Between Darkness and Light (32 page)

“I don't understand,” said Zayshul suddenly. “This is wrong, it has to be. There must be a fault in the unit!”

“What?” he demanded, going over to where she sat at the small workstation. “Show me.”

She pointed. “There. It does show a match with your and Carrie's DNA, but . . .”

“But what?”

“There's something wrong with either the sample or the unit, Kusac,” she said, turning her head to look at him. “It says my DNA is also present and that's impossible.”

He looked from the screen to her, seeing her impersonally for the first time since he'd reached Kij'ik. She was frowning, creasing the rainbow-colored skin that surrounded her large green eyes. Beneath the small nose, her wide mouth started to open, revealing the tiny, needle sharp teeth of her kind.

“There has to be an error, Kusac.”

Her scent, which he'd been trying to avoid since the analgesics had worn off, surrounded him. Suddenly light-headed, he clutched the back of her chair for support. The proof was staring him in the face. Though not half Prime, his son was indisputably part Zayshul's.

“There's no mistake,” he said thickly as the torc's throbbing peaked. Bonelessly, he collapsed unconscious to the floor.

The sound of him falling brought Banner and M'kou instantly into the room. Zayshul had just enough time to erase the test and its results.

“What happened?” demanded Banner, kneeling down beside Kusac's limp body.

“He's fine,” Zayshul reassured them, getting to her feet. “He fainted because he got up too suddenly, that's all. He needs to rest. I'd like him to stay here overnight for observation.”

“I'll get a floater,” said M'kou, striding out.

“I'll stay with him,” said Banner.

“There's no need,” said Zayshul. “The infection in the wound is gone now. His arm will be back to normal by tomorrow, and so will he. All he needs is rest.” Beyond him, through the open door, she could see Giyarishis hovering. “Everything's fine, Giyarishis,” she said, raising her voice. “The Captain fainted, that's all. His wound was badly infected. He's fine.”

“Is good. I go, work do,” the translator said as the TeLaxaudin backed away.

 

Hurrying back to the hydroponics level, Giyarishis mentally reviewed the situation. He'd been unable to prevent the Hunter learning the truth, but his collapse gave the Camarilla time to reassess this unexpected development. The translator against his waist began to vibrate gently, warning him of an incoming transmission from the Camarilla.

“Skepp Lord Khassiss,” he said, dipping his head in deep reverence to the female elder. That she should contact him personally only highlighted the seriousness of the matter.

“Where is the Hunter now?”

“In the infirmary, Skepp Lord. He passed out. I cannot tell if he learned the truth.”

“The potentialities have changed. We can assume with safety that he knows. All depends now on the strength of the bond the scent marker has created. We are working on it, so must you. Walk in the Hunter's dreams, hers too if need be. A union between them is imperative. You have an isolator; use it if necessary. We expended much energy on removing the sand-dweller and providing more resources for him. This must happen before he returns.”

“Yes, Skepp Lord.”

M'kou was of two minds about Banner's request to stay in the sick bay with the Captain. Every Prime on the base was well aware of the situation regarding Doctor Zayshul's scent marker on Captain Aldatan—his father had briefed them all before the Sholans had arrived. Several of the females chose not to believe it, but no one would dare to break the silence imposed on them. After what he'd seen at the Directorate headquarters, he personally believed K'hedduk and his rebels capable of anything. However, the fact remained that whether or not the scent marker had been placed by Doctor Zayshul, both she and the Sholan Captain were responding to each other as if it were genuine.

The General had kept them apart for this reason, but now he was away and the decision rested with M'Kou. If Banner remained, it would prevent the Doctor from being alone with Kusac again. Letting her treat him alone in the first place had been a risk, but the Captain had been so obviously ill, he'd assessed the risks as nil. And there was the fact the Sholan had won the bet and was entitlted to spend two hours with Dr Zayshul. However, when he'd fainted and they'd finally got access to the treatment room, the place had reeked of sexual tension, both Prime and Sholan. He was surprised that Banner hadn't reacted to it. Perhaps insisting he stayed with the Captain
was
his reaction.

By the time they had Kusac settled in a bed in the sick bay, he'd decided.

“Stay with him, Lieutenant Banner,” he said. “With you here, your crew can't complain about his treatment.”

“It really isn't necessary,” said Zayshul, switching on the various monitors.

“If you're keeping him overnight, then I'm staying,” said Banner firmly, settling himself on the low padded chair that sat against the cubicle wall.

Freed from the surface of Shola, Vartra had chosen to make his home, if such it could be called, at the Shrine on the renamed Haven Stronghold outpost. The sight of his catafalque in the temple at Dzahai Stronghold still unsettled him, reminding him of the mortality he'd been denied by the intervention of the Camarilla.

