'Yes' sounded through her consciousness. She inclined her head Gattonian style to Zana and she in turn mumbled a group of words back. Cat had to give her credit, she kept her tone respectful, if quiet, but she looked like a volcano about to erupt.

Zorroc waited until Zana exited silently before grabbing Cat and lifting her onto his ma.s.sive desk where he proceeded to kiss her Gattonian style, incorporating both his mouth and his mind. * * * *

She touched Zana languidly while waiting for her to make sense. Zana had arrived at their chambers thirty minutes before and Sandra had yet to hear a coherent sentence. The betrothal was off; she gathered that much, and with it, all the plans they'd devised for Zorroc. Zana and Sandra had been introduced to one another within the first week of ship's landing and recognized a like mind and kindred spirit in each other immediately. They became lovers that night and Sandra moved into Zana's living chambers one week later, as a companion. Zana had told her father that, because he spent so much time away from her, she required company. Her father had jumped at the chance to please his only child and light of his life.

Sandra rose and padded naked across the room for a gla.s.s of Jive, a potent liquid guaranteed to relax and intoxicate. The two enjoyed it plain, or laced with just a touch of a.s.syllis. She brought back a large drought and placed it in her Chosen One's hand, then sighed. Things had been going so well. Lately, Zorroc had gotten in to the habit of escorting both of them to official gatherings, signaling to them, his intention of taking dual mates. They thought it only a matter of time before the High Council pa.s.sed the new statutes and Zorroc made formal his commitment. It t.i.tillated and tickled them that while he courted them with all propriety, they got down and dirty with each other every night looking forward to the day when he would make them his mates-so they could cuckold him. The vision played deliciously naughty and made them collapse into fits of sn.i.g.g.e.rs when they contemplated it.

Zana did not like the attention of males but had been willing to spread herself for Zorroc, occasionally, for the power and rise in status. Sandra enjoyed the feel of a man inside her and would enjoy riding him to give him the whelps required to seal her place, but Zana made up her other half and for the first time in her life, she knew love instead of the act of s.e.x, alone. Zana loved her in return. She noticed her high-strung beauty had calmed sufficiently, and proceeded to gently pull the facts, of the afternoon, from her.

"He is lifemated to her and has been for months, we are skirged! She is living with him and he had the audacity to present me to her. I think it is that puny abomination you told me about, the one with hair the ugly shade of a brown-sky flower," she ended in frustrated fury.

"Catarina; was her name Cat or Catarina?" Had that little b.i.t.c.h tripped her up, again? She couldn't, wouldn't believe it.

"Yes, that was it and it is a lifemating, there will be only one for him. All of our plans are ruined."

"Wait Zana, there is still a chance for us. She comes from Earth, if the statutes become law, he can still lifemate with you and then you can bring me in as your companion; it is not ideal I'll grant you but if I'm with you, I can deal with it," she offered sincerely.

"You blind cow, do you understand nothing?" she fumed, looking for an outlet to unleash her fury. Sandra flinched, unused to the lethal vehemence being pointed in her direction. "She is daughter to Princess Nancia and Rowan of the House of Tuk. It is a High House. And, though of split blood, she is Gattonian. It const.i.tutes a bound lifemating; impossible to break even if he chose to, which he does not from the besotted look on his face at seeing her. No Sandra, all of our plans; they have vanished like Wallows Mist."

Sandra rose thoughtfully and went to refill Zana's gla.s.s with more Jive, only this time with a pinch of a.s.syllis to put her mind toward her Chosen One and not her enemy. Cat would pay for this, she would see to it.

While Sandra and Zana slept peacefully after hours of sweaty s.e.x, the Guard of the High Council, headed by Commander Ryder, with orders straight from the Divo, quietly entered the private chambers of Dyfainius and arrested him.

At one a.m. they led him into the main interrogation chamber to face the High Council, along with a group of additional personnel including members of the High Council Guard, and Rosik, Prolinc, Carpov, Bandoff, Sycor and of course, Zorroc. Dyfainius showed outrage at being dragged from his mat at such an hour with no excuse given; but mostly he was nervous. They could not know. It was not possible. He had been too careful.

