Andrea and her Uncle were chatting over Terza tea after a lunch that by Rygel's standards was more then fit for a Dominar. Not having three stomachs, Berret and Andrea found there was enough food left over for the next thee solar days if need be. Andrea had just checked her timepiece and was making an apology to her uncle about having to leave to check on some diplomatic dispatches when Marai found them in the dinning hall. The female Master Shrike gave the half-human woman a pleasant and toothless smile as she entered the hall.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your mid-day meal with your niece, Master Shrike," said Marai, "But if you have some spare time our Master would like me to show you something you may find of interest."
"That is perfectly all right, Marai. Andrea has to leave to see to some work. I am free if you need me for something for a arn or two," answered Berret, ignoring the fact that he'd never acknowledged Shenna as his "Master."
Andrea had a familiar cock-eyed grin pasted on her face. "Master Shrike... huh, Uncle Jared? Looks like you're moving up in the world," she teased.
Berret cupped her chin in the palm of one hand, "And you are developing your father's annoying sense of humor... it's very disturbing." He bent and kissed the young woman on the forehead. "Thank you for lunch. I'll see you at the palace landing port when Moya arrives," he told her.
Andrea promised to meet him then and left him alone with Marai.
Berret turned to find the reptilian female regarding him with a sly smile on her scaled face. The Master Shrike cocked an enquiring eyebrow at the other and asked, "What? Did you eat somebody pleasant?"
Marai waved off the rib with amusement, "No. I gave up eating people for the Hynerian festival of Rahalla... I was gaining to much weight."
Berret shook his head at the offhanded delivery of the remark and considered again how much the ex-enforcer had changed. They had both become different beings over the course of the many cycles since fate had clashed them together. He felt a strange but somehow right bond with the female Shrike, perhaps because they had both been changed from what they were to who they are now by the love of another.
"Well? What do you have to show me?" asked Berret in curiosity.
"What the hezmana are we doing down here?" Berret asked next over a quarter arn later as Marai lead him along dusty corridors in the palace sub-levels.
"Patience," called Marai and the she urged him to keep up with her.
"I didn't even know the palace had levels this deep in it," Berret said as he looked around him. "We have to be lower then even the ones we fought the Nebari in twenty-something cycles ago."
"We are," answered his companion.
The thought of the long ago battle brought back memories of Chiana and the desperate fight to save their children and friends. That empty place in his heart began to ache once again. He pushed the feeling down as he continued to follow Marai and did his best to fill his thoughts with images of his children and grandchild who would be arriving soon. Those made him feel better even though he received a few quick mental pictures of a young Chulee clutching herself to him as the group gathered in that old storeroom to decide where to run next when he saw a doorway that reminded him of that night. Worse yet was the image of the pulse bolt tearing through Jalen's chest as he tried in vain to reach his son, already knowing he was too late. He shook his head and reminded himself that his son lived and that he would be seeing the younger man in only a few arns.
Before he realized it Marai brought him up short before a plain looking section of wall.
"We're here," she said.
Berret looked around at the empty hallway. "Well, this is very nice. I can see why you thought I should see it," he said in mock sarcasm. "Very nice joke, Marai. Run me around the dusty sub-levels for half an arn to look at a wall. Did Rygel put you up to this?"
Marai smiled and without saying a word stepped forward and placed the ring on one finger against one of the bricks making up the wall. With an almost imperceptible vibration, a door size section of the wall started to sink into the wall's surface. Once the section depressed itself ten or twelve hentas it started to raise up into the ceiling.
"Okay... this is different," admitted Berret finally.
Marai turned and gave him a full-toothed mischievous grin. Once the door fully opened, light elements flickered to life and revealed a huge cavern-like chamber.
"What is this place?" asked the male Shrike curiously.
"This," said Marai proudly as she led the way inside, "Is the Clan headquarters."
She turned to see him gazing around in wide-eyed amazement.
"Welcome, Master Shrike," she said in delight.
"The Clan has been based here on Hyneria... in Rygel's palace, all this time?" Berret asked in disbelieve.
Marai looked around the cavern as she answered, "Well, it hasn't always been here. It use to be scattered around on different worlds in small cells and schools. In the past it was important to keep as much of the Clan secret and out of sight of the powers-that-be as much as possible if it was going to survive. Each cell only knew the existence of one or two other cells, that way if one was discovered the others had time to move before they could be tracked down and destroyed. We believed the Syndicate came to know of our existence by accidentally stumbling over and capturing a single school, they wrung what secrets they could from the members and after collaring them created their Enforcers. Over time they added slaves and other hired killers to the ranks and they lost most of the true teachings of the Clan, which is lucky for us. After that, the schools separated into the smaller cells. No one but the Grandmaster has known the exact location of all the schools and cells for over a thousand cycles. Those schools and cells still exist but this is the first time since the breakup that the Clan now has a central headquarters."
