Book Three of the Wilderhom Chronicles
[>>>>>>>>>>O<<<<<<<<<<]
©2005-2006 Philip James Eggerding - All rights are reserved. All materials in this book, both written and graphic, are copyrighted by the author. Any reproduction of these materials in any format without the expressed, written consent of the author is prohibited. Any resemblance between the fictional characters and situations in this book and real-life persons or situations is coincidental.
[>>>>>>>>>>O<<<<<<<<<<]
Jayson continued to pace. **I just didn't think it would be this soon.**
**She's a felocanid Phur, Jayson, not a human. Our gestation period is only six and a half months.**
Jayson stopped and looked at the sleeping Kemsa. **She wasn't all that fat. I thought she would be… well, bigger.**
Lenti gave a soft chuckle. **She's big enough. It's only one kit. Believe me, we get bigger if it's twins. And don't worry so. This was just the first twinge of labor. Nothing to worry about yet. If she was going to have the kit in the next few minutes, you can be sure Mika wouldn't have gone to bed. Relax.**
Jayson returned to his pacing. How could he relax? Kemsa - the felocanid Phur he'd come to know so intimately in these past few months, was about to give birth to her first kit! Relax? Relax? He barely noticed when Lenti rose from where she'd been sitting next to the bed. However, she made him notice her when she took his elbow - hard, and steered him toward the birthing room door and into the residence level hallway beyond. A balcony at the end of the hallway beckoned with the promise of a good view of the starry night sky.
**Time for a break, Jayson.**
He frowned, but quickly let out a breath and nodded. Lenti was right. Mother Nature had been doing this sort of thing since the beginning of time, so She must know what She was doing. To take his mind off of Kemsa's condition, he switched his attention to Lenti and her 'condition'. As she walked, the two long metaramic blades that hung off her belt made soft clicking sounds against the outer surface of her Enforcer Grade prosthetic legs. She'd opted to have her Enforcer Grade arms 'furred' to look real, but she'd left the legs their original glistening metallic ebony. When Jayson had first asked why, Lenti explained that a noticeable difference was often an advantage in confrontations where a 'show' of force was enough. After all, during Kemsa's pregnancy she'd been Kemsa's 'Blood Champion', and her other-worldly legs were a better badge of authority than any emblem worn on the chest.
Despite the fact that she was half machine, Lenti's movements as she walked were smooth and natural - sensual, in fact. She'd been a Bootsie prior to becoming Kemsa's defender, and since Bootsies were 'Companions-for-Hire', they possessed many physical and social skills - one of which was the ability to move elegantly. Then there was Lenti's telepathic gift - TEPPathy - her ability to use telepathy to enhance her own physical skills. It was how she controlled her mechanical limbs - limbs that could move with startling swiftness and power as well as grace and precision.
In fact, because they were telepathically controlled, she could move her arms even when they weren't attached to her body.
The first time Jayson had seen Lenti's sorrel-colored arm come finger-walking across the floor toward him, he'd nearly peed his pants. Lenti's yikking laughter had quickly gotten through his shock, and as payback, he'd grabbed the arm by its attaching bracket, tossed it in a trunk, and sat on the lid, grinning - at least until she'd pulled him bodily off the trunk with her remaining arm.
That she could 'horse-play' and kid around about her condition now was good to see. There were still times when the melancholy would take hold and she would withdraw from her linkmates, but those times didn't last long. Not like the first time. The first time it happened, she nearly succeeded in breaking the bridging link she had to the others. Her Bootsie training had always made it easier for her to hide her true feelings from her linkmates, and it wasn't until Kemsa could barely sense her that they'd become aware of the seriousness of the break. Despite the support she had from her linkmates and others, Lenti could still imagine herself as being 'ugly' and undesirable. Harlan Meeker, RayGen Pharmaceutical's owner and the manufacturer of Lenti's prosthetic arms and legs had warned that this could happen. He always encouraged Lenti on his checkup visits to Wilderhom, but it hadn't been enough.
Kemsa, Jayson, and Mika had finally conspired to bring her back. It was not a conspiracy born of selfishness or deceit. It was because they cared for her, and she seemed to have forgotten that.
It was the one time Jayson had 'made love' to another Phur besides Kemsa - and it had been a most unusual lovemaking since no sexual conjugation was involved. It was something Jayson had learned early on in his relationship with Kemsa. One did not need to have sex to demonstrate desire - and one did not have to be sexual in order to be sensual.
As they stepped out onto the balcony, he recalled the night he had helped her realize how truly beautiful she was. It was a night very much like this one - warm, dark, and velvety.
Jayson had almost given up when he finally found her. She was sitting alone on the top level balcony of the residence tower, her mind a dim and distant spark. How could they have let it get this far? True, there had been much to do right after Kemsa's ascendancy to the High Elder position in Clan Taq, but was that any excuse for being so blind to a link-mate's needs? No. They had simply taken their link with Lenti for granted - not knowing that it could wither over time if not nourished from both sides.
He walked out onto the balcony, but stopped almost immediately. The balustrade in front of Lenti had several chunks missing. She had detached one of her prosthetic arms and was using it like a club with her other arm. Another crash and another piece of railing broke away.
[Lenti! What are you doing?] telsed Jayson in alarm as he stepped forward.
Lenti's head jerked around and she glared at him, her dark eyes flashing. [What's it look like? I'm rearranging the balustrade!] She tossed the arm away from her and it skittered across the balcony floor to fetch up against a table. [I'm in no mood for company now.]
Jayson had expected melancholy from Lenti - even overt misery - but not the angry brooding he now saw. How could they have missed that? Were they that out of touch with her? He walked to where Lenti's detached arm lay, but didn't pick it up.
[Revolting, isn't it?] Lenti telsed, her mind-voice tinged with disgust.
Jayson closed his eyes for a moment then turned back to look at her. [Lenti, you are not revolting.]
She hissed. [I'm not? Look at me, Jayson! What is this?] She turned and brought her remaining fist down hard on the balustrade, smashing another chunk out of the railing. Her dark eyes shot back to his. [I'm a damned machine! A machine designed for one thing - to beat the life out of some other hapless being! No one can love a machine!]
Jayson winced, but did not back away. Instead, he forced himself to move toward her, all the time trying to probe past the darkness that seemed to be Lenti's only emotion now. Finally he stood beside her. Slowly he reached for her, but in the next instant, Lenti's arm shot out and had him by his tunic.
[Leave me ALONE!]
With what seemed like no effort at all, she flung him across the balcony. He crashed painfully into the other lounge chair and fell heavily to the floor. Lenti was now on her feet, her muzzle in a dangerous snarl.
[Go away or I'll hurt you, Jayson!]
Jayson got up and winced at the pain of a bruised shoulder. Then he stood straighter and turned to face a Lenti he no longer knew. It hurt just to look at her - but not because she was ugly. He would not think of her as ugly. Not now. Not ever.
[I'm sorry, Lenti. Sorry that it has come to this,] he telsed slowly. [But if you want me to go away, you will have to hurt me. You will have to hurt me badly enough so that I can't get up again. Otherwise I will keep coming back.] He kept eye contact, desperately hoping she could see the concern in his eyes that she could not seem to see anymore in his mind.
[Jayson, no,] Lenti telsed, a faint note of pleading now mixed with her anger. [Please?]
He began walking toward her again. He'd stated his intentions and he wouldn't abandon them - or her. This time, as he approached, it was Lenti who began backing away.
[I don't want to hurt you, Jayson. I just want to be left alone!] She backed into the wall next to the balcony doors and looked around as if seeking escape. Unable to go further, she raised her remaining paw in a clenched fist. It was trembling. [Jayson! I'm warning you!]
Jayson was now within reach of Lenti's poised fist - a fist that could easily crush his skull with a single blow, but he would not back down. He was almost face to face with her when she started to shake her head.
[No, Jayson, please stop! Why are you doing this?]
Her telsed words went straight to his heart. Her mind seemed blind to him, but couldn't she at least see on his face how he felt about her? Then he realized that for all the varied emotions which now played across her face, he couldn't sense a single one in his own mind. Any sense of her presence within him was gone. Jayson felt a tear run down his cheek. It might already be too late to bring her back.
But he had to try.
[Lenti, you are not a machine to me, or to any of us, yet you seem incapable or unwilling to see how we view you. Maybe our mind link truly is gone now, but at least let me try to show you how I feel.]
Once more he slowly reached for her - palm open, fingers slightly spread. Lenti eyed the hand and pressed harder into the wall. The angry predator was turning into the terrified prey right in front of him, and Jayson's hand slowed to a stop right in front of her muzzle. He saw tears forming in her mahogany brown eyes even as he felt his own wetting his cheeks. Her angry façade had fallen away completely, and her emotional fragility was all too obvious now. He was almost afraid she'd break if he touched her. He would allow her the opportunity to make first contact.
For the longest time they stood there frozen - the caring human and the desperate Phur. Finally, Jayson had to make a move - but not to touch her muzzle. Instead his hand dropped slowly down to the tiny control button clipped to the fur under Lenti's chin. It was the button she could tap with her chin when she wanted to detach both of her prosthetic arms at the same time for sleep and such. Her pain filled eyes stayed locked on his as Jayson tapped out the simple code.
Tap. Tap. Pause. Tap. Pause. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Lenti's remaining arm, fist still clenched, clattered to the floor, and she stood before him, clad only in her tunic. Jayson then dropped his hand a little further to where the front fastening strip on her tunic began. He parted it all the way down and with a sigh it fell - leaving a trembling and armless Lenti in nothing but her fur. Jayson moved in even closer and Lenti finally turned her eyes away from his. As she closed them, the tears began to flow freely.
**How can you look at me Jayson? How can you even stand to look at me?**
Jayson's heart leapt at the private thought from her. Their link was still intact! **Lenti! Dear, dear Lenti - looking at you is joy - not a burden. Please believe me.** His hand came up and touched her muzzle, and she flinched, but Jayson didn't pull away. Instead, he let his fingers run through the tear stained fur on her cheeks, stroking them ever so lightly - soft caresses to dispel the shame and self-loathing that now filled her. **Lovely lady, you are beautiful to me.**
Lenti's eyes slitted open, her look one of painful disbelief. **No.** She shook her head, and her thoughts trembled. **No. I'm ugly - only half a Phur. I'm… a… freak.**
Her pain was almost too much to bear.
**You are not a freak.** Jayson answered, as he laid his cheek against hers. **You are special.** He pulled her away from the wall and pressed her into his chest, his cheek still rubbing across hers. **You are so very special to us. Without you, Kemsa would have died, and the kit she now bears would only be a memory.** He licked the tears from her face as a real Phur would. **But even without that, your caring heart and stubborn courage would make you special.** He brushed his mouth across hers. **So much to admire. So much to love.**
Without warning, he lifted Lenti up into his arms and nuzzled her neck. **You smell wonderful, you know that?**
Turning to the front of the balcony, he took the few steps needed to bring them back to the lounge chair Lenti had occupied before. However, instead of letting her sit on it, he laid her on her side facing away from him. Then he knelt down, dropped his head to her mane, and closed his eyes. His nose pushed through her fragrant hair before ranging lightly across the back of her neck. All the time he breathed in her scent and transmitted to her the pleasure it brought him. Bringing his mouth up to her ear, he let his warm breath play lightly across the fine, cream colored fur inside. He felt her shiver slightly. Slowly, he let one hand sweep down the coarser fur along her spine, until it reached the base of her tail where he paused. Little by little, he felt her tail arch up and fluff to fullness. He smiled. She was beginning to respond. Sensually, he drew his fingers through the fine sorrel and black fur of her tail and thought he heard her sigh. He looked to her, and she was looking at him over her armless shoulder. Her look was one of astonishment and no little pleasure.
