Chapter 1
Rescued
Kelen Chambliss stared in shock at the pale pink screen above her head. After weeks of fighting, struggling, and barely surviving on this half world, rescue had finally arrived. Rescue in the form of—she mentally counted the figures approaching the ice temple—nine Seneecians.
“Why are they wearing full battle garb?” she asked aloud for someone to answer.
“If they are responding to Dox’s call for help, it is because they did not recognize who was sending it,” Kyber responded.
“What if they’re here because of some other reason?” Sandow queried. “What if they didn’t get the signal?”
“At least, we should thank the four gods they are here,” Kyber noted. “Somehow we have to let them know we are here as well.”
Cooter hefted his rifle. “Only problem is, they’re over at the ice temple, and we’re here at the garden temple. How are we gonna let them know where we are? Stand on top of the temple and shout at the top of our lungs? Wave our arms over our heads?”
“There’s no way we can transport over there. Not with the panels all smashed up,” Fullgrath reminded them.
“Then how in the hell are we going to let them know we’re here?” Cooter muttered again.
Everyone continued to stare at the figures now entering the temple, when Jules spoke up. “On the assumption they’re here because of the pings, what if we change the outgoing message?”
They all turned to look at the ex-navigator. “How?” Fullgrath asked.
“It should be pretty simple if Dox is using a basic algorithm to generate the signal. Want me to go back and see if he can divert them over to the garden temple?”
“Do it,” Kyber said.
As Jules disappeared back down the tunnel to return to the nonagon, Kelen peered more closely at the new arrivals entering the ice temple. As they disappeared from view on that screen, they reappeared on the screen that gave them a wide angle of the temple’s interior. From what she could see, it was clear the Seneecians were also well-armed. She glanced up at her husband to remark about it, when she noted the deep scowl creasing his furry face.
“What’s wrong?”
“I know that man,” Kyber remarked. “His name is Duruk alem Kil. He is the D’har of the warship Den Tirim.”
“Why do I get the feeling that’s not a good thing?”
Kyber turned his gaze on her. “He is my brother.”
Her initial reaction was one of surprise, until she realized Kyber didn’t seem too pleased.
“What’s wrong, Kyber? You don’t seem too happy to see him.”
“My brother and I have never gotten along. Not even when I made the rank of Por D’har before him.”
“But you just said he’s the D’har,” Sandow remarked.
Kyber nodded. “He is, by the right of dominance.”
“In other words, what you’re saying is he challenged his D’har in one of those tooth and nail confrontations, and won?” Cooter clarified.
“You are correct. And he has never been bested since.”
“Wait a minute.” Fullgrath waved his blaster at the screen. “Didn’t you do the same thing when you challenged Plat? You won, so doesn’t that technically make you the D’har now?”
“It does. But as I said, he and I do not get along.”
“Is he your older or younger brother?” Kelen questioned her husband.
“Older, by five seasons.” He looked down at her. “One other thing. He and Plat are ivomah. Their bond is stronger than blood.”
Kelen frowned. “Are you serious? Their bond is greater than family? How the hell is that possible?”
She was answered with a snort from the security officer. “Well, that’s fuckin’ great,” Cooter drawled. “And here we are, holding Plat prisoner. He ain’t gonna be none too thrilled when he finds out.”
“Heads up!” Sandow directed everyone’s attention back to the screens. “Looks like they’ve had a change of plans.”
It was clearly evident that something was happening. The Seneecians had gathered into a little knot inside the temple and were in discussion about something. Kyber spoke up to give the others some idea of what they were watching.
“They are speaking over their communication devices. It is possible Dox’s little box may indeed be responsible for them being here.”
“If that’s the case, we’re going to need to get upstairs to the temple,” Kelen said. No sooner had she commented, the group of Seneecians disbanded and left the temple, reappearing seconds later on the first screen as they presumably made their way back to their ship.
“Agreed. And we must hurry before they decide to leave for good.” Taking her hand, Kyber led her out of the viewing room, back to the nonagon where the others were waiting in the center of the chamber with excited expectation.
They’d barely exited the corridor when Kleesod confronted him. “Is it true? Has a Seneecian squad landed on this world?”
Kyber waved for their attention. “I want Plat to be present when I say what I have to say, but we must move quickly.”
Mellori hurried into the apartment where Massapa and Gaveer were keeping guard over the former D’har. Moments later, the two Seneecians half-carried their reluctant prisoner into the main area. Kelen noticed how Kyber’s gaze was directed at the bound man as he addressed the rest of them.
“A military unit of armed Seneecians landed on the ice side of this world. On the assumption they were drawn here because of Dox’s signal, I asked Jules to see if that signal could be changed to alert them to the fact that we were on another part of the planet.” Kyber threw a silent question at the former navigator.
Jules nodded. “It was pretty simple. Thanks to Gaveer’s help, we were able to devise a short code that Dox could use.”
“Color me curious, but what kind of code?” Cooter questioned.
Jules grinned. “It said, ‘Green, not ice.’”
“And it appears to have worked,” Kyber continued. “The unit has left the ice temple. We can only assume they are searching for the temple above us. Which makes it imperative we leave now if we are to make the climb topside and present ourselves before they decide to abandon their search.”
Taking a step toward Plat, Kyber narrowed his eyes at the man. “Duruk alem Kil is leading the unit.”
The white-furred Seneecian didn’t try to hide his initial surprise, or the satisfied smile that slid across his face. “What an interesting turn of events, Kyber Nau. Guess we will see how justice will serve you and me when he hears the truth about how you usurped my authority.”
“Do not assume your version of the truth will be accepted once the men have given their testimonies,” Kyber almost growled.
Plat’s grin widened, but he didn’t reply.
“Let’s go, people!” Cooter called from the entrance to the corridor leading up to the temple. “It’s going to be a bitch of a climb, and we’re burning daylight!”
Kyber took Kelen’s hand again and together they followed the man into the tunnel, with the others not far behind.