The Chalice (11 page)

A woman ran forward with one of the thong things. “You can stretch this

around it.”

“Those freaking things’ll stretch around anything,” Dread laughed. “Check out

Hanna’s butt.”

“Dat is not funny,” Hanna frowned, wrapping her arm s across her bulging

chest. “You vould not be so happy if it vas you.”

“She’s never happy unless she’s harassing someone.” Kara patted the big

woman’s arm . “Just happens to be your turn right now.”

Hanna’s generous mouth turned down. “Vell. I don’t tink it is funny.”

“Save the dram a!” Dread jum ped down, landing with a thump. “See any

others?”

The women scurried to every corner, their wound-up chattering permeating

the enclosure.

“I found another one!” A voice shrilled. “Got it covered!”

Another was located in the bathing room  and likewise dem obilized.

“Bunch of perverts,” Dread growled.

“Nothing perverted about it,” Anne said. “This is a ship. Visuals would be

needed in every room  in the event of an emergency. How else would they know if

someone was trapped or hurt?”

Made sense, even though Kara agreed with Dread. The bathing room  cam erawould stay covered as far as she was concerned. The women’s quarters affordedlittle privacy as it was. They didn’t need an audience too—especially thataudience. Wonder if they’ve been watching us all along. Like lab rats in a giant

maze. She shuddered, skin crawling. How many other weird things were going to

crop up before this freaking circus settled?

“Doesn’t m ean we have to like it.” Or accept it, for that matter. Right now, the breeders had the upper hand—their ship and their rules. But somewhere along the way, they’d let down their guard and the women would act. Just a m atter of time.

“They’re putting trays of food near the door,” Ume hissed. “A bunch of them .”

Confused, Kara gazed at the overhead video screen. As Ume indicated, thebreeders were filling trays of food and placing them  in front of the entrance to thewomen’s quarters. Trying to entice us out— big creeps! The beguiling odors waftedthrough the small opening, filling the room  with delectable whiffs of tem ptingdelights. She groaned, mouth watering and stom ach rumbling, taste budsconjuring up the rem em bered flavors of the various morsels. Eating had alwaysbeen an important part of daily life. She liked food and was a reasonably goodcook. No, not reasonably good—excellent. She’d even harbored the idea ofbecom ing a great chef one day, owning her own restaurant and creating new andinnovative menu items. Not going to happen in this lifetim e if things kept going inthe current convoluted direction.

Their efforts com pleted, the breeders backed towards the far wall anddisappeared into an opening across the way. But for Moira’s still form, thecommunity room  was empty. Om inous in its silence, the room  appeared hushed,waiting.

“I think we should go out,” Anne’s no-nonsense voice broke the quiet. “This is a peace offering of sorts and if they were going to attack, they would have by now.”

Dread raked a hand through her coiled chocolate hair. “I think we should justcrack the door open a little m ore and drag the food in here.” She crossed her

arms over her chest. “I don’t trust ‘em  as far as I can throw ‘em .”

“W hatever. We need to eat.” Kara’s stomach growled, loud enough for those

nearby to hear. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m  starving.”

Voices m urm ured assent. Heads nodded in agreement.

“The choice is yours,” Anne stated matter-of-factly. “But I’m  going out there. I’m  going to check on Moira and then I’m  going to sit down and eat my food like a civilized person. We need to com e to term s with these individuals and we aren’t going to accomplish it by hiding in here.” Her head swiveled, satiny brown hair bouncing. “We need to show we’re not intimidated. Anyone with me?”

“I vill go,” Hanna said.

Several girls raised their hands. After a few hesitant m oments, more went up.

“You really that stupid?” Dread rolled her eyes, lips compressed in a grim  line.

“You’re going to get us all killed,” Kara objected, feeling her shoulders droop,

“but if you insist on going out there, count me in. Might as well get it over with.”

“I still say you’re stupid,” Dread huffed. “I ain’t going nowhere.”

“Suit yourself.”

Aghast, the big Swede glared at the black woman. “You voud let dem  go alone?

