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  With him or not, the Monticore were responsible for his wellbeing. "I snuck out to meet Rathmar." Before he left home, he had been less than truthful with his guards regarding his whereabouts when he slipped away to spend time with Rathmar. The noble had insisted on complete secrecy.

  "Azaes ran an investigation. We both concluded you had been sneaking out for some time to keep Rathmar's secret." Zeus could not deny the assessment. He had thought he was in love, sure that Rathmar would find the courage to claim him.

  "Your personal guards were very upset when they found out. Azaes convince them not to resign. They took your sneaking around as a lack of confidence in their ability to keep a secret."

  "I could not ask that of them."

  Mestor snorted in derision. "You are a prince. As long as your activities did not endanger Father, the Monticore would have kept your confidence. Now, they are determined to win back your esteem. They drew lots this morning to see who would have the privilege of going to the surface with you."

  "They never lost my esteem. I hold them in the highest regard."

  "Then allow them to do their job. Those waiting with Sohm'lan feel honored to be the escort of the Striker. Do not turn your nose up at them because you believe yourself unworthy."

  Zeus did not agree with Mestor at all. Azaes would need every hand to defend The Gorgon and protect the Fal'Amoric while he was surface-side. But before he could say so, the Monticore noticed him. They all straightened, their hardened expressions softening slightly with their excitement. He had become unused to being guarded by so many. If he dismissed them, it would send the message that he did not trust them. He had to remember his duties as prince and quit thinking of himself as simply Zeus the master mechanic.

  Chastened, he glanced at his brother. "Thank you. I had forgotten my obligations."

  Mestor squeezed his shoulder gently. "What was it like, living in anonymity?"

  Zeus nuzzled Mestor's chin affectionately. "At first, I felt lost, alone, as if I had been set adrift without a sail or rudder. After time, I became somewhat accustomed to being faceless in a sea of people, but I always yearned to be home, sick with the desire to see the faces of my family but unable to. I took the position because I thought I could make a place for myself outside of Atlainticia. I received offers from several stations and a couple of planets who desired my expertise. I turned them down. I could not stand to be away from my family any longer. I swear, brother, I will not leave Atlainticia again once I reach planet-side. Being away is too painful."

  "Meme will be more than pleased. You were missed more than you know." Mestor squeezed Zeus’s shoulder again before releasing him. "Now, make sure everyone is wearing a monitor bracelet. With them, we will track you from the moment you leave the bay until you return."

  He accepted the small bag from Mestor. They briefly pressed their foreheads together with the hiss of ‘goodbye and safe journey’ before he broke away and approached the waiting group. Taking a black band the width of his palm out of the bag, he slipped it over his hand and up to his forearm. Pressing a series of buttons, he encoded his DNA imprint into the band. The cool metal adjusted to the size of Zeus’s arm. The bridge would now know which band he wore, and be able to distinguish him from the group.

  They boarded the shuttle, with Axis at the pilot's controls and Madux assisting. Everyone took a seat, strapped in, and passed the bag around, each claiming a wristband for themselves. Zeus sat next to Dargon. He hated that his future husbands were coming along, but Dargon was correct. As their Marked, he could not be parted from them for long. Since no one knew how long they would be on the surface, they needed to stick together. Dargon was a soldier, able to defend himself and Alpha. They were equals and he needed to protect them, but Dargon and Alpha felt exactly the same way about him.

  Clasping his hands in his lap, Zeus listened as Axis entered launch codes for the shuttle. Exiting the shuttle bay, Zeus’s stomach flipped with a familiar sense of weightlessness. The planet of Qestaire immediately appeared, huge on the view screen. The planet’s large land masses were pocked with small bodies of water. The pure white sands between the lakes and the reds and greens of vegetation that ringed the seas made the planet seem very alien compared to Atlainticia.

  Qrxzl were a sentient crystal race that lived in the sands around the lakes. What wildlife the planet Qestaire had could be found in the strips of jungles bordering the seas. The only predators of the Qrxzl were humans.

