Dark Nadir

by Lisanne Norman

  “The stasis cube,” said Kaid. “When Jo and Kris opened it.”

  “Just so. It was an experimental device which you and your Leska partner entered accidentally in your attempt to outrun the guards. It’s thought M’zullian warriors must have taken it from the lab in the confusion.”

  “They worshipped it as a holy object,” murmured Carrie, as shocked as the others by the depth of the Prime’s knowledge.

  “They probably used it as a deterrent at first,” said Zsurtul. “After all, it contained the ultimate weapon against their enemies. Two Sholan telepaths. It would have given those who possessed it enormous power over the others on their world.”

  “And as time passed, they forgot what was inside it and why they had to be afraid of it,” said Kaid. “It would become revered for itself—a holy object.”

  “As you say,” agreed Zsurtul. He picked up the mug and attempted to drink from it but it was too narrow for his wide, almost beaked mouth. He put it down. “Do you have a wider container?” he asked hopefully.

  Carrie got up to look in the galley cupboards under the sink. “The cups on the Prime ship,” she said, turning round with a small bowl in her hand. “I saw them, I should have guessed!”

  “You eat cooked food,” said Rezac, suddenly noticing the remains of the meal.

  “Our caste always have,” said Zsurtul, accepting the bowl and pouring his herbal drink into it.

  “But the raw meat!”

  “Do you not feed your warriors on raw meat to make them fiercer?” he asked, then his mouth formed a lopsided smile. “I forget. You have telepaths. They are more formidable than warriors.”

  “I don’t believe you,” said Rezac. “I saw them eating raw meat at the city palace!”

  “You saw only what it was intended you see. Don’t you remember some took the meat from a central dish, while others were served plates already covered in the sauce of the laalquoi plant? They had the cooked meat.”

  Rezac growled low in his throat, dissatisfied. “That’s so,” he admitted.

  “The laalquoi plant on Jalna. What happened?” asked Kaid.

  “We over-farmed that world about a hundred years before the Fall. The plant interacted with a native mold and it mutated into a form that turned our people as well as theirs violent beyond reasoning. We had to pull out. There was nothing we could do to help the Jalnians until recently.”

  “Oh, yes. And what did you do for them, apart from call in every fifty years to take samples?” demanded Rezac.

  “Why grow so much of this plant?” interrupted Carrie. “There are still resin stones found today on Shola.”

  “It was necessary to our diet. It had a calmative effect on those bearing the warrior blood. Worlds where the soil was right to farm it were rare.”

  “You just ate U’Churian vegetables,” Carrie pointed out.

  “After the Fall, there were few of us left in the City of Light. We had to employ our sciences to help us survive. We needed as large a gene pool as we could get, needed to eat what was available.”

  “The females. You socialized the females,” said Carrie.

  “Among other things.”

  “How?” asked Kaid. “I saw them. They were feral.”

  Zsurtul looked curiously at him. “So were you when deprived of your pregnant mate. Put yourself in a female’s place. Stop giving her the laalquoi, give her no say in her life, and keep her in a breeding room with others like her. Then take her eggs away when they’re due to hatch, knowing that her ravenous young will try to devour each other without her presence. See then how feral you would become.”

  “They did that to them?” asked Carrie, horrified. “You mean they were sentient all along? Gods, but your ancestors were barbaric!”

  “What caste are you?” asked Rezac very quietly.

  Zsurtul looked at him. “An Intellectual,” he murmured.

  “You’re lying. It’s been bothering me since I first saw you, but I finally remembered what it was. Your color. You’re not a breeding male, you’re a drone, aren’t you?”

  “I’m not a drone, though there are drones in my ancestry,” he admitted.

  “Drones?” asked Carrie.

  “Infertile females, almost asexual,” said Rezac. “Used as servants and for sex because access to females was restricted. Jo says there were three on M’ezozakk’s ship. They were moved out of the room he put her in on the M’ijikk.”

  “I’m not a drone,” said Zsurtul, his voice becoming lower as his sand-colored skin flushed a deeper shade.

