Dana Cartwright Mission 3: Kal-King

by Joyz W. Riter

  Dana lifted her chin and countered his stare.

  March went to the third chair and sat, watching her, the eldest, face-off with the King.

  “You are perfect,” August complimented.

  “Hardly,” she contradicted. “I am no better than my siblings.” She nodded in the face of his disbelief and sank down in April’s chair to March’s left, as an act of defiance. “So you stole the records from Station Four? Those at Scanlos were incomplete. I searched, all those years, in vain.”

  August scolded her with his eyes. She knew that look. It was DOC Cartwright’s look. She ignored his expression. “I tried when I was stationed there to find out the names of our mothers, but it proved impossible. They were merely numbers on an intake sheet.”

  “There’s very little in the records; they used code names for the three DNA donors. Nearly impossible to track from such scanty information,” August said flatly, “I hoped that your DNA, being perfect, would shed some light on the issue.

  “You have taken samples without my permission!” She turned on March. “Did he tell you that he tried to murder me?”

  “I most certainly did not!” August shouted. “I ordered my men to kidnap you. Xavier Via disobeyed my instructions!”

  “He paid the price,” Dana answered cooly, turning on March. “You have violated every medical school policy. Did you know that Arturo Garcia, your adopted brother, did the same thing and very nearly faced a court martial for it?”

  “Irrelevant,” August gloated. “What we need are your ovarian eggs and March’s sperm to create embryos that are genetically purer to…”

  “To cure you?” She knew where this was headed. “It won’t work, August. I had all the tests done at a genetics lab on Earth. We cannot propagate.”

  March piped up, “January has had voluntary sterilization.”

  “You what!” August pounded on the arms of his robo-chair.

  Dana understood the problem. He was bent, unable to stand without mechanical legs aiding his own, trapped in a hovering chair. He wanted a cure.

  She felt sorry for him. “April is a hematologist. It may be possible to filter your blood of certain mutations and…”

  He slammed the table top with a deformed right hand. “We’ve tried all that! Damn it! Damn you! You let them destroy our only hope!”

  Dana shut up. Her empathetic senses screamed to be careful. August had other deformities and mutations, perhaps even psychiatric issues. Megalomania came to mind. Be careful. However, she had an idea.

  “We need father’s DNA. His is pure.”

  “Who is he?” August demanded. “The records tell us nothing.”

  “I know how to reach him,” she assured.

  “How?”

  “I do not have his permission to reveal a name, but I can get it.” Dana turned to March. “Come with me?”

  “No!” August protested.

  “Go where?” March wondered. “Earth?”

  “No…The Enturian delegation is expected at The Crossroads Great Conference and we…”

  “He’s Enturian!” August hissed, full of venom.

  Dana froze, terrified by his reaction. She felt hatred and sensed even more. She feared he wanted to kill the Republic ambassadors — not just the Enturians — all of them!

  “It’s all their fault!” August spit at her.

  “You blame the Enturians? Don’t be silly. We are here, today, because of love; because a man and a woman loved and wanted that love to be born as offspring.”

  “Crossbreeding is an abomination! We-are-an-abomination!”

  January got to her feet, small as she was. “I AM PERFECT! That’s what you said. I am not an abomination. I am Dana January Cartwright. I am unique and so are you. So is every being in this Universe. Put away your hate, my brother, before it consumes you!” She stared him down; though she did not, for even one moment, believe he would or could change.

  One thing was certain, she needed help; March, obviously, could not be depended upon to assist her. If she could get to the conference and get a message to Kieran — or to someone in the Star Service in charge of security for the conference…

  I wish I could mind-link with Kieran. She lamented that, and more. With the tracking device now removed, he had no clue where she was. Only if she could get to the conference…

  March stiffened, worried that she dared to contradict the King. She, the January — the perfect one — had to be correct; she being perfect could not err. Yet…

  August demanded, “And what exactly do you plan to do,” he appended, “sister?”

