Afterburn

Liana didn’t understand why her life had been spared. She only knew that it had been, through the blinding and terrifying light that Shon Valtas had somehow summoned and poured over her. She no longer needed evidence that a higher power existed. It existed in him, and the exchange had been made.

There was no time to explain to Burn and Shon what had happened in the cavern. I have to get to the Ylydii ship in orbit, she told Burn. That is where they are taking them.

Shon and I are going after them; you’re staying here, she was told. Just tell me who shot you. Was it that Ninrana?

Liana looked into his eyes, saw the tiny reflection of herself in them. It gave her the courage to lie to him, this one last time. I didn’t see who it was, but I will never forget the smell.

He left her in the water to speak to Shon, and then returned. You’ll have to share a gunner’s seat with me; we’re taking a strafer.

The one Shon had outfitted with StarFire is. Burn pulled her close. If anything happens to you now—

They did not leave the sea to take a transport; the process of transferring Liana via tank would take too long. Instead, Shon left them to retrieve the strafer, which he would land on the surface of the water in order for the aquatics to board.

While they waited for the ship, Burn outfitted Liana in a protective flightsuit. She refused the weapon harness he wanted to strap onto her body, however, as her fins had not been altered like his to manipulate guns and blades.

Shon? I don’t know. He even made one of my scars disappear. He reached up and touched his face, and for the first time Liana realized the blade scar he had received during the mercenary attack was gone. I’ve never seen or felt anything like it.

That’s all I saw him use. Burn looked at her. We can’t tell anyone about Shon. If quadrant knew about his ability, they’d lock him up somewhere.

Liana understood that better than her mate knew. She looked up through the dome viewer and saw the shadow of the strafer as it landed topside. He’s here.

Boarding the strafer only took a minute, and Liana slipped into the emergency harness across from the gunner’s console, which left her facing Burn. She liked watching him go about his duty, powering up this and checking that. He seemed completely absorbed by the panels and screens and readouts, and yet glanced up when he felt her gaze on him.

Not as glamorous as the front seat, he told her. One of these days I’ll actually be certified and able to fly you somewhere.

Once it would have terrified her to think of Burn as her mate. Now she saw how foolish she had been, not to trust him, not to tell him. Why do you want to be a pilot when you’re so good with weapons?

Burn lifted a fin to check something embedded in the console above his head. My cousin is a pilot, and I’ve always wanted to be like her.

You can be like someone without following their path. Liana didn’t think of the future. The ’Zangians lived in the now, and here, with him, was where she most wanted to be. How long will it take to reach our ship in orbit?

Not long, and it may get very rough up there. His face grew stern. You keep that harness on and your head down.

Burn gave her a headset, which allowed her to listen in on the conversations he had with Shon. The military shorthand they used was like a different language, but as they shot up into space she made out that the other pilots had already launched and were in pursuit of a shuttle on which the Ylydii delegate and two others had been taken by force. She held her tongue as they worked out how best to approach the Ylydii ship and face any attackers.

Major, we’ve got transmission interference, Burn said. Looks like some sort of wave jammer. I’m not able to pick up anything from the pod or Flight Control.

Switch to auxiliary and boost the signal, Shon transmitted from the helm. You’ve got to patch us through. I have to coordinate with the pod; we’ll need them.

Static crackled over Liana’s headset as Burn linked them to the transponder. He was able to reduce the noise, but the signals he sent to the other ’Zangians and the controllers on K-2 went unanswered.

Major, whatever jammer they’re using has disrupted all communications around the planet, Burn told Shon. Nothing’s sending or receiving; not even the emergency channels.

Stand by. The strafer turned as Shon flew through the ring of moons and emerged into clear space. The Ylydii ship has left orbit and is en route to Ninra. I suppose Urloy-ka will feel safer keeping the captives on his native soil. My track says the pod is flying in escort formation around it.

Liana leaned forward to look through the viewer before she said, Burn, Major Valtas, we can’t let the ship reach Ninra. If it does, everyone on board will be killed.

Dair had never flown with Onkar as her gunner, and she was becoming impatient with the problems he was having with the transponder. What do you mean, we can’t signal anyone, not even on the emergency channels?

All transmissions have been jammed, not only ours, her mate said. I am trying to find a solution.

She knew she was being more irritable than the situation called for, but this entire fiasco was beginning to get on her nerves. They rushed up to save the Ylydii ambassador, only to discover that Carada and Urloy-ka had decided to withdraw from the peace summit and return to their respective homeworlds.

I don’t know where you are getting your information, Commander, the Ylydii ambassador had told her, but there was no abduction. Delegate Urloy-ka and I decided it was better for us to leave before any more “accidents” occurred. I offered to escort him home on my vessel. You can return to your planet and assure the officials that all is well.