  Rezac got up and began to slowly stalk round the table to him. “There’s a way to find out,” he said. “Because if he’s lying about this, then all the rest could be lies, too.”

  “Rezac!” warned Kaid, getting rapidly to his feet.

  Rezac looked at him. Trust me.

  Kaid watched as he slowly resumed his seat. Since Rezac had learned about their family relationship, the competitiveness and belligerence that had existed between them seemed to have disappeared.

  Rezac stopped beside Zsurtul and reaching down, grabbed him by the front of his clothing, pulling him to his feet.

  Zsurtul began talking rapidly in Valtegan, trying to dislodge his hands.

  What’s he saying? demanded Kaid. Can you read him?

  Carrie was noticing for the first time how short Zsurtul’s claws were, and that they were carved in intricate patterns. They were not the claws of anyone who might need to use them to defend himself—or was it herself?

  What’s he saying? repeated Kaid.

  He’s babbling about being the Enlightened One, that this is an assault against his person.

  Rezac transferred his grip to the neck of Zsurtul’s garment, and fending off his scrabbling hands, ripped it open to mid-chest level. Then he froze. As he did, Zsurtul became still, his flushed skin paling to an almost deathly white.

  What is it? asked Kaid anxiously.

  His mind has gone still, I can’t sense anything! replied Carrie.

  “You’re not going to believe who we’re got here,” Rezac said very quietly. He spun Zsurtul around, holding the garment open so they could see the markings on his chest. Tattooed there was a symbol Kaid had seen before.

  “You’re looking at the Prime Emperor’s son and heir. The Enlightened One.”

  About three inches across, executed in iridescent colors, was an open ovoid shape resembling an egg, with flames coming from between the two halves.

  “When he’s Emperor, they’ll add the symbols for his name underneath,” said Rezac. “Zashou saw Q’emgo’h’s when he tried to rape her.” He released Zsurtul.

  Carrie was no less stunned than anyone else present. “They’ll follow us,” she said. “As soon as they can. The Primes won’t let us get away with their crown prince.”

  “I figured on that happening anyway,” said Kaid, going over to Zsurtul and pulling his clothing shut again. “My apologies,” he said. “We had to know. You understand that, I’m sure.”

  Zsurtul was shaking with fear and shock. He tried to move but was unable to do so. Kaid helped him return to his seat then turned to Rezac, putting his hand on his shoulder reassuringly. You did well. Was that what you were looking for?

  Not exactly. Breeding males have a tattoo on their chest. A small sigil showing they’re allowed access to the females, he replied as he went back to his seat.

  “I said I was not a drone,” Zsurtul said through clenched teeth.

  “So you used drones in your gene pool,” said Kaid. “How, if they’re asexual?”

  “Drones were inferior females’ eggs kept too cool to hatch as fertile offspring. Many of the eggs that hatched at the time of the Fall were infertile—males and females both. We were forced to utilize all the offspring that were born to be able to survive.” Still in shock, his voice was low and remote.

  Carrie got up and took his bowl to the dispenser to fetch him another drink. He clutched it gratefully in both hands, warming himself against it
.

  “And you have no warrior caste, only those who volunteer to be implanted with a device that does what?”

  “I’m told it can be adjusted to control their moods by shifting their hormone levels. It makes them quick to respond in a more aggressive way than we can.”

  “M’ezozakk’s crew. What did you do with them?” asked Kaid.

  “Implanted them so they would be less violent. We need their genetic material to breed our own warriors. Not like them, though, we’re adjusting their genetic memories so their hatred of the Sholans is removed. We only want to be able to defend ourselves effectively against the M’zullians and the J’kirtikkans.”

  “Two of your four worlds are locked in battle against each other, then there’s you. What about the fourth?”

  “It is harmless. They reverted to a level similar to that of the Jalnians. They are no danger to anyone.”

  “What’s their setup?” asked Carrie. “Do they treat females as equals or shut them in breeding chambers?”

