Part 13 (1/2)
”Letting me go with you.” She had a muscle tic near her eyes, and a muscle in her leg must have spasmed because she stumbled.
He grabbed her arm, offering his strength, ”You've been a big help today. I'd appreciate your support when I explain the threat to Tessa and Kahn.”
”Of course you have my support.”
”Thanks.”
”I want to always be at your side. That's why I'm coming with you.”
”Okay.” Zical glanced at her. Why did be have the strongest feeling that he wasn't following her meaning?
”Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Her voice filled with happiness, Dora tried to skip ahead. ”I was so wrong, about you. I thought you didn't want-”
”Didn't want what?”
”Me,” she said simply.
Huh? His suspicions had been correct, and he spoke carefully. ”What are we talking about?”
”My accompanying you on the journey to find the Sentinel and turn it around.”
Stunned, he stopped abruptly. I didn't say anything about-” He scowled at her.
”Dora, can you read minds?”
She shook her head, or tried to, her cute chin jerking more up and down than side to side. ”I extrapolated from known data, did an a.n.a.lysis, and theorized that your sense of honor would require you to set things right by heading into s.p.a.ce. So you're planning a journey-one we'll take together,” she concluded with, a happy grin.
Zical scowled, exasperation increasing his impatience with her. How could one woman be so brilliant and come to such a conclusion at the same time? If she was deliberately trying to manipulate him, she was doing a marvelous job. While taking her with him would be advantageous since she could communicate with machines and help to reprogram the Sentinel, no way could she come with him. This quest wasn't a casual outing. A journey to find the Sentinel would entail unknown hards.h.i.+p and dangers, and Dora was barely functioning outside the confines of her room on a settled world, never mind in unknown s.p.a.ce. Her inexperience could cause lives to be lost. She simply had too much to learn about being human, and he didn't have time to coddle her, he most especially didn't want to be cooped up with her in close quarters when he found her so attractive.
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Sensing a huge argument brewing between them Zical planned to gather has thoughts before setting her straight. But Kahn's voice came through his com unit, preventing the discussion from continuing. ”Ranth filled me in.”
”Dora and I are heading your way now. I want to a.s.semble my crew, put together a mission. I'll need a stars.h.i.+p, supplies, and scientists. The mission will be expensive.”
”Understood. I'll make sure Tessa is here when you arrive.”
Dora was about to speak but Zical beat her to it. ”Ranth, recall my crew.”
”Already done.”
”Have we any idea where to look for the Sentinel?”
”I'll start a search of my data bases.”
”Extend to every Federation library,” Dora added, and Zical realized that her knowledge of computer systems, would been useful during the journey he was about to begin. Dora had capabilities, no human had. She was smart and had an intuitive knowledge of mathematics and machinery that couldn't discount The golden light had zapped him twice, yet he hadn't noticed the pattern contained within the vibrations that had led Dora to unravel the ancient message. Without her, there would be no mission, They'd simply be waiting for their destruction.
However, no intelligent stars.h.i.+p captain would take someone so new to life, so inexperienced, aboard a s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p for such a long journey into unknown s.p.a.ce. Most people couldn't cope with the strain, the loneliness, the boredom. Dora could easily fall apart under that kind of pressure. A short while ago, she'd had trouble leaving her room. She could have trouble getting along with others in such close quarters. She might not adapt to life in s.p.a.ce, and the all too likely possibility of her forgetting at a critical moment that she was now human could cause a loss of lives besides her own.
Earlier, she'd forgotten to use her psi to filter the air. In s.p.a.ce, lapses likes hers could be fatal. Despite the feet that she could be very useful, he needed experienced, s.p.a.ce- hardened people.
And he certainly didn't need Dora's kind of distraction. With everything on his mind, he shouldn't be noticing the tremble of her lip after he'd spoken harshly. Or how she'd flinched, then pretended not to care. Or the enticing curve of her hips and the natural sway of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s as she walked beside him.
No, he'd have enough on his mind without Dora along to constantly remind him that she embodied every physical trait he admired in a woman. And the combination of her perfect body and her emotional vulnerability might cause him to make mistakes they couldn't afford.
Ranth spoke calmly. ”A complete library search will take some time and be expensive.”
”Do it,” Zical ordered knowing Tessa would gladly authorize the expense out of the family finances. Sometimes having a rich family was convenient. At a time like this, their vast wealth might mean the difference between either the survival or the end of the Federation.
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Zical wished be could castigate himself, tell himself that he was exaggerating the menace. But be couldn't stop the inner conviction that if the Perceptive Ones had gone to such trouble to build this elaborate complex, then the Zin were a formidable enemy.
Dr. Laduna joined them, his gills flaring with concern. ”I would like to volunteer my services to the effort.”
”I appreciate your selflessness. The journey will be long and hard.” Zical noted that the scientist didn't so much as preen, his eyes sparkling like green ice. ”And if you could see who among those working here might also be willing to make the difficult journey in the name of science, I'd be grateful.
The scientists most knowledgeable about the Perceptive Ones were already on Mystique, studying the find. Hopefully, enough would volunteer so they wouldn't have to wait for more offworlders to arrive before they left on the mission. Logic told Zical the Sentinel might take years, perhaps decades, even a century to return from its post, but the sense of urgency that Zical had felt ever since he'd entered the complex had increased, almost as if he sensed the Zin, thriving and hearty and warlike, waiting on the galaxy's border for the right moment to attack.
Had he given them their moment? He prayed not.
”Thank you all for scrambling to get here so fast.” Zical greeted Vax, his right-hand man and his friend, in the conference room Kahn had reserved for their use. The formal room had the finest communication system as well as priority access to Ranth. Food and drink from any of the hundred Federation worlds was available, and its windows offered a gorgeous view of the flowering garden of which Tessa was so proud.
During the months since Zical had climbed Mount Shachauri his crew had scattered all over Mystique. His first officer, Vax, had been helping his aging parents settle on the northern continent. During the last years of the relocation, none of his crew had taken much personal time as they'd flown mission after mission to transport their people from Rystan to Mystique. Like many others, during the Endekian war Vax had lost a wife and a brother. Perhaps Zical and the warrior had bonded over their shared grief and similar circ.u.mstances, perhaps they would have kept each other company during peaceful times, but she shared combat experiences had created a bond as tight as one of blood.
Zical had risked his life for Vax several times and the Rystani warrior had returned the favor. For a trip to the edge of the galaxy, he'd prefer no other man at his side. He trusted Vax's judgment to make the right decision during the time Zical wouldn't be at the helm.
Yet this journey would be made up strictly of volunteers. However, Zical suspected that he need merely ask, and Vax would be there at his side.
Despite Zical's urgency to begin his mission, he also cared about his crew and took the time to greet each one properly. If Vax refused the commission of second in
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command, his reason would be due to prior family commitments. His parents had taken the loss of their eldest son hard. ”How are your folks?”