A pre-emptive strike, in his current situation would prove most deflective, he decided, and so Dyfainius faced his peers with political bl.u.s.ter if not confidence. "Though not informed of this impromptu meeting, it happens to serve my purposes well. Fellow Gattonians, we have been patient with this child leader long enough. We have put up with Zorroc's lack of guidance and misdirected actions for many years, and now I, for one, have reached the end of my tolerance and beseech you to join with me in doing what should have been done ten years before. I, Dyfainius, Leader of the High Council, hereby challenge Zorroc for the rule of Gattonia on the grounds of reckless endangerment to the people of Gattonia and contributions to the end of our race. Further, I charge him with the desecration and disruption of the moral fiber of our culture by trying to infuse our society with inferior alien females and then coercing me into proposing indecent statutes. Statutes designed to degrade the females of Gattonia and corrupt the fiber of our males," he accused facing Zorroc, head high, shoulders back, and finger pointed. He was nothing if not a great politician.

Zorroc rose, faced the High Council and delivered his charges against Dyfainius.

"Traitor: Giving confidential and harmful information to the enemy pertaining to male-power, defenses, numbers, and logistics of sensitive and devastating targets.

"Attempted Murder: Pre-meditated plan to murder the daughter to Princess Nancia and Rowan of the House of Tuk.

"Attempted Murder: Pre-meditated attempt to murder the Divitta of Gattonia, Catarina, daughter to Princess Nancia and Rowan formerly of the House of Tuk.

"Suspected Attempted Murder: Suspected pre-meditated murder of the future heir of Gattonia now residing in the Divitta's womb."

Other than his complexion taking on a mottled red pattern, beaded with perspiration, Dyfainius exhibited no visible reaction to the mandatory death charges that had been leveled against him. Shrouded in dignity and indignation, he turned to Zorroc. "You have no proof. What are you trying to accomplish here, son?" he implored, shaking his head sadly. "Your father and I shared a friendship that spanned many decades. You besmirch his reputation by leveling these injustices. My daughter, in turn, ministered to your father when he fell ill after the death of your mother, and nursed him until the day he died. Zazu, our families intended a joining until your incompetent handling of the Dargon attack. Why are you making these implausible accusations?"

Zorroc lounged back in his chair never removing his knowing glare from Dyfainius as he pressed a b.u.t.ton on the keypad next to him, and smiled dangerously. The screen came alive showing Dyfainius in thousand-p.r.o.ng clarity speaking on COM to another party that identified himself as Dung, speaker for Dargons. The High Council listened in mounting horror as the conversation unfolded. The remaining attendees sat motionless, their knowing eyes glued to the unfolding scene. There would be no escape for the accused this night. When the screen went blank, total silence ensued.

"I am not your son, sc.u.m of a Syphor," he stated with quiet vehemence, "now what do you have to say to the allegations? The seriousness of the charges negate your right to a hearing but out of respect for my father, I am allowing you to face your peers."

"Well, it is obvious, is it not? The video scan is a counterfeit. Who gave you such an obvious piece of fabrication? It is clear that my lips do not match the poorly faked voice and I demand an explanation! Who gave you this scan?"

"I did." Prolinc stood and spoke for the first time. "Under orders from the Divo, we had your chambers, both private and official, monitored. After the ambush of The Stellar, we realized that the Dargons had been fed the information pertaining to our location and human cargo. While under siege, it became equally clear that they searched for one particular woman and so we monitored all attempted COM relays, not authorized by the Commander of the Miramid. When the male you a.s.signed to report our activities tried to contact you, it confirmed your perfidy but not possible others involved."

He turned to the High Council to address them pointedly. "We remained unsure if Dyfainius worked alone or in conjunction with additional members of the High Council, and equally unsure of the extent of involvement with the Dargons and movements against the Divitta. When the High Council Guard took her involuntarily, we knew immediate action was vital for the protection of the Divitta and Divo. Thus, the video scan." Prolinc then faced Zorroc with feigned subservience and asked, "With your permission, Divo?" He enjoyed his role in this early morning drama. For years, he had stood by while the High Council underestimated and undermined his friend's authority and abilities but tonight he would see an end to it for all time.

Zorroc had an inkling as to Prolinc's motives and nodded for him to continue. They had long ago dubbed the members of the High Council as the PIPs or Pompous Impotent Politicals. It would be satisfying to see them justify their position for a change. They proceeded to do just that.

