The Chalice (22 page)

The conversation had progressed from  bad to outright ridiculous.

“You know,” Kara huffed, disgusted. “I was trying to be serious. We need an action plan. Some sort of schem e to prove our com petence. I can’t sit here another day picking my nose and daydreaming. All of us are capable of so m uch more.”

“I agree,” Anne said. Her lips quirked. Head bobbed. “So what do you suggest

Oh Great Queen of the Unknown Galaxy?”

“Very funny.” She rubbed her brow, pulling at a strand of hair while she

collected her thoughts. “Anybody have any ideas we could pursue?”

Being accepted as part of the crew rested solely on convincing the Chiagan-Seof the women’s value as productive members. If nothing else, they could be thecleanup crew— not that cleaning toilets held any fascination, but it was betterthan sitting here all day. Anything to give them  purpose.

“I’ll give a go at Branos,” Moira offered, sm iling as she tossed her mop of red

hair. “He listens to m e.”

“But does he understand you?” Dread scoffed, barring her teeth in a sneer.

“Listening and understanding are two very different concepts.”

“Well, he wouldn’t listen to you,” Moira retorted, her cameo complexion

flushing in anger. “He doesn’t like you. I can tell it.”

“W hat’s there not to like?” Dread plucked at her bra strap, snapping it like a

rubber band. “Everybody likes me.”

Moira’s lips popped together, choking back what Kara expected was aninflam matory remark. Didn’t do Irish any good to spar with the black woman. Dread was too fast on the com eback, and all too often Moira was the brunt of herperiodic nastiness.

“We appreciate your help,” Kara proffered. “I think Branos’ assistance is the

first rung on the ladder to success.”

Anne patted Irish’s hand, comforting the redhead. “I think we should enlist Hanna’s help as well. If we could get the bodyguard on our side, the battle’s halfwon.”

“Using the words battle and Mordaq in the same sentence makes me nervous.”

Kara shivered, imagining the bodyguard raging through his enem ies’ defenses,bunched m uscles rippling in his brawny arm s. Huge hands gripped the handle of

his light saber. Bodies ripped in half as he mowed his enemies down. Blood dripping from  his distended fangs. No—wait! They aren’t vampires! Well, at least not Tegan.

Blame her genetics for an overactive m ind.

“I don’t think Hanna and the bodyguard spend m uch time talking.” Dread m ade a crude gesture with her finger, snickering. “She looks too...contented. I bet they spend m ost of their time gettin’ naked and doing the horizontal mamba.”

“I’m  sure they’re com m unicating by more than just sexual contact,” Anne

commented wryly. “She still needs to eat from  time to tim e.”

“W hat about you, Moira?” Dread’s black eyes snapped. “You doing the nasties

with Branos?”

Irish’s mouth popped open, blue eyes rounded. “Branos isnae like that. He’s a

gentleman. He wouldnae do such a thing.”

“But would you?” Dread’s mouth curved in a sly sm ile. “He’s almost as pretty

as Lord Tegan or the big bodyguard. What’s holding you back girlfriend?”

“Dread,” Kara growled. Jeez! Enough was enough. “Leave her alone. Pick on

Anne for a change.”

“Don’t point her in my direction,” Anne yelped, skin flushing a becom ing rose. “I’ve suffered more than my share of her digs.” She turned a fierce glare on the black woman. “Just shut the hell up.”

“Ooooch!” Dread flicked her fingernails, delighted. “English’s growing balls.”

“Anne already had balls,” Ume com m ented, her sm ooth Oriental features

devoid of expression. “She’s just more subtle about displaying hers than you.”

“I   give   up!”   Kara   groaned,   throwing   up   her   hands.   “If   nothing   gets accom plished, don’t blam e me. I’ve tried and tried, but all my counselors do is snipe at each other. Guess if anything gets done, I’ll have to do it myself.”

Moira’s pixy nose went in the air. “I’ll ask Branos the next time he’s here,” she

sniffed. “And I willnae have to sleep with him  to get my m essage across.”

“Too bad for you,” Dread chuckled. “A little action m ight loosen up that tight

ass of yours.”

