by Laura Kaighn
When she had finally fallen silent, Vesarius climbed to his boots. He hoisted her downcast pout with one mahogany forefinger beneath her chin. “Vesar literature is written in Gremsctok. You could not interpret the titles much less pronounce the authors. And English translation is not customary.” He paused before continuing in a voice deep with some inner regret. “It is another way I am isolated from my people. Do not blame yourself for the oversight. I know of my heritage. I desire to learn of yours.”
“No, Vesarius.” Dorinda’s conviction was a spear to her heart. “That’s not the point at all. We need to learn about each other. If more people read Vesar literature, we’d come to understand the real people inside.” Dorinda pressed her palm against his right shoulder where the warrior’s heated heart pumped strongly. “I never thought to research Vesar literature. It’s my oversight. I’ve got to correct it.” When she moved to leave, Vesarius took her wrist in his steel grip.
“Wait.” He met her fractured emerald gaze. “What of the Gremsctok?”
Dorinda squared her chin. “I’ll ask Moxie to help me translate. She’s the communications expert around here. We’ll convert all the text to storage crystals ... in Earth standard.” When Vesarius’ eyes gleamed in approval, Dorinda finally relaxed enough to nod her reassurance. “With twenty-second century technology, even Gremsctok shouldn’t be a problem. Moxland figured out Orthop. Gremsctok must be cake. I promise you.”
Pulling Dorinda close in response, Vesarius risked their privacy to press his fiery lips against hers. “I accept your promise,” he rumbled into her ear. “And your apology.” Releasing her, the warrior dipped his chin. “I will see you again. I must be on the bridge for duty.”
Breathlessly, Dorinda watched her friend stride from the empty cafeteria, Tundra in tow. Sighing, she mumbled, “If only humans could be that forgiving.” But guilt hounded her.
How could she have overlooked two entire cultures in her book selection? I am such an idiot! She had once criticized Ambassador Tlenck for his Tloni narrow-mindedness, Coty for his self-assured conviction, and Vesarius for his stubborn presumption. And what had she done? Dorinda had disregarded two whole species’ worth of knowledge and wisdom. All because she had walked into an interstellar library devoid of books and felt lost. “Damned if I’ll make the same mistake twice.” Dorinda marched from the ship’s galley.
* * *
Vesarius completed his navigational update from his station. Around him the Pompeii’s bridge crew was quietly efficient. Then the silence was broken by his superior’s curiosity. “So, Sarius. How’s Dori’s training coming along?” Michael Bear Coty perched in his central command seat on the ship’s triangular bridge. The bronze-skinned human stroked his ever-present ebony bangs back from his chiseled face and continued his query. “How long did it take her this time?”
Vesarius leaned back in his chair and glanced away from his navigational readout long enough to answer. “Twenty-two minutes, forty-five seconds.” When it was evident by his captain’s tilted stance that simple numbers would not suffice, Vesarius elaborated. “Her skills are improving, but she will soon need to track other quarry.” Reluctantly, the warrior added, “It seems I am becoming too easy for her to find.”
This elicited the proper human response; Bear Coty’s jasper eyes doubled in size. “Say what? You? Easy? How so?” Coty leaned closer in baited anticipation.
Vesarius swallowed his discomfiture. “When I asked her how she found me without seeing the marks on the tree trunk, Dorinda responded that she knew my scent.”
“Well, women do have a better nose ...”
“She also claims she heard me smile.” Vesarius shook his raven-haired head in puzzlement. “I am not altogether certain what she meant.”
“I am,” Bear Coty assured with a nod. He straightened in his center seat. “She’s starting to know you, Brother. Too well, I’d say. She knows how you think.”
Dropping chin to chest, Vesarius touted, “Hardly, Bear. A Vesar is too complex and unpredictable a beast to be understood in so short a span. It would take a lifetime to know the inner workings of this brain.” In illustration, Vesarius tapped his temple with one long forefinger.
Chuckling in good humor, Coty jutted his chin at the Vesar. “Whose lifetime? Yours or hers? Dorinda’s a very perceptive woman. I hope you’re not underestimating her.”
Vesarius held up one hand in self-defense and shook his head. “Never underestimate the power of Dorinda Jade. She has stated that herself and is deadly serious.”
