Chapter Six

Zenarith sighed as he looked over the woefully short list of trusted people. Doctor Quilar was, obviously, at the top of the list, as he'd made the initial discovery. Avin and Rinn were there as well, though Zenarith was reluctant to include them. Avin's fighting and tactical skill would indeed be useful, as would Rinn's empathic abilities. Yuki would be notified at some point. Zenarith debated contacting an old friend from Kalla, but he'd heard nothing from that friend for two years. He knew the life of a nomad in the Waste was hard to begin with, but his old friend had been getting older. He sighed, making a note on a paper to send a message in hopes of contacting his old friend. He looked through the list again. So short....He knew Byakuya's contacts would get the job done, but some of the information they would discuss with them at the end of the day was rather sensitive. He had to be certain they wouldn't spread the word to the people of the city. The last thing he needed on his hands was a riot.

A riot was exactly what would occur if word got out that they'd found a bio-gen that was capable of speech. The general public was so afraid of the bio-gens that they had a tendency to purposely ignore their existence. Anyone who became infected with the virus and mutated into a bio-gen would be forgotten by everyone who knew them. Spouses, lovers, close friends, even children....all were forgotten if they changed into one. When bio-gens attacked and killed family members, they were mourned...and then forgotten. Anything dealing with the monstrous creatures was taboo....except to those who studied the virus or the bio-gens themselves. Such study was generally frowned upon, and experimentation on the subject strictly forbidden.

He sighed, feeling a headache start to creep up on him. He put the papers back on his desk turning to look out the window upon the city. Fools...all of them. They hated to see what was right in front of them. The truth was...the number of bio-gens was increasing, and there was no apparent explanation for it. People were not changing into them at any increased rate, it was the opposite. Less people were mutating into bio-gens, and there were less deaths as well. Zenarith had his own thoughts on the matter, but he did not dare to voice them out loud.

Perhaps the bio-gens were mating and giving birth to more bio-gens. It wasn't entirely impossible...no one knew whether or not the creatures were capable of such a thing. Once someone became a bio-gen in the city, they were either terminated or exiled to the waste at the request of the family. No one studied bio-gens. It just wasn't done. Zenarith thought that was stupid, but it wasn't something he could change.

Maybe this was his chance though. With the investigation, perhaps something would come up to answer his question. They had permission from the council to investigate at any cost...and since Byakuya was in charge...there was the possibility that Byakuya would look into the subject.

Zenarith rubbed his eyes, looking at the clock. It was getting near the time of the first meeting. He tapped out a quick message to his old friend, Doctor Pierce, hoping that the old man would receive it and send him a message back at some point. He sighed, gathering up the papers that Byakuya had deemed necessary, and took hold of the velvet-lined container that held the recording crystal. He hurried up to where his floater was docked. He nodded to the guard at the entrance, and slipped into the floater, setting the paperwork and case on the seat next to him. He waited patiently for Byakuya to arrive, knowing that the other was probably taking his time to get ready.

A little smile curled on his lips. Sometimes Byakuya focused entirely too much on appearance. Almost as soon as he'd finished that thought, the redhead swept onto the docking pad, crimson hair flowing out behind him as a breeze caught it. He was wearing green today, a deep emerald shade that graduated into a paler green at the hem of the robes, and a dark, almost black near the collar. He'd accented the look with an intricately woven golden belt, and Zenarith noticed that Byakuya's face was set into the mask the other wore when he was worried.

Byakuya swept onto the floater with the smallest of nods in Zenarith's direction. Zenarith noticed the small wince as the other sat, and his cheeks colored faintly, remembering what they'd done the previous night to make it so difficult for the other to sit. Zenarith started up the floater, checking the sky-way for any traffic they might encounter.

The trip to the meeting place was uneventful. Byakuya had remained silent for the trip, and Zenarith was not sure whether it had anything to do with last nights activities, or if Byakuya was actually nervous. He glanced at the other as the floater rose higher and higher in the sky towards Byakuya's personal airship.

The silence was awkward, and he turned to face Byakuya, a hesitant smile on his face. “Byakuya...” he started. The other shook his head, giving him a small smile. Zenarith nodded slowly. He didn't really understand what was making his lover stay so silent, but there was not much he could do now. They docked. Zenarith smiled as he took in the beauty of the ship. It was sleek, with its domed top, slender tendril energy wings, and filigree designs along the hull. His lips mouthed the name of the ship as he read the calligraphy painted along its side. “Fieros...” he murmured, brushing his hand along the side of the ship. It was a beautiful thing, this ship. It was a relic from ancient times, over three centuries old. Byakuya had made it his special project. He'd rebuilt the whole thing with help from Yuki's best friend, Kiro, a young technopath. It had been such a surprise to see the two work together. Zenarith shook his head with a smile, and boarded the ship, holding out his hand for Byakuya.

One of the crew members snapped to attention as Byakuya stepped onto the wide deck. He nodded to the man, sweeping past him before the man could even announce his presence. “Have the others arrived?” Byakuya said with his 'councilman' voice. The crewman nodded once, following after Byakuya, shoulders tense.