Prolinc and Zorroc mindspoke their amus.e.m.e.nt at the immediate change of att.i.tude in the High Council. In the end, they sang like a choir of castrati admitting to being led by Dyfainius, believing him to be the future guide-by-blood to Zorroc, which would afford him the ability to control the Divo and therefore, hold the greater political power. Although they knew of the existence of Catarina and her presence onboard the returning vessel, they pleaded ignorance to her change in status and her location on Gattonia and, of course, denied knowledge of any contact between Gattonia and the Dargons. Lastly, they had been informed that mandatory pregnancy testing of recalcitrant women had come as a directive from Zorroc.

As for Dyfainius, he collapsed, admitting to all charges, declaring love for his daughter as his main motivating force and of course, had entertained no aspirations toward controlling the Divo. His indiscretions merely reflected the actions of a misguided, overindulgent father. The statutes, he proposed in the event that he proved unsuccessful in obtaining the antidote for his daughter, which had also been his purpose for initially contacting the Dargons. They a.s.sured him that an antidote existed and if he would but answer a few simple questions, it would be his. Of course, the questions never ended and eventually followed with threats of blackmail, exposing him as a traitor if he would no longer co-operate.

At this point Carpov told him that there could be no such antidote in existence because an antidote alone could not execute cell regeneration, eliminate existing scar tissue, and halt future degeneration. The three resulting disorders required three separate treatments. The Dargons had used his weaknesses against the realm of Gattonia. The people of Gattonia and his daughter, specifically, would pay for his treachery.

Zorroc pressed on, once again, facing Dyfainius. "Why did you go after Catarina of the House of Tuk? The plan to bring her here originated from you; why lure her to her death when she could have remained unmolested on Earth?"

"Come, my boy, her existence could not be kept from you, you would have been made aware of her in any case. Many others, beside me, knew of her existence; I had even been contacted by her own parents. No, much more expedient to have her secured and neutralized. As the only royal Gattonian female still fertile, she would have to be your first choice, thereby usurping my daughter's rightful place. And what better way to gain your trust than be the one to find her for you?" He laughed with genuine amus.e.m.e.nt. "And you never questioned my motives, never believed that I would hold my daughter above your petty wishes for a strong line and your impotent plans to keep Gattonia from the Dargons. They want this planet and they will have it and nothing you can do..."

The chamber let out a collective gasp at the puff of smoke that had been Dyfainius.

"I believe we have heard enough," Zorroc commented quietly, as he put his side arm away.

Zorroc, having carried out the mandatory death sentence, stripped Dyfainius and his family of all holdings and decreed the closing and banning of the House of Tinz. His people would be located to other houses and his daughter, provided with a dowry substantial enough to attract an agglu-mating to a Lower House.

With matters settled and the meeting at an end, Zorroc decided on one last piece of business. With the High Council firmly at a disadvantage, none would mutter a word against what he proposed, and he had to admit he might never again have them in this weakened state. Ordinarily they would hold endless rounds of debates on the soundness of his proposals and not wanting to appear an autocratic cracker brain; he would listen to all sides. In truth, they had taught him much and tempered his youthful rashness in the years past. Never again, however, would he depend solely on his father's advisors to be loyal to his rule.

He stood, faced the council, and looked each one in the eye with utter determination before p.r.o.nouncing. "With Dyfainius no longer holding a seat on the High Council, I hereby appoint Bandoff, of the House of Able, to fill the seat of Lead Member of High Council. Meeting adjourned."

Heartening pandemonium ensued between the crewmembers and guards while members of the High Council moved their mouths in a gaping parody of suffocating trout. Bandoff sat Gattonian still; positive he had somehow misheard. Zorroc turned and left. Even with a Dargon attack eminent, he felt lighter and happier than he had since a.s.suming the role of Divo to Gattonia.

Chapter Nineteen.

Zorroc joined a sleeping Catarina on their mat. If this wave of adoration mirrored his father's feelings for his mother, he could understand the pain he experienced in being cleaved from her, severed in two. It did not explain, however, his emotional and physical abandonment of his children who had been the only remaining part of her. He touched his mate's slightly rounded belly and thought of the life they had created. He imagined that he could almost message his love and antic.i.p.ation, of being able to see, touch, and nurture his offspring and that even if they could not yet answer, they understood. Cat almost certainly, had three growing inside her but he would not know for sure, or of their genders, for some time, yet. He held this information to his heart wanting to surprise his mate for so little seemed astound her. From the very first, she conceded to everything laid before her and even more; embraced it with a calm acceptance, he knew, he could never emulate. She had emerged the bravest, most stalwart being he had encountered and knew those qualities would spill into her duties as lifemate, mother and Divitta. He adored her, loved, and worshipped her with his mind, body, and spirit and the time had arrived to reveal those feelings to her.