"So when was this made?" asked Berret.
"Shortly after Rygel returned to the throne he saw where the Scarran/Peacekeeper war was heading. He contacted his old friend, our Master, and began planning for the take-over of the Territories from the victor if there was one. Master Shenna already had a vast intelligence network in place that Rygel badly needed, but we needed a central base of operation to collect all the data and organize the operatives. So Rygel ordered this constructed," she waved her arm around to take in the place around them. Berret could see now that there were seemly countless chambers running off of the main cavern. Some of the rooms in sight held lab equipment while others held physical training areas; a few others were what appeared to be classrooms.
"It was risky for all the cells and secluded schools to expose themselves for the first time in hundreds of cycles and to start sending their people and students here to train and receive assignments, but the Master agreed with the Dominar that the risk was worth it," Marai went on to explain. "We lost a great many good people during the conflict, but the Clan was able to swing the tide of the war and survive to thrive afterwards."
Berret nodded his head as he absorbed the information. "Where is everyone?" he asked.
Marai led him deeper into the hidden base. "Master Shenna commanded that everyone vacant the cavern during your visit to allow us to talk freely and for you to ask questions without being disturbed by the normal activity here. Most of the agents are on assignment now anyway and there are mostly Techs and support people present this weeken."
Berret caught something unspoken in Marai statement. "And Shenna doesn't want me to see any of the Clan members until he's certain I'm in it for the long run; as they say on Earth," he concluded.
The female Shrike didn't attempt to deny his comment, instead she nodded an affirmative to him.
"You can't blame him for taking the precaution. He has to consider the welfare of the Clan first and the individual second."
"I see," Berret said. "This is amazing and I could almost twist Rygel's ear off for keeping this a secret from me all these cycles. No wonder Shenna was able to keep such close track of me all this time. Why didn't Rygel ever tell me what he knew about the Shrikes? Why not bring me in on this from the beginning?"
Marai stepped around in front of the man and halt his tour of the facility.
"You have to understand. Our Clan has served the Dominar's family since the rule of Rygel the VIII. To Rygel the XVI, you and I were not real Shrikes... we were frauds... fakes, nothing but murders for the underworld. Rygel knew he could trust the Shrikes of his forefathers, but not us... so he remained silent and honored his oath to the Clan that served his family not to reveal our existence to outsiders. He knew if he broke faith the Clans would no longer serve him and he needed us. Until the Grandmaster vouched for us and decided to add us to the Clan rolls... none would ever tell us the truth about the Shrike tribes. When I originally left the Clan, I had no idea of its complexity. As far as I knew I was only one of a few students being taught by an eccentric old man. When Shenna stopped teaching me what I wanted to learn and tried to heal my mental wounds; I left and shortly fell in with the Syndicate, who completed what training I had with the limited knowledge they possessed. Had I stayed, I would have eventually been instated and learned the truth behind the Clan's history and real status."
"Okay," commented Berret. "So they let you back in after Shenna freed you and filled you in on the history they were holding back. Why did he wait so long with me? Why not try and bring me into the fold at the same time?"
"My time had come for me to take my place within the Clan. The Master retrieved me and retrained me to fulfill my destiny. Your time and place was not ready yet, so the Master instructed Rygel to leave you in the dark to develop on your own. Of course, occasionally he had the Dominar steer you in a certain direction when he was able."
Marai saw the frown start to develop on Berret's face and she hurried to head the coming look of anger off.
"Master Shenna was not being cruel," she gushed out. "He saw the potential in you and he was just seeking to bring you into being the best you could be. To temper and re-hone you, so that no one could ever do what the Syndicate did to you... to us, ever again. He cares about each and every one of us as if we were each and every one, his own children."
Berret gave her a look of disbelief, "So even though he's manipulated me most of my life, I'm suppose to forgive him because he was only helping us grow into being the best soldier, spy, or cold-blooded assassin we could be? Is that right?"
"No, that is not it at all," countered Marai.
"Well, I'm glad he thinks of himself as the loving father figure of a group of killers."
Marai cocked her head to one side and then asked, "Do you think of your niece, Andrea, as nothing but a cold-hearted killer?"
"What do you mean?" snapped the Shrike as he turned on her.
Marai held her ground in the face of his rising anger. "Andrea is a member of the Clan."
"What are you talking about?" he asked stunned. "You're trying to tell me Shenna turned Andrea into a Shrike!" Berret voice rose almost into a shout.
