Of Fire and Night - Kevin J. Anderson [109]
Still fighting her inner turmoil, Nira stared at the stark fence around the camp. The breeding barracks were silent, empty. Medical kithmen no longer performed fertility tests on the women, nor did they take sperm samples from the males for their stockpiles. Even as a young girl Osira'h remembered hearing cries and groans coming from those dark buildings. Designate Udru'h had turned on sound-dampeners, kept her inside the instructional rooms, and told her not to waste a moment's thought on the human captives. With no reason to doubt him, she had done what he told her to do.
Turning from the fence, Nira skewered Daro'h with a glare. "If the experiments have stopped, why do these people remain prisoners?"
Osira'h glanced at her mother, then regarded Daro'h with hardened eyes. "Do you plan to thrive on secrets like Udru'h, or will you seek cooperation from humans and Ildirans?"
When he looked at her, she wondered if he saw a young half sister he had never known or simply a mixed-breed child who might be the savior of the Ildiran Empire. "What further cooperation do we require from the humans? What more do we need to do for them?" Daro'h scanned the old drab structures, the somehow hopeful vegetable gardens, the men and women quietly going about their chores. "If their duties were so distasteful, are they not pleased now that the breeding work has been placed on hiatus? What more can I do?"
Osira'h gave an exasperated sigh, but she would not give up on Daro'h. He had not asked for this. The secrets and lies and pain were Udru'h's fault. Raised to think only of the Empire, Daro'h did not consider that others--humans--might not have been willing to pay such a cost. "Generations were raised with no purpose but to mate with Ildirans and bear half-breed children. They knew no other life or hope until my mother told them stories of the Spiral Arm." She put her hands on her small hips. "They deserve better, Daro'h."
Daro'h looked from the girl to the green priest. "But I cannot change the past. What would you have me do?"
Osira'h and her mother had discussed their options thoroughly before coming to a conclusion. Nira said, "Their forefathers came in the Burton to form a colony. The Ildirans promised them friendship, then deceived them. All these humans ever wanted was to settle Dobro in peace."
Osira'h finished. "Let them found their own colony. Dobro can be their home, instead of their prison."
It was clear Daro'h had never considered that solution, had never even imagined there might be a question to consider. "You mean I should just . . . free them?"
Nira gestured to the dry grassy hills. "Considering some of the places the Burton might have settled, Dobro is a good enough world. Crops can be grown. Let the people build their settlement here, but let it be a place of their own--not a prison camp."
After considering, the Designate barked to the guard kithmen standing near the fence, still watching the captives out of habit. "Open the gates. I wish to speak with these human descendants." Osira'h gave him an encouraging nod, and waited to see exactly what he would do. Nira kept her thoughts to herself, seeming stagestruck.
Guard kithmen shouted for the humans to come forward. Benn Stoner stepped close enough to face Daro'h, both curious and concerned to see him with the odd girl and the green priest. Stoner looked at his muttering comrades, men and women of various ages, as if he would try to protect all of his charges. Obviously, after so long, the human descendants expected no good to arise from a Designate's summons.
Daro'h raised his voice. "I am now your Designate, and it is my decision to institute certain changes."
"What sort of changes?" Stoner sounded defensive and suspicious.
When young Daro'h looked at Osira'h, taken aback by the reaction, Nira coolly explained, "Think of what they've been through. To these people, changes are rarely a good thing."
"Tell them they can have their colony," Osira'h said.
"I will show them instead." Daro'h shouted to the