“Yes, sir! All guests are accounted for and settled in the main cabin, sir!” The young crewman looked nervous. Zenarith hid a smile, as he followed the two, watching the exchange with amusement. New crew members were always so intimidated by Byakuya. Of course, they had good reason. Byakuya was a powerful man, with a commanding presence, but he was a fair man. It was the flames that often flickered through his vibrant red hair that caused others to become uncomfortable.

Byakuya nodded, sweeping into the main cabin, nodding at all the present members in the room. Zenarith followed suit, setting the paperwork and velvet-lined case on the wide table. The crewman saluted, and then exited the room, the door hissing shut behind him, then glowing briefly as the man activated the protection seal, preventing eavesdropping and possible intruders.

Zenarith took his seat, glancing around the room, eyes meeting the others briefly as he acknowledged their presence. He nodded at Avin and Rinn, somewhat apprehensive at the young cat-boy's presence, but knowing that with what Byakuya had planned, his presence was necessary. He gave Fen Quilar a small smile, pleased that the man had come. He took note of the small file-box that sat before the tanned man. It was likely that the box memory crystals that could be read by the ships projection system, and Zenarith was almost certain that the information was probably from Quilar's research. His eyes continued the survey of the room. He recognized Sorrell Valerian, an unexpected addition to the group. At her side was Thalia Winter, an old friend of his. He smiled at both of them, and took a deep breath. This was everyone. Zenarith sighed softly. It seemed like too small of a group, but perhaps that was for the best. He wished that his old friend, Price, was here. The old man's knowledge of ancient history and the Bio-gens would have been incredibly useful, not to mention that Price had been able to tell what type of augmented ability a person had.

Byakuya stood silent for a long while, studying the group intensely before he began to speak. “You are all here because I trust you with my life,” he said. Zenarith's eyes widened. That was huge. Byakuya was very careful with who he put his trust in. Zenarith noticed Rinn' s eyes widened and Avin's hand tighten a hold on the boy's hand.

Fen's expression was unreadable, but his body language looked tense. Zenarith sighed softly. Everyone was far too tense. It was understandable, but still frustrating. Sorrell had raised an eyebrow, and Thalia looked flushed. He eyed Byakuya, covering his mouth with a hand to hide the awkward smile that had found its way there. He didn't want to ruin Byakuya's theatrical presentation. He knew the redhead could be rather dramatic about things, and he most certainly didn't want Byakuya to know that he was amused by this.

Byakuya brushed his pale fingers along the surface of the case that held the recording crystal. He pushed the case towards Fen. “Most of us in the room know of the recording in that case...so I'll make this short. We are to find out if the bio-gens have retained some measure of human intelligence, and if they are planning anything.”

There were uneasy nods from everyone but Sorrell, who merely watched with an unreadable expression. Byakuya continued. “In order to succeed, we have been given permission to access any of the data on bio-gens and the Waste.” That raised a few eyebrows, including Zenarith's. Byakuya pointed at Fen. “Doctor, will you please present the data I asked you to bring?”

Fen stood, and deftly unpacked his small box of memory crystals, laying them out on the table. He inserted the first into the projection device. A diagram appeared, one of a bio-gen. Data rolled along the bottom corner of the projection, and Fen began his explanation. “We have found the research of one Nefe Kuro. His family has been researching the virus that causes the mutation for generations. This is all we have been able to decipher of the research.” He rotated the image, and pointed at the skull. “It appears that during the mutation process, the brain undergoes a chemical change. This chemical enhances their natural instinct, as well as increases the ability for telepathic communication.”

Rinn was watching in rapt fascination, Avin holding his hand tightly. Byakuya was silent, studying the projected diagram. Zenarith rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he watched Fen manipulate the diagram, explaining what they knew of the creatures.

“Beyond this, the data is encrypted. We have not been able to access the rest of what is on the chips..” Fen said, looking rather disappointed as he lightly touched the other crystals. Zenarith nodded. The Kuro Family had been very skilled in encrypting data. There had been rumors of their involvement in several military operations, though none of it had been proven. The entire family, with the except ion of Nefe had been killed during a bio-gen raid. The sole survivor had been their youngest son, Nefe. Zenarith's face darkened at the mere thought of the man, but he sighed.

“I have a suggestion,” Zenarith said softly, standing. He didn't like what he was about to suggest, but … it was probably necessary. Byakuya nodded at him sharply, looking curious. “We may need a certain person to assist us,” he started to say.

Avin paled, and his eyes darkened, and he stood, giving Zenarith a dangerous glare. “You can't be serious,” he hissed.

Zenarith shook his head. “Unfortunately, I am. The encryption may be...genetic..in nature. In which case, his cooperation is necessary.”

Avin looked angry. Very very angry. Zenarith inwardly winced, but he did not break the stare. Fen looked confused, as did Sorrell and Thalia. “Who are you talking about?” Sorrell asked, her voice serious and calm.

Zenarith turned to face her and sighed. “Nefe Kuro.”