**Jayson, you… you truly do think I'm beautiful.**
**Yes, I do.** Jayson replied simply, as he ran his hand across her breast and down to her belly.
This time Lenti not only shivered, she moaned. However, Jayson's hand went no further, and when she looked at him questioningly, he could feel her mind probing his. It was a strong and quizzical probing. Why had he stopped his hand at her belly? Why hadn't he gone further? Didn't he want to…?
**Oh!** Lenti thought as her mind finally comprehended the circumstances, but was still unable to understand the why of it. **I sense that Kemsa put a block on a portion of your mind - the part you call your libido, I think.**
Jayson nodded as he nuzzled her neck once more. **Yes, Kemsa put on a block at my request.** He gave Lenti's belly fur another rub, but once more went no further. **I suppose it's 'old-fashioned' of me,** he continued, **but restricting my overt sexual activity to a single individual seems best. It avoids the muddy relational waters that are stirred up for us humans when we have multiple sex-partners. For me, at least, it seems that too much of 'a good thing' tends to cheapen the experience. It turns the loved one into just one more partner among many and eventually into a 'thing' whose sole purpose is one's own selfish pleasure. Not a good way to treat a loved one, is it, eh?**
**But if the block wasn't there?** came Lenti's suddenly hopeful thought.
Jayson smiled and tickled her navel. **Were that the case, I would be doing considerably more than I am now. Look into my mind, and you'll see that the desire is real. However, you'll also see why going farther is not a good thing for me.**
Jayson felt Lenti's mind searching his, and with the search, he felt the further strengthening of their link.
**Jayson? Could you fetch my arms back? They may not be real, but I do have some feeling in them and I want to…** She hesitated, some of her doubt coming back, but Jayson smiled and she continued. **I want to hold a very dear friend of mine and apologize to him for being a fool.**
Jayson retrieved her arms, clicked them back into their brackets on her shoulders, and she held them out to him. Without the slightest hesitation he came to her and felt himself enveloped in arms that could crush the life out of him, but were instead holding him as if he were a precious gem, a beloved heirloom, a delicate vase, or a newborn kit. Gentle and loving they were.
This was the loving Lenti Jayson had known from before, and he reveled in her rediscovered self-worth. Her happiness turned to demonstrative action and she soon was snuffling, licking, and nuzzling him. Finally, there came the sound Jayson had been hoping for all along.
Lenti began to purr.
It was the first time he'd heard that sound of contentment coming from her, and if he'd been able to, he'd have purred himself - it felt that good to have her back. Lenti's purr was deeper and richer than Kemsa's - a baritone rumble to Kemsa's quicker contralto thrum. It fascinated him to the point where he missed Lenti's next thought - not that it made any difference. He could have done nothing in any case.
It was as if her mind slithered past Kemsa's libido block - not that this affected Jayson in any way - but what it did to her was amazing. Jayson felt Lenti tap directly into is blocked desire, feed it into herself, and use her own newfound desire to create an erotic emotional feedback loop completely independent of Jayson but consisting of both their passionate desires.
Jayson might not be able to 'get off' in this situation, but she could!
And she did - with rapturous results. She clung to Jayson and convulsed for nearly a full minute before her passion was spent. When she could finally open her eyes again, Jayson made sure there was no reprimand in his eyes for her liberties - merely a contented joy that hopefully reflected some of her own. It did.
**They always said the biggest 'sex' organ in the body was the brain,** thought Jayson, amused. **I guess you just proved them right.**
She cocked her head and winked.
**I guess I did. By the way, I hope Kemsa has a nice surprise waiting for you when she removes that block. You're going to need it.**
Jayson kissed her full on the mouth before looking deeply into her lovely, laughing eyes.
**You know, Lenti? I think you're right.**
Jayson came out of his reverie as he and Lenti sat down together in the lounge chair on the balcony overlooking Kemsa's sleeping estate. That night three months ago could have turned out so differently. It was good that it hadn't. He turned to her. **Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?**
Lenti burbled a chuckle. **Only about a million times, which is only half the number of times you tell Kemsa the same thing.** She inhaled the warm night air, savoring the scents it bore as if it were a fine wine. Then she looked out over the rift valley that made up the Clan Taq territories. **I wish I could get Kivan to see the beauty. We really are quite compatible, he and I - both of us being Kemsa's Blood Champion at one time or another. He's got plenty of courage and there's a stubbornness to him to match even mine, but he still pines for Veena.**
**Maybe after Kemsa's kit is born he'll be more approachable?** suggested Jayson.
Lenti shook her head. **I don't know. Technically, it's his kit that's about to be born. He was its inadvertent sire. If anything, I think his protectiveness will increase. I just hope it doesn't morph into possessiveness. If it comes to that, we'll have to straighten him out. Then there's the time he needs to make his reparations to Clan Koan. He still needs to spend the better part of the coming year helping Cael develop his new Platinum/palladium mine in Koanhom.**
**Still, he's quite the hunk for a felocanid.**
Lenti sighed. **That he is. I can see why Veena fell for him.** She looked back out over the valley once more. **He'll never forget her, but that's not a bad thing. I don't want to replace her. I just wish he'd realize that one's heart can grow to hold more than one love.**
**Speaking of multiple loves, when is Harlan Meeker due back? I think he's stuck on you too - and it's not just because you're a very successful experiment for him!** Jayson had felt a twinge of cynicism come from Lenti about the biggest stockholder in the biggest pharmaceutical company in the universe.
**If he's so stuck on me, how come he's not here?** asked Lenti with a touch of a frown.
**Lenti!** thought Jayson with a hint of reprimand in his words. **Don't give me that argument. He's got a multi-trillion credit operation to look into every once in a while. He'll be back. He gives Griffith weekly, if not daily reports, and who was the human who gave you those fancy metaramic throwing blades anyway?** He tapped one of the blades hanging from her belt.
Lenti shot him a dark look.
**Aha! I was right!** continued Jayson. **You're stuck on him too, and you don't like it when he's gone.**
Lenti scowled a little bit longer, but then gave it up, closed her eyes, and let out a long sigh. **Alright. Harlan is a gentleman. As decent a human as I've ever met. Yes, I miss him.**
Jayson reached out and massaged Lenti's neck. He'd felt her tensing up. She let her head loll to one side as Jayson smoothed away the knotted muscle, and soon she was purring.
**I shouldn't have snapped at you,** she thought. **You're a good friend too.** She pulled him close and laid her head on his shoulder.
**I try,** he answered and dropped a little kiss onto her ear. **We need friends. The gods only know we have enough enemies.**
Lenti snuggled closer to him and seemed to ponder that thought before coming up with one of her own. **Jayson? What do you think of Tellman Long. Is he an enemy? Or a friend? He did ferret out the last two GenDat operatives on Wilderhom and we've seen none of their ilk in almost two seasons.**
Jayson shook his head. **He gives me the creeps. Maybe it's just holdover paranoia from my experience with Kohlaf, but I don't trust him. True, he found the two GenDat operatives, and Griffith says he's been pretty ruthless about ferreting out those humans at the Embassy who still have anti-Phur tendencies, but I've seen no accounting for the crimes they committed against the Phurs. The malcontents disappear, but there's no apologies, no restitution, nothing. It's like they got off scott-free except for deportation.**
**But at least there gone.**
Jayson nodded. **True enough, but has justice been served? For all we know, Tellman is merely finding them and then sending them away to a camp for Phur-haters where all they do is train for the day when they'll come back in force and trash the planet.** He felt Lenti shiver in his embrace.
**Anti-Phur recruitment? That's not a comforting thought,** commented Lenti.
**Then let's forget it for the moment,** replied Jayson, stroking her mane. **There are happier things to ponder.**
The two of them settled in to wait for Mother Nature to do what she'd done for eons.
Create new life.
[>>>>>>>>>>O<<<<<<<<<<]
One new colonist, coming up.
This was one thing the Trans-World bureaucracy couldn't stop - the right to migrate to the stars. After all, that's what gave their existence meaning. There was no point in having an inter-planetary transport system if no one was out there to transport things to. Griffith Tange, Liaison Officer from Trans-World to the Phurs of Wilderhom signed off on another request for Wilderhom colonial status. That made thirty two this month. Had the screening process he set up not been so strict, that number would have been greater by a thousand-fold.
It seemed many humans wanted to be part of a world where the wonders of telepathy abounded. Why, Phurs could conjure everything they needed out of thin air! They had unlimited supplies of energy! They had an army that could conquer the universe!
And those were the more sedate rumors.
Griffith grunted. Some people would believe anything regardless of how many times he tried to correct them. Still, it was part of his job as Liaison Officer to keep the rest of humanity posted on what was happening with the Phurs - now that the rest of humanity finally gave a shit. The initial announcement of Kemsa, Jayson, and Mika's ability to create Telepathic Portals had been met with widespread skepticism, but when Trans-World, the 'ultimate' authority on things inter-planetary, didn't dispute the report, people began to take notice. They also began to let their imaginations run away with them.
Many of the colonial applicants were from various religious sects - obviously wanting to get the Phurs on 'their' god's side. Some were from other colonies - again, wanting to get the Phurs on their side to help them in whatever dispute they had - be it with Old Earth, Trans-World, other colony worlds, or 'that crazy bunch of idiots on the other side of the river'.
Then there were the visa requests. Big Business wanted the Phurs. Big Entertainment wanted the Phurs. However, not many of the Phurs wanted them. Old animosities die hard. Still, Wilderhom couldn't stay isolated forever - even if it wanted to. Curiosity had this nasty way of turning into hostility if not satisfied to some degree. Griffith had set up a few contracts with some reputable organizations such as RayGen Pharmaceuticals so no one could complain about being completely shut out, but he'd be dammed if he was going to give free enterprise free rein.
Then there were the hate messages.
There had always been a trickle of those, but it had grown into a flood after the announcement. It seemed some humans didn't like the fact that Phurs could do things humans could not. It also seemed like they forgot that Jayson, a human, was an essential part of the process that created a Portal.
So much for détente.
And finally, there was the Wilderhom Clan Council. With all the new attention from the rest of humankind's universe, they seemed to have polarized even more over the issue of whether to allow humans on planet. The Anti-human faction cited all the hate messages as proof that humans either wanted nothing to do with them or worse - they wanted the Phurs destroyed. The pro-human group cited the increased interest some humans had in colonial status as proof that humans were finally starting to respect Phurs. The final result of the bickering was a bureaucracy that was even slower than it had been before.