Not that he was restricted to Shola, or even Haven now, he could travel to wherever there was one of his visionary priests. Or one of his own descendants, like Kusac and his son, Shaidan. The Camarilla were monitoring them carefully and his interference would not be allowed—if it was discovered. They weren't omnipotent, despite all their abilities and technology. He'd done as much as he could for Shaidan for the time being.

Now he sat in the Shrine on one of the prayer mats near the back in the deep shadows, wrapped in the black robes of his Order, the hood pulled low over his face in case someone caught sight of him. He'd just been to visit the younglings who'd been sent to live with Tanjo. One there, Dhyshac by name, had surprised him once before by being able to see him. When he'd had the chance to talk to the lad and discovered whose blood he carried, it was no longer surprising.

 

“You're back,” said Dhyshac, following him into the deserted cryo resus room. “Who are you? You're not one of the Brothers who lives here, and no new Sleepers have been awakened.”

Vartra sat down on one of the seats facing the lecture screen. “Who do you think I am?” he asked, surveying the cub dressed in the purple-bordered black tunic of the Brotherhood.

“I don't know,” said Dhyshac, coming closer. “I can't feel your mind and that's unusual.”

“Have you told anyone about me?”

“No,” he said, perching on the edge of a chair three seats away. “Only Brothers on active duty wear gray, and I don't think you're on active duty. You look a little like the small statue that Brother Tanjo keeps in his office.”

Vartra laughed. “Very observant. You're like your father, you know. Sharp as a knife, and as brave. Not everyone would question a Brother he thought was on active duty.”

Dhyshac cocked his head to one side, looking curiously at him. “You know my father? They won't tell us anything about our families. Not even Tanjo.”

“You get on well with Tanjo?”

“Yes. He's patient even with Gaylla, which few people are,” Dhyshac said candidly. “Shaidan always used to look out for her, but they kept him so I do it now.”

Vartra nodded. “Shaidan's a remarkable cub,” he said. “In many ways.”

“You've met Shaidan? But how could you?”

Vartra stood up. “I get around, Dhyshac. I have to go now, but we'll meet again, I promise you that.”

“Don't go! Tell me who my father is!” exclaimed the youngling, leaping to his feet, tail twitching anxiously from side to side.

“Tell Tanjo I said to take you to the Shrine. It's time you followed in your father's footsteps,” he said, turning away.

“But who are you? How can I tell him that if I don't know your name?”

Vartra stopped and, reaching into one of the pouches on his utility belt, took out a coin which he flipped over to Dhyshac. “Give him that, tell him it's yours. He'll know what it is, and what to do.”

 

Tanjo turned the coin over in his hand once more before handing it back to the cub by the chain he'd threaded through it. “Put it on and come with me,” he said, getting to his feet. “We must see Sister Jiosha at the Shrine.”

“I don't understand, Brother Tanjo,” said Dhyshac, looping the chain round his neck as he followed the Brother out of the office and along the short corridor to the shuttle bay. “Who was he? Why do I need to go to the Shrine?”

Tanjo stopped and waited for the youngling, putting his arm round his shoulders before drawing him on. “Your father is Kaid Tallinu, one the Brotherhood. He's one of Vartra's favored,” he said quietly. “He's a visionary. The God speaks to him.” He took a deep breath, tightening his hand round the cub's shoulder. “Just as He's spoken to you. You met Vartra, Dhyshac, and He has a purpose for you, that's why He's given you His coin. That's why we must see the priestess at the Shrine.”

 

Tanjo had brought him here and had Sister Jiosha and Commander L'Seuli hear him swear the Creed, making him one of the youngest Brotherhood members in the Order's history. Then they'd left, taking the new young Brother for a celebration. Tomorrow, he'd start an intensive program of education and training under Tanjo, something that the retired tutor was looking forward to. It would give him a purpose in life that he needed, and a way to more usefully make the reparation he felt he owed Kaid. What better way than by educating his son?

 

Hearing a footfall, Vartra looked up, surprised, wondering who was disturbing the quiet of the Shrine during third meal. It was Commander L'Seuli himself. He watched the young male approach the statue on its stone plinth, stopping at the brazier to cross his forearms over his chest and bow before taking a piece of incense to crumble in the flames.

Curious, he lifted his head slightly and watched.

 

L'Seuli brushed his hands together over the flames to rid them of the last crumbs of the incense then stepped closer to the statue. His mind was troubled because he had disobeyed Master Rhyaz's orders regarding the En'Shalla cubs. The Warrior Master wanted them put in cryo as their existence was a political nightmare. Were they discovered, it could shatter the treaty with the Prime world.

When the orders had come, the thought of the five cubs lying in the chill embrace of cryo had given him and his mate Jiosha nightmares. On her insistence, he'd reinterpreted them to mean that there was no urgency to placing them there. Now one of them, Kaid's son by Kate Harvey, had been singled out by Vartra. Although for him it did confirm his decision had been right, it created more problems—namely confessing to Master Rhyaz and Father Lijou. He'd let his compassion risk the future of the Alliance. They would not be pleased.