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complexity of this problem. Yet I am curious as to
how you came to be. Were you born this way?”
    “ No, sir. I was born human. Bigger
and faster than most, but still purely human.” He figured he owed
this man the truth. Plus, his fate—and Della’s—was in this man’s
hands. He had to keep him friendly. Alex wouldn’t tell him anything
he didn’t already know or would be able to figure out given enough
time. “I became a soldier. Some fancy flying in the Billatong
Engagement got me noticed by my superiors and I was drafted for
Special Forces. From there I was invited to take part in a special
program of gene therapy. They didn’t tell us much about what they
were doing but after I got through with the docs I was stronger,
faster and had sharper senses. Whatever they did made me better
than I was before. I suppose, if you’re to be believed, that’s due
in some part to you, so you have my thanks.”
    “ I spent time among humans in your
galaxy. I, too, went on covert operations in my youth.” The man
gave Alex a sly hint of a smile. “I believe I understand how your
scientists might have gotten my DNA. I just can’t believe they
would have dared use it in such a way. They spliced some of my
traits into you. My eye color, for example.”
    “ Yeah, my eyes changed after the
treatment. They’d always been blue but they took on this aqua shade
after I finished with the therapy.” Alex realized then that the old
man had the same startling aqua eyes. It was like looking into a
mirror.
    “ So.” The man sat down, both hands
on his thighs as he regarded Alex. “We must decide what to do about
all this.”
    “ What do you mean do ? I’m sorry they took
your DNA without permission and I surely had no idea the treatment
I’d taken had turned me into some kind of human-jit’suku hybrid,
but I like the way I am now. I don’t want to do anything about it.”
    “ It is not the Zenai way to ignore
our progeny.”
    “ Zenai? Stars! You’re a holy man?”
That just made it all worse. Alex had heard about the famous Zenai
priests. They were celibate after joining the priesthood. Most
joined young and never had offspring, but some joined later in life
after the loss of their spouse. “I’m so sorry.”
    The old priest looked at him with surprise in his
aqua gaze. “Yes, I believe you are. That’s a start. You have a
compassionate heart, which is good to see. I think we can build on
that.” The old priest stood, nimble as a young man.
    “ You will be quartered on the ship
once they release you from the infirmary.”
    “ Will Della and I be kept
together?”
    The old priest looked from Alex to Della and back
again, a hint of a smile lighting his face. “It’s like that, is it?
Good. I will leave word for you to be quartered together. You will
be locked in except during the hours from lunch until dinner. After
lunch in the mess, I expect you to come to me. We will seek a path
together, learning our way as we go.”
    Alex had no idea what that last bit meant, but this
guy was a priest. In his experience, holy men always seemed to talk
in riddles.
    “ What about Della?” Alex didn’t
like to think of her alone among all these jit’suku men.
    “ I understand your lady is a
professional card dealer. There is always a game of chance taking
place in the off duty crew lounge. I believe she would be most
welcome there. We don’t allow the men to play for anything of
monetary value but they do get into some serious games over prized
duties and shifts—that sort of thing. You have my word she will
come to no harm on this ship. Every last man here is loyal to our
house. You and your lady saved Tren’s life and have earned his
regard. More than that, I will likely soon acknowledge you as my
progeny. No one on this ship will seek to harm you. In fact, the
opposite will be true.”
    “ Why?” Alex was getting a scary
image in his mind.
    “ Because I am Theos. I was once
Emperor, and now, you are my