"Not a Shrike as you and I are. This is what I've been trying to make you understand. For true Shrikes it does not began and end with learning how to deal death. You heard me tell you earlier that there are techs and support personal stationed here. Some Shrikes' talents lay in with working with biomechanics, other's chemistry or metallurgy. Some Shrikes like us lean more toward the actual arts of warfare, I happen to also have organizational skills beside that. Still others have a talent for diplomatic negotiations... such as Andrea."
"So she has never been sent to assassinate anyone?" asked Berret.
"No, not that she is not capable of it if she needs to. She is after all the daughter of an ex-Peacekeeper and in regards to her fighting prowess, she does follow after her mother."
Berret was somewhat relieved. "Do Aeryn and John know that she has been recruited by the Clan?"
The female Master Shrike shook her scaled head, "No, she entered and trained here of her own free will after she started working for the Hynerian government. Rygel and Shenna saw the talent she had as a negotiator and approached her with the opportunity to broaden her skills. She has accomplished more with the skills of her mind in a cycle then could have been done over ten cycles at the point of an army of pulse rifles. Andrea has turned into a very formidable young woman and her opponents never realize they have been beaten or outwitted at the negotiation tables. Just as with you and I, Shenna helped shape her into what she is today. Her parents and you can be proud of her, she has saved countless lives by avoiding armed conflicts."
Berret remind silent for a few microts and then turned back to her. "I hate being played around with and having someone else decide my future for me. Then to discover that is what has been going on for so long and I never had a clue makes me wonder about everything that has happened to me and how my life has turned out. Now I will doubt every decision I ever made to some degree."
He turned his back to her as he spoke out into the empty cavern around them.
"Answer me one question," he asked.
"If I can," Marai answered.
"Chiana... It was me who chose Chiana, and it was she who chose me. No one manipulated us?"
"No, it was the both of you," Marai answered with a slight smile. "Not even the Master can work to change what is or isn't in another being's heart. He only might have helped you both along a little is all."
Relieved, Berret faced her again. "Tell Shenna I'm here for the long run then."
Berret barely slept that night. Between the excitement of seeing his children and grandchild to the unsettling data he digested concerning the activities of the new Syndicate to the news that his niece was a member of the Shrike clan, sleep evaded him. He spent a good deal of the night and most of the next morning rereading and researching data. Before he knew it his personal comm chimed and the Comm officer on duty informed him that Moya had reached orbit over Hyneria. He immediate left his apartments and headed for the palace landing field.
The ex-assassin turned as Andrea joined him on the perimeter of the palace landing field at the appointed time. The Transport Pod was two microns out and closing on palace air space.
The young woman gave him an uneasy smile as she gave him a short respectful bow.
"Master Shrike," she said in greeting.
"Knock it off," Berret growled to his niece. "You are in so much trouble, young lady. Wait until I get you away from your parents and alone back at the Clan's HQ. You may just get the first spanking you've had since you were eight cycles old."
"The last one was when I was seven... and I'm glad to see you're taking the news with your usual grace."
"Well then you are really overdue, so don't press your luck," replied Berret.
The young woman smiled up at him while they bantered and then took his hand in one of hers as she excitedly pointed with the other one at the sparking vapor trail left by the Pod as it dropped from orbit.
"Here they come!" she called out.
The Pod broke the low cloud cover and screamed headlong into Palace airspace. Just above the landing field, the vessel nosed up and the retro-rockets braked the ship's speed. Berret found he couldn't decide who the pilot was by the style of flying. Both Aeryn and John over the cycles had developed the same kind of reckless piloting skills. Worse yet, even at a young age, Jalen seemed to take great delight in mimicking his aunt and uncle's daredevil flying antics. The Pod's landing gear dropped into position just a bare microt before the ship touched down, and the craft settled down in a cloud of dust and debris. Andrea's hold tightened on his hand and he gazed down at the young woman, realizing that she was just as excited to be seeing their family as he was. With Rygel keeping her busy, Berret considered that his niece hadn't seen them in quite a long time. The Transport's gangway lowered and locked into position and the hatchway opened to reveal a keyed up Chulee.
"Dad!" she called as she bound down the steps and sped toward him.
Berret found his eyes welling up with tears of joy as he watched her run to met him. Her snow-white hair and grown down to the middle of her back and was streaming behind her as she ran. Several paces away from him, Chulee leaped into the air and sailed into his opened arms. Berret embraced his daughter, not minding when her wild mass of hair finally caught up with the lithe woman and covered them in a shroud.
"Chulee, my baby. I'm so happy to see you," he murmured, hugging her tighter.
"Me too, I'm so glad you're back," she replied and then covered his cheek with kisses.
Somewhere near them, he could hear Aeryn and John greeting Andrea. A gray hand patted his arm and Berret looked up to find himself gazing into his son's smiling face.