“Yes,” Coty mused, his dark eyes suddenly distant and unfocused. Vesarius knew why. It had not been that long ago, weeks actually, when the captain himself had been smitten by Dorinda’s charms. He spoke little of it to the Vesar, reassuring only that he had wanted Vesarius and Dorinda together from the start. It had been Coty’s own fault, falling in love with the woman from the past. The captain had been a reserved and quiet companion ever since. Vesarius frowned and twisted to his instrument panel resigning to a change in subject.
“Course heading and speed have us sixteen days, eighteen point three hours from the Orthop homeworld,” Vesarius informed. When he swiveled back to his captain, Coty was again business-like and cool, a stone thinker in his seat. “Has Lieutenant Darby gotten any response to our request for passage?”
Coty’s gaze considered the expanding starscape out the front bridge portal. “Only an acknowledgement that the message was received,” he mumbled over his curled hand. Raising his elbow from the chair’s arm, Coty leaned back and sighed. “We can only assume they’re conversing with their queen, getting her approval, and making arrangements to receive our diplomats.”
“Favorably, I hope,” Dr. Sam Waters mused from his science station to Coty’s right, directly across the bridge from the Vesar’s post. The Pompeii’s historian scratched his gray head in apprehension. “If what Vesarius says about the Mytoki is true, their Orthop descendants will now want peace. But there’s still no guarantee they’ll jump on the Alliance hayride. Orthops want expansion rights. Are we ready to grant them free roam among us, among our colonies?”
As if considering Waters’ question, Coty toyed with his lower lip then shrugged. “We gave the Vesar our trust thirty-seven years ago, Sam. Why not the Orthops now?”
“Simple, Bear,” Sam countered rising from his chair and striding to stand beside his captain. “The universe is getting to be a crowded place. The Orthops need colony worlds we don’t have to give. The Vesar have already colonized the habitable worlds nearest their borders. That’s why they were the Orthops’ first targets.” Vesarius watched the historian’s broad shoulders slouch. “Where do we send them? Do we let Orthops live with us? Do we ship them cross-galaxy to some other, less inhabited worlds to start a new colony with a new queen? They won’t agree to such fragmentation. I wouldn’t.”
Coty frowned. “You’re saying we lack a big enough gift to hand the natives. They’ll laugh in our faces and turn us down in favor of conquest.”
Nodding, Sam Waters narrowed his steel eyes in argument. “I’m saying we should consider abandoning the colony worlds closest to Orthop space. Use them as peace offerings. If we truly want peace, the Alliance should be willing to make that sacrifice.”
Vesarius witnessed his captain’s frown deepen. “Make Alliance colonists leave their homes, all their hard work, and just hand it all over to the Orthops? They won’t agree to that.”
“They live under threat now,” Sam countered with another shrug and raised hands. “The Alliance’ll order them to leave, for their own safety. We’ll find them a new place.”
“Where, Sam?” Coty argued plucking his lip and laying a fist atop his chair arm. “Those citizens believe they have every right to their homesteads. You propose we evict them in the name of peace.”
“Better their land than their lives, Bear. Alliance Central Command understands the dilemma. Major General Chan’ll tell you. Our orders are due in, in another day.” Sam glanced up a
t the Pompeii’s observant first officer. “Some of it will no doubt be encoded for your eyes only, Commander.”
Frowning, Vesarius straightened in his chair. “I am not comfortable with that thought, Dr. Waters. Coty must know everything I am to do on Orthop. I will hide nothing from my captain.”
His eyes momentarily softening, Coty blinked and shook his head. “The Galactic Alliance is bigger than any one of us, Vesarius. If General Chan has orders specifically for you, it’s not my business to know. And your duty to remain silent. You are clear on this.”
Vesarius stiffened, not answering. When Coty leaned toward him expectantly, the Vesar blurted, “Yes, Sir,” and spun back to his station. He closed his eyes to the blinking, changing information on his screen to ask Brahmanii Sule for guidance. Vesarius did not want to betray his captain, his friend. He had already hurt Coty in taking Dorinda. The Vesar’s creator did not answer his plea, of course, which left the warrior all the more isolated and uncertain. Tomorrow he would know for sure.
