Grudge (pt 1)
"Who's had access to this part of the palace in the last two days?"
Kyuri frowned. "No outsiders. Legitimately, anyway."
Radittsu stared around the suite. Nothing had been disturbed, except for one chair that had been knocked over and was lying on its side.
"It must have been someone they know..."
"Or they might simply have been too scared to resist."
Radittsu shook his head. "Kayusu, perhaps, but not Sheftali. Look at her the wrong way and she'll go for you. And it's been worse since the brats were born."
"So, someone they know, then."
The captain frowned. "Or..." He shook his head. "No, that wouldn't make sense. They're comfortable here. I can't imagine them risking their status."
Kyuri inclined her head, but Radittsu had turned, his eyes narrowed, focussing on the scents that still hovered in the room. The twins, the heirs, Vejiita, a faint hint of Leteetza - and something else, something tantalisingly familiar.... He frowned and glanced at his colleague.
"You scent that?"
She closed her eyes, sniffing delicately, then nodded.
"Mm. Don't recognise it though."
"I think I do..." His brows drew together as he concentrated. "Can't quite place it though." He sighed. "I'll keep thinking. In the meantime, I want a complete list of everyone who's been in this wing today and yesterday. Include everyone who should have been here, whether they were or not. If they weren't, find out why not, and their location. And find out if anyone saw anything, anything at all."
He twisted to glance into the antechamber, gazing at Zh'anah's cold, pale body: on being informed of the news Hijau had immediately ordered that nothing be touched until they'd had a chance to check the suite for possible clues as to what had happened. The shr'en'an warrior's throat had been cut almost all the way through: the rich rug below her was stained dark blue with her blood.
"She didn't struggle. There's no sign of a fight. So either the assailants took her by surprise - which wouldn't be easy, knowing Zh'anah - or she knew them too." He crossed his arms over his chest, snarling. "I was fond of her. So was Zha'haabron. I want her killers."
Kyuri reached up to rest a hand on his shoulder.
"How's Ti'aasaan?"
He sighed. "Not well. He feels so cold..."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No. Zha'haabron's with him, and Zh'leet's keeping an eye on him. I'm sure he'll be all right - I'm sure it's just a matter of getting him warm again."
"Does he have any idea who attacked him?"
"No. He was hit from behind." He was growling deep in his throat. "The little one's so small. He wouldn't hurt anyone - he couldn't, he's not a warrior. How anyone could want to hurt him... When I find them..."
Kyuri compressed her lips, nodding. "Right - let's think out a plan of attack. First of all, who's guarding the family?"
"Hijau, and four others on a shifting rota. Should be enough - Zha'haabron's there, and Leteetza's staying for the moment - she's worried about the hybrids. Just in case Ti'aasaan's assault wasn't connected with the consorts' disappearance."
"Is that likely?"
"Well, if someone wants to cause problems for the Alliance, trying to kill the bondmate of the High King of R'ren'nkh'ia while the family's on Vejiitasei is a pretty good way to start."
"It's a bit extreme..."
Radittsu nodded.
"That's why we think it was more likely to be a diversion. Although whoever planned it couldn't be absolutely certain Vejiita would charge off to the rescue, it would be a safe bet. If nothing else, Leteetza would have been really pissed off if he hadn't."
"I don't suppose anyone thought to see if he was carrying anyone's scent before they got him into the pool..."
"Hijau didn't notice anything."
Kyuri nodded. "If there'd been anything to notice, he'd have picked it up."
"Ti'aasaan was missing for about five hours. Hijau said it took them half an hour to get back to the palace from the spaceport: the little one was enjoying the snow so they weren't hurrying. Allow another half hour for him to make his way from the entrance to the spot where he was attacked. He was dumped on the plain a three hour average ki-flight from the palace, and must have been lying in the snow for about an hour. The only reason he survived is because he was warmly dressed - those bodysuits kept him alive."
Kyuri shook her head, finding it difficult to imagine what it must be like to be so susceptible to the cold.
"And they waited until you were too far away to be any help."
"Yes. But what concerns me more is that whoever it was knew that Ti'aasaan wouldn't be missed for a while. Somehow, they knew Vinas had asked him to visit the lab."
Kyuri stared at her Captain, a cold feeling snaking down her back.
"But that means..."
He nodded, his face grim. "We have traitors in our midst."
"How is he?"
