The Trimorphs (The Ammonite Galaxy , book 7)

Chapter 9

AFTER DROPPING PART of his cargo off at Xiantha and Kwaide, Arcan slipped the New Independence back in orbit around the Dessite moon. Tallen turned to the morphics.

"What is the plan?"

The visitor flashed. "We won't need you. You are only a category 3 being. We will be able to free them ourselves."

Tallen stared at the small shimmering bimorph. "—And just who do you think is going to open the cryovats? Who is physically going to turn the release valves?"

The bimorph shifted rather uncomfortably. "We will make the Dessites do that."

The Namuri spread his hands. "How?"

The visitor didn't exactly take kindly to this comment. He flashed again and moved pointedly further away from Tallen. Tallen grinned at Diva, who gave a frustrated glitter herself.

"Of course we will need Tallen. He is right; he is the only one of us able physically to get them out of the cryovats. But we will also need to protect him; as soon as the Dessites detect his presence they will attack us all mentally."

"And, being a flimsy, he won't be able to stand much of that!" The visitor sounded almost pleased.

Tallen was indignant. "You can talk! You are the one who got pulled over from Pictoria by the force of the Dessite minds, remember!"

The visitor flushed. "That was different! I couldn't help it!"

"My point exactly."

"I don't see how a category 3 being can possibly think he has the right to—"

Arcan broke in. "The canths will keep in close mental contact. They will protect all of you. And I shall be there too. I have no intention of letting any of you go down there on your own." His tone was grim.

"Are you sure you will be safe, Arcan?" Diva still had a vivid recollection of what had happened to Arcan last time he had skirmished with the Dessites. How could she forget? She had lost her own human life. She wobbled slightly at the memory, feeling slightly dizzy.

"Of course." Arcan flashed. "I should have gone down with them in the first place, but the carbon nanographite is extremely disagreeable to me, even after the interfusion of namura dust, and I don't trust the Dessites. I should have known better than to let them go down to the planet alone."

"You could hardly predict something like this would happen," Diva told him, almost gently for her. "It is not your fault."

"If I had been here before they were actually affected by the cryogenic process I could have transported them to safety straight away."

"Yes, true, but who would have thought they would do something so utterly stupid? They have thrown away their chances of a new world for nothing!"

"They don't know that. They think that we will bargain with them."

"Then they don't know you very well!"

Arcan flashed. "I do not believe I shall ever transport them to another world now, whatever happens."

"Exactly. Their only choice will be the Enaran animas, and I wish them luck of that association!"

Tallen gave a rueful grimace. "The Enarans will use the Dessites. They think they are beneath them. Anything irrelevant to their precious sumand is not worth even talking to. It will be interesting to see what happens to that collaboration. I have the distinct feeling that the Dessites will live to regret it."

Diva scintillated. "I hope so! They deserve whatever they get." The idea of spending the next million years without Six was unthinkable. She was not in the best of moods, and certainly couldn't rake up any sympathy whatsoever for the Dessites. They deserved anything they got, she decided. The sooner the better! Her whole small being was so suffused with worry over Six and the others that she could hardly think straight. Imagining them lying there in such icy containment made her small body quiver with indignation and yet boil with concern at the same time. The result was a sombre, darkened firemorph, one who looked prepared for any sort of action to save her friends. Light still flickered off her shape, which seemed harsher, more determined.