Laura Jo Phillips (4 page)

That was why he had chosen to deal with the Xanti.  The absence of new
berezi
had left him no choice.  William had to have a
berezi
, and there was no other way to find one.  He would never admit that he was no longer able to scent them as that would seriously endanger his position as leader of the Brethren. 

The truth was, his last message to William was a request that he return to Earth.  He could trust William, if no one else.  And William could scent
berezi
. 

It suddenly occurred to him that if he were able to return to Earth with his son, William would be able to scent these four new potentials.  It didn’t matter whether or not the Xanti had delivered the long promised, and very expensive,
berezi
to William on Li-Hach-Cor.  If William could scent a
berezi
among these four potentials, it would renew belief in Stalnek’s power.

“Tell Darck to wait until all four are available, then do a mind-wipe only,” Stalnek decided.  “When I return, we will pull them for testing.”

Kevlin nodded.  That was easy enough.  They routinely mind-wiped every female who returned from Jasan as a contract bride or a Candy Bride anyway, whether they were potentials or not.  Kevlin had never agreed with that practice.  In his opinion it was far too risky.  But it had been Stalnek’s idea centuries earlier when he’d worried that the shape-shifters on Jasan would appeal to too many
berezi
, and once Stalnek made up his mind to do something, he never changed it.

“With your permission I will begin making arrangements,” Kevlin said politely.

“Fine,” Stalnek replied with a casual wave of his hand.  As soon as the door closed behind Kevlin, Stalnek turned back to the windows.  Now that he was alone again, he let himself think about William.  He could not imagine what might have happened to him, but he was determined to find out.  And if anyone had harmed his son, they would pay.  In this, he promised himself, he would not bend, whether it was in the best interests of the Brethren or not.

Chapter
5

Jasan, Berria Outskirts, Council Complex

Jackson Bearen stared at the sealed glass enclosure containing the body of the Xanti and fought to keep his bearenca from springing forth in fury at the sight.  In all the centuries of his life he had met and seen many different species of intelligent being.  This one was, by far, the most alien to him.

“Our greatest enemy is a giant bug?” Prince Garen asked Elder Vulpiran.

Elder Vulpiran, the lead council scientist and one of the eldest of the Clan Jasani, smiled tightly at his Prince.  “Yes, I am afraid so, Highness,” he replied.  “A highly evolved, and intelligent, arachnid-like arthropod.  Or, as you say, a bug.”

Jackson glanced at the other warriors gathered around the glass cube containing the Xanti to see if they felt as repelled by the Xanti as he was.  Maxim and Loni Katre were, as usual, stony faced, but they had already seen the Xanti close up, so they’d had time to get used to it.  Everyone else, the Dracons, Lobos, Gryphons, even Ran Katre and Eldar Hamat, all seemed to feel the same as he did.

Jackson watched Prince Garen shrug, and understood what he was thinking.  It didn’t really matter how they felt about the Xanti.  The point was, thanks to the Katres and their new Arima, Summer, they had what no one had ever had to their knowledge: the remains of a Xanti.  Further, they had the Xanti’s bio-mechanical shell.

“Please continue, Elder Vulpiran,” Prince Garen said.

“Though the body appears much like the creature we call a spider, you can see that it has some distinct differences,” Elder Vulpiran said.  “Instead of two main segments, the body has three.  The head is rather small, which one would think indicates a small brain and limited intelligence.  However, the brain is not, in fact, in the head.  The brain is in the middle, or thoracic segment and much larger than one would expect, accounting for what we know the Xanti’s true intelligence to be.  Also, the body has ten legs rather than the expected eight.  These legs are extremely dexterous and, apparently, are used much as we use our fingers.  Even though the interior of the bio-mechanical shell appears to be somewhat small, the Xanti actually fits quite comfortably inside of it, though there isn’t much room for it to move around.  Many of the interior controls are situated in various limbs, but with the length of the legs, it is easy enough for the Xanti to reach all of them.