"Jalen!" he cried in greeting and then drew the younger man into the embrace he already shared with his daughter.
"Welcome home, Dad. We missed you," his son told him as he hugged his father back.
"I've missed you all so much," he told his offspring.
He was about to ask them a few questions about their trip home when a heavy hand slammed into his back and nearly bowled him over. Spinning around, he turned to see D'argo and Zhaan standing behind him with big smiles on their faces. With a roar of delight, the huge Luxan charged in and swept Berret up off his feet in a hug.
"I knew you'd come crawling back, Shrike!" rumbled the warrior as he repeatedly slapped the man's back in greeting with one huge palm.
"I didn't come 'crawling back,' you big oaf... but I will be crawling everywhere else if you don't let go and put me down," said Berret, despite the words, the Shrike was pounding the big Luxan on the back in greeting also, just as happy as he was to see huge warrior. D'argo set him down with a deep rumbling chuckle and Zhaan moved forward to take his place. She paused a few microts to wave her hands around in front of him in a blessing before moving in to hug him, more gently than her mate did.
"The Goddess has answered my prayers and returned you safely to us, Jared. I'm glad to finally see you home," Zhaan said to him with a smile. Berret returned her squeeze and kissed her cheek,
"It's good to see you all too, Zhaan," he replied, "It's great to be... home."
After greeting Malika, Andar, and Missy with the still sleeping Terralyn, he got a chance to talk with John and Aeryn. Berret was also pleasantly surprised to find Joban and the young Delvian Zhara aboard the shuttle. The huge Sebacean, now retired from Rygel's security force, shook the Master Shrike's hand, his grip still as powerful as ever. Zhara smiled and waved pleasantly at Berret but remained off to one side so the family could have a few microns to reunite. Berret could see a few strains of long blue hair peeking out from under her head wrap so he assumed the young woman hadn't taken her first level vows yet. Berret spent a few moments trying to get his granddaughter to wake up, but he was only able to accomplish getting the little girl to sleepily raise her head from her mother's shoulder and give him a small smile before yawning and nodding off again.
"She's just getting over the Sillian flu so she's really tired, Dad," explained Missy as she kissed him hello.
Berret padded the sleeping girl's head and told her mother he understood. He turned back to D'argo and asked,
"Where are Jothee and Tamilla?"
"They were negotiating cargo contracts out system, they are on their way here as we speak," replied he Luxan. D'argo then seemed to make the effort to stand a little taller and puff out his massive chest as he smiled deeply and announced,
"I also have some wonderful news... Tamilla is expecting. I am to be a grandfather!"
Berret gave his friend his heartfelt congratulations; he turned and offered his hand to Joban as well. The big man smiled as he once again pumped the Shrike forearm. With a wink and a wicked grin he said,
"Aye, and D'argo nearly wore my head to a point badgering me into letting him break the news to you. Some sort of Luxan custom and all that."
D'argo snorted at the large Sebacean's comment. "It is always the father's father who announces the coming of a grandchild to family and friends," he said.
Berret lifted an eyebrow at the pair's good-natured bickering; he turned to John and commented,
"Where have I seen this happening before?"
"I haven't a clue," Crichton responded with a grin.
Chulee tugged at his arm to get his attention. Somewhere along the line she had dragged Zhara over to greet him. Besides the young Delvian were Zhaan and Malika... both with a mischievous glint in their eyes.
"Dad, look who's here with us," said Chulee as she pulled the girl forward with her.
Berret smiled and nodded at the Acolyte, "Hello, Zhorra," he said.
Chulee frowned at her father, "Zhara, Dad. You know her name is Zhara."
Zhaan turned to Malika and Chulee and observed, "He is just being difficult."
"Am I?" asked the Master Shrike, "Forgive me then," he said with a grin. Turning back to the young Delvian he bowed his head slightly and repeated, "Hello, Zhara."
The girl had a sense of humor as she was hiding her amused smile with the trouble the Shrike was causing with his daughter and friends behind one slim blue hand.
"Welcome home, Master Shrike," the woman said with a dazzling smile.
"Thank you, Zhara. It is good to see you again. I trust you've been keeping my daughter out of trouble?" he asked.
"Well..." she answered with a deeply thoughtful look. "I've tried my best, but it's hard where Mytell is concerned."
"Zhar!" Chulee said in shock and blushed a bluish-gray.
"Mytell?" asked Berret, "I don't think I know of anyone named Mytell."
Chulee whirled on her friend, "I was going to tell him later!" she said in annoyance. Over Chulee's shoulder Berret winked at the girl who did her best to look abashed at her friend's scolding.