  She sensed how very hard it was for him. Unsure exactly what to propose, but needing to stall, she offered, “Father was in a coma for a score of years. I’m sure they took his sperm without permission; perhaps even hoping to cure him with embryonic stem cells or such. It won’t work, of course, but that information may still exist at a genetics lab on Earth. If we can get his permission…”

  Dana focused on August, “He’s a wonderful man. You’ll like him. We’ll need the Enturian delegations’ help and access to their genetics labs at Luandra, Anestia Province, as well.” She felt certain neither March or August realized she was making it all up, offering a ruse.

  “We need to get underway. I can have Kell prepare Kal-King…”

  August shook his head negatively. “We will take Kalis. A Dagger Class is faster than Kal-King.”

  That decision made, Dana demanded, “I’m starving. Are you two going to feed me or not? I hope you’re both vegans like April and I are.”

  August groaned.

  Dana felt a twinge of pride. DOC Cartwright always manipulated conversations; like father — albeit adoptive father — like daughter.

  After some form of hand signal, March got up from his chair and suggested they visit the galley.

  He supervised the slaves, ordering meals. “They cook everything fresh. There are no duplicators. August doesn’t like duplicated foods.”

  She shrugged, commenting, “It does taste rather like glue. I got used to it at academy.”

  About the time the food was served, Kalis lifted off. Dana knew the unmistakable sensation of interstellar engines engaging.

  “March? You’re a doctor. In your professional opinion, is August sane?”

  Her brother answered in a whisper, “He is angry, obsessed, at times delusional, even cunning.”

  That meant, yes.

  “Am I in danger?”

  He answered with a silent nod. She sensed fear; perhaps that even their conversation was being monitored. Using the ancient Galaxean tongue, she asked March if he trusted her.

  His hesitant, yes, likely meant, not entirely.

  Her heart sank. That changed the equation.

  “My back hurts,” she moaned, bringing the meal to an end. “We’re about a day out from The Crossroads. I need some rest.”

  She got up, collected her backpack, and waited.

  March showed her to a lavish guest cabin and left. First thing, she nosed about, looking for spy devices and hidden cameras. In the process, she found that Kalis had all the best of amenities, although no duplicators. The sonic shower tempted her.

  However, Dana dropped her pack near by the bed and sank down carefully, worrying and wondering why the pain in her spine was centered just above T-2.

  Janz Macao felt the cool cloth pressing against his forehead, but struggled to come fully awake.

  Princess Micah smiled down at him, so daintily and sweetly, he had to whisper a “thank you” and offer a smile.

  Shalee nagged him and had him repeat, “My wife wants me to ask, when is your child due?” He turned a shade darker, embarrassed at being the middle man.

  “Two months,” Micah admitted.

  “Shalee wishes you great joy and happiness.”

  “Korwin hopes for a son,” the Princess answered.

  “All men do,” Macao chuckled.

  The tender-hearted Princess offered a smile. “Shall I fetch my hus
band to tend you?”

  Janz nodded, struggling with the pain of just shifting his hip, wincing and gritting his teeth. A few moments later, Prince Korwin knocked and stepped in with a medical kit in hand. The Princess retreated a few steps.

  After taking a few more readings, the Prince programmed the DIA-injector, commenting, “Just a pain inhibitor for now, since we are a few hours away from the rendezvous.”

  “The opening ceremony has probably started,” Princess Micah observed.

  Macao apologized for keeping them from it.

  “Not to worry,” Prince Korwin assured, “and security is aware that we are arriving late.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Dana tried to categorize the pain. Sharp and stabbing at times, but now just a dull throbbing. What could be causing it? She had no idea. March said he detected nothing. Was he lying?

  Dana…

  She heard her name and started to sit up on the bed. It repeated in her mind; more than a whisper, it was a woman’s voice.

  An image among her memories flashed upon the screen of her mind. She reconized Janz Macao’s mate, Shalee Raja.