  Zsurtul roused from his torpor. “Why should you care?” he asked. “Females are equal there. The castes are balanced. They are peaceful, there is plenty of laalquoi and they prosper. They are best left alone. We need your help to retrieve the ancient weapon that destroyed your two colonies, and to deal with the M’zullians and the J’kirtikkans who otherwise will wipe us out when they find us.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us all this in the beginning, instead of treating us the way you did?” asked Kaid. “Why didn’t you just ask us for help?”

  “We did. When we took you telepaths, we asked you then. You refused us.”

  “We were never asked anything,” said Kaid.

  “It was done when we took you from your quarters. We couldn’t let you know we were Valtegans, otherwise you would have refused us outright.”

  Rezac made a noise of extreme disgust. “We were drugged then. You expect that to make us change our minds?”

  “You said you only found my cryo unit. Is that true?” asked Carrie suddenly.

  He looked at her, hesitating, obviously weighing his answer. “We found the second unit,” he admitted.

  Hope leaped inside her. “And?”

  “He lives. He’s on the Kz’adul. But he’s changed. You were found first. We operated on you as soon as we were able. He had seizures when we woke him. The doctors had to take desperate measures to ensure his survival.”

  “What measures? What have you done to him?” Her voice caught in her throat.

  “I knew nothing about him until a few days ago,” he said. “But I believe they had to permanently suppress his telepathic ability with an implant. I know he is your other mate and I wish I could tell you more, but I’m not a medic.”

  Carrie felt the surge of anger and grief from Kaid match hers. To go from knowing he was alive to this was just too much for her to accept right now. She forced it deep down inside, trying to distance herself from it.

  “We want him back,” she said, getting to her feet and leaning toward him. “If we don’t get him, then they don’t get you!”

  Closing her mind to Kaid, she turned and left the mess. Too many emotions were fighting for dominance right now, and it could only affect what Kaid was doing, the decisions he had to make. She would have to deal with this alone.

  Chapter 15

  Commander Q’ozoi looked up from his comp reader as Doctors Chy’qui and Zayshul entered.

  “Chy’qui, what in the name of the God-King were you doing letting Prince Zsurtul conduct an experiment with J’koshuk? And why wasn’t I informed first?” he demanded angrily. “Seems to me that since you took over Med Research, there’s been a lot going on there that’s been purposely kept from me.”

  “The Enlightened One insisted, Commander,” said Chy’qui, taking a seat at the conference table opposite him. “He led me to believe you were aware of what was happening.”

  “Enlightened One be damned! He’s still got shell between his toes!”

  Zayshul winced at the blasphemy as she sat down beside Chy’qui.

  “He isn’t old enough to know what he’s doing,” the commander continued. “You should have refused him. You know that getting this treaty with the Sholans is our main objective. J’koshuk’s gotten the one in the IC unit looking like a piece of raw meat! Which one of you authorized letting that damned M’zullian priest loose on the Sholan?”

  “The Prince did, Commander,” said Chy’qui. “Like yourself, I’d no idea J’koshuk was being so violent until almost too late. As for Prince Zsurtul, he is the heir to the throne, whether or not he’s fully adult. You try reasoning with him when he says he’ll inform the Emperor that we’ve been disrespectful of his orders. It makes my position as Head of Med Research and one of the God-King’s counselors even more difficult.”

  “He’s with us as the Emperor’s personal representative,” said Q’ozoi, pulling the comp reader in the center of the table over. “Not as a research scientist! And as for you, Zayshul, what possessed you to take him with you yesterday when you went to talk to our guests from the Profit? It’s thanks to you he’s been taken hostage by them!”

  “He said the Emperor wanted him to have experience of the work we were doing with the M’zullians,” interrupted Chy’qui.

  “Commander, it isn’t as easy for us to deal with Prince Zsurtul as it is for you,” Zayshul said, shooting an angry look at Chy’qui. He invariably took every opportunity to remind the commander he was now in charge of Med Research. “I don’t know about his interest in the M’zullians, but he’s fascinated with our guests. It’s difficult to turn him away when he has his own bodyguard. As for yesterday, he joined me at the last moment. I didn’t take him with me.”