"Sorry, 'Lee. I thought he knew," Zhara replied innocently.
Despite his best effort a smirk inched it's way onto Berret's face. "We can talk more about that later. Right now I believe Rygel is waiting for us all in the Palace."
"I'm sorry to interrupt your mid-day meal with your niece, Master Shrike," said Marai, "But if you have some spare time our Master would like me to show you something you may find of interest."
"That is perfectly all right, Marai. Andrea has to leave to see to some work. I am free if you need me for something for a arn or two," answered Berret, ignoring the fact that he'd never acknowledged Shenna as his "Master."
Andrea had a familiar cock-eyed grin pasted on her face. "Master Shrike... huh, Uncle Jared? Looks like you're moving up in the world," she teased.
Berret cupped her chin in the palm of one hand, "And you are developing your father's annoying sense of humor... it's very disturbing." He bent and kissed the young woman on the forehead. "Thank you for lunch. I'll see you at the palace landing port when Moya arrives," he told her.
Andrea promised to meet him then and left him alone with Marai.
Berret turned to find the reptilian female regarding him with a sly smile on her scaled face. The Master Shrike cocked an enquiring eyebrow at the other and asked, "What? Did you eat somebody pleasant?"
Marai waved off the rib with amusement, "No. I gave up eating people for the Hynerian festival of Rahalla... I was gaining to much weight."
Berret shook his head at the offhanded delivery of the remark and considered again how much the ex-enforcer had changed. They had both become different beings over the course of the many cycles since fate had clashed them together. He felt a strange but somehow right bond with the female Shrike, perhaps because they had both been changed from what they were to who they are now by the love of another.
"Well? What do you have to show me?" asked Berret in curiosity.
"What the hezmana are we doing down here?" Berret asked next over a quarter arn later as Marai lead him along dusty corridors in the palace sub-levels.
"Patience," called Marai and the she urged him to keep up with her.
"I didn't even know the palace had levels this deep in it," Berret said as he looked around him. "We have to be lower then even the ones we fought the Nebari in twenty-something cycles ago."
"We are," answered his companion.
The thought of the long ago battle brought back memories of Chiana and the desperate fight to save their children and friends. That empty place in his heart began to ache once again. He pushed the feeling down as he continued to follow Marai and did his best to fill his thoughts with images of his children and grandchild who would be arriving soon. Those made him feel better even though he received a few quick mental pictures of a young Chulee clutching herself to him as the group gathered in that old storeroom to decide where to run next when he saw a doorway that reminded him of that night. Worse yet was the image of the pulse bolt tearing through Jalen's chest as he tried in vain to reach his son, already knowing he was too late. He shook his head and reminded himself that his son lived and that he would be seeing the younger man in only a few arns.
Before he realized it Marai brought him up short before a plain looking section of wall.
"We're here," she said.
Berret looked around at the empty hallway. "Well, this is very nice. I can see why you thought I should see it," he said in mock sarcasm. "Very nice joke, Marai. Run me around the dusty sub-levels for half an arn to look at a wall. Did Rygel put you up to this?"
Marai smiled and without saying a word stepped forward and placed the ring on one finger against one of the bricks making up the wall. With an almost imperceptible vibration, a door size section of the wall started to sink into the wall's surface. Once the section depressed itself ten or twelve hentas it started to raise up into the ceiling.
"Okay... this is different," admitted Berret finally.
Marai turned and gave him a full-toothed mischievous grin. Once the door fully opened, light elements flickered to life and revealed a huge cavern-like chamber.
"What is this place?" asked the male Shrike curiously.
"This," said Marai proudly as she led the way inside, "Is the Clan headquarters."
She turned to see him gazing around in wide-eyed amazement.
"Welcome, Master Shrike," she said in delight.
"The Clan has been based here on Hyneria... in Rygel's palace, all this time?" Berret asked in disbelieve.
Marai looked around the cavern as she answered, "Well, it hasn't always been here. It use to be scattered around on different worlds in small cells and schools. In the past it was important to keep as much of the Clan secret and out of sight of the powers-that-be as much as possible if it was going to survive. Each cell only knew the existence of one or two other cells, that way if one was discovered the others had time to move before they could be tracked down and destroyed. We believed the Syndicate came to know of our existence by accidentally stumbling over and capturing a single school, they wrung what secrets they could from the members and after collaring them created their Enforcers. Over time they added slaves and other hired killers to the ranks and they lost most of the true teachings of the Clan, which is lucky for us. After that, the schools separated into the smaller cells. No one but the Grandmaster has known the exact location of all the schools and cells for over a thousand cycles. Those schools and cells still exist but this is the first time since the breakup that the Clan now has a central headquarters."
"So when was this made?" asked Berret.
