Laura Jo Phillips (42 page)

Maxim’s brows rose as he considered the idea.  “That might work,” he said.  “Loni?”

Summer turned to Loni, who was frowning in thought.  “I do not think it will be enough,” he said finally.  “If the regeneration process does not destroy the Controller, then it may work up to a point.  However, once the transformation process reaches her brain, it will certainly destroy the Controller and she will be fully aware of the pain from that moment until it is complete.  And we do not know if the brain is transformed first, or last.”

“Excuse me,” Ran said as he reached up to tap his vox.  He listened for a moment, glanced at Summer, then frowned.  “All right Darleen, we will be there in a few moments,” he said.  He tapped the vox and turned to Maxim.

“There is apparently a show-down occurring in the med-lab between Doc and the Falasians,” he said.  “The Falasians are insisting that Summer be brought down to intercede for them.”

“Very well,” Maxim said, rising to his feet.  He paused.  “I’m sorry Summer, that was rude of me.  They are asking for you, so it is up to you whether you wish to go.”

“Of course I wish to go,” she assured him as she, too rose to her feet.  She looked back at her dinner wistfully though.  She hadn’t gotten to finish.  “Do not worry,” Ran said.  “We will let Roberto know that we will be returning.”

Summer kissed him quickly, then let Maxim take her hand as he led the way out of the dining room and down to the med-lab.

Summer and the Katres were all surprised when they entered the med-lab to see what looked like a stand-off between all of the Falasian women, who were circled around the exam table, and Doc, who was standing a few feet away glaring at them.  Darleen hurried over to Summer as soon as they entered.

“Doc tested all of the women we took from the compound to make sure they’d all had their eppys,” she explained quickly.  “He didn’t want any of them to suddenly have a heart event like happened to Suzanne.”

Summer nodded.  That made sense and she was glad Doc had thought of it as she had not.  “So what’s the problem then?” she asked.

“He discovered that none of them had any in their system at all, so of course he decided to dose them.  Only the Falasians surrounded the first woman and will not let Doc near her.”

“Why not?” Summer asked in surprise.  The Falasians had seemed so meek and mild before.  But now she noticed that they were all glaring angrily at Doc with their bright pink eyes.  A few of them had even bared their teeth.

“They won’t say,” Darleen said.  “They would only say they wanted you, the
She Warrior
.  At least, I guess that means you.”

She Warrior? Summer thought weakly.  She shook her head and approached what appeared to be the lead Falasian.

“Hello,” she said.  “My name is Summer.  You asked for me?”

The woman turned and bowed to Summer. 

“Mahsia Summer,” the small pink woman said.  “I am Shali.” 

Summer, more familiar with bowing now, returned the bow without even thinking about it.

“What is the problem?” she asked.

“He will not harm her,” Shali  said, pointing to Doc angrily.

“He has no wish to harm her,” Summer replied in surprise.  “He must give her the medication that is needed because of the Controller.”

Shali frowned, then looked back at Doc for a moment.  “She not needs it,” she said, looking back to Summer.  “We fix better.  Man medicine not good for hers.”

Summer thought about that for a moment.  “Are you saying that you never give these women their medication?” she asked.

“Man medicine not good for hers,” Shali repeated.  “We fix poor hers better.”

“How do you fix them?” Summer asked.

This question seemed to be a stumper as Shali placed her fist under her chin and frowned hard as she thought about it.  Summer was just about to rephrase the question when Shali’s brow cleared and she smiled.  “We fix mind.”

“You fix their minds?” Summer asked, confused.

Shali’s expression changed to one of deep sadness.  “No can fix tiny machines in mind,” she said, shaking her head slowly.  “Can only fix mind knowing.”

“Ah,” Summer said, thinking she understood now.  “You use your mind to prevent her mind from knowing what is happening to it.”

Shali’s face brightened as she smiled widely.  “Yes yes, fix mind knowing.”  She glanced at Doc again, then back to Summer.  “Man no hurt hers please,” she said.  “We care for hers better.”

