Shades of Gray (86 page)

“We were finally able to change the sex of the young inside them,” said Kusac. “You can tell what sex they are by their color. Obviously the embryos were dead after we finished with them because we had to break the shells to see the results of our experiments.”

“Impressive,” said Kaid, rubbing the side of his jaw. “But how does this help us?”

“We want to be able to affect the M’zullian’s eggs if need be,” said Rezac. “Refine what Zashou and I did before. Also, we’re working up to seeing if it is possible to change the gender of an adult creature. If we can . . . then perhaps we can turn some of the female Primes into males for this mission.”

“To be honest, Conner has reservations about that,” said Kusac, reaching up to scratch behind his ear.

Carrie looked up at him and frowned. It wasn’t like him to scratch himself like this. She could feel the irritation he was experiencing there, and instinct made her glance sharply over at Kaid.

“He thinks the best we can achieve is a skin-deep illusion for them to appear male, with the scents to match the gender.”

Kezule nodded. “Anything is better than putting them at risk. Can they wear scent-concealing lightweight suits under clothing to mask their scents?”

“Possible. We’d have to ask Toueesut,” said Kaid, looking over at him as he ran his claws across his neck.

“Suits for under combat armor can be adapted for this purpose,” said Toueesut. “Is small adaptation we can be doing.”

“I’d rather have them as the main protection and disguise. We’ve still a long way to go with our experiments before we’re ready to try working on people,” said Kusac.

“Carry on with your experiments,” said Kezule, making notes on his pad. “And keep us informed. How’s the winter training going, Toueesut?”

“It goes very well. Your commandos do not like the cold and move slowly in it, but with the heated clothing they are doing much better. This will work, indeed it will. Another two, maybe three, days and they will be coping well.”

“Thank you,” said Kezule. “Banner, the fighters from the Sholan and Touiban ships—how is their training, and that of our new Ch’almuthian pilots doing?”

“Going well,” said Banner. “Launch time is getting much faster, and the new pilots are doing well with the basic maneuvers and formation flying.”

“Kezule,” Carrie interrupted. “The cattle, do they have skin parasites?”

“I have no idea,” said the General looking surprised. “Why? Is it important?”

“Yes,” she said as Kusac picked up on her thoughts and began to groan. “If I’m right, then all the Sholans will need delousing, especially Kusac and Kaid. The cattle will need to be treated too.”

Kaid opened his mouth to protest, then began to scratch vigorously at his neck again. “Dammit! She’s right. I hate the delousing stuff,” he muttered.

“We can zap them ourselves,” protested Kusac. “There’s no need for delousing. Besides, we don’t have anything we can use here.”

“You delouse or you aren’t sharing a bed with me!” said Carrie. “I’m not catching them from you!”

“Skin parasites?” asked Kezule, puzzled, looking from one to the other.

“Biting insects that live on the host,” said Carrie. “I bet there are some on the Prime cattle now.”

“None that affect us,” said Kezule. “Why would they attack you?”

“Fresh blood,” said Kaid. “Also, we’re furred, so they can cling onto us.”

“M’kou, get the labs onto making something up for the Sholans,” said Kezule.

“Weekly wash with it from now on,” said Carrie firmly, edging her chair away from Kusac’s.

“ZSADHI says they’re indigenous to Ch’almuth,” said M’kou. “We have nothing like that here. We’ll need to fumigate the new town and the herds to kill them all. Apparently they can only live on that world—or on Sholans,” he added.

“We must have picked them up today,” said Kusac, getting up. “Our quarters will need doing too, Kezule,” he said.

“Can’t take you two anywhere, can I?” said Carrie, grinning despite herself.

“I suggest you head back to your quarters for now,” said Kezule. “We’ll see to getting the necessary treatment for this. Apart from that, good work all of you.”

“Sonics,” said Toueesut. “We use sonic units on our ships and in homes. Portable ones we can bring for people and herds. Like doorway animals pass through and zap, no more unwanted little itchy passengers!”

“That sounds much better than a delousing,” said Kaid, his ears perking up again.

“I send for several units and one for herd. Also those to be treating rooms we have. Suggest all Palace be done just to be sure.”

“Good idea.” Kezule nodded.

Guess we’ll be eating in our suite tonight,
Kusac sent to her as they began to leave the chamber.
Chance for a romantic evening.

Not unless I’m convinced you don’t have even one insect in that pelt!
she replied.

Don’t
Carrie
me! Do you want to inflict what you’re suffering on me? You better hope Toueesut’s sonic devices work!

You’re mean,
he sent, trying to reach the middle of his back to scratch and to ignore Carrie’s laughter.

 

Not convinced the sonic device was good enough, despite the Touibans pointing out that they were also prey to such parasites, Carrie found that the Sholans staying in the barracks had a generous supply of the parasite wash. She begged some for their use and handed it out to all those living in the Palace with dire threats of what would happen if they didn’t use it immediately.

“You can’t make them use it, Carrie,” said Kusac as, his pelt thoroughly wet, he took the pungent bottle from her and began to lather it all over himself.

“Can’t I? Tell me who their Clan Matriarch is?”

“You, of course, but ...” He sighed, admitting defeat.

“Exactly. They have to obey me,” she grinned, folding her arms across her chest as she watched him.

“I don’t see why if the sonics was good enough for the furnishings, it wasn’t good enough for us,” he grumbled, rubbing it over his legs. “You might at least offer to do my back for me—you know I can’t reach it properly.”

“No way. That stuff smells,” she said, wrinkling her nose.

“You know, you could be infested too,” he said, keeping his head down so she couldn’t see the glint in his eyes.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve been nowhere near the cattle, and I’m not itching.”

