by Tess Mallory
"We have guarded our secrets zealously until now," she began. "Our origins stretch back into antiquity, and I will not bore you with stones of our travails until we reached our current place in this universe. Suffice it to say that we have attained a certain degree of understanding and, yes, power, which we as a people decided long ago to use only for good. A Cezan must never take another life. A Cezan must never use his or her power for evil."
"What if someone is trying to kill you?" Telles asked. "Can't you even defend yourselves?"
"All things happen for a reason," Shahala said. "Therefore we must weigh such a decision. We must ask ourselves, is this happening to teach us something as a people? Is this happening because we have grown too arrogant or have misused our power? If so, then we must be prepared to take the consequences without taking other lives."
"But what if you haven't?" Eagle interjected. "What if you are innocent?"
Shahala shook her head ruefully and picked up her spoon. She dipped it down into the bowl and lifted the smooth mixture to her lips, tasting it delicately before she answered.
"No one is innocent, my friend, except children. And some of those are wise beyond their years."
"Like Mayla. What will happen to her tonight in the ritual?"
Shahala lowered the spoon back to her bowl and stared down into its depths for a long moment. At last she lifted her head. "The ritual is the culmination of a Cezan's first thirteen years, and is when she or he receives the full endowment of power from the Creator. We all receive differing levels of that power; however, some are blessed with greater abilities. Mayla is one of these. She will be a great leader." She shifted her gaze to Zarn. "She will rule this galaxy."
Zarn laughed but his eyes did not reflect any amusement. He pushed his own bowl away and the liquid sloshed over the side and dribbled onto the tabletop. "A child? But my dear, how can this be? She will need an army to conquer mine, for I assure you I will not lay down my control voluntarily or easily."
Shahala lowered her gaze, then glanced back up at him. "You shall," she said. "And very soon."
Zarn laughed again. "Of course, of course," he said benevolently. "I will be happy to turn what I have worked so hard to attain over to a thirteen-year-old child."
"During the ritual, Mayla's crystal will be joined with the crystal that belonged to her mother," Shahala said. "Our Creator will use the power that binds this universe together, and transfer its energy into the crystals, empowering Mayla with a strength and ability beyond even most Cezans."
Zarn stared at her, his hands still on the table in front of him as he leaned forward. Eagle saw the jubilation in his eyes. "But I have the crystal that belonged to her mother."
Shahala's eyes shifted to his and Eagle saw her pain again.
"Yes," she whispered, "I know." A sad smile eased across her lips. "Why do you think you are here? We could not hold the ritual without both crystals."
"Are you trying to tell me that you people have caused me to be here?" Zarn said. He linked his hands together and shook his head. "I came here to find the secret of the Cezans and their power."
"And so you shall," she said softly.
"What about the big crystal?" Telles asked. "Does it have anything to do with this?"
"Yes."
She motioned to one of the servers walking by and the bowls around their table were quickly removed and plates of fruit replaced them. Eagle was no longer hungry. His curiosity, on the other hand, was insatiable.
"During the ritual," she continued, "the large crystal will be placed on the tall hill that lies across from this facility."
"You mean the one that has that odd arch on the top of it?" Telles asked.
She nodded. "We call it the Arch of Transformation. That ancient arch, combined with the two crystals, will take the power from the universe and feed it into the large crystal, then back to Mayla." Her lashes swept downward and Eagle was struck by her beauty even though she seemed quite old. No, on second thought, she seemed ageless. "Mayla is very special. We have not had a Cezan with her potential in a very long time."
"What will be my part in the ritual?" Zarn asked, barely able to contain his excitement. Eagle looked at him in disgust. "Your part?" Shahala shook her head. "The ritual is for Cezans only."
Zarn leaned back in his chair and hooked one foot over his knee. Eagle saw the subtle play of arrogance in his features and in that moment, hated the man more than he'd thought possible.
"Now, that's where you are wrong, madame. I possess the other crystal. I possess the large crystal. You will not have your 'ritual' without my help."
