Legends of Darkover

Chapter 15

-oOo-

As they headed back to gather their things, Regis spotted a storage room near the mess hall, and signaled Danilo to follow him inside.  “What is this place for?  Food ingredients?”  He studied labels on bags of chemicals and shuddered.  “Never mind.  At least I don't have to eat here.  Bredu, you left something out of your account.  What happened with Inculcare?  There is nothing to be ashamed of.”

With a touch of loathing Danilo said, “After that Sith gave me the drug, he kissed me, and I went to pieces.  I—I broke far too easily.”

“Under a drug I doubt anyone could have resisted.  Do you remember what happened to Lew Alton?” 

Danilo nodded, eyes downcast.  For a moment they both were silent, recalling the burning city of Caer Donn, dying from the fires of an out-of-control matrix.

“Not even a man as strong-willed as he could resist under those circumstances.  Lew would rather have killed himself than be the cause of such devastation, but he succumbed anyway.”  Regis took his friend's hands in his.  “Not all disasters can be averted, Dani.” 

Danilo replied with faint humor, “I suppose I am also disgusted that my first kiss came from such a person.  Fah!” 

“Is that why you didn't want to--” Regis broke off.  All he needed to know was held in Danilo's distressed gaze.  “This problem is easy to solve,” he proclaimed.

“What?  Wait a minute.” Danilo backed away.

“You misunderstand.  I'm doing nothing.  You're doing everything,” Regis said with a smile.

He crooked a finger.  “You're going to practice on me.  Just plant a kiss anywhere.”

“Regis!  I can't!”

“Why not?  You have my permission to be as awkward, clumsy, and doubtful as you like.  Just hit the target.  I swear I will be as still as if tied to a tree.”

Danilo gave a wild laugh, then smothered it with a hand.  “This is insane,” he said through his fingers, smiling.

“Pretend I’m your grandmother if it makes it any easier.” 

“Holy Bearer of Burdens,” said Danilo in wonder.  “I’m not THAT badly off.”  He stepped forwards until they were standing almost nose to nose.  His color was shifting from red to white.

“Well?” asked Regis.  Danilo leaned in slightly and gave his friend a chaste kiss on the forehead.  This was not exactly what Regis wanted, but it felt pleasant. 

“That wasn't difficult, was it?  Could you do it again a little lower?”  /I suppose I am grandmother Castamir./

“The problem is,” said Danilo in a dreamy tone, “you don’t look at all like my grandmother.”

“I hope that is not to my detriment, bredu,” said Regis lightly.

“You look like--” Danilo broke off and kissed the bridge of his nose.  Regis caught the rest of the unguarded thought:  -Something to be worshiped like a demon or a god, but to worship a mortal man is a sin.  It is easier to serve and admire, and deny the self.-

/Nice,/ thought Regis. /I’m a demon or a god.  It’s an improvement./  “That was sweet, bredu.  But, a little lower?” 

Danilo kissed the tip of his nose. 

“A little further down?” Regis whispered.  -Please?-

-They say the Hasturs are descended from the gods, but I am a cristoforo, and do not believe in such things.  There is only a mortal man here, waiting to be kissed/loved-- 

Danilo seemed to catch himself.  He kissed Regis on the chin. 

“You cheated,” said Regis. 

A mischievous look entered Danilo’s eyes.  “I think I can take the hint, Lord Hastur, from your thoughts earlier this morning.  I can read minds well enough.  Allow me.”  He slid down Regis’ body to the floor and kissed Regis’ booted ankle, his hands gliding down every inch of back, buttock, thigh and calf.

“AAAUGH!” Regis screamed, going into shock.  Partially because he couldn’t believe what Danilo had just done, partially because it felt so stunning to be touched like that, but mostly because Dyan Ardais had just stepped through the door and was watching them with a mixture of surprise, raised eyebrows, and a broad smirk.

Lord Ardais kicked his foster-son’s boot-sole with the tip of his foot.  “I suppose your wedding feast will have to be farther off than I planned, yes?” said Dyan.