“You said it, prevention is better than a cure,” he said, lunging out of the shower stall and grabbing her.

She let out a shriek as he pressed her close against his chest. “You’re getting me all wet, Kusac! Let me go right now!”

“The more I think about it, the more I’m sure you should share my shower,” he said, ignoring her shrieks as he pulled her under the stream of hot water with him. “After all, I don’t want you to reinfest me, do I?” he grinned, holding her tightly as she tried to squirm free.

“You evil-minded, flea-ridden fur rug!” she spluttered, trying to push her soaking wet hair out of her face as the water continued to cascade over her.

“That’s no way to talk to your Clan Leader,” he purred in her ear, nipping the lobe gently with his teeth. “If you can order us to douse ourselves in this evil-smelling stuff, then I can order you to do it too.”

“You jegget, Kusac! You absolute jegget!” she said, thumping him on the chest with her balled up fists while trying not to laugh at the same time.

“Why’re we walking to the swimming hole rather than going in the aircar with Master Tanjo and the others?” asked Shaidan as he and Carrie walked along the edge of the river. The swimming hole had been constructed at Conner’s request, not just for the cubs but for anyone. The mornings, however, were set aside for the cubs.

Carrie settled her backpack more comfortably on her right shoulder and looked down at her Sholan son. “I wanted us to spend some time together, Shaidan. We need to get to know each other better. I promised you we would.”

He nodded and kicked at a small stone in his path. “If I’m your son, why don’t I look at all like you?” he asked after a few minutes’ silence.

“If, Shaidan? You
are
my son! When your father and I first Linked, changes began to happen to us,” she said, deciding that only the truth would satisfy him. “I became more Sholan, and Kusac, your father, became partly Human, like me. Even though you and your brothers and sisters look Sholan, inside there is much that is Human like me, especially with your Talents. Your sister Kashini does have a look of me about her.”

“She does?” That had caught his attention.

“Mmm. Everyone who knows her says her face and mine are alike, and like me, her pelt and hair are blonde.”

“Do you see yourself in me at all?”

Carrie stopped dead and caught Shaidan by the arm, halting him. Crouching down to his level, she looked him straight in the eyes. “Yes,” she said, reaching out to tuck a lock of his hair back from his face. “In you I see much of my personality, as well as your father’s, the Gods help us! You’re as determined to do your own thing as both of us put together! Physically, yes, you resemble him, but to me you look like Shaidan, no one else, and I love that person.”

“Oh,” he said quietly, looking down at his feet.

“No one could doubt that you are Kusac’s and my son,” she said, stroking his cheek. “It’s there for all who know us to see, Shaidan, in the way you carry yourself, and speak. We Sholans always see beneath the surface of how a person looks.”

He looked back up at her, mouth widening in a slow smile. “You’re Sholan too?”

Carrie grinned and flicking his ear, stood up. “Indeed I am, kitling. I ceased being Human when your father and I Linked, as I said.”

“What about that part of me that’s from Aunt Zayshul?” he asked as they began walking again.

“Be proud of it,” she said without hesitation, smiling down at him. “I’m your mother, and Kusac is your father. Your DNA was manipulated after you were conceived, and some of Aunt Zayshul’s was added to alter you, give you the speed and power of the Prime people. When you are old enough to share cubs with a female you love, those traits, we’ve been told, will not be passed on. They are unique to you.”

“Oh,” he said again.

What’s really worrying you, Shaidan?
she sent.
Do you doubt I love you?

No, I can feel it,
he replied. His mental tone belied his uncertainty where his voice had not.
I ’spose I’m worried that you can love me when I’m so different from you.

You’re looking with only your eyes,
she sent, allowing her shields to fall a little so he could Link more fully to her.
Look beneath the surface, read me. You’ve only ever Linked with your father. I love him, and Kaid, and you’re no different from them.

His mental touch was gentle and deft, much like Kusac’s. It took only a moment or two then he startled her as his small hand suddenly took hers and he sighed.

“Pappa was right. You are special,” he said, falling in step with her.

She laughed. “He said that, did he? Well, so are you! Now come on, let’s get to the swimming hole before Tanjo and your brothers and sisters wonder where we are!”

 

The rest of the morning was spent playing water volleyball and tag, and by the time Tanjo called a halt for second meal, Carrie was ready for the break.

“How do you manage to keep up with them?” she asked the older Brother as she toweled herself down before eating.

“I always enjoyed working with the young ones,” said Tanjo, giving himself a final shake before wrapping a tunic around himself. “I’m glad Kaid gave me the chance to do so again.”

“Well it certainly seems to agree with you,” she said, sitting down on one of the rugs they’d spread on the ground. “You’re looking far more relaxed and rested than I’ve ever seen you.”

“These kitlings are very special,” he said, regarding his chattering charges as they finished drying off, then fetched their backpacks and came over to join them. “See how Shaidan looks after Gaylla, and how the others look to him? He’s a natural leader.”

“I worry that he takes on responsibilities beyond his age,” she sighed.

“Oh, don’t worry about him,” said Tanjo with a chuckle, reaching for his own pack. “He’s learning how to rely on the adults around him to look after them all, just as a kitling should.”

“Good, it’s about time,” she said, turning to greet the cubs as they descended on them.

Gaylla made a beeline for her, sitting down beside her, then insinuating herself onto her lap.

“Shaidan said since I have no mommy here that I could borrow you when I needed to,” she said. “He said you have lots of extra love to go around.”

“Did he, now?” she said, amused, automatically accommodating her body to the cub’s and putting an arm around her.