allowed me this time to talk with you all is a gift."
Graeber's temper flared. "Still, I am not okay with you being her instrument of torture."
Rai's hands dropped, and she pushed him away. "Turns out, Vida's not much of a negotiator."
"How soon will the Core arrive?" Bauleel asked.
"They've entered the town, and it hasn't come up on your scanners because they are jamming the signal. But as I said, you have nothing to fear. Vida has rewarded me by sparing you."
Bauleel moved forward and hugged Rai, and after a moment Rai responded. "Thank you." The words rushed out of Bau. "It's good to have you back. In whatever form, for however long. I'll never regret what I did, I'm just sorry for what it's cost you."
When they separated, both were teary-eyed. "No regrets, Sis. And it's not over. Not yet."
"There they are." Graeber pointed to the clouds of dust kicked up by horses coming around a corner a few blocks away. The Core moved quickly, thinking their quarry would attempt to run.
"Stay behind me. Or don't. I'm fast enough now, it won't matter. Just stay close together," Rai directed.
"I don't like you doing all the fighting," Graeber replied.
"Only because you can't stand missing a good fight," Rai smiled up at him. "But this won't be a fight. This will be a schooling. You've read the reports. I heard you talking. I doubt it will come to that, but I don't know what all Vida has planned. Regardless, I'm in no danger, and neither are you."
And somehow, Graeber took a sick form of pride in her words.
Chapter 26
Rai smiled at Graeber and the others, even as she felt Vida pushing to the surface within her consciousness. Rai caught an inkling of Vida's plan. She didn't understand it all but knew better than to fight or question.
"I'll be changing forms. Let me take the lead. Whatever I say, go with it. They seek traitors, but we will give them one of their own." Their eyes were full of questions, but soon her flesh shivered and slid, remolding and stretching into her new shape. Her hair darkened and lengthened, even her robes shifted. She shook out the kinks from the change, and couldn't help but meet Graeber's eyes, knowing he saw Kilawren in the flesh again.
"I don't miss that look on you." His voice husky, his eyes yearning for the past.
"It's just for show," she replied. Graeber shrugged. "Please remember, I may sound like me, but Vida will be in the foreground, so don't be fooled. I'd recommend you keep your distance, just in case she gets... irritated."
"Noted," Rilte replied. "We'll look pensive and intimidated by their big guns and scary threats of interrogation while forgetting you can turn them all into slime in a heartbeat."
"I don't think you're taking this seriously. Vida wants them held accountable."
"For what?" Bauleel asked.
"All will be revealed," Vidaaquar answered in melodic tones.
"And...there she went, and here they come. C'mon, all, let's look properly contemptuous." Graeber folded his arms and stepped up next to Kilawren, who shot him a questioning look. "What? Of course, I'd stand by her, your, side."
In return, Vida inclined her head in assent.
Inside of Rai, Vida waited. Her sheer power amazed, as always, and Rai felt no fear as over four-dozen riders descended upon them. At that moment, a thought occurred to her, and she initiated an internal conversation with her ever-present companion.
"Vida, why have you kept me? Now that I'm whole again, you have my memories; you have all the answers you need. Yet I'm still here, and not pushed into some small box in this 'vessel' either."
She sensed the tinkling of Vida's laughter. "Would you prefer I snuff you out?"
"Of course not! It's just, I wish to understand."
"You were not complicit in the crimes of your founding colonists. You tried in earnest to understand me, and you have served me well. Thus my boons to you and your companions."
"For which I'm forever grateful. You speak of crimes? Is this beyond the destruction of your planet?"
"It led to the destruction. Be still, child. And you will see. There is a traitor among your founders, and you were not the one."
This left Rai to ponder, and she willingly released her body to Vida. Not that fighting would have done much good, but it would have worn Rai out.
