Free Plague of Memory by S. L. Viehl

permit you travel to Vtaga, to aid the Faction with this sickness on their world. Is this so?*' When I nodded, he said, "SubAkade TssVar has just presented an ultimatum to the mediators here. If you will go to Vtaga, the Faction will voluntarily abandon their slaver operations and free Hsktskt-held slaves."
    "They will? All of them?" I was stunned.
    The Hsktskt Faction administered the most extensive network of slaver operations, depots, and transport routes in the territories bordering League-explored space. It had been the collision of Faction slavery and League colonization that had created the tensions that eventually built up to outright war. No one knew how many slaves were held by the Faction, but conservative estimates were in the tens of millions.
    "There is more," Teulon said. "TssVar stated that if you do not go to Vtaga, the Hsktskt will cease negotiations and resume hostilities with League forces at once. As a SubAkade and the only supporter among Faction leaders for the peace talks, we believe he can make this come about."
    "Have you reminded the Hsktskt of the crystals?" I asked.
    During the rebellion on Akkabarr, Teulon had acquired the Toskald's greatest treasure: crystals permanently etched with command codes that controlled the militaries of ten thousand worlds. The crystals had ended the war between the League and Hsktskt. No one knew that the Raktar had since placed them beyond the reach of himself or any being.
    "SubAkade TssVar believes that if you do not go to Vtaga, the Hsktskt will perish. By plague or by crystal, it matters not to them." Teulon sounded as tired as he looked. "I have used every argument I can. He will not listen to me."
    I felt cold. "What are your orders, Raktar?"
    "No orders, my friend." Another smile, this one sad and resigned. "Your life is your own now, Jam. You are slave to no one."
    Except to Cherijo's past. I thought of all Garphawayn had told me, and something clenched inside me. "Reever and the Torin will not allow me to go."
    "I anticipated as much. Use this." He displayed a signal code sequence on the screen. "It cannot be blocked or monitored. Should anyone interfere, they will help you."
    I memorized the sequence. "I thank you for it. Teulon ... " There was so much I wished to say to him. "I am sorry. Peace should not rest on the will of one person."
    "As I know from experience." He touched the screen again. "If you have need of me, signal. I will come to you." His face vanished from the screen.
    With it, a remote-connection light flickered off. I knew enough about the console equipment to realize what they were doing. I should have expected this. I could not use the equipment for what I needed, and if I did not hurry even that avenue of appeal might be denied me, so I left Reever's quarters to go directly to communications.
    "Healer." Salo Torin met me at the entry. "Is something—"
    "From the light on my panel, I know that you recorded my exchange just now with Raktar Teuton," I said, noting the immediate guilt that crossed his features. "Which one of them told you to monitor my relays? The captain, or my husband?"
    "Both. Your pardon, Healer, but I must follow my orders, even when I do not agree with them." His dark brows drew together. "You wish to dispute this? I will happily add my objections to yours."
    "Another time, perhaps. At the moment, I need to send a relay to the code the Raktar gave to me." I did not recite it, for he already had a copy of the signal.
    "You might have done that from your quarters."
    "I should like to send it without being monitored or recorded." I gestured toward his station. "May I do so, and use one of your terminals?" I needed to offer something in return. "I would provide ease for you, if you wish."
    "We do not... ah, no, I cannot permit either." He hesitated, and then checked the deck above us. "I must perform a routine diagnostic scan on the encryption hardware in the transponder control center. It will keep me occupied for the