Griffith leaned back in his chair and stretched. There was nothing more he could do tonight. It was late. It was time to quit, time to go home, time to get some sleep. With the way things were now, he couldn't do half of what needed to be done. That reminded him - he should have contacted Jayson earlier about Kemsa's condition. A new kit was about to be born into the midst of this chaos.
In fact, it should be due any time now.
[>>>>>>>>>>O<<<<<<<<<<]
**It's time!**
Jayson and Lenti awoke from their balcony doze instantly at Kemsa's mental call, and Lenti's superior mechanical legs were hard pressed to keep up with Jayson's biological ones as he raced down the hall. Mika dashed into the birthing room just ahead of them. She must have shot straight from her bed into the hall and then to Kemsa's room for she wasn’t wearing a thing except the fur she was born with.
I guess that's appropriate, was Jayson's first thought. This is a birthing.
His next thought as he dashed into the room after her was 'What the hell do I do now?'
**Just hold Kemsa,** replied Mika, reading his thoughts as she flung open a trunk next to the birthing bed and pulled out several towels and a blanket. Lenti grabbed the towels and turned to Kemsa.
**Assume the position, cousin,** she thought.
Kemsa grinned and turned to Jayson. **Just move in front of me and let me hold onto you.** She had stood up on the bed and then squatted down facing one side - the side Jayson was on. She grabbed him by the tunic when he didn't move and pulled him to her. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck. **Well? Go on! Hold me!**
Jayson awkwardly put his arms under hers and wrapped them around her chest. Kemsa rested her head on his shoulder and lowered her rear end until it was about 10 centimeters off the towels Lenti had arranged beneath her.
**You realize, of course,** thought Jayson, **that you look like your about to take a dump.**
Kemsa almost giggled. **We Phurs are just being efficient. Why not let gravity assist the birth… OH!**
Jayson felt Kemsa shudder, and he could see her belly writhe - at least the sides, which he could see over her shoulder.
**You all right?** he asked.
Kemsa snorted. **For someone about to shit a log, yes.**
Mika burbled a chuckle. **You're doing fine, Kemsa. You're leaking some birthing fluids, but that's normal.**
For the next few minutes Kemsa went through rhythmic contractions and occasional gasps, but Mika's reassuring thoughts removed any fear or doubt that this was anything but normal.
Finally Jayson felt Kemsa give a mighty shudder and then she sighed.
**She's here.**
**That was quick!** Jayson looked down Kemsa's back and past her tail to the small wriggling form that lay on the towels beneath her. His brain blurted out the first thought that came into it.
**It looks like a drowned, white rat!**
He felt the immediate surge if indignation from his link-mates and quickly amended his comment. **But it's the most beautiful drowned, white rat I've ever seen.**
Kemsa's hug and mental chuckle assured him that his faux pas hadn't been too offensive. Besides, how could anyone stay annoyed for long with the miracle that had just happened? Mika and Lenti quickly began wiping and licking the birth fluids from the newborn kit which began to squirm even more. Then it opened its tiny mouth in a mewling cry that brought tears to Kemsa's eyes - and everyone else's.
Kemsa had a fine, healthy baby daughter.
Mika gently moved the kit to one side and bit through the umbilical cord. Jayson laid Kemsa down on the bed on her side facing the others and took up a position kneeling behind her. They both looked to where Mika and Lenti ministered to the newborn. Soon, the kit's fine white fur fluffed out and she became a downy little puff-ball.
**My daughter. I want her.**
The small bundle of life was gently deposited next to Kemsa's left breast, and as she wrapped a protective arm around it, the kit stopped its mewling and began to suckle. Soon after that, it began to purr softly, and so did its mother. Then, for what seemed quite a long time the link-mates simply enjoyed the pleasure that emanated from both mother and daughter.
Suddenly, Jayson felt Kemsa shudder.
**Afterbirth is coming,** she thought.
Mika moved down toward Kemsa's rear and with one paw, she gently rubbed Kemsa's belly. **Ah yes,** she thought. **Here it comes. Where do you want it?**
**On the plate on the bed stand over there,** answered Kemsa. **I'll get to it later. I'm not that hungry right now, but this little darling certainly is.** She lovingly caressed the kit.
Jayson stared. **Uh…**
Lenti glanced to Jayson and comprehended his somewhat nauseated confusion.
**Yes Jayson, we Phurs eat the afterbirth. Most mammals do. It stimulates milk production and provides some needed hormones and antibodies. Don't worry. It’s a meal for one. You needn't join in.**
Jayson nodded. **Uh… Okay.**
Kemsa reached back where he sat behind her, pulled him close, and gave his nose a quick, affectionate lick. **You're still human for all that you act like a Phur sometimes.**
Jayson bit his lip, looked foolish for a moment, then shook his head and smiled. **I try, but you Phurs can still surprise me.** He reached out across Kemsa and let his hand hover over the kit. **May I?**
**Yes,** replied Kemsa. "And you too, Mika, Lenti. Get used to handling our little newcomer here. I expect you all to play the doting kit-sitters when I'm off being 'official' and such.**
Lenti dropped her jaw in a grin, Mika chortled, and Jayson smiled as he stroked the silky fur of the newborn.
**As a duly appointed 'changer of the diapers' I have one question,** Jayson asked. **Do Phurs even use diapers?**
The puzzled looks on his link-mates was answer enough.
**Frequent baths and a straw and sand kit room is how newborns are raised,** answered Kemsa. She gave Jayson a mental picture of a large playroom with a sand floor and straw bedding. **We Phurs toilet train quickly, but for the first six months, kits spend much of their time in a room-sized 'nest' area.
**Ah. A big, live-in 'litter box'.** Jayson gave Kemsa a mental picture of a litter box and she gave him a droll look.
**Yes. Something like that.**
They all turned their attention back to the kit, whose suckling had slowed as well as its other movements. Finally, it opened its mouth in a long yawn.
**I think the little one is ready for its first nap,** thought Mika.
Kemsa lifted the drowsy kit and Mika wrapped it in a downy blanket before moving it to the basket beside the birthing bed. Kemsa moved to the side of the bed and sat on the edge only a moment before standing up and stretching.
Jayson quickly held out a hand. **Are you sure you're ready for that?**
Kemsa looked around at him. **Ready for what?**
Jayson motioned to her but then dropped his hand and shook his head. **Don't mind me. I'm just a iggerant hooman. You know what you're doing.**
Kemsa dropped a paw on his shoulder and then drew it across his cheek. **Jayson. Giving birth doesn't make me an invalid. Yes it was strenuous, but I'm healthy, and besides, I needed to get up so Lenti can change the sheets. We Phurs might eat our own afterbirths, but even I draw the line at sleeping in my own blood and birthing fluids.**
Kemsa dropped her jaw in a grin and Jayson had to grin back. **Okay, I'll trust you know what you're doing, Kemsa. If you didn't, Mika would have been all over you by now.**
**Too true,** answered Mika. **But Kemsa came through it all like a champion.**
**How could I not?** replied Kemsa giving Mika a little bow. **You grilled me on it about a hundred times.**
Both Phurs grinned at each other, but then a small sound caused everyone to look to the doorway. There stood a Phur who quickly looked down. He started to turn away when Kemsa held out a paw.
[Kivan, don't go.] She kept her paw out and walked slowly toward the nervous looking felocanid. [I know you've been waiting, just like the rest of us. Please. Come in.] He didn't move even as Kemsa reached him, so she dropped her paw to his, took it, and gently pulled him inside. [Come. See your daughter.] She pulled him over to the basket and drew aside the blanket.
For a long time he simply stared at the sleeping kit, a look of awe mixed with fear playing across his muzzle. Finally, Kemsa took his paw and moved it down until it touched the tiny kit's head.
[So much of what you've loved in your life has been lost, Kivan. Your Clan. Your life there.]
[The one I loved,] telsed Kivan, softly, a pained look crossing his muzzle.
[Yes. Her too,] telsed Kemsa, in sympathy. [To love again might seem impossible to you, but it is possible. I know.] She laid her paw atop his as it lay against the warm fur of the sleeping kit.
He looked up. There was doubt in his eyes, but something else as well - a weariness that bespoke of being alone for far too long. [She has a name?] he telsed finally, his mind voice as quiet as a thought.
Kemsa nodded. [Yes. Your daughter has a name. It's Vanna.]
Kivan's eyes widened and then he looked to the white kit and back to its mother. [Kivan and Veena. Vanna?]
Kemsa nodded. [It is a good name. Veena was a friend to us both, and she is your daughter.] Kemsa ran her other paw along Kivan's cheek. [You might not have conceived her in love, but can you find it in your heart to love her now?]
The felocanid's eyes seemed to brighten with gratitude and hope. [How can I not?] He looked down at the new life that had entered his world. [How can I not?]
[>>>>>>>>>>O<<<<<<<<<<]
How could he keep track of everything?
Simple. He'd been at this sort of thing for a very long time.
Tellman Long clicked off on the Relnor-5 file. The malcontents he'd sent there were doing exactly what he'd expected them to do, as were the ones from the old GenDat group. He would need to contact them again, soon. He opened another file and looked at the message from his contact inside the RayGen Pharmaceuticals board of directors. She wouldn't be able to delay the development of the Anti-Retro Virus any longer. Soon there would be a treatment for any Phur who had been infected - something that could reverse the devastating damage the Retro Virus did to the nervous system. However, it no longer mattered if a cure was developed or not. The delay had served its purpose.
Tellman clicked off the message and brought up a very recent image of a pregnant Kemsa KelTaq, the High Elder of Clan Taq, and the clan's most powerful telepath. She'd been the only other victim of the Retro Virus besides the Phur that had been sent back to the GenDat labs, yet here she was, about to give birth to a kit. It would seem an impossibility since the Retro Virus had destroyed her nervous system's ability to communicate with itself almost six months ago, and something that wasn't used for such a long period of time eventually withered and died. Tellman looked into Kemsa's vibrant blue eyes and pondered the one thing he wasn't sure of yet.
How long it would take for Kemsa to realize that she had died almost two months ago.
"I know I'm only an apprentice technician waiting for an opening at B.I.T. back on Old Earth, but my opinion still counts for something," complained Riena Lefenor. "All I want to know, Rick, is why you keep pressing it. Kemsa will just refuse again."
Seated across the lab table from her sat Rick Grotian, a senior technician with the BioTel research company on Wilderhom. He gave her a look of frustration before standing up. "It's my job, Riena. Our company has been looking into how Phurs 're-wire' themselves after a brain injury or stroke, and Kemsa is the ultimate example of a brain disorder. We need the data this new array can provide to us." He waved a hand at a gleaming set of instruments attached to a grey-metal torus. "I've rigged it up so that I'll be able to monitor telepathic activity as well as organic activity! We'll finally understand what's going on with Kemsa!"
Riena stood as well and came swiftly around the table to him. "Maybe Kemsa doesn't want to know what's going on! Have you ever considered that?" Her voice had risen to match Rick's volume. "You saw what the monitor data showed when she suddenly 'came back to life' that night in Taqhom. The follow-up EEG we did a week later showed the exact same thing! No organic brain activity! Zip! Nada! Nobody home! Flat-line!"