  Dana folded her legs just the way Janz did when meditating before the illumined life-star. She recalled vividly the kaleidoscope of colors from the gemstones upon it. By focusing, she could now see the ghostly form of the Shonedren Captain hovering beside her life-mate.

  Oh, Dana realized. He is alive!

  His back was injured again.

  I am empathetically feeling his pain. Dana didn’t ask how this was possible, but the Shonedren answered.

  You were once linked to him; I revived that link.

  Janz sat up beside his mate, a ghostly form now, as well.

  Dana? I need your help. Another surgery is required. I trust only you.

  She blinked. The image of her former Captain and his mate grew stronger.

  You’re dead…Kieran showed me.

  That was Jad, one of the twins. Do you remember him?

  I do. Oh… Dana understood now; it all became clear. Where are you?

  Aboard the Alphan Ambassadorial shuttle, Katana, heading to The Crossroads for the Great Conference.

  I am, too. I found August and March, my brothers. Well, they tricked me. I’m aboard the Dagger Class private yacht, Kalis.

  Can you do surgery on my back? I trust only you.

  How did you injure it?

  He gave her a flood of memories of the caverns, and of Dec. It overwhelmed her until she pleaded, Stop! Too much too fast.

  I am empathetically linked to you. I can’t stop. You’re feeling my pain.

  If I had an N-link, but mine is gone.

  Princess Micah has one, Janz reported. Prince Korwin won’t do the surgery.

  He’s afraid, Shalee whispered. He’s afraid to operate on spines.

  Shalee coaxed Janz to lie down and his image faded.

  Dana felt a tugging at her heart.

  So this is what it would be like for me, if I mated with Kieran? A jumble of images? Never knowing mine separate from his?

  Shalee’s radiant smile came in answer. The joy outweighs the sorrows. Kieran’s love for you is deep.

  I’m not Alphan.

  Nor am I, Shalee answered. Nothing can compare to the joy when two become one.

  Tears formed on Dana’s face when Shalee broke off the connection. She heaved a sign. The pain was suddenly gone.

  After the contact, Dana could not settle back down to sleep again, even though the pain in her spine was gone. Instead, she undid the braid of her waist length hair and stepped into the sonic shower. After stepping back out, she hung the jumpsuit and set her boots inside, programming it to refresh.

  Like the coveralls worn while she was assigned to Station Four, the jumpsuit had begun to feel so comfortable she didn’t want to part with it. While the unit hummed, she re-braided her hair, smiling during the process until something in the memories Janz Macao gave her sank in.

  Dec! December!

  Macao’s memory of her youngest brother haunted and nagged her.

  Like Novem, he had physical deformities.

  How can I help him? How do I help August? Can I locate father? There’s no guarantee the Enturian delegation can help.

  At least I have friends attending the conference. Can’t trust March; but I know I can trust Prince Korwin.

  Xalier woke Macao, purring in his ear, “We’re two hours out from the rendezvous with Thresher, Captain.”

  Schaffer had a tray with food for the three of them, setting up while Xal helped Macao to sit up, using pillows to make him comfortable.

  They were all dressed in fresh, civilian tunics with tan trousers and Schaffer even had new boots.

  Xalier noted the Captain’s envious stare.

  “Prince Korwin’s security detail offered us these.”

  Schaffer grinned. “Can’t tell you how good that sonic shower felt!”

  Macao sighed and nibbled some food, while they chattered.

  “Princess Micah has laid out fresh things for you, too. Hopefully we can get you into them.”

  It took both of them to get him up, and even then Janz had to use the wall to lean upon during the shower.

  Schaffer was right. “Nothing beats a sonic shower!”

  Janz reluctantly accepted their help dressing and especially pulling on the boots.

  “Feel up to visiting in the common room?”

  Janz nodded. “I actually feel much better.”

