Page 21 of Advance and Retreat
The handsome bearded Dramok contemplated her.“You didn’t mention the Emperor Egilka doppelganger encounter when it happened.”
“I thought it was a case of baby brain.I’d honestly forgotten about it until this situation occurred.”She offered him a cynical smile.“I’ll admit, it was a convenient thing to forget considering how Degorsk would have reacted to such an occurrence.”
Tranis snorted.“He’s been in a constant state of anxiety over your pregnancy.How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”She waved off his uneasiness.“The end of the message I was given concerns me.”
“It does paint a bleak picture, but I’ve dealt with bleak in the past.”
Cassidy watched him for the old shadow of guilt.Tranis had been present when the original Earth had been rendered lifeless.He’d had an unwitting hand in the planet’s destruction, which he’d been unable to fully come to terms with.
His attention was taken up by her and the supposed Other’s interaction.“This...entity.Whatever was looking through your research and communicating, which you assume is what the Darks refer to as the Other.It’s survived the All.”
“Which pisses off the Darks.Every time the subject comes up, they become irate.They won’t discuss it, however.I think their view of themselves as all-powerful is challenged by this being or beings.”
“Which means hope isn’t lost yet.”Tranis’ eyes narrowed.“They haven’t threatened you.”
“Not at all.”She thought of the fake Egilka.“The encounter I had...the pretend emperor seemed distant.Dispassionate but curious about my research.It reminded me of speaking to a fellow scientist minus the professional camaraderie.You know?”
“I think I get the idea.”Tranis’ brow creased as he deliberated for a few seconds.“I don’t want you endangered, but this could be an opportunity to learn the All’s weaknesses if you’re approached again.”
She’d hoped he’d see it her way.“We’ll have to keep it from Lidon and Degorsk for now.They’d freak out.”
“They would.It’s only spoken to you when you’re alone, and that worriesme.If anything happened to you and the baby, I’d never forgive myself.”
“I don’t get a bad feeling from it, my Dramok.In a way, it almost seems as if it’s trying to be compassionate.”
“It didn’t offer any help.”
“No, but it did want us to acknowledge what it feels is our inevitable fate.If it didn’t care at all, it wouldn’t have bothered.”
Tranis considered.“All right.If something of this nature occurs again, see if you can draw it out.Get some information.But if you feel it’s crossing the line into a threat—”
“I’ll alert lab security immediately.”Their Nobek clanmate Lidon had seen to it there was a panic button at Cassidy’s station in case the contained Darks somehow got loose.All she had to do was push it.
“Do so.”Tranis gazed at her, his expression a mixture of concern and love as he obviously second guessed his decision.
* * * *
Alpha Space Station
“You signed up for the vaccine trial?”
Stacy winced at Kuran’s explosive shout.She’d anticipated he’d react the strongest.As a Nobek warrior, her bodyguard, and her promised clanmate, he was exuberantly protective.Dark Death was beyond his ability to defend her, however, save keeping her as far from the virus as possible.
Rihep and Etnil, sitting with them at the dining table where they were eating dinner after a long day, looked unhappy as well.Rihep’s tone was tense, but calm.“I realize we aren’t clanmates yet, but it would have been nice to be consulted before you made such a momentous decision.”
“How can I not participate in the process?”Her voice was soft, but she allowed no apology to color it.“The scientists are asking for volunteers.As a Dramok, you understand a leader isn’t above his or her people.We serve them by accepting the risks we ask them to take.”
“You feel guilty for Toni getting sick while you stayed safe on the station.”
“Of course I do.But it has no bearing on my choice in the matter.”Maybe.Stacy had counted up the reasons to be part of the trial and had found many to shield her from the possibility she was acting out of self-reproach.“Rihep, I have to return to Earth to govern.This is also the best opportunity I’ll get to quiet the Earthtiques’ objections to the vaccine.”
Kuran growled softly.“I feared their opposition to the vaccine before it’s even ready would push you to do something like this.”
“Toni was one of the few who survived the extreme version of Dark Death.We have the same genes, so I’ll probably do better than most test subjects.”
“That isn’t sound logic, and you know it,” Rihep pointed out.“There’s a lot more to it than genetics.You’re putting your health...yourlifeon the line.Some of the side effects computer simulations showed were profound.”