Lady Ambassador, I request you allow us to board so we can assure you are not in any danger. Dair didn’t want to tell her about Liana over an open channel.

Dair and Onkar had boarded the ship, and were greeted by both Carada and Urloy-ka, who showed no signs of being under any coercion. The ship’s crew reported that everything was normal and that they were taking orders from Carada. No one was waving around arms or making threats.

Dair stayed long enough for her own peace of mind, and then told Carada that the pod would escort the Ylydii to Ninra. It will be safest, and you will probably want to return to K-2 as soon as possible. She then related what little she knew of Liana’s injury.

I was told a short time ago that my daughter has mated with a ’Zangian, Carada said. She is no longer of any use to me.

Liana betrayed her people by mating with one of yours. Being shot was what she deserved. I only wish I could have done it myself.

Feeling completely disgusted, Dair and Onkar left the Ylydii ship and signaled the patrol to fly escort for them. Halfway to Ninra the transponders began to fail, and within a thousand kim of the planet they weren’t working at all.

Do you think the Ninrana are broadcasting this jammer so they can attack the Ylydii as soon as they’re in orbit? Dair asked her mate.

I doubt it. Since the Skartesh invasion, the Ninrana have few ships, and very little advanced technology. If this is indeed a jammer, it would have to be one of the most powerful made. Stand by. Onkar switched to a different channel for a few moments. Dair, I’m getting a weak signal from the Ylydii ship. It’s Carada, and she’s received a warning from the planet. Mercenaries have stolen StarFire, hijacked one of our strafers, and are headed this way to attack the ship.

How is it that her transponder is working and ours isn’t? Dair tried to patch through on the channel herself, but the signal faded away.

Her ship could have passed through an opening loop in the jamming field. Onkar’s tone changed. Scanners show a single strafer heading on a direct course for the Ylydii ship.

Damn it, I need my relay channels open so I can warn the pod and coordinate a defense. She looked out and saw Saree flying past her and assuming point in a standard defense pattern. The other strafers pulled into position around her. They must have heard Carada’s signal, too.

The pod is assuming an attack formation, Shon said over Burn’s headgear. They’re defending the ship.

Against us? Burn tried again to signal his cousin and the other ’Zangian pilots, with no success. Why are they doing this, Shon? Don’t they know the agent is on board?

Without working transponders we can’t know. But if we want to stop the Ylydii ship, we’re going to have to fly through the pod.

Everything inside him twisted. I’m not shooting at my own people. The last time I did that in the simulators, I killed all of them.

Liana reached out and touched his fin. Burn, you don’t have to kill them. You can disable their ships without harming them, the way your cousin did when she saved the Skartesh from mass suicide.

Burn checked his panel and saw three strafers on an intercept course. Shon, I can’t do this without wiring up to StarFire. I need you to fly like you’re in an asteroid belt. Closed profile, avoidance pattern.

Burn reached out to his mate. I won’t be able to speak when I’m in the bubble. He had never been good with farewells, but he had always believed in making them. I love you, Liana. I wish you had stayed on-planet.

Shon flew beneath the trio of oncoming ships, avoiding the warning shots they fired and coming up behind them. Ahead, the remainder of the patrol was waiting for them. Gunner, engage weapons array.

Acknowledged, Major. Burn gave Liana a final caress before moving back in his harness and engaging the StarFire. The targeting/firing sphere swallowed him eagerly, the neuroclamp transmitters taking him into their tight embrace as he went into free spin. The n-trans’s delicate leads tickled his haffets as they curled and linked with his brain.

He had no time to appreciate being hooked up to the weapons array as the first pair of strafers attacked. Saree and Loknoth, Burn decided as he locked on to their positions and tracked their fire. He was able to take out the power cells on the male ’Zangian’s weapons systems, but the wing leader outflew Shon and streaked away.

The sphere began to spin faster as Burn countered the pulse fire with his own blasts, taking out weapon cells when he could, and engines when he couldn’t. The precision it took not to destroy the other ships was exacting, and he silently swore he would never again complain about gunning the enemy.

With five ships now disabled, the patrol broke formation and regrouped—all but one strafer, which Burn recognized as Dair’s ship, the Wavelight. Dair moved out of firing range and sat a short distance away, almost as if she were observing the battle.

Yes. Watch her; she’ll fly right up your nose without a twitch. Burn spun around and prepared to fire on the strafers grouping in a mass attack pattern. Shon, don’t skim around them, weave. They’ll hold their fire so that they don’t hit each other.

I am. Burn felt the n-trans leads shifting to penetrate his haffets, and winced. I’m just a better gunner.

During the weave pass, Burn was able to render two more strafers’ weapons systems inoperative, but when Shon tried to advance after the Ylydii ship, the wing leader rolled in front of them in a daring move and took out the IceBlade’s primary engine cells.

