NO sooner had the young Sumaan pilot, Ashay, landed the shuttle back at the Hkariyash than he was ordered to return to the U'Churian vessel, the Rryuk's Profit.

"They have need of the Human medications on board their shuttle," said Captain Kishasayzar, speaking to him in their own language over the comm. "Carrie Aldatan has been seriously injured. Place yourself under Captain Tirak's orders for now. Their vessel may need protection until this fighting stops."

"As you command, Captain," replied Ashay, regretfully eyeing the groups of guerrillas and Bradogan's troops still engaged in sporadic fighting around the port gateways. "Do you not need protection?" he asked hopefully, lowering his long neck until his head was level with the view screen.

"Negative. Like all other Traders, we're keeping to ourselves. This is an internal matter now that they are no longer targeting us."

With a sigh, Ashay lifted off and headed down to where the Profit was berthed. The news of Carrie's injury saddened him. He'd liked the small Human female.

"Shuttle Venture to Rryuk's Profit," he said, toggling the comm unit. "Permission to land for protective duties. Requested medical supplies on board but need your crew to unload."

"Profit to Venture, permission granted. Our people will be waiting for you," came the reply.

The next half hour saw a nonstop procession of personnel carrying supplies from the shuttle to the sick bay. Jo, the Human female, supervised the proceedings, rushing between the two locations, relaying what little news there was on Carrie's condition to Ashay to pass on to their companions on the Hkariyash. As soon as the transfer was completed, Captain Tirak ordered Ashay to clear the landing pad and return to his own ship.

In the sick bay, as he worked frantically on the unconscious Carrie, Kaid was vaguely aware of the sounds of the ramp retracting and the hatches closing as the Profit began to ready herself for takeoff. They'd reach their rendezvous in two weeks. Only two weeks, half the normal time, but it would be too long for Carrie unless she was put in one of the Profit's cryogenic units.

From the moment he realized she'd been injured in the fight with the spaceport officials, he'd locked his feelings behind a wall. The life of this fragile Human female, and that of her partner Kusac, lay in his hands. Kusac: her Leska, his sword-brother-- together the three of them were the first Human and Sholan En'Shalla Triad, bound telepathically to each other. Without them, he was incomplete.

He fastened off the dressing, touching his fingertips briefly to her flesh. Still too hot. The drugs should have brought her temperature down by now. For an instant, he felt curiously disembodied as he saw his dark-furred hand against her pale skin. With a wrench, he pulled himself back. There was no more he could do; she would only deteriorate if he waited any longer. She needed surgery, and she couldn't get that until they reached their rendezvous. Sighing, he carefully disconnected the drip from the cannula and picked her up, carrying her over to the far side of the room where two of the cryo units stood open and waiting. Placing her on the contoured mattress, he stepped back. He'd done all he could. The rest was up to the U'Churian medic, Mrowbay. Now it was time to treat his sword-brother.

Kusac sat watching him on one of the adjacent beds. For a wonder, he'd managed to remain conscious despite suffering the full measure of her pain through their Link. The Venture's basic medikit lay open on the bed beside him. He'd dosed himself with an analgesic, but Kaid knew he hadn't taken nearly enough. He looked bad. Against the blackness of his pelt, the skin surrounding his nose and eyes was deathly pale and his ears were lying back, invisible among his hair. The mental link Kusac and Carrie had meant he would also have to travel in cryo.

"Kusac, let me give you the premed now," he said, reaching for the hypoderm from the medikit.

His friend's amber eyes, though dulled with pain, held his steadily. "No, Kaid. I want to be aware of her till the last. I'll wait till Mrowbay's done."

Reluctantly he laid the hypoderm down and sat beside his sword-brother. "She'll be fine-- you both will. Two weeks, then we'll have the facilities and surgeons of the M'Zekko to treat her."

Kusac nodded slowly. "Wake me first. I don't want her coming out of cryo and not sensing me immediately."

"When you're ready," Mrowbay said finally, looking round at Kusac.

After giving Kusac his shot, Kaid helped him to his feet, supporting him as they walked slowly over to the second unit.

Kaid, I know you're blocking us out now, sent Kusac, but later, if you sense her pain, for the Gods' sake, don't try to cope. Use the third cryo chamber. Let T'Chebbi watch us. She's got Jo and Rezac to call on if she needs help. Vartra can't have meant the U'Churians when he spoke of you making a pact with the Liege of Hell.

Stop worrying about me and my visions, I'm fine, Kaid reassured, helping him climb into the unit. Just rest. Lowering his mental barriers, he reached in, touching his friend's hand. Already the premed had taken effect and he could sense Kusac drifting toward unconsciousness.

"Two weeks, Kaid." Kusac's voice was barely audible and Kaid had to lean forward to hear him. "Find out what Tirak was up to in that time. I'll want to know."