Wind Demon Triology: Book II: Evil Wind

by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

  The thought of dying in such a manner unsettled him. Had that not been how most of his bloodbrothers had ended their existence on Rysalia Prime? Even in his dreams—and Reapers were not allowed to dream his parasite reminded him—he could hear the screams as the flames spread. In that conflagration the Daughters of the Multitude had set the first group of Reaper Cadets on fire and nineteen brave men had died in agony as the females cheered.

  Yet there were allies among the females. Those women helped free five Reaper Cadets before the cheering, bloodthirsty Multitude realized anything was amiss. So intent were the women, so mesmerized by the screeches of agony coming from the Cage of Fire, Sajin and four of his bloodbrothers had been able to escape. But as luck would have it, their departure did not escape notice and a lucky laser blast had set Aidan's tunic on fire. The hapless warrior had run into the crowd, away from the safety of his rescuers, despite Sajin's frantic call. Aidan had died, but not before taking with him two females of the Multitude he had embraced in his death throes.

  Aidan had been Sajin's own twin. He was grieving for his twin, though he did not know the feeling in his body was that of exacting sadness. The loss of his twin bloodbrother was emptiness not unlike the terrible loneliness Sajin had been forced to endure on Montyne Vex and would be forced to endure for as long as he drew breath.

  * * * *

  And on board the ship speeding toward the wormhole from Rysalia Prime, a secret, coded transmission went out from the Multitude's ship to another ship half a day's journey away: “Sajin Cree is in the western caves on Montyne Vex."

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  The Prophetess-Mother—adorned in the plush robes of her exalted office—came onto the bridge of the Revenant and took the command chair offered her by the captain, Imelda Doine. The ship was an LRC—a long-range cruiser—that had once belonged to the Prime Reaper, himself, and had been expressly chosen by LeJong Kym as her personal flagship. Retrofitted to exacting specifications in weaponry and speed, the Revenant was a formidable vessel though not one single thing had been changed in the captain's quarters. Now the quarters of the Prophetess-Mother, those belongings there still bore the scent and touch of the warrior who had owned them.

  "They are one hour from the anomaly, Your Eminence,” the captain reported. “Shall we follow them through?"

  "No,” Kym replied. “Stop beyond the danger zone away from the wormhole and when you are sure...” Her dark eyes had bored into the captain's. “When you are very sure the StarRaider is safely out of range, send the transmission, and then fire the missiles to collapse the anomaly."

  "You are sure this is what you want?” the Auxiliary Prophetess inquired. She wanted to try one last time to have the Prophetess-Mother see reason.

  "Aye, Shei-Ling,” Kym said. “I am positive."

  "If that was Sajin Cree on the Vex..."

  "It was,” Kym said. She lifted her head. “And he will be mine."

  "If not the father then the son,” Shei-Ling said softly.

  "Aye,” Kym said. “That will be the way of it."

  Giving the order to slow the engines of the Revenant, Captain Doine crossed her arms over her chest and watched the vid-com screen as the fleeing StarRaider approached the anomaly. She cast a quick look to the Auxiliary Prophetess but when no more discussion of the wisdom of closing the wormhole was made, turned her attention back to the other ship.

  "Ten minutes to breech of the wormhole,” the Revenant's Nav Off reported.

  "Prepare your weapons, Lawrence,” the captain ordered.

  "Aye, aye, ma'am,” the weapons specialist replied. She began gearing up the missiles that would be fired into the wormhole.

  Every eye was on the vid-com and when the electric blue sparks rippled like waves around the ship then settled, the StarRaider was no longer in sight.

  "May the Wind be always at your back, Kamerone Cree,” LeJong Kym said, her heart breaking and her eyes filling with tears. She looked to Captain Doine. “When you are sure he is safe, Captain, send the transmission then let's end this once and for all."

  Doine nodded. “Send transmission now then on my mark in ten, nine, eight...” the captain of the Revenant began.

  * * * *

  The percussion from the closing of the wormhole washed over the Ailith and it dropped a few feet but soon righted itself, the ripple effect of the disturbance barely registering on the ship's computers.