Riena shook her head and then scrubbed at her forehead before looking around the cluttered BioTel lab. There was still so much they didn't know about telepathy, but was that any excuse to hound Phurs for answers? She looked back to Rick who was still frowning. "We haven't told her about the last scan we did two months ago, but she suspects something and I think it terrifies her. Granted, her peripheral nervous system seems to be working, but I saw your face when the scan showed the fluid-filled vesicles where healthy brain tissue should have been, and I think she saw your face too. Rick! Half her brain is gone now! How do you tell someone who's looking right at you that they're technically brain-dead?"
"But don't you see?" replied Rick, stepping up to Riena and putting his hands on her shoulders. "She's not dead. Something akin to a mind is still controlling the body even if the organic brain no longer works. There has to be! I think Kemsa would want to know what that is - if for no other reason than to assure her that it's real - that she's real."
"But what if she isn't real?"
"Huh?" Rick stepped back from her. "What's that supposed to mean? She's a living, breathing Phur who even had a kit yesterday!"
"Rick! Listen to me!" pleaded Riena. "Now that Griffith has given us the word, we know that when a TOOB Rider does his thing, his senses get hooked up to another place and he feels as if he's in that place. With a body 'switch' all the senses are hooked up to another person and he feels as if he's wearing that other person's body. However, no matter what he's doing, all the information coming into him via VIC nodes is being controlled by his brain's router and then processed by his brain in his body. No matter where the Rider thinks he is, his own brain inside his own body has always been the final anchor point for telepathy!"
Riena paused in fear of what she had to say, but it couldn't be denied.
"Kemsa is alive because something telepathic is keeping her alive, yet she has no telepathic anchor point. Rick! What is it that's controlling her? How can it be her?"
Rick shook his head hard and waved a hand as he turned away. "Riena, don't go all philosophical on me! We can't be good philosophers without good science." He turned back to her with a hard look. "I'll grant you the ethics point of respecting a subject's right to refuse to participate in testing, but we can't let fear rule our scientific decisions." He stabbed a finger at the ceiling. "There are some scary things in this universe, but that's all the more reason to find out all you can about them."
Riena sat down heavily and cleared a space for her elbows at an equipment cluttered table before dropping her head into her hands. "I don't know, Rick. I just don't know," she mumbled, staring at nothing. "Sometimes, things are frightening for a reason." She turned eyes full of apprehension back toward her work partner. "Sometimes, there are things that can hurt us no matter how much we know about them."
[>>>>>>>>>>O<<<<<<<<<<]
Kemsa concentrated on the warm presence in her mind. She was sure it was Vanna. The kit was inside her just as Jayson, Mika, and Lenti were. Kemsa knew this was something beyond the normal Dahma/kit bonding that normally occurred because Kemsa's own dahma had described the feeling to her. What she seemed to have with Vanna now was a presence, not an instinct.
But how had it come to be?
All the link-mates had formed their links with each other via the process of switching bodies. That was obviously not the case with Vanna, yet the unmistakable feeling that the kit was in Kemsa's mind was there.
But why would you want to be, dearest? Kemsa thought as she looked down at her suckling first born. A kit needed the innocence that ignorance provided - not the cares and worries of her Dahma.
Kemsa sighed heavily. At least Vanna was healthy. The Retro Virus, like most viruses, hadn't crossed the placental barrier and affected her unborn. The healers that Harlan had brought when Lenti had her arms fitted had assured her of that. RayGen viruses tailored for gene replacement therapy where chosen and modified to do some extraordinary things, but even the altered Retro Virus couldn't be made to do something the 'Mammalian Animal' had defended against for millions of years. It was fortunate that when Kemsa had been in the Retro Virus' infectious stage the only other Phur around who was susceptible had been Lenti, and she had been serum immunized against it. Without another suitable host to infect, the Retro Virus had run its devastating, gene-replacement course in Kemsa's body and eventually succumbed to her immune system. It had gone no further than her. Kemsa didn't want to think of the horrors that would have followed had the virus been released in a community full of felocanids like Reynhom. As likely as not, it would have been the end of the felocanids as a species.
Why it had not been the end of Kemsa, was once again open to debate.
She knew she was dying that awful night when she'd first been infected. She'd been at the very edge of crossing over when Jayson, Mika, Lenti and something that could only have been Vanna called her back. She'd followed the 'umbilicus of light' that led her back to her body, and then she'd simply 'toobed' back into herself. At first, everyone had thought that she'd simply re-wired her brain using VIC connections to replace the non-functional synapses between brain cells, but the sheer magnitude of such an undertaking made that scenario clearly impossible. There were literally billions of brain cells and trillions of connections! The only logical explanation was that she'd taken the patterns her mind had created within the VIC node 'bridge' and re-impressed those patterns as a whole onto her nearly inert brain tissue much as a contact print could be made from an old-style picture negative. Being an analog process, it was much simpler and faster than the clearly more complicated digital process of one-by-one re-connection. At least it had felt like it had been a simple process.
Now she wasn't so sure.
At first, the BioTel humans had been quite interested in the phenomenon, but then she'd detected a subtle change in their attitude - as if they didn't like the results they were getting. They described 'unrecognizable data' as being the problem, but why then were their feelings of apprehension directed at her? Was something wrong with her? She'd asked, but answers had always been vague and related to the data only. Eventually she'd grown weary of their prevarications and come up with excuses not to participate any more - excuses that weren't all that far from the truth - like all the responsibilities she now had.
Kemsa felt her muzzle crinkling into a frown. With the impending birth of her kit, she'd been able to forget her responsibilities for a while, but now they were back - with a vengeance. Work, work, and ever more work! As she had done two seasons ago under a willow by a millpond, she began to wonder if all the work was worth it. Why was she doing it? Who was she doing it for? Vanna? She dropped her eyes down to where her kit had stopped suckling, and was yawning instead. Vanna was getting sleepy.
**As is proper for a well behaved kit after a meal,** came Mika's thought as the dark-masked procyonid walked into Vanna's 'nesting' room. She looked around. **This place needs more toys.**
Kemsa looked up, and tried to smile. **An oversight I'm sure you will correct when Vanna is big enough to play with them. Oh! Look at this.**
Kemsa nodded to Vanna who had wriggled around in Kemsa's arm's to face Mika. Her little paw was now stretched out toward the Procyonid and she gave a tiny mew. "I think Vanna knows you, Mika."
**Of course she does,** Mika thought, smiling brightly as she walked to mother and daughter. **I've been sending her loving thoughts all day.** Mika stretched a finger toward the kit and Vanna unerringly clasped it tight - which was remarkable since her eyes weren't yet open. **She's a darling,** thought Mika, and the little one began to purr.
Kemsa tried to hide her next thought but Mika was too fast for her. **Yes, Kemsa, like yourself, she will not be colored the same as other felocanids, but like you, she will be beautiful.**
Kemsa kept her eyes on the kit, wishing to believe Mika. **I can feel her, Mika. I can feel her in my mind. Can you?**
Mika came and sat beside her, putting an arm around her. **No. I don't feel her inside of me. I feel things coming from her, like her moods, just as I would from any Phur, but it's not like the presence I feel from you and the others.**
**I've felt it ever since the night I almost died,** thought Kemsa, quietly. **It's a connection as insubstantial as air yet as powerful as the winds of Harbinger's Gap. It's not frightening, but I don't know what it is.**
**Then give it time,** thought Mika, giving Kemsa and affectionate lick. **There are many new things to explore. This is simply another one.**
**But it's so unfair!** Kemsa replied, now feeling an anger which had been smoldering deep within her for quite a while. **Why me? Why must I be the one in charge of exploring new things? Why can't I be given the pleasant duty - the peaceful responsibility? Why can't I just be a Dahma and nothing more? The Wilderhom Clan Council has laid it upon us to explore telepathic Portals. What have we discovered other than it’s the most inexorable force in the universe?** Kemsa's anger morphed suddenly into fear. **What do they want us to do with it? Are they expecting us to use it to some end? Jayson and I have gotten so good at manipulating them, and they are beautiful to watch, but nothing can stand in their way! Nothing! Knowing what it can do, how can we, in good conscience, teach such a dangerous technique to anyone? What it's capable…**
At that moment, Vanna began to cry and Kemsa's eyes filled with tears as she realized how her emotions must feel to her kit. She quickly handed the kit to a startled Mika and got up. She was halfway to the door when she stopped and turned around. **It's too much, Mika. Sometimes, I feel like I'm falling apart - like I'm dissolving away. Take care of Vanna, will you? It seems I can't avoid affecting her with my moods. What sort of Dahma can't even…**
But she couldn't finish that thought and was out the door and down the hall, tears streaming down her muzzle, the weight of responsibility clinging to her like a leech.
And as always, the soft, warm presence was in her mind
As light as air…
As relentless as the wind…
As inexorable as fate.
[>>>>>>>>>>O<<<<<<<<<<]
Harlan Meeker stood perfectly still for yet another retinal ID scan. The light popped and added one more floating spot to Harlan's already spotty field of vision. Security had certainly tightened up here at the Newhom spaceport since his last visit to Wilderhom. He hoped he wouldn't get too much fuss from customs over the new 'items' he'd brought for Lenti. Of course, dismantled it was hard to tell what those items were, and the "RayGen Pharmaceuticals & Medical Supply" logo was all over the packaging. Well… they were medical supplies… sort of… if one really stretched their imagination. They could certainly affect someone else's health while preserving Lenti's.
When he could focus again, Harlan looked around and recognized a muzzled face beyond the barricade. Grinning, he waved and the Bootsie waved back. It was nice to see a friendly face for once. Things in the universe had gotten noticeably more tense in the last few months. Even his own board of directors had polarized and grown contentious. It had taken ever so long to get them onto the Anti Retro Virus project. They were always complaining about profitability. Why should they spend the time developing a cure for a single Phur? Harlan had needed to do some arm twisting along with using the 'possible human catastrophe' approach. If it could happen to Phurs, it could happen to people and RayGen needed experience in the area of emergency cure development.
Then there was the patient who needed the cure.
How had Kemsa lasted this long? The people at BioTel had kept him abreast of Kemsa's deteriorating brain condition, and there was no way a living being could function at a normal level with that much brain damage.
Except, she was functioning.
And not only was she functioning well, she and her link-mates were doing things with telepathy that had never been done before! He would need to check in with BioTel people to get their take on this, but he personally felt it had something to do with her link to other healthy telepaths. Was she somehow tapping into their brain functions to replace her own damaged ones? Well, what ever it was, the questions would have to wait. He needed to check in with Griffith first, and the Bootsie waving to him was his official escort to the Embassy. Harlan made it through the final checkpoint and immediately headed for her.
"Sona! So good to see you! Is that a new mane-style I see? And that mane comb sets it off so beautifully."
Sona dropped her jaw into a Phur grin as he reached her, and she gave him a quick hug before tapping on his telsing translator. [Earth to Harlan - come in. Now hear this, Sona already taken. Try your wiles on someone with more curves and less sense.]
