Between Darkness and Light (59 page)

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Authors: Lisanne Norman

BOOK: Between Darkness and Light
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Rec room, that evening
He was aware of her as soon as she entered and looked up to see her coming toward him.
“Now there's someone you don't usually see here,” said his Second quietly, leaning on the table.
“What?” Kusac could feel how nervous she was, and how determined not to let it show. He prayed that her scent wouldn't start working on him in its usual fashion.
“The Doctor.”
“May I join you?” she asked, stopping at their table.
“Of course,” he said. “Jayza, would you get the Doctor a seat?”
“She can have mine,” said the youth, vacating his. “Can I fetch you a drink, Doctor?”
“Thank you,” she said, sitting down next to him. “Just an ale.”
“I don't think I've seen you here before, Doctor,” said Banner.
“Please, call me Zayshul,” she said with a slight smile. “I'm usually busy in the labs in the evenings.”
“Then you're definitely due some leisure time.”
She looked around nervously. “What do you do in here?”
“Mostly talk,” he said, realizing with relief that though very aware of her scent, it was still doing nothing more to him than make him feel relaxed in her presence, as it had earlier in the day. “With us all working in different areas now, we even have something to talk about.”
Banner laughed. “It isn't that bad, Kusac. There are games we can play, too, Zayshul,” he said. “Card games, or matching the marks on tiles, or strategy games with counters.”
“Sounds quite interesting,” she said.
“I'll challenge you to a game of squares later, if you like,” he said quickly, aware that Banner was about to offer.
“I'd like that,” she said as Jayza returned with her drink. Behind him stood two of the civilian females, obviously waiting for him.
“Captain, do you mind if I . . .”
He gestured with his hand. “Go. Have fun,” he said with a slight smile.
“You know,” said Banner thoughtfully, watching the set of Jayza's tail and ears as he went off to another table with them, “I think that he'll win their bet.”
Zayshul choked on her drink and even he had to grin as he automatically began to thump her back.
“Enough!” she coughed, turning aside from his hand. “You know about that?”
“Of course,” said Banner, picking up his glass. “It's quite a natural thing to do. We would. In fact, I've taken a wager myself with Lorish. Though I'm a bit unsure as to what I was betting or what the payout for the winners is.”
“Mess privileges, Ghidd'ah said. But they're also using the fictional credits we hope to have when we do introduce a monetary system,” she replied, taking a more cautious sip of her drink.
“You need to have money and goods to sell before you can do that,” he said. “You're some way off from that, I'm afraid.”
“I know. Don't you mind about him going off with our females?” she asked Banner. “You don't think it . . . betrays your own kind?”
Banner glanced briefly at him before answering her. “Why would you think that? The Captain and I discussed it and decided it was up to each individual to decide for himself.”
“No reason,” she said, flustered.
Khadui and Dzaou took that moment to arrive, pulling empty chairs up to the table and joining them.
“Doctor,” said Khadui with a polite nod to her as he put his glass down on the table.
Dzaou was busy taking a drink from his glass as he sat down. He'd hardly taken it from his mouth when Ghidd'ah approached him, tapping him on the arm.
Startled, he looked up at her.
“Captain,” she said, “you don't mind if we borrow Brother Dzaou, do you? We need him to settle an argument for us.”
“Be our guest,” he said.
Ghidd'ah wrapped her hand round Dzaou's arm and gently urged him out of his seat as she began to regale him with some details of the argument, which centered round Sholan tails.
Puzzled, he glanced at Banner, who shrugged.
“Tails?” said Khadui, shaking his head as he watched Dzaou dragged off to a table where three other females, including Shezhul, one of Kezule's daughters, sat. “I can't think of a more boring topic.”
“I wouldn't say that,” murmured Banner. “I'd say the running on those bets just increased.”
“Dzaou?” he said incredulously. “You think they're making up to Dzaou?”
“He's not exactly known for his subtlety, is he?” said Banner. “One could almost think his emotional behavior betrayed a passionate nature, if one didn't know him.”
Khadui grunted, but then grinned. “Ah, now wouldn't that be a turn up for the books! I just hope they don't come after me, that's all. I have no interest in these females—no offense, Doctor,” he added hastily.
“None taken,” said Zayshul, obviously enjoying the banter. “What about you, Lieutenant? Have you been approached yet?”
Banner gave a slow smile. “I prefer to make my own choices,” he said. “As I'm sure the Captain would.”
He smiled neutrally, continuing to watch Dzaou. “He sat down with them,” he said. “I am surprised.”
“It's amazing what a little flattering female company can achieve, Kusac,” said Zayshul.
Catching her reference, he glanced at her, keeping his ears from folding back in embarrassment with an effort. “Doubtless,” he said, “but not even that will cut through his xenophobia.”
She leaned toward him. “Tell me, what caused Dzaou's hatred of any but his own kind?”
“He was held prisoner by another species many years ago,” he replied.
“Males or females?”
“Males.”
“Ah,” she said, sitting back. “Then you're wrong. It can still work. Every male likes his ego massaged, and we females, no matter our species, have ways of doing it that are difficult to deny. We can be very persuasive.”
Banner laughed aloud at this and raised his glass to her. “Doctor Zayshul, all I can say is I am glad you're not after me! May Vartra have mercy on Dzaou! He's in for a rough time!”
“It's a compliment,” he said in a low voice to her as, unsure, she glanced at him.
As the evening wore on, Dzaou, surprisingly, remained with Ghidd'ah and the others.
He waited for a moment when Banner had gone to chat briefly with Lorish, and Khadui had gone to the bar to fetch more drinks.
“Shaidan had his hair braided today,” he said.
Zayshul looked at him. “I know, I saw it tonight when I put him to bed. I thought it looked very nice. Shishu was working with the children today, she did it. Do you have a problem with it? If I remember, one of your people on the