He began to touch and soothe her, speaking quietly of his adoration and love that filled him as the Gattonian sun filled the sky, with light overflowing onto the lands and into everything living. She was the air that he breathed and the joy of his heart.

A waking dream pulled at her, teasing her psyche, planting the words she yearned to hear him speak. His now familiar touch and unmistakable scent made her aware of his presence the moment he joined her but the rest had to be her wishful imagination imprinting her own feelings that inconceivably flowed from his mouth and mind. What a lovely, perfect fantasy. How many times had she longed to hear the words she had accepted would never come? She needed to open her eyes and face her reality but the dream proved so seductive, so dear. Then he commanded her to open. Open? Open what, her eyes?

"Your eyes, your heart, your mind, your spirit...and your legs, my Divitta," he confirmed to her chagrin. She complied and he invaded her an instant before she read the humor in his eyes. He loved her slowly and fully, all the while whispering his love and devotion and his apologies for not doing so sooner. Then they slept a most peaceful, wondrous, and relaxing sleep.

He petted her with a new intimacy as she grilled him on the out come of the meeting, and when he revealed a modified version of the proceedings, he was met with mixed reviews.

"Bandoff must be thrilled and overwhelmed by his new appointment and I think it a most brilliant stroke of genius. He's wanted to lifemate with his Milli for years but her parents opposed because of his Lower House status and commitment to you as Guardian. Now he will lead the High Council, be a leader among his people and you will have someone you can have absolute faith in as your advisor. In addition, he will act as a finger on the pulse of the political climate. You have leveled many hills with one plane, my love," she finished as her eyes danced merrily to his tune. "But I'm a little concerned about the Zana situation. Nadia and she are still friends and I wonder if it is fair to blame her for the sins of her father. Losing her father and status seem harsh enough, but stripping her of living funds and agglu-mating her to someone, not of her choosing, approaches unfair revenge," she tendered, not wanting to deflate his euphoria in finding the traitor but also concerned about Zana, knowing how she would feel if the same had happened to her.

Zorroc looked incredulous for a moment before articulating his thoughts into words. "If your positions were reversed, do you think she would give a moments thought to you? She would probably insist you be banned to another galaxy with no funds instead of being handed into a secure situation, that is her home. She will be taken care of and reasonably content, I promise you, but have you thought past the obvious? How much did she perceive and condone of her father's activities, because I promise you she knew some. She should be very lucky that I do not delve into her involvement in this whole mess. Who is to say she was not the puppeteer behind the puppet; she would be capable of it I a.s.sure you."

Zazu, were females never satisfied? He did what he deemed necessary to protect his mate and their offspring and she sat complaining for the protection. Was she so innocent she did not know the dangers of a female scorned?

Fate, in the name of Zana, intervened and halted further discussion. She arrived, begging for an audience and crying to her "only friend" Nadia. He had known this would be her ploy and the confrontation, inevitable. After kissing his mate soundly, he advanced purposefully to his office. He wanted this dealt with and her gone from their lives as soon as possible. He would allow Nadia no further contact with her after this day.

If he had a doubt as to how she would play this, his vision confirmed it the instant he entered his office. Zana knelt sobbing pitifully on Nadia's lap while Nadia looked helpless and unnerved. He dismissed Nadia and prepared himself for an emotional tidal wave.

"How could you do this to me? Am I not the one who comforted your father and sat with him when he became ill? Have I not loved you for years...years, since just a girl? We were betrothed, almost mated, and now you kill my father who loved yours and throw me away. It is not worthy of the male I know," she stormed heroically, giving a great imitation of her father.

He decided not to respond and see what else she came up with and, specifically, what she had planned.