"And here I had my heart set on you," replied Harlan, grinning back as he took Sona's elbow and steered her toward the baggage claim area. "Oh well, as you say, there are others who are more easily fooled by my good looks."
Harlan quickly claimed his things and they headed over to the Embassy vehicle storage area. Since Wilderhom had become a required stopover for dignitaries, the Embassy had found it necessary to make vehicles available for them at the spaceport. Griffith had told Harlan he thought it a silly idea since, by decree, newly arrived humans required a Phur escort. Why couldn't they just call for a vehicle from the Embassy to come pick them up? Most had to call the Embassy to find out how to arrange for the escort anyway. Harlan had explained that not everyone needed to contact the embassy first. There were humans who actually had good relations with the Phurs despite what the rumor mongers said. He picked the first vehicle in line and opened the door for Sona.
Because Sona was with him he didn't expect what happened next. He was rounding the front of the vehicle when a large rock glanced off his shoulder and pinged off the windscreen of the vehicle. Harlan was about to turn around to see where the projectile had come from when Sona howled a warning and urgently motioned him inside the vehicle. He quickly opened the operator's door and another rock sailed by followed by a raucous chorus of barks, screeches, and howls. He dived inside the vehicle, and slammed and locked the doors just as the first of the crowd of some ten angry Phurs arrived. Immediately, they began rocking the vehicle and Harlan looked frantically around the cabin area. He found what he was looking for and flipped the switch. Good! The Embassy personnel here weren't fools. These vehicles came equipped with 'creeper' mode.
In diplomatically sensitive areas where a mob might try hijacking or overturning a vehicle, a vehicle's ground effect generator, normally used to elevate the vehicle about 25 centimeters off the ground, could be reversed - effectively gluing the vehicle to the ground. The small parking wheels on which the vehicle sat when not in use could be unlocked and the vehicle could creep along the ground at a slow, but inexorable pace. Anyone trying to stop it by lying in front of it would either be pushed forward or up over the front of the vehicle since its front skirt was practically in contact with the ground. The trick was to go slow and avoid injury. No sense in stirring up an already incensed crowd by injuring some of them. Sona was already on the TelCom and Harlan knew help would be on the way soon.
It took a long time for the Phurs beating on the outside of the vehicle to realize they were accomplishing nothing, but more than likely, it was the arrival of Embassy security vehicles that sent them scurrying on their way. The three security vehicles surrounded Harlan's position and Sona assured them on the TelCom that they were fine. In a matter of moments Harlan and his now augmented escort were heading for the Embassy grounds.
As he drove, he glanced over at Sona and tapped his telsing translator. "I heard what they were telsing Sona." He returned his eyes to the road but kept talking. "They were after you, not me."
Sona dropped her façade of calm even as she dropped her head into her paws.
"Sona, how long has this been going on?"
She took several deep breaths before looking back at him. [It started last season. Worse now. I make no secret of my affiliations with Griffith and my stance on humans on Wilderhom.] She looked out the window for a moment and then back at him. [I am convenient target for them, and because of that, we discover new dissidents daily.]
"You attract the attention of these Phurs on purpose?"
Sona nodded. [At first I attract them, yes, but now I hardly do anything without some incident. I was not watchful enough today, otherwise I see them sooner. I am sorry you involved in this.]
"Don't be," Harlan said, gripping the controls harder. "I made my choice six month ago, and I've taken my share of flak too, but I've handled it so far." He felt his mouth twist into a satisfied grin. "It's hard to argue with success, and the partnership between RayGen and BioTel has been most successful since we have the patent for the telsing translator and the new telepathic interface for the Trans-World inter-colony communication system." He turned to Sona. "Actually, we haven't taken as much garbage for that as for the fact that we ear-marked twenty percent of the profits for Wilderhom. Griffith filled you in on that I suppose?"
Sona nodded and laid a paw gently on Harlan's shoulder. [It is appreciated addition to Wilderhom Clan Council's public works fund.] She hesitated, and then continued. [At least some appreciate it. Other's are too proud for their own good, and see it as bribe.]
"Yeah," snorted Harlan. "Some folks just don't appreciate a good bribe when they see one." He gave Sona a quick wink. "Don't quote me on that."
[I won't,] replied Sona, winking back. [That is, until I need favor from you.] She sat back in her seat once more and gazed out the window. [Actually, it is not bribe if it is earned, and Phurs at BioTel do much work there not only as test subjects but as co-inventors. Borlan and Shayna devised 3d modeling mechanism for short range Vic node detection that makes it easy for humans to 'see' what Phur router 'sees' for telsing. Borlan thinks it makes testing new models of telsing translator easier.]
Harlan was impressed. [Is that so? Hmmm. Have any Phurs at BioTel ever expressed an interest in getting further education elsewhere? Like back on Old Earth?]
Sona shrugged. [Shayna thought about it, but recent tensions put all thoughts of travel off-planet on hold.]
"Too bad," commented Harlan. "I'd be willing to set up a scholarship fund for Phurs. There's far too much talent here not to tap into it. Does Wilderhom have any higher educational institutions?"
Sona sighed and shook her head again. [Not like other colonies. We have sophisticated apprentice system instead, and it works well enough, but it not have level of standardization formal education system has.] She gave Harlan an almost defiant look. [Remember, we are young colony and until very recently, we very much on our own. Humans not offer help and we made do with what we had.]
"I meant no offence, Sona."
The Bootsie nodded and put a smile back on her muzzle. [None taken.]
"Good," breathed Harlan. "That way Griffith and I won't have to butt heads over my indiscretion with his lady. He's almost as stubborn as I am." Harlan nodded to the TelCom screen and its scrolling message. "And speaking of your knight in metaramic armor, it seems Griffith wants us to meet him at the air-car hanger. Looks like he wants to head out to Taqhom right away. Good. I like efficiency. Besides, I failed to book a room at the local 'Schmooze 'n' Snooze'."
Since they already had a security vehicle escort, passage through the Embassy's main gate went without a problem, and they were soon at the air-car field. Most of the air-cars were the smaller Viper VTOL Twins with a four passenger capacity, but they were being waved toward one of the larger Hawking Quads, an eight passenger VTOL air-bus. They pulled up beside it, disengaged and locked the ground effect generator, and stepped out. Griffith, in his normal work uniform and with a travel bag slung over his shoulder came up to them with his big hand extended.
"Mr. Meeker, glad to see you made it." He shook Harlan's hand and then pointed to a hanger workman. "Stow Mr. Meeker's gear. We'll be off momentarily." The workman shuffled to the back of Meeker's vehicle and Griffith turned back to Harlan. "I heard about the problem at the spaceport." He glanced to Sona, and looked her up and down as if to assure himself that she'd sustained no injury. Giving her a satisfied nod, he looked back at Harlan. "Well, it's not like Wilderhom's problems are a secret, but we could have done without that display."
"No harm done," replied Harlan. "Being a wealthy entrepreneur, I've had to fend off unhealthy attention from time to time. Glad the vehicle had 'creeper' mode." He waved to the air-bus. "So, who's all going with us to Taqhom? We don't need a rig this big to carry three."
Griffith pointed back toward the hanger where two humans and two Phurs were approaching, pushing a large cargo carrier. "We've got the BioTel contingency coming along. More research into Portals and…other things."
Harlan nodded. "I see. Good. I needed to chat with them about a few things myself." He turned a serious eye on Griffith. "Has anyone told High Elder Kemsa KelTaq about her…condition?"
Griffith shook his head. "We were hoping to get some reasonable answers on this trip. I'm not sure that we will, but regardless of whether we do or not, we owe it to her to tell her. Sona is coming along just for that purpose."
Harlan turned a respectful eye on the Bootsie. "You are? Well, I don't envy you the task, but I can't think of anyone better qualified."
"Shall we?" asked Griffith, motioning to the air-bus's boarding entrance. "With only seven passengers, I may actually have some room to stretch out. It's not a long flight, but ever since the beginning of aviation it has been the goal of aircraft designers to find new and more ingenious ways to torture passengers."
But Griffith would get no relief on this flight. An eighth passenger was already on board. Griffith wasn't surprised, but he wasn't pleased either. Just because this other passenger had just as much right to be on this flight as anyone, didn't mean Griffith had to like it.
The passenger looked up from where he was manipulating a small data pad. "Good afternoon, Mr. Tange."
Griffith merely nodded and turned to the others. "Sirs, ladies? We have another passenger coming with us to Taqhom. May I present…" he waved a hand behind him, "Mr. Tellman Long."
[>>>>>>>>>>O<<<<<<<<<<]
Alerted by Mika, Jayson had come looking for Kemsa and found her sitting alone on the topmost balcony of the residential tower. The balustrade that Lenti had damaged had long since been repaired, but the brooding feeling pervading the place was the same.
Someone was not feeling very good about themselves.
He came up behind her confident that she could sense his approach but when he bent to kiss her neck she jumped up.
**Jayson! I didn't… I…** a look of fear crossed her face. **I didn't sense you coming.**
Jayson came around the bench Kemsa had been sitting on, lifted her up, and took her in his arms. **I sensed you, lovely lady, and I also sensed that you were far away… **
Kemsa's eyes widened with fear.
**Far away in thought only, Kemsa…in thought only.** Jayson added quickly, as he pressed her body close to his. **You seemed disturbed. What is it? What disturbs the High Elder of Clan Taq?**
He felt Kemsa's grip tightening on him.
**I don't know if this vessel is strong enough anymore, Jayson,** thought Kemsa, her mind voice as weary as the content of her words. **I used to think I could handle it, but I don't know anymore.** She looked up at him, her piercing blue eyes searching his. **It's not the crises or the clamoring that frighten me, but the constant burdensome weight of responsibility.**
**I thought Korrak was helping you with that,** thought Jayson. He knew that the loyal canid took care of many of the day-to-day operations of Kemsa's estate, as well as many of the mundane aspects of her position as High Elder of Clan Taq.
Kemsa nodded. **His help is invaluable, Jayson, but no matter how much he does, it doesn't absolve me of the ultimate responsibility for what goes on in Clan Taq. Yet, even that isn't at the heart of it. It all comes down to the things we can do with telepathy that no one else can do.**
**Ah, yes. The pernicious problem of the Portals.** Despite his choice of words, there was no sarcasm in Jayson's thought. He stepped back to the bench and he and Kemsa sat down. Once more her eyes and her mind took on a feeling of great distance.
