Dance of Time Read online

  * * * *

  Korlin checked the ship’s sensors, and he found Zez in her bed, tense with a chaotic brainwave pattern. Something had upset her.

  He thought back to the moment when she had shut down and replayed what he had said.

  He had mentioned keeping her from the more dangerous situations and avoiding them.

  “Damn it.” Given his earlier comments on her homicides, she must think he didn’t trust her.

  He didn’t know what he was supposed to think with her murderous background, but everything she said matched the reports. She wasn’t trying to remove her culpability in the deaths, but she didn’t regret them.

  As a peacekeeper, he abhorred senseless killings, but those killings weren’t unmotivated. She had reason to do what she did, and if she hadn’t, her sister might not have had the time to survive.

  The survival of the innocent was what he should have focused on during their discussions.

  The light touch that he had been able to engage in had proved that her body was compatible, but he had just trashed the best chance to see if Commander’s instincts were still good. He had been offered a partner by the best matchmaker in the Sector Guard, and he had told her she was a cold-blooded murderer. His skills with solids had not evolved as far as he had hoped.

  * * * *

  She watched the herd thunder toward her, and she walked to stand squarely in front of them.

  The beasts were ten feet tall at the shoulder and each of their six legs ended in a powerful hoof. The three eyes across their foreheads gave them a full range of view and helped them with the local predators.

  “Zez! Freeze them.”

  She didn’t look at Immune; she focused on the beasts, and the moment they were only metres from her, she locked them in time. Under their hooves, the grass froze in the act of being crushed, and she stood with her hands folded in front of her.

  “You can begin inoculations now.”

  Fifty injectors lifted in his tendrils, and he began the process of trying to undo what one careless hand had done.

  The idea of infecting the herd with a similar strain of the disease was interesting. If successful, it would let the herd spread the more benign infection that was easy to defend against and thereby give the other animals a fighting chance.

  The idea of benign infection was a little odd, but stranger things had saved lives, so Zez was willing to help.

  It only took an hour to complete the herd injections, from eldest to youngest.

  “We are done, Zez.”

  She nodded and stepped away from the centre of the herd, walking calmly out of the path of the beasts and up the hill to where Immune was waiting.

  She took a deep breath and released the herd; the silence was broken in an instant by the pounding thunder of hooves.

  In under a minute, the field was clear of all living things except for Immune and Zez.

  She turned and walked toward the shuttle.

  “Zez, wait.” Immune had the injectors trailing behind him like a mechanical trail.

  She paused and turned. “Yes, Immune?”

  He sighed and stepped toward her. “I am sorry that I called you a murderer.”

  She scowled. “It is what I am.”

  “It is part of what you are. The rest of you is a charming, funny and devastatingly attractive woman that I would like to get closer to.”

  The entire bulk of his speech surprised her.

  “Why? You don’t condone what I did.”

  “That is correct, but I do understand it. I forgot to acknowledge that if you hadn’t acted as you did, your sister would have died.”

  “I thought she was dead.”

  “Your thoughts don’t matter. The deeds matter, and your deeds saved a life, possibly two. If you hadn’t acted, your recruiter would have been injured as well. Also, you were a child with a child’s impulse control.”

  “You are making excuses for me, but I don’t need them. I know what I did, and there is no regret.”

  He frowned. “I am not explaining myself correctly.”

  “No, you are doing fine. I just don’t wish to engage in a romantic entanglement with a male who is willing to overlook my criminal past. I was a thief as well, if that makes it easier.”

  He reached out to her and then paused. “May I at least be your friend?”

  “If you think you can manage that, feel free.”

  Zez nodded and headed back to the shuttle. Immune would do the paperwork, and she would be able to get a quiet meal before she retired to her quarters with another series of stories.

  There would be some downtime before the next mission. There was always downtime between missions.

  Chapter Six

  Eight months of travel had thawed her attitude toward Korlin. They had created a truce between them mission by mission that finally enabled them to laugh together.

  Zez bemoaned the fact that she hadn’t been able to find more than a soft blanket for the incoming niece or nephew. She had sent it by Citadel courier between missions, and her sister had received it gladly.

  Korlin laid in the next course, and he opened a file. “Zez, have you noticed this?”

  She was reading, as usual, and looked up as he focused on a pair of figures in one of the vid records of their missions. “What am I looking at?”

  “This couple.”

  “I don’t recognize them.” She squinted at the dark figures.

  “Well, this is where it gets strange.” He flicked open nine other files, and each of them had the same couple in it, over and over it was the same pair on ten different worlds.

  “I can’t make out their features. Are you sure that it is the same couple?”

  “I am sure. It goes beyond coincidence.”

  “Who are they?” She focused on the images. “All I can see are shadows.”

  “That is odd in itself. Look at this larger picture.” He drew the imager back, and the folks next to the shadowy couple were in bright sunlight.

  “Okay, now that is weird.” She got up and leaned on his shoulder while she stared at the image. Her heart thudded in a strange recognition.

  “Your face changed.”