"My father is lost to me, do not take away my status, I have done nothing. You would sell me to a Lower House as an agglu-mate; that is no better than a drudge, a slave, a spreader. Please Zorroc, if you have any feelings for me at all, let me stay in the great House of Ra as a companion to Nadia until a suitable mate can be found. As it stands, I am to be banished to the Women Dorm where some earthlings yet remain. Most of the ones there service many; I should not be brought into contact with such filth. Let me stay with Nadia, I have loved her like a sister and would be good company for her, now that you and your mate will be occupied with each other," she wheedled, her dewy eyes resembling black diamonds.

The serpent of death slid down his spine as he contemplated this, just being in the same chamber with her disoriented him for a moment. There resided an evil in her hidden until this moment. How had she blocked it from him? It made him half believe what he had put to Catarina about puppeteer and puppet. His revulsion mounted so completely, his diplomacy deserted him. "You have other choices open to you that I will explain but keeping company with my sister and residing in my house are not among them." He rose and walked to the window keeping his back to her while he mindspoke to Prolinc and Sycor to report at once to his private chamber office. At their response, he turned back to Zana.

"You actually have three choices. You may submit yourself for interrogation as an accomplice to your fathers' treasonous acts; you may be banned from Gattonia permanently with your personal belongings and dowry; or you may agglu-mate with the male of my choice and never show yourself again to my family or anyone connected with my house. For if you do it will mean your death. Those are the three choices offered; I merely a.s.sumed that the third would be the most palatable for you. Please advise me as to your wishes, I have many more important obligations to attend to."

Her heat turned into a simmer, the simmer to a boil and the boil into an inferno that almost rocked Zorroc off his feet. Prolinc and Sycor entered uninvited at the outraged, animal shrieking and encountered an unworldly rage swirling around them, catching them off guard. Immediately, a force field formed around Zorroc as he leaned back onto his desk trying to decide how to proceed. She had telekinetic abilities. That came as a surprise. "You will get yourself under control, now, or be stun-blazed," he commanded.

Cat, having seen Prolinc and Sycor race by and hearing the commotion, came charging into the room believing Zorroc to be in danger. She launched herself onto him with all the force her small body could project, only to ricochet off the force field and land three feet away square on her bottom. The impromptu slapstick seemed to hit all of them at once. The kinetic energy subsided, the force field wavered and disappeared and all had their eyes riveted onto the Divitta; legs akimbo in front of her, hands and arms holding her in an upright position and her hair unbound and floating around her head. Zorroc, the first to react, lifted her up like she weighed no more than a rag doll, sat her on top of his desk, and proceeded to gently brush the tumbled ma.s.s of hair from her face, all the while murmuring to have a care for their offspring. She wanted to hide her face in his chest and wait for everyone to leave, but knew it would be unbecoming behavior for a Divitta. She cautiously glanced around. She found Sycor and Prolinc frozen into Gattonian statue mode, no doubt trying to maintain their composure; Zana eyeing her with malicious jubilation; and Zorroc studying her like he'd never seen a lovelier sight in his life. He no doubt had cataracts.

Zana, having lost her momentum, sneered her parting shot. "I will go and do as you command but I promise, you will regret your treatment of me for the rest of your existence." With the regal bearing of a Divitta, she swept out of the chamber flanked by Prolinc and Sycor.

Later that afternoon China, Dee and Angel paid their first visit to the House of Ra. The aunts and Nadia joined them and it swelled into a festive and lively exchange of laughter, gossip and the latest developments in their respective lives. Dee at first behaved awkwardly and a little resentful toward Nadia. Lovelier than Jasmine in spring, she would one day be lifemated to the one that should have belonged to Dee.

Cat and Angel exchanged knowing looks at Dee's unease but didn't know how to remedy the situation. Nadia, however, with her kindness and newly found perception knew exactly what to do.

"I can see why you and Prolinc have forged such a strong bond. You are well matched both physically and mentally. You both are straightforward with no wasted movements or superfluous words and are warriors, loyal to the ones you love." Then she laughed good-naturedly. "Prolinc has been a brother to me my entire life and treats me like a b.u.t.terfly, mindful of my flitting around but gently blowing me away when he has reached his patience quota. We are due to lifemate in a few years but I have a feeling that much can happen in that time. I would like to find a love like all of you have," she ended on a sigh and a self-depreciating giggle.

Who could resist her good-natured chatter?