**Poel once telsed something that frightens me now,** thought Kemsa. **He telsed [You must fully explore your mind, Kemsa. New and wonderful things may be there, or maybe they are evil and destructive. I don’t know. I cannot know. Thus, I can never be responsible for them.] Well, I now have a power beyond any I could have imagined, and I am responsible for it.** She looked back to Jayson, her eyes dark. **It's too heavy a burden, Jayson. Too heavy! How can I ever know if I'm doing the right thing with it?**
**Trust your heart, Kemsa,** thought Jayson, dropping a kiss on her silver-white mane. **So far the Portal has been used to save how many lives? There was the first Portal we ever made, and it saved your life in this very tower. Then there was Riena's life at the mine, followed by Cael's rescue. Then we used it to rescue ourselves from that very same mine. Lastly, at the canid combat field, it saved Lenti's life when she was gravely injured, plus several other injured canids as well. We have done much good with this power.**
Kemsa was shaking her head. **But the power nearly destroyed all the Phurs on that field, too. What of that?**
**That was an accident, Kemsa.**
**But we can't afford accidents with something this powerful!**
**Which is why we practice now, Kemsa,** assured Jayson. **And the practice is working. We understand this power better now than we did then.**
**But…**
**No more excuses, Kemsa. We have this power whether we wish it or not, and as you indicated, we are responsible for it. We do the best we can by trying to understand it, and by never consciously using it for evil or destructive purposes. That's all we can do.**
**But what if it isn't enough, Jayson?** Kemsa looked out over a valley grown verdant with the coming of the first rains of the cool season.
**What if it isn't enough?**
[>>>>>>>>>>O<<<<<<<<<<]
Pel stood to attention and exposed his throat to Korrak. [Sir, humans and three furs, Sona, a lutrid and a marsupalid, arrive form Newhom. They wait outside.]
Korrak expected this. He stood up but remained behind his large work desk. He adjusted his eye patch and then nodded. [Show them in.]
As they filed in one by one, he took note of each. Griffith's size was impressive as always, but his eyes were more serious than usual. Harlan was compact and intense, and he also had stern look. Sona was next and her look was far too neutral, which meant she was hiding some emotion. Korrak sensed that issue of importance needed discussion. When Tellman Long appeared, he was sure of it. That human was trouble. When Riena, Rick, and two BioTel Phurs appeared, he was sure what that issue was about - his Master. More questions. More tests. That was what their message this morning stated, but what was their goal? Had they not enough answers already? He came around his desk and stood before them.
[High Elder Kemsa KelTaq greets you and bids you state your business.]
Griffith frowned. "State our business? I though our message covered that."
[Your message stated what you intend, not why you do it,] telsed Korrak, flatly. [I wish that you state your reasons for your requests.] He crossed his arms as show of immobility on this point. [You go no further until you state why you need more data. My Master informs me that she is tired of cooperation that gives nothing in return.]
"That seems a reasonable attitude to take," said Tellman as he looked at Griffith. "I certainly don't appreciate it when my efforts gain no cooperation."
Korrak saw Griffith give Tellman a hard look, but Tellman continued. "I believe most of us are here to determine if your Master is competent enough to wield the power she possesses."
Korrak felt his face twitch, but he held his anger. Tellman's statement was too obviously provocative. [I have no problem with Master's competence. Why do you?]
When no one answered, Tellman spoke again. "BioTel wonders how a Phur can operate with only half a brain - a half-brain that doesn't even work."
The canid's reaction was instantaneous. [What?]
Korrak tried to telse more, but Griffith exploded.
"Tellman! Where …?"
But Tellman cut him off.
"Where did I get this information, you ask? Don't ask! I have my secrets - most of which deal with discovering your secrets! This would be so much simpler if you just sent me a memo! And don't ask why I need to have this information either! You know perfectly well that it's my job to gather information on things that effect Trans-World." He turned to Korrak. "Remember, according to the original Wilderhom Colonial Charter as re-approved by every Wilderhom Clan Council since then, this colony, like all other colonies, is responsible for reporting to Trans-World anything that could affect Trans-World's ability to serve all of the colonies. That includes any useful technology or process that has the potential to be turned into a weapon."
Tellman turned to Harlan.
"RayGen Pharmaceuticals has already benefited from useful technologies developed on this colony world. Trans-World has benefited as well with a more efficient telepathic long-distance communication system. Trans-World is not in the business of hindering advancement!" He gave everyone a hard look. "But neither will Trans-World tolerate the misuse of technology or processes that can be destructive!" He jabbed a finger at Korrak. "I don't want to hear anything along the lines of 'you can't prove Portals are dangerous'. Simply because there is no official record of the Taqhom Event doesn't mean it didn't happen. However, I am not so blind as to not see the potential benefits of Telepathic Portals. Like any other advancement, it has both constructive and destructive potential. My responsibility is to monitor how this new process is being developed."
He stepped forward until he was nose to nose with Korrak.
"As I stated before, this would be so much simpler with a little cooperation."
Korrak glared and growled, then looked to Griffith. [Always, you strain our friendship with this one. Leave him behind next time and report to him what you find!]
Griffith ground his teeth. "I wish I could, but he has violated no rules other than those of common decency. Kemsa could ban him from Clan Taq with a single word, but he's never been the least bit discourteous with her, have you, Mr. Long."
This last was directed at Tellman who smiled. "I know how to be the gentleman when the need arises," he answered smoothly. "Every one of you has deemed it necessary to keep your findings about her condition away from Kemsa - findings she has a right to know! Whether you realize it or not, some of you have already made your determination on her competence. I, myself, have made no decision on that yet."
Tellman turned back to Korrak. "However, when I do I assure you, she will be the first to know."
Tellman stepped back into line, knowing that none of them could dispute his statements. He smiled to himself.
Sometimes, the
best way to manipulate a situation was to simply tell the truth.
The human caught up with the female canid and she barely gave him a look.
[Go away.]
"A warm and friendly greeting," said Tellman, adjusting his stride to hers as they walked. "So typical of your kind. You go to give Kemsa the truth?"
[You know that is what I do. Go away.]
"She won't believe you."
[Since you not go away, I play your game. All right, how you know she not believe me?]
"Why would anyone believe the impossible?"
[She believes me.]
"Really? Her trust in you is that great?"
[Yes.]
"I think not. I think she will see the impossibility of your news and begin to question her trust in you."
[She believes me!]
"You telse that as if you are trying to convince yourself. I think there is doubt there - doubt that Kemsa will sense. She will not believe you."
[You think you do better, human?]
"I would not tell her the truth."
[Hah! I thought so. You state in front of all of us that 'She has a right to know', yet you not tell her. You are liar!]
"You misunderstand me. I would not tell her the truth. Instead, I would show her the truth. Can you?"
[I think so.]
"Is that so? Are you sure?"
[Yes. You are cold and hard. I feel nothing from you. Kemsa needs warmth of friends when she is given this news.]
"Perhaps you are right. I'm not a likeable person. I'm a watcher and a gatherer of the truth. However, remember this - Bootsie and bearer of bad news - the truth is not always nice, and sugar-coating it will not make it any sweeter. You telse of lies. In fact, this sort of coating is the most heinous of lies because any who receive the truth this way will discover the lie and, in the end, they will see it as another bitter hurt to add to the painful truth it was supposed to hide. True friends do not compound a friend's pain. Bad news is best given swiftly and in the raw."
[You sound as if you enjoy this sort of thing.]
"My enjoyment is irrelevant. Kemsa must know beyond any doubt that what is contained in her skull is no longer what controls her. If there is doubt, she will continue to wish for the evidence to be a lie. Her uncertainty will grow instead of diminish. She will eventually succumb to her doubt to everyone's detriment. She must begin to look elsewhere for the source of her present existence."
[Why is the truth so important? Why can she not simply exist in ignorance?]
"Because she is not stupid. She already suspects something, thus she doubts herself, and the doubt is weakening her. Then there is this. She not only has the right to know - but the responsibility to know."
[She has enough responsibility already.]
"She has more responsibility than you or anyone else knows - much more! And I have a responsibility, too. If she continues her present course, I will have to intervene and you will not like what I do then."
[What you do?]
"I will have the IGS officially class her as a capital threat to Trans-World and all the colonies, and she will be eliminated. Permanently."
Growling, the canid whirled on the human, grabbed a pawful of clothing, and pushed a small needle blade she'd whipped from its hiding place against the human's throat. [Then you are next, human SCUM! I never liked you. Now I know I was RIGHT!]
For a long moment the two stared at one another, not moving. Then the human spoke.
"Perhaps you are good enough to take me down. Perhaps you could defeat one or two of those who would follow me like you did Kohlaf, but could not stop all of those sent from doing what must be done." His look was hard. "Kemsa KelTaq has a dangerous power. She may not have chosen to be a wielder of this power, but she has it nonetheless - along with the all the responsibility such power demands. If she is unwilling or unable to do her duty regarding this power, she must be eliminated! At present, she is faltering badly due to her fear and self-doubt. You have seen it. So has the procyonid who now cares for her kit."
[How you know all this?]
"I am with the IGS. Knowledge and truth are my trade. Suffice to say that I know - as do others - and it has been concluded that if Kemsa cannot get past this present confidence crisis, she must be eliminated - for the safety of humans AND Phurs alike."
[BASARD! Human filth…]
The human's hands shot forward - one easily disarmed the canid and the other grabbed her by the throat, pulling her close. "You've seen the Taqhom Event through Kemsa's eyes! You know the power of which I speak! You fear it! AS YOU SHOULD!"
The canid's eyes were wide with fear as if reviewing the seen of that tremendous plasma explosion - and the fact that it had been due mostly to Kemsa's ignorance of her ability.
"Yes," continued Tellman. "Kemsa has an almost insane responsibility! One that requires a fully functional and competent mind to explore."
[But… but she has no mind! No brain! That is her problem!]
"NO! That is NOT her problem." Tellman released Sona and shoved her away. "Despite the fact that for the past six months she has lacked a functioning brain, she has made conscious decisions requiring thought and then acted upon those decisions." Tellman sneered. "However, because she has been spared the truth about her condition by her so-called friends, she is now beginning to question her competency to do anything! Her problem is not the lack of a brain. Her problem is crippling uncertainty!"
[But self-doubt only makes her more cautious. She not likely use her power at all then. If so, danger is less, not more.]
"Which is ALSO unacceptable!"
[What? You desire that she use this power?]
"YES! But, she must use it responsibly! This is the crux of the matter! This sort of power needs to be explored! Why do you think I've been demanding regular reports from her? And hasn't the Wilderhom Clan Council charged her with exploring this phenomenon? How can she do that if she does nothing? If one does nothing, one learns nothing, and that perpetuates ignorance - the type of ignorance that resulted in the Taqhom Event! That is exactly the sort of thing that that scares the powers-that-be in the IGS. If Kemsa is going to be burdened with this power, it is her responsibility, and her duty, to get on with exploring it. I cannot let her abdicate that responsibility simply because she's 'not feeling very good about herself' right now. Were I to let her uncertainty and doubt fester, she would become an ideal target for manipulation by any extremist with an agenda. This is totally unacceptable. She must get past her present uncertainty!"
[But this new knowledge I give her only creates MORE uncertainty! More questions! Like how she functions without her brain?]
Tellman snorted, clearly disgusted. "Thank you for pointing out an obvious truth in life. Of course this new knowledge will bring more uncertainty, but it will be a different uncertainty - a NEW uncertainty - not the old one. That's a fact of life. One uncertainty follows another. We counter an existing uncertainty by discovering a new truth and we move on! The bottom line is Kemsa needs to get moving again! Get on with her duties! She must NOT stagnate because she's been denied the truth about her present condition. You have been charged with giving her this truth because even you have finally realized that the worst thing Kemsa can do right now is wallow in ignorance!"
