Alien Redemption [Clans of Kalquor 06] (48 page)

Lidon stepped aside. As the group passed, he said into his com, “Degorsk, have you left yet or are you still terrorizing everyone with your bad jokes?”

“No, I’m telling them the saddest story I know, the one about the first time you begged me for sex.”

Clajak and Bevau snorted suppressed laughter, and even Erybet couldn’t help the shocked grin that hit his face. Breft shot them all a warning glare, though his mouth was twisting, fighting the frown he forced it into.

They made themselves sober and entered the room where Akrij’s Imdiko waited. Erybet joined the emperors in standing against one wall as Breft sat across the table from a smaller than average man. A man whose eyes were wide and round with the fear of a child. Erybet knew Lidon had at least fifteen years on him, and he’d said Trusec was his age. To Erybet, he looked much younger, younger than Conyod even. His hair was fixed in intricate braids that held it off his face. The design was too perfect in the back for him to have done it himself.

Erybet tried to imagine himself or Sletran fixing Conyod’s waist-length hair for him. The idea had him wanting to grin again, though the expression would no doubt have a horrified quality this time.

Trusec half-rose as he recognized Clajak and Bevau. “The emperors are here too? But why? I’ve done nothing wrong to any person or the Empire!”

Even Trusec’s voice had an immature quality, sounding querulous like that of a five-year-old about to be punished. A very terrified five-year-old. Erybet questioned Lidon’s assessment that the Imdiko hadn’t been physically abused at some point. He did agree that something was terribly wrong with him though.

Breft held up a hand and spoke soothingly. “No one has accused you of anything, Imdiko.

You’re not even under arrest. I simply need to ask you a few questions about your Nobek.”

Erybet was impressed with the gentleness Breft showed, especially since he was an undoubtedly ferocious example of his breed. One didn’t reach his rank at his age in an organization like Global Security without a generous streak of ruthlessness. Perhaps he used what he’d learned from parenting? It was an interesting thought.

Trusec sat down, but he wasn’t anywhere near calmed yet. His tone still tremulous, he asked, “Where is Akrij? I want his permission to talk to you first.”

Erybet made a noise of disbelief. It caught the Imdiko’s attention, and he looked at him.

Trusec said, “Do I know you? Where is my Nobek?” Before Erybet could speak, the Imdiko turned his attention back to Breft. “And what have you done with my Dramok?”

Breft switched tactics, going with a firm, authoritative demeanor. “Trusec, I need you to calm down and answer my questions. The sooner you do that, the sooner you can see Dramok Kivokan.”

The Imdiko sucked in his lower lip. His voice was quieter though still afraid. “But I don’t know anything. Really.”

Breft gave him a stern face. “Then you have no reason to be upset. Tell me, did Akrij ever speak to you concerning New Bethlehem?”

Trusec looked blank. “What’s New Bethlehem?”

The others exchanged stunned looks. Everyone knew about New Bethlehem.

Bevau stepped forward. “I realize Akrij’s involvement on New Bethlehem is supposed to be a secret. But since I’m the one who gave the final order to keep it quiet, you are allowed to discuss it with us.”

Trusec offered him a hopeful smile. “He obeyed your order, my emperor. He never breathed a word to me about it. I don’t know what it is.” All spoken with pride and not a single trace of subterfuge.

Erybet stared at the Imdiko. What the hell was going on with this man? He could only come up with one possible explanation: that Trusec had suffered abuse in the very distant past, something so horrific that his clanmates had become overprotective to the point of emotionally crippling him. Could they have somehow sheltered him so completely that he had no idea of New Bethlehem at all?

If Breft felt any of the same horror and confusion, he hid it well. Keeping his voice even, he asked, “How has Akrij been since getting back from the war?”

Trusec shrugged. “The same as before, I guess. He keeps me safe.”

“He’s not gone into any rages? Never made you feel afraid?”

The Imdiko gave Breft a horrified look. “Absolutely not! I never feel threatened with my Nobek.” His lip trembled and his eyes filled with tears. “Why are you doing this to me? When can I see Kivokan?”

“I’m almost done. You’re being very helpful, Trusec. Would you like a sweet drink?”

The man blinked at him. He licked his lips. “Kivokan doesn’t like me to. He says they aren’t good for me.”