  "We can never go home again,” Iyan told Khiershon.

  "Don't think of it in that way, my friend,” Khiershon said. “Think of it that we have left our troubles behind us."

  "I hope so,” Iyan remarked. “I truly hope so."

  As most of the passengers on board the Ailith either slipped into the E.S.U.s for their one and a half month rotation at hyper sleep or made their way to their quarters to rest or to thank their gods for deliverance from the threat of the Multitude, Dorrie Burkhart and Raine McGregor were sitting quietly at a table in the lounge with a snifter of potent Chalean brandy from the duplicator.

  "I will try harder this time, Dorrie,” Raine said. “I really missed you and I was so afraid I'd never see you again.” He hung his head. “I know I'm not easy to live with but...."

  Dorrie reached out a hand to cover his. “I really never once doubted I'd go home,” she said. “I knew if Kam couldn't find a way to get us there, you and the others would.” She squeezed his hand then released it.

  "I know you love him,” Raine said and looked up at her. She was stunned to see tears in the Serenian's eyes. “But I love you, and I will do whatever it takes to show you that I do."

  Though there would be only one man Dorrie Burkhart would ever love in her lifetime, she knew that man was forever off limits to her. She smiled. “Then you'd best learn how to change a tire, McGregor,” she said, “because I've changed my last one for your royal ass."

  * * * *

  Khiershon Cree, the ten Reapers who had been saved from execution on Rysalia Prime and their female counterpart had all decided to watch the disklettes pertaining to Reaper history and programming together as a team. The disklettes that contained their personal histories were to be saved until they could view them privately. When the last disklette was finished, all twelve of them sat like statues, unable to speak or move for the knowledge they had gleaned from the data presented had shocked them to their foundations. Though Khiershon had discovered some of the hidden information already, the full scope of it had rocked him and he—like his bloodkin—was astonished.

  "Does he know of this?” Taegin was the first to ask.

  Khiershon nodded. “He viewed the disklettes on Rysalia Prime."

  "And you say there is more he is to be told?” Taegin inquired and at Khiershon's silent nod, asked how much more shocking must that information be.

  "It pertains to him,” Khiershon said, “but I've a feeling in my gut it will effect all of us, as well."

  "This is disturbing,” Rylan said. “Very disturbing."

  "We can swim,” Eachan said. “I don't find that disturbing."

  "It's a scary thought but to be able to plunge into a stream and swim.... “Braiden's eyes gleamed with contentment.

  "I like that we can have as many mates as we like,” Comyn said.

  "No, we can't,” Khiershon said sternly.

  "I heard you have mated with two women,” Taegin remarked then held up a hand when Khiershon would have berated him. “Not that I am advocating such a thing."

  "It is true I have had intercourse with two women, but I have had only one true mate. The reason I was able to sleep with the other was because I never had the indoctrination given to me before puberty that told me I could not happen."

  "But we can mate with more than one woman,” Comyn said.

  "You do so at your own peril,” Khiershon said. “I can tell you having a woman who is not your mate hankering after you is a pain in the ass."

  "Mayhap I will,” Comyn replied, “and mayhap I won't."

  "Well,
Coure, I can see a problem with doing such a thing, you idjut,” Killian said dryly.

  "Aye, so can I,” Ghrian said, “and if it's all the same to you, I am quite happy with that restriction of just one mate."

  "As am I,” Corydon remarked. “I've an Amazeen."

  "Aye, as well as most of us does,” Toryn commented.

  "If the prohibition is strong in us from that indoctrination, I doubt we will be able to take a second mate,” Taegin told them. “As for me, I don't wish to test the strength of the prohibition."

  "Aye, it would depend on just how strong the sublim during the indoctrination was,” Ghrian agreed.

  "May I suggest while we are still trying to absorb all this, we retire to our quarters and view the disklettes on our individual lives,” Khiershon said. “Best to get the bad news out of the way before we start learning about how to live on Terra."

