When they were finished, Rudy got up and went to a small closet where they kept spare clothing and selected a clean t-shirt. It was far too large for her, but he knew that she would prefer to be covered when she awoke. Intimacy was new for her, and such things took time to get used to.
Almost as soon as they had the shirt on her she opened her eyes and smiled at them.
“How do you feel?” Olaf asked.
“Hmm...boneless,” she replied. “How do you guys feel?”
“I’m not sure we can put into words how we feel,” Olaf said. “Completely in love with you, to start.”
“Too happy to express,” Rudy added. “We dreamed of being happy, but we never dreamed of being this happy. We didn’t know this much happiness was possible.”
“I feel a little scared,” Rand said.
“Scared?” Aisling asked, a touch of worry in her voice.
“Yes,” Rand replied. “Scared that we will never be able to make you as happy as you make us.”
“Don’t worry,” she said with a smile. “You already have.”
The flight to Badia took most of the night, and before long Aisling was sound asleep. Olaf, Rudy and Rand spent a long time just watching her, hardly able to believe that she was really theirs. They had come so close to losing her through their own stubbornness. But she had forgiven them, and they would never forget that. Nor would they ever give her up.
They had made up their minds to mate with Aisling, regardless of the consequences. Should a male-set attempt to claim her, they were determined to do the unthinkable. They would challenge her rightful Rami, and battle to the death for her. They would not stand aside again.
Chapter 22
LyFaLex sat at his station, his back permanently bent from years of being forced to work at a terminal designed for a much smaller being. His soul was heavy with sadness this day. He remembered a time, so many cycles ago he had lost count, when the loss of an ancestor was cause for a time of rest and reflection, followed by a celebration of life. Of course, the Xanti did not care about such things. They cared only that their slaves worked long and hard. They allowed time for sleep and sustenance only because without those basic necessities, there would be no slaves.
LyFaLex used one antennae to activate his station while another antennae peeked behind him to check on the location of the guards. It was critical to know where the guards were at all times. The Xanti were never to be trusted. That had been the first lesson of his captivity. They were not supposed to watch the guards, but the Xanti did not know that his kind were able to see using both their eyes and their antennae. That had been the second lesson of his captivity; reveal nothing to the Xanti that they did not already know.
Satisfied that the guard was at his usual post, LyFaLex turned his attention back to rebooting his station. There had been a big push lately to complete the newest generation of the Blind Sight camouflage system, Blind Sight P2. LyFaLex had actually completed that task the day before, but for reasons even he didn’t understand, he had not announced it to the Director of his sector, or submitted it for fabrication.
As he logged into his system, he wondered at himself. The consequences of not finishing Blind Sight P2 would be severe for all of his people if there was a suspicion that he’d delayed it deliberately. He would open the project, review it carefully so that the watchers would see him working on it and have no reason to suspect he’d delayed it. Then he would submit it. He wished he could pretend to make changes, but the watchers would catch that. As it was, he was taking a risk by taking time to review it before informing his Director it was completed. He would tell them that he was concerned that he had forgotten something.
It was a poor excuse, but the watchers were Xanti, and the Xanti knew very little about programs and technology. Unfortunately, what they lacked in knowledge they made up for in suspicion. Every keystroke was analyzed, repeated, tested and questioned.
An odd noise caught his attention and he turned one antennae carefully so that he could see behind himself. He was astonished to see several Xanti entering the plant. From the small red markings on their bodies he knew that they were not Xitura-Re’s brood, though he didn’t know who they did belong to. He looked toward the regular guard and was even more stunned to see it crouch down and curl its legs beneath itself.
One of the invading Xanti stood over the cringing guard while the rest filed past as though he wasn’t even there, disappearing deeper into the plant.
At first, LyFaLex didn’t know what to think, then something about it tickled his memory. He closed his eyes and reached back into his past, searching for the similarity. He was almost ready to give up when he stumbled across it. His eyes snapped open and his hearts raced together with sudden excitement. He forced himself to relax by turning his attention to the new Blind Sight P2 software on his screen. As he pretended to review the programming, he remembered a story his father had sung to him from long ago. A story about one Xanti brood devouring another Xanti brood, and the resulting lapse in security that had taken place. It had lasted seconds only, but they were seconds that his people had failed to take advantage of in their shock. Since then, they remembered and waited and watched for such an opportunity to repeat itself. All at once, LyFaLex knew exactly what he would do if he were so fortunate as to be blessed with those few seconds. A few seconds was all he would need.
He scrolled through the program, looking for the right place to insert the code he was rapidly compiling in his mind. When the sudden screech of the guard sounded behind him, he didn’t waste time looking to confirm what was happening. Instead he bent to his control panel and began keying as fast as he could. Just as he hit the last keystroke, he heard the new guard skittering up the stairs to the chair overlooking the entire floor.
“Xitura-Re is no longer,” the new guard announced through the translation system. “You are now owned by Xaqana-Ti. Work.”
LyFaLex continued to review the program as though he hadn’t even noticed the changing of the guard. When he was finished he submitted it for fabrication and sent a memo to his Director informing him that Blind Sight P2 was complete.
