Alien Redemption [Clans of Kalquor 06] (40 page)

Her anger dissipated when she heard that Erybet was not to blame. He’d trusted Sletran to make the final decision and to execute the mission properly. And what of Sletran’s hand in the slaughter? Could it be he truly was as much a victim of circumstance as Erybet?

She’d seen nothing in her Nobek that could make her believe he was a coldhearted killer.

She worried that her ability to assess the true natures of people had faltered however.

Kalquorians were of a different species and many of their ways were foreign to her. Was she ready to believe Sletran was a victim of circumstance because of wishful thinking? Because she didn’t want to admit she might have committed her life to a monster?

She was sure of one thing: the massacre was not the result of a simple mistake.

“
Gurlucks
,” she spat.

Erybet paled. “Matara, I swear to you we didn’t know—”

She quieted him with a gentle hand pressing against his lips. She typed,
Not you. Not
Sletran. Those who fed you lies that the insurgents were the ones who were in that building.

Those who set you up, possibly one of your own
.

Erybet’s brows knit together. “No one would do such a thing. Not any of the men I worked with. Not my fellow soldiers.”

Rachel gave him a bitter smile.
My government’s military did it all the time. Lies, torture,
murdering of their own citizens. It was part of what I fought against. It’s what people I loved
died for. It’s what gave me the scars I still carry
.

He looked horrified. “But the war was over. The Earther colonists were being victimized by the rebels as much as we were. There was no need for any of us to kill women and children.”

Trust me on this, Erybet. I know treachery. I can sense it from miles away. You were
deliberately misled. That’s not the worst part, though
.

She could tell he didn’t want to believe her suspicions, and it was with great reluctance that he asked, “What do you mean?”

The bastards who are really responsible for the massacre got away with it
.

Erybet had nothing to say about that. He was fighting the idea that one of his own had turned on him and Sletran, using them to kill and letting them suffer for guilt that didn’t belong to them.

Rachel believed it though. She had to, or the blame sat squarely on Sletran. She didn’t think her newfound love for the Nobek could survive such a thing. So someone else was involved and the slaughter had been carried off on purpose.

It was a hard thing to bear. She either had to despise her clanmate, something she rejected utterly, or seethe with impotent rage at a faceless enemy. The lack of constructive options pissed her off the most. The old anger at injustice burned bright within her, and just as it had been on Earth, there wasn’t a damned thing she could do about it.

Chapter 15

Conyod and Sletran left the Imdiko’s office after he’d finally finished delegating his workload. Fortunately, Conyod’s Nobek father Vel had stopped in, being in the capital on one of his many business trips. Sletran had been happy to converse at length with the elder Nobek about the clanning of Rachel, the needs of Mataras, and the myriad ways Sletran could ensure his new mate’s safety. Then to Conyod’s chagrin, the two men cornered an unfortunate supervisor of the hospital’s security and grilled him ruthlessly on the safeguards in place for doctors on staff. Sletran had already gone over the situation, but that had been a month ago. Sometimes administration made budget cuts and security suffered. He would not allow his Imdiko to be at unnecessary risk under any circumstances, and having Conyod’s father along to impress the need for the best protection possible was a bonus.

Conyod buried himself in his work and pretended he didn’t know the two men.

The security supervisor, a much older Nobek named Nar, patiently assured them nothing had changed since Sletran’s last check. Then he looked Sletran over, as if sizing him up.

“Are you still on leave from your military duties, Nobek?” he asked.

Sletran stiffened. It was humiliating to have been put on leave, no matter the reason. He hated discussing it with anyone outside his clan. “I am.”

Nar seemed pleased. “We are hiring more security due to the issues of Matara safety. Your name came up as a good candidate for the work for as long as you remain off duty. If you’re interested, I can have you fill out the necessary forms.”

Vel prodded him. “That would be perfect, Sletran. Having you here will go a long way to easing my concerns about Conyod’s welfare.”

Sletran considered. He liked the idea of being here with Conyod, with all those at the hospital who needed his protection. Rachel would have Erybet to keep her company during those hours, and there would still be plenty of time to work on her language skills – as well as other things. He nodded. “That sounds like a wonderful opportunity, Nobek Nar.”