Shahala lifted both silver brows. "Really," she said. The word was a statement, not a question.
His fingers clenched and unclenched in a nervous rhythm in his lap as he continued to challenge her. "Isn't it true that the person who holds the other crystal receives a portion of that power?" he said.
"Yes." Shahala looked around the table again, her gaze lighting on Eagle. "But that honor is given to the child's mother or father. Or in lieu of them, their closest kin."
"Sky," Eagle said, tensing as he once again wondered where she was. "It should be Sky."
"But the lovely Sky isn't here." Zarn's smile was smug. "Therefore, I will take her place, since I possess the crystal." Shahala shook her head. "You do not know what you are saying, Lord Zarn. This power is not to be trifled with."
"I do not intend to trifle with it." His lips curved up with malicious pleasure. "I intend to possess it and to use it."
"For evil. For your own wicked purposes."
Zarn lifted both dark brows and spread his hands apart. "Surely the great Cezans are not saying that an insignificant human like myself could be of any concern to such powerful beings?"
"I caution you against this action," Shahala said, rising from the table, her lavender eyes cool, steady. "Will you stop me?" he asked.
She hesitated and Eagle's heart began to pound more rapidly as she shook her head slowly. "No, Lord Zarn. We shall not stop you."
"Good. Then I have one more little favor to ask." Zarn stood and for a moment the two were opposite each other, their gazes locked in silent combat until he spoke again. "I suggest that the ritual will not take place tonight. You will wait until tomorrow night."
"No," Eagle said, rising. "You go too far, Garnos."
Zarn shrugged. "How else does a great man attain more greatness? He must be willing to gamble, to risk everything."
"It isn't your risk." He turned to Shahala. "I can't believe you would allow him to do this. Your people have the power to stop him—do it! Do it before Mayla gets hurt or innocent people—your people—are killed. You know what will happen if you wait until tomorrow—and he knows too!"
Zarn's laughter filled the great hall and the Cezans stopped eating and looked up at him, their placid faces reflecting curiosity, not fear. Eagle found their passivity incredible.
"Of course I know," he said. "The first time was a fluke, luck. I didn't expect them to go down without a fight. Pelana told me about the Mon Ser-iah." Shahala paled. "My sister Pelana? I cannot imagine her sharing that knowledge with you." His mouth twisted into a smirk. "Even a Cezan will talk if you promise to spare her child."
Shoving his chair back, Eagle circled the table and grabbed Zarn by the throat before anyone could stop him. He felt the soft flesh of the man's neck beneath his fingers and tightened the pressure, bringing him to his knees. His false green eyes grew round, grew panicked as his air was cut off; his hands flailed at Eagle's, trying to free himself, trying desperately to break his grip. The sound of booted men running did not deter Eagle, but in a matter of seconds a dozen soldiers had him surrounded and two had pulled him off of their leader, who now sat on his knees, gasping on the floor.
He lifted a shaking finger and pointed it at Eagle. "Out!" He managed to choke the word out half-coherently. The soldiers dragged him away toward the door and Eagle didn't even struggle. "This isn't over!" he shouted across the grea
t hall. "If the Cezans won't stop you—I will!"
Zarn staggered to his feet, one hand to his throat. He stumbled after the men, his face red with anger. "Big words from the son of a mealy-mouthed Seeker who couldn't even find the guts to defend his family!" he shouted after him.
The soldiers almost had him to the door when Eagle slammed his head into the first one's stomach and sent a right uppercut to the other one's jaw. He turned and headed back across the hall as soldiers scrambled to grab him before he reached the Kalimar. But they were too late. Eagle hit the man squarely in the jaw, then followed up with a gut punch that left Zarn doubled up on the floor.
"That," he said with a large amount of satisfaction, "was for my father."
Two soldiers snapped their rifles into place and prepared to fire as Eagle had known they would.