The timer he had just put inside of Blind Sight P2 would not be noticed, nor would it effect the system’s functionality. For exactly one Xantara year from the previous day. Then, on the anniversary of his father’s death, every single Blind Sight system created using the technical specifications he had just submitted would suddenly and inexplicably cease to work.
It wasn’t much, he thought. He wished he could put a self-destruct mechanism in the system, or a bomb that would destroy the vessel it was installed on. But those things required chemicals or obvious system faults that would be discovered before the system made it half way through fabrication.
He had done the only thing he could do, and he’d picked a date for it that meant nothing to anyone but himself. No, he thought to himself, it wasn’t much at all. In fact, it was little more than a minor act of defiance. But doing something, no matter how small, was better than doing nothing at all.
With that thought, LyFaLex keyed a request for his next project. If he had owned the ability to express amusement, he would have smiled to himself.
Chapter 23
When Aisling awoke the next morning she could not figure out where she was. When she turned her head and saw Olaf sitting beside the bed, watching her, she remembered everything, and smiled at him.
“Haven’t we reached Badia yet?” she asked.
“Yes, we have,” he replied, returning her smile. “We landed a few hours ago, but saw no reason to awaken either you or Karma.”
“Where are we?” she asked.
“The Dracons’ ranch,” Olaf replied. “The Dracons have offered us one of their guest cabins for the duration of our stay. You can either shower and eat breakfast here, or if you prefer we can go to the guest cabin first.”
“Whichever is easiest for everyone,” Aisling replied, sitting up in the bed. She realized that she was naked accept
for the oversized t-shirt, so she was careful to keep the covers tucked around her below the waist.
“The Dracons’ housekeeper, Suly, is an amazing cook,” Olaf said with a glint in his eye that made Aisling smile again. “She has prepared breakfast for us and sent it to the guest cabin. But, if you wish, it is easy enough to bring the food here.”
“Nope, let’s go there,” Aisling said. She felt more relaxed at that moment than she had for a long while, and it felt good. “So long as I don’t have to meet anyone looking like I just climbed out of bed, that is,” she amended as she looked down at herself, then looked around for her clothes. She was also aware that her hair must be mussed and tangled, and she needed to brush her teeth.
Olaf got up, retrieved her bag from the floor, and set it on the bed next to her.
“I promise, we will whisk you into a ground-car and stop for no one along the way,” he said with a grin.
“She wants to go to the guest cabin?” Rand said as he entered the room with a steaming cup.
“Yes,” Olaf said. “She is an angel, is she not?”
Aisling laughed as she accepted the coffee from Rand. “I am getting the impression that you guys are hungry.”
“Well, we did miss dinner yesterday,” Rand admitted. “As did you, and Karma.”
“Don’t remind me,” Karma said as she stepped into the room. “I’m starving and as far as I can tell, it’s your guys’ fault.”
“Now that you mention it, I’m hungry too,” Aisling said. “If you guys will give me a minute, I’ll get dressed and we can get going.”
Ten minutes later they were all in a ground-car pulling up in front of a beautiful little house surrounded with trees next to a small creek. Aisling was nearly dizzy from the speed with which the Gryphons had moved once she’d agreed to leave the transport. Karma sat beside her in the car, looking a little grumpy.
“Are you all right?” Aisling asked her.
“I suppose,” Karma replied. “Nothing a hot shower, several cups of coffee and some food won’t cure. Not necessarily in that order.”
Olaf laughed as he climbed out of the car and opened the back door for them.
A couple of hours later, after everyone had eaten and showered, and Karma’s grumpiness had been cured, they walked over to the Bearens’ home. The Gryphons wanted to speak with the Bearens about borrowing the Kontuan, and Aisling and Karma were both looking forward to spending time with Hope and the babies. It was another couple of hours, after the babies were all down for their naps and the men left to handle some business at the air field, before the women were able to sit down together and talk.
“Is Berta with the Falcorans?” Aisling asked Hope as soon as the Gryphons and the Bearens were out of earshot. She had no desire to bring up the Falcorans in front of the Gryphons and had waited all morning to ask the question.
“Yes, she is,” Hope replied. “They came to claim her just after dawn this morning. I thought it was going to get ugly for awhile, but in the end, Berta agreed to go with them. Jackson didn’t like it, but he couldn’t stop her. The Falcorans promised that no harm would come to her, but nothing beyond that.”
“How did they react when they saw how old she is?” Karma asked.
“They were shocked,” Hope replied. “Very shocked. Then they decided that it didn’t matter because the transformation process of the soul-link triad would regenerate her. They think.”
“Think?” Aisling asked.
“Nobody knows for sure,” Hope said. “There is no way to find out other than to try it.”
“That’s a big risk for Berta, isn’t it?” Aisling asked. She knew nothing about the transformation process, but Hope’s worry indicated that it might not be all that safe.
“I think so, yes,” Hope replied. “But its not up to me, or anyone other than Berta herself. Jackson says that they will not force her. Whatever Berta does will be her own choice. But who knows what will happen? Now, tell me about you two. Tell me what’s going on and why you’re here.”