“Bitch!”

“Uptight prude!”

Kara blew out air in a heavy sigh. Why m e?

Chapter Thirteen [Fourteen]

Tegan flopped down on a sleeping mat, his thoughts random  and disjointed. Hewas exhausted, both from  a physical standpoint and an emotional one. He rolledto his stomach, punching at the head rest, pummeling it with his fist. Deprived ofcontact with the Chalice, he was edgy, unhappy. Angry! To fill the void left by hisself-imposed exile, he’d taken to patrolling the ship, burying himself in everyaspect of its day-to-day operation. He drove the males with fierce determ ination,worried the Deg’Nara would soon follow and finish the eradication they’d begun somany revolutions ago. The hybrid Siri only served to enhance those fears. If onehad found them, more would come.

He pushed up from  the mat, dragging a hand through his hair. The decision tostay away from  Ka-Ra was irksome, tearing at his resolve. He found him selfstrolling by the women’s quarters, hoping to catch a glim pse of long hair the colorof moonbeams. He couldn’t sleep, haunted by erotic dreams. She beckoned himwith whispered words and beguiling smiles, tem pting him  with her siren’s call. Each awakening was worse than the last. The pain of separation should haveeased, but if anything, it grew stronger with each passing moment.

A snort of derision burst from  his lips. I’m  pathetic! An embarrassment to the

Warrior caste. Nothing—not even the Chalice— should distract him  from  the needsof his people. Mooning over the lushness of ruby lips and lithesome curves, tornby his need to see her, he was becom ing useless as a leader. Too much time spentdream ing about joining with her.

“Lord Tegan.” The com  system  broke into his reverie. “May I enter,” Vaux’s

voice echoed through the cham ber.

“Come,” Tegan demanded, relieved. Save me from  myself!The panel slid open

and the senior tech stepped through the entryway.

“I’ve com e to discuss the hybrid.”

Ah, good! Something besides the Chalice to focus on. Tegan’s interest perked.

“Is she still demanding I meet with her?”

Vaux’s mouth widened in a smile. “She is. Now she’s resorting to threats.

Empty ones I m ight add.”

“Such as?”

The breeder cupped his m anliness. “She’s threatening to neuter you and every

single breeder on board unless you find the time to meet with her.”

Tegan chuckled. The hybrid m ight be part Chiagan-Se, but her attitude was all

Deg’Nara. “I hope you persuaded her otherwise lest I decide to forego a visit. I

have no desire to battle with the female. My manhood is precious to me and I

plan to use it when the tim e is right.”

“W ill you meet with her? I think you need to hear what she has to say.”

“I’ve no interest in speaking with the hybrid…”

“Her nam e is Siri,” Vaux interrupted in a low voice, stiffening up. “Siri.”

Waves of strain emanated from  the senior tech. His face was set in lines oftension, jaws clenched. The silver eyes narrowed, glittering with suppressed

emotion.

“Her name is Siri,” he said again, almost apologetic. “Though she carries

Deg’Nara blood, in her heart she is Chiagan-Se.”

“So she says.” He studied the tech’s face, curious. “Do you believe her?”

“I do,” he stated. “She’s here for a purpose and you need to hear it from  her

lips.”

Intrigued by the tech’s seem ing defense of the hybrid fem ale, he nodded. “Asyou wish.” He grinned. “But if the fem ale attacks, I’ll do what I must to protectmyself—and all my male parts.”

The tension eased, a slow drain from  Vaux’s rigid form . He laughed. “It’s Siri I’m  worried about. She’s clueless as the lim its of our skills. She was born longafter we were at our fullest strength. From  what I can tell, we’re the first real Warriors she’s encountered. She’s been trained—and well. But she’s no match foreven Shagal.”

The tech scowled, face twisting in a sneer. “The Deg’Nara depend solely onnumbers, not technique. She was raised and nurtured by the Deg’Nara. Arrogantand self-serving. But she does have Chiagan-Se blood,” he murmured, lookingwistful.

“I won’t underestim ate her,” Tegan stated, am used by the tech’s obvious interest in the fem ale. “But before we test her abilities, perhaps we could just talk.”

