The Chalice (23 page)

She brushed at her palm s, as if wiping away im agined soil. “My ancestors onmy mother’s side were Chiagan-Se. My great-great-grandm other was one of thosetaken by the Deg’Nara in that long ago time. A small number of males were alsocaptured as future breeders.” She laughed, a harsh grating noise. “The Deg’Narawanted to keep the species pure, untouched by the coarseness of the Deg’Naragenetics. The females were given places to live, food and clothing, and at timesallowed certain lim ited freedoms, but in exchange they were forced into sexualslavery of the worst kind. The rich and affluent who were eager for theopportunity and willing to pay were granted access to these captives—playthingsto the whims and appetites of the Deg’Nara m ales.”

Sweat beaded the hybrid’s brow. “W hen a female reached maturity, she wasbred to a Chiagan-Se male and propagation of the species was maintained. Mostof the Chiagan-Se males were slaughtered at birth but a few were kept to ensurethe continuation of the line.”

“But you aren’t full Chiagan-Se.”

Siri nodded, lips clam ped in a tight line. “You needn’t remind me,” she choked,face flooding with color. “He who bred me was one of the wealthy and affluent. Hedesired my mother and purchased her as his consort. For his outrageous actions,

he was disgraced—condem ned by his peers. The open mating of a Deg’Nara and a

Chiagan-Se sim ply said isn’t acceptable.”

The hybrid shrugged, m isery in every line. “She was beautiful. Kind andloving.” The slim  throat jum ped as she swallowed. A shadow passed over herfeatures. “Full of the joys of life. She infused m e with hope and the will tosurvive.”

“It would seem  your sire valued your mother.”

“At first he did— as much as a Deg’Nara can. But as his world turned against him, his brutality and unholy appetites increased and his cruelties began to destroy her. He was insatiable, forcing himself on her again and again, without regard to her innermost feelings. As the revolutions passed, three children were born of that destructive union. I’m  the eldest, then a sister and a brother. My sister is too much like the Chiagan-Se to be accepted in society. She was ripped from  my mother’s arms and returned to the captives’ encam pment to be used as my mother was.” Her face changed, grew hard. “My brother is Deg’Nara. He grew up fighting to be accepted. He’s a soldier in their army and inflexible in his belief as to their supremacy. If he finds out what I have done, he will hunt me down and kill me.”

“You’ve still not explained why you defected. You appear to have done well in

the Deg’Nara hierarchy.”

Moisture formed in the hybrid’s eyes. The well-shaped m outh trem bled. “When

my mother could no longer endure the touch of my sire, she killed him . She was taken to the Ruler’s Enclave and tried for her crim es. The trial was a farce—

merely a show for the masses. She was never allowed to speak on her behalf and no one stood for her. When it was over and her sentence handed down, they tortured her in the village square for time on end and when they grew tired of their gam e, they killed her. I had to laugh and cheer along with the crowd of celebrants when they finally slit my m other’s throat. Because of my sire’s family ties, I was allowed to live, but sent to the outlands to serve. That was my value to them .” A sob escaped her lips. “She m ade me prom ise I would survive and find

my sister.”

Her shoulders straightened, her chin rose. “I am  Chaigan-Se in my heart andsoul.   W hen   the   outpost’s   sensors   detected   your   ship,   I   recognized   theconfigurations from  the stories of my people. I knew who you were. Though it wasadamantly discouraged by the Deg’Nara, the Chiagan-Se females taught theirchildren the honorable ways of their forebears. Language, customs, history,everything that could be verbally handed down was taught to the descendents. Mymother could do no less.”

“W hy did you slay your crew?” A crewman, even a bad one, deserved the

loyalty of his crewmates.

“They were a deficit. Once they realized what we were tracking, they were obligated to report in. I did what I had to do to prevent word from  reaching the home planet.” She paused, licking her lips. “I can’t be sure if one of the others got

a message out.”