"Shortly after Rygel returned to the throne he saw where the Scarran/Peacekeeper war was heading. He contacted his old friend, our Master, and began planning for the take-over of the Territories from the victor if there was one. Master Shenna already had a vast intelligence network in place that Rygel badly needed, but we needed a central base of operation to collect all the data and organize the operatives. So Rygel ordered this constructed," she waved her arm around to take in the place around them. Berret could see now that there were seemly countless chambers running off of the main cavern. Some of the rooms in sight held lab equipment while others held physical training areas; a few others were what appeared to be classrooms.
"It was risky for all the cells and secluded schools to expose themselves for the first time in hundreds of cycles and to start sending their people and students here to train and receive assignments, but the Master agreed with the Dominar that the risk was worth it," Marai went on to explain. "We lost a great many good people during the conflict, but the Clan was able to swing the tide of the war and survive to thrive afterwards."
Berret nodded his head as he absorbed the information. "Where is everyone?" he asked.
Marai led him deeper into the hidden base. "Master Shenna commanded that everyone vacant the cavern during your visit to allow us to talk freely and for you to ask questions without being disturbed by the normal activity here. Most of the agents are on assignment now anyway and there are mostly Techs and support people present this weeken."
Berret caught something unspoken in Marai statement. "And Shenna doesn't want me to see any of the Clan members until he's certain I'm in it for the long run; as they say on Earth," he concluded.
The female Shrike didn't attempt to deny his comment, instead she nodded an affirmative to him.
"You can't blame him for taking the precaution. He has to consider the welfare of the Clan first and the individual second."
"I see," Berret said. "This is amazing and I could almost twist Rygel's ear off for keeping this a secret from me all these cycles. No wonder Shenna was able to keep such close track of me all this time. Why didn't Rygel ever tell me what he knew about the Shrikes? Why not bring me in on this from the beginning?"
Marai stepped around in front of the man and halt his tour of the facility.
"You have to understand. Our Clan has served the Dominar's family since the rule of Rygel the VIII. To Rygel the XVI, you and I were not real Shrikes... we were frauds... fakes, nothing but murders for the underworld. Rygel knew he could trust the Shrikes of his forefathers, but not us... so he remained silent and honored his oath to the Clan that served his family not to reveal our existence to outsiders. He knew if he broke faith the Clans would no longer serve him and he needed us. Until the Grandmaster vouched for us and decided to add us to the Clan rolls... none would ever tell us the truth about the Shrike tribes. When I originally left the Clan, I had no idea of its complexity. As far as I knew I was only one of a few students being taught by an eccentric old man. When Shenna stopped teaching me what I wanted to learn and tried to heal my mental wounds; I left and shortly fell in with the Syndicate, who completed what training I had with the limited knowledge they possessed. Had I stayed, I would have eventually been instated and learned the truth behind the Clan's history and real status."
"Okay," commented Berret. "So they let you back in after Shenna freed you and filled you in on the history they were holding back. Why did he wait so long with me? Why not try and bring me into the fold at the same time?"
"My time had come for me to take my place within the Clan. The Master retrieved me and retrained me to fulfill my destiny. Your time and place was not ready yet, so the Master instructed Rygel to leave you in the dark to develop on your own. Of course, occasionally he had the Dominar steer you in a certain direction when he was able."
Marai saw the frown start to develop on Berret's face and she hurried to head the coming look of anger off.
"Master Shenna was not being cruel," she gushed out. "He saw the potential in you and he was just seeking to bring you into being the best you could be. To temper and re-hone you, so that no one could ever do what the Syndicate did to you... to us, ever again. He cares about each and every one of us as if we were each and every one, his own children."
Berret gave her a look of disbelief, "So even though he's manipulated me most of my life, I'm suppose to forgive him because he was only helping us grow into being the best soldier, spy, or cold-blooded assassin we could be? Is that right?"
"No, that is not it at all," countered Marai.
"Well, I'm glad he thinks of himself as the loving father figure of a group of killers."
Marai cocked her head to one side and then asked, "Do you think of your niece, Andrea, as nothing but a cold-hearted killer?"
"What do you mean?" snapped the Shrike as he turned on her.
Marai held her ground in the face of his rising anger. "Andrea is a member of the Clan."
"What are you talking about?" he asked stunned. "You're trying to tell me Shenna turned Andrea into a Shrike!" Berret voice rose almost into a shout.
"Not a Shrike as you and I are. This is what I've been trying to make you understand. For true Shrikes it does not began and end with learning how to deal death. You heard me tell you earlier that there are techs and support personal stationed here. Some Shrikes' talents lay in with working with biomechanics, other's chemistry or metallurgy. Some Shrikes like us lean more toward the actual arts of warfare, I happen to also have organizational skills beside that. Still others have a talent for diplomatic negotiations... such as Andrea."
