Chapter One

ENCOUNTER

eSteffie uReglimi
In Space

 

The Sakari ordered only iKhyarm's erssavis accompany on the Mission. With reluctance, my omTal, seMali, obeyed.

 

Consider a corridor in Space where ships disappeared. First assumption was destruction although no debris. Subsequent it was comprehened something in that corridor, whether entity or fracture, caused all that entered to be dragged far distances.  

 

To measure time is unwieldy. I lived on Shalimar where the days were not twenty four 'hours' long nor the rotation around its star a three hundred and sixty five day 'year'.

 

Utilising Terran computer calculation, it seems eighty Earth years ago a Terran ship was dragged far from the known sectors and was landed on the planet they call Argale. There they confronted two species; one they named Argali the other Kema.

 

Maintaining the same calculation, sixty years ago, a ZerShaz ship was dragged that distance and crashed on that world. The ZeSha were captured and enslaved.

 

The water on that world prevents aging. The same humans that landed and the same ZeSha who crashed, are on that world.

 

The Mission was to retrieve the ZeSha.

 

This erssavi of seMali was to hesitate here, in what Terrans named the Fourteenth Sector which held no habitable planets.  Although distant from this planet of Argale we sent aviators to the ships approaching that planet. The aviators behaved as if they carried messages of import but actually to acquire gossip. Perhaps I should name it information. But it was not granted at formal meetings, but in corridors and over meals, done casual.

 

It was this way that we learned of Argale, of the ZerShaz. In this was we learned the Odin Path, once a Terran luxury liner was involved. My half sister, Jill, would be on the Odin, which had been used as a hospital to ten those damaged in a previous explosion of an erssavi.

 

It was in this way we learned iKhyarm's erssavi escorted a small Terran Ship called Parkinson,which held the Terran Supreme Military Computer and the Odin into unexplored space.

 

It was this way we learned they were joined by iZamel, who sent nine of his ships onward as he entered the void.

 

My omTal, not wishing to appear hovering with her armada sent all but this erssavi, the esCamir, to KeyTash for the usual restocking and exchange of personnel.

 

And we waited.

 

After many tekas, a veDak is seen. Signal is sent, responded. The pilot is iMindak, a ZeSha known. His mission is to summon the Zeversad; the vessel of Ki-ZerShaz.

 

feBeba is dispatched with thumi onward, iMindak remains with us, his mission completed. Although we transmit messages,  it evidences respect for feBeba to personally tell the omTay that Ki-ZerShaz requires the vessel.

 

The purpose of sending feBeba, although gowned in respect is really to pass on all the gossip she contains. I think the is the ZeShaNealayZay's most valuable commodity. Gossip. I am sure feBeba rues having to depart ere iMindak reveals all rumours, suppositions, and events he contains.

 

Though oRain, his connection to those of Great Influence elevates him. He is treated as an omTay. This will get his tongue loose. He, though wearied, has much to impart. I, who am privileged to be Aide to omTal seMali, hear direct.

 

While he speaks, our course is set obverse to that upon his veDak's com. And soon we will witness what he tells. The erssavi of Ki-ZerShaz is not to travel alone, but with at least one erssavi 'Aide'; that is, us aboard the esCamir.

 

seMali predicts what is going to be desired and stands ready to dispense it. I have to learn this, for to be the perfect Aide is protection. And this is a society where one never has enough protection.

 

It is remarkable for me, who lived most of my life in a human environment on Shalimar, to be swallowed by the culture of my father. But it is my choice.

 

I could have been an appendage to my human mother, hiding when she had visitors, making myself useful on the Engredi Preserve although I did not relish the tasks.

 

Gaining the opportunity to become a soldier, I grabbed it. For the first time in my existence I would exist. No more the hidden half breed, but hold rank in the ZeShaNealayZay.

 

As my father, uReglimi adopted eDapktchoy, we are siblings.  eDapktchoy is Ki-ZerShaz.  Jil is, the primary doctor. I am Aide to seMali one of the first Sakari Shazi, a prime military unit.

 

For the first in my existence I had position, presence, significance.

Chapter Two

 IT DOESN'T STOP

JILL UREGLIMI

Aboard the Odin Path

 

Having completed a very long and complicated surgery, the patient was pushed into recovery. I appointed the zeduini and oMignth to monitor, and stepped into the lounge. I don't remember falling asleep, but waking with a sense of disquiet was not unusual.

 

I glanced around, a bit confused as to my location then recalled performing the eternal operation on one of them. His physical condition seemed worse than imKoldi's, I couldn't know if I felt this simply because Koli was 'special' or if it were medically true.

 

I hadn't reviewed the cases, I admit with chagrin but then, if they wouldn't let me touch them it was of little value.

 

It wasn't until I entered the sani I realised I was on the Odin Path, the supreme luxury liner that had been confiscated and a few of its levels turned into a hospital.

 

Ahh, I say, and enjoy the warm water coming from the faucet. I pondered why I had selected that particular ZeSha for operating, but knew the answer, he was convenient.

 

That's the truth. He was simply convenient.

 

When I'd stepped out of the cubicle where iKhyarm lay, felt the eyes of the 'Retrieved' upon me, I took the nearest ZeSha who needed more than perfunctory treatment to 'prove' my use and get me out of the room.  Get me across a swatch of space to the Odin Path. Away.

 

I selected a cup of tea from the dispenser.

 

I believed I'd saved the leg of the ZeSha I'd operated upon, hoped he'd lose his hate of me and I could continue necessary treatment. But I could not be sure. Sixty years of torment is not going to be overcome in a day.

 

Although hungry I didn't order anything. I returned to the sani took a hot shower, ran my clothing through a purifier. Redressed I entered Recovery, the ini and oMignth springing up like Jack In the Box.

 

"omTay," says oMignth to me, " there are (what I'd translate as five hundred) ZeSha now aboard. I have used your name to billet them on the decks below, with duties upon this vessel."

 

"Excellent, iRain." I say, more pleased with his respect for my 'name' then for his proactive and intelligent action. Taking a breath of courage, I approach the horrible ZeSha, ignored his acid stare and scanned his leg. It was healing.
Should I return him to iZamel's vessel? Or should I keep him here to do the grafts? Here, I think.

 

"oMignth, acquire sustenance for yourself, the zeduini, (I'd forgotten her name) and this Zesha, and post here. I shall have other patients conveyed for attention, and this one to complete."

 

He bowed his head, upped his hands, and I nodded, departing.

 

I took the stairs up to my suite on A Deck. Changed my clothing, got a quick refo, then patched a call for Marie. The voice that responded told me said worthy was in her cabin, probably asleep.

 

"Crya?" I think I recognised her voice.

 

"Yes, Jill?" she asked.

 

"I need her to match tissue cultures. Get her up and in the lab."

 

"My pleasure." chuckled Crya who obviously didn't like Marie.

 

I went to the hangar, had the same pilot take me back to the erssavi. The 'Injury Unit', as the ZerShaz call Sick Bay, was now six times larger as a number of bulkheads had been removed. As I near the Re-An Unit, suPadry pounced. Apparently iKhyarm had no sensation in his legs and was incontinent. This was unneeded. As was her near hysteria. As was the hunched figure of imKoldi on the floor in

Impressum

Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 06.03.2022
ISBN: 978-3-7554-0917-5

Alle Rechte vorbehalten