Afterburn

by S. L. Viehl

  Burn closed the door panel and secured it. “How did they die?” He sounded harsh, but he didn’t care. The two guards had been his friends from childhood.

  “They were dismembered by a blade. All their bones were removed.”

  “That’s how Ninrana do it.” He turned to Dair. “You remember all the bones they have saved on that bleeding rock of a world they inhabit?”

  “I don’t think it was Urloy-ka and his people,” Shon said. “They’ve been complaining that they miss fresh meat ever since they joined the summit. They don’t know this planet or the ocean well enough to hide the bodies so cleverly. And there has been little opportunity for them to slip away from the URD to kill so many.”

  “But Ninrana use blades, and they debone everything.”

  “They are quite infamous for their death feasts, Burn. That’s why I think this was staged, to make it appear as if the Ninrana killed these people,” Shon said.

  “Dair and I may have uncovered the remains earlier than the killers expected,” Onkar added. “The delegates are scheduled to go on an outing tomorrow. Administrator Hansen thought it would be good for them to get away from the negotiation table until the Ninrana-Ylydii alliance could be absorbed. The wrill island is located on the route they were going to follow.”

  “The delegates would think the Ninrana killed them.” Burn put a fin to his head. “It would bring back the horror over their practices before the Skartesh invasion.”

  “It would have far more damaging effect than that,” Shon said. “The Ninrana pledged to give up death feasts and ritual sacrifice in exchange for a place at this summit. This would automatically disqualify them from participating further. The Skartesh are only permitted at the summit because the Ninrana agreed not to take revenge for their invasion. A promise Urloy-ka would undoubtedly revoke the moment he was kicked out of the summit. The Ylydii only agreed to come to the summit if the Ninrana and Skartesh issues were at the table, so they will leave, and the ’Zangians would not agree to participate unless every species was represented.”

  “The peace process would not only be disrupted,” Onkar said. “It would be permanently damaged. None of the delegates would ever trust the others again.”

  “It’s like finding a bomb just before it detonates.” Burn looked at Dair helplessly. “Can’t I go out and shoot whoever is responsible?”

  She shook her head. “We have to find out who did this first. Tonight.” The wall panel chimed, and she went over to answer it. “It’s my mom,” she told the men. “Probably about my dad. I’ll take it over in the office next door.”

  Burn listened as the other two males discussed ways to deal with the wrill island, but Dair came back almost immediately. “Shon, you were testing DNA a few weeks ago. Why?”

  The oKiaf looked slightly uncomfortable. “It’s an Intelligence issue.”

  “It’s a Hsktskt SEAL, you mean.” She made a frustrated sound. “Major, I really hate hearing stuff like this from my mother.”

  “How did Teresa know . . . ?”

  “Noel Argate—who is now missing a head—told my mother about it right before he was killed. She says she’ll explain all that later. What occurred to her was that there could be a Hsktskt SEAL at the peace summit causing all our trouble.” Dair gave Shon a hard look. “If you had evidence that an enemy alterform is on this planet, we should have been made aware of it.”

  “We don’t know that there is,” Shon admitted. “We only suspect there might be. Some alterformed cells were found on one of the mercenary derelicts. The cells were in preform condition.”

  Burn scowled. “What?”

  “It’s the radical stuff, cousin. Preform is the stage a SEAL goes through before a complete physical transformation,” Dair told him. “Like what Shon went through to look like Rushan Amariah.”

  “Whoever this spy is—if there is one—had a complete genetic makeover,” Shon said. “The cells aren’t that old, so it was fairly recent. Maybe within the last three cycles. The only way to tell is to check DNA. Alterforming leaves certain flaws that can’t be erased.” He gave them an ironic look. “Mine are registered at the FreeClinic, in case you think it’s me.”

  One of the ’Zangian guards overrode the door panel lock and strode in. “Sorry, sir,” he said to Shon, “but you said if anything happened—”

  The major was already on his feet. “What is it?”