Aisling glanced at Karma who arched a brow, reminding her that there were still a few things she hadn’t told Karma, and a lot of things she hadn’t told Hope. It only took her a moment to decide to tell them both everything. When she was done, she waited nervously for their reactions. She didn’t think Hope would mind that she was a bounty hunter, but she was worried that she would be angry at her for fooling her so long.
“You haven’t had it easy,” Hope said. “I’m glad that you have the Gryphons to help you now.”
“I’m very glad that you’re finally going to get your injuries healed,” Karma added.
“You aren’t angry with me?” Aisling asked in surprise.
“Of course not,” Hope said with a wave of her hand. “Why would we be? Your disguise was perfect and it kept you safe. That’s all that matters. I’m glad that you trust us enough to tell us the truth now, and I’m also glad that you’ve decided to shed your disguise and go after this man.”
“Thanks,” Aisling said, relieved. She could have dealt with their anger, and even the loss of their friendship, had it been necessary, though it would have hurt a lot to lose Karma’s. She was very glad that they were both so understanding and forgiving.
“I take it that the clothes you’ve been wearing were a part of your disguise then,” Hope said.
“Yes,” Aisling replied. “My real style is somewhat bolder. In fact, I wanted to ask if you could help me place an order with the tele-fabricators in Badia. Olaf said he thought they could fill a rush order for me on short notice.”
“Of course,” Hope replied. “What is it that you want made up?”
“There are several things, actually,” Aisling replied as she pulled her hand terminal from her pocket and turned it on. She scrolled through the menus, found the list she wanted and opened it. Then she handed the terminal to Hope. Hope scanned the list, grinning widely. She glanced up at Aisling, narrowed her eyes and cocked her head, then looked back at the terminal screen.
“Yes, I can see you in this,” she said. She handed the terminal to Karma and reached for her vox.
Karma scrolled through the list and laughed happily. “You told me kevlex and leather, but I never imagined this. This is fantastic,” she said. “Beautiful, warrior like, and sexy.”
“Sexy?” Aisling asked worriedly. “It’s not meant to be sexy. It’s meant to be something I can move in, fight in, run in, and yes, I admit, I wanted it to still be feminine. But I wasn’t really aiming for sexy.”
Karma rolled her eyes as she returned the hand terminal to Hope who was gesturing for it. Hope began reading the list into the vox so Karma moved closer to Aisling so she could talk without interfering with Hope’s call.
“Don’t worry about it so much,” she said. “It’s perfect for you, and there isn’t anything wrong with sexy. Not to change the subject but, Ash, I want to go with you on this trip.”
“Why?”
Karma hesitated for a long moment as she considered her answer. “The truth is, I don’t know why,” she said finally. “When you said the name of the planet, Rathira, a few minutes ago, I just knew I was supposed to go there. I’d never heard of it before, so I have no idea why I feel this way. I wish I could explain it, but I can’t. If you say no, I’ll understand, but I’ll still go. I’ll just have to find another way to get there.”
“That’s not going to be necessary, Karma,” Aisling said. “Of course you can go with us. In fact, I already promised that you could go with me. I’m not going back on my word.”
“Thanks, Ash,” Karma said with relief. The sudden tightening she’d felt when she’d first heard the name Rathira loosened. She didn’t understand it, but for now she’d done all she could do about it.
“They promise they can deliver the items on your list in three days or less,” Hope said triumphantly after she disconnected her call. “All you need to do is forward the spec files to them and they’ll get started immediately.”
“W
ow, that’s fast,” Aisling said with surprise. She had hoped for at least two outfits, and perhaps one pair of sai, but hadn’t dreamed she’d get everything.
“Living on the Dracons’ ranch and having the last name Bearen tends to speed things up a little,” Hope said with a shrug. “Normally, I wouldn’t pull strings that way, but this is an exception.”
“I really appreciate your help, Hope,” Aisling said.
“No problem,” Hope replied. “I just wish I could see the faces on the Gryphons the first time they see you in one of those outfits.”
“Do you think there’s something wrong with them?” Aisling asked, worried again. She’d never much cared what others thought of her. She dressed the way she did for a reason, and it wasn’t anyone else’s business what she did, or why she did it. She was going to Rathira as a warrior, not a tourist, and she needed to dress the part. The difference was, she did care what the Gryphons thought of her. Very much.
“No, it’s you, and therefore perfect,” Hope said stoutly. “Don’t worry about it for a moment. I think they will be surprised, but in a good way.”
“I hope you’re right,” Aisling said. “But, it’s who I really am, and they need to know that part of me, and accept it.”
“That’s right,” Hope agreed. “What I find puzzling is the fact that you are not their Arima. From everything you’ve told me, your feelings towards them, and your ability to sense their emotions sounds like my reactions to the Bearens.”
“I don’t know what’s going on with that,” Aisling said. “But I do know that they are meant for me, and I am meant for them. That is all that matters to me. From what they said to me last night, that’s the conclusion they’ve come to as well.”
“Good,” Hope said. “Now, on to the next matter. You’re planning to have Doc fix your back, correct?”
“Yes, I’d prefer him,” Aisling said. “Do you think he’ll do it?”
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