Read Inherit the Stars for Free Online

have initiated our request?” The Sarrhdtuu’s voice contained a heavy lisp.
    â€œIndeed I have, Zhhl. I hope your operations have gone well?” Sweat dribbled down his nose and past his lips.
    Zhhl writhed back and forth across the floor. “What of the rebels of Meh Sat? Luccan’s progeny.”
    Dunaar smoothed his yellow robes. “There is a slight change I must discuss with you concerning our plot.”
    â€œTell.” Zhhl ceased writhing and morphed into a wall. The coils crawled along the surface as the jelly body adopted a thinner, longer shape.
    â€œI have dispatched a Savant to take the Juxj Star on Vstrunn, as you suggested.”
    Zhhl hissed. “Kith, Prophet of Meh Sat.”
    Dunaar’s pulse quickened. “True, but the one I hired is a salvager. She might evade the Kith; she survived an encounter with them near Xeh’s Crown. My plan will be reported to the Thedes by Sar Redryll. I have no doubt they will attempt to intercept my salvager as soon as she has the gem. Once revealed, I shall track and eradicate the Thede leadership.”
    Zhhl’s information about Redryll’s Thede allegiance had come a year ago. Other sources had revealed his dalliance with Kivita, making him the perfect one to inadvertently reveal the location of his allies. The fool would no doubt usher her and the datacore to his Thede mongrels.
    â€œAldaakians.” Zhhl split itself into three smaller beings and walked on the ceiling.
    â€œThey still patrol the Wraith Star system. Vim willing,they will intercept my salvager. My ship will arrive and create an incident. I already have the appropriate news briefs prepared: an attack on Inheritor shipping to neighboring Tejuit. The Aldaakians will be blamed, and the Thedes will be implicated. I will declare all human worlds under Inheritor protection. That silly peace treaty the Tannocci worlds agreed to with the Aldaakians will be retracted.”
    Dunaar knew Sarrhdtuu and Aldaakians lacked the human Savant ability, though simple devices could detect its presence. Even if Kivita or the gem entered their custody, neither alien species would know how to use them. The Vim had chosen humans, and no one else, to share in their glory.
    Morphing into one form again, Zhhl dropped down before Dunaar. It now stood over twenty feet tall. “Aldaakians must be defeated. They betrayed the Vim. Vengeance, Prophet of Meh Sat.”
    A sweat bead ran down Dunaar’s chin. “Yes, we will avenge the sainted ones. Everything has been set, as we’d originally planned. Do I still have your cooperation?”
    â€œShips will be prepared after new war is declared on Aldaakians. One prize for Sarrhdtuu aid.” Zhhl raised one coil.
    â€œYes?” Dunaar licked sweat from his lips, hoping Zhhl didn’t ask for more human slaves. In their last dealings, Dunaar had depopulated three Bellerion towns just to sate Zhhl’s demands.
    â€œRequire the salvager of the Xeh’s Crown datacore. The one with tendrils of flame on her head.”
    Dunaar had to think for a moment. “You mean Kivita Vondir? She is the salvager I have sent to Vstrunn. The beacon you donated has been placed on her ship.”
    Sliding onto the boom, Zhhl morphed back into piles of coils. “Yes, Prophet of Meh Sat.” The audience was over.
    Dunaar hurried back to the airlock, trying to keep his expression neutral.
    Why would Zhhl want a Savant, when no Sarrhdtuu had ever shown interest in a datacore?

5
    Kivita snapped awake as something wet stung her tonsils and blistered her tongue. Lips numb, she tried to cough. A spasm wrenched her throat before she realized what was going on.
    The cryopod’s tube had splashed pseudoadrine into her mouth. Before she could blink, her gums absorbed the synthetic adrenaline into her bloodstream. Kivita’s limbs jerked once; then energy blazed through her veins and ignited her muscles. Within seconds the sensations