Really, the place was beautiful. Breathtakingly so.
So much so, it almost didn’t look real.
I remembered reading somewhere that real beauty blanks out our minds, causes our brains to stammer. I felt a bit like that as I looked around at our fairytale surroundings.
Below the waterfall, another cave stood, that one seemingly dry, although I could see the edges of the pond creeping up to its main entrance. Only a narrow path led into the darker depths beyond where the daylight reached. Green plants hung down over its entrance in a thick curtain. I might not have seen it at all, if not for the bonfires burning inside, illuminating yet more bodies huddled by their warmth.
It struck me suddenly, that Nik was right.
A heck of a lot of people had come with us on this little jaunt.
As soon as the thought hit me, I turned to Nik again, my mouth pursed.
He caught my gaze warningly, though, and I firmed my lips still more, swallowing what I'd wanted to ask. I saw him looking at the same things I’d been noticing, though, and realized he'd already come to his own conclusions about the small morph colony that lived by the gate.
I rubbed my goggles with gloved hands, gazing up at the gate itself.
The inside arch stood at least twenty-five to thirty feet high on its own. The outer edges probably reached closer to forty. The stones all looked roughly the same size and were flat and smooth, making the gate appear like a giant, smooth-skinned puzzle.
I was still staring up when Nik approached me on my other side.
I rubbed my goggles again to get the excess water off, feeling my worry intensify when I saw the determination in Nik's expression.
"Are you ready?" he asked softly.
Before I could answer, Nihkil made a subtle gesture with one hand, squeezing my shoulder with his other. Without understanding either thing specifically, I definitely got that he didn’t want me to answer aloud. Frustrated, I nodded shortly, catching Razmun staring at the two of us in the same set of seconds.
He walked right up to us before I could decide what to say to Nik.
"Yes... are you ready, Dakota?" Razmun said, his words a mocking echo of Nik’s. Even so, I heard the irritation underneath. “...I, too, would like to know.”
"I might be," I retorted, letting my own irritation be audible. "Maybe you could tell me exactly what it is I’m supposed to be ready for.” Clenching my jaw, I looked between Razmun and Nik. "What are you planning here, exactly? Send Nik through the gates to find your new morph paradise? Or does that come later? After you've used his maps to taunt the humans a little longer, maybe blow up a few more of their cities?"
Razmun chuckled, glancing at Nihkil.
"I like her, Jamri,” he said, clapping Nik on the back. “I don’t know that I would ever pick a human myself, not for a real mate, but even I can see why you chose her."
I bit my lip, fighting the part of me that wanted to express my nerves as fury. I looked at Nihkil, maybe thinking that would help, but he was focused on Razmun.
To his credit, Nik seemed only mildly annoyed by the other’s words.
"What is the plan... comrade?" Nik said. "Is she right? Do you want me to gate-shift for you? Find you a suitable world? I hope you don’t mind me saying that I’d still prefer not to join you in this morph-only paradise. Particularly if it’s not one that is conducive to my lock-mate remaining alive."
Razmun looked at me.
For the first time, the look he gave me held an open resentment.
“The lock is remarkable, is it not?” he murmured, his eyes darkening as he stared between us. “Already, my old friend is ready to disown his entire species for his mate.”
Still frowning, Razmun tore his eyes off me, looking directly at Nihkil.
“...I am thinking you will not have to do much exploring for us, Jamri,” Razmun said, his voice flat. “In fact, I am thinking you might have a few possibilities in mind already.”
I felt Nik stiffen a little, even as he stepped more directly in front of me.
If Razmun noticed, it didn’t show on his face.
“...I also have a few ideas of my own, Jamri,” Razmun said. “I am hoping that between the two of us, we can find a reasonable compromise. A place where morph can live in peace. Perhaps one where your mate would be happy, too. A place where none of us need worry that our children, or our children's children, will be treated as domestic animals by a lesser species.” Razmun looked darkly at me. “Or a lesser subset of either species... if you prefer.”
Nihkil glanced at me.
After I’d studied his expression, I found myself thinking Razmun was right.
Nik would definitely have a few ideas about where they could relocate the morph.
Remembering what Nik told me about how badly he’d wanted his freedom before all this, I found myself even more certain. Nik would have examined other worlds with an eye to escape. He’d probably seriously considered it during a few of his scouting shifts... and probably thought about it in even more detail between them.
Maybe he’d even planned it all out. Maybe he’d just been waiting for the right set of circumstances to put things in motion.
In any case, Nik would have assessed every single one of those worlds with the morph in mind, no matter what surveys the humans ordered him to conduct. I wondered if he’d ever truly given up that hope, no matter what he said about how discouraged he’d gotten over the years, or how submissive he’d seemed around his human owners.
According to Razmun, and even Mai-rhani, Nik had changed when he attached his lock to me.
I couldn’t help wondering just how much he’d changed.
Had tying himself to me been an act of desperation, too? Had he willed it to happen, as a means of escaping from the Pharei, like they all thought?
Or had it been just another of life's little ironies, where you get thrown a lifeline... or a lit fuse... right when you're about to throw in the towel?
In any case, I figured Razmun was right about Nik.