  “Ambassador Carada and two members of her delegation were abducted by the Ninrana delegate, and have been taken off-planet,” he said. “The ambassador’s daughter was found shot in the head.”

  While Dair and Onkar scrambled to the pilots’ pod, Shon went with Burn to the URD infirmary pool, where Liana had been brought from the breeding caverns. The sight of her lifeless body in the water, now stained with blood from a massive head wound, made Burn tear off his flightsuit and dive in. He wrenched her away from the attending ’Zangian medic and held her in his arms, calling her name softly.

  “Liana?” He was careful to hold her under the surface so she could keep breathing. “Open your eyes, come on now. I need to see them again.”

  Shon watched as Burn’s voice made the young Ylydii female stir. The two parallel marks on his chest burned as he felt the brush of her soul.

  Burn looked up at him, bewildered and aghast. “She can’t die. We’re mated. She’s carrying my child. She can’t die.”

  The medic looked at Shon, shook her head, and then silently retreated from the pool out to the sea.

  Shon lowered himself into the water and swam over to the tragic pair. “If it is her time, Byorn, you have to let her go.”

  “It is not her time,” Burn shouted. “Someone shot her in the head. Someone who I’m going to find and tear apart as soon as . . . as soon . . .” He choked on the words and looked down at her. “Can’t you do something?”

  Shon studied Liana’s young, thin face. She was black all over, with veiled fins of more colors than he had names for. She was like nothing on his world, just as Burn was. It was not her time; life had been stolen from her. Just as it had been stolen from Jadaira.

  I can’t do this again. If I do, they’ll know. I’ll never be free.

  But what was freedom, if he had to deny what he was, and hide it, and hide from it?

  “Give her to me,” he said to Burn.

  The ’Zangian wouldn’t let go of her. “She’ll wake up now. Any minute.” Burn was no longer seeing Shon or anything else. “She has these eyes, Shon. Black, but they glow green. That’s how you know she’s special. A royal.”

  Shon knew then that he wasn’t going to be able to pry the Ylydii away from Burn. He took a deep breath and put one hand in the water and rested it over her wound.

  “Don’t be afraid,” he told the ’Zangian. “This gets pretty intense.”

  Burn stared at him. “What does?”

  On oKia, all males had some measure of the touch. It was usually only enough for them to heal their own minor wounds quickly and cleanly. In a few, it was enough to heal the wounds of others, as long as they weren’t serious. Only one or two males in every tribe had the ability to heal serious wounds, and usually became their tribe’s healer.

  Among all the tribes, there were only two other males like Shon, who were born with a touch so powerful it could literally bring the dead back to life. One was Shon’s father, who had refused to use his touch after it had failed to bring back Shon’s brother, who had been dead too long to revive. His father had never told anyone of Shon’s gift, and Horvon Jala had promised to keep it secret as well.

  There was no conscious act to the touch. Shon put his hands on the wounded, and poured whatever was inside him down through his hands and into the wound. The marks on his chest, which had been removed with alterforming but had reappeared almost immediately, burned with the energy he flooded into Liana. From between his hand and Liana’s wound a brilliant white light glowed.

  Shon had no idea where it came from, or what it was, but he knew instinct
ively that the light was the true power. He was only the conduit it used.

  Liana stirred, and then cried out. So did Burn, who had turned his head away to protect his eyes but still held Liana in a fierce grip.

  Knowing she was near death, Shon gave everything he had to the touch, and then felt it ebb as Liana grew stronger. He watched through the light and saw the wound close and the blood disappear. Finally the Ylydii was whole again, and he removed his hand.

  Burn blinked several times, and then stared at him. “You did that to Dair. You’re the mysterious force.”

  Too drained to speak, Shon nodded, and moved away from the young lovers to hold on to the side of the pool. Using the touch took something out of him each time, although this wasn’t quite as bad as when he had revived Jadaira. That time he had thought that he might have pushed past the limits of his tremendous gift.

  Shon looked over his shoulder and saw the two aquatics swimming together under water. He wasn’t sorry he had exposed himself in front of Burn. To return stolen life was never wrong. It simply caused more complications in his life than he wanted.