Perceptive and slippery, Shon said, his tone wry and admiring. I’ve got secondary engines and thrusters left, Sublieutenant, and then we’re dead in the water.

You’re starting to sound like a ’Zangian, Major. Burn assessed the battlefield. Fifteen strafers stood between them and the Ylydii ship, which would soon reach Ninra. It would be fifteen again.

If the Ylydii ship reached the planet, it would only take a few minutes for it to cross too far into the atmosphere to be rescued. It would crash, and all of this would be for nothing.

StarFire can, and it’s hooked itself directly into my brain. Burn set the sphere spin to maximum. Do it, Shon. It’s the only way we can get at them.

Shon brought the ship about and flew directly at the line of strafers, turning the IceBlade on its side so that it presented only the upper hull to their weapons’ fire. Burn began firing at each ship as they passed, so rapidly that the pulse fire appeared as a continuous stream.

Halfway through the strafers, the Wavelight came up alongside the IceBlade and shadowed Shon’s profile. Dair’s ship acted like a shield and took the pulse fire intended for the IceBlade.

Playing dam, Burn muttered as the sphere slowed. Dair’s ship was blocking all of his shots, too. She’ll keep them off our tail, I think.

Dair did exactly as Burn predicted. Once Shon had flown out of firing range, she took a position between the IceBlade and the rest of the patrol and sat like a guard between them, her weapons aimed at the patrol.

Burn disengaged StarFire, wincing again as the leads withdrew from his haffets, and looked around the sphere. The liquid atmosphere tasted faintly of his blood. He rubbed one of his haffets. Maybe StarFire does need a little more testing in the lab.

Shon flew on course to dock with the Ylydii vessel. We’re only ten minutes from geostationary orbit, he warned Burn. When we board, we have to do this fast.

A group of concerned-looking Ylydii crew members were waiting for them inside the ship. Liana waited only long enough to assure that Major Valtas was given the proper breathing rig before she moved past the fussing females and into the corridor.

You could say that. She swam directly to the ship’s helm, where the captain was issuing orders to assume orbit. Carada, Fokrej, and Miglan were also on the helm, and all three reacted violently to Liana’s arrival.

Fokrej hurtled toward her, his barbs ready, only to be knocked aside by Burn. How dare you touch me!

Carada surged forward with her fins unfurled, until she came snout-to-snout with Liana. How did you do it? A clone?

An exchange with the Goddess, Liana said. This female is not my mother, Burn. She kidnapped the real Carada from Ylyd some time ago and took her place.

Fokrej uttered a horrible sound and swam directly at the two females. The imposter produced a strange-looking emitter and shot the Ylydii male with a focused beam of energy. The beam punched a hole through Fokrej’s skull and killed him instantly.

Like torturing me to insure my silence and cooperation. Liana regarded the SEAL agent. It wasn’t Fokrej who kept me silent. It was knowing you held my mother hostage and would kill her if I did not. She looked at Burn. At least, that is what I believed. Just before she shot me in the head, she told me that my mother had never been held hostage. She was killed as soon as she was captured.

I do regret that, the agent said, but we needed the body parts. They’re down in one of the storage bays, if you would like to wish her a final farewell.

You can’t stop this, Liana, the imposter told her. The ship’s engines will be failing any moment, and the damage to them cannot be easily fixed. I will have the chance to send off one more frantic message—for which I will turn off our jammer—and tell how the Ninrana have attacked us and are sacrificing us to their gods, just before we crash. When they search the site, they will find Carada and your remains, along with anyone else who could tell the story differently.

The agent looked into Liana’s eyes and moved back. The Ninrana were given a choice: cooperate and live, or fight and watch the Hsktskt bombard their miserable world into dust. They chose to cooperate. What is wrong with your eyes?

I am a royal female of Ylyd, Liana said as she unfurled her veils, including the two that lay tucked and hidden under twin flaps of hide that ran the length of her spine. She knew her black eyes were turning a bright and glowing green now. Didn’t your research tell you about Ylydii who are born of the green?

Liana’s spine flexed as the multijointed spines of her embracing veils slowly curled out into the liquid atmosphere. It took time, for they were twice as long as her body. I will be queen, yes, but not because of my colors. She moved in toward the agent. It is because of my song, and my embrace.

Liana answered with deathsong, and watched the notes paralyze the agent, Burn, everyone on the helm. The agent’s emitter weapon fell from her slack grasp and floated down to the deck. Liana’s embracing veils lifted, revealing the barbs concealed in the green, flowing membranes. Unlike her other barbs, this pair were a meter long and shaped like swords. Her other veils extended around them, creating a net. She summoned the agent to her with her song, and the imposter swam forward as if in a dream.