He would have fantasized about a world where he could be free, probably often enough to have a whole scenario built up in his head. It would be the only way someone like him could avoid losing his shit entirely.
Besides, the way I figured it... everyone needed a story about freedom.
Otherwise we’d all just go nuts.
As if he felt that, too, Nik clutched my hand tighter.
"Ah," Razmun said, looking between us. That time, his bitterness seemed to shift into a more critical humor. "Young love. It has its advantages, I suppose... even for me. Clearly, even she knows you well enough to know I am right, Jamri. She knows you are an idealist at heart. She also knows you are not as weak as you like to pretend...”
I almost thought Nik might argue with him.
Even as I thought it, though, I felt that fire in his chest die down. Nihkil seemed to see any argument with Razmun as pointless.
"I know of some worlds," Nik said with a short exhale. "But Razmun," he cautioned. "All of the ones I know are known by the humans, too."
“The Pharei?”
Nik gave him an impatient look, as if seeing through the question. “Or the Malek,” he said.
“Then you have seen the Malek maps, Jamri?”
“Once, yes,” Nik said, giving him another of those impatient stares. “Just as you did, as General Advisor Ledi.”
Razmun nodded, his expression unsurprised. "Well, then we might have to find our own world, Jamri. In the event that the human powers find another gate."
“Unless they find this one,” Nik said, looking around the clearing. “This is not entirely... discreet. They will have the imprint from the last few shifts, after we leave. Or did you plan to have me jump a number of times on my own, to obscure the trail after you’ve left?”
I tensed, glancing at Razmun at Nik’s words. That possibility hadn’t occurred to me.
But yeah, it made a lot of sense.
Before I could get too wound up a
bout it, Razmun shook his head.
“No, Jamri. You are far too valuable for that.”
“But you will have someone do this?” Nik pressed.
“I have... another idea,” Razmun said. “We can discuss this once we decide on a final destination.” The morph’s smile grew wider. “Unlike you, I have had the luxury of ordering gate-shifts for the purpose of finding us a home. So I may have some alternatives we could try.”
Nik glanced at me again, frowning.
“Human-friendly alternatives?” he said to Razmun.
Razmun shrugged.
I found his non-answer really damned not reassuring.
"Do not worry, my friend," Razmun said. "I will not put your mate in danger. What I want from you is really very simple. If possible, you will verify for us whether or not this gate contains worlds you know existed via the gates that existed on Trinith or Udael.”
Glancing at me, Razmun made a vague gesture with one hand.
“...You will then accompany us to a staging site, Jamri, where we might conduct explorations without undue fear of interference. You will also, if it is possible and practical, provide us with a number of recommendations as to where we might go to begin a new, hopefully permanent morph colony, based on criteria that we have already outlined, along with any recommendations you might wish to add yourself, Jamri.”
Making an expansive gesture towards the gate, Razmun gave me a faint smile.
“...You will then accompany me and some in my team to scout the best choices of your, no doubt, considerable list of possible sites,” Razmun said. “Once we have made our final decision, a number of us will then return to the staging area to lead the rest of our people to this new, permanent colony site, including those who are unable to jump unaided."
When Razmun trailed that time, Nik’s eyes bored into his.
“Then what?” Nik said.
Razmun gave a slight shrug and a mock frown.
"Then you may live your life, Jamri,” he said. “Wherever, however and with whomever you choose.”
"What makes you think you can do all of this without the humans stopping us––” Nik began, but Razmun cut him off smoothly.
“––As I said, we will not base our work here, Jamri. As you have no doubt surmised, that means we will gate-shift somewhere else, first. As a group.”
Nik stared at Razmun, his expression stone. I followed his stare, but I could tell Nik understood something about Razmun’s words that hadn’t quite clicked for me yet.
Whatever it was, it infuriated him.
"Following our relocation to that temporary base," Razmun continued, as if he hadn’t noticed either of our expressions. “...We will destroy the stability of this gate, to discourage the humans from finding us, or from sending groups of their gate-shifters after us. We will do so with timed explosives, so that we don’t have to leave any of our own people behind.”
Razmun gave Nik a harder look, one that contained an open scrutiny.
“It is risky, of course, to do this,” Razmun added, his voice holding a distinctly final note. “...But I feel it is an acceptable risk. I would hope you would understand our need to be very thorough on this point, Jamri... so that we don’t find ourselves collected by supernaturals to be returned to this dimension and tortured, enslaved and eventually killed... along with all of our children and other innocent passengers.”
I glanced at Nik. His face had darkened several shades more.
“What about those you leave behind?” Nik said. His voice shifter lower, holding an anger on the surface. "Will you really leave them here, with no way out? To bear the burden of the humans’ need for gate-shifters and reproductive mates alone?”
"Oh," Razmun said lightly, as if Nik hadn't spoken. “...And we will take your breeding mate, Dakota, with us, every step of the way, Jamri. So you needn’t fear for her safety. She will come with us to ensure your cooperation in helping us to survey worlds. She will also come with us on actual scouting missions, so that you are less likely to try anything ‘noble’... like jumping us into an atmosphere or a planet that might kill me and my good friends, for example.”
