Shamara (36 page)

She turned to the sphere. It hummed and vibrated, familiar, ancient energy calling to her soul. This was her birthright. Her destiny.

Spirit, see me through this,
she prayed as she placed her hands on the sphere. Immediately, the sphere reacted, the vibratory pitch increasing, pinpricks of white light flashing across the mirrored surface. The suction came, fast and relentless. She struggled to draw in enough energy to feed the sphere's voracious demands.

The flow rushed back to her, and she almost stumbled backward.
Stay focused.
She concentrated, trying to absorb the energy and spread it evenly through her body, to pull in enough outside power to feed back to the sphere.

Without warning, the drag began again, a sharp undertow that sucked every ounce of energy she had, then demanded more.
More.
She must pull in more. But the power rushed back to her before she could stabilize, jolting her with tremendous force.

"Eirene, are you all right?"

She was already weakening, and the process was just beginning. She had to hang on.
I'm fine,
she channeled to Jarek.
Just getting the rhythm.

She dug in, sheer will keeping her upright. The energy flowed in and out, in and out, until it seemed to become a part of her, enmeshed in every cell of her body, regulating her heartbeat, her breathing. It was as if she and the sphere had become a single life force. Each surge was more powerful, more of a shock to her body, more draining and debilitating with each ebb to the sphere.

"By the Fires," Jarek said, his voice awestruck. "I've never seen anything like this."

The tone of his voice pulled Eirene from her trancelike state. Forcing open her eyes, she stared in amazement. Huge panels had unfurled from the sphere, like the petals of a flower. The panels radiated in a circle around the sphere, and protruded through the ceiling, floor, and walls of the bay, apparently stretching out into space. Yet they caused no notable damage to the ship structure.

"Electromagnetic anomaly," Jarek said. "They're not solid matter. They're passing through the ship structure. Amazing."

Eirene sagged against the sphere, too exhausted to analyze what she saw. Immediately his attention shifted to her. "Are you okay?"

I’m fine.
But just as she thought that, the sphere exerted its awful demand again, pulling at her, draining, draining, yet insisting on more. Gasping, she struggled to keep her eyes open. Sparks of a thousand colors flashed from the sphere now, and light rays erupted forth. The mirrored surface glowed, becoming a solid expanse of brilliance.

Power surged back into her, more than she could assimilate. Darkness began edging her vision. Frantic, she fought to remain viable.
Jarek!

"Eirene!"

I don't know if I can hold on.
The thought was wrenched from her. She hadn't intended to broadcast that.

"You have to hold on. Do you hear me? Hold on. I won't let you go."

She was vaguely aware of motion beside her. Suddenly, the drain eased, and the darkness dissipated. Jarek stood next to her with his palms planted against the sphere.
It's time I learned how to channel energy.

No! It will kill you.

So will losing you.

Jarek, no. Don't sacrifice yourself.

But she felt the easing of the strain, experienced a momentary respite from the overwhelming power.
We do this together,
Jarek insisted.

The undertow came at them, sucking every bit of energy, demanding more, far more than Eirene could give. She felt Jarek shudder, felt the stir of his own power as he met the challenge. Even with the two of them, it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough.

She lost all track of time, unable to hold telepathic communication with Jarek. All she could do was ride wave after agonizing wave of energy fluctuation, feeling herself grow weaker and weaker. The blackness again threatened, but Jarek was too locked in his own battle to help her now.

She drew on her last ounce of endurance, desperation giving her just enough strength to send a final message.
Jarek, I can't hold on any longer. Save yourself before it's too late. Let go of the sphere and save yourself.

With a terrible finality, the blackness descended.

*  *  *

Indistinct hums and beeps edged into the void, irritating, like a small bug that wouldn't go away. Jarek tried to shut out the annoyance, to return to the peaceful oblivion.

Something shook him, tugging at him insistently. "Jarek. Jarek, can you hear me? Wake up!"

A deep male voice, nagging at him, skirting the edge of his consciousness, and aggravating the blazing hells out of him. "Go away," he muttered, too exhausted to open his eyes.