Liana’s song crested on a high, pure note as her veils wrapped around the agent. With a single contraction, she drove both of her embracing barbs into the agent’s body. When she released her victim, the agent’s body floated away in three pieces.

It took a moment for the effects of the deathsong to fade, and then Burn came to her. Is there anything else I should know?

Oh, I’m never saying no to you again. He held her close for a moment. But let’s evacuate the ship first.

The reception for the Mayer-Hansen wedding was held at the URD, so that Ylydii and older ’Zangian friends of the couple could attend in comfort. Among other refreshments provided were a penned feeding area for the aquatics on the outside of the dome, and a long banquet table inside filled with food from a dozen different worlds. It was there that Ana Hansen found her assistant, Emily, in deep conversation with her Omorr friend, Dr. Hkyrim.

“I don’t know, Emily.” He was giving one of the dessert dishes a dubious inspection. “Seed pod flesh with ground seed and bark in crushed grain paste?”

“Apple tarts,” her assistant told him. “They’re delicious, and they don’t taste anything like pillow stuffing. Hello, boss.”

As Ana greeted the pair, she felt glad that Liam had found a treatment to neutralize the nanites released by Noel Argate on K-2. It made it possible for the Omorr to remain on-planet, and was also helping the Core, who had also had adverse reactions to the nanite contamination.

As she walked away, she heard Hkyrim say to Emily, “Do not tell me what the ingredients are this time.”

“You are beautiful.” Once more he admired the traditional ivory wedding tunic gown she wore. “Have you heard from Teresa?”

Her smile dimmed. “Not for weeks. She left the planet right after that ’shrike escaped from the expedition vessel. Dair hasn’t had a single signal, either. Teresa charted a private transport; we don’t even know where she went.”

Onkar walked up and offered a polite wish for prosperity. “There is someone who would like to speak with you both, Administrator, but she cannot leave the water.”

“One of the Ylydii.” Ana took Liam’s hand in hers. “You’ll have to act meek and submissive.”

The newlyweds went to the moon pool, where Ana was surprised to see Dairatha circling around the tank. Another, smaller ’Zangian with a lighter hide was hovering in the center of the pool, and looked up when the two Terrans approached the edge.

“I don’t recognize her,” Ana murmured, and called to Dairatha. “Is this someone from another pod?”

The big male only strummed a laugh and swam over to the female, who lifted her sleek head from the water and ejected water from her gillets before filling her lungs with air.

“It’s me,” Teresa Selmar’s voice said. “Well, some of the inside things still are, anyway. Everything else is ’Zangian SEAL augmented and still healing, so I can’t leave the water yet. By the way, do you know how annoying it is to breathe air when your body is used to breathing water? I feel like apologizing to every ’Zangian I ever made to come up topside.”

“I finally figured out that I was born in the wrong body.” Teresa looked down at Dairatha. “We’re going away for awhile, Ana. To give me time to learn how to live out here. I’ll be back, and seeing you both again. Give my love to Dair.” With that Teresa dove under the water and disappeared with Dairatha.

Ana turned to Liam. “How am I going to explain this to Jadaira? A Terran alterforming herself to become ’Zangian?”

Burn saw the two Terrans nuzzling and decided not to disturb them. He returned to the main reception area and went to the panel where his mate was watching from the water. Znora was at her side, and fussing, as she had been doing since discovering Liana was pregnant. Oddly, Liana seemed to enjoy the attention, and even now she gave him an amused look.

He looked at Dair when she joined him. “Well, at least I didn’t have to dress up and say all those words with Liana.”

Burn strummed out a laugh. “Didn’t I tell you? Liana gave up the throne or queenship or whatever it is. There’s another female like her who is almost old enough to take her place, and the ruling queen agreed to let Liana stay on K-2.”

“Good, you’d make a lousy king.” Dair’s expression softened. “You also have a new assignment. As your next duty ship, you’re flying Rescue Three.”

Burn thought of telling her, but remembered his promise to Shon. Also he thought the oKiaf should be the one to tell his cousin about his gift. “He’ll be back. In the meantime, give Rescue Three to someone else.”

“Someone else?” Dair tapped the side of his head. “Hello, cousin, you’ve been pestering me for months to fly that ship.”

“I know. It’s just that someone needs to keep testing Starfire, and Verrig wants to update the strafer weapons array, and . . . I’m a gunner, Dair. It’s what I do best. I know it’s not as grand as a pilot, but it’s what I am, and what I want to be.”

“I’ll still need you as a backup pilot,” she warned, and then shook her head. “I can’t believe it. All those hours training, all those sim sessions, and all it did was teach you that you were fine as you were?”

“Oh, I’ll never be the same.” Burn looked out at his mate. “But I’m going to try to be better than I was.”