“Uh, sure.”
Ellie did as Mikk instructed, slowly, as not to find her hand bitten clean off, and wondered if Mikk was playing a game with her. The luk’s fur, which always looked spiny and coarse, was much softer than she would have expected and she fought the urge to pet him as she would a puppy. Instead she laid her hand on his head, took a deep breath, and did her best to clear her mind.
The connection was almost instantaneous. It wasn’t a physical feeling, but Ellie knew the moment their minds met. Images, fuzzy at first, and not clearly defined in any way she could easily explain, surfaced from the depths of the murky psychic connection. It was nearly impossible to make out what he was trying to tell her, though Ellie realized this was likely because she found clearing her mind to be difficult in the middle of the lagoon. After a few moments of trying to refocus, the vision sharpened and Ellie nearly laughed at what she saw.
“He wants me to ride him?”
“Of course! That makes so much sense now. Ellie, luks can phase pulse. Well, Pouns can, at least. I’m not sure about the rest of them. I’m willing to bet you can as well. Together, not only will you have his protection, but you will not risk pulsing through anything unseemly.”
“Um…” Despite Mikk’s enthusiasm, Ellie was certain she could not phase pulse. Mostly because according to everything she knew and could draw upon, phase pulse was theoretical. Not wanting to get into an argument over science, she shifted to the myriad of other issues Gevandar’s proposal left. “Anyway, this isn’t helpful. Mikk, you were supposed to gather the pilots and put together a ground strike team. Even if I manage to get the communications jammed, you can’t do it all yourself.”
“Well, you could…” Mikk began with enthusiasm, but trailed off. Whatever her plan, it was clear it wasn’t going to work.
“I have a ship.”
Mikk shot a glare at Gevandar, but he held up his hand before she could speak.
“Think what you will of my character, cousin, but we were both trained to fly by the greatest pilot of her generation. If the objective is to sneak up on the orbital security detail and lure them into a fight, wouldn’t you rather have two ships to add to the confusion?”
“Theoretically, yes, it would be far easier, but I’m sorry, Gevandar, I am still finding it difficult to trust you.”
“I think I can help ease your mind,” Bethany cut in, tossing a rucksack onto Gevandar’s craft. “I’ll come along as insurance.”
“Excuse me?”
Bethany swung herself effortlessly from the raft to sit behind Gevandar, grinning wide as she gave him a patronizing pat on the cheek. “Ellie’s jackass radar may not be going off right now, but I ain’t as trusting. You fly nice and we won’t have a problem. Try something…” She pulled a small blade from her waist, holding it up in a way that flashed the light of Ghowrn Minor into Gevandar’s eyes. “…and I’ll have your head stuffed and mounted over the bar back at MochaMoka.”
“Do you even know how to fly a light craft?” Gevandar asked, clearly unnerved by Bethany’s casual unpredictability.
“Does it matter?”
“Okay wait,” Ellie cut in. “Even if Gevandar is on the up and up, that’s only two of you. Mikk, you originally said the minimum number of pilots you wanted for the ground strike to be ten. I can’t help but notice two is not ten.”
“You’ll not be alone,” Gil added. “We can quickly return to Merata City and gather a team of skilled pilots.”
“But the Abi, she only ordered you to escort us to the islands,” Mikk said, but Bas shook her head.
“You’re mistaken, my lady. She did no such thing. She asked and we agreed to escort of our own free will. The Abi leads, but she does not command. Our choices are our own and I choose to fight against oppression.” She leveled a pointed look at Gevandar. “Even if our oppressors may be among those we seek to liberate.”
“I cannot claim influence within the Alliance leadership any longer, but should our mission succeed, you may wish to persuade the Abi-Merata to consider a meeting at least.”
“Should we succeed, it would be my pleasure to relay your invitation,” Gil replied, keeping her tone neutral.
“Well, now that that has been settled, we should probably find a better launch rendezvous,” Mikk noted. “Just because I can take off from the water, doesn’t mean I want to.”
Ellie bit back her worry and allowed the others to make plans. Gil departed for Merata City, leaving Bas and Hani in charge of protecting their party and setting up camp, promising to bring a larger craft for both women. Only once everyone was securely inside the covered cabin of the raft did Ellie interrupt the planning with her concerns.
“You’ve nothing to worry about,” Mikk assured her. “Pouns will keep you safe.”
“I’m grateful to have a guide to make sure I’m not pulsing through living creatures, but Mikk, aren’t you forgetting something?”
Mikk met Ellie’s question with a puzzled look. Ellie sighed and shook her head.
“We haven’t discussed at all what I’m supposed to do when I get there. You may know where to go and what to do, but I don’t. And I’m pretty sure just tapping the nearest prisoner on the shoulder and asking directions to the missing royal’s secret headquarters isn’t going to be very effective.”
Mikk laughed, reaching up to unclasp a locket from her neck, holding it up so that Ellie could see the small tube-shaped pendant. With a twist, it came apart and she shook out the contents into her palm.
“Pouns has instructions to pulse you directly to my quarters at Oakwrn Manor. Inside there is a dressing chamber with three closets. The smallest is made for footwear. If you swing aside the shelf, you’ll see where to insert the key. Inside, you’ll find a room with a doritta device.”
“A what?” Ellie asked as the word had not translated.
“It looks a bit like a thin glove with a display built in. It was designed with war and security of the city in mind. Put it on and as soon as it boots up, enter the codes that I’ve written here.”
