Man, she was way too nice all of the sudden. I put an arm around Sapale and stepped backward into Stingray.
“Rameeka Blue Green now,” I said as the wall was sealing.
“I’m detecting a variance in the power couplings,” said Al.
“Is it a deal breaker? Can we split?”
“Yes, unless we override it.”
“Where are the couplings located?”
“Rear left corner.”
As I suspected, probably out of range for my counter rune. I sprinted for the corner. Slight nausea was never so welcome as it was when I was halfway there.
I strode into the control room. “That was close … where’s Sapale?”
“Sorry, Captain, as soon as you left the room, she vanished.”
SEVEN
“Guvrof, I’d like you to look over these minor alterations in our master plan for galactic conquest,” said High Wedge Lesset as he handed a mini storage chip to his right-hand dog.
Guvrof slipped the memory stick into his handheld and studied it for several minutes. He was a patient and a cautious individual. In other words, he was a survivor of the draconian Adamant hierarchy. Still rubbing absently behind his ear, he said, “Aren’t these basically the changes Varsor insisted we consider just before you relieved him of the burden of life?”
Lesset poured himself a drink and sat down. “Yes, almost verbatim.”
“Then why’d you shoot him if he was right?”
“My friend, there’s right and there’s right in the correct manner. His sin was the former of the two.”
Guvrof chuckled. “I hope he doesn’t get wind of this in the afterlife. He’d be even more pissed.”
“Then I will assign that idiot Loserandi the duty of praying it continually so that he might.”
“Remind me to never get on your bad side,” he said with another chuckle.
“Your only reminder will be a one-way ticket to join poor old Varsor in his misery.”
“So, why the change? Isn’t our master plan supposed to be inviolable?”
“It’s but a minor tweak.”
“You said as much already.”
“I began to wonder how much more effective an allied alien defense might be.”
Guvrof began to chide his companion for his uncharacteristic sojourn into thought. But he bit his tongue. It was unwise to speak truth to power.
“And what did you conclude?”
“In the end, why worry about the issue? We were going to assimilate them soon enough. Why not switch their place in line so that there is no need to worry about what they might accomplish?”
“A very convincing argument.”
“I’d like you to circulate it among the others, get them to back the plan before I present it for discussion during our next meeting.”
“The one next week?”
“Precisely.”
“And if I am unable to fully sway a council member in so short a time?”
“Then you will tell me exactly what his concerns are, and I will address them.”
“So, there’s wiggle room in your proposal. You’re willing to negotiate the specifics?”
“Not in the least.”
“Then why do you want to know a dissenter’s actual reservations?”
“So I may inscribe them on his headstone. We should all be remembered for what we stood for during our brief journeys.”
EIGHT
My immediate thoughts were to return to Nocturnat and begin doing some major-league ass kicking. But I realized that would be counterproductive. It would be infinitely preferable to have the Plezrite as friends, if for Mirraya and Slapgren’s sake alone. Plus, they would have spirited Sapale into hiding, so my violence would be undirected. Sooner or later, I’d fatigue or make a mistake and they get an opportunity to do me in. No, I had to speak with Cala.
I materialized where I had before and ran to her house. I reached up to knock, but she opened the door before I could.
“My what an unpleasant …” she began to say.
“Can it, Cala. No time for snark. We have a major crisis to solve as soon as possible.”
“Very well, come in, why don’t you?” she said after I’d brushed past her.
“Are the kids here?”
“Neither the kids nor the parents are. They are in their residence. Shall I summon them?”
I ran my fingers though my hair. “No, just as well they aren’t. A lot of what happens next will be your call. You can tell them whatever you like if it’s short of the whole truth.”
“Goodness, I may collapse from shock. You deferring to me where they’re concerned?”
“Look, sit.” I pointed to the kitchen table. I paced back and forth while she did, then I joined her.
“May I offer you some refreshments?”
“No. This is important.”
“Then I suggest you begin your tale.”
“Sapale and I were evacuating her people to a safe planet when we discovered a planet trying to hide itself.”
“Sapale was your mate?”
“Is. That’s not important now.”
“And let me guess. You found a society powerful enough to conceal itself, respected their implied wishes, and left them alone?”
I just glowered at her.
“Sorry. That was not helpful or supportive. You and I think differently, that’s all.”
“The Plezrite are doing the planet hiding.”
Picture me swinging a two-by-four length of lumber and striking Cala squarely in the forehead. That would have had less impact than that word: Plezrite. I let her stew over it for a while.
“I assume from your reaction that you know who they are?”
“Yes, I do.” She looked at me with wonder, an awe I would never have expected she’d harbor toward me. “Jon Ryan you are a truly remarkable force of nature. That you found the Plezrite in and of itself would define your life as charmed. Combined with all your other impossibilities, I am struck dumb.”
I’d have loved to hit her with a comeback, but I wasn’t in the mood. “They kidnapped Sapale as we tried to flee.”
“That is a challenging development.”
“Tell me about it. What can you tell me about these ass wipes?”