“Excellent. Give me your contact information and I will send you details on the position as well as the forms.”

Vel left twenty minutes before Conyod shut his computer down and announced he was ready to leave. As Sletran walked at his side through the psychiatric wing, Conyod checked his handheld.

“Message from Erybet. He says he and Rachel are picking up the midday meal and meeting us at home,” he reported.

“Excellent,” Sletran said, realizing as he spoke he sounded anything but pleased. At Conyod’s questioning look, he added, “I’m seeing a lot of grim faces around here, my Imdiko.”

Conyod gave his attention to the small knots of orderlies whispering amongst themselves in the hall. His brows lowered. “I wonder what’s going on? There are Govi and Kivokan. Let’s see what they know.”

They approached the two doctors standing just outside Kivokan’s office. Conyod’s superiors turned to them. Sletran noted how the always pleasant Govi looked not only stunned but furious as well.

Conyod told them, “I just finished allocating my caseload for the week, doctors. What has everyone looking so worried?”

Govi spoke in a low tone. “Body parts were found at the complex for Earther Mataras.”

Conyod gasped. “Body parts? Not of women?”

Govi nodded, motioning for Sletran’s clanmate to keep his voice down. “My Nobek Raxstad says it looks like trophies from the New Bethlehem slaughter.”

The lights emitting from the wall panels suddenly looked terribly bright to Sletran. The heightened illumination stabbed into his skull painfully. At the same time, he felt eyes on him and looked at Dr. Kivokan. The Dramok was watching him with a narrowed stare.

Kivokan asked, “Are you all right, Nobek?”

Sletran’s lips felt numb, and he wondered how he moved them. His voice floated far away.

“This news is terrible. Is it on the news feeds yet?”

Govi nodded. “Apparently, many of the abductions have actually been killings committed by someone calling himself the Beast of New Bethlehem. The details have been kept quiet until now to keep everyone from panicking, but Global Security is giving the public information now in hopes that heightened vigilance will keep the Mataras safe.”

Sletran fought to maintain his equilibrium. Damn it, why were the lights so bright in here?

Kivokan’s stare was also making him want to fidget, though no Nobek would ever do so. He had an urge to claw the man’s eyes out.

Despite Conyod standing right next to him, the Imdiko’s voice was also far away, as if traveling through a long tunnel to reach him. “How many murder victims are we talking about?”

Govi shook his head, as if to deny the words he himself spoke. “At least ten. The killer claims there are more; that he started at New Bethlehem. That he himself was responsible for the massacre.” He turned to Kivokan. “We need to call a meeting with staff. The Mataras in our care here don’t need to hear of this. They live in fear as it is. And let’s see about doubling security in this wing.”

To Sletran’s relief, Kivokan finally moved his too-sharp gaze to address Govi. “I’ll get right on it. Is this afternoon good for the staff meeting?”

“The sooner the better.”

Conyod hands were opening and closing in agitation. “Should I put off my leave?”

Govi patted him on the shoulder. “Go home and take care of Rachel. She’ll feel safer with her full clan around her.”

Unless someone in her clan is the Beast.
The thought spiraled through Sletran’s buzzing skull. It was all he could do to not shout it for all to hear. Feeling barely tethered to reality, Sletran followed Conyod out to the hospital’s docking bay.

* * * *

Conyod noticed Sletran’s silence as they rode home. He could appreciate the horror his clanmate felt, given the connection between the terrible events of New Bethlehem and this new development with the Matara killings.

He tried to draw the Nobek out a little. “Are you all right?”

“No. And I don’t want to discuss it right now.”

Conyod didn’t pursue the issue. He’d already poked at Sletran’s problems quite a bit today, and now his Nobek was trying to absorb the latest shock. He should give him time to let it sink in.

They reached home without incident and found Erybet waiting for them in the dining room, along with lunch. Before Conyod could ask, the Dramok said, “If you two can wait a few minutes, Ray-Ray is having a quick bath.” His voice turned sharp as he looked them over.

“Why do you look so grim?”

When Sletran didn’t speak up, Conyod filled Erybet in on the latest news. Erybet’s expression was horrified. All the color drained from his face to hear body parts from New Bethlehem had been found in the Matara compound.