Vere is your pride?”

Dread flopped down on a stool and leaned back, resting against a table. “Righthere where it belongs,” she patted her butt cheek, “safe and sound.” Her wholedemeanor dared the Swede to react. “I’m  not into m ass suicide. I believe in self-preservation.”

“Oh quit,” Kara snapped, disgusted with Dread’s flippant attitude. “The minute

we go in there, you’ll be on it. You can’t stand to be left out of anything.”

“Says who?” Dread sat up, back stiff.

“Me—you big dumbass! We’re all going in there and we’re going to sit down

and eat and if anything happens—well, shit happens.”

“W ho made you boss?”

A bubble of laughter burst from  Kara’s lips. “You did. I didn’t exactly cam paignfor the position, but I seem  to have won the election whether I wanted to or not.”

Anne stepped between them, her English rose complexion flushed with anger. “If you two are through needling each other, we’ll go out now.” Long slim  fingersbrushed the twinkling lights on the control panel. “Is everyone ready?”

“W hat do we do if they come out?”

“We maintain our calm  and finish our m eal.” Anne pressed the blue button.

Dread’s full lips spread in a wide smirk. “Just like last time.”

Kara’s fists clenched. The panel lifted.

****

Tegan’s breath hitched. The door to the wom en’s quarters slid open, revealinga line of hum an fem ales. Tense and uncertain, their very stance exuded uneasywariness. Crowded together for protection, they stepped forward with studiedcaution and entered the com munal area. As before, his Chalice appeared to leadthe group, flanked by the giantess and the childlike female. Slightly behind, thedark one scowled with fierce determ ination, while beside her the calm  one’s eyessearched the room, missing nothing. He nodded approval. Though nervous, theywere nonetheless alert.

His Chalice bent down, patting the prone female’s shoulder, her soft voice

murmuring unintelligible sounds rife with comfort. Long pale hair concealed her delicate features from  his perusal stim ulating his imagination to contrive her expressive eyes and sculpted lips. The female on the floor jerked upright and threw herself on his Chalice, her hysterical wails shattering the quiet.

“Should we go out there?” Shagal pranced from  foot to foot, face alight with

anticipation.

“Not yet. They need time to adjust to our presence— understand we’re not the

enemy.”

“W hy would they think that?” Shagal’s brow furrowed. “They were invited and they cam e. We’ve shown only kindness and welcome.” His silvery eyes flashed. “Unless you did something when you talked to them ,” he added, lips drawn down.

“I did nothing.” His own excitement was hard to contain. He wanted nothing more than to enter the comm unal room  and attempt to converse with his Chalice but now was not the time. He wished he knew more of their language, enough to tell her how pleased he was and how he hoped he could make her happy. Strange how he’d never worried about that in the past. In the before tim e, his Chalice had been would have been selected from  the available females and, in time, they would have commenced their com mitm ent to each other. If the Gods willed it, children would have blessed the union. He would have becom e regent with all the duties that title entailed and his Chalice would have ruled at his side. Now all he had to offer was his honor and his protection. Poor exchange for the life she could have had.

“She is too sm all,” Mordaq grum bled. “I told you she was.” The Warrior stared at the screen, gaze focused on the tiny Chalice. “Kormak did me no service.” His face changed, softened, avid interest flashed across his features. “Now there is a

woman” he m uttered.

In the center of the image screen, the giantess bent down and picked up atray, strode to a table and sat down, seeming oblivious to anything or anyone. Tall and robust, tawny hair swept to the tips of her broad shoulders fram ing astrong but fem inine face. His lips curved, a secret sm ile twisting his lips. The hugenourishment glands rose and fell with each inhalation. She picked up a utensiland began eating, strong white teeth peeking through her generous lips. Thoughshe would not be his choice, Tegan could understand Mordaq’s attraction.

“Perhaps you could convince her breeder to trade.”

Mordaq whirled, astonished. “I would not treat either Chalice so unfairly,” he

sputtered. “The tiny one was chosen for me. I could not dishonor her.”