While conversation flowed around them, Dee studied Nadia. She really had no interest in Prolinc other than as a brother and playmate; anything more and she'd sense it. Furthermore, she found that she truly liked Nadia and she was right; three years was a very long time. The dark cloud that had trapped her suddenly lifted and she felt better than she had since the Miramid.

As the Edenwine flowed and the mood grew even more animated, Nadia stood and made an announcement. "I have a special gift for the new Divitta. It is a very special potion named Ceilia derived from a rare vine found in the northern mountains of Jasper. It is not mind altering like Edenwine or Jive but it lights you from inside and creates a strong feeling of well-being. I have a small amount that I will add to Cat's wine and then we will toast. One drop is all I have but it is all that is needed." The tiny bottle that contained the potion looked as intricate as a silkworm weaving. It had to be every bit as rare as what it contained. Cat, though skeptical would not ruin Nadia's obvious joy in presenting such a precious gift.

She took a tiny sip as Nadia ended the toast and she felt an immediate rush of warmth, like a warm, bubbling liquid whooshing through her. It imbued her with a decidedly pleasant sensation.

The filigree bottle pa.s.sed from person to person for each to inspect until it reached Helen. After admiring it for a moment, she looked puzzled. "Did Zorroc bring this back from his trip? I do not recall any mention of it."

Nadia looked a little sheepish and admitted, "It was a parting gift from Zana; she wanted to give me something special to remember her by. It was the last of her father's stock."

Dee looked horror-stricken and Cat felt a slight queasiness from where the glow emanated. All motion slowed while the churning intensified, but she couldn't form the words to explain, and then the scene faded into darkness. She crumpled to the floor.

"Will she be all right, will our offspring survive undamaged?" Zorroc rasped unable to keep the tears from escaping down his cheeks. She had been poisoned. Did Zana know Nadia would give the bottle to his mate or had Nadia been the target that had missed its mark? Oh Zazu, if he lost her he doubted he could go on. Thoughts of his father hit him with a force that shook his entire being. Would he fall into a black void where nothing could live but his torment?

"Zorroc, the poison was diluted in the wine and she only had a small sip in deference to the toast. We have isolated the poison and are introducing the antidote slowly into her system. We are optimistic she will recover but are concerned for your offspring. The body, in its attempt to rid itself of the lethal toxin, began convulsing internally and all major organs are affected. Normally this would be fine but the contractions could cause Cat to abort your offspring," Carpov ended grimly. "We are doing all we can to control her body's reaction to the poison and neutralize it before brain and organ tissues can be permanently damaged. Fortunately, we had a sample for evaluation because, even now, her body does not register any foreign substance that could cause this reaction. Ordinarily, we would have treated it like the flu. We have much to be grateful for. If Nadia had taken it alone in her room she almost certainly would have died."

Zorroc shuddered at the thought and then Zana's parting words came back to him. She had given Nadia the poison even before their interview. She had played her hand superbly...and she would die. Militia combed the area searching for her. She would not escape him except through death.

"Zorroc, I hesitate to mention this now but something about Catarina's symptoms are very familiar to me," he paused, wondering if now the right time to reveal his growing suspicions. "Her symptoms mirror those of your father's only with greater severity. Zana could have used this drug in smaller quant.i.ties to poison your father, with no one able to prove otherwise, or indeed, even aware of it occurring," he concluded grimly, the ramifications almost too staggering to grasp.

"Of course, that would explain so much. Why she visited my father daily; why he began to go steadily down hill; why he died...while I did nothing to stop her."

"Do not begin to think what I know you are already contemplating. You are not responsible for your father's death. If you want to affix blame then blame me for not catching it. The true blame, however, lies with the twisted House of Tinz. The last viper stands exposed, my friend, and Gattonia will be a cleaner and safer place because of it." Carpov sighed tiredly, "The reason I decided to mention this sooner rather than later is because you will no doubt want to include my suspicions in your questioning of Zana."

"May I see her?" Zorroc asked unexpectedly.

After just a moment, Carpov realized he meant Catarina and not Zana. "Yes, that is why I came, I think it would do both of you good to be together right now."

"Will the poison seep into the offspring's' systems?" Zorroc asked with dread while getting to his feet and following his friend down the hall.

"The blood and fluids going to the womb are being screened. The poison did not have time to reach them. The only danger right now is her body's own defense system."