“ She’s telling the truth,” Vaux interposed. He moved to stand beside the hybrid, shielding her from  Tegan’s suspicions. “I’ve questioned her over and over. I’ve used truth-saying drugs and emotion transmitters on her and there are never any inconsistencies in her testimonials. She hates the Deg’Nara as much as we do.”

Tegan gazed at the female, searching for some sign of perfidy. Tense, shiftingfrom  foot to foot, she gazed back, silver eyes pleading. If she was a spy, she hidher true m ission well.

He inhaled, filling his lungs, and then exhaled long and slow, considering. Whowas he to render judgment? If even half of what she said was the truth, she wasjust another casualty in the annihilation of their dominion. Life had dealt savagelywith every Chiagan-Se—the dead as well as the living.

She was a hybrid. A thing. Existing in the m urky shadows of two warringworlds. That she’d survived was a m iracle of itself. A m iracle he would be a fool tooverlook.

His brows drew together, his lips tightened. “If you’re lying to me, I’ll cut youin half and toss your carcass into the void.” His hand rested on the handle of his Tar. “Do you understand m e?”

She nodded, eyes flaring. “You have my word,” she whispered.

“Does she have to stay here?” Vaux’s hand rested on the hybrid’s forearm .

“There’s little comfort in this hole.”

Tegan waved his arm  in front of the control panel. The door slid open. “We’ll

take her to the women’s quarters.”

The rewards were twofold. Siri would still be in a confined area— and he’d get

to see Ka-Ra again, if only for a m oment.

****

Kara sat on a stool in the comm unal room . Leaning back, she rested herelbows on the table behind her, listening to the language program, lips silentlyforming the alien words. The tapes droned on and on, flooding her fogged brainwith more info than she could digest in four m onths. It’d be so much easier if theyhad a breeder to talk to, someone to practice with.

“I’m  getting tired of this shit,” Dread groaned, flopping down beside her. The black wom an smoothed back her dreadlocks. “Not like we need to learn their language anyway. None of ‘em  ever talks to us.”

“Mordaq talks to me,” Hanna said. “Ve talk about evertink.”

“I don’t think what you two do qualifies as talking,” Dread snickered. “More like

hands on experience.”

“Ve do talk,” Hanna objected, scowling. “Ve haf learned more every day.”

“Do you ever get tired of baiting everyone,” Kara huffed, swatting at the unrepentant Dread. “You’re not exactly making friends or forging lifelong relationships.”

“Like I care.”

“I know sometink else,” Hanna’s face lit up, her eye shone with excitement.

“Their vom en haf no breasts!”

“No boobs?” Dread chirped, her mouth gaping open. “They’re humanoid so why

no boobs?”

“W hen babies are born, they haf breasts but after da babies quit nursing, their

breasts go avay.”

“Well, Mordaq must be in Seventh Heaven with your m ountains,” Dread

snickered.

All eyes were drawn to the entry panel as it slid open with a quiet whoosh. Tegan, the grouchy pilot guy and the alien female strode through the doorway. They halted when they realized the cham ber was occupied. Tegan’s brilliant eyesscanned the room, coming to rest on Kara. His stern face eased, lips almostsm iling. Beneath his penetrating gaze, warmth invaded her veins. Her wom b did aflip flop. Energized, she stood up.

Oh My Gawd! W hat was it about the guy that m ade her break out in sweats

just looking at him ?

His head dipped in a slight bow. “Ka-Rah,” he said, pointing to the alien

female. “Siri.”

“He brought you a present,” Dread m uttered, chuckling low. “Just what you

always wanted.”

“Shut the hell up.” W hy was the female here? She didn’t look overly happy to see any of them . She looked…disgusted. In fact, she looked downright irritated. Scornful--contem ptuous— like she had a nasty taste in her mouth.

Tegan chattered to the female, pointing at Kara. Great! He is giving her to m e!

“See! I told you,” Dread whispered. “You’ve got your very own slave. Just like

in the good ole days.”

“If I had a gun right now,” Kara grum bled, “I’d shoot you. Put you out of my

misery.”