"So she has never been sent to assassinate anyone?" asked Berret.
"No, not that she is not capable of it if she needs to. She is after all the daughter of an ex-Peacekeeper and in regards to her fighting prowess, she does follow after her mother."
Berret was somewhat relieved. "Do Aeryn and John know that she has been recruited by the Clan?"
The female Master Shrike shook her scaled head, "No, she entered and trained here of her own free will after she started working for the Hynerian government. Rygel and Shenna saw the talent she had as a negotiator and approached her with the opportunity to broaden her skills. She has accomplished more with the skills of her mind in a cycle then could have been done over ten cycles at the point of an army of pulse rifles. Andrea has turned into a very formidable young woman and her opponents never realize they have been beaten or outwitted at the negotiation tables. Just as with you and I, Shenna helped shape her into what she is today. Her parents and you can be proud of her, she has saved countless lives by avoiding armed conflicts."
Berret remind silent for a few microts and then turned back to her. "I hate being played around with and having someone else decide my future for me. Then to discover that is what has been going on for so long and I never had a clue makes me wonder about everything that has happened to me and how my life has turned out. Now I will doubt every decision I ever made to some degree."
He turned his back to her as he spoke out into the empty cavern around them.
"Answer me one question," he asked.
"If I can," Marai answered.
"Chiana... It was me who chose Chiana, and it was she who chose me. No one manipulated us?"
"No, it was the both of you," Marai answered with a slight smile. "Not even the Master can work to change what is or isn't in another being's heart. He only might have helped you both along a little is all."
Relieved, Berret faced her again. "Tell Shenna I'm here for the long run then."
Berret barely slept that night. Between the excitement of seeing his children and grandchild to the unsettling data he digested concerning the activities of the new Syndicate to the news that his niece was a member of the Shrike clan, sleep evaded him. He spent a good deal of the night and most of the next morning rereading and researching data. Before he knew it his personal comm chimed and the Comm officer on duty informed him that Moya had reached orbit over Hyneria. He immediate left his apartments and headed for the palace landing field.
The ex-assassin turned as Andrea joined him on the perimeter of the palace landing field at the appointed time. The Transport Pod was two microns out and closing on palace air space.
The young woman gave him an uneasy smile as she gave him a short respectful bow.
"Master Shrike," she said in greeting.
"Knock it off," Berret growled to his niece. "You are in so much trouble, young lady. Wait until I get you away from your parents and alone back at the Clan's HQ. You may just get the first spanking you've had since you were eight cycles old."
"The last one was when I was seven... and I'm glad to see you're taking the news with your usual grace."
"Well then you are really overdue, so don't press your luck," replied Berret.
The young woman smiled up at him while they bantered and then took his hand in one of hers as she excitedly pointed with the other one at the sparking vapor trail left by the Pod as it dropped from orbit.
"Here they come!" she called out.
The Pod broke the low cloud cover and screamed headlong into Palace airspace. Just above the landing field, the vessel nosed up and the retro-rockets braked the ship's speed. Berret found he couldn't decide who the pilot was by the style of flying. Both Aeryn and John over the cycles had developed the same kind of reckless piloting skills. Worse yet, even at a young age, Jalen seemed to take great delight in mimicking his aunt and uncle's daredevil flying antics. The Pod's landing gear dropped into position just a bare microt before the ship touched down, and the craft settled down in a cloud of dust and debris. Andrea's hold tightened on his hand and he gazed down at the young woman, realizing that she was just as excited to be seeing their family as he was. With Rygel keeping her busy, Berret considered that his niece hadn't seen them in quite a long time. The Transport's gangway lowered and locked into position and the hatchway opened to reveal a keyed up Chulee.
"Dad!" she called as she bound down the steps and sped toward him.
Berret found his eyes welling up with tears of joy as he watched her run to met him. Her snow-white hair and grown down to the middle of her back and was streaming behind her as she ran. Several paces away from him, Chulee leaped into the air and sailed into his opened arms. Berret embraced his daughter, not minding when her wild mass of hair finally caught up with the lithe woman and covered them in a shroud.
"Chulee, my baby. I'm so happy to see you," he murmured, hugging her tighter.
"Me too, I'm so glad you're back," she replied and then covered his cheek with kisses.
Somewhere near them, he could hear Aeryn and John greeting Andrea. A gray hand patted his arm and Berret looked up to find himself gazing into his son's smiling face.
"Jalen!" he cried in greeting and then drew the younger man into the embrace he already shared with his daughter.
"Welcome home, Dad. We missed you," his son told him as he hugged his father back.