  Burn surfaced and looked at Shon. “I owe you, Major.”

  “Yeah, you do.” Shon smiled down at Liana. “How is she?”

  “Perfect.” The ’Zangian’s hide darkened. “Exactly as she was before the Hsktskt SEAL agent shot her in the head.”

  CHAPTER 18

  Liana didn’t understand why her life had been spared. She only knew that it had been, through the blinding and terrifying light that Shon Valtas had somehow summoned and poured over her. She no longer needed evidence that a higher power existed. It existed in him, and the exchange had been made.

  The life that had been given for hers would not be given in vain.

  There was no time to explain to Burn and Shon what had happened in the cavern. I have to get to the Ylydii ship in orbit, she told Burn. That is where they are taking them.

  Shon and I are going after them; you’re staying here, she was told. Just tell me who shot you. Was it that Ninrana?

  Liana looked into his eyes, saw the tiny reflection of herself in them. It gave her the courage to lie to him, this one last time. I didn’t see who it was, but I will never forget the smell.

  Burn look frustrated. Describe it to me.

  I’m sorry, I can’t. I don’t have words for it. You have to take me with you.

  He left her in the water to speak to Shon, and then returned. You’ll have to share a gunner’s seat with me; we’re taking a strafer.

  Is it large enough for all three of us?

  The one Shon had outfitted with StarFire is. Burn pulled her close. If anything happens to you now—

  I know. I feel the same about you.

  They did not leave the sea to take a transport; the process of transferring Liana via tank would take too long. Instead, Shon left them to retrieve the strafer, which he would land on the surface of the water in order for the aquatics to board.

  While they waited for the ship, Burn outfitted Liana in a protective flightsuit. She refused the weapon harness he wanted to strap onto her body, however, as her fins had not been altered like his to manipulate guns and blades.

  I don’t want you to be defenseless, Burn said as he strapped on his own gear.

  I won’t be. Burn, what did that male do to me?

  Shon? I don’t know. He even made one of my scars disappear. He reached up and touched his face, and for the first time Liana realized the blade scar he had received during the mercenary attack was gone. I’ve never seen or felt anything like it.

  He healed me with his hands.

  That’s all I saw him use. Burn looked at her. We can’t tell anyone about Shon. If quadrant knew about his ability, they’d lock him up somewhere.

  Liana understood that better than her mate knew. She looked up through the dome viewer and saw the shadow of the strafer as it landed topside. He’s here.

  Boarding the strafer only took a minute, and Liana slipped into the emergency harness across from the gunner’s console, which left her facing Burn. She liked watching him go about his duty, powering up this and checking that. He seemed completely absorbed by the panels and screens and readouts, and yet glanced up when he felt her gaze on him.

  Not as glamorous as the front seat, he told her. One of these days I’ll actually be certified and able to fly you somewhere.

  Once it would have terrified her to think of Burn as her mate. Now she saw how foolish she had been, not to trust him, not to tell him. Why do you want to be a pilot when you’re so good with weapons?

  Burn lifted a fin to check something embedded in the console above his head. My cousin is a pilot, and I’ve always wanted to be like her.

  You can be like someone without following their path. Liana didn’t think of the future. The ’Zangians lived in the now, and here, with him, was where she most wanted to be. How long will it take to reach our ship in orbit?

  Not long, and it may get very rough up there. His face grew stern. You keep that harness on and your head down.

  She managed an Ylydii version of a military salute. Yes, sir, Sublieutenant.

  Burn gave her a headset, which allowed her to listen in on the conversations he had with Shon. The military shorthand they used was like a different language, but as they shot up into space she made out that the other pilots had already launched and were in pursuit of a shuttle on which the Ylydii delegate and two others had been taken by force. She held her tongue as they worked out how best to approach the Ylydii ship and face any attackers.

  All Liana needed them to do was to get her on board.

  The problems started a few minutes before they caught up with their target.