Soon they were surrounded, and by Vida's mind's eye and with Rai's knowledge, she knew five of the members were Core with about four dozen Guardians to back them up. Graeber's sister Raza, Tinker Somnu, Taessen, Cerry, and Rebea. Vida supplied these names, and knew the Guardian's names too, but didn't bother to enumerate them. The Core members dismounted and came to stand face to face with them. And why not? They weren't a threat, after all.
"It appears we have two surprises today," Chieftess Raza said. "We come here hunting down Terem, and instead we find ourselves a very much alive and well traitor. I must say brother, and Bauleel, you're keeping poor company."
"Terem is dead," Graeber replied. He gestured to the remains on the ground at the far end of the clearing. "We were able to take him down together."
A couple of Guardians dismounted, pulling out their scanners to inspect the remains. All waited in tense quiet while they crouched over the spot, focused on their readings. "It's confirmed, this is, well was, him," one of the women called out.
Rebea sighed. "That's one less worry. He did enough damage on the way here."
Vida suppressed a rumble of amusement. "Oh, they thought he'd done all that? Hadn't we'd been clear with them, Rai? Fools."
"How were you able to manage it, just the three of you?" Raza asked.
"Technically, there are four of us." Graeber motioned to Rilte. Raza stared at her brother blankly. All knew Rilte wasn't trained for fighting, and he couldn't have been of any material aid. "You shouldn't discount him, sister. His wit alone is invaluable."
Raza's eyes narrowed, and Rilte fought hard not to laugh, but Bauleel shot him a hard glance, and he regained his stoic composure.
"Many thanks, Guardian. I'm glad I am appreciated," Rilte replied.
The Core members observed them carefully, sensing something was off.
"Guardians, search the area for other threats and secure the perimeter. We intend to hold private council now," Raza informed her staff, and the four dozen Guardians formed a perimeter, leaving the group to talk amongst themselves. "And now, for this other matter before us. How long have you been keeping Kilawren in hiding, Graeber?" Raza asked.
"
I suppose it doesn't matter how long, does it, Raza?" Graeber answered. "The fact that it was done at all is damning enough, yes?"
"Indeed it is," Somnu replied. "Have you no shame for violating our group's mandate?"
Graeber grinned. "I don't live in the shadow of your shame."
"You're mad!" exclaimed Rebea, face flushed in righteous anger. "And you, Bauleel. You stand by his side, with a Technician you abducted from the Guild. Are you complicit in this act?"
Bauleel walked forward to stand next to Kilawren. "Actually, it was my doing in the first place. Your mandate was unfair, so I defied you. Graeber only helped me cover it up."
"Oh, and just to clarify, I wasn't abducted," Rilte spoke up. "I insisted on the trip. Bauleel needed the medical attention and the assistance..." His voice trailed off under the withering stares from the Core members. Bauleel took his hand in hers and gave him a reassuring smile.
"And here we thought we'd have to interrogate you to get to the truth," Cerry replied. "Instead you stand there, willing to lay it all out for us, knowing we'll condemn you all in a heartbeat. You've condemned yourselves. Except you, Rilte, we'll take you back to the Guildhall. You've done no wrong, except being led astray by this despicable lot."
"Yes," Somnu replied, looking quite solemn, "I'm afraid we have no choice. Today Bauleel, Graeber, and Kilawren must die."
"There's only one problem with that solution," Kilawren said, speaking for the first time.
Anger flared in Somnu's eyes, but he held his tongue.
"What problem?" Raza replied.
"We aren't the only traitors here," Kilawren replied.
"Oh, fancy that," Rebea said. "We came here to see if Bauleel and Graeber might be responsible for the Luna Berry taint. What do you want to bet they plan to blame it on someone else in the Core?"
Bauleel and Graeber exchanged glances, but Kilawren kept her eyes on their accusers. "There's the issue of the berry taint, but that's not what I speak of. I uncovered a threat to us, to our colony, and if the Juggernaut discover the cover up, the consequences will be grave beyond your comprehension."
Dreams Manifest Page 20