"Not going to happen, san Ranul," said another male voice. "Can't have you laying down on the job." Familiar, and cocky. He knew that voice.…He felt a sharp sting in his neck, followed by a rush of adrenaline through his body. Even then, he battled the fog, had to force his eyes open. Two figures above him blurred then came into focus. McKnight and Travers.

He stared at them, shook his head to clear it. "Where am I?"

"I think the better question would be
where are we
?" Sabin answered. "We did it!"

Jarek tried to sit up. The room seemed to spin. "Don't get up yet," Chase pressed him back down.

Jarek realized he was in the medical lab, surrounded by an array of equipment. What was going on? Something important nagged at the edge of his memory. "Was I wounded?"

Chase shook his head. "I'm not sure what happened to you."

Full recollection burst into Jarek's mind with alarming clarity. "The sphere!" He sat up, ignoring Chase's attempts to restrain him. "Eirene! Where is she? What happened?"

The dizziness increased. He gripped the edge of the table until it receded somewhat. His head pounded like it had been inside a rocket coil, and he was very weak. "Tell me what the hell happened. Where's Eirene?"

Chase and Sabin exchanged glances. "We made it through the wormhole," Sabin said. "You were right. We're in an uncharted part of the galaxy."

Fierce elation flared at the news, triumph welling inside Jarek. They'd found shamara! But the sense of victory quickly faded, eclipsed by concern for Eirene. “Tell me what happened.”

"We came into the bay to check on you, and found the two of you unconscious on the floor," Chase explained. "The sphere continued to operate on its own until we exited the wormhole, and then it shut down and closed back up. Astounding."

"Forget that damned sphere," Jarek said, panic beginning to take hold. "Where is Eirene?"

Chase clasped his shoulder, expression troubled. "She's on the other side of the screen."

"I have to see her." Jarek slid off the table, pitching forward as his legs collapsed. Sabin and Chase caught him and hefted him up. His legs were like rubber, unsteady and weak. That didn't matter. Nothing mattered but Eirene. "Take me to her."

"She's not conscious," Chase said. "You need to lie back down."

"Let me go," Jarek growled, wrenching free. He stumbled forward ripping away the electrodes attached to his chest and the IV strips in his arm. He lunged for the screen. "Eirene!"

"She's comatose," Chase tried explain, grabbing his arm again. "She's not responding."

Jarek whirled to face him. "No one is going to keep me from her. Take your hands off me.
Now
."

Chase stared at him a moment, then released him. Jarek staggered around, and shoved the screen to the side. It crashed to the floor. Eirene lay on a table, as white and still as death. Equipment surrounded her, monitors flashing rows of data. None of it was decipherable to Jarek. But he didn't need to be able to read it to know she wasn't emanating the familiar energy pattern.

"Eirene!" he cried, lurching to the table, gathering her into his arms. She was cool, her breathing very faint. No life force radiated from her—no Eirene. Fear rushed through him, left him sick and shaking. "What's wrong with her?" he demanded of Chase. "Why can't you help her?"

"I've tried everything in my power. She's nonresponsive," Chase said quietly. "The equipment indicates minimal brain activity. I'm sorry."

"No!" Jarek roared, denial raging through him. He held her tightly, cradling her against him. "Eirene, you can't leave me!" He listened for the whispering of her life force. He heard nothing but the blasted equipment. Desperation flooded his soul.

Refusing to give up, he reached for her mentally.
You did it, little one. You controlled the energy and activated the sphere, and we made it through the wormhole. You didn't let me down. I'm so proud of you. Don't leave me now.
He buried his face against her hair, prayed for another miracle.
You can't leave me, Eirene. I need you too much.

Still no flare of energy, no sign of life, as if the spirit had departed, leaving a fading physical body.
No!
he screamed inside, anguish racking him.

Eirene, stay! Stay here with me. I know I never gave you the words, but I love you. I want you to become my mate, for us to be together always. You're brave and beautiful, with a heart as big as Elysia's sun.