  Everyone knew their responsibilities. As the speaker, he would negotiate. No one in the landing party would interrupt him. They could not afford to offend the Qrxzl. Their assistance was essential in contacting the Feteine. He had spent countless hours going over records pertaining to the crystals of Qestaire. He hoped he knew enough about their customs because he only had one chance. They would not get another. Qrxzl were not flexible and they did not renegotiate.

  The shuttle landed at the edge of the dunes on the tarmac between the sands and jungle. The dark stones of the landing platform distinctly stood out against the white sands, giving an impression of desolation. The Monticore disembarked first. When Sohm'lan gave the all clear, the rest of the landing party left the shuttle. A dry, hot wind rose and tugged at Zeus’s ponytail. There was no dampness in the air that one would expect on a planet with numerous bodies of water. Behind them, the jungle stayed eerily quiet. He sensed they were being watched, but not from the edge of the trees.

  "The meeting circle is this way." He pointed and began to lead the way between the dunes. The Monticore took up position around him. Dargon stayed to his right, he and Alpha appearing to be on the alert. Warlord Sohm'lan took his place on Zeus’s left. Axis and Madux stayed close behind him.

  The sand shifted under his boots, making the walk a strenuous affair. A couple of pale, standing stones came into view around a small dune, with red paving stones appearing out of the sands, leading them to the meeting circle. If Zeus did not know better, he would have assumed the area to be devoid of life. No birds, no bugs, no call of wildlife met their ears. Just the sound of the wind as it shifted the tops of the sand dunes.

  The red stones were inscribed in white, filling the wide, open space between standing stones, and in the center stood a black pedestal cradling a large, wide-mouthed, wooden bowl. From his studies, the bowl would hold small crystals used to communicate with the Qrxzl.

  As soon as the last of the landing party entered the circle, the ground rumbled. Black obelisks shot up from the sand, filling the spaces between the white standing stones. Any escape they could have made was effectively cut off.

  Madux and Axis moved in closer to Zeus, while the Monticore surrounded them in a protective circle. This was not how the Qrxzl usually greeted guests. The center of each of the black obelisks began to glow with a soft, white light. A hum flooded the air, vibrating against his skin as the space filled with a rush of a tangle of whispers.

  "Human," they chanted, the volume rising.

  "No! Not human!" Zeus ignored the strange glances he received from Madux and Axis. He pushed his way through the shield of bodies, frustrated that Dargon followed him, and not surprised when Sohm'lan did the same, the two males flanking him protectively.

  "I was born Fal'Amoric, adopted and raised by the Mar'Sani. I am Prince Zeus Vondorian, the fourth son of Emperor Valdor Vondorian, Marked of the Dargon Kal-Turak and the symbiote Alpha. We come seeking aid from the Qrxzl."

  Refusing to be cowed, Zeus stood tall, feet braced apart, hands clasped behind his back, head held high as he waited for a response, his gaze flicking between the dark crystals before him. The wind picked up and so did the tinkling whispers.

  "Lies!"

  "No, I swear by all I hold dear, what I have stated is true."

  "Zeus, who are you speaking to? I hear nothing," Axis called in a loud whisper.

  "There is something here," Madux rumbled, his voice slightly louder than Axis's. "I am picking up emotions: distrust, anger, wariness. We may not be able t
o hear them but there is something or someone here with us."

  "Will you allow my companions to collect a speaking stone from the basin so they can understand you?" Zeus worried about the main group moving from the protection of the Monticore, but he could not leave them in the dark. It might be dangerous to do so if they needed to act in a hurry.

  Pressure built against his skin as he waited for the reply, the wind whipping about them.

  "What to do? What to do? Bury the human in the crushing sand and send the others away, free from the taint of his influence."

  Alpha snarled and the wind came to an abrupt halt. "Touch Zeus and the Alpha-Zetamite will retract our invitation and force you to leave this planet. We will toss you to the other side of the grid and allow V'Saar to consume you, as they have done your homeworld."

  The sound of rustling caused Zeus to glance behind him to see Madux shoulder his way past the Monticore, crossing the red stone to the wooden bowl. Snatching a handful of the crystals, he walked back to the group, distributing them to everyone. Dargon declined one.