"I've missed you all so much," he told his offspring.
He was about to ask them a few questions about their trip home when a heavy hand slammed into his back and nearly bowled him over. Spinning around, he turned to see D'argo and Zhaan standing behind him with big smiles on their faces. With a roar of delight, the huge Luxan charged in and swept Berret up off his feet in a hug.
"I knew you'd come crawling back, Shrike!" rumbled the warrior as he repeatedly slapped the man's back in greeting with one huge palm.
"I didn't come 'crawling back,' you big oaf... but I will be crawling everywhere else if you don't let go and put me down," said Berret, despite the words, the Shrike was pounding the big Luxan on the back in greeting also, just as happy as he was to see huge warrior. D'argo set him down with a deep rumbling chuckle and Zhaan moved forward to take his place. She paused a few microts to wave her hands around in front of him in a blessing before moving in to hug him, more gently than her mate did.
"The Goddess has answered my prayers and returned you safely to us, Jared. I'm glad to finally see you home," Zhaan said to him with a smile. Berret returned her squeeze and kissed her cheek,
"It's good to see you all too, Zhaan," he replied, "It's great to be... home."
After greeting Malika, Andar, and Missy with the still sleeping Terralyn, he got a chance to talk with John and Aeryn. Berret was also pleasantly surprised to find Joban and the young Delvian Zhara aboard the shuttle. The huge Sebacean, now retired from Rygel's security force, shook the Master Shrike's hand, his grip still as powerful as ever. Zhara smiled and waved pleasantly at Berret but remained off to one side so the family could have a few microns to reunite. Berret could see a few strains of long blue hair peeking out from under her head wrap so he assumed the young woman hadn't taken her first level vows yet. Berret spent a few moments trying to get his granddaughter to wake up, but he was only able to accomplish getting the little girl to sleepily raise her head from her mother's shoulder and give him a small smile before yawning and nodding off again.
"She's just getting over the Sillian flu so she's really tired, Dad," explained Missy as she kissed him hello.
Berret padded the sleeping girl's head and told her mother he understood. He turned back to D'argo and asked,
"Where are Jothee and Tamilla?"
"They were negotiating cargo contracts out system, they are on their way here as we speak," replied he Luxan. D'argo then seemed to make the effort to stand a little taller and puff out his massive chest as he smiled deeply and announced,
"I also have some wonderful news... Tamilla is expecting. I am to be a grandfather!"
Berret gave his friend his heartfelt congratulations; he turned and offered his hand to Joban as well. The big man smiled as he once again pumped the Shrike forearm. With a wink and a wicked grin he said,
"Aye, and D'argo nearly wore my head to a point badgering me into letting him break the news to you. Some sort of Luxan custom and all that."
D'argo snorted at the large Sebacean's comment. "It is always the father's father who announces the coming of a grandchild to family and friends," he said.
Berret lifted an eyebrow at the pair's good-natured bickering; he turned to John and commented,
"Where have I seen this happening before?"
"I haven't a clue," Crichton responded with a grin.
Chulee tugged at his arm to get his attention. Somewhere along the line she had dragged Zhara over to greet him. Besides the young Delvian were Zhaan and Malika... both with a mischievous glint in their eyes.
"Dad, look who's here with us," said Chulee as she pulled the girl forward with her.
Berret smiled and nodded at the Acolyte, "Hello, Zhorra," he said.
Chulee frowned at her father, "Zhara, Dad. You know her name is Zhara."
Zhaan turned to Malika and Chulee and observed, "He is just being difficult."
"Am I?" asked the Master Shrike, "Forgive me then," he said with a grin. Turning back to the young Delvian he bowed his head slightly and repeated, "Hello, Zhara."
The girl had a sense of humor as she was hiding her amused smile with the trouble the Shrike was causing with his daughter and friends behind one slim blue hand.
"Welcome home, Master Shrike," the woman said with a dazzling smile.
"Thank you, Zhara. It is good to see you again. I trust you've been keeping my daughter out of trouble?" he asked.
"Well..." she answered with a deeply thoughtful look. "I've tried my best, but it's hard where Mytell is concerned."
"Zhar!" Chulee said in shock and blushed a bluish-gray.
"Mytell?" asked Berret, "I don't think I know of anyone named Mytell."
Chulee whirled on her friend, "I was going to tell him later!" she said in annoyance. Over Chulee's shoulder Berret winked at the girl who did her best to look abashed at her friend's scolding.
"Sorry, 'Lee. I thought he knew," Zhara replied innocently.
Despite his best effort a smirk inched it's way onto Berret's face. "We can talk more about that later. Right now I believe Rygel is waiting for us all in the Palace."