“The stinger on the end of the abdominal segment contains a neurotoxin that is quite deadly, though we believe that once used, the stinger itself remains in the victim, and causes the subsequent death of the Xanti.  Lastly, because of its internal organs we believe this specimen to be male.  However, it has rudimentary and, we believe, nonfunctional, sexual organs.  We also found a disabled long-range metaspacial transceiver embedded within the abdominal segment.”

“Disabled thanks to Arima Katre,” Prince Garen noted. 

Elder Vulpiran nodded.  “Yes, Highness, it is only thanks to her that we have this specimen at all.”

 “What about the bio-mechanical shell?” Prince Garen asked, turning away from the Xanti.  The rest of the warriors followed him, none of them having any further desire to gaze upon the Xanti.

“It’s really quite extraordinary,” Elder Vulpiran said.  “Arima Katre shut down all of its systems, but happily she did not damage the hardware.  We have had time for only preliminary study so far, but we will have a full report for you soon.  Clearly it gives every impression of being a humanoid being, down to real hair, synthesized skin and blood.”

Prince Garen shook his head.  “I would like some method to be developed that would allow us to instantly identify a Xanti, no matter what its bio-mechanical shell appears to be.”

“We shall put that at the top of our priority list, Highness,” Elder Vulpiran replied.

“Excuse me,” Jackson said, “I have a request as well.”

“Certainly,” Prince Garen said. 

“I am most concerned about the Xanti camouflage system known as Blind Sight that the Katres came up against,” Jackson said.  “I believe that system is what allows the Xanti, or anyone who has it for that matter, to enter our territory without detection.  Until we find a way to counteract it, we cannot be secure.”

“You’re correct of course, Jackson,” Prince Garen said, turning to Elder Vulpiran.  “I would say that the Blind Sight system must be at the top of our priority list.”

“Agreed, Highness,” Elder Vulpiran replied.  “Unfortunately, we have no idea which of the security systems brought back from the compound on Li-Hach-Cor is Blind Sight, and we must be very careful as we go through these systems.  There are many traps and self-destruct mechanisms built into all Xanti electronics.”

“Understood, Elder Vulpiran,” Prince Garen said.  “We will be as patient as we need to be, but anything you are able to learn will be of help.”

“We will make it a priority, Highness,” Elder Vulpiran promised.

“Thank you,” Prince Garen said.  “Now, what about this reptilian being?”

Elder Vulpiran moved to another glass enclosure and the warriors followed, surrounding it as they had the one containing the Xanti. 

“Thanks to Doc’s foresight in taking tissue samples and sending them ahead, we have a little more information on this one.  It has a very interesting, and disturbing, combination of DNA.  It is part Narrasti, and part human, but there are some oddities that indicate something more.”

“More?” Prince Garen asked. 

“We found a genetic anomaly which we believe to be similar to those that Riata discovered in Princess Lariah and Arima Lobo.”

“Believe to be?” Prince Garen asked.

“High Prince, it is most unfortunate that we did not look to the future more than we did.  But, the past cannot be rewritten.  Rather than take a sample from Princess Lariah when she arrived on Jasan, Riata used her talents as a Healer to get a mental image of her DNA.”

“Yes, I remember,” Prince Garen said.  “It was my idea.”

“When Arima Saige was ill, we again relied on Riata’s talents, and no tissue sample was taken,” Elder Vulpiran continued.  “By the time we learned that the Katres’ had an Arima, it was too late to ask them to get a tissue sample from her.  As far as I am aware, no such samples exist for any of them, and there is no record of their original DNA sequence.”

“Actually, I don’t think that is correct,” Prince Trey put in.  “I recall Lariah telling us once about genetic testing on Earth.  And since Saige was ill before she came here, I think it’s at least possible that such tests were run on her.  There is a good possibility that there are records on Earth that could help us with the information we need.”

“That’s a good idea,” Garen said.  “We must look into getting copies of those records.”

Trey nodded, accepting that task for himself.  Prince Garen turned back to Elder Vulpiran.