Horror crossed Danilo’s face, and Regis thought, /I have to have a boyfriend with a sense of humor.  Are we going to get out of this with any dignity?  No, it's not possible./

Danilo was on his feet in a flash.  “I must say,” Dyan continued, “I thought I’d tried everything myself, but this is new.”  To Regis, he sent a thought.  -Working on having your own sweet doloransiasu?- 

 

-Get. Out. Of. My. Mind,- replied Regis with fury.

“I've come to take you to the transporter room.  We're meeting Domna Catriona there.”

The red flush on Danilo’s face was almost life-threatening.  Regis caught his arm and reluctantly dragged him after Dyan.  -I wish I felt faint,- came Danilo's numb thought.  -I would enjoy a good, long period of unconsciousness right now.- 

  

-I enjoyed everything until he showed up.  Don’t take it so seriously, Dani.  You’re already known everywhere as Dom Dyan’s foster-son, and that’s embarrassment enough.-

-I suppose you’re right,- came the weary reply. 

/This is terrible,/ thought Regis. /At this rate it will take him another year to work up the nerve to kiss me again.  Damn Dyan to Zandru’s deepest Hell,/ he thought with venom.

There was a painful silence as they clattered quickly along the corridor, Dyan bestowing more smirks on them from time to time.  Finally, Danilo managed a slight smile.  -He’s probably planning to buy several pairs of new boots, so I have done the leather-work trade some good.  But I swear, if he wears a new pair to dinner at Castle Ardais, I will scream.  That would be exactly like him.-

-If you decide to run away you can move into Comyn Castle,- sent Regis, trying to lighten the mood.  -I could shove grandfather out the window and we will have the run of the place.-

-Wait until I’ve actually gone crazy, my dear Regis.-

Catriona was already waiting on the transporter platform.  Her obvious happiness at finally going home lightened Regis' dour mood. 

“The Captain and the Jedi wish to say goodbye before you leave,” said Scotty from behind the controls.  “It turned out to be a very unusual tour, didn't it laddie?” he said to Regis.

“Very much so, Mr. Scott.  I saw much more than I ever expected.”  From behind him he heard Dyan say, "So, you are unmarried, Domna?"

It was obviously not a conversational opener Catriona was used to hearing.  Regis could feel her disbelief.  "Dom Ardais!  I am a keeper of Hali.  Of course I'm unmarried.  We take the oath."

Undaunted, Dyan continued. "Do you like Danilo?"

“He's a pleasant enough boy for a Castamir relative, considering we tend towards wildness and incivility.  What do you mean?”

Danilo choked.  Regis purpled.

“Does Hali have designated terms of service as do the other towers?  If so, when does yours end?” Dyan persisted.  “In this day and age keepers are free to marry after their service is done.  Would Hali grant you a waiver to help pass on a rare dona?”  He gave Regis and Danilo a look of malevolent delight.

"Dom Ardais!” Catriona cried.  “You can't possibly be thinking of a marriage between me and Danilo.  He's my cousin!"

"So?  That's never stopped Darkovans before.”

"Foster-father," said Danilo in strained tones, "this is not the time to be discussing such a matter." 

-I cannot believe this man,- Catriona sent to the other two.

-Neither can I, most of the time,- Danilo replied.

“But you will keep him in mind?” said Dyan, giving Regis' face an amused perusal.  “Though he is one of those silly cristoforos, he is polite and dutiful, and the Ardais lands will provide a comfortable income.”

“Yes, Dom Ardais, I am certain you will enjoy dandling your foster-grandchildren on your knee, tugging away at your beard as much as they will your heart-strings,” said Regis with a straight face.

For a moment Dyan seemed thrown, then he recovered.  “I think their 'foster-father'--or will it be the euphemism of 'uncle?'--will end up minding the children more than I,” he said to Regis pointedly.

Catriona was giving them a curious look.  Danilo cleared his throat.  “Sir, we need to say our goodbyes, since you are not coming with us.  I wish you good hunting of our enemies.”

“Pay close attention to the safety of the leronis as well as that of yourselves,” Dyan replied.  “I'm heading up to the bridge.  Do not leave until the Captain says it is safe.  Danilo?  I will see you in Thendara in a few days.”  He left the room, and Mr. Scott sighed when he disappeared. 

“Not to be critical, lad,” Scotty said to Danilo, “but he's a bit of a heavy cross, if you see what I mean.”

“I'm afraid I do,” Danilo replied quietly. 

