The Chalice by P.L. Parker Page B

weapons and the navigation systems—and
    open up some of the informational ones. Maybe we can guide them  towards the
    ones we can use to interact.”
    Vaux shrugged though Tegan caught the flash of admiration. “As you wish, but
    I’m  surprised they’ve m ade it as far as they have.”

    “They m ay be prim itive by our standards, but they do possess rudimentary skills. In the same circumstances, we would be interested in learning everything about our captors.” He grinned, intrigued by the females’ machinations. “We would be planning our escape.”
    “ We’re not their captors.”
    “But they don’t know that.” He brushed back his hair. “We need to find a way
    to stim ulate their interest in us.”
    The young tech piped up. “I remem ber when my father wanted something from
    my mother, he’d bring her gifts. Perhaps we could do the same.”
    “Did we ask for your opinion?” Vaux snapped, glaring at the young male.
    Tegan rolled the idea over in his m ind. The concept bore investigation. Theyknew so little about the human Chalices. The Chiagan-Se females, at least thosehe knew in the before tim e, were provided with every comfort. Gifts were rareand costly. He could think of nothing they had that m ight appeal to the humans.
    “ But what would the Chalices want from  us besides their freedom ?”
    “We’ve given them  food and a place to live—everything our Chalices would have had. I do not see that we need to do more.” Vaux fairly glowered as he voiced his opinion. “Pampering them  will gain us nothing but problems later on.”
    “We could give them  sweets like those from  Mai’Tron,” the young tech
    interrupted again. “My mother was especially fond of the blue ones.”
    “Did we invite your input again?” Vaux growled, growing more annoyed by the
    tech’s second intrusion. “Return to your duties.”
    Deflated, the tech drew to attention, saluted then faced the console, face
    flam ing.
    “Maybe he’s right,” Tegan murmured, pitying the youth’s chagrin. “But I suggest we scan Kormak’s logs again— gather more information into the form er existence of the human Chalices. When we know more, we can reevaluate and
    make our plans. This separation weighs on my patience.”
    “I’ll have some of my assistants undertake the scanning. My tim e is better
    spent keeping us ahead of the Deg’Nara.”
    “I can do it,” the eager young tech exclaimed, jum ping from  his seat. “I’m
    excellent at research and I would consider it an honor.”
    Vaux heaved an exaggerated sigh. “So be it. Perhaps I’ll have some peace and
    quiet if he’s occupied elsewhere.”
    “W hat’s your nam e?” Tegan called after the departing young tech. “I need to
    know who to contact.”

    The tech stopped and turned. “Branos—and you won’t regret selecting me.”
    ****

    Excited, Kara patted Moira’s shoulder. “You’re doing great.”
    Irish’s fingers flew across the board. It’d taken them  hours of frustration andrerouting, but she was in and navigating the ship’s com puter systems. Access to
    some programs was still blocked, but she’d hacked what appeared to be the library records. Even better, most of those appeared to be the personal logs of their nemesis, Kormak.
    “This has been almost too easy.” Anne leaned over Moira’s shoulder, eyes
    glued to the image screen. “Don’t you agree?”
    “It wasnae easy.” Moira opened a file, chuffing as the screen flashed with unintelligible etchings. “But I agree.” She turned to face the small group clustered around her shoulders. “Seems as though files are jum ping oot at me, but I dinnae noo what it means.”
    “Means somebody’s directing traffic.” Dread touched the console, opening another file. A much younger Korm ak addressed the screen in the lilting speech of the breeders. “Ain’t helping one bit,” she said.
    For some strange reason, the younger images of