“That is a long and complex story, my friend.” She took a few deep breaths. “Long ago, we were one race. We were all Deft.”
“Were you around then?”
She giggled, despite her generally dour nature. “No. I’m not that old. That was hundreds of thousands of years ago.”
“But you know about them?”
“Yes, of course. You’ve seen all my books, right?”
“The one I spoke with had never heard of the Deft.”
She rolled her head. “Not very surprising. They were minimalists. Not having books would be consistent with their mindset.”
“Which is?”
“They reject complexity.”
“She said they rejected your religious cult inside the world of magic.”
“I have my version, they have theirs. They are but different views of the same set of circumstances.”
“You mean one or both of you are revisionist historians.”
“As I said, two varying accounts of one matter. So, you only met one of them?”
“Yes, a platinum hollon a bit smaller than you.”
She cringed. “Jon, when you speak the word hollon aloud, please think of it as interchangeable with whatever vulgarization of the concept of anal intercourse might be in your tongue. It is not a thing to speak plainly of, ever.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, be sensitive. She is referred to as visant, a two-joined Deft.”
“You mean a male and a female?”
“Sensitivity, Jon. Please strive for it. There are no physiologic rules as to which two individuals may become a visant.”
“Oh, gotcha.” I wiggled a finger at her as I spoke.
She shook her big head
in resignation.
“What was her name?”
“Himanai. Weird, eh? She said the couple chooses a new single name after hol … joining.”
“Thank you,” she said with genuine relief. “Again, that does not surprise me. They split from us because they wanted other ways, ones they felt were simpler. Wait, you told them about me?”
“No, I didn’t. I used the word Deft but didn’t discuss you or how few are left.”
“That is fortunate. Thank you for your discretion.”
“When can we rescue Sapale?”
“Jon, I’m not certain we can. I’m not certain we should even attempt it. It is good you spoke to me without the children. They would have insisted on an assault to free your mate.”
“Of course, they would have, I mean will. Cala, why are you going to help me?”
“I’m not certain we can take her from them. Jon, they may not have brindas, but they possess powerful magic and are in much greater numbers. How many would you estimate there are?”
“The planet was covered in simple structures. I don’t know but probably millions.”
“We four cannot defeat millions.”
“We don’t have to kill millions of them, just the ones standing between Sapale and us.”
“Jon, a world of visants is a dynamic force. Locinar was such a place once. You cannot imagine the flow of power.”
“Cala, I’m a simple guy. I live by a set of simple rules. Rule One: you kidnap my brood’s-mate, you die swiftly and brutally. My goal is to make the offender’s soul full of remorse as I shovel it straight into hell.”
“Wow,” she said. “I believe you’d do it too.”
“You know I would.”
“But in this case, force would be futile.”
“Then you’ll just have to negotiate Sapale’s release. Then I’ll butcher the ones responsible.”
“I can’t go to Nocturnat. That would insult them beyond all limits. It would be suicidal.”
I pointed outside. “There’s a little family genetically and socially isolated from their own kind. If there’s a planet full of their kin, they need to be there.”
“That is a decision left exclusively to me.”
“What decision is exclusively yours, Cala?” challenged a quite pregnant Mirraya from the doorway she’d been listening from.
“Hey, look who’s here,” I chortled.
“Return to your quarters. We will talk of this later,” Cala said sternly to Mirri.
“Oh, and then you can give us the Cala-sanitized version of the truth? After you’ve made all the adult decisions for our little heads?” Ooh, the girl was mad.
“This is a matter between this human and me. It is not a public debate. Please respect my authority.”
Mirri paced quickly over to the table and plopped into a chair. She folded her hands. “I’m staying.”
“Mirraya, this is a very critical point in time. I am explaining my reasoning to your benefactor before he leaves, which will be almost immediately. You are not welcome to participate.”
“All the more reason for me to stay then. What’s all the hubbub?”
“If you don’t tell her, I might have to,” I said to Cala. Then Mirri and I stared intently at her, waiting to see how this was going to go.
“You have read about the Plezrite Schism, have you not?”
“Yes. You know that. I also know you two aren’t fighting over ancient history.
“Your uncle has found the Plezrite.”
“Oh, that is interesting.”
“And they kidnapped Sapale as we were running away.”
“Then they die, swiftly and brutally.”
I gestured toward Mirri. “I told you it was Rule One. The kids know it.”
“You wouldn’t be banging heads if we were going to race to Sapale’s rescue, so I assume you, are reticent to charge in guns blazing. In that case, please watch the children while my mate and I assist our family in an hour of tremendous need.” She stood to presumably retrieve the kids and the husband.
“Wait. Sit,” commanded Cala. “Let us talk as three adults.”
“No,” replied Mirri. “We will talk as four adults, or we will not talk.”
“I came for a bite to eat, but it looks like I’m getting something a hell of a lot better,” said Slapgren from the door. He held the younger child, and the other stood at his side.
“Have a seat,” said Cala, “this is now completely out of hand.”
“I’ll get you some bread and cheese,” said Mirri, rising.