“All right, I don’t want to get you into trouble. Let me know if you change your mind. Tell me, does Akrij go off by himself a lot? Does he disappear or spend a lot of time away from home?”

Trusec thought about that. He scrubbed at his eyes, his brow furrowing. “I don’t think he sleeps well. He goes out for walks in the middle of the night or he takes the shuttle out for a drive. Kivokan says not to bother him about it.” Trusec huffed at Breft. “Anyway, going out isn’t illegal, last I heard.”

Breft shook his head. “No, it’s not. That’s perfectly fine. Do you know where he goes?”

“No.”

“You’ve never asked him?”

Trusec rolled his eyes. “If I needed to know, he’d tell me. He is an important man. Some stuff he does is top secret.”

Erybet thought,
All the times I wished Conyod would simply accept that very explanation.

Thank the ancestors he’s not anything like this man.
His guts curdled at the idea.

Breft kept the questioning going. If he shared Erybet’s disgust for Trusec’s demeanor, he didn’t show it. “Has Akrij ever gone out for longer than a few hours at a time? Like a whole day?”

“Not to my knowledge. He’s usually at the base during the day, as far as I know.” Trusec considered. “He misses evening meal sometimes and doesn’t come home until after I’ve gone to bed. And sometimes when he goes out at night, he doesn’t come back until after work hours the next day.”

“Are you sure he’s going to work every day?”

Trusec snorted. “Well, not
every
day. Some days he has off and the clan spends time together.”

“I meant on his regular duty days. You know for a fact he goes to the base?”

“Of course he does. Where else would he be?”

Breft touched his com. “Lidon?”

The Nobek stuck his head through the door. “Right here. Dr. Degorsk is here too.”

“Good, we’ll need him now. Can you check to make sure Akrij reported for all his shifts since—” Breft threw a look in Trusec’s direction and considered his request. “Since the trouble started?”

Lidon gave him an intent look. “I’ll need high-level military clearance for such an inquiry.”

“So you will.”

Bevau nodded at Breft’s questioning glance. “You’ve got it.” He and Lidon left the room.

Degorsk walked in, his expression pleasant and consoling all at once as he looked at Trusec.

Trusec fidgeted. He started to look weepy again. “When can I see Kivokan? You said if I answered your questions I could see him.”

“Soon,” Breft assured him. “You did very well and I appreciate your cooperation. I have to speak to him first. Meanwhile, Dr. Degorsk is going to sit with you. Thank you for answering my questions, Imdiko.”

He stood, handing his chair over to Degorsk and waving at Erybet and Clajak to follow him.

As Erybet left the room, Trusec’s voice rose in a wail.

“I don’t want a doctor. I want my Dramok.”

Degorsk’s voice was all comfort. “I know Trusec, but he has to answer questions too. Did you know I work with your Dramok at the hospital? We’re on the same team.”

“Oh?” Cautious hope. “What was your name again?”

The Imdiko’s voice faded as Erybet hurried down the hall at Emperor Clajak’s side. The emperor caught his glance and rolled his eyes. “I don’t know about you, but I’m taking my Imdiko out for dinner tonight in appreciation for not being on the same level as my children.”

Erybet shook his head. “Why would a doctor of Kivokan’s caliber not help Trusec?”

“Or perhaps be the reason he’s that way?” Breft added. “Unfortunately, that is not our concern at this time. We need to concentrate on getting information on Akrij.”

Movement right behind made Erybet jump. He jerked around to find Bevau had returned.

“Sorry about that, Erybet. Breft, Lidon’s checking Akrij’s work attendance. I also have the military police searching the base for him just in case he’s somewhere on the premises. If they find him, they’ll bring him here.”

“Thank you, my emperor.” Breft slowed as they approached Room 12. “All right, here we go again. By the ancestors, I hope Kivokan can offer us something more concrete than Trusec.”

“At least he won’t cry,” Clajak muttered. “I hope.”

They walked in the room to find Kivokan pacing back and forth. He immediately lit into Breft, not even acknowledging the fact he had two emperors standing there as well.

“This is outrageous! Your men pulled me out of my job in front of my subordinates. The whole hospital will be talking. Then I find my Imdiko scared out of his wits in their shuttle.

Where the hell is Trusec? How dare you separate us!”