Zh'leet glanced quickly up at me, then turned her attention to the monitor held to Ti'aasaan's neck. He lay back in Zha'haabron's arms, his eyes closed, his breathing - noisy. A sort of rasping sound. I frowned as I slipped out of my bodysuit and into the pool, watching his ribs moving jerkily, as though he was struggling to draw breath. Zh'leet looked very worried: Zha'haabron watched her, silently, his golden eyes shadowed with fear.
"What's wrong?"
Zh'leet shook her head, expression anguished. "I don't know! The only thing I can think of is that the cold must have somehow - damaged him."
Ti'aasaan gazed up into my face. He was very pale, his eyes huge in bruised-looking sockets, lips parted as he tried to pull air into his lungs. I laid a hand against his face.
"Hey, little 'un."
"Le... teetza..." he wheezed, reaching weakly for my hand. He still felt cold, although the water was much hotter than they usually kept it, even during cold season. I kissed his fingers, trying to smile.
"You keep fighting, sweetheart."
I turned to Zh'leet.
"How long's he been like this?"
"About half an hour. I really thought he was improving, then a couple of hours ago he started coughing, and he's been getting worse since."
She gazed at me, appeal in her eyes.
"Do you know of anything that might help him?"
I shook my head.
"This is new to me - it's not like anything a Saiyan would suffer. Has Vinas seen him?"
"He's on his way."
"'teetza?" Little Zha'haabron was hovering uncertainly at the door: I smiled and gestured him closer. He slid into the pool and nestled into my arms, gazing at Ti'aasaan fearfully.
"Is maazi going to die?"
I hugged him to me, my throat tight.
"No, precious. I won't let him."
His head turned at the bustle from the main room: a grim-faced Hijau ushered Vinas through then resumed his place at the door to the suite. The Feeodoreean frowned.
"I really would prefer not to have to examine him in the pool..."
Zha'haabron fixed him with a steady stare.
"Your wishes are immaterial. He is more comfortable here."
Humphing but not prepared to risk the king's anger, Vinas lowered himself carefully into the water and laid long, sensitive fingers on the little zn'hre's chest, listening to his laboured breathing. Moments later he raised his eyes to Zha'haabron's face.
"I want him taken to the lab, immediately."
"What is wrong?"
"I suspect that exposure had resulted in a degree of cellular disruption in his lungs - possibly other organs too, we'll need to perform a full examination."
Zh'leet's eyes were wide. Zha'haabron inclined his head, frowning.
"What does that mean?"
"It means - that parts of the inner surface of his lungs have been destroyed, making it difficult for him to get enough oxygen into his blood."
I bit my lip.
"Destroyed?"
He glanced at me.
"Frozen for long enough for the nerves and tissue to die."
...oh gods... "Can it be repaired?"
He lowered his eyes.
"I don't know."
"But... Zh'leet was able to help Zha'haarak..."
The ko'ish'n laid a hand on my arm.
"That was very different, little warrior. That was scar tissue on the outside of the lungs."
I bit my lip, trying desperately not to cry. Zha'haabron glanced at me.
"Will you ready his warmest bodysuit for him? And I'm afraid I must ask you to help Zha'haarak care for the hostlings while we're gone."
"Of course, my Ssii'iin."
And five minutes later, Ti'aasaan bundled up as warmly as we could manage, his breathing shallow, rasping as he lay, now only semi-conscious, in Zha'haabron's arms, Vinas, Zh'leet, and the king with his precious burden left the palace, heading for the medical labs.
"Sire, we will all understand if you wish to postpone the council..."
The Saiya-jin-no-Ou shook his head decisively.
"There will be no postponement. The Hassinan delegation arrives in a day's time. We will be ready for them."
Anzu bowed his head.
"As you command, sire..."
The Consorts and Heirs had been missing for two days. Ti'aasaan was in an emergency chamber, breathing pure oxygen and with the gravity reduced to slightly less than his homeworld, which had relieved some of the strain on his heart and lungs and made his survival a lot less problematic - although it was of course only a temporary solution. Zha'haabron stayed with him, watching over him, holding his limp cold hand and maintaining his constant *contact* with Radittsu. The captain was co-ordinating the hunt for the kidnappers and Ti'aasaan's assailant, but his team were hampered by no-one having seen anything suspicious (or, at least, not admitting to having seen anything suspicious). And of course this sort of investigation was entirely new to them: Saiya-jin weren't usually so subtle in their operations, which made the captain wonder if perhaps another species was involved and had organised the whole thing - but if so, why? They had too many questions and no answers. And Radittsu still couldn't identify that faint, familiar scent...