He reached for a cloth and wiped his face, raked his hair back and tied it with a

cord. “Do I look like a king?”

“You look m uch like your father,” Vaux nodded, approving. “But younger.”

Tegan burst out laughing. “I’m  m any years older than my father was. Or did

you forget the two hundred revolutions we spent in the life pods?”

“I didn’t forget,” Vaux whispered, sad. “I’ll never forget.”

****

She glared at him, eyes spitting defiance. “You left me in this…this despicable

cage when you knew I demanded to see you,” she sputtered, waving her arms in

fury. “There are things we have to discuss. Things you need to know.”

The hybrid Siri folded her arms, chin up, one foot tapping, glowering at the two

Warriors.

Tegan approached her warily, alert to every nuance of the female’s ill humor. He sniffed the air. The Chalices were as flowers compared to the metallic odor ofrusty machinery wafting from  the Deg’Nara. A smell he rem em bered too well fromthe before times.

“You were provided with everything you need,” he began, careful not to

venture too close, Vaux’s warning uppermost in his mind.

“My creature comforts are not your concern,” she snarled, spewing venom .

“W hat I need is to speak with you.”

Her hands dropped to her bare hips, as if seeking the comfort of nonexistentweapons. Fingers fiddled with the bands circling her upper thighs. She eyed himwith fury, sparks flashing in the angry depths.

“I have things to tell you,” she ground out through clenched teeth. “Important things. Very im portant.” She flipped back long dark hair, lips curved in a scowl. “I expected more consideration from  the Chiagan-Se.”

“A Deg’Nara expecting consideration from  the Chiagan-Se?” He choked back a

growl. “W e owe you nothing— least of all our consideration.”

The chin went up again. “I was not involved in the defeat of the Chiagan-Se. Though I’m  surprised it didn’t occur sooner than it did.” The full lips formed a slymoue. “The Deg’Nara would never have allowed an enemy to infiltrate theirdefenses.”

Cold grew in the pit of his stomach. The female flaunted her ancestry with littleregard for the sensitivity of the two Warriors. She cared little if her words were asdaggers in his heart.

She snapped her fingers. “I could have destroyed you, far easier than you

know. Instead, I offer you my services.”

“You m urdered the other crew mem bers of the Stinger. Though I com mend

your deeds, your trustworthiness is…shall we say— questionable.”

She tossed her head, haughty and overbearing as only the Deg’Nara could be. “Your crew is lax and untrained. They would never survive a Deg’Nara attack.” She paused, adding dramatically, “I can teach you how to defeat them .”

“My crew allowed you to live because I gave the order— against their wishes. I’m  beginning to regret that decision.” He drew his Tar, his meaning clear. He would kill the bitch and be done with it. One less monster.

Siri blanched, the realization that she’d pushed him  too far and weaponless to

boot was evident on her features.

Vaux stepped between them, raising a hand.

“Lord,” he m uttered. “Let the female speak her piece.”

He glanced over his shoulder at the hybrid. “You have to remem ber,” hemurmured. “She was raised a Deg’Nara. She has none of the sensibilities orrefinem ent our females had.”

Tegan’s hand dropped, the Tar faded from  red to blue. “Yet she professes adesire to becom e one of us. It would seem  the female is confused as to herloyalties. I don’t trust her, but I’ll reserve judgm ent for now. Best sheunderstands her place lest I feel the need to teach her som e m anners,” hegrowled, sheathing the weapon with a loud snap.

Shoulders hunched, Siri gazed at the floor, seem ing hum bled by his outrage.

Tegan snorted. A humble Deg’Nara?

“Speak,” he ground out the word. “Make m e believe you want to live.”

Startled, her eyes shifted to his face. White teeth worried at her bottom  lip. She nodded. “W hen the Deg’Nara invaded your worlds, a number of Chiagan-Sefemales were taken as prizes. Young, high ranking females gifted with knowledgeand beauty.” She grimaced, wringing her hands. “Deg’Nara females are notblessed with the grace and elegance of your females.”