His face was so flushed in his rage that he was nearly purple. Erybet wondered if Conyod had ever seen him this way. Conyod was no Kivokan fan; he had gone on more than one rant about the man’s unpopular push to mindwipe the most ‘troublesome’ Mataras. The descriptive word as much a sore spot with Erybet’s Imdiko as the proposed solution.

For Erybet’s part, he usually found Kivokan too in love with his own voice. There had been occasions when he’d been tempted to challenge the man when he spoke to Conyod with more than a touch of condescension. Fortunately, Conyod was quite capable of handling the Dramok himself.

Erybet had found Kivokan irritating before. After seeing the state his Imdiko was in, he decided he didn’t like him at all.

Breft was giving Akrij’s Dramok a cold, hard stare. He’d been like a stern but caring parent with Trusec. Now he was all Nobek, his expression and posture that of a predator ready to spring. With awful finality he told Kivokan, “You will sit down, Dramok, and answer my questions.”

Kivokan’s fury eased a few notches. He looked at all four of the men glowering at him and stepped back. Sketching a little bow of belated respect, he said, “My emperors, Trusec is a very delicate personality. He requires calm surroundings and reassurance that he’s safe.”

Lidon spoke behind Erybet, making him jump a little. Damned Nobeks kept sneaking up on him. “Trusec is settled for now until he is returned to your care. Dr. Degorsk is with him.”

Kivokan’s lip curled. “Degorsk? That clown takes nothing seriously. Why Govi sponsors that—”

Lidon’s growl filled the room. “Watch your tongue when you speak of my clanmate.”

“Or what? You’ll beat me in front of our emperors?” Kivokan’s dismissal set Erybet’s teeth on edge.

Breft moved in a blur, stopping so close to Kivokan that their chests bumped. The Dramok fell back with a gasp. Breft grabbed his collar and yanked him close again. His fangs out, Breft spoke slowly, enunciating every word. “Sit. Down. Now.” He shoved Kivokan towards the table.

Kivokan stumbled backwards and finally seemed to realize no one in the room was his ally.

Looking scared and angry, he dropped into the chair. With bad grace he muttered, “My apologies. I am very confused and upset. Being snatched like a criminal has put me in a foul mood.”

Breft went to the other side of the table but remained standing. Without preamble he snapped, “Where is your Nobek?”

Kivokan snorted. “At work. Let me guess; the base wouldn’t allow your
officers
—” he spat the word out like an insult “—to bundle him off as you did with us.”

“He is not at his job.” Breft paused to let that sink in. Kivokan simply shrugged, so the Nobek continued. “Trusec has told us Akrij disappears on occasion. Where does he go?”

Kivokan’s scowling expression didn’t change, but he went still all over, his breath held for a moment. He snapped, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Breft slammed his hands onto the table surface and leaned in close. In a low voice he said,

“I’m talking about murder, Dramok Kivokan. The deaths of Mataras. New Bethlehem.”

The psychiatrist’s eyes went wide. His face paled and he shouted, “Akrij’s involvement in New Bethlehem is supposed to be confidential!”

Next to Erybet, Bevau growled, “Then why do you know about it?”

Breft ignored the interruption. “Akrij countermanded Commander Sletran’s order to abort the mission. Why?”

Kivokan looked at him with horror. “Who told you that?” He turned his attention to Erybet.

“You knew? But he jammed the frequencies between you and Sletran!”

On the other side of Bevau, Clajak gasped. Bevau and Breft stiffened and stared at Kivokan, who continued to wait for Erybet to answer him. He seemed unaware that he’d just confirmed Akrij had orchestrated the slaughter.

Freezing cold licked through Erybet’s gut, turning it into a heavy ball of ice. He heard his voice from far away. “We trusted Akrij. We would have died for him. And all along, we’re just his scapegoats, his pawns—”

“No.” Kivokan stood slowly, his gaze intent on Erybet’s face. “You men meant everything to him. Sometimes I think he loved his soldiers more than his own clan. Every death any of you suffered killed something inside him.” His head shook from side to side, but that hectic stare never wavered. “It was those damned Earthers! Attacking his people after the war was over, killing the men who were trying to help them. His men. And then there was that woman.”

Kivokan’s eyes closed and he dropped back into his chair. “Akrij only wanted to help her.

He only wanted to help.”

He fell silent. The seconds spun out until Clajak quietly asked, “What woman? What did she do?”

Kivokan didn’t answer. He only sat there, staring at the table in front of him.