The canid scowled at the human, then closed her eyes and bowed her head. She shook it once before raising her eyes up to his once more. [I admit this with no pleasure, but I agree with you.]
Tellman nodded and held up the needle blade he'd taken from her. "I'm glad we finally agree on the obvious. I trust that we also agree that certainty comes from an irrevocable demonstration of the truth?" He held the blade out to her, hilt first, and she took it. "As to that, I will now tell you exactly how you will show Kemsa the truth so that no doubt can remain."
As the human explained, the canid's eyes grew wide once again.
[NO! I NOT do that! You not MAKE me do that! You…]
Again Tellman had her by the throat. "This you WILL do, otherwise you go to her now only to give her your final farewells because she WILL be eliminated!"
[Then YOU convince her! I NOT DO IT!]
Tellman pulled her close and gave a crooked smile. "No. I will not do it. I don't wish to die today. As I have stated, Kemsa is powerful. Were I the one to attempt this, she would likely try to kill me on the spot. She might even succeed. Not so with you. No. This must be done by a friend." He shoved her away.
[DAMN you!]
"Do not fight either me or what it is you must do."
[No! I not do this to convince her! It is barbaric!]
"But it will utterly destroy any doubt Kemsa has. You will do it or I will do what I must do. You've been given your choices. Choose now!"
[NO! You not make me choose!]
"Then your choice is made by default and I will do what I must."
[No!]
"Yes! You have no choice but to choose! Such will be Kemsa's fate soon, and she must be of sound mind to make the right choices when her time comes!"
[I not do it!]
"You will do it because you know you must."
[No!]
"You will do it.
[I not do it.]
…
[Please?]
"Think of the consequences."
[I…]
"The choice is yours. Choose. Now."
[I…I do it, bastard, but I still damn you!]
The human watched the female canid spin around and stalk away.
"I'm sorry, Sona," he whispered as he watched her turn the corner to Kemsa's quarters. "I was already damned a very long time ago."
Sona took several calming breaths. She still shook from her encounter with that… that Tellman human. A single tear also dripped from her nose. Of all the things she ever did as Bootsie this was hardest. But she had no real choice. Not if she wanted Kemsa to live. She sniffed back another tear, put on her best Bootsie face, and walked into Kemsa's living quarters.
She found Kemsa in her bedroom clad only in her fur - two gowns spread before her and another in her paw. [Silver,] telsed Sona as she walked in. [Go with silver. It's your best color even if yellow and black are Clan Taq's colors.]
Kemsa looked up. [Hello, Sona.] She held up one gown. [The silver one with the black trim? Is it official enough? Griffith is an important human at the Embassy and I wouldn't want to…]
[Kemsa!] Sona held up her paw. [Silver. Trust me. I am Bootsie.]
[And you know,] finished Kemsa, who sighed and then wriggled quickly into her silver and black casual outfit.
Sona walked up to her with slow, regal steps. [Now that you dressed, I can officially greet my Clan's High Elder properly.] She turned and exposed her throat to Kemsa, but kept her eye fixed on her. Kemsa stared for a moment, and then lunged at Sona, jaws agape. Sona gave a 'proper' squeal as Kemsa 'bit' and they both tumbled onto Kemsa's gown strewn bed.
Kemsa's laughter was suitably raucous. [Sona, you are a most incorrigible Bootsie,] she telsed through her yiks. [You owe me no 'throat'.]
[But is quick way to get friendly 'lick' from my friend.]
Kemsa sat up, her smile not so sure this time. [Am I that distant?]
Sona sat up as well, smoothed out Kemsa's rumpled gown, and shook her head. [Distant is not right word. You are not as 'available'.] She held up a paw. [I know, I know. You are busy Phur. In fact, it is telsed that, on top of everything else, Clan Taq's High Elder is new dahma.] Sona glanced to room beyond Kemsa's bed, then back to her friend. [Vanna is her name? I see her, yes?]
[Yes!] was Kemsa's quick response as she bounded up and pulled Sona after her. They entered Vanna's nesting room and found Vanna curled up on blankets next to heater vent, her little tail wrapped around her nose.
[Oh! Oh! Oh!] was all Sona telsed before she went down on all fours and wrapped herself around the little, white puff-ball. [She is gorgeous!] Sona telsed over her shoulder. Then her attention was all on Vanna, snuffling, stroking, and occasionally licking the little kit. Vanna stirred and gave a mew, and Sona felt her heart melt. She glanced back at Kemsa, who was beaming. [Oh, Kemsa, her color! Like you, this one is real heartbreaker when she's older.]
Sona saw Kemsa's eyes flicker in doubt, and she closed her own eyes.
She must know beyond any doubt.
Sona opened her eyes and gave Vanna one more affectionate lick before she got up and walked to where Kemsa stood by the door. [Always the doubter.] She took Kemsa by her paws. [Remember that night back in Newhom when you were still inside Jayson's body? I telsed that, with work and some self-confidence on your part, you become Wilderhom's most beautiful felocanid?] Kemsa looked to her and nodded. Sona looked back, ever in awe of Kemsa's amazing, cerulean eyes - eyes so deep with emotion and intelligence. Sona drew Kemsa's head to her breast and affectionately licked one of her ears. [I am so glad I was right.]
For one moment, they held one another. Then Kemsa pushed away, her blue eyes now dark under her worried brows.
[But just like that night, Sona, you've been sent to me. BioTel is here again, and I don't think it's a coincidence that I see you first. You're not here just to tell me of my beauty.] Kemsa's mental tone was suddenly flat and unfeeling.
[Perceptive, as always,] telsed Sona, her heart feeling the beginnings of pain to come. [You never easily fooled by others - only by yourself. Yes. I am here for another reason.] Sona's mind loathed why she was truly here, but Kemsa needed this knowledge. So much rested on it. [Kemsa, I am here because there are flaws in you. Not flaws in your beauty, but flaws unseen. Flaws that need explaination.]
[NO!] Kemsa pushed Sona away and shook her head as she backed off. [I don't want to know this! I don't want to KNOW!]
Sona stalked toward Kemsa. [You already suspect something. It frightens you.] She kept on, even as Kemsa backed away around Vanna's nest room. [Truth is important now, Kemsa.]
[No, please? No more bad news. I just want to be happy! For once, I want some simple peace of mind!]
Sona felt Kemsa's fear and anguish. The felocanid's distress was also obvious on her muzzle. She saw Kemsa's eyes dart to nesting room door, but Sona was there in an instant. She grabbed Kemsa as she came up to her and pulled her back into her bedroom. [I am sorry, Kemsa, but I do this for your own good. The others gave me this task and I fulfill my responsibilities.] She pulled Kemsa out bedroom door and into adjacent vacant bedroom across suite's hall. When she finally released Kemsa, her friend was livid.
[Why are you doing this to me, Sona? Have I not enough troubles as is?] Kemsa's growl was low in her throat - a guttural and angry rumble. [I thought you were my friend!]
Sona let Kemsa's anger blow through her and returned some of her own. [Yes! You have burdensome responsibility to Clan Taq, but you have bigger responsibility to yourself!]
And others, Sona added in thought.
Without any warning, Sona launched herself at Kemsa and pinned her against full-length wall mirror. In a flash, she had her needle blade out of its mane comb case and pressed against Kemsa's temple. She knew Kemsa could see everything in mirror, and her friend's anger boiled away into raw fear.
[Sona! Why…why are you doing this to me?]
Sona twisted her blade, and its long polished surface flashed, the twinkle reflected in both mirror and Kemsa's terrified eyes. [Call not for your link-mates, Kemsa. This is not what it seems. I do this simply to illustrate important point.] She pressed the sharp point of her blade into Kemsa's skin. Blood trickled from her punctured skin. [You feel pain?]
Kemsa closed her eyes and nodded, her whimper barely audible.
[I can easily push this needle blade through weak spot between frontal and temporal skull plates,] telsed Sona. She hated herself for this display, but she knew how vital it was that Kemsa know her condition beyond any doubt or excuse. [What happens to you if I push this blade in?]
Kemsa whimpered again and Sona shook her. [What happens?]
Kemsa opened her eyes flicking them fearfully from blade to Sona's face. [I would die,] came her choked response before she closed her eyes again.
[Is that so?] answered Sona, her mind-voice sharp-edged and cold. [Are you sure?] She pressed her blade in a tiny bit.
Kemsa nodded again, and tears leaked from eyes clamped tightly shut.
Sona took one last deep breath.
Forgive me, Kemsa.
Sona pushed hard, and her needle-blade penetrated its full ten centimeter length into Kemsa's skull.
Kemsa gasped and her eyes flew open in horror even as Sona felt her own revulsion explode within her. Kemsa's ragged breaths were only sounds in this room as she stared into mirror, but mentally she screamed. Sona's insides roiled with self-loathing, but she forced it from her mind and stared hard into mirrored blue eyes filled with fear. Finally, Kemsa's fear and mental cry faded, replaced by total confusion. Sona nodded. [I see you realize impossibility of your present condition. Any other Phur with needle blade buried this deep in their skull is dead Phur…but not you.]
Kemsa's eyes flickered with renewed fear.
[You ask yourself why this is.] Sona went on, her mind-voice ragged with shared pain. [It is because there is nothing in your skull that this needle blade can injure…nothing that works, anyway. That is what I am here for. I telse to you…no, I show you in no uncertain terms that ever since your infection by Retro Virus, your brain is dead! Your skull now contains useless tissue that only takes up space - no more! You are alive, but no one understands how. Your body is here, but your mind? We just…don't…know!]
Sona felt her tears finally spill from her eyes. Kemsa's fear was raw flame in her mind, and unable to stand it any longer, she yanked the blade from Kemsa's skull, and flung it away. Her paw flashed to her belt pouch and she pulled out antiseptic soaked gauze dressing which she pressed over Kemsa's head wound. Then she gathered her distraught friend in her arms and cried as she never cried since she was almost as young as Vanna.
Kemsa huddled in the arms of the piteously crying Sona, her mind a spinning storm of emotion and thought, foremost being her receding fear and the fact that she shouldn't even have a mind now. Her friend had pushed 10 centimeters of cold needle-like steel into her head. She should be dead.
She wasn't.
She was very much alive and being held by a Phur whose emotions now bled from her like an open wound. She felt Sona's terrible fear that she'd lost a friend, her terrible regret at having to be so blunt, her hope that Kemsa would eventually realize that she needed the true knowledge and belief that only experience could bring, and finally, her hope without any real hope that Kemsa might eventually forgive her.
Kemsa was an emotional wreck. Fear and anger still leaked copiously from the realizations that had been forced into her mind, but in truth, what had Sona done that needed forgiveness? The Bootsie had frightened her half to death, but that only served to firmly plant in her mind the knowledge that she was no longer the same as other Phurs! Her brain was quite literally 'dead'. Her mind no longer resided there. This thought, by itself, should have terrified her, but it was only a minor fear compared to the terror of seeing a friend turn on her and 'threaten' her life. There were things far worse in this world than the unease that came from a physical anomaly without an explanation. That she still had a mind somewhere was not even a question with her. She could think with it as she was doing now, and she could feel with it as well. She could still feel the residual sting of the wound in her temple, rather like that of a healers needle. She also felt the tears on her shoulder and the arms of her friend around her that shook with sobs.