The dark one tossed her m op of shaggy hair and stalked to the table, glaringdefiance from  sparkling silver eyes. She threw herself down on a stool, folded herhands on the tabletop and stared at the wall. Aggressive fury oozed from  her verypores. She was not a happy cam per!

“Well, this is like really fun,” Kara breathed, fearful of drawing the irate

creature’s attention. “W hat are we supposed to do with her?”

The female’s eyes slid in her direction but other than that, she remained

motionless. Stiff. Unapproachable.

Dread leaned on the table, staring at the alien. “Maybe we could all join hands

and sing Cum baya.”

“Big help, ass-wipe.”

Tegan nodded approval. Behind him, the tech looked concerned, disturbed. Hespewed a string of syllables, waving at the female. Tegan’s eyes narrowed,darkened. He snapped at the breeder, his voice harsh and dem anding.

W hatever they were discussing, it wasn’t good.

The smaller breeder backed down, dropping his head and m urm uring what

Kara imagined was perhaps an apology.

“Ka-Rah,” Tegan said, softer now. “Goodbye.”

She nodded, feeling bereft as the door slid closed behind the departing m ales.

W hy had he suddenly become so distant? Avoiding me?

“This chick’s a barrel of laughs.” Dread continued her perusal of the female.

“Personality of a peanut if you ask m e.”

“Nobody asked you.” Kara eased down on to a stool, careful not to come in contact with the alien. The fem ale shifted her hips slightly as if drawing away, but made no other m ovement.

“I think she likes you,” Dread said, her chocolate brown eyes dancing.

“Maybe she is afraid,” Hanna interjected. “Ve are all strangers to her too.”

“She doesn’t look scared. She looks pissed.” Rage emanated from  the woman in pulsing waves. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the woman didn’t want to be here.

The minutes ticked by as they grouped around the table.

Sitting here like a dum bass staring at the rem arkable stranger wasn’t

accom plishing a dam n thing. To be honest, it was downright uncomfortable. And it wasn’t just them . The woman made no effort whatsoever to comm unicate or even acknowledge the humans’ existence. Maybe a show of friendliness to start.

“Hello, Si…Siri,” she tried, using the welcom ing vernacular of the Chiagan-Se.

She rum maged her brain for the few words she’d practiced. “Friends.”

The female’s head turned in minuscule degrees. The frosty eyes came to rest

on Kara. Angry and disgusted.

If looks could kill, I’d be dead--and buried!

She offered a sm ile, forcing a modicum  of warmth into the action. The silvery

eyes turned cold, the expression haughty.

“Doing great,” Dread breathed. “At least she’s paying attention.”

Kara felt her sm ile waver, fading from  her lips in the presence of the alien’sobvious dislike. “She looks like she’d like to rip my head off and shit in the hole.”

“Got a hole in your head anyway, so you won’t notice.”

Laughter bubbled up unexpectedly, spilling out before she could stop. Dread’s

boom ing laughter joined in.

The alien’s eyes flashed, the olive skin bloomed crimson. Her mouth tightened

in a tense line, nostrils flared.

Om igawd! She thinks we’re laughing at her!

“W hat’s the word for sorry?” she hissed, sweat form ing in her armpits. Just

what she wanted to do—offend the woman!

“Don’t ask me,” Dread muttered aside. “Have enough trouble with English.”

Moira wandered up, a food tray clutched in her hands. She gave their

tablemate the once over, then shrugged.

“I cannae stand to eat by m esel.” She slapped the tray down and started to sit,

bum ping the newcomer in the process.

W ith a guttural growl, the alien erupted. Flying to her feet, she knocked thetray from  the table and backhanded Moira across the face. The unfortunate Irishflew backwards. The resounding crack as her head hit the table sent shockwavesthrough the crowd.

“W hy you...” Enraged, Dread slam med her fists on the table top. She stood up,

white teeth bared in a ferocious snarl. “Freakin’ slut!”