Copyright 2023 -- Daemon D. Hart
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The Human Bearer
The quarters that had been appointed to him by Marn were considerably larger compared to the place where he had lived with Xana. There were large water containers lining one wall; Riordan counted three of them, and then continued his inspection. His curiosity led him to the pod-like structures in the middle of the room that appeared, at least at first glance, loyal copies of the type of capsules he had noticed in Marn's and Kanto's quarters. He tried to peek inside one of them -- it appeared to be complete with what seemed to be navigation controls and the like. The elongated design reminded him of the cars on Xeno, in which one had to lie horizontally during the shortest trip. All the controls were aligned on the sides, but Riordan thought that some holographic projections would light up the glass on the inside for the navigator to use them as he should.
There were four such pods inside the large room. One of them had to be for him, and he wondered how long it would take him to master that kind of thing. It didn't matter. To return Xeus safe to the ship and Xana's arms, he wouldn't sleep if that was needed.
That left him to believe that there were three others who would join him shortly, all Xenos. Who wanted so much to go on a suicidal mission as the one he had proposed? Or had it always been in the cards? As always, he wasn't good at reading Marn's mind. His Royal Chancellor hadn't let him know whether he considered his idea as if it came out of his human brain or he had thought about it beforehand.
Xana considered that destroying Galatea was the only way to get rid of Gamni Gafilos and the threat he represented. He didn't care that his own son would be killed in the process. Or maybe Riordan didn't know a lot about Xeno psychology to understand what was going on under that smooth forehead.
Thinking of Xana didn't do him any good. It made all the fresh pain return with a virulence he couldn't control. He wanted to condemn Xana for thinking like that, for abandoning Xeus, but he had seen what Gamni was capable of. The metal parasite, as Florent had described it, his ability to make an entire ship the size of Tu'lek lose half an hour in human and Xeno time alike. Even the bots had been rendered useless for that half an hour. That sort of thing could only be considered frightening.
And yet, his human heart didn't let him join that rationale. Anyone could tell him that his chances of success were non-existent. And he would still hope.
He, and three Xenos. What kind of snakemen were they to embark on such a mission? They adapted in their own way, sharing their bearers, guided by the biological imperative that the species had to survive. When such logic was applied, no one should join Riordan in trying to board Galatea and kill the general. The fact that he wanted to save his and Xana's son was his alone.
The doors opened with a hiss, and he turned on his heels. His eyes grew wide when he saw who the three Xenos were.
"Lakni," he barely managed to say. The young Xeno moved forward first, followed closely by Frontis and Blaise.
"Why do you act so surprised?" Lakni smiled. He appeared so calm, given the circumstances. "As you know, I'm a navigator in training. That means that I can't pass this chance."
"I don't really get it," Riordan murmured while looking into Lakni's striking blue eyes. "You guys have all the reasons in the world not to join this mission. Lewis needs you. And your Xenolites."
"Lewis is in good care. We left Vasko, Harid and Tamdor with him."
Riordan remembered Vasko and his penchant for kissing. The twins had been chosen to stay behind, too. He was still trying to wrap his head around it all.
"And you two?" he asked, turning toward Frontis and Blaise.
Frontis, from his underdeveloped height -- underdeveloped for a Xeno -- set his chin high and gave him a lopsided grin. "Don't you recall seeing me at work? If there's any of us with a chance to get close to Gamni Gafilos and kill him, that's me."
When Kanto had been attacked in his quarters, Frontis had been the one to turn invisible and lunge at the enemies seemingly out of nowhere. That was some high-level assassin ability, the way Riordan saw it.
Blaise, the albino with red eyes, kept watching him. His quirked lips seem to mock him playfully. Even under the circumstances, there was a sexual undercurrent wading off these young Xenos.
"His Royal Chancellor will be pleased when we bring him the general's head," Blaise said and his lips turned the playful smile into a sinister grin. "No, it isn't some play on words." The young Xeno moved his tail, its scales moving and shifting until they turned into cutting sheets of metal.
Riordan shivered at the sight. If he needed any explanation for the presence of these three, he had it: one navigator, two assassins. And he, as the extra of the group. Either Marn thought all of them dispensable, or he believed Riordan brought something to the squad. The latter seemed unlikely. Still, it wasn't his style to dwell on His Royal Chancellor's choices. This time, they suited him and his desires.
Still, there was something he needed to ask before continuing. Had the three been some unknown Xenos, he would have just kept quiet. But it wasn't the case.
"Do you know how dangerous this mission is?"
Lakni laughed, like the carefree youngster he seemed to be. "The more dangerous the mission, the bigger the fame we'll enjoy when we return."
"Really? Okay, whatever floats your boat. What did Lewis have to say about this?"