“I remember Riata saying that Saige did not have the same genetic anomaly that Lariah had,” Prince Garen said.  “I don’t think we can assume that any genetic anomaly indicates Jasani ancestry.”

“Agreed,” Elder Vulpiran replied.  “However, it must also be remembered that each Clan has slightly different DNA, which we believe explains the differences Riata noted.”

“Do you have any theories as to how, or why, this reptilian creature would have anything resembling Jasani DNA?” Prince Garen asked.

“We suspect that, as Commander Katre has suggested, Narrasti survivors reached Earth, much as some of our own women did,” Elder Vulpiran replied.  “Assuming this is true, it seems apparent that they mated with humans, and at some point, began mating with
berezi
.  Of course, this is speculation only.”

“Are you able to determine whether this being was able to shift?” Trey asked.

“We think not,” Elder Vulpiran replied.  “It has an accelerated regenerative ability, and some of the correct cell structures necessary for transformation.  However, they appear to be mutated in a way that we do not yet understand.  Perhaps with further study we will learn more.”

“Is this being related to Amara Winicke?” Garen asked.

“We have circumstantial evidence that points to that conclusion,” Elder Vulpiran replied.  “We do not, however, have physical evidence as yet, and Ms. Winicke has been resistant to our requests for a blood sample.”

“Eldar Hamat, have you been able to get anything out of Ms. Winicke yet?” Prince Garen asked.

“Nothing of use, Highness,” Eldar Hamat replied.  “I have no wish to force her compliance with drugs, or to take the needed blood sample without her consent, but I am afraid we may have no choice.”

Prince Garen considered the problem.  Everyone in the room knew that if Mara Winicke were still deemed to be Clan Jasani, there would be no hesitation in administering a truth drug or taking her blood.  But, by the Prince’s own agreement, she was no longer Clan Jasani.  She was now Citizen Jasani, and, by their laws, the rules were different. 

“I wish to think further on this matter,” he said finally.  “I will let you know, Eldar Hamat, when I have made a decision.”

Eldar Hamat nodded.  He understood the problem as well as his Prince did.  None of them wished to break their own laws, but the survival of their species was at stake.

“Thank you, Elder Vulpiran, for your time this morning,” Prince Garen said.

“You are most welcome, Highness,” Elder Vulpiran replied with a bow. 

“I would ask that the council make the study of these specimens a priority,” Prince Garen said.  “Any information gleaned from them may be critical for us all.”

“Of course, Highness,” Elder Vulpiran replied.  “I can assure you that the council is in full agreement with you in this matter.  We will report our findings to you as soon as possible.” 

Garen nodded, took one last look at the Xanti, and left the room, the other warriors right behind him.  Garen led the way through the maze of corridors that made up the Council Complex, a large, sprawling building situated half way between the town of Berria and the Hidden City.  Once they were outside, Garen led the group to the center of a neatly clipped lawn, far enough from the building to ensure privacy.  The other warriors gathered with the Princes, forming a large circle. 

“Lariah has asked that she, Saige, and Summer be allowed to meet with Amara Winicke,” Garen announced.

“Why?” Eldar Hamat asked in surprise.

“She thinks that, as a Nahoa-Arima, she may be able to induce Mara to reveal things to them that she will not tell anyone else,” Garen replied.

Eldar Hamat considered that for a moment.  “It is possible,” he said finally.  “But I do not trust Mara Winicke.  It is entirely possible that she would attempt to harm Lariah if given the opportunity.”

“That is our concern as well,” Garen replied.  “Lariah believes that Saige and Summer would be capable of protecting her.”

“That is certainly true,” Faron Lobo said.

Garen nodded, fully aware of Saige’s capabilities, and her willingness to use them.  He then looked to Maxim Katre. 

“Summer would allow no harm to come to Princess Lariah,” he said with a smile.  “That I can promise.”

“None of you have any objections to your Arimas doing this?” Garen asked.