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a fewcybots. The monitoring system was shut down to only a few rooms where entryinto the facility is made. When we received an activation alarm from rooms thatwere not being vid-sequenced it sent up a red flag. I was informed right away.There was no doubt in my mind who had infiltrated the facility and what theywere doing.”

“Why didn’t you just let us know?” Shaneedemanded.

“Because in order to get into the facilitywithout detection, it is going to take someone like Quinn,” Bakari told her.“With the Maze the Scaan have developed, he can get in, shut down thealarms and the Storian Web Harmattan-Jost and her son have no doubt booted up,and then we can transport Quinn and Ailyn out of there.”

“She’ll have taken what she wants by now,”Shanee said, “and have undergone Transition.”

“Doubtful,” Leveche said. “A ghoret biteleaves a Reaper pretty well incapacitated for at least a week, Shanee. They mayhave started taking the fledglings but they won’t be able to use them untilthey know for sure the parasite doesn’t have even one drop of venom in it. Ifit does, it would kill her the moment it is dropped into her body.”

“She’s a dead woman anyway,” Shanee vowed.

“You said fledglings as in plural,” Miriamspoke up. “I thought it was just the mother who wanted a parasite.”

“It might have started out that way,”Bakari agreed, “but I think it’s progressed beyond that now.”

“She’s figured out she can sell them on theblack market,” Leveche said, his jaw flexing. “That’s a lot of money and therewill be people who will line up to shell it out to live virtually forever.”

“We were afraid that would happen,” thearch-counselor put in.

“Those fledglings must be destroyed,”Bakari said. “If even one of them falls into the wrong hands, you’ll have thebeginnings of disaster.”

“Do I understand that there is someone onR-9 who knows how to harvest the fledglings?” General Strom inquired. “Whoeverthat is, I want him.”

“Aye,” Bakari said. “Perse Cean and two ofher Ceannus are once again on R-9.”

Shanee gasped. “Oh god, no!” she said.

“Don’t worry, Shanee,” the ex-Burgon said.“Cean and her assistants won’t ever leave that planet. I swear they won’t.”

“But he was so scared of her,” Shanee said.

“And with good reason,” Bakari said.

“Are you sure it’s Cean?” Leveche asked.

“Aye, I’m sure,” Bakari snapped. “I’ve seenthe vid-seqs coming from there and I’d recognize that evil bitch anywhere. Sheis as ugly as stepped-in dog shit.” His eyes narrowed. “And by the way, she’smine. I’ll take her out myself.”

“But you’ll leave Elspeth Jost to me,”Shanee told him.

“If she’s Transitioned, you won’t be amatch for her, daughter,” Polemusa put in. Her eyes had not left Ryden Bakari.

The ex-Burgon actually blushed at the lookthe defense queen was sending his way. “She’s right, Shanee. Even at heradvanced age, with a hellion growing inside her, she’ll be a very powerfulfoe.”

Shanee met Bakari’s gaze. “I’ll be readyfor her, Burgon. She will pay for hurting my man.”

Bakari nodded slowly. “I see. Do you thinkyour husband will approve of what you are intending?”

Shanee lifted her chin. “It is my right toprotect him as it is his right to protect me. I love Ailyn Harmattan and I haveno desire for him to ever be alone again. I have to do this.”

“Do what?” Polemusa asked. Her eyebrowswere drawn together. “What is it you are thinking of doing, daughter?”

“She wants to become a Reaper,” Levechesaid quietly. He’d read it in her mind an hour earlier but had not mentionedit.

“No!” Polemusa hissed. “Burgon, you cannotallow that!”

“It is my decision, Mother, not yours orhis,” Shanee said. “He understands.”

“As do I, Shanee,” Leveche said. “But thinkcarefully for once done, it cannot be undone.”

Polemusa rushed to Bakari and grabbed hisarm in a fierce grip. “Please talk her out of this. Please!” she asked,shocking everyone in the room with her use of the word. “I do not want my onlychild to go through such a thing!”

“Milady,” Bakari said. “Shanee won’t bediminished by it. She will be enhanced. She is not the first Amazeen to embracethis way of life nor will she be the last, I imagine. As she said, it is herdecision.”

“Do you fear she will be more of a warriorthan you once the deed is done?” Leveche asked quietly.

“No, of course not,” Polemusa said. “I lovemy child and I would not see her hurt.” She turned to Shanee. “Did I not returnas soon as you told me what had happened to your man? Does that not say I havegreat affection for you, Shanee?”

“Aye, it does, Mother,” Shanee said, “and Iam grateful you came back. I needed you then and I need you now. Try tounderstand. I love Ailyn and I will be the one to put down the bitch who isresponsible for all the evil things in his life.”

“I wish to the gods I’d known his motherhad been a spy for the Alliance. I could have warned him,” Bakari said, “but Inever viewed those vid-seqs. I didn’t want to know any more about what hadhappened at R-9 than I already knew. For that, I am sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Burgon,” Polemusaassured him. “How could anyone know a mother would setup her own son to bekilled?”

“She would have been taken into custody hadshe not vanished before we could arrest her. Jost too since we knew it was hewho contracted for Ailyn’s assassination,” Strom said. “Someone saved us thetrouble with him.”

“The wife,” the arch-counselor stated.

“I’m not so sure,” Leveche said. “From allindications, the stepson had no love for Jost. He could have done it.”

“O’Shay wasn’t the only one contracting forShanee’s demise. Someone else whose identity I haven’t been able to discoveralso put hits out on her,” Bakari said.

“Still no word on where O’Shay has gone toground?” Leveche asked.

“No, but I’ll catch up with the bastard,”Bakari stated.

“So when do we leave to get my husbandback?” Shanee asked. She was still standing, her hands clenched into fists ather side.

“As soon as I have my other men sealing offthe corridors into and out of R-9 airspace,” Bakari said. “Neither old ladyHarmattan-Jost or Cean is going to escape the noose.”

“Who are you stationing