  "When will that begin?” Comyn asked.

  "My lady has suggested it be done in an E.S.U.,” Khiershon said. “We can readily absorb it quickly and easily like sublims."

  "Good notion,” Taegin agreed. “I'm all for ease of learning."

  "Then beginning tomorrow, we'll enter the E.S.U.s set aside for us and take our training on how to be good little Reapers on planet Terra,” Khiershon said with a grin.

  "Terra won't know what hit it,” Danielle commented with a wink.

  * * * *

  Raven stood looking down at the sleeping Reaper. The ‘bot's head was cocked to the side as he observed the man then it swiveled around to give Troi a perplexed look. “'A conscious slumber seems to take, and would not, for the world, awake'."

  "'But sleep that pondereth ... ‘"

  "'By a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to?'” Troi asked.

  The cybot shook its head. “'For the heart whose woes are legion ‘tis a peaceful, soothing region',” Raven declared.

  "'To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub,'” Troi said softly.

  "'All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream',” Raven replied.

  Nodding together, Troi reached out and broke the seal on Kamerone Cree's E.S.U. Very gently, he put his hand on the Prime Reaper's shoulder and shook him.

  "'Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more!’”

  The sleeping Reaper's golden eyes opened slowly and though it took them a moment to adjust, to focus, Cree knew who was hovering over him.

  "I've missed you, Troi,” he said hoarsely.

  Troi hung his head. “'I can no other answer make but thanks',” it whispered.

  "And you are Raven?” Cree asked. He put a hand to his temple were the pain had started in earnest again.

  "'Nevermore',” Raven replied with a bow of his head.

  "You two getting along?” Cree queried.

  Troi grinned. “'My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature'."

  "Good,” Cree said. He tried to sit up and found he was too weak but both ‘bots hastened to slide their hands under him to lift him. “Where's Tylan?"

  "'Off with his head!'” Troi proclaimed. “'I dote on his very absence.’”

  "I know you don't like him but could you cut him some slack for me?"

  Troi sniffed. “'I am not in the giving vein today'."

  "Please? For me? Will you go find him?"

  "'Some of us will smart for it',” Troi said then trundled off, muttering to himself.

  Raven bowed elegantly then hurried after its fellow ‘bot.

  Cree sat there with his fingertips pressed tightly to his temples, trying to quell the nausea that was pushing up his throat. The pain was almost more than he could stand and it took every ounce of his strength to keep it at bay. When he heard Tylan snapping at Troi, he couldn't keep from smiling though the very movement of his facial muscles sent spirals of agony through his head.

  "'You are not worth the dust which the rude wind blows in your face'!” the ‘bot sneered.

  "And if you don't leave me the fuck alone I am going to turn your plastiform ass into dust!” Tylan hissed, spinning around to fix the ‘bot with a hateful glare. “Get the hell out of here. Why did you wake him up in the first place?"

  Troi lifted his head. “'There is something in the wind',” he said then stomped off.

  "Something in the wind? Something in the wind?” Tylan repeated. “What the hell is that supposed to mean you piece of plastiform shit?"

  "Could you snarl just a bit softer, Kahn?” Cree asked, wincing. “I think my queen summoned him to wake me."

  "Your parasite?” Tylan asked. He came up to the E.S.U. and lowered the side so the Prime Reaper could swing his legs down.

  "No, not the parasite,” Cree replied but didn't feel like explaining about the goddess who had spoken to him.

  "You look like shit,” Tylan said and put a hand out to smooth the hair from the Reaper's sweaty forehead.

  "I feel like I've got a gods-be-damned ten-ton Diabolusian warthog sitting on my head,” Cree said as he struggled to ease his legs from the mattress of the E.S.U.

  "That bad, huh?"

  "That bad."

  "I was going to come wake you in about an hour anyway,” Tylan said.

  Cree lifted his head and looked up at Kahn. “Are we to Corinth yet?"

  "Corinth?” Tylan asked then grinned. “Reaper, we're about an hour from the backside of Terran's moon."

