Waymakers (Champions of the Crystal Book 9)

Chapter 22.2

Scotty gritted his teeth and returned to the scan results. Qadr was tumbling end over end, evidently not able to correct his course. The Wayships closest to him were attempting to catch him with tractor beams, but he was moving too fast.

The Kyan line, however, was disintegrating. Scotty couldn't tell if it was the disruption emanating from the Way, which seemed to be holding it open, or what the Wayships were doing, or some combination.

Khediva began to vibrate, setting Scotty's teeth on edge. He glanced at Tirqwin, who was starting to sweat as he worked the controls, helping Khediva keep station while she poured energy out from her Way engines.

Something flared on the scanner, and Scotty struggled to identify it. When he did, his heart sank. "A Wayship just exploded!"

Khediva said, "The calibration appears to affect some models adversely. We are stopping now. I hope it is enough. The Way has finally closed, at least."

Tirqwin sounded hoarse. "How many lost?" He left the console and went around it to the bench, where Mara lay limply in her safety harness.

Khediva said, "Five within my sensor range. More, doubtless, on other sides of the planet."

Scotty said, "The Kyan are drifting. Looks like you took them out, at least." He broadened the scan range. "Somebody finally caught Qadr. Is Mara okay?"

"She is exhausted. I will take her to the infirmary to be sure it is nothing more," Tirqwin said, unfastening the harness.

Scotty left the console. "Let me do that, Tirqwin. You see about Khediva and the others."

Tirqwin hesitated, then let out a long sigh. "That is logical. Very well. Thank you, Scotty."

Khediva said, "It will take me some time to compile a complete damage report, but I am afraid we will not be returning to Praxatillus any time soon. I am, however, structurally sound, which is more than can be said for a great many of my fellow Wayships."

Scotty hoisted Mara's body into his arms and started for the infirmary, grateful to have something to do. He was even more grateful when he was able to lay her on the biobed and see that she wasn't injured, though it recommended hydration and some electrolytes.

"Incoming injured," Khediva said sharply. "Scotty, please remove Maratobia, since she does not need medical attention."

"Who?" Scotty asked, pulling Mara off the bed and settling her in a chair until he could take her to her room.

"From Qadr. Malvarak, I presume."

Scotty stood back, and a few seconds later two bodies appeared. One was in chrysalis, and the other was in a shredded combat suit, covered with blood and crystalline dust. Scotty focused on him, since he couldn't do anything for the other.

"Hey. This is a Praxatillian suit!" Scotty exclaimed. "Who in the world?" The biobed couldn't identify the patient, but it told a grim tale of shattered bones and lacerated arteries. Scotty guessed male from the size and build. He was barely clinging to life.

Khediva said, "Scotty, put him in stasis. He needs more than I can give."

"Right." Scotty removed the patient's helmet, then gasped. "Marvan!" He glanced at the chrysalis, frowning. "So where the hell is Ford?"

"I cannot tell who is in the chrysalis," Khediva responded as Tirqwin came running into the infirmary. "But Kha reported these as the only life signs. Qadr is dead."

Scotty swallowed hard. "Khediva, send me to Qadr!" He hit the control to form a stasis field around the biobed.

Tirqwin said, "We will both go."

"No," Scotty and Khediva said in unison. Scotty continued, "Khediva and Mara need you. Besides, I'm already suited up. Khediva, send me now, please." Although the last thing he wanted was to find Ford's corpse, not finding it would be worse. And, he reminded himself, it might be Ford in the chrysalis and Malvarak's corpse he was going to find. Either way, Tirqwin shouldn't be the one to do it.

"Proceed with caution, Scotty," Khediva said. "Qadr is badly damaged. You must also be quick; the spatial disruption is spreading and may prevent your return if you linger."

"Got it," Scotty said, controlling his impatience with difficulty.

In the next moment, he was standing on Qadr's control deck—or rather floating above it, since there was no artificial gravity operating. He switched on the magnetic option for his boots, since he'd move faster that way.

There was no body on the control deck. Logically, the infirmary was the next place to look, since there'd been injuries aboard. He jogged down the corridor, dodging floating debris and hopping over buckled floor plates.

He knew immediately when he crossed the threshold that the body was Malvarak's. Taking a deep breath, he let grief and relief wash through him for a moment. Then he swallowed hard and grabbed the leg nearest him, maneuvering the body over the biobed. There were, he knew, manual emergency restraints, and it only took him a minute to find and deploy them. Malvarak was battered enough. The last thing Scotty could do for him was make sure nothing worse happened until he and Qadr could make their final journey together.

"Rest at the end of your journey, Malvarak aïé Qadr," Scotty said, closing his eyes for a moment of respect. Then he sighed and keyed his com. "Khediva, bring me back, please. Malvarak's here; you've got Ford."

"Thank you, Scotty," Khediva replied.

She brought him back to the infirmary, but only Marvan and Ford's chrysalis were there. "Tirqwin and Mara okay?" he asked, alarmed.

"Tirqwin has put Maratobia to bed. He will be with you shortly."

Scotty dropped into the chair where Mara had lain and took off his helmet. "And then what?"

Khediva hesitated a long time before responding. "I do not know."