And Leteetza and Zha'haarak were - just - managing to keep the hostlings and hybrids in check, although it wasn't easy: Ti'ani and Le'leen missed their papa desperately, and the little princes couldn't understand why anyone might want to hurt their tailed playmates: their anger and anxiety was both noisy and stressful. There were times when Leteetza could have kissed Hijau - he seemed to be the only person who could keep Zha'raadiin under any sort of control, and she found herself calling on him hourly. Although Radittsu's second in command was pre-occupied himself at the moment - Zorun was returning.
The old king's personal guard had left the Guard when the new king started opening up the planet to offworlders, objecting to their presence on Vejiitasei, and had spent some time with Nappa's forces. Now, however, he'd requested permission to rejoin the Guard - and Vejiita had agreed.
And Hijau was tense. Bad enough that the Guard hadn't been able to keep the king's family safe. Worse that he'd failed in his duties to his captain and allowed Ti'aasaan to be hurt. But to cap it all, Zorun was older, and a lot more experienced, than Hijau. And it was rumoured he wanted to take the younger warrior's place...
"Any news?"
Radittsu bowed his head.
"Not yet, sire."
Vejiita nodded and gestured for the captain to rise. Radittsu gazed at the king from under lowered lashes: the Saiya-jin-no-Ou looked - tense. Which was not surprising. But he was hiding it well. He was also being unbelievably tolerant of the Guard's lack of success, which was a little worrying...
"You will advise me immediately should you learn anything. Anything at all."
"Of course, sire."
Vejiita gazed at him for a moment before dismissing him. And although the king would never put it into words, there was entreaty in his eyes.
...Find them. Please find them...
Outside the door Radittsu paused and frowned to himself, his nose wrinkling. There had been a distinctive scent in the Council Chamber - a stronger version of the one he'd picked up in the Consorts' suite.
He made his way to the nearest comm unit to advise Kyuri. Not that he really expected any use could be made of the information, but so far their enquiries had led nowhere. You never could tell what might be significant...
He was tired. He'd been awake for two days straight. It was beginning to look as though he might have to be awake for a little longer...
Radittsu made his way to the medical labs, forcing his way through one of the most ferocious snowstorms he'd ever experienced. By the time he reached the foyer he was actually cold, something he hadn't known for a very long time - discounting Dhr'ovaanon's dungeon, of course, he thought with a shudder. Perhaps he should consider wearing a slightly more - enveloping bodysuit in the cold season, it would keep his arms and legs warmer...
He snorted at himself. Was he getting soft?
Shaking melting snow from his mane he made his way to the emergency rooms.
It was warm in Ti'aasaan's chamber, and the high-oxygen atmosphere combined with the lower gravity made Radittsu feel positively light-headed. He leaned over the form-fitting chair and wrapped his arms around his beloved from behind, gazing down at the sleeping Ti'aasaan.
"How is he?"
Zha'haabron glanced up tiredly, then slumped forwards to rest his elbows on his knees, rubbing at his eyes with hands that shook with fatigue.
"There's been no change."
"Can't Vinas do anything?"
Zha'haabron leaned back, resting his head against his bondmate's broad chest, heavy eyes closing as he sighed.
"At the moment he doesn't know what to do. He's hoping that, if we just keep the little one comfortable and breathing easily, the damage might repair itself."
"And if it doesn't?"
The king twisted to hide his face against Radittsu's neck, his voice shaking as he whispered, "I don't want to think that far ahead..."
The Saiyan stroked his hair gently, worried. It wasn't like Zha'haabron to hide from the facts... But he was exhausted.
*Beloved, will you sleep for a while? I'll watch over him.* And over you, my zkai'da...
Strong blue fingers twined themselves in his bondmate's mane as the king sighed and pulled himself a little more upright. There were dark shadows around his eyes: Radittsu kissed his brow, tenderly.
**But you have had no more sleep than I**
*Doesn't matter. I can catch up later. Please, beloved...*
The emerald plait shimmered in the muted light as Zha'haabron nodded wearily: Radittsu lifted him bodily, settling himself in the deep chair with his bondmate curled up on his lap, resting against his warm chest. In seconds the R'ren'nkh'ian was asleep, his arms curled around the Saiyan's waist. Radittsu cradled him close, rocking very slightly, stroking at the silky hair as he kept a silent vigil through the night.
© 2002 January 13th Joules Taylor
