by Taki Drake
There might be a solution to the problem. Considering everything on Gwilliam’s plate at this time, he would have to offload some of his tasks. Who better to assign the duties of bringing the Ravagers up to the expected training levels but Heg-sath. Smiling slightly, Gwilliam thought to himself, Afterall, who better to address the problem than the person who proposed the idea from the beginning.
It would become Heg-sath’s responsibility to make sure that no one was slacking off. Rather than solve the problem for him, Gwilliam was looking forward to seeing how his old friend would ensure that these new battalions were putting in the effort to come up to the level of the rest of their troops.
This sort of lackluster effort hampers all of our forces. They’re not used to the mercenary life. Hopefully, Heg-sath can get them whipped into shape.
Gwilliam shook his head and fired off a couple of quick memos about the completed exercises and Heg-sath’s new responsibilities. Thankfully, he realized that task had been the last of the critical items on his day-to-day list.
The mercenary commander now was free to turn his focus back on gathering information that he considered critical to both him and the rest of the galaxy. Gwilliam needed to know where to find the new owner of one of the most dangerous weapons platforms that the universe had known.
This ship was the prize that Gwilliam had hoped to take off the playing field permanently in the battle he had fought from the deck of the Empire’s ship against the Insectoids just a short time ago. That last remaining Planetary Siege class vessel had been the primary objective of the Emperor’s fleet engagement, and when the Auditors Guild announcement had frozen the action just before achieving its destruction, the mercenary commander had been sorely tempted to continue. One moment they had been fighting the Insectoids, the next second all forces had to stop combat.
The urge to push just a little bit more and destroy that horrific weapon was so strong that sweat had run down Gwilliam’s face and arms had shaken with the need to fire just one more missile. If it had been a risk to only himself, the man knew he would’ve done it. But, it would’ve meant he abandoned his men, and that was something he would never do.
The frustrated man left the ship and returned to report to the Emperor, making sure to let his employer know of the danger. His alarm did not seem to be taken seriously. Even with his long history of carrying out missions for the Emperor, the mercenary commander’s credibility was not enough to elicit further actions. Apparently, only Gwilliam considered the vessel to be a top priority.
The vision of what that ship could do in the hands of a power-hungry owner had haunted the mercenary commander since then. He could not bring himself to ignore the danger and had vowed to follow the trail to the new owner. Only then could Gwilliam assess the possibility of neutralizing the ship’s horrific power.
The Insectoids had been totally removed from the Galactic picture. Disappearing from all known locations, the abrupt eradication of an entire race was frightening in its scope. The aggression inherent in that genocidal action worried Gwilliam, even as the gratitude for the Insectoid’s demise warmed his heart.
A being that is capable of such an action and possessing such tremendous power is dangerous. The planet buster needs to be destroyed, yes. However, this new player in the Galactic game could just as easily destroy other races. I have to find out who it is.
Since that battle, Gwilliam had devoted every spare moment to search for the details surrounding the new owner. He had exploited every connection made over years of mercenary life to trying to pin down the identity of the one that now owned the Insectoid’s assets.
In some portion of his mind, there was a faint voice that told him he had become obsessed. The quest for the new owner of the planet buster was a deep-seated emotional need, one that was both personal and immediate. Acknowledging that his hunt was personally motivated was almost impossible for Gwilliam. It would mean opening up memories of old hurts that had never been expunged. He had chosen to cover them and ignore them instead.
What others saw as focus and dedication stemmed from pain and betrayal. The man that he had become saw no need to revisit the child and youth that had been hurt and manipulated. To evade that trap, he substituted work and practice, exhausting his body to avoid confronting old ghosts.
Gwilliam leaned back with a sick feeling in his stomach and a nauseous headache. Tension ran through his muscles, engendering shakiness and disorientation. He had failed. All of his resources, all of his conduits, had run dry.
The mercenary commander had trawled through vast stores of data and complex networks looking for a clue, any hint. There were no trails, no trace. Outside of the highly secured information storage held by the Auditors Guild, no one knew who had taken the Insectoid’s out and who owned the many assets of their empire.
Even Gwilliam knew better than to try to break into the databanks of the Auditors Guild. It would be suicide, literally. His tenseness increased as he realized that a decision he had been avoiding while hunting through conventional sources would have to be made. Driven to a wall, the mercenary commander took a deep breath and accepted what he would have to do.
It appears that I have no choice. Seers Rock will have to be endured. I never thought I would be going back there after what happened, but I have run out of other options.
Decision made, Gwilliam bounded to his feet in restored vigor. He moved rapidly to the Fleet Navigator station, throwing rapid orders at the officer crewing the station, “Julian, plot a course for Asteroid Cluster Nine in the Deratius system’s second asteroid belt. Transmit an order to prepare the fleet for stealth. Make sure that all captains understand that immediately after the jump, we will be settling the ships among the asteroids for concealment.”
