The Chalice (7 page)

“Let’s get started. The sooner we come up with som ething, the better.” She pointed at Ume. “You take some of the women into the other areas and see if you can locate anything of interest. Dread. You go with her. The rest of us’ll tear apart this room .” She drew a deep breath, exhaling. “Find something—anything we can use. We have to show we mean business.”

“I’ll work on som e sort of compromise approach,” Anne said. “Wish I had paper

—and a pencil.”

****

“There’s a huge volume of inform ation in the stored files regarding the Chalices. I’ve downloaded what I believe to be the m ost im portant, the first being language. Fortunately, all the females appear to speak what Kormak terms English— a foul and plodding vernacular.” Vaux grimaced, shuddering. “I’ve practiced a few of their most basic greetings, but my vocal cords find it difficult to form  the nuances of their prim itive speech. A singularly unpleasant form  of verbalization.”

Tegan turned away, hiding his grin. Vaux considered him self a superior

Warrior, his knowledge and education far above what most considered necessaryfor their chosen station. The tech could have gravitated to a scholar’s life withvery little difficulty and would have excelled in that existence, but his ingrainedpassion for battle prevented him  from  pursuing the alternative.

He lowered his voice to sound comforting. “Perhaps it will becom e easier in

time. I’ve no doubt the Chalices will find our dialect difficult as well.”

“Paahhh!” Vaux spit. “I suspect it will be many rotations before they understand even the sim plest of com mands. They will be as babes learning their first words.”

“As we are.”

“We at least have the ability to com prehend. Can these females say the

same?”

Tegan rotated his shoulders, easing the tenseness from  the earlier workout. “Save your censure until we know more about them . They are what we have—forbetter or for worse.”

“W hat’s worse?” Mordaq entered the training room, his face alight with

curiosity.

“The females for one,” Vaux grum bled. “From  what I can deduce from  Kormak’s logs, they’re little better than animals. Warlike, chaotic and unmanageable. We might’ve fared as well with Deg’Nara females.” His face twisted with revulsion.

Though the Deg’Nara fem ales were genetically similar, none of the Chiagan-Sebreeders would ever stoop so low as to take one of the creatures to mate. Lackingin grace or social refinem ent, they were short, squat and covered in patches oflong greasy dark hair, sm elling like the worst kind of offal. Besides their outwardappearance, they were cursed with vociferous personalities only another Deg’Naracould appreciate.

Tegan growled, burning with anger as visions of the soulless m urderers floodedhis thoughts. Side by side with the males, the Deg’Nara fem ales took greatpleasure in debasing their captives, forcing their tainted favors on the unfortunaterecipients and executing those who dared to rebuff their unwelcom e advances.

Sickened by the vile m emories, he snarled. “The Deg’Nara fem ales would neverbe considered. Besides the very real possibility they’d kill us in our sleep, wecouldn’t chance the Deg’Nara finding out some of us survived. Even after so long, I fear they’d not hesitate to terminate the rest if they knew we still lived.”

“At least we would die with honor,” Mordaq drew his Chiagan-Tar, his face a

mask of hatred as the weapon sang red. “We would have that.”

Tegan’s own anger faded as quickly as it surfaced, replaced by wrenching

sadness. So m any had died in vain during those terrible rotations. Though he

yearned for vengeance, he had a duty to lead the survivors toward a new life.

“We can’t afford to lose even one. We are too few and attacking the Deg’Nara would only ensure our ultimate exterm ination. W hen we em bark on the journey to the new world, it will take every ounce of skill we possess to escape detection. That the two seeker ships made it through the defense grids is a m iracle in itself.”

“After so long, perhaps the bastards have eased up on security.” Vaux touched a stylus to a hand reader, checking his notes. “I doubt they feel threatened by anything from  our quadrant of the universe. The destruction wrought in their quest for glory left few to oppose their dom inion.”

“And that’s our best hope.” Mordaq sheathed his Tar, hand resting on the grip.

“They won’t be expecting us.”