  “I’ve never been aboard a Dagger Class before,” Schaffer said, offering his shoulder for Macao to hold on. “Katana is incredible. Alphan Ambassadors travel in style.”

  “The Ambassador is a High Prince of the Elect; never forget that he is a member of the royal family,” Macao cautioned in a whisper, just before they entered the round common room. “Your Highness is the proper form of address by an Alphan to an Alphan Prince. You can get away with Mister Ambassador. However, always address his wife as Princess Micah, even though she is also an Ambassador; in fact, the only living ambassador of her people, the Fet-Kah, to ever align with the Republic.”

  “Now you tell me,” Schaffer chuckled.

  The three remained standing in the doorway until Prince Korwin motioned them to come inside.

  “Your Highness,” Janz offered, “Thank you so much for your generosity.”

  Novem and April stood at the foot of Dec’s diagnostic bed, watching as the android-nurse released the body restraints.

  “Dec is free?”

  Novem nodded.

  “You are different,” Dec realized, studying the changes in his brother. “You are healed?”

  Novem smiled.

  “And you are April?” Dec ventured, looking to the woman standing beside Novem.

  “I am Doctor April Talon.”

  “You healed Novem?”

  She nodded.

  “You will heal Dec, too?”

  “If you wish it, I will make an attempt. The procedure takes several years to reverse all of the DNA mutations. It is entirely experimental, of course, and there are no guarantees. We do, however, have high expectations for success.”

  Dec shrugged. “You would do this for me?” He seemed to struggle with believing it was even possible.

  Novem moved a few steps closer. “Dec, the King lied to us. We were sold into slavery. He could have saved us, but he didn’t. Sep and Octo need not have died.”

  Dec frowned. “Why would the King lie?”

  Novem helped his brother down from the bed. “It’s a long story. Come and join us? Ambassador Solon wants to meet you. He’s checking in with security at the conference.”

  Dec gave no answer, but fell into step beside his siblings, nervously noticing how they were dressed in formal tunics and wearing cloaks, while he was in a simple sickbay jumpsuit and barefoot.

  “Peace to you, Commodore Jai.” Ambassador Solon slipped back the hood of his formal cloak and offered the Galaxean salute.

  Kieran responded, �
��Peace to you, also, Mister Ambassador,” however, his eyes quickly left the Galaxean’s face and went to the two men and the young female doctor with the aged Ambassador.

  “Doctor Talon, good to see you again,” he offered respectfully, hoping she would not slap his face this time.

  Talon responded icily, “Commodore.”

  The Galaxean apprentice slid back the hood of his robe also and he smiled.

  “Novem!” Kieran exclaimed, “You look…well.”

  “Commodore…I am, thank you.”

  The change in the tribrid’s appearance was astonishing. Kieran struggled to find the words. “You…You’re fully healed.”

  Novem nodded respectfully, “Thanks to my physician and my mentor.”

  “And this is…?” Kieran looked to the fourth in the group, “December?”

  “Dec…” The man nodded, fearful of the uniform Kieran Jai wore, and the security detail standing nearby.

  Kieran wanted to know the details, but there just wasn’t time. “Welcome to The Crossroads Great Conference, Mister Ambassador, and guests. You are the first of the Galaxean delegation to arrive.”

  Solon’s face held no emotion as he responded, “I am the only Galaxean ambassador who will attend, Commodore.”

  Kieran waited for an explanation, but none was forthcoming. “May I call on you later, Mister Ambassador?”

  “That would be quite agreeable.” Solon continued down the grand entry corridor, trailing April, Novem, and Dec.

  Commodore Jai watched from afar as designated greeters and security details welcomed several other delegations. He didn’t know them, nor the ambassadors being greeted, but felt a sudden chill down his spine along with the powerful imperative to sit.

  “Sir?” A worried security officer hovered at his elbow.

  “Oh, my back!” Kieran moaned, gritting his teeth. He passed out before being able to explain.