Kirk entered soon after, along with the Jedi.  “Do you know how to use one of these?” the Captain asked Regis.  He was holding out a communicator.  “I want you to have a way to contact us during your journey home--just in case.”

“I do, Captain, thank you.  Obi-wan, Qui-gon?  I--”

The room faded, and Regis was running, speeding alongside Qui-gon through strange ruins he'd never seen before, scanning the ground desperately for something--

--Obi-wan's lightsaber was flying, beating off an--

“Regis?”  said Obi-wan. 

Regis shook himself and caught the apprentice's sleeve.  “Be careful.  I do not think you've fought your last fight here.  Nor shall I say goodbye to you yet, Qui-gon Jinn.”  

“Let me guess,” said Kirk tightly.  “Elhalyn blood?  I've become awfully suspicious of you, Dom Regis.  Maybe I've had your dona pegged incorrectly all along.”

“If I had the Elhalyn dona I wouldn't be receiving these useless, disjointed flashes,” said Regis in frustration.

“Laran is unpredictable,” said Catriona.  “Captain?  Adelandeyo.  Master Jinn and Padawan Kenobi, the gap between our galaxies is so large I fear we may never meet again once you start your journey home.  May the Jedi forever triumph.”

“Thank you, Domna,” said Qui-gon.  “I promise you we will sweep your skies clear of any remaining Sith.”

After Danilo finished his parting words, Kirk nodded to Scotty.  “Beam them down by the tower at Hali.”

“Not too close,” said Catriona quickly.  “My sisters will be on alert.  Strangers who appear without warning may be struck down by laran before explanations can be given.  I'm certain they will have all their protections up.  Put us down about a half-mile off.  It's no trouble to walk the distance.”

“Very well,” said the Captain.  “Scotty?”

The trio vanished with silvery shimmers.

“I can't say why, but I feel worried now that they're gone,” said Obi-wan.  “It's like I don't want them out of my sight.”

“I understand what you mean,” said the Captain,  “almost.  And if they hadn't put the fear of God into me half a dozen times already, I'd agree with you.  Frankly, I appreciate not having to worry about my guests.”

“Young Hastur is right about one thing,” said Qui-gon.  “We're not close to being done.  Even if reduced to a few starfighters, the Sith will be difficult to locate.” 

-oOo-

When the Captain arrived back on the bridge, he was highly displeased to see Dyan Ardais sitting in his command chair. 

“Dom Ardais.”

“Captain.”

The Darkovan was bent over his matrix.  /Is he actually performing some useful function?/

“Yes,” Ardais replied.  “I see you remember remarks made years ago.”

Kirk made his mind go blank.  Ardais faced him coldly.  “What is the proportion of human to machine pilots in the starfighters?” Dyan asked.

“One to five, according to the Jedi and the counts Mr. Spock has made from the damage reports.”

Dyan was resting his hand in his chin, still watching the Captain.  Kirk shifted, yearning to boot the man hard. 

“I decided to see if I could locate the mind of their leader, this Plagueis.” 

“And?” Kirk prompted.

“I found other minds, and began to count them.  I have counted seventy-nine so far.”

Kirk went still.  “What?”

“Seventy-nine.”

“Refugees picked up by the starfighters from the Raptor?” suggested Sulu.

“No,” replied Dyan.  “I can sense their environments.  One small ship, one mind apiece.  Seventy-nine minds.”

“Are you kidding me?” said Kirk, keeping his voice even.

Dyan gave him a baleful look.  “I DO NOT joke about enemies on a battlefield.”

“From what direction?” Kirk asked.

Dyan lifted a finger and pointed it at an angle. 

“Mr. Chekov?” prompted Kirk.

Perturbed at taking coordinates from a finger, Chekov hazarded, “twenty-three degrees?”  He studied his databanks. 

Kirk stared at Dyan.  Lord Ardais stared back.

“Mr. Chekov.  Plot a course.  We need to check this out.”

-oOo-

The Enterprise didn't have to travel far.  They found hundreds of starfighters, a massive swarm of them, all commanded by a huge Super Star Destroyer.

They'd found the Nihilus, Lord Plagueis' flagship.

“Shit,” said Kirk, breaking his rule not to swear (much) while on the bridge.

-oOo-