“Then it’s up to us to make sure they don’t.” Tegan reached for a drying cloth and wiped the sweat from  his face. “On the next rising, we join the Chalices and begin anew.” His lips spread in a sm ile. “I hope m ine is as eager to the joining as I am .”

Mordaq laughed, a hearty outpouring of m irth. “Even as a youth, the femalesswarmed over you because of your pretty face and broad shoulders. I can’t count

the many hours I spent helping you escape their clutches. I’ve no doubt your

Chalice will be pleased.”

“More pleased than he’ll be with her,” Vaux grum bled sourly. “At least they’re

more tem pting than the Deg’Nara.”

Fueled by his own innate honor, Tegan felt com pelled to defend the females.

To his mind, they were far more appealing than Vaux’s depiction.

“The image I have of my Chalice is quite pleasing.”

“Mine appears short,” Mordaq com mented, his brows drawn together in a puzzled frown. “Korm ak wouldn’t be so perverse as to burden me with a child. Would he?”

“Kormak was very fond of you. He wouldn’t saddle you with an unsuitable mate

—and many of the females appear small.”

“But mine seems very small,” Mordaq persisted. “Too small to produce children

from  my seed.”

He couldn’t argue the obvious. Taller than m ost and heavily m uscled, Mordaqwas the pure em bodiment of the finest Chiagan-Se breeding. Tegan’s father hadrecognized his early promise and selected the young male as a bodyguard for hisson. That was the beginning of their long-standing friendship, one that survivedthe holocaust and the empty years afterwards. He valued the Warrior above alland trusted him  with his life.

Vaux consulted his notes. “Kormak said every fem ale is at least eighteen oftheir revolutions. I gather that’s considered m ature enough in their society. Byhis calculations, she has to be an adult.”

“She is very dark,” Mordaq grum bled, refusing to be placated. “Not like yours.”

No, Tegan agreed. His was fair, almost as fair as the Chiagan-Se fem ales.

“It would seem  you’re unhappy with your Chalice.”

The huge Warrior wiped a hand across his face. “I’m  not unhappy. It’s just…”

“W hat?”

Mordaq…fidgeted, uneasy, his expression anxious as he shifted from  one footto the other. He slanted a look at Vaux. “I do not wish to discuss the matter now.”

“W hy not?” Affronted, the tech glared at the bodyguard.

“’Tis not som ething I wish to discuss.” Mordaq glared back. Frissons of angry

heat emanated from  the Warrior.

W hatever was wrong with him ?

“Leave us.” Tegan waved at the tech. “We’ll finish this later.”

Vaux stalked from  the room, muttering indignant oaths as he disappeared

through the entryway.

He turned to his friend. “Talk to m e.”

Head bowed, Mordaq stared at the floor. Time passed, and then m ore.

Tegan opened his mouth preparing to speak when Mordaq coughed, raisingtortured eyes. “I know nothing about females. My life before centered around youand your protection. I’ve never held or even touched a fem ale. What kind of a

mate would I make?” Strong hands dragged through his long silvery locks. “I’m

afraid I’ll be a m iserable failure.”

Tegan’s breath expelled in a loud whoosh. He wasn’t the only one who suffered

the dreaded pangs of insecurity. Som ehow, the knowing made it easier to bear.

“None of us can be sure this experiment will succeed and we all share your concerns. Most of us were too young in the before tim e to join with our m ates and those old enough lost their chosen in the Deg’Nara purge. Do you think I’ve not felt the same?”

Stunned realization dawned on Mordaq’s face. “But…but the females loved you. The old and the young. You were surrounded by the m ost sought-after Chalices—every parsec. You could’ve had any female you wanted. W hen the heralds nam edyour consort, there were many who voiced displeasure. They wanted you forthem selves.”

Tegan shrugged, indifferent. “I know nothing of that.” He gazed long at theother male. “W hat about your Chalice? You’ve never mentioned her. Who wasshe?”