“Perhaps she wasn’t made aware of that fact.” Vaux dropped down through an

overhead escape hatch, landing with a soft thud. “I don’t think any of them  were.”

Tegan studied the tech, noting the lines of concern webbing his drawn

features. His heart skipped a beat. “W hat do you mean?”

The tech scratched his cheek, looking glum . “I’ve been going through more of Kormak’s logs, specifically the most recent, and I found something you need tosee.”

He fiddled with the hand reader. An image sprang up. It was obvious this entrywas made in the last days of Kormak’s existence. Old and enfeebled, Tegan wasamazed the seeker was able to converse intelligibly or m anipulate the controls.

The image spoke, the breathy words rasping and weak. “My friends, this will bemy last entry before I follow the shining path to the stars.” He paused, thewizened face sad and full of loss. “I could not leave you without admitting myperfidy. Pray the Gods cleanse my soul that I may be taken into their light. Forgive m e, my friends, and when the tim e is right, beg the Chalices for myforgiveness as well…”

“W hat’s he saying?” Shagal leaned in, eyes wide.

“…Time was running short. There was no chance to beguile the females into joining our grand adventure. We had to make a decision.” The image coughed, a line of phlegm  dotted the wasted chin. “Their civilization is a fledgling one, but they do have the beginnings of global networking. It was easy enough to hack into their computer system s and retrieve the required data. Our search had several parameters— age, fam ilial connections, intelligence and ability to adapt. Once the group guidelines had been established, we selected those on the higher end of the scale.” A gnarled hand wiped the image’s wrinkled face. “We took the females, over one thousand of their finest, and departed for hom e. These young Chalices have no idea why they’re here or who you are. They’ve been taken from everything they’ve ever known for reasons they won’t understand— or support if they did. In my heart, I know we did what we had to do, but I also know that which has been taken from  the fem ales cannot be replaced. They will be terrified, furious, and the resulting fault and recriminations will rest on your shoulders. But there was no other choice.” The old face was haunted, tortured. “I could not bear to fail you—you who had endured so much. I can only pray you will find a way to connect with the Chalices and begin your new life.” Tears shone in the image’s eyes. “I’m  the last of the seekers. Jarom  passed over two revolutions ago and I’ve been alone since that time. It has been difficult, but the last hopes of the Chiagan-Se held me to my course. I die knowing I tried my best. The controls are set to guide the ship home and I pray the journey is a safe one.” He paused, gazing into the recorder, his soul reaching through space and time. “Forgive me,” he whispered. “I could not fail you.”

The image dim m ed and then faded away.

Stunned, they stared at the hand reader, absorbing Kormak’s heartrending last

words.

“His lot was a hard one to endure,” Shagal m urmured, surreptitiously wiping at

his nose. “I could not have tolerated the isolation.”

“Idiot! Do you understand what he said?” Mordaq ground out. “He said the females have no idea why they’re here. For all we know, they view us as violators —or worse.”

“But…but we asked them  here,” Shagal stuttered, blanching. “We’re not

violators.”

“No—we’re kidnappers.” Dark thoughts whirled through Tegan’s m ind, bubbling up from  the well of loss. He gritted his teeth, emotions raging. His Chalice was not his Chalice! She wasn’t anyone’s Chalice. The dreams he harbored were as ashes on the graves of his people. A deep all-enveloping sadness settled on his chest. The Chiagan-Se’s hopes for a bright future plum meted to the depths with Kormak’s revelations. How could they overcome such a grim  beginning? The females could not and would not forgive the unforgiveable. “We m ight have done as well with Deg’Nara females. At least we’d know the reasons cementing their hatred.”

Mordaq cleared his throat, the m uscles of his neck working as he swallowed. “As you said before, the Deg’Nara fem ales were never a choice. Tainting ourillustrious heritage with the blood of those filthy defilers fills me with revulsion.” His strong teeth gnashed together with a loud click. Drawing a long breath, heexhaled, forcing a sem blance of com posure. “The question is—what should we donow?”