Sarai

sarai from him? Everything felt out of control, as if theuniverse had unexpectedly flipped itself inside out.
The doorentry pinged behind him. He didn’t bother turning — the visitorcould only be a healer or one of his pard. His reverie wasinterrupted when someone coughed politely. Alekyn turned andimmediately leapt to his feet, pulling himself into a fullsalute.
“At ease,major,” Commander Tain, his immediate superior nodded, and gesturedto the man accompanying him. “I’m sure you recognise theprince.”
“Sir,” Alekyn nodded respectfully,“it is an honor.”
Arakinsmiled. “The honor is all mine, major. Best resume your seat. We’vea lot to talk about.”
The princeand Tain drew up more visitors’ chairs. Once seated they lookedacross at the sleeping human. Alekyn felt a mix of pride andapprehension. What did they want?
“It’s true,then,” Arakin murmured. “He’s a pretty little thing — though Igather from the rumors circulating that he is a tadobstreperous?”
“Willful andunwilling to accept his new role.” Alekyn supplied. “We do not knowwhether those are individual or general characteristics of hiskind.”
Taingrunted. “We’ll all soon find out. Not that it matters eitherway.”
That seemedirrefutable. Alekyn waited. It didn’t take long for his commanderand the prince to get to taws.
“You’vemanaged to do something rather extraordinary,” Arakin glanced atTain. “In fact, I would go so far as to say you have changed thecourse of history.”
Alekynsucked in a deep breath. “Sir, you refer to my sarai. Healer Tiffsaid his kind could breed with us — ”
“Oh, it’srather more than being able to manipulate his physiology to bearNaferi offspring,” Arakin said easily. “You and your pard havemanaged to find something mythical.” He paused. “Major, you’vefound the missing link.”
Alekyn gapedat him, his thoughts buzzing. If this were true…
“Your sarainot only carries the Foretimer gene — his species contains avariable that will enable related but incompatible Foretimerspecies — the Naferi, the Keinyn, the Elusians and the Halatians —to produce offspring that can interbreed. The humans are themissing link for all of us.”
Taingrunted. “Now tell him the bad news.”
Arakinflicked an eyebrow upwards and then sighed. “My old friend hererefers to the Church of Nemta. Its leader has just declared thatyour sarai is a manifestation of the god’s will.”
Alekynpaled. Although small, the Church of Nemta was conservative and hadclose links with the most powerful people in their society. Hisworst fears seemed to be on the brink of being realised. “He hasdone this because my sarai’s species is the missinglink?”
Arakin shookhis head. “Not in my view. No, I suspect Patriarch Syfern isseeking to attract more followers. His leadership took a batteringfive years ago when he…”
There was anawkward pause interrupted by Tain growling. “The annihilation ofthe Lyrians can be sheeted home to Syfern, goddamned hypocrite thathe is. Not you, my prince.”
The Lyrianshad also shared the Foretimer gene, but Syfern and his mostoutspoken supporters had vehemently opposed the mission to Lyris,claiming their god would not countenance the Lyrians, a reclusiveocean-dwelling race, as viable breeding partners for the Naferi orany of the other Foretimer species variants. The ensuing politicalbunfight had lasted months, until it became obvious that the Zillhad stolen a march on everyone and were attacking Lyris. Thehastily put-together rescue mission led by Arakin had reached theplanet too late — the oceans of Lyris which had once teemed withlife had evaporated into space and the joyful sea songs of theLyrians were forever silenced. Nothing remained but a cold barrenrock floating in space.
It was rumored Arakin had contemplatedwithdrawing completely from public life as a consequence.
“It happenedon my watch, old friend” Arakin smiled at Tain ruefully. “We can’tallow another species, whether it carries the Foretimer gene ornot, to be destroyed by the Zill.”
Alekynslowly expelled the breath he had unconsciously been holding. “Whatdoes Syfern’s declaration mean for my sarai? I’m sorry, sir, Idon’t know where this is going.”
“Why shouldyou?” Arakin sighed. “There’s no easy way to say this. Major,Patriarch Syfern is currently demanding that your sarai be given tohim as the god’s representative on Naferis.”
“No!” Alekynleapt to his feet. He could feel his cat roaring for release, ragereddening his vision, claws unsheathing; he wished more thananything that his species, like the Keinyn, still had the power totransform into their beasts. “Jamie is mine! My sarai …”
“Controlyourself, major,” Tain had also risen to his feet, drawing hisstunner. “Or I’ll do it for you.”
Alekynforced himself to breathe deeply. Slowly his cat retreated, sulkingand pulsing with anger, but common sense was asserting itself. Tainand Arakin were telling him this to warn him. After a few minutes,he nodded. “I apologize, Commander, my Lord Arakin.”
Arakinnodded. “I understand this is a shock to you. However, my brother,the Adan ap Reji, anticipated this would occur. He has decreed thatyour rights to your sarai are inviolate and your claiming of himwill be honored in law.”
Alekyn fellback into his seat, shaking with relief. “I cannot…please thank theAdan ap Reji for me. I cannot contemplate life without mysarai.”
“Then if Iwere you, I would claim him as soon as possible,” the prince poureda glass of water and held it out to Alekyn, who took it gratefully.“Your sarai is safe from Syfern’s claim, thanks to my brother, buta greater issue remains — that of the Zill and their plans forhumankind.”
He paused,then added, his eyes hard. “It’s only a matter of time before theZill attack this new world and its inhabitants, and I — I do notwant a repetition of the Lyrian tragedy. I will not have thedestruction of another species on my conscience. I intend to ensurethe humans survive. There’s too much at stake now — we don’t haveto save the humans merely for our own benefit, but also for theKeinyn, the Elusians and the Halatians as well as any number ofunknown Foretimer species-variants in the cosmos. More than that,we have to save them because it is the right thing to do, the onlything to do.”
He leanedtowards Alekyn, grasping his shoulder. “Major, you and your crew —and chance — have saved the future of all the Foretimerraces.”
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HE HAD TOSTOP WAKING UP LIKE THIS, was Jamie’sfirst thought when he regained consciousness for the secondtime.
He groaned,wondering what new nightmare was going to confront him. Heremembered with awful clarity