“No, just hold this,” he said, passing her the baby, “and I’ll do it.”
The toddler popped up onto mom’s lap.
“Now you need to be quiet as a stone, all right? We adults need to talk,” I said to the babe.
Jon nodded. I passed him my handheld. He didn’t know how to use it, but I signaled Al in my head to show him some cartoon. Instant paralysis.
“What are you three arguing about?” asked Slapgren with a mouth full of food.
“We are not arguing. We are discussing a very serious subject.”
“And you two,” he pointed to Mirri and me, “don’t agree with you.” He flipped his hand to Cala.
“Yes,” Cala replied.
“Then what are you three arguing about?” he repeated with a big smile.
“Do you recall learning about the Plezrite?” Cala asked him.
He scrunched up his face. “Maybe.”
“They were discussed in that four-volume set of red books, the ones with the gold inlay,” prompted Mirri.
“Oh yeah, the extra super boring ones. They were rebellious Deft, right?”
“Close enough,” said Cala, shaking her head slightly. “Your uncle has located them.”
His face beamed. “Cool. When can we meet them?”
“Then they kidnapped his wife,” she added.
“Oh, well then when do we kill them?”
“You are now up to speed on this discussion. I was telling these two,” she pointed at Mirri and me, “we cannot assault a million magical shapeshifters and hope to win.”
“Why not? We’ve got you. And we got Uncle Jon. And, come to think of it, we’ve got me.”
Mirri punched him.
“The wife too. Don’t forget her.”
“Shall we bring the babies into mortal combat or just leave them here to fend for themselves once we’re all dead?” asked Cala sourly.
“Good point. I’m back to how could we lose, you, UJ, and me?”
“Oh, so the other brindas stays at home and changes diapers.”
“Right,” he pointed to Mirri but addressed Cala, “she’s on board. It’s a done deal.”
“We’re not attacking a ridiculously superior force,” said Cala resolutely. “We are the last Deft. We will not perish as a species.”
“But they took uncle Jon’s wife. What better reason to defy the odds or die trying?” he asked.
“You may feel that way, but I do not,” Cala huffed.
“Okay, you watch the kids, and the rest of us will go.”
Cala turned to me and basically whined. “You see the trouble you bring with you every visit?”
“I’m sorry your cousins stole my wife,” I snapped.
“You should not have meddled. They clearly wished to be left alone.”
“Whether UJ should or should not have contacted them, the fact is he did. And they took an inexcusably aggressive step. They will hand Sapale back, or they will pay dearly. Maybe they’ll do both,” said Mirraya, resolute.
Cala was clearly distraught. She did not want to engage the Plezrite in any way, shape, or form. She also did not want the last of her kind to march glibly off to death.
“Look, Cala and I go. We will make them negotiate. We will make them hear reason. You two stay here with your kids,” I said.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Cala replied heatedly.
“Then I will go alone,” I said flatly.
&nbs
p; “No, Uncle Jon. You came here for help, and help you will get,” said Mirri. Bless her heart.
“Look, Mirri, this is not war. It’s only war if you fight a battle you might win. This is personal. You and Slapgren have a family to worry about. Mine is being held captive.”
“Uncle, I know why you contacted the Plezrite,” said Mirri, eying me steadily. “You wanted to ensure our family had a chance to live with our own kind. You wanted our children to grow up in a diverse society, to choose the mates of their desire. You didn’t go there for laughs and giggles.”
“Lord, you do sound a lot like me,” I said with a grin.
“You know this too, Cala,” Mirri said harshly. “He did this for us. We will help him fix this.”
“Good intentions do not pave a good path. There is much at stake. Everything, in fact.”
“We three are Deft,” began Mirraya. “We may be the last of the Deft, but I’d also like to think we’re the best of our people. If we can’t help someone who risked his life to help us, then I, for one, don’t think we’re a species that needs preserving.”
“Well said, my love,” responded Slapgren. “I could not agree more.” He reached across the table to take her hand.
Cala sat silently for several minutes. Then she turned to me. “They’ll need a ship.”
“Who will?” I asked.
“These adults and their children. When you and I are killed by the damn Plezrite, I don’t want them stuck on this rock forever.”
I smiled. “I know just who to call. She’s human, she’s has a fast ship, and she owes me a big favor.”
“Why does she owe you a favor, Uncle?” asked Slapgren.
I leaned my head to the other two. “Not with the women-folk around. I’ll tell you later.” I winked, of course.
Someone, quite possibly two people, threw a large chunk of cheese at my head.
NINE
“So, Harhoff, I think you’re getting full of yourself,” Ardile remarked at mess on evening. They were old friends.
“How so? I’m a humble servant of His Imperial Lord,” he replied, patting himself on the chest. “Tell me quickly how I stand out, and I’ll remedy the flaw before more take note of it.”
Others at the table chuckled.
“First, you are the youngest to be security chief of a vessel this size, and now you have a Descore to satisfy your every whim. Tell me, do you wipe your own ass nowadays?”
Dragon Fire (Galaxy On Fire Book 5) Page 6