  “I feel I know them. I don’t, but I think I should.” She reached out to touch the projection, but it flickered as her fingers passed through it.

  He patted her hand on his shoulder. “I will keep an eye out for them at the next mission.”

  She pressed her head against his for a moment before she straightened. “What are we heading into next?”

  “A trip into one of the dark zones. We are going to attend a birth.” Korlin was smiling.

  Zez felt a roll of suspicion through her. “Where, precisely?”

  He chuckled. “Necridid. The seers have said that your sister is going into labour in the next two days. I thought you should be there for it.”

  She hugged him, and he pulled her into his lap. Her laughter stilled as he stared into her with his midnight-purple gaze.

  When he leaned down to kiss her, she met him halfway.

  The art of kissing was one that had come up in the stories over and over. A man who could kiss was worth exploring.

  He whispered, “Finally. It only took bringing you home to get a kiss.”

  She chuckled. “By Terran standards, this is the longest first date in history.”

  He wrapped his hand around her waist and kissed her again. “It has not been the most romantic at times.”

  She nipped his lips. “The sludge pits.”

  “The attack slugs.”

  “The shattered station.”

  “And yet, we survived them all. Together.”

  She stroked his cheek. “You are immune to everything we faced.”

  “And yet, if you had not made it through, there would have been no point to my remaining solid. I would have given my mist to space and time.”

  She scowled. “No. Don’t say that.”

  “Why not; it is true.” He touched her neck
with careful fingers.

  “Because I don’t want to be the pivot point for anyone’s life.”

  “It is too late for that. While you might want to run wild and free, I have firmly attached to you.” He winked, “So to speak. I am yours, whether you want me or not.”

  She thought of a hundred things to say, but she leaned up to kiss him and whispered. “I want you.”

  His eyes closed, and then, he opened them again. “I have been waiting a very long time for you to say that.”

  “Eight months is not a very long time.”

  He chuckled. “It is an eternity when I spend every day with you. Hyder was right.”

  She scowled. “The Commander? The matchmaker? What does he have to do with this?”

  “He chose you for me, and me for you. We are compatible as far as our fates are concerned.” He stroked her hair. “I can understand it now.”

  She sighed and cuddled against him. “I can, too. Can we just stay like this for a while?”

  “Of course. We only have four hours to go, and having you in my arms will make it feel like moments.”

  Zez settled and put one arm around his back as she got used to being this close to another person.

  It was a very comfortable way to spend the trip home.

  Mikki was huge. Zez stared for a moment and then rushed toward her. “Mikki!”

  “Oh, Zez. I was afraid you wouldn’t make it.” Mikki hugged her with surprising strength.

  Penross was waiting behind his mate, watching her carefully. “It is good that you are back, Zez.”

  Zez grinned and extended her hand to him. He took it with a grateful squeeze. Mikki was still trying to crush Zez’s ribs, so she had to keep her arm over Mikki’s shoulder.

  Zez felt the tremendous kick from the belly pressed against hers, and she jolted. “Wow. That is quite the sprout.”

  Mikki started bawling, and Penross sighed and pried her away from Zez, leading her toward their home.

  He turned, “Come on, Zez. There is room enough for you and your partner amongst all the presents you have been sending.”

  Zez looked at Korlin. “What is he talking about?”

  Korlin rubbed the side of his nose. “I am guessing you are about to find out.”

  The moderate dwelling should have had enough space for the couple and baby, but the social space was filled with crates, boxes and pods.

  Mikki was sitting down, and Penross went to make some tea.

  “I don’t know how you were able to manage all this, Zez. There is something here from every one of your missions.” Mikki smiled and patted her belly.

  “I didn’t manage it. I...” she looked at Korlin. “Mikki, this is my partner, Korlin. Korlin, this is my sister, Mikki.”

  Korlin stepped forward, and he bowed low, taking Mikki’s hand and pressing it to his forehead. “Your servant, little mother.”

  “So, have you managed to crack my sister’s exterior?” Mikki’s smiled was full of mischief.

  “She has done the work on her own. I have not chipped away at her self-possession.” He straightened and went to stand next to Zez, his hand on her back.

  She looked at him. “Do you know about all of this?”

  He shrugged. “I may have communicated with those who summoned us that the talent who was saving them was expecting a small relation to arrive soon and her time was being spent with them instead of her family.”

  “They sent all this?”

  Mikki smiled. “They did. Some are from scientists, others from kings and magistrates. Many included an update on the situation that you fixed for them. Congratulations, Zez. You are finally doing what you were born to do. I hope that sprout is so lucky.”

  Penross brought out the tea and set it on a low table. He was a building tech, and he kept the electronics of the Citadel functioning. Right now, it seemed he had other upkeep to worry about.

  Zez and Korlin sat and withdrew the presents from the packages. Mikki had wanted to wait until Zez got home to open the parcels that had come with the letters.

  Every place she had frozen time had sent something. A cradle made of Lecidia turtle shell was iridescent, and Mikki’s eyes teared up.