"He understood our choice," Lakni explained. "From the beginning, he behaved like a soldier. When he learned what happened to Xana's Xenolite, he told us that the general has to die. And we agreed. Then, His Royal Chancellor asked for volunteers. As Lewis would say, it was a no-brainer."
"Really? Didn't he want you to stay back, safe? For his sake? Your little ones?" Riordan asked, taking in turn the smooth faces of his squad mates.
"He is grateful to you for saving his life, Riordan. We wouldn't have him if it weren't for you. He knows that he is in good hands with Vasko, Harid and Tamdor. But he made us swear that we will return safe and sound."
Riordan nodded. An overwhelming feeling of gratitude washed over him.
"Don't worry. We're not only doing it for you," Frontis added. "It is for us a chance to show our brethren that we are worthy to stand by their side."
"And what the general did to your Xenolite," Blaise said, "he could do to any other's son. Our Xenolites will not be safe as long as Gamni Gafilos and his allies are still breathing."
"Yes, but..." Riordan hesitated for a moment and decided that he wouldn't keep what he knew to himself. "Marn told me that he could order the annihilation of Galatea."
"With one of us on board? Not in a million years," Frontis said with a scoff.
That was the sort of reaction Riordan had expected from Xana, and he was getting it from this young Xeno. Confused wasn't enough to describe what he was feeling.
"There's no guarantee that Gamni Gafilos would be killed in the process. He is the most dangerous Xeno I've known," Blaise said gravely. "He could save himself in the nick of time."
"Do you know him? Personally?" Riordan asked.
Blaise nodded. "There were classes he taught at our academy. I learned a lot from him. But I took all that and turned it into something better." He moved his metallic tail slowly.
"That's how we know that he isn't an enemy easy to take down," Lakni further explained. "His telepathic abilities have increased over time. But he isn't the only one who honed his native gifts."
"You guys make me think like there's no room for me here. But there's no other place I'd rather be."
"That's the spirit, Riordan," Frontis said and patted his back vigorously. It looked like they must have picked quite a few mannerisms from their human lover. "You proved yourself when the high commander was in danger. Plus, Lewis assured us that humans can be stronger than Xenos, when they put their mind to it. He proved it to us during our courting stage."
Lakni and Blaise snickered like schoolchildren at that. Maybe their most important asset was their youth, Riordan thought. They thought themselves invincible, and a part of him still wanted to talk them out of it. Maybe a handful of Xenos with a lot more experience would be the right choice. But maybe those were wise and didn't see this mission as it were, a sure way to die.
Lakni grabbed him by the shoulder and shook him out of his dark thoughts. "There's no other place we'd rather be either, Riordan. And as long as you're in on it, I agree with this mission. I hope you don't want to hog all the fame for yourself for taking down Gamni Gafilos." He laughed, in the same unconcerned manner as earlier. "Just know that I'm the leader of this mission. Lewis told me you might give me lip, so don't."
Riordan shook his head, still amazed by the whole thing. "I've barely known Lewis. He really has a high opinion of me."
"When he could, he kept track of everything he could hear about you. After he delivered our Xenolites, of course. He wished to talk to you and thank you for saving his life, but he hasn't gotten the chance." Blaise looked him up and down appreciatively. "We all want to make him proud and come back to him so that we can tell him that we saved your Xenolite. We would wish the same for any of our young ones."
How come there was so much humanity in these young Xenos? Riordan thought that he must have failed in his interactions with Xana, because he could see nothing like this in his master. Former master. While Lewis, although he must have spent most of his time in a seth container, his only purpose letting the eggs inside him mature, had managed to influence these snakemen for the better.
"I suppose there is much for me to learn," he said, pointing at the pods in the middle of the room.
"Yes, of course. We will all take turns in teaching you," Lakni said pleasantly and learned over to sniff him.
"Hey, man, no funny business," Riordan warned the leader of the three.
"Ah, really? That's too bad," Lakni said playfully.
"Don't even think about it, Lakni," Frontis said while moving over to the pods and opening them one by one. "Xana will have your head if you try to lay one finger on Riordan again."
They didn't know, of course. The drama unfolding between him and his former master was theirs to bear alone. Riordan was thankful for it, not only because it made sure that he wouldn't have to worry about the young Xenos' naughty advances, but also because those were things he could only share with Xana. Even the pain of their relationship. Yes, that included.
He hadn't been confined to the quarters of his squad while waiting for the mission launch, which only His Royal Chancellor could order, which left him some time to roam the ship as usual. Not so as usual, because now he was dressed differently, in a tight skin suit made of a black material that, while supple as cloth, was hardened against most attacks, according to what Blaise explained to him. He wouldn't be bitten, scratched, ripped apart by a regular Xeno, the young snakeman assured him.