  The Reaper's mouth dropped open. “What?” he asked.

  "You heard me."

  "How long have I been asleep?"

  "Almost two months,” Tylan said. “We managed to encounter a solar storm that knocked us way off course or we'd have been closer to the Terran moon before now. You missed one helluva rocket ride during that storm and we have slight problem."

  "What kind of problem?"

  "Well, apparently while we've been gone, the Terrans have colonized their moon. It's a good thing we're on the far side but we won't be able to stay here without them eventually discovering us. We're going to have to find a place to dock this bird."

  "You mean on Terra?"

  "Aye,” Tylan said. “We can get it through their pitiful radar that's still antique as far as we're concerned, but finding a big enough space to land it then concealing it.... “He shook his head. “That's going to be a bitch."

  "We're really that close to home?” Cree asked, his eyes betraying his hope.

  Tylan nodded. “That close to home."

  Moisture filled Cree's eyes and he looked away, closing his lids over the tell-tale brightness. “That close to Bridget."

  Kahn smiled. “Aye, my friend. You're that close to her."

  The Reaper looked up quickly. “Are we safe?” he asked, searching Tylan's face. “Is it safe for me...."

  "Aye, but Caitlin, Khiershon's lady, doesn't want us to transport you down to Terra until she removes the M-Rs in your brain. She doesn't want to take the risk so she's got an operatory set up for that.” He scratched his chin. “We'll contact Beryla as soon as we're in orbit behind the moon. We will transport her, Amala, Aurora, Tina, and Ivonne up to help Caitlin. I don't think Dorrie needs to be in on it, do you?"

  Cree shook his head and wished he hadn't. The action increased his nausea. “No, I don't want her or Bridie there when the procedure is done."

  "Might be hard to keep her from knowing,” Tylan said, “but I'll see what I can do."

  "I don't want Bridie here, Tylan. If something goes wrong...."

  "Nothing is going to go wrong,” Kahn stated emphatically. “LeJong Kym sent along your medical files which include the biomapping of the implants. She also sent the instruments that will be needed to remove those implants. Nothing—I repeat nothing—is going to go wrong."

  "We have much to bless LeJong for,” Cree said.

  Tylan expelled a long breath, gaining Cree's undivided attention.

  "There's something else?” the Reaper asked.

  "We received a transmission from Kym just as we cleared the w
ormhole. It was meant for your eyes only and was transferred from our main computer to a disklette. The message is encoded but she says you will know the correct password to access it. She stressed that you must view the disklette before you return to Terra. She said it was imperative that you do so."

  "Then let me see it,” Cree said.

  "You can do that after the implants are...."

  "Let me see it now, Tylan,” Cree interrupted. “If there is something that might cause harm to Bridget or my son, I want to know about it now."

  "Cree...."

  "Let me see it."

  The two men stared at one another for a long moment then Tylan nodded. He reached into the pocket of his trousers and took out the disk. “I knew you'd get stubborn about it so I brought it along.” He looked around at the computer console and went over to drop the disklette into the slot. “Want me to stay?"

  "No,” Cree said. If there was something bad coming, he didn't want an audience to watch him come apart.

  "You sure?"

  "Aye.” He eased off the bed of the E.S.U. and wavered, putting a hand to the pain eating away at his brain.

  Tylan quickly took his arm and helped him to the chair in front of the computer. “I want to go on record that I don't think this is a good idea right now."

  "So noted, Admiral,” Cree said as he sat down, heaving a sigh.

  Tylan stood there a moment then shrugged. “Holler if you need me,” he said as he headed for the door.

  "I'm in no condition to holler, Kahn,” Cree replied.

  Once the door to his quarters was closed, the Prime Reaper put his hand on the mouse and clicked through the programs until he found the one that would read the disklette. He typed in the word Ruesello then slumped in the chair as the computer screen switched from complete black to the unsmiling face of the new Prophetess-Mother.

  "This can't be good if you look so grim, LeJong,” he said softly but almost as soon as the words were out of his mouth, the woman on the screen smiled gently.