“What nightmare is this?” he whispered. “Why won’t it end?”

“You should take me to Global Security. Turn me in for suspicion of being the killer.”

Conyod and Erybet stared at Sletran, whose low voice had spoken those words. Conyod wondered if his clanmate’s mind had finally broken under the stress.

He said, “Don’t be ridiculous. You’d never kill Mataras. No one with half a brain would believe it.”

Staring at the floor, Sletran muttered, “I already have. The deaths of all those innocents on New Bethlehem preys on my mind. I should be punished.”

Sounding more tired than insistent, Erybet said, “New Bethlehem was not your fault.”

Sletran’s head lifted and he glared at Erybet. “We have to face the facts: I could be the murderer. For the sakes of the women on this planet, I should be locked up.”

Conyod couldn’t figure out why his Nobek was so adamant about perhaps being the killer.

The man’s guilt was destroying him. “Stop it, Sletran. I know you, and you’re no murderer.”

Sletran turned that burning gaze on him. “What about the time I keep losing? Who knows what I’ve been doing when my mind goes blank? Why wouldn’t it be me?”

Conyod’s mouth dropped open. For a brief moment, he contemplated what his clanmate was saying. Sletran was missing a lot of time, time when no one knew where he was.

But it was Sletran. His Nobek. Therefore, it was impossible. The Imdiko became angry that he’d given the matter a second thought. “Just shut up, Sletran. There is no way you’re this Beast of New Bethlehem. Don’t say another fucking word about it!”

Sletran’s eyes narrowed and he took a step towards Conyod. His hand flashed out and snagged the hair at the back of the Imdiko’s head. He yanked him close. “You listen to me.

You cannot let your loyalty blind you to the possibility that I have lost all control.”

Conyod bared his fangs. His fists clenched. Then Erybet was shoving them apart.

“Let him go, Sletran. Both of you calm down. I’ll decide what to do about the situation.

For now, Nobek, go help your Matara take her bath.”

Sletran turned that hectic gaze from Conyod. “Erybet, I’m begging you—”

“Go.” The Dramok’s tone was firm and brooked no discussion. “You know how much better you feel when you’re with Rachel. I want you to concentrate on her care for right now.”

The Nobek’s shoulders drooped, but he left the room without another word. Conyod opened his mouth and then shut it again when Erybet narrowed his eyes and shook his head. They stood there, looking at each other, until they heard Rachel’s welcome to Sletran from the bathing pool.

Erybet stepped close enough that Conyod could feel the heat from his body. Speaking very quietly, the Dramok said, “I’ve noticed when Sletran becomes upset, that’s when he has those blackouts.”

Conyod matched the low volume of his voice, but his tone was intense. “He’s plenty upset now. As am I. I don’t believe for a second that he’s the killer, Erybet.”

Erybet looked down at Conyod, his stare hard and lasting far too long for comfort.

There’s no way Erybet could believe Sletran is capable of such atrocities.
Conyod searched his leader’s eyes. Whatever Erybet’s thoughts, he gave no sign.

Still speaking in hushed tones, Erybet said, “He’ll try to leave at some point today. Probably after we’ve gone to bed. We’ll follow him and see where he goes. It’s time we solved the mystery of our Nobek’s missing time.”

“That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking. I was going to suggest it to you tonight.”

Erybet’s next words chilled the Imdiko. “Whatever we find, Conyod, we have to do what’s right. For everyone’s sake, no matter the consequences.”

Conyod swallowed. He again tried to reassure himself that Erybet didn’t think Sletran could possibly be the killer, but the grim set of his Dramok’s face frightened him.

* * * *

Sletran seemed to regain his equilibrium as the day passed. When he and Conyod learned Rachel and Erybet had performed at one of the pleasure clubs, they were first stunned, then quickly aroused by the story.

Conyod wasn’t sure Erybet should have done such a thing, certainly not without getting his input first. However, the news that Rachel had gained some confidence made him keep any censure he might have spoken to himself.

He looked his beaming Matara over with an assessing eye. “So you finally understand what I’ve been telling you all along. That your scars take away none of your beauty or worth.”