“Don’t worry Shali,” she said.  “Doc does not wish to hurt anyone.  He wants only to help them.  He did not know you could do it better.”

Shali frowned, glanced at Doc quickly once more, then shrugged her delicate pink shoulders.  Clearly she didn’t trust Doc, but she would wait and see what happened.

Summer looked at Doc who was no longer glaring at the Falasians, but was studying them thoughtfully.  “So they have a way of preventing the mind from knowing what is going on in the mind, do they?” he asked.

“Apparently,” Summer said.  “What do you think?” 

Doc shook his head and returned the syringe he was holding to a tray on the counter.  “I think that she is correct,” he said.  “These eppys are not at all good for these women, though they are better than the alternative.  Up to now.  If the Falasians can keep them stable until we reach Jasan and can get them all Healed, I am certainly agreeable to that.”

Summer looked back to Shali, who was looking at Doc in wide-eyes surprise.  Obviously she had not thought he would agree to leave their charges in their care.

“Shali,” Summer said, getting the woman’s attention.  “Please be sure to let Doc know immediately should any of the women become ill.  If you will promise to do that, we will leave them all in your care.”

“Shali promises most truly, Mahsia Summer,” she said earnestly.  She turned to Doc and bowed slowly.  “We shall messenger as promises,” she said hesitantly.

“Thank you, Shali,” Doc said, returning the small woman’s bow.  

Shali’s eyes widened in surprise and she ducked her head, turning an even brighter shade of pink than normal.  She then turned to the other Falasian women and began chattering at them quickly.  They all relaxed, offered shy smiles to Summer, ignored Doc, and began urging the woman lying on the exam table to her feet with soft Controller commands that, Summer thought, they did not like using.  Well, that said much for them, she thought. 

“If that is all, we shall return to our dinner now,” Maxim said with a slight bow to Doc and Darleen. 

“I’m sorry we had to interrupt you,” Darleen began, but Maxim held up a hand. 

“Do not be sorry, Darleen,” he said.  “It was necessary and we do not mind.” 

“Okay, see you later,” Summer said to Darleen and Doc as Maxim placed a hand on her elbow and began guiding her toward the door. 

“I will be along in a moment,” Loni said.  “I wish to speak with Doc.”

Maxim looked at Loni curiously but did not ask any questions.  Summer wondered about it briefly, but, like Maxim, did not ask.  After all, she thought, the man was entitled to go where he pleased without having to explain himself.  Nevertheless, she did miss his presence as they returned to the Star Room and their interrupted dinner.

Chapter
43

They had all finished their dinner and Summer had just declined dessert by the time Loni returned.  Summer felt his excitement before he reached the Star Room, so her curiosity was already piqued when he entered the room and closed the door.

“I have a solution to our problem with the ritual,” he announced as he took his seat.

“Yes?” Maxim asked, instantly alert as he noted the suppressed happiness in his younger brother’s expression. 

“The Falasians,” he said.

Maxim, Ran and Summer all fell silent as they considered Loni’s response.  Loni waited patiently, giving them time.

“Doc?” Maxim asked.

“We had a very careful interview with Shali after you left,” Loni said.  “From what she said, and after a couple of experiments, we both believe it will work, and that Summer will feel no pain.”

“Experiments?” Summer asked, her eyes narrowed at Loni.  “What kind of experiments exactly?” 

Loni shrugged, but the set of his jaw told Summer that he was going to be stubborn about this.  “What kind of experiments?” she repeated.

“Do you think any of us would experiment with you?” he asked her in a soft voice.

“No,” she replied.  “But why that makes it okay to experiment on yourself is beyond me.”

“I have the ability to regenerate,” Loni reminded her.  “Any mundane injury to my body will heal quickly.  The same is not true of your body.  Therefore, it makes sense that I test my theory on myself.”

“It worked?” Maxim asked, not just because he was excited by the idea, but also in an effort to divert Summer’s frown from Loni.

“Yes, it worked perfectly,” Loni said.  “Shali was resistant to speaking with us at first, until Darleen explained that it was for you, Summer.  Then Shali insisted that she be the one to handle the experiment, and make sure it worked perfectly.  She also wishes to be the one to perform her talent on Summer during the ritual.”