"No!" The cry came from Zarn. He staggered to his feet and with difficulty straightened to face the man he had raised as his son. "He's mine," he whispered, "and nothing so simple as a phaser's blast will end his worthless life."
Chapter Fifteen
"All right, keep this orbit stable," Sky ordered Cordo, rising from the command chair and moving to a panel at the science station. "Send out that dragon message Eagle and Telles rigged and maybe it will buy us a little time."
"Lord Zarn's ship is in a lower orbit," Cordo said, examining the sensor relay. "However, it is only a matter of time before his sensors find us."
"Then we'd better hurry."
"Captain." Sky turned to find Kell behind her, arms folded across his narrow chest. "How do you intend to infiltrate this place? They will see our shuttle craft immediately with their sensors."
Sky glanced down at the schematics on the panel in front of her. There appeared to be a large settlement in the middle of an otherwise empty area. She was willing to bet that was where she would find Mayla and the rest. She lifted one hand to the silver band once more in place around her forehead, then looked back up at her first officer.
"I'm going to use the transport."
A startled look flashed across Kell's face, which was rapidly masked as he crossed the bridge to her side and spoke in a low voice.
"Captain, you know as well as I that the transport mechanism on this vessel is, shall we say, less than reliable. We don't have the power on this small ship to beam large objects. We usually only use it to transport inanimate things."
Sky glanced up at him and nodded. "Usually, Lieutenant. But today you're going to beam down a bigger pack-age—me. They won't expect me just to materialize in the middle of the camp or town or whatever—though we'll try to pick a spot that won't be so obvious—and maybe I can sneak up on them."
"All by yourself," Kell said flatly. "You intend to conquer Zarn's army all by yourself."
Sky took a deep breath and released it, smiling ruefully. "No. I intend to protect my sister or die trying." She turned and strode across the bridge. "However, this ship is capable of blasting the hell out of Zarn's troops, and I plan to get in a few shots before it's all over."
"What about the Cezans?"
She stopped walking but did not turn back. "Yes, I know." She glanced back at him over one shoulder. "I'll take a portable communicator and try and relay back to you exact coordinates where the blasts will do the most harm with the fewest casualities. I'll be in my quarters, Kell, preparing."
Sky entered the lift and as soon as the doors closed, sagged against the wall of the tiny room. What she was about to do was crazy, totally foolhardy, but it was her only chance. If she took the shuttle, she'd most likely be shot down by Zarn's ship or at the very least captured. The transport beam was unreliable, that was true, but it was her one chance to slip into Zarn's stronghold without being detected first. She hoped she'd be able to do some damage before they caught her. And she'd be able to see Eagle and Mayla before she died.
The door opened and she hurried down the corridor to her room. She'd been forced to leave her tynarium droid suit on Andromeda and so did not have that recourse, that protection; therefore she had to find an alternative. She punched in the alarm code that released the door to her quarters and almost ran inside, heading straight for her closet. She had one of Redar's old uniforms that he'd rigged with special sensors. The sensors reflected back the image of anything it came in contact with, making the wearer practically invisible. It needed repairs, its functions sporadic at best, but she had no other choice. She would put it on and requisition one of the plasma-blasters—that should at least throw a scare into the first few Dominion soldiers she ran into—and head for the small transport bay.
The door to her room slid open and Sky turned in surprise. Kell stood in the doorway for a moment before crossing to her side. He took the sensor uniform from her and tossed it aside.
"You'll have no need of that," he said softly, a great sadness mirrored in his blue eyes.
Sky opened and closed her mouth a couple of times before she could speak. "Kell—" she laughed uncomfortably—"what are you doing?"
"You aren't going to use the transport to beam down to the planet."
Relief flooded over her. He was worried about her. So this was what his odd behavior was about. She patted his arm and bent down to retrieve the suit.
"Don't worry! It will be fine. With you at the controls, I'm sure that—"
"You don't understand, Sky." He knelt beside her and his hands closed around her upper arms. He stood, bringing her slowly with him, his fingers biting into her flesh.
