Page 13 of Advance and Retreat (Dark Empire #6)
“T hat was the end of the communication?”
Cassidy nodded. Her clanmate, fleet admiral Tranis, sat back in his chair in his office after she’d played the vid she’d recorded of her strange interaction.
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 worries me . 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.
* * * *
A lpha 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...your life on the line. Some of the side effects computer simulations showed were profound.”
“In the earliest versions, yes. I’m aware. I’ve been given updates from the research teams as they’ve happened, and the latest adaptation had no lethal results. It’s already gone through two earlier groups of test subjects, and no one died from them.”
“Longterm quality of life issues are still concerning.”
“Those are rare. Two out of three hundred people are good odds, greater than you’d get anywhere in Dantovon’s gaming houses.”
“Your health isn’t a game.” Kuran wasn’t shouting, but he was loud.
“Neither is the survival of my people.” She looked at each man levelly, ending at Kuran. “It’s my choice. I love you guys, and I accept this upsets you, but I’m doing it. Any attempt to stop me won’t be welcome.”
In the end, Rihep nodded. “We won’t interfere.” His glance at Kuran was a warning.
The Nobek scowled, but he regarded his Dramok’s word as law.
Etnil exhibited his unease by pushing his half-eaten plate away. Nonetheless, he dove for his usual method of coping with what life sent in his direction. “I’m not up on all the side effects of the vaccine. If any include you permanently blowing up like a balloon, can I inherit your wardrobe?”
The mood was grim, and she wanted to respect it. She did her best not to grin at whatever typical Etnil foolishness was coming. Because she knew him so well, she failed. “Are you planning on dressing up in my clothes? Have you been doing so behind my back?”
His delight she played along to divert him from worrying shone in his face as he gave her a dose of puppy dog eyes. “Oh honey, just wait until you see me in your turquoise dress. I’m stunning.”
* * * *
S itting in a chair , Stacy smiled up at Dr. Emilia Laine, one of the researchers who’d had a part in developing the vaccine against Dark Death.
Dr. Laine, who’d spent a substantial portion of her morning passing the stringent boarding regulations to gain access to Alpha, was an engaging woman in her forties.
She was currently addressing the vid transmitter sending the live feed to Earth II, New Bethlehem, and Kalquor.
..and hopefully Mercy, though getting any transmissions to the beleaguered planet was dependent on which factions were in control of its various arrays.
The dark-haired, blue-eyed Dr. Laine may have been talking to a vast audience, but her soothing and confident tone felt personal to Stacy.
The rundown of the vaccine’s development, the encouraging test results thus far, and even the side effects, displayed her belief in its efficacy.
By the time she pressed the injector to Stacy’s neck to send the vaccine into her body, the governor was convinced beyond all doubt she was doing the right thing.
She was downright grateful to be among the first recipients.
“Thank you, Dr. Laine.” Stacy beamed at the scientist, then at the vid transmitter.
“I’m excited for our people to put the virus and its terrible chapter in our past. I’m eager to return to Earth soon to be back among my fellow humans as we begin our recovery.
I’ll be checking in via a video diary each day, showing you how I’m doing.
As Dr. Laine says, it’ll be about a week for it to take full effect.
I’ll be counting the hours until I can come home. ”
She’d already told Clan Rihep the content of her speech, assuring them her real home...and heart...was with them. However, Earth II was also her place, and Earthers her extended family. As governor, she was responsible for them, and she wanted her fellow humans to be assured of her dedication.
She was also desperate to see Toni in person.
Stacy needed to hug her little sister and be reassured she’d come through the worst safe and sound.
When it came right down to it, accepting the vaccine during its trials and returning to Earth II as quickly as possible was a purely selfish gesture.
Stacy felt no remorse for her motivations.
* * * *
E arth II
“Stacy took one look at what Dark Death did to me and begged for first dibs on the vaccine,” Toni joked.
The three members of Clan Imon, who stood next to her hospital bed as they watched the governor’s live vidcast, shot her disapproving glances. “You’re putting on weight and regaining your health. Trust me, you haven’t lost any ground where desirability is concerned,” Imon proclaimed.
“Women warriors who’ve fought as hard as you can’t help being exciting to Nobeks,” Wovir added. “The second you’re up for me to show my admiration, these clothes come off.”
He kissed her to put an exclamation point on his declaration. Though she was still weak, Toni had recovered enough to enjoy a surge of pure, clean lust at his passionate demonstration.
“I’m hoping to be released sometime this week,” she exulted when he stopped, leaving her lips tingling.
“Dr. Bowen told us it would be at least ten more days before he’d cut you loose,” Feru said.