  The couple with homicide on their minds had sent the silken wrappings for the infant. They had apparently made up and found that they enjoyed each other as spouses. The gift didn’t include any toxic items and was made of the green and yellow silk of the wedding garments.

  Zez smiled as Mikki bawled at the beauty of the items. Zez was humbled. She had done the work to gain her freedom from the Citadel but never considered that she was changing lives.

  They went through all the gifts until Penross was relieved to see the end of the parcels. Mikki yawned and he smiled.

  “I am sorry, Zez, but Mikki needs to rest.”

  “Of course.” Zez got to her feet and hugged her sister one more time. “We are going to be at the Citadel, so call me anytime you like.”

  Penross nodded. “It won’t be long now. We are very glad you are home.”

  Zez watched him lead Mikki off. “Me too.”

  Zez took Korlin by the hand and led him to the Citadel and up to her quarters. She had been assured that everything was just as she left it.

  She yawned and opened her suit, peeling it down to her hips as she crossed the room. When she turned, Korlin was staring.

  She chuckled. “Don’t get any ideas, I just like to feel the air on my skin, and this is the only place I have ever had any true privacy.”

  His body shimmered, and he was standing perfectly naked in front of her. She paused and removed the rest of her suit before yawning with jaw-cracking force.

  He laughed. “I think a good night’s rest is all we are up for.”

  She chuckled and walked up to him, pressing against his body and enjoying the effort he made to be warm.

  “I think that is very smart. You don’t age, and from what the medics say, neither do I. I would rather start with one night in your arms than rush into anything that would alter our partnership before I am ready.”

  He let out a shuddering exhalation. “I appreciate your awareness of self, as much as I wish you were willing to throw caution to the wind. I never thought I would have to bow to your being the sensible and mature one.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him before tugging him to the bed and pushing him onto the sheets. He settled, and she crawled into his arms. It was definitely safer than rushing. She just wasn’t ready yet.

  Dawn hadn’t started when Zez woke up. She rolled out of bed and pulled her bodysuit on.

  “What is it, Zez?”

  “Mikki. Something is wrong with Mikki.”

  “She is probably just in labour.”

  Zez shook her head. “No. This is different.”

  Korlin was next to her as they sprinted down the halls and out the main doors, heading toward the village.

  She opened Mikki’s door with a kick, and she sprinted up the stairs. With a sense of dread, Zez flipped the sheets back, finding a pool of blood where it shouldn’t have been.

  Penross woke up. “What the hell?”

  Mikki was bleeding out. Her skin was grey, and the blood was rushing too fast.

  “Penross, get out of here. I need you to call the Citadel medical team to be ready. I am going to bring Mikki to them.”

  “You can’t move her.”

  Zez nodded and froze Mikki. “I can. Now go. Meet us there.”

  Korlin asked, “What do you need me to do?”

  “I am going to hold Mikki; you carry me and get us there as fast as you can.”

  “You grab her, and I will get you there.”

  Penross’s voice was frantic as he called the medical team.

  Zez took a deep breath and picked up her sister.

  Korlin lifted her in his tendrils, and he raced out the door, heading for the Citadel.

  Zez focused on keeping Mikki locked in a moment, but her own panic was making it hard t
o keep the focus.

  Penross arrived moments after they entered medical.

  Korlin explained what Zez was doing, and the moment that they had everything in place, including two contact healers, Zez was told to let Mikki go.

  She swallowed. “I don’t want to let her go.”

  Penross had tears in his eyes, and he lashed out. “She needs help.”

  “I know. I am keeping her alive. Sort of.”

  Korlin touched her shoulders. “They are ready. They can heal her.”

  Zez looked to the medics and healers. Everyone was ready. Even an incubator for the baby was standing by.

  “Okay. Letting go in three, two, one, go.” Zez pulled her influence back, and the surge of blood proved it.

  The healers went into action, and the medics worked on getting the baby.

  Penross took Mikki’s hand, and he stroked her hair. Mikki looked at him as the bustling of energy surrounded her from the waist down.

  Zez watched them with tears in her eyes, and Korlin held her away from the medics. She had to watch.

  The baby was a little boy, and his mother was stabilized. Zez watched the family as they cuddled together and greeted their new arrival.

  Zez walked over, kissed Mikki on the forehead, stroked the baby’s cheek and patted Penross on the shoulder.

  Exhaustion swamped her, and Korlin helped her back to her room, assisting her out of the blood-soaked clothing and through a shower.

  This time, they slept soundly and didn’t even twitch for hours.

  “Zez, I need to speak with you.”

  Zez opened her eyes and sat up. Korlin was asleep next to her, and she figured out soon that he wasn’t the one who had spoken.

  Zez looked around, and a woman stepped out of the shadows with a man right behind her. Both had solid black eyes filled with stars, but their features were familiar. Zez saw those features when she looked into the mirror.

  “Who are you?”

  “You know who we are. We are your parents. Well, we were. Now, we are Nameless.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Her father smiled. “It means that we died together, and against all odds, we were both selected to be Nameless.”