  The multitude of whispering voices started up again, softer and more subdued. The heart of the dark obelisks pulsed white with the energy they contained. That energy was why the humans sent their robotic crews to mine the crystals. Rumors said that just one of the crystals could power a starship indefinitely. In his research, Zeus had learned the Qrxzl could not only power an engine, but could also make quantum leaps from one world to another. However, Zeus was skeptical about either piece of information, since there was no corroborating evidence.

  One soft voice separated from the assemblage. "Alpha-Zetamite, it has been long since we last spoke. Has the human captured you? You only need say the word and we would free you of his influence."

  Finally able to hear the voices around them, the Monticore hissed in response to the Qrxzl's threat. Once again, they tightened their ranks around Zeus.

  "I will not give you another warning. Harm Prince Zeus and the Mar'Sani will declare war on you. They monitor us as we speak from the warship, The Gorgon, which is in orbit overhead. After they are finished with their war, my people will evict you from this world and curse you to be homeless for all eternity."

  "Words! You speak words programmed by the human."

  "No human can hear you without a speaking stone. He is the Marked of my Dar Massaga, he bears the symbol of an Alpha Trine, and he is guarded by the Mar'Sani. Do you believe a GyrFalconi would stand in the presence of a human without running it through for what has been done to his people?" Alpha argued.

  "The GyrFalconi's lack of action only proves the humans’ influence has overrun the galaxies like the locust horde. The galactic imperials would applaud us for wiping away this human's influence, in destroying it."

  This was not how Zeus had envisioned the meeting with the Qrxzl. Before he spoke, assumptions and accusations were made. Instead of beseeching help, Zeus and his companions were forced to defend themselves. He was unsure how to steer them past the question of his heritage to the reason why he sought the Qrxzl in the first place.

  Zeus glanced at Madux, who moved forward a few steps. "Think long and hard before you attempt to strike down the brother to the Bespoken. Your actions would violate the Valespian pact. If you continue on this course, you will have murdered a Fal'Amoric royal."

  Zeus was tired of being mistaken for human. Sometimes he wished he looked more like his family, but they loved him so well, he had never been ashamed of his appearance. At that moment, he despised his visage, how he was built. His very form brought out the hostility in a race they required help from. Azaes should have come instead. Canry set him on this path to contact the Feteine, yet his face jeopardized their mission. They needed the Feteine as allies, not enemies.

  "What do I need to do to prove my lineage?"

  The Monticore hissed in warning and displeasure. Warlord Sohm'lan stood next to Zeus, stoic and grim-faced. Zeus trusted him to keep the guards in line so he could do what he needed to do.

  "Blood!" The whispers echoed over the top of each other. "We must analyze your DNA, confirm the words spoken here today. We tried to taste you through the sand, but you reek of the Dar Massaga. Humans are crafty, duplicitous." In the sky overhead, vapor clouds, first one, then two, burst into existence.

  Dargon snarled and the Monticore gave another chorus of offended hisses. Zeus knew they resented the Qrxzl questioning the word and the honor of a Mar'Sani prince. The fact the crystalline beings required his blood just stacked one offense upon another in their eyes. Zeus knew he had to quickly put this matter to rest. His brothers would read the agitation of the warriors and send more.

  "Fine, I will give you blood." Zeus shouted over the upset Monticore.

  "Zeus …"

  He glanced up to Sohm'lan's luminous blue eyes. "I would settle the question of my biology before others arrive. If something happens to me, Warlord, you are in charge. You already know my wishes."

  An expression of fierce pride crossed Sohm'lan's features even as he gave a reluctant nod of acceptance.

  The guards parted for Zeus. He did not have to be an empath to know they sat perched on the edge of violence.

  "Zeus?"

  He glanced back at Dargon, worry engraved in the lines around his eyes and mouth. "I will be fine," he sent through the connection to Alpha and Dargon. Alpha's emotions were clamped down and muted. For that, Zeus was grateful. Before he turned back to the obelisks, he noticed Dargon discreetly pressing something small into Sohm'lan's hand.

  The black crystals fit snugly between the nine standing stones encircling the red paved center. Not a hair of space lay between the crystals and stones, blocking the view of what lay beyond. All of the crystals appeared to be the same, but Zeus knew differently because the voices, although faint, were dissimilar.