Roaming wasn't what he had in mind, actually. He had two goals in mind, and he didn't know whether they would be the kind to be frowned upon or not. Marn hadn't been too strict in his recommendations, and that was exactly what he was counting on.
He was aware of the curious glances sent his way. The good wishes addressed to him were now said in hushed tones. Riordan could feel their pity. And he understood their fear, too. The news about what he was about to do must have spread like wildfire through the entire ship.
His first stop was at Cario's quarters. Without Kyle to communicate his desire to see the guy to the other's bot, he stopped in front of the sliding doors, unsure of how to proceed. In the end, he opted for knocking, as unusual as that could be considered, given their surroundings.
Come in, Riordan. Take one step closer and the doors will open.
Ah, so Cario could tell he was the one knocking. How he could do that was a matter that he really wanted to explore, only that he didn't have the time for it. He waited as the doors slid apart, offering him access, and then they closed, rather fast and taking him by surprise.
Cario hurried to him and hugged him. Riordan allowed him all that display of emotion, mainly because he needed it, too.
"How are you holding up?"
"Well. I have hate and anger to keep me going," he replied.
Cario offered him a thoughtful smile. "My sangar, did it help you?"
"I saved Florent Kasido with it," Riordan explained. "I don't regret it."
"No, of course not." Cario made a gesture for them to sit on one of the beds.
"You are the guy who knows everything around here. Can you tell me anything about Florent?"
Cario nodded. He took a short look at Dario, who was in his small water container, playing as usual, completely ignoring the adults in the room. Riordan felt a pang of pain. How was Gamni treating Xeus? Was he torturing the poor boy, by not letting him anywhere near water? He needed to stop thinking of that, or he might break under the burden of pain.
"He is recovering. He might never be able to use his voice, though," Cario said. "The damage to his vocal cords was too extensive. But I hear that he's an extraordinary empath. He won't have a problem to communicate."
"It's thanks to you. That thing you gave me," Riordan said. He hated being so brusque with such a good friend, but he couldn't bear looking too long at Dario, although his eyes found a way to wander there, no matter what he did.
"What an incredible test for it, too," Cario said. "He should have died."
"Do you think you can make more of it?"
Cario looked at him and remained quiet for a while. "Yes. Your mission has no chances of success, I hear. It is madness, they say."
"They say. What do you think?"
"I think that should that have been my Dario, I would have burned this ship down to go on the same mission as you are going now. How long do you have until you must leave?"
"His Royal Chancellor didn't say a thing. I don't know if it's a day, a week, or more."
"According to what I've learned recently, you must move quickly. Galatea is a large ship, so it needs extensive preparations before making its next jump."
"So, they are running away?"
"That is what I'm hearing," Cario explained. "Come back tomorrow. I will have it ready for you." He leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on Riordan's cheek. You will return with your baby.
He was thankful for the trust and not only. It felt wrong to just get up and leave, now that he had Cario's promise.
"You said something when I was here last time. About how you were told something... and then you stopped."
"That, of course," Cario said with a sigh. "How much weight do you put on things like fortune-telling and the like?"
"Not much. It's all a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, right?"
"Well, then what I'm going to tell you is going to sound extremely strange, Riordan." Cario's eyes remained unfocused for a moment. "When I was still on Earth, I had my fortune told. And then, I found out that my destiny is in the stars. I laughed it off, because everyone knew I was applying to become a bearer. And then, that old woman, she grabbed my hand hard, not to read my palm and the lines of my life, but so that she could whisper to me in what seemed like anger, Only give it to the one who matters'. Give what? I did ask, as you might expect. But she looked at me with scorn and pushed my hand away. She didn't take my money. She just kept staring as I walked backwards out of her tent at the fair. Her eyes were telling me, Remember'. And when I got to know you, I just knew it had to be what she was talking about. You're the one who matters."
"It could be all sorts of other things," Riordan said.
"Yes, that's what logic tells us. And logic also tells us that your mission is suicidal. So how come I dream of meeting young Xeus?"
Riordan felt his throat tightening at the sound of his Xenolite's name. Cario maybe just wanted to help him feel better. Or maybe there was something to all that mumbo-jumbo after all.
He had learned from Cario how to get to where Florent was kept. He didn't want to disturb him, only to see it with his own eyes that he was alive. The soft murmurs growing all around him pulled him out of his musings.
And then, he saw it, the reason for that wave of whispers.
Xana was moving from the other direction, and it was too late for him to avoid him. The Xeno seemed lost in thought. But that wasn't the reason for the soon to be born gossip. Behind him trailed a young human, a doll-like face, keeping his eyes cast down, followed by a bot that could only be Kyle.
tbc
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