Kz'adul
had hair that was braided.”
“No, I rather liked it too,” he said. “T'Chebbi. It was T'Chebbi, she braids her hair.”
“Ah, is it a female thing?”
“No. Some of us wear it braided,” he said. “I just never have.”
“You should, with your long hair,” she said with a slight smile. “You and your son are so alike.”
Surprised, he sat there for a moment then picked up his glass. “How did Shishu know how to braid? It isn't as if you have hair yourselves.”
“Of course, you don't know her, do you? She's one of Kezule's young females, from the Royal Court,” she said. “They often wear elaborately braided headdresses made from exotic fabrics.”
“Did you mix much in the Court?”
“Only immediately after my marriage,” she said, looking down at her hands. “The Empress took a liking to me.” She looked up, another slight smile on her lips. “Like Kezule, I liked the person, but not the Court.”
“Was that why Kezule left?” he asked, putting his now empty glass back down.
“That and the fact he didn't appreciate them harvesting him to create one hundred children.”
He raised an eye ridge. “I knew all the military personnel were his offspring, but I didn't realize there were so many.”
“Most of them he left on our home world to act as the Emperor's bodyguard.”
“Then he really did leave because he didn't want to attract another uprising?”
“How did you know that?” she asked as Banner rejoined them.
“Know what?” asked his Second, easing into his seat.
“Why Kezule left K'oish'ik,” he said. “Your Ambassador asked our government to keep an eye out for the
N'zishok
and tell them if we saw it. Seems the Emperor wants Kezule back and disagrees he'd be a focus for dissidents.”
“And your government agreed to this?” she asked, the shock obvious in her voice.
“They had no reason to refuse,” he said. “I was asked to find out why he really left. Had we decided it was better to not inform your Emperor, then we wouldn't. As it was, when I returned to Haven, I had nothing to report about Kezule's reasons for leaving.” He looked at Banner.
“My report said you'd returned here at Kezule's request to retrieve a final cub after you'd trained his people,” said Banner. “I had no more information than that to give. Only Kusac had the coordinates for the rendezvous.”
“No one will be looking for us,” he said. “They're preparing for war with the M'zullians.”
“Which is another reason we need to get back on schedule,” said Banner. “Pleasant as it is here.”
“Kezule will keep his word,” she said slightly stiffly. “Once he's given it, and he has.”
As Khadui returned with the tray of drinks and began putting them on the table, he hand-signaled Banner to change the conversation to something neutral.
“How's the decoding going, Kusac?” Banner asked casually, thanking Khadui with a nod as he picked up his fresh glass.
“It's a text, a story about a Queen who, as far as I can tell, is responsible for the Valtegan Empire.”
“Queen Kszafas,” said Zayshul.
“A Queen?” said Khadui, resuming his seat. “I thought theirs was an all male culture.”
“Not always,” said Zayshul. “I'm sure your Captain told you the General wishes to return our people to being one integrated species, with no castes.”
Khadui nodded. “I expect he did. I just follow orders, Doctor,” he said with an openmouthed grin. “I don't bother with the whys of them. Will this text end up in the data banks for us to read like the other ones?”
“It should,” said Zayshul.
The conversation became more general after that and just as he and Banner decided to call it a night, they noticed Jayza slipping out with the two females he'd spent the evening with.
“I doubt he'll sleep alone tonight,” said Banner with a grin, getting up.
“He'll enjoy himself,” he said, pushing his chair back. “I'm sure,” he added in the small silence that followed.
“Would you like me to walk you to the elevator?” he offered Zayshul as they headed out into the corridor.
“There's no need,” she said with a smile. “Good night.” She nodded to the three of them then disappeared in the opposite direction from the one they were taking.
“An interesting person,” said Khadui. “It's the first chance I've had to talk to her. You knew her before, Captain?”
“Yes. We met on the
Kz'adul
. She treated me there and at Haven,” he said.
“She's the kind of female that would interest me,” said Banner lazily.
He glanced at his Second, feeling something akin to resentment that he should even think that and realized, as their eyes met, that he'd fallen for the bait. Looking away, he said nothing.
When they came to the small corridor that led to his and Banner's quarters, Khadui wished them good night and walked on down to his own room. He turned toward his door only to feel Banner take hold of his arm.
“I'd like a word if I may,” his Second said quietly.
“Would tomorrow do?” he asked, keying open his door. “I'm tired.”
“No, now, if you don't mind.”
He stood aside for Banner to enter.
“Can I offer you a drink?” he asked, walking over to the dispenser, deciding to make the best of it. “Coffee or kheffa?”
“No, thanks,” said Banner, following him in. “It won't take long.”
He turned round, perching on one of the tall stools at the meal bar. “What is it, Banner?”
“Is there anything between you and the Doctor?”
“No. Why do you ask?”
“Because I know the signs. Both of you are skittish around each other. Was there anything between you on the
Kz'adul
?”
“I wasn't exactly in any physical condition for anything like that,” he said.
“That's not a factor, and you know it isn't. All I'm going to say is it isn't wise to pursue a relationship with her, given she's Kezule's wife.”
“I know she is,” he said, irritated. “I also know theirs is the equivalent of a Clan marriage.”
“Kusac,” he said warningly. “You know the danger that could cause. We're here to do a job. A fling with one of their willing females is one thing, but an affair with her is something else, particularly since she's . . .”
“Stop right there!” he said angrily, sliding off the stool. “I don't intend to jeopardize my reason for being here, namely finishing this job and taking Shaidan home. You've had your say, now leave it at that.”
Banner sighed. “Just remember that, Kusac, that's all I'm asking,” he said, turning to leave.
CHAPTER 11

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