* * *
That evening, at Dorinda’s suggestion, Vesarius returned to the arboretum for another lesson in meditation. He had not told the woman of his apprehension. This was Dorinda’s training session. Vesarius would have to clear his own mind later when the arboretum was his own.
As they sat together on the grass, Vesarius listened to Dorinda’s activities during his time on duty. She apologized again for her oversight regarding Vesar literature and explained how she had sought to rectify it. As the woman talked, Vesarius watched her face in the subdued light of the arboretum’s artificial twilight.
Dorinda’s skin was as pale as his was dark, a rose ivory in bright sunlight. She seemed happiest when she was busy with a project, something to which Vesarius could relate. Her eyes were emerald fire as she discussed her successful link with the Tloni’s central library computer. Dorinda’s oval face and high cheekbones flushed rose, though, when she told him of the difficulty she had encountered upon requesting the same of the Vesar. “They’ve still got me on standby. You’d think a teacher still held some clout in the twenty-second century.” Dorinda rubbed her pointed nose, a gesture she just recently seemed to have acquired. In realization, Vesarius smiled broadly. “What?” Dorinda inquired, her eyes creasing at his reaction to her frustration.
“You rubbed your nose. Noah does that when he is angry. I believe he is rubbing off on you.”
Dorinda did not react at first, but when Vesarius chuckled deeply she joined in. “At times like this your humor’s refreshing, Iron Man.” She patted his knee. “I’m glad we can talk to each other about our problems. I hope we never have any secrets.”
Vesarius subdued a frown with a dry swallow. There were reservations he would not share. For her sake and for Coty’s, some secrets must be kept. “Let us try an experiment,” he suggested. When Dorinda nodded, Vesarius instructed her. “Assume the meditative stance.” He crossed his own raised knees; Dorinda followed suit. “Now close your eyes and relax. Repeat after me: Calm, resolve.”
“Calm, resolve,” Dorinda echoed, her lids shut.
“Now focus on the darkness. Calm your breathing. Slow your heart. Allow your thoughts to float freely. Relax your mind.” Vesarius watched her from beneath hooded brows. “Calm, resolve. Listen to my voice and breathe deeply.” When Vesarius felt she was relaxed, he continued. “Now picture the light, the brightness far away. Float towards it. Stay calm. You are safe here. The light will bring you peace.” Vesarius watched her face go slack. Her head tilted slightly in tranquil trust. Lifting his right hand, the Vesar hovered his digits before her lid-covered eyes. If she was truly relaxed, Dorinda would not sense his presence at all.
Dorinda’s demeanor slowly changed. Her mouth turned down and her eyelids creased in concentration. Vesarius watched with interest as she swallowed hard. He moved his hand closer to her face. What was it she saw?
Abruptly her fingernails accosted his wrist. Dorinda’s eyes flung open to reprimand. “No. You can’t do it. You mustn’t, Vesarius.”
“My hand?” He blinked at her ferocity. “It was only a test of -”
“Coty. You can’t betray Michael. I saw you leave him. He was going to be killed. How could you?”
Vesarius blinked. Twice in one day she had experienced disturbing thoughts about him. Was Dorinda growing paranoid or just anxious about the mission? “What did you see?”
Distress was in those emerald eyes now. Dorinda waggled her crown as if to dismiss the disturbing images which had assaulted her meditation. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled releasing her grip of his wrist. “I guess I’m not cut out for meditation. I just let my subconscious prattle me with worry.”
Vesarius ducked his eyes at her trying to reconnect Dorinda’s lowered gaze. “Will you tell me what you saw?”
Her head negated his request. “It’s gone now. All I remember is a sense of dread.” Dorinda returned his concern. “I’m just being a worrywart. All those descriptions of Orthop attacks, Orthop eating rituals,” she confided with shivering shoulders and grimace. “They have me covered in goose bumps.” Then Dorinda exhaled at his frown. “I’ll be all right.”
“No, Green Eyes. Your apprehension is legitimate.” Vesarius laid a mahogany hand atop her thigh. “Do not dismiss your reservations. They will prepare you for action when the need arises.”