He halted, tears tracking down his face, grief shredding his soul.
We did it, sweetness. We're in a new world. We're free now, and the best is yet to come. You can't go. I love you. I love you
.…

He rocked her, beyond words, beyond hope. He didn't know how long he stayed there, only that he couldn't bear to let her go. He ignored Chase’s and Sabin’s attempts to get him to lie down. Time ceased to exist. He was aware only of Eirene's fragile body cradled in his arms, of her utter stillness.
I love you,
he told her, over and over.

He almost missed the faint stirring. A slight sensation of energy touched his mind, pulling him from his litany. He felt a movement against him, heard the intake of air. He drew back, too stunned to even comprehend the miracle occurring.

Clear blue eyes stared back at him, a sea of tranquility and redemption. "Jarek," she whispered, her voice so faint, he almost couldn't hear her.

Thank you, Spirit!
"It’s about time you woke up." His heart was beating so hard, he thought it might burst through his chest. Brushing the tangled mass of hair back from her face, he cupped her cheek. "Have I told you that I love you?"

A smile tugged at her lips. She tried to raise her hand toward him. He took it and pressed a kiss against it. "I think so," she said softly. "I kept hearing those words. They pulled me back to you."

"I've got news for you, lady. You're never leaving me again. I won't let you. I love you too much."

"That's good," she murmured. "Because I love you, too."

Jarek knew that as long as he lived, he would thank Spirit every single day for this miracle. For all the miracles. He didn’t know exactly where they were in the galaxy, but he knew they were away from the Controllers.

At long last, they had found shamara.

"You're not cooperating, Moriah," Chase chided. "Come on. You can push harder than this."

"Oh, really? Why don't you try shoving a cantafruit up your nose? See how you like that, Doctor."

He sat back on his stool and shrugged, humor dancing in his eyes. "We can stay here all cycle, if you insist. I don't have any other patients to attend."

"I'm not going through this for an entire cycle! I want this baby out, and I want it out now!"

"Chase, stop upsetting Moriah," Nessa scolded. "She's in a lot of discomfort, and having a baby is very difficult."

"I'm aware of that, my love," he said dryly.

Eirene smiled to herself. She had come to care deeply for these people. They were like a large family, struggling together to forge a path in a strange, unknown world. Now they were sharing an extraordinary event. She couldn't imagine anything more special than the very first birth of a baby in their new settlement.

Sabin squeezed Moriah’s hand. "Try to relax and do what Chase asks."

"I'm not ever listening to a man again," she retorted, then tensed. "Oh, Spirit, here comes another contraction."

"Let me help you," Eirene said, stepping closer. "Will you?"

"Oh, yes. Lay it on me."

Eirene placed her hands on Moriah's shoulders. She felt confident, no longer harboring any fears about using her powers. Nessa moved beside her, ready to help with any energy overflow. She had proven amazingly adept at manipulating energy, and often assisted when Eirene was doing energy work.

In fact, they had discovered that most Shielders had that capability. They could only speculate that the same genetic makeup giving Shielders their innate mind shields and telepathic abilities also enhanced their ability to channel energy.

Now Eirene directed healing and calming energies into Moriah, stimulating her body's natural pain suppressants, and helping her to relax through the contractions.

"I can do this," Moriah muttered, gripping Sabin's hand and trembling with her efforts to bring forth the baby.

"You're doing great, sweetheart," he told her. "I love you."

"The baby is almost here," Chase announced. "One more push, Mori. That all we need."

Moments later, Alyssa Janaye came into the universe. The beauty and spirituality of the birth touched Eirene deeply. She watched Sabin and Moriah cooing over the baby, tears in her eyes.

After the baby had been cleaned and bundled up, Eirene sent Jarek a mental message, and he entered the room. "I hear congratulations are in order." He walked to the birthing bed and leaned down to see the baby. "She’s incredible. You did well, Mori." He kissed Moriah’s cheek and turned to slap Sabin on the back. "Thank Spirit she takes after her mother instead of you."

"Can’t argue with that," Sabin said, grinning widely. His pride and excitement practically lit up the chamber.

"May I take her?" Jarek asked. Moriah nodded and placed the infant in his arms.  He cradled her gently in his large hands, his expression so tender, Eirene felt a catch in her throat.