She lifted startled eyes to his. "Kell." Sky let his name fall from her lips with old familiarity even though she knew nothing would ever be the same between the two of them again. "Kell," she said again, this time her voice hardening over the syllable, "what's going on?"
He pulled her closer to him and she saw, in an instant, the real Kell who had lain hidden all of these months, the man who was an emotional being, the man he had tried to deny.
"Did you think I had no honor, Captain?" he asked. "Did you think I would simply accept your rejection of my love? First I had to stand by and watch your simpering adulation of that fool Redar. It was convenient that he died when he did or I would have been forced to kill him. But that man—Eagle—he was by far the greater threat. I knew the moment I saw him that he would take you from me. I had heard gossip about the Eagle, about his loyalties being under suspicion, and sol contacted the Kalimar. He convinced me I would be very well rewarded if I found anything that would either exonerate or implicate his son of dealing with rebels. But from the beginning I sought to destroy him."
"I can't believe it," Sky said, shaking her head, feeling the shock and anguish tighten around her heart. "I trusted you. I thought you were my friend."
"I didn't intend to betray you at first—just him." His blue eyes were fervent as they gazed down into hers. "I thought after he had been executed that you would forget him, and everything would be as it had been, except you would realize I was the better man."
"And when did you change your mind—about me?" she whispered.
Kell let his hands slide down her arms to her hands. He held them for a moment, staring down at their entwined fingers, then released her abruptly, his voice hardening as he spun away from her.
"I didn't realize at the time that your desire for the man would so alter the feelings I had for you, leaving me with this strange and overwhelming need for revenge." He glanced back at her. "Altairians have a great sense of honor, and when it is callously besmirched, only through revenge may it be regained."
"But the Altairians have given up the old ways," she protested, backing away from him, trying to edge toward the door. "You believe in peace, nonviolence whenever possible. You believe in controlling your emotions."
Kell moved to block her from the doorway, and Sky silently cursed as he began walking toward her, the force of his presence pushing her back toward the bunk.
"I tried to believe," he said. "But my own passion—my passion for you—was too strong. And then later, my hate." Sky stopped
moving, her throat tightening with fear. "You hate me, Kell? After all we've been through together?"
"Especially after all we've been through together. For that should have convinced you, Skyra Cezan, that I was the best choice for you."
Sky thought quickly. Her only contact with an Altairian had been Kell, after he had adhered to the new beliefs. She had no idea how to deal with one who had re-embraced the old ways, the old violence, but she had to try. She took a step toward him. "Kell, I am asking you, for the sake of my little sister, a little girl who never caused you any harm, to let me go and help her."
"You care nothing for your sister."
The words were like a slap in the face. She shook her head. "What? What are you saying? Of course I care for my sister. Why do you think I'm willing to risk my life by using our befarking transport? I'm trying to save her from Zarn!"
"You're trying to save your lover."
Kell's usually calm face was twisted now, his features so distorted by his hate that Sky scarcely recognized him. This was no one with whom she could bargain or negotiate. Nothing would make him let her go.
"You hate me so much," she whispered. "How do you plan to kill me, Kell?"
He didn't answer. Pain crossed his face briefly, but the smile, when it came, was malicious, bitter, more frightening than that of any enemy she had ever faced. For this was her friend, her comrade, her compatriot. This was Kell. But it wasn't, not the Kell she had known and loved. Sky ducked her head as hot tears stung her eyes. How was it possible? She took a deep breath and turned away, refusing to let him see how deeply his betrayal had hurt her. She fought back the tears and after a moment, turned back to him, lifting her gaze.
"Was I to pretend that I felt something for you that I didn't?" she asked softly. "Was I obligated to return your love?"
"I loved you and you used me, took advantage of our friendship." His lips curled back over the word. "I thought if I gave you time, you would realize—but then he came and you proved yourself to be the trifling woman I feared you truly were."