And she suddenly felt a deep admiration and awe for a friend willing to risk losing Kemsa's regard to get her quickly past something that could have caused her months, or even years, of fearful brooding. Regardless of how things were with her brain, she was still Kemsa - a living, thinking, feeling Phur capable of admiration for Sona's courage, and capable of showing that admiration by forgiving her.
Yes.
Kemsa knew she still had a mind, and that it was her mind and no one else's. Her reasoning was simplicity itself.
I love, therefore, I am.
She felt her own tears spilling onto Sona's tunic and she began to reach around her to return the embrace when a howling scream almost deafened her. The telsing scream that accompanied the howl was almost as mind-wrenching.
[You Ekram-be-damed WHORE! What did you do to Kemsa?]
Kemsa felt Sona torn from her grasp, and to her horror she saw and felt an enraged Lenti throw Sona across the room. The Bootsie's head struck the opposite wall with a sickening 'crack' and she slumped to the floor. Lenti was on her in a flash and raising her fist for the death blow.
[STOP! It's NOT what you think!]
Lenti's fist froze but her head snapped around and Kemsa gasped. The black emotion that flowed in waves from Lenti's eyes was incredible, but it sparked something in Kemsa - a remembrance of her own demon, and her anger flared impossibly bright.
[YOU WILL NOT HAVE HER!]
She was not referring to Lenti's attack. Kemsa's anger was for a greater evil. She lunged at Lenti, and with all the physical power she could muster, she brought the flat of her paw across Lenti's muzzle. Lenti's head snapped sideways and she tumbled off of Sona. Kemsa followed her down to the floor and pinned her there.
**You will NOT have her!** Kemsa thought as she forced her way into Lenti's mind and took hold of the black hatred. Using the same technique she used on herself, she slammed it into the reflective part of Lenti's mind and locked it there. Then she turned to Sona and gasped. Blood spilled from the Bootsie's mouth and left ear, and her eyes were glazed, pupils dialated.
[No. NO. NO!] Kemsa moved to Sona's side and bent over her. She wasn't breathing. Even as she realized this she heard a rush of feet into the room. She whirled around. [Jayson! Breathing!] She pointed to Sona then looked to Griffith who seemed about to shout something. [Griffith! No talking! Stand by to help move her!] She whirled to Mika and pointed to Lenti. [Use Dahma! Calm her. Remove the horror she's starting to feel even now! Tellman? You and everyone else stay back! Korrak! See to it!]
Jayson gave the limp canid several breaths as everyone else held theirs. Then he turned to Kemsa. "She needs respiratory assistance! She's not breathing on her own! It's the head injury!"
Griffith groaned and Kemsa felt sick, but now was not the time to collapse. Kemsa forced herself to think. Sona needed advanced emergency care - more than the healers here could provide.
Phur Hospital, Newhom.
Kemsa concentrated and her mind raced furiously through the Alpha Telepath long-distance sparks she could sense around her. There were so many of them, but one of them had to be...
There!
That was the one she wanted.
I want visuals!
A picture of the lobby at the Phur Hospital blossomed in her mind, and she latched onto it.
I need a Portal, NOW!
Kemsa's emotions and thoughts crackled and instantly, a Portal appeared.
[Jayson! Griffith! Get her through! It's the Phur hospital. Hurry!]
With Jayson still doing mouth to nose, Griffith lifted the limp Sona and they carried her through, and the portal dissolved behind them.
Suddenly, Kemsa was acutely aware of the horrified pain in her mind.
Lenti.
She moved to her next to Mika who was shaking with her eyes closed.
**Lenti?** thought Kemsa.
**I'm sorry! I didn't mean to. I thought she'd hurt you! I…**
Without the rage to mask it, all Lenti could sense was what her blind rage had done to Sona, and the resulting horror, guilt, and remorse was suffocating. Even with her superior empathy, Mika couldn't counteract it. As a link-mate, it was affecting her too much. This would require both of them. **Mika!** Kemsa sent a mental picture and both were down beside Lenti, cocooning her between them. **Dahma loop,** thought Kemsa and Mika understood what Kemsa was attempting to do. In a moment, Mika and Kemsa were looping the Dahma feeling between them and building it to proportions Mika could never achieve on her own. When the feeling was almost too good to bear, they both focused it on Lenti, whose self-hatred slowly withered before the larger feeling of motherly regard.
It took about an hour, but Lenti's breathing finally slowed, and eventually it fell into the quiet rhythms of sleep.
Satisfied that Lenti was beyond pain for the time being, Kemsa looked to Mika. **Stay with her tonight. She will need someone.** Mika nodded and then tapped out the code which would detach Lenti's arms. They fell to Lenti's sides and Mika gathered them up.
**A precaution in case Lenti might think of harming herself.**
Kemsa nodded back, not wanting to think of it, but acknowledging suicide as a possibility. Slowly both of them got up, and Kemsa motioned to Korrak who had been blocking the doorway all this time.
[Carry Lenti to Mika's quarters and then lock Lenti's arms in the steel-door detention cell on the lower level of the Admin tower.]
Korrak nodded, gathered up the limp Lenti, and carried her out the door with Mika following. When their footfalls had receded, Kemsa took a single deep breath and then looked around the unused bedroom. There was blood on the floor where Sona had lain and the sight of it killed any residual happiness she'd felt while generating the Dahma feeling for Lenti.
It also reminded her of something she needed to do, though she dreaded it.
**Jayson?**
There was no answer for a long time and Kemsa's heart sank. Then suddenly…
**Kemsa?**
Kemsa steeled herself. **Jayson. How is…Sona?**
Another long silence sickened her.
**She's still alive,** came Jayson's listless reply.
**But there is something else, isn't there?** asked Kemsa.
She felt Jayson's mental nod.
**What is it? I must know!** Kemsa thought.
**They don't know how long she'll last, Kemsa. The head injury…so much damage!**
Kemsa felt the anguish in Jayson's thoughts even as her own sorrow welled up to fill her eyes with tears. She cast those eyes around the room. If only she had detected Lenti's rage before she'd gotten to the room. If only…
**It's not your fault, Kemsa!** came Jayson's quick reply. **It's not even Lenti's fault.**
Kemsa could feel another emotion coming from Jayson. Guilt.
**Jayson?**
**It could have been me, Kemsa! Lenti wasn't the only one who felt what Sona did to you! It's just that she was faster than me or Mika.**
**But when you and Mika came into the room, I felt no hatred from you!** replied Kemsa.
**That was after we realized what had truly happened.** Jayson's mind seemed to withdraw for a moment. **I thought I was getting better at controlling this, but…**
**Jayson! Stop this!** Kemsa thought, her mind transmitting the power to back up her demand. **You DID control the rage! You did it because, despite your anger, your mind was still open to an explanation! When that explanation finally came, you understood it and stopped the rage! You were NOT acting mindlessly! You were in control!**
She felt Jayson absorbing her thoughts and felt his mood change.
**I guess me and Mika did control it at that. It still doesn't make me feel any better about getting that mad in the first place.**
**Good!** thought Kemsa. **I hope the thought of getting that angry always makes us feel sick. That way we will never enter into it lightly.**
**You're right, Kemsa,** thought Jayson, his mood lightening a bit further. **And as to your own failure in not detecting our feelings, you should have been on our side of the connection. You were broadcasting with such power that I doubt you'd have picked up even our loudest emotional signals.**
**Thank you, Jayson. I just wish…** Kemsa felt more tears running down her muzzle. **Oh Jayson, I just wish it would have turned out differently. Why Sona? Why her? All she was trying to do was help me!** Kemsa felt her mood darken. **If what happened to her this evening had happened to me instead, I'd still be standing here telsing about it. Unlike her, I've got no brain to injure! That's what she was trying to get me to realize - and now she…**
**Kemsa. Don't.**
Kemsa felt Jayson's loving mental touch, and though tinged with sadness and anxiety, it felt good. She shook off the miasma of her growing depression.
**Okay, Jayson. I won't if you won't. Keep me informed if…if anything happens to Sona.**
**You want me to come back?**
**No. Griffith may need someone there. I sense from you that he might not be in the best shape.**
**True. I'll stay here then. You and Mika take good care of Lenti. That was a good thing you two did for her, but she'll need more help in the future, I fear.**
**I will, Jayson.**
Kemsa felt her contact with Jayson fade and once more, she looked around the dismal little room she was in. A glint in the corner past the pool of blood caught her eye, and she walked over to it. Bending down, Kemsa picked up the blood-stained needle blade that Sona had used on her and looked at it. She thought she should feel something concerning the object that had caused so much grief in the past hour, but there was little there. All she felt was the residual echoes of the myriad emotions that had washed through her concerning Sona and her link-mates. Suddenly, Kemsa's eyes flew open with one final emotion. Fear.
What had all her emotions done to Vanna?
In a blur of sudden motion, Kemsa raced across the hall, through her door, and into Vanna's nesting room. There, still curled up next to the heater, was the little white kit. She appeared to be asleep. Kemsa leaned on the doorframe for support, brought her paw to her head, and heaved a weary sigh - though not one of relief. It was more the sigh of an overworked decision-maker faced with yet another problem.
Why hadn't Vanna reacted to her emotions? The kit had always been so sensitive to Kemsa's moods before. Why not now?
"She is smaller than I thought she would be."
Kemsa jumped at the human voice, whipped up the needle-blade in her paw, and brought it to bear on a human she could now see in one of the shadowy corners of the nesting room. Tellman Long stepped forward and looked at the blade.
"A Needle-Blade," Tellman said, reaching out. "A weapon originally from the felid clan I believe?"
Kemsa snatched the blade out of his reach. [What are you doing here?]
"Waiting for you, High Elder. This seemed a likely place to encounter you." Tellman gave a slight bow. "We've always conversed when I've been here before. As usual, I need your report on the Portals for my own report to Trans-World."
[I'm in no mood to discuss anything now.]
"Perfectly understandable," replied Tellman, who had stepped up to her and was now looking down at her from his superior height. "I won't ask for anything tonight. However, I would like to comment on what you did in the other room."
Kemsa peered up at him. [Will I like what I hear? Because if I don't, we won't be seeing each other again. I know your reports are necessary, but those don't require a personal visit. Jayson has never liked you, and now I don't like your being in this room without supervision.]
Tellman smiled and bowed. "I apologize, High Elder. I've been told that I'm not a very likeable person, but I think what I have to say now won't be offensive. Perhaps it would be better if we retired to the other room and let the little one sleep in peace?"
Kemsa nodded and trudged through the doorway, tossing the needle blade on the dressing stand as she passed it. She chose a small settee for her seat, and Tellman took a seat on a larger chair by the dressing stand.
[Alright, Tellman. Out with it.]
Tellman looked Kemsa up and down, and then nodded. "You have strength of character. You were very much in command during the crisis in the other room. That is a good quality for a leader and decision-maker. You were also able to us