Page 54

I don’t understand.

Please remember it’s been a very long time since all this began, but I don’t think the Hand placed those transmitter chips.

Viktor pondered her words for a moment.You think someone else placed them there? Who? The same people responsible for making you a war ship?

Very likely. But I can’t remember. Something is familiar, but I can’t say what.

Viktor nodded to himself.Not surprising given the amount of trauma your brain sustained.

I told you and Damon I believed Diamond and Phoebe to be the key to the salvation of both the Vok’nair Empire and the Asalian Coalition. Do you remember?She sounded weary. Given all he’d learned about theBlack Star,she had probably used every resource at her disposal to come up with her postulation.

Yes. It was during the beginning of my Burning so I couldn’t concentrate on it much, but I do remember. Viktor had a sickening feeling he knew what she was going to say next.

I think now maybe I had it wrong. The women aren’t the key, but I think the chips inside them are.

Viktor’s train of thought took a sharp detour when Dr. Zabin entered the room looking weary but wearing a slight smile.

Viktor and Ranier both snapped their attention his way.

“Diamond.” Viktor found he couldn’t get the words out.

“Is she all right?” Thankfully, Ranier was just as anxious as Viktor. The younger man got the question out when Viktor couldn’t.

“She’s fine. We had to keep her conscious during the procedure, but she assures me she was only mildly uncomfortable. Still, I’ve given her a sedative to allow her to rest for a couple of hours so the tissue around where the implant was can begin to knit. With her healing abilities, she shouldn’t need more time than that.”

Viktor felt the release of some ofBlack Star’s tension. The ship’s essence had been sincerely worried about Diamond. Underneath it all, Viktor felt a sliver of guilt. He could gather enough ofBlack Star’s thoughts and feelings to know she hadn’t actually implanted the chip, but Nani still felt responsible for at least some of the misery dealt with by so many because of her actions so many years ago. It was as ifBlack Starfelt responsible for the invasion of the young woman’s mind.

“Thank the Stars.” Ranier clapped Viktor on the shoulder. The younger man looked weary and careworn. Viktor knew they had to address their relationship soon. Preferably before Diamond rejoined them. Viktor would like to have answers for her as to where they all stood. He owed her that much and more.

He owed her his life. If she wouldn’t accept it, he’d still offer it to Ranier. Still, with either one of the two missing from his life, he wasn’t sure he could ever be whole.

“When can we see her?” Viktor asked quietly.

“I’ll notify you the moment she’s awake. In the meantime, I suggest you get some rest.” Dr. Zabin scrubbed a hand over his face. “The chip that came from Diamond is being analyzed as we speak. If I understood the technobabble Taren was spouting correctly, there’s going to be a huge amount of activity in the next few days. I’m sure Captain Singh will need the two of you ready for anything when it all starts.”

Before Viktor could question him further, Dr. Zabin turned and entered the surgical suite again. Ranier let out a puff of air.

“Well. There’s nothing quite like being totally in the dark.” He turned to Viktor. “Doyouknow what the fuck is going on?”

Black Stardidn’t say anything, but she didn’t block Viktor when he tried to access the ship’s computers via the data streamBlack Staralways seemed to be able to process, or when he reached for her memories. There was nothing she could remember other than a faint feeling that the tiny chip had something to do with either her or theSword Breaker. The data stream from the computers, however, held a wealth of information, the implications of which raised as many questions as they answered.

“It’s hard to understand.” Viktor squinted his eyes as he concentrated. “If I’m not totally misinterpreting it all, I’d say that chip inside Diamond was placed there when she was still an infant.”

“I thought Phoebe told Damon the implants were put there by the Hand.”

Viktor shook his head. “She was speculating. She doesn’t know any more than we do about it. It’s certainly possible the Hand planted them there, but I’d say definitely not for the reasons Phoebe originally thought.”

“So, if they weren’t tagged to prevent them from escaping, then why?”

Viktor shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I’m betting it has something to do with these ships and the people they were before the transplant.”

Ranier sighed. “This is giving me a headache. I’m going to rest a while. If you’re right, there may not be much time for it later.”

“Ranier --” Viktor suddenly felt awkward around his friend. “Come with me.”

Ranier raised an eyebrow. “To where?”

“Home.”