  The commander’s forehead creased in a frown. “I suppose that does make sense. He was the one pushing for them to be released yesterday, to the extent of wanting to contact the Emperor if I wouldn’t authorize it. Does he use his personal guards to threaten you?”

  “No, not exactly,” replied Zayshul. “He lets their presence intimidate. You know yourself that they’re more likely to overreact than the regular guards because of their specialized implants. Normally, we aren’t exposed to them, but they’re wherever he is, and they’re programmed to see everyone but the royal family as a potential threat. It’s difficult not to feel intimidated by their very presence.”

  “If we get him back, what’s left of his damned bodyguard gets shut down till we get home,” hissed the commander angrily. “That incident in the landing bay nearly cost you and him your lives! Why didn’t you tell me about this long before now?”

  Chy’qui and Zayshul exchanged glances, for once in accord with each other.

  “Point taken,” sighed Q’ozoi. “Zayshul, how likely are the Sholans to harm Prince Zsurtul? I know you were doing most of the treatment to their injured personnel. After your experiences as their hostage, you probably know more about them than anyone on the Kz’adul.”

  “It depends on what he does,” said Zayshul. “They did kill one of his guards and shoot the other when he ran.” A visible shudder ran through her at the memory of the murder. At that point, she’d been sure she was going to be next. “But they didn’t harm me when they could easily have done so. And they worked as a team, all of them, despite the fact they belong to four different species.”

  “Damned overzealous bodyguard! The implant control room should have picked him up and neutralized him,” said Q’ozoi. “I seem to remember from the reports that the only other time our guests offered violence to anyone was to the priest, J’koshuk.”

  Zayshul grimaced. “He’s an animal. Why do we need the M’zullians’ genetic material? The thought of hundreds of him running around is awful.”

  “Because the alternative is implanting volunteers, you know that,” snapped Chy’qui. “We need reliable warriors who can breed. Implants become sterile. I disagree with Zayshul’s opinion of the Sholans. I’ve viewed the log tapes of the incident in the hangar. There was n
o need to kill that guard just because he ran. They’re killers as ferocious as the M’zullians. Look at the behavior of the one who mated with the injured female when he was returned to his companions. He ripped the room and its furnishings to shreds! He was looking for an opportunity for revenge on us because of what J’koshuk did. And he took it the first chance he got. By killing two guards and taking Prince Zsurtul.”

  “They don’t know who he is,” said Zayshul quietly. “They thought he was an officer. I don’t think they’ll harm the prince, Commander, because the one called Kaid saw him when he was brought to the stasis room to collect his mate.”

  “He’d no business being there,” began Chy’qui but the commander waved him to silence.

  “Why did you separate them, Zayshul? What was the point? If she’d been returned with him, then this regrettable incident couldn’t have happened in the first place.”

  “I didn’t separate them, Commander,” said Zayshul. “I wanted her returned but Doctor Chy’qui overruled me. Said there were further tests he wanted to do. She was fit enough to be returned in my opinion.”

  Q’ozoi turned a questioning look on him.

  “I wanted to be sure she wouldn’t go into convulsions like the Sholan male.”

  “Highly unlikely, in my opinion. And not returning her was what made her mate, Kaid, trash the room, not a violent nature!” she said, thanking the spirits of past God-Kings that Chy’qui had been off-duty when the incident with J’koshuk had taken place. Had it not been for the Prince’s backing in demanding the commander be involved immediately, she was sure the Human female wouldn’t have been returned to her mate.

  Q’ozoi had turned his attention to the reader again. “Chy’qui, have the M’zullians from the M’ijikk all been processed? Have you gotten all the genetic samples from them you need?”

  “Yes,” hissed Chy’qui. “They were handed over to Personnel for training assignments about a week ago.”

  Q’ozoi nodded, placing the reader back on the table. “Chy’qui, you were in charge of the Sholan male, Kusac. I see you had him implanted. Why? Surely the device is too specific to our own species to use on them? And why was he kept separate from the rest of his crew?”