Giving Nik a meaningful stare, Razmun went on in a lighter voice.
“...She will also stay with us in our final, chosen destination, Jamri,” he said. “To discourage you from getting any ideas about coming back... to perhaps rescue these morph and hybrid traitors of whom you seem so fond. Given that a fair percentage are likely your own offspring, I suppose I understand, Jamri. But it is a risk I simply will not take. I cannot have you leading the humans to our new colony... intentionally or not.”
Razmun’s eyes grew a touch colder above the smile.
"There will be rescue attempts, of course,” Razmun added, softer. “But you will not be leading these, old friend. Not until your allegiance can be demonstrably proven reliable... which would require you to give up your current lock mate, I’m afraid. Something you don’t strike me as particularly willing to do... at least not without significant loss on both sides. I know you’re more than capable of killing yourself just to spite me, Jamri.”
Pausing a moment longer, Razmun waved a hand towards me, that cold smile still on his face.
“So, you understand my need to keep Dakota alive and well for you, Jamri?” he said conversationally. “Let me make it even more clear... so there is no confusion later between us. If you decide to balk at any point in this very, simple process, I will have at my disposal a variety of persuasions that should be more, shall we say... expedient... than the more conventional inducements I might offer you, Jamri."
He paused, as if letting the meaning of his words sink in more thoroughly.
"Yes," he added softer, his eyes flickering again towards me. "I think I can say with all certainty that you and your mate would not enjoy these motivational tools at all, Jamri. Not if I am reading you correctly, in terms of your affection for this mammal of yours... and how little you would enjoy seeing her abused, especially considering the various forms we might take to intensify the experience for both of you."
Nik didn't move, but I saw his face turn back to stone.
I couldn’t see anything in it now. It’s like he’d blanked the screen.
His eyes flickered briefly in my direction, but I could tell he deliberately didn't let his gaze linger there, either. Still, I felt an anger through the link that I'd never felt on him before.
It made the blankness of his face more disturbing, somehow, given the intensity I could feel heating my chest.
"Jamri?" Razmun said, his voice holding a less-veiled warning. "Are we understanding one another, my friend?"
"How many?" Nihkil said, not meeting his gaze, but looking instead at the high, stone arch of the gate. "How many will we bring with us, to this staging area?”
"Everyone here, Jamri."
Nihkil gave a wry smile.
That time, his eyes met mine. I frowned in return, even as I gave Razmun a faintly incredulous look, glancing around the clearing and the surrounding trees.
It had to be over two hundred people, at least.
"You want to take that many through the gate?" Nik said. "On the first shift?"
Razmun's eyes didn't move. "We do things as a group here, Jamri,” he said. “Everyone gets a vote. You will, too, once we can be more certain of your loyalties... as will your mate. We’ve already voted on the particulars I outlined to you just now. Including which location we would use as a staging site... and the best way to protect ourselves following the first gate-shift out."
"Everyone involved understands the constraints?” Nik said. “As well as the fact that they are unlikely to see this dimension again, even if the humans manage to stabilize another gate?"
"It has been explained to them, yes," Razmun said, still watching Nihkil's face. "You must think little of me, indeed, to imagine it wouldn’t have been,” he added, softer. “Perhaps you underestimate just how much most of our people would risk, to start a new life for themselve
s and their children, away from human enslavement?”
Nihkil glanced around the clearing, blinking behind the rain goggles he wore.
“Are we going to have any problems, Jamri?” Razmun said. “I need your answer.”
"Why would there be problems?" Nik said coldly, returning his gaze to the other morph. “...When your instructions are so very clear, my old friend?"
Razmun just looked at him for a moment.
I expected some kind of remark or reaction to Nik's dig, but Razmun, uncharacteristically, stayed silent. I found myself thinking that more than a thread of nerves lived in his eyes as he continued to watch Nik's face, as if trying to decide if he'd pushed him too far.
I found myself thinking that he probably had.
Pushed Nik too far, that is.
I just wasn't sure what that meant... for any of us, really.
29
THE THIRD GATE
THE SKY HAD already grown pitch black by the time Razmun announced he was ready to take us to the staging world on the other side of the gate.
Razmun hung over Nik the whole time they prepared to leave, I noticed.
He also seemed to be pushing for us to leave as soon as possible.
Of course, I wasn’t surprised at all that Razmun didn’t want Nik controlling the shift.
I was a little surprised, though, when Razmun announced he would be doing the shift navigation himself.
After all, they didn’t need him to do it.
They’d already ID’d and mapped that first jump thoroughly, from what Razmun told us. Really, any of their trained gate-shifters could have gotten us there just fine... and a part of me figured Razmun would want to save his shifts for when they scouted a permanent location. He seemed like the type who’d want to plant the flag first. From my research, I now knew that being the one to control the shift was the draining part.
Anyone else could tag along on a shift without it affecting their shift count, or their health.
Well, anyone morph.
Most humans died during tag-alongs, too.
I could only suppose Razmun fancied this as some kind of historical moment, too, leaving the human scum behind to their universe and their worlds. Given that, he probably wanted his name attached to as much of it as possible.
The Morph (Gate Shifter Book One) Page 42