  Major, we’ve got transmission interference, Burn said. Looks like some sort of wave jammer. I’m not able to pick up anything from the pod or Flight Control.

  Switch to auxiliary and boost the signal, Shon transmitted from the helm. You’ve got to patch us through. I have to coordinate with the pod; we’ll need them.

  Acknowledged.

  Static crackled over Liana’s headset as Burn linked them to the transponder. He was able to reduce the noise, but the signals he sent to the other ’Zangians and the controllers on K-2 went unanswered.

  Major, whatever jammer they’re using has disrupted all communications around the planet, Burn told Shon. Nothing’s sending or receiving; not even the emergency channels.

  Stand by. The strafer turned as Shon flew through the ring of moons and emerged into clear space. The Ylydii ship has left orbit and is en route to Ninra. I suppose Urloy-ka will feel safer keeping the captives on his native soil. My track says the pod is flying in escort formation around it.

  Escort? Burn sounded astonished. Why are they doing that?

  I’d love to ask, but we’re relay dead for the moment.

  Liana leaned forward to look through the viewer before she said, Burn, Major Valtas, we can’t let the ship reach Ninra. If it does, everyone on board will be killed.

  How do you know that? Shon asked.

  They’re not going to land. They’re going to crash the ship on the planet.

  Dair had never flown with Onkar as her gunner, and she was becoming impatient with the problems he was having with the transponder. What do you mean, we can’t signal anyone, not even on the emergency channels?

  All transmissions have been jammed, not only ours, her mate said. I am trying to find a solution.

  Try harder.

  She knew she was being more irritable than the situation called for, but this entire fiasco was beginning to get on her nerves. They rushed up to save the Ylydii ambassador, only to discover that Carada and Urloy-ka had decided to withdraw from the peace summit and return to their respective homeworlds.

  I don’t know where you are getting your information, Commander, the Ylydii ambassador had told her, but there was no abduction. Delegate Urloy-ka and I decided it was better for us to leave before any more “accidents” occurred. I offered to escort
him home on my vessel. You can return to your planet and assure the officials that all is well.

  Lady Ambassador, I request you allow us to board so we can assure you are not in any danger. Dair didn’t want to tell her about Liana over an open channel.

  Dair and Onkar had boarded the ship, and were greeted by both Carada and Urloy-ka, who showed no signs of being under any coercion. The ship’s crew reported that everything was normal and that they were taking orders from Carada. No one was waving around arms or making threats.

  Dair stayed long enough for her own peace of mind, and then told Carada that the pod would escort the Ylydii to Ninra. It will be safest, and you will probably want to return to K-2 as soon as possible. She then related what little she knew of Liana’s injury.

  I was told a short time ago that my daughter has mated with a ’Zangian, Carada said. She is no longer of any use to me.

  Dair’s jaw sagged. Ambassador, your daughter could be dead, or dying. Don’t you want to see her?

  Liana betrayed her people by mating with one of yours. Being shot was what she deserved. I only wish I could have done it myself.

  Feeling completely disgusted, Dair and Onkar left the Ylydii ship and signaled the patrol to fly escort for them. Halfway to Ninra the transponders began to fail, and within a thousand kim of the planet they weren’t working at all.

  Do you think the Ninrana are broadcasting this jammer so they can attack the Ylydii as soon as they’re in orbit? Dair asked her mate.

  I doubt it. Since the Skartesh invasion, the Ninrana have few ships, and very little advanced technology. If this is indeed a jammer, it would have to be one of the most powerful made. Stand by. Onkar switched to a different channel for a few moments. Dair, I’m getting a weak signal from the Ylydii ship. It’s Carada, and she’s received a warning from the planet. Mercenaries have stolen StarFire, hijacked one of our strafers, and are headed this way to attack the ship.

  How is it that her transponder is working and ours isn’t? Dair tried to patch through on the channel herself, but the signal faded away.

  Her ship could have passed through an opening loop in the jamming field. Onkar’s tone changed. Scanners show a single strafer heading on a direct course for the Ylydii ship.