Part 4 (2/2)
”I suppose that is possible,” Thark said thoughtfully. ”If you are correct, the lack of Irschchan Rangers will soon be rectified. You will have to find out all the requirements as soon as possible, however. Important as Talent is to one in such a position, they will need the other, lesser, talents as well.”
II
Corina woke with a splitting headache, the characteristic aftereffect of being hit with a neural stunner. Groaning, she opened her eyes and found herself in what, except for the straps holding her in place, was a fairly comfortable, if too large, armchair. A Terran in Marine black service dress uniform sat behind a large metal desk, holding a blaster aimed casually in her direction. Her soul-blade lay beside his left hand.
She suppressed the rage she dared not show at that sight. It had been bad enough earlier, when the Sanctioner had taken her blade, but at least he had been an Irschchan and understood its significance. To a Terran, it was nothing but a simple dagger, with no more personal meaning than a kitchen knife.
Not that they could understand, she thought, forcing herself to calm.
They had no Talent, no way to sense the owner's mind-pattern, impressed on the blade at an Irschchan's coming-of-age ceremony.
She could retrieve it telekinetically--that part of her Talent was weak, but the blade was hers--then decided quickly against that idea.
The man holding the blaster did not look like the type to tolerate any misbehavior from his prisoner, and she had no desire to test her estimate of his character.
He gave her a few seconds to evaluate the situation before he spoke.
”Okay, you're awake. Now tell me what the h.e.l.l that was all about.”
”He was trying to kill me,” Corina replied.
”We guessed that much,” the Terran said. ”I want to know why.”
”May I know who you are?”
”Yeah, you people like formality, don't you?” The man shrugged. ”Why not? I'm Major Patrick Dawson, Security Division of the Imperial Marines, on temporary duty from the Emperor Chang. You?”
Corina managed as much of a polite bow as she could. ”Greetings, Major Dawson. I am Corina Losinj, until today a student of High Adept Thark.
Entos was trying to kill me before I could report treason against the Empire, in the form of a rebellion by the White Order. Thark is leading it himself.”
Dawson's expression looked to Corina like a combination of astonishment and disbelief. ”Rebellion? The White Order against the whole Empire?
That's impossible.”
”I a.s.sure you, Major, it is quite possible. Or Thark believes it is, which is effectively the same thing.”
”Um.” Dawson was silent for a few seconds, then said, ”Well, it sounds crazy to me, but it isn't something we can risk not checking out.” He holstered the blaster. ”The other one, Entos--is he in the Order?”
When Corina nodded, he punched a number on the desk intercom.
”Interrogation, Captain Daley.” Corina couldn't see the screen, but it sounded like a human female. ”Oh, hi, Pat. What can I do for you?”
”You could run a mindprobe on the other Irschchan who was brought in.
The one I'm interviewing claims the reason he was trying to kill her was that he's involved in a treason plot.”
”You got it,” the woman said grimly. ”Do you want yours probed too?”
Dawson thought for a moment, then shook his head. ”By the time you're done, Ranger Medart should be here, and he can make that decision--she was the one being attacked, so the odds are she's innocent. If that's wrong, or if the Ranger wants her probed for more information, it can be done once he's here.”
”I copy. I'll let you know what I find out.”
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