Zorroc nodded listlessly. It seemed a small comfort. Zorroc looked on his mate and could not believe the difference in her. She lie still and waxen, surrounded with monitors, scanners, and tubes running around, in and out of her like so many bustling transways and Pod ports.

He sat down beside her and gently enclosed her small hand in his, gently reaching into her mind, searching for her link. It revealed nothing but a dense gray fog but he kept patiently trying to find a thread that would lead him to her. He stilled; something waited there mewing and distressed, his babies were anxious at the stillness and blankness of their mothers' being. They could not communicate with words or thoughts but reached out to him for rea.s.surance, and he thought he might cry from the joy of it. He reached out with all of his considerable talent and flooded their minds with soothing images of love, comfort and security. He stayed with them until he felt them drift into slumber. He had never experienced anything so miraculous and it kept him sane as the hours melded together.

Friends, Med-techs, the aunts and others seemed to flow in and out like restless waves on a sea. Then on the third day, he realized he had not seen Nadia. He COMd Marie and Helen and asked after her. Helen began to cry while Marie cussed up a storm before blurting out the situation.

"Nadia blames herself for harming Cat and your heir and believes you must hate her now as her father did when your mother died. We have tried to talk some sense into the girl but she will not hear us. We did not want to burden you with another problem so we decided to wait until we knew more about Cat's condition. How is she?" Marie demanded gruffly.

"She is no worse which I am told is a very good sign; the babies are well," he slipped not wanting anyone to know about the triplets. "I am on my way to Nadia now, thank you for telling me."

"Prolinc," Zorroc bellowed into Prolinc's mind.

"Yes?" came his quiet reply.

"Have Dee and Angel stay with Cat, I have something to do that cannot wait."

"They are on their way," he answered, encouraged by the strength of Zorroc's query. He was coming back to himself. He had not left Catarina's side since her collapse and would not hear of someone sitting with her while he took a much-needed rest. He must be feeling encouraged by her prognosis.

Zorroc did not bother to announce himself; he just strode right into Nadia's room. Curled into a fetal position, she looked asleep. He had sworn to himself he would never fall into the same trap as his father and yet it had happened easily. Well, he was not his father, a point he intended to bring home to his precious sister. He sat on the side of her bed, scooped her up and cradled her like a baby, the way he had done countless times through the years. She sobbed and hung onto him while upbraiding herself; apologizing to him and promising perfect behavior and undying grat.i.tude if he would only forgive her and give her another chance. He wondered if guilt figured prominently in their gene pool and smiled slightly at the thought.

"You promise all that, do you? Well it certainly is a tempting offer. Does this include scrubbing out my clean room when it strikes my fancy and arranging my favorite foods in order of preference? Oh, and do not forget my trans-unit, does this mean you will never borrow it again? Yes, very tempting indeed."

As Zorroc continued to catalog a growing list of requests, she stilled and grew uncharacteristically quiet. When he took a quick glance down, he saw just what he had hoped for. She threw him back on the bed and began tickling him as only she could get away with and the two of them laughed like children enjoying the moment of frolic.

"Now," he ordered when the two caught their breath. "You will get into your prettiest clothes, I will get out of this wrinkled attire, and after we have something to eat we will go visit your sister and make her wake up. She has rested long enough, do you not agree?"

"I love you, Rocky."

"And I love you, Dizzy. I will meet you in the dining nook off my chambers." Zorroc left feeling that all would be well; he would accept no other outcome.

After the first full meal either had had in three days, they made their way to the main med-quarters. Three sets of smiles greeted them and Zorroc knew the news was good. "Is she awake, is she better?" he burst out as he moved quickly to Cat's side and grabbed her hand.

"Angel and I believe she is surfacing so I want you to reach her through mindspeak and bring her the rest of the way out, would you like to try?" Carpov grinned at his ridiculous suggestion.

Zorroc eased in and all but staggered at the force of her frustration. "It took you long enough to get here," she messaged with impatience.

"How long have you been awake and why have you not let your friends know, they have been frantic with worry," he scolded.

"I've only been awake for a little while, I think, but I could tell the room needed a boost so I decided to wait for you to stage my wake-up scene. Kiss me," she demanded.

Zorroc turned around and looked at the room full of anxious faces and smiled weakly before turning back to his mate. "Why do you want me to kiss you, are you sure you are awake?"