Darkvision - Bruce R. Cordell [59]
"That's crazy." Warian moved forward and pulled a burning coal from an iron pot below the lamp to relight the wick. Only the finest accoutrements for House Datharathi's private skyship, after all.
"Is it? You have a crystal prosthesis. You're no plangent, true enough, but in the eyes of the others, you're more like them than not."
"Only plangents can wield power in the family business?"
Zeltaebar nodded.
"Then why don't you take the implant?"
"Because something's wrong. I wouldn't take that crystal into my body if you paid me my life trust in one payment."
Warian was surprised. For Zel to walk away from money and power, the reason would have to be spectacular. Warian had left behind his own trust for ideological reasons, but in his experience, Zel was less principled. In fact, he had always felt that his uncle was motivated primarily by money. Personal danger was only one more calculation in Zel's balance sheet of life.
"Wait. If you think something's wrong with the plangents, why were you hunting Eined to force her into the procedure?" Warian demanded.
Zel's hands went up in a placatory gesture. "Hold on, hold on. I wasn't going to turn her in, you numbskull!"
"Is that so?"
"Yes! When I found her, I planned on fleeing the city with her. I wouldn't force the crystal on my own blood kin, for doom's sake!"
"But she's going to the site, right? That's what you told me at the meeting today," Warian accused.
Zel smirked and nodded, but held up a hand again. "You're a smart kid, Warian. I know you have more going on up there than the rest of the family gives you credit for. Plus, you seem to be half plangent. You have their strength and speed, maybe even more than they do, from what my boys said…"
"Only when it's triggered, and then it drains me near to death," Warian interrupted.
"Sure, sure-but you get to access the good stuff, without the downsides I've noticed." Zel cast his eyes to the floor.
Warian waited a moment, then said, "Please, go on. I know you love center stage, Uncle."
Zel smiled his agreement and continued. "It's nothing definite-just circumstantial events, and weird feelings I sometimes get when I talk to my brother or sister. We all were pretty close growing up. Of course, we grew apart as adults-we each fell into the role that best suited us in Datharathi Minerals. But I've known Xaemar and Sevaera since we all toddled to nursery school together. And ever since they've taken the crystal, they've been different."
"Better, you mean?"
"Yes, but also…" he cleared his throat. "Every so often, I'll be talking to one of them, and out of the blue I feel like I'm talking to someone else. The same someone else-every time, and with both of them. And I tell you what. Whoever that someone is, he seems a right bastard."
"Have you ever called this 'other' out on its supposed presence-told it you knew it was there?" wondered Warian.
"Almost. Right after the family meeting today. I found Xaemar to get his signature on a requisition. As we spoke, he changed. I looked up and saw a darkness-a hunger behind his eyes that made my skin crawl. It seemed unholy. I said, 'Brother, what's got you so excited?' He just laughed. I pretty much ran out of there. His laughter chased me.
"When I got that report about Eined's escape, I sneaked up to the roof and stowed aboard. I never want to see what lives inside my brother again."
"Sounds sort of crazy, Uncle. But now that you mention it, I did notice everyone acted a little strange at the meeting-more thoughtful than their usual charge-ahead style. Maybe it's just another malfunction, like my arm, but psychological."
"Maybe," said Zel, doubtfully.
"Well, we'll talk to Shaddon about this tomorrow. He's the lead on the plangent project. He'll help me repair my arm, and maybe he can calm your fears about your siblings."
"Or confirm them."
"Maybe Shaddon needs to tweak his crystal implantation technique," Warian conceded.
"There's another possibility," said Zel. "He could be contaminated, too. After all, he's subjected himself to the same plangent treatment.