Mordaq glanced away, his voice came grating and harsh. “Your father made itclear my service was to you and none other. I was never given the opportunitynor blessed with a Chalice.”

Aghast, his mouth dropped open, stunned by the unfairness. “My father deniedyou a heritage?” His fists clenched, his heart thrummed in his chest. “You’re a Warrior and my friend. He had no right to refuse you happiness. You deservedselection.”

“I was never unhappy,” Mordaq adm itted, a grin creasing his lips. “I was honored by your father’s confidence. My life was and is yours to command.” His eyes grew sad. “As it happened, I’m  no less unfortunate than even the most blessed.”

Shagal flew into the room, tripping over a training platform  in his haste. “Vauxsent m e to find you,” he gasped. “He says you’re to come to the viewing roomright away. He’s showing some of Kormak’s visual logs. They’ll help us when wemeet the Chalices.”

Excited, he spun on his heels and ran from  the room , legs flying.

“Does he ever walk?” Mordaq’s eyes glinted with scorn. “He makes me tired

just watching him .”

“He grew up in the dregs left by the usurpers. Let him  enjoy this time.”

“Unless I kill him  first.”

Chapter Five

Rivulets of sweat stream ed down Kara’s face and dripped onto her heavingchest. Gasping for breath, she whirled and kicked yet again, chopping with herfist. Ume’s training session was a killer, but she was learning some basic self-defense. If the breeders had nuts, they were in for som e big trouble. Ume’dshown them  som e cute ways to break fingers and noses, and other disablingmethods, but they only worked if their opponents were form ed somewhat thesame. Chills raced up her spine. That they could be so different gave her theheebie-jeebies.

“Keep vorking,” Hanna barked in perfect im itation of a master drill sergeant.

“Ve don’t have m uch tim e.”

“I’m  trying,” she groaned, rubbing at a leg cram p. “Isn’t it rest tim e?”

“It should be.” Dread wrapped an arm  around her head and squeezed, causing

Kara to yelp.

Pissed off, she jammed her elbow hard into the black woman’s stomach,

laughing as Dread hunched over, cussing in pain.

“Didn’t see it coming, did ya?”

“Dam n it, white girl, I think you broke my ribs.”

“Oooo, ribs.” Kara licked her lips as visions of the delectable m orsels danced in

her brain. “Right now I could eat a cow—with lots of that barbeque sauce like they

make in that little place on Folsom  Street in San Francisco.”

“San Francisco? W hat kind of sm ack you been croakin? Ain’t no good barbeque sauce in ‘Frisco. Gotta try the Honky Tonk in Chicago—with some cornbread and fried okra. Gonna wish for som ething, get it right.”

“I hate okra.” Little puss-green wheels of slimy yuck. “And you’re from

Hartford— not Chicago.”

“I’ve been to Chicago. My boyfriend’s from  there.”

Ume appeared before them, black eyes snapping. “You need to concentrate.

From  all indications, the breeders will arrive in less than five hours. You still have

much to learn. The other girls aren’t wasting time.”

Dread snorted, full lips curved in a sneer. “We ain’t wasting tim e. I had to take

a few minutes. W hite girl tried to kill me.”

“W ussie.”

“No time to play around. Get to work,” Ume snapped, marching away. The little

general off to find the next victim .

“I’ll never get this,” Moira wailed. “I dinnae noo what to do.”

“So what else is new?” Dread quipped. “You dinnae noo nothing.”

“You’re a mean person. I dinnae noo why I bother with you.” Nose in the air,

Moira strode away, her red head disappearing in the throng of com batants.

“Leave her alone.” Kara high kicked, almost nailing the black girl who shrieked,

falling backwards. “Pick on someone as nasty as you are.”

“You ain’t even close to my level,” Dread growled, flipping to the side as Kara launched herself through the air. She hit the ground hard, only to find Dread riding her back, head in an arm lock— again!

“I give up,” she squealed, pounding the floor. “Give!”

“Just so you know I’m  the best.” Laughing Dread stood up, brushing off her