The navigator momentarily looked confused, but gave the correct response, “Yes, Sir. The fleet will be ready to jump on your command within forty minutes.” The younger man quickly turned to his console and started bringing up holographic star-charts to plot the needed course. Gwilliam knew that it was a far from simple activity since any path in or out of the system had to navigate around two black holes that provided concealment and protection to the occupied asteroid there
While the young man focused on his navigation data, Gwilliam moved to an adjacent station. Quickly, he punched up a communications screen to the ship’s quartermaster. With clipped tones, he instructed the logistics officer, “Make sure Cargo Shuttle Alpha Six is ready to launch immediately after the jump. I want a full load of food and medical supplies on board.”
“Yes, Sir. We will get right on it, Sir,” responded the quartermaster. A split second later, Gwilliam closed the connection and turned his attention to other necessary details.
As he quickly started executing all the steps that he knew had to be set for their visit, Gwilliam realized that his lingering tenseness had eased. Finally, I can act. Instead of fruitless hunting, I have an objective, and I can go after it. Smiling in amusement at his own actions, the mercenary commander focused on getting his job done.
Julian was confused. The young man knew that this was not normal behavior after an engagement like the one that they had just completed against the Insectoids. Instead of the usual time to stand down and relax, Gwilliam had kept them active in training.
The commander seemed driven by a fear that he hadn’t shared with his team. All of Gwilliam’s officers had known of the extended hours their commander had put in hunting some critical information. To those that he worked with regularly, Gwilliam’s worry and strain were palpable.
The navigator had no idea why his commander wanted to travel to that particular location. It wasn’t his job to know why but simply to execute the commands he was given. However, Gwilliam had formed a unit that bonded closely and developed a real sense of unit spirit. None of them could help but worry about their commander and the others that fought beside them.
While he wished for R&R time as much as any of the other naval personnel, something was drivi
ng their commander. Whatever was driving Gwilliam, his staff had been with him long enough to know that even his occasional wild tangent’s led either to increased safety or the opportunity for significant wealth.
Julian watched his commander walk off the bridge. Admiration and respect warred with concern and excitement as he saw his boss break into a rapid pace. Whatever awaited them at the end of the trip, Gwilliam was anxious to get there.
I hope that we find what he needs there. R&R can wait, the navigator thought to himself.
As his hands flew over his console, calculating the route and setting up the remainder of actions that Gwilliam had ordered, Julian had one last worry.
Their cargo shuttles only had room for three beings when loaded. With any of the Alpha Six shuttles, one would remain aboard with the engines at standby while the other two explored or executed their mission. That meant wherever Gwilliam was going, only one other was going to be with him outside of the ship. Only one other being would be there to protect their leader.
The young navigator quickly brought his attention back to the complexity of a route that passed near black holes. There would be more than enough time to worry about his commander when the ships were imitating rocks.
Soon the primary route was mapped out, and Julian started the jump clock. Notifications slipped onto screens and announcements echoed through the passageways of the fleet, warning personnel to secure for faster than light travel.
The time for waiting and searching was over. Gwilliam was on the move.
Chapter 5 – New Adjustments
Borachland Castle, Planet Arkken
Ruth was deep into a discussion with her Head Cook, Andrea, when Pawlik came wandering into the kitchen trailed by his on-duty bodyguard, Jabun. Ruth smiled at the sight, amused at many levels.
The subject of bodyguards had been a heated topic between the two of them for the last week. Pawlik had been insistent that Ruth had to have at least one bodyguard with her at all times. That evidently included even short trips outside her bedroom. The annoyed woman had considered at the time telling him that she really didn’t like voyeurs but was not up to explaining what they were in case he was not familiar with the term.
Pawlik didn’t appear to appreciate the fact that if she required them, that he also did. Perhaps it’s a gender thing, Ruth thought to herself as she tried to stifle her strong surge of glee at his expression. It would not do at all to let a broad grin of enjoyment show just how much I am enjoying his discomfort. After all, misery indeed loves company!
For all that he was used to more people surrounding him than Ruth was, the Mage could see that her Anchor was not terribly comfortable with someone dogging his every step. The loss of even that much privacy was a difficult thing to bear, and both of them would need to spend some time getting used to it.
Ruth resolved to dig more into possible cultural reasons for the discomfort later, but for the present, she just took enjoyment in how someone’s advice could backfire on them. It certainly had enough times behaved that way for her.
“Hello, dear,” the Mage said, “I am just finishing up with Andrea. Is there something that you need from me?”
“Yes, or at least I think there’s something I need from you or for you to do…”
When nothing more was said, Ruth deduced that the topic Pawlik wished to discuss was something that he was uncomfortable about having anyone else hear. His nervous shifting from foot to foot reinforced her perception, and she resolved to accommodate him as quickly as possible.
Finishing up her discussion with the kitchen staff, Ruth stood and took Pawlik’s arm. Without a word, the Lord of the Castle escorted his mate out of the room and back toward their private quarters. Of course, they were followed by their respective bodyguards. The Mage considered it a point in her adaptation to her new environment that it felt less strange to be shadowed by another person charged with her safety. Less, but still not comfortable.