Tilting her crown in skepticism, Dorinda’s face was shadowed in panic. “I hope you’re right about the Orthops wanting peace. You didn’t exactly leave them on a good note.” Exhaling deeply, Dorinda allowed her shoulders to slump. “One’s imagination can be quite active when considering the possibilities.”
Vesarius tilted his head as well considering her pale countenance and puckered eyes. The jewel-like glitter of her gaze had faded to a matte finish. “You are tired. Perhaps we should ... name it a night?”
Dorinda smirked at his attempt with human vernacular. “Call it a night,” she corrected. “And you’ve got to stop using those old clichés. Find some new ones to slaughter.” With a weary huff, she next admitted, “Yes. I am tired. I haven’t stopped for anything these past three weeks. I don’t think I’ve really slowed down in three months. Ever since ...” She leaned forward to touch his hot cheek. “Ever since I met you.”
Echoing her smile, Vesarius turned his cheek to kiss her palm. Then, gathering his legs under him, Vesarius hauled Dorinda to her feet with his stand. Softly he suggested, “I will walk you to your cabin.”
Linking her arm, Dorinda halted his retreat. “You can’t stay?”
Scowling, Vesarius considered her melancholy pout. “No. It would not be proper. It is still early. Many of the crew will be about the corridors. I could come later to check on you. Noah will -”
Dorinda’s fingers tightened on his arm, stalling his reassurances. “Why must we keep it a secret, Sarius? Coty knows. He’s seen the bracelet. He knows what it means. Why do I have to hide it, hide us?”
Vesarius sighed heavily considering the mute trees around them. “Dorinda,” he tautly explained. “We are on an Alliance vessel, a human Alliance vessel. To openly display our relationship would not be proper. I could lose my commission here.”
“So, transfer. I’ll go with you.”
Vesarius growled, “To where? No other ship would have me, have us. I am an outcast. No Vesar fleet officer would even allow me on his bridge.”
Dorinda’s eyes had flamed to emerald fire again. “I can’t keep pretending we’re just friends.” Her face softened into a look of desperate agony. “I love you, Vesarius. When can we ... when can I say that openly without having to check for others’ ears?”
Sighing, Vesarius gathered her into his fiery embrace. Into her hair he rumbled, “We must make it seem a warming of feelings, Dorinda. If we were to suddenly start acting as though we were mated, many of the humans here would take offense, even consider it criminal. You must realize that Vesar do not take humans as mates. It is just not done.”
From his leather clad ches
t, Dorinda mumbled back, “Are the Vesar too proud to love a lowly human? Is it beneath them?”
Vesarius chuckled in irony. “I chose to love a brave woman who protects me with the strength and vision of her osprey totem.” He pushed her away to stare into Dorinda’s glassy eyes. “I would be the one in trouble, not you. I once broke from my duty to my parents, a very serious crime. Now I break tradition again to mate with a human.” He dropped his hands. “I am different from other Vesar, you from other humans. We must be patient, Dorinda. The galaxy is not yet ready for us.”
Her shoulders slumped in defeat. “I know,” she sighed, her emerald gaze falling again. “I’m just tired of this sneaking around. We have something special, Sarius. I ... I want the world to know ... The universe. I want everyone to be jealous, not hateful.”
“You were the one who told me a person cannot pick the one with whom he falls in love,” Vesarius reminded lowly. “It just happens, you said. Do you regret it?” His inquiry was earnest.
A warm tear rolled from Dorinda’s rising crystal gaze when she replied. “No. Of course not.” She leaned in to hug him warmly. “I can still wish, can’t I?”
After a moment, Vesarius nodded once and kissed her fiery auburn crown. “I desire this as well. We will set the best example. Our trip to Orthop will help. All will see us working together, depending upon one another. All will realize that Vesar and humans are not that different.”
Now Dorinda nodded from his chest. “Our spirits are the same, just as the wolf and Vesar Fvanhnyer hound are.”
“And Sologin and the osprey,” Vesarius agreed. “Come. I will walk you to your quarters. If you like, I can offer you my arm.”
Pulling away, Dorinda’s damp face gleamed with joyful surprise. “An open show of camaraderie? Friendship? In public?”