  Approaching the closest Qrxzl, Zeus held out his hand, unsure what to expect. He would have cut his own flesh and given them a sample of blood, but his weapons remained in aboard the shuttle because this was supposed to be a diplomatic mission.

  The glow in the center of the dark crystal before him began to pulse faster and grow brighter. Zeus presented his hand palm up and waited. He did not know what he expected, but the thick shard that shot out of the base of the obelisk through the center of his hand was not it. Shocked, he stared at ten centimeters of sharp, bloody crystal jutting out of the wound in his hand. Attempting to grasp the sight before him, he did not see the second arm of crystal extended out to encase his neck in a vise grip, anchoring him firmly to the obelisk.

  Terror, though not his own, sliced through him. He heard Dargon call his name a split second before he felt his blood turn into a river of glass shards slicing through his veins. He would have pulled away, retreating from that which caused him pain but the inflexible chill of the glossy stone held him immobile. He could not contain the pain of being stabbed through a thousand times. His agonized scream was quickly joined by the tormented bellow of another.

  Zeus did not know how long the Qrxzl's trap held him, how long he screamed, or how long Dargon roared with him. What seemed to be an eternity could have been mere microns. A shrill, high whistle sounded and the obelisk before him vibrated, and the shards holding Zeus in placed shattered. The torture immediately ceased and he fell to the ground, retching uncontrollably. Even as his stomach tried to relieve him of its contents, Zeus rolled over and scrabbled on hands and knees to Dargon.

  "Dargon!" His voice was gone, nothing but a scratchy wheeze. He called again, louder, more painfully, willing Dargon to answer him.

  Madux knelt next to Dargon and Alpha. Dargon seemed to be unconscious, and Alpha quivered alarmingly in his mind.

  "The kits …" Zeus could not say anything else, as the thought they may have lost the younglings, the twins, had him gasping and choking even more, his vision clouded with unshed tears.

  Madux's hands were smooth like the rest of his body, with golden rosettes blooming on skin so deeply black that the color sp
arkled like uncut jewels. He had never witnessed the psi-healer at work. When Madux's large palms began to glow, Zeus almost pushed Madux away from Dargon, his mind recalling the image of the Qrxzl's luminosity and aggression. He released a warning hiss.

  "Zeus. Zeus!"

  He raised his gaze to Madux's crystalline blue eyes. "I would never harm them. I will do everything I can to help them, I give you my word."

  He heard Madux's promise, but he could not stop the long, guttural hiss. His Udens Mahte'lan lay before him, unconscious and injured. Zeus rode on instinct, everything pushed to the side with his overwhelming need to protect his Amors.

  "Prince Zeus." Sohm'lan called softly and he snarled in response.

  "Zeus." Alpha whispered. Zeus closed his eyes and shivered. "Calm down for me, please."

  Immediately, he felt contrite. With effort, he stamped down his impulses and walled up his stormy emotions. When he next opened his eyes, Madux's palm lay on Dargon's golden forehead, the other held over Alpha at the base of Dargon's throat. He waited for the verdict as Madux sat up.

  "Alpha is fine: exhausted, but unharmed. As far as I can tell, the twins are not in distress or injured. I think Dargon took on as much of the … I am not sure what happened, but he took it into himself to protect Alpha and the kits."

  "Will he be … " Zeus coughed, his throat raw.

  "I believe so. His nerves are frayed." Madux leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "I believe they meant to kill you. If you had been the only one to bear the burden of the assault, they would have succeeded."

  Madux only confirmed what he thought. The question became what to do about it?

  Axis squatted on his heels next to Zeus. The GyrFalconi's gray and red plumage stood straight up, clearly displaying his agitation. He drew off his shirt to reveal wide, muscular, but deeply scarred, shoulders and a hard, sculpted chest. The dark brown skin on his pectorals and abdomen was sparsely covered by fluffy gray feathers. Even so, it was obvious scars existed even there.

  Using a sharp nail, Axis tore strips from his tunic. Zeus wondered what Axis was doing, until the GyrFalconi reached for his bleeding hand. He had forgotten his injuries; the pain was simply something else he shoved to the side with his emotions.