“So all of this means that we can perform the mating ritual?” Summer asked to be certain.

“Yes,” Maxim replied, barely able to believe it himself.  “If you still wish, yes.”

“Of course I still wish,” Summer replied.  “Now?”

“You want to do it now?” Maxim asked.

“Yes, now,” Summer said.  “As I told you earlier today, I do not want to go another day if we can help it.  So now.”

Maxim grinned, as did Loni and Ran.  All three of them stood up, and Maxim lifted Summer into his arms so quickly she barely knew he what he meant to do until they were speeding along to her stateroom.

“Please wait here for a few minutes,” Maxim said as he set her on her feet.  “We have a few things to prepare, and then we will come back for you.”

“Okay,” Summer said, suddenly feeling a little nervous.  “Is there anything I should do to...prepare?” she asked hesitantly.

Maxim smiled and went o the closet.  He reached in, and came back with a garment in his hands which he offered to her.  “Before we left Jasan we saw this in a shop window, and thought it suited you,” he said as she reached slowly for the gift.  “We would be most honored if you would wear it for us.”

Summer ran her fingers over the rich, chocolate brown fabric, overwhelmed at their thoughtfulness.  “I would love to wear this,” she said softly. 

“But you have not yet fully seen it,” Ran objected as Summer took the garment from Maxim and hugged it to her chest.

“It does not matter,” she said.  “It is a gift from the three of you.  Therefore, I will love it.”

Maxim, Loni and Ran all looked at each other, then Summer, then back to each other again.  They did not understand.  But, she was accepting their gift.  That was enough.

“We shall be back very soon,” Maxim said, giving her a quick kiss before turning to leave.  Ran and Loni each had to have his own quick kiss as well, and then Summer was alone with her gift, and a case of sudden nerves.

By the time the Katres returned a few minutes later, Summer was dressed in her new robe with her long hair braided loosely over one shoulder.  The robe was made of some type of soft, silky fabric dyed a rich, chocolate brown that exactly matched her eyes.  A design of vines and leaves had been worked in golden thread from the neck all the way down the front to the floor, as well as on the edges of the long, full sleeves.  As she gazed at herself in the mirror, Summer had to admit that Maxim was correct.  The robe did suit her.

There was a soft, warning knock at the door before it opened and Maxim stepped inside, pausing for a long moment to stare at her.  “The robe does you justice,” he said.  “It is almost as beautiful as you are.”

Summer felt her face heat and dropped her eyes, feeling shy.  Feeling shy felt silly though, so she took a deep breath, raised her eyes to Maxim’s and squared her shoulders.  “What next?”

“Now I carry you to the Pleasure Room,” he said, smiling.

“Pleasure Room?” Summer asked.  “What is a Pleasure Room?” 

“It is exactly what it sounds like,” he replied as he picked her up and turned for the door.  “A room designed for pleasure.  There is only one aboard the
Vyand
as it is not often that a male-set brings their mate aboard a military ship.”

“I’m surprised that there is even one,” Summer said as Maxim turned to lock the door behind them.

“Happily, there is always at least one,” he said.  “Ready?”

Summer took a deep breath and nodded, knowing that she would likely not breathe once he started moving quickly.  A few moments later the blurring stopped and they stood before an unmarked door not far from the training rooms on the rec deck.  Maxim lowered her to her feet and opened the door for her.  She stepped inside and gasped softly as Maxim followed her in and locked the door behind them.

Summer found herself in a square room that was about the same size as her stateroom only with a very high ceiling.  The entire room, floor, walls, and ceiling were covered in what looked like black velvet.  She rubbed one bare foot across the floor and nodded to herself.  Yep, black velvet.  She took a step forward and amended that.  Padded black velvet.  In the center of the room as a large round bed set low to the floor, covered in soft pearl gray sheets and pillows.  The walls had dozens of deep insets, all of which were filled with thick candles which gave off a light woody scent as they burned that was soothing, but not too heavy.