Ruth chatted about inconsequential topics as they walked but thought to herself, This subject must be serious if we can only talk about it in private.
<< <> >>
Pawlik’s nervousness was starting to make Ruth uncomfortable, instead of amused. Rather than opening the subject when they got to their rooms, the normally calm-tempered nobleman had bustled about arranging for food and drink, making sure that Ruth had a comfortable chair, and poking at the fire. Finally, Ruth had more than she could stand.
“Pawlik, whatever it is that is bothering you just spit it out. You’re acting like a teenage boy trying to get a girl he likes to pay attention to him. Please, just sit down and let’s talk about what is stressing you.”
Even under Pawlik’s brown-gold skin, the Mage could see his blush as it flooded up from his neck and onto his face. Determinedly, the woman ignored the equal spread that disappeared under the collar of his shirt, thinking fondly of the body contours that it was following.
Ungracefully dropping into the chair next to Ruth’s, Pawlik placed a hand over his eyes and muttered from beneath his fingers, “I do not know how to talk to you about this subject. I don’t know if you’re going to be upset, or even if you will understand what it is that I am trying to tell you.”
“That’s why if you just tell me, we can figure it out.”
Silence crowded the room like an unwanted guest until Ruth finally said in exasperation, “Okay. I’m going to start to spit ideas out, and you stop me when I hit the right one.”
Again, silence was her only answer. Rolling her eyes in exasperation, the Mage saw that her bodyguard was unsuccessfully attempting to keep her face from showing her own amusement. Margot’s controlled laughter was apparent to Ruth, but that was because the quiver in the blonde former Marine’s mouth was the same thing that happened when the Mage tried to swallow her own delight in a situation.
Jenna is going to be so disappointed that Margot was on duty rather than her. I don’t believe that anyone has seen Pawlik so uncomfortable. I wonder what could be so momentous that he appears to be frightened to tell me.
Forcing her face into a calm mask covering up all of her emotional responses, Ruth began to come up with a variety of outrageous statements.
“You have decided to enlist in a mercenary unit and go off-planet.”
“No!”
“You have conceived an intense passion for the barmaid at the Force X Bar and wish to truncate our relationship.”
“How can you say something like that? I would never do that to you or nor have I ever had any inclination to end our relationship. You are being ridiculous!”
“You are worried that I’m not pregnant yet and you want me to do something about it.”
Pawlik’s mouth opened multiple times, and no sound came out. For a flashing moment, Ruth wondered if that might be the subject he was trying to raise. It was only the start of a small worry before Pawlik burst into impassioned speech.
“We’ve been so worried about us fitting into your role as a Mage and the Archmage, that your status as the Lady of Borachland has not gotten the attention it requires. There is a very complicated political scene on this planet. By our association, you’ve been thrown into the midst of it, and you have not been prepared for the challenges. You are not even aware that the minefield is there.”
Relieved, Ruth vowed to herself to come back to the children topic later, and responded, “Then provide me the orientation and the knowledge that the situation requires.”
“I didn’t want you to think that I didn’t value you and I’m not sure how to teach you.”
“It is evident to me that we both value each other and our different capabilities. We are partners, and I appreciate that relationship. So, I don’t think it’s necessary for you to be so concerned about telling me things I need to know.”
Pawlik heaved a huge sigh of relief and tension left his upper body, allowing his shoulders to relax into the back of the chair. His eyes finally met hers, and Ruth could see the depth of concern he had for the
implied message in telling her that she had things to learn.
Leaning forward, the woman picked up his hand and held it for a moment. It was so much larger than hers that he could have crushed her wrist and hand with very little effort. All of his military training and the decades he had spent learning to use his body and mind as weapons in the service of his people could’ve made him harsh and unfeeling.
Instead, he cradled her hand gently, allowing the warmth of his skin to touch hers. Moving with soft feather motions, his thumb stroked the back of her hand, leaving trails of sparkling energy.
Ruth looked down where their fingers intertwined. Her slender digits wrapped in light skin contrasted with his, highlighting his gold tones against her pale, translucent pink flesh traced by muted blue veins. Different, but complementary, she thought to herself.
The Mage and her Anchor stayed in that comfortable position for a few moments, content just to be touching each other. Pawlik slowly lifted Ruth’s hand up to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles.
The woman felt a pang of mixed joy and pain stab through her heart with the force of an electric force blade. The simple affection in that motion, in that action, brought prickles of tears to the back of her eyelids, yet filled her with a serenity that she couldn’t remember ever experiencing before.
Caught in the moment, the Mage and Anchor were suspended in a timeless moment of the merger of two different people that had chosen one another.
Chapter 6 – Lay of the Land
Borachland Castle, Planet Arkken
Pawlik decided to let his steward, Harril, provide the initial briefing for Ruth on the political scene. The Mage had agreed that it was better if someone else did the bulk of the heavy lifting in bringing her up to speed. This would allow Pawlik to turn his attention to catching up on all the management tasks that had been left undone while he was off-planet.