She indicated a folded bit of paper. Ellie plucked it from her hand and unfolded it, grateful to see that the handwriting was clearly legible and in a language she could easily read.
“What are these other numbers?”
“Different ways to protect the city,” Mikk said with a weird little grimace. “Just make sure that when you take out communications, you leave the shields up. It would not do to liberate the city only to have it overrun by yuddik and peepits.”
“Definitely,” Ellie said, swallowing a shudder at the thought of a peepit invasion. The tiny, fluffy little bird-like creatures were just as cute as their name, but equipped with stingers that left welts the size of baseballs. “So what about communication with the rest of the crew?”
“I talked to Vesparall and he’s relayed everything to Vitokk and the others. The pilots are standing by on Cald. Gil also sent word that she’s bringing more than twenty pilots. They’ll meet us on the island this evening.”
“That’s promising,” she replied. Twenty pilots was twice what they estimated necessary for a successful mission. That should have helped put her mind at ease, but Ellie found her thoughts racing with complications. Despite her conversation with the Merata escort, she wasn’t sure she could truly trust them to take out the imperial forces without resorting to violence.
And that was just the beginning of her worries.
“I’m going to go rest up for a few minutes,” she said to Mikk and headed inside, where thankfully, there was a quiet corner where she could curl up and be alone with her thoughts.
Not that they were good company at the moment. She’d been a wreck ever since Gevandar showed up and no amount of assurances of success was doing much of anything to help. Even if the mission went off without a hitch, he still provided them with a much bigger mystery to solve. One that Ellie was certain could just as easily set them back even farther than before.
A soft buzz cut through her though
ts and she looked down at the communicator on her wrist. Julian was calling. She cleared her mind as much as she could and answered the call, noticing he was alone in his craft.
“Hi,” she said, allowing her genuine happiness in seeing him to hopefully overshadow her darker thoughts. “You’re already out?”
“No, I’ve just used the excuse of running a diagnostic to get away from the others for a moment,” he explained, but his face was set with worry. “You’re agitated.” It was a statement and Ellie’s face fell. So much for hiding her emotions.
“You could tell that from across the system?”
“You’re my true master, Ellie. I could tell that from across the universe. What’s happened? I don’t sense danger, but your mental state isn’t focused, which could very well lead to danger.”
“Gevandar’s here,” she announced with a pained expression. “He claims he was not in control of his actions when he attacked me. He’s admitted too that our initial plan won’t work thanks to a prior act of sabotage on his part and has pledged to help us plan a successful work around.”
“You are calm enough that I sense you believe him,” Julian stated with undisguised curiosity.
“I do,” Ellie admitted. “But that’s what has me worried. Julian, Gevandar is an overbearing ass and I’ve exercised my right to reserve judgement on his supposed atonement, but as much as I want to dismiss his claim as shirking responsibility for his actions, I can’t. The Kyroibi doesn’t recognize him as a threat. And that means we’re dealing with the unknown.”
For a moment he was silent, but Ellie could see he was working through something in his mind, so she didn’t press. At last, he looked up.
“But are we? You and Ka’griannas both felt something may have been affecting the prince and your mother has admitted to feeling an influence as well.”
“Knowing that we’re facing the unknown doesn’t exactly solve the mystery.” Ellie grimaced. “Sorry, I’m a little on edge.”
“I understand and you are right,” he replied. “I do not believe it is anything we have to worry about at the moment, but do keep an eye on Gevandar. I suspect that much like the Kyroibi’s lure, we are facing something that affects those who are drawn to power.”
“Bethany’s got him on a tight leash at the moment,” she said with an undisguised smirk. “I’m not too worried.”
“But you are worried,” he prompted, noting that despite the light banter, something was eating away at her.
“Well, it’s the new plan, to be honest. I’m not sure I understand exactly what I’m supposed to do.” She replayed everything Mikk told her about how she was to get to the city. When she brought up the method of phase pulse, Julian cut in.
“That’s not possible.”
“That’s what I said, but then, I can’t really explain it, except to say Pouns is some sort of a psychic creature. He communicated his plans through flashes of imagery that somehow made sense. I wish I could better explain, but I can’t. I just need to keep an open mind and hope that no matter what the actual physics are, he can get me into the city intact.”
“Well, I am then grateful you have the means of protecting yourself,” Julian replied. “I will stay in touch, but for now, rest. I can feel your exhaustion, yes, all the way across the system. Be well.”
“You as well,” she half whispered just before the connection broke. Julian left her with more questions, but at least she now had no worries that she would be the next target for the mysterious entity. Ruling the galaxy fell decidedly into the category of things Ellie never wanted in her entire life.
Chapter 26
Julian stared at the darkened screen on his console and let out a mirthless laugh. So much for simple solutions. Not that he expected the liberation of a city—one housing the majority of a planet’s population at that—to be simple, but he’d at least agreed that Mikk’s plan was sound. When the Merata agreed to assist in escorting their small party to the tunnel entrance, he’d breathed a little easier and hoped for a swift and mostly peaceful takeover. Finding out that the wrench in their plans was a direct result of the meddling of Prince Gevandar was upsetting, but not entirely unexpected.
He did not question El’iadrylline’s trust. There was no one else in the entire universe he would trust more when it came to threats against all of humanity. That she now felt no threat from the very person who had brought about the transformation and awakened the battalion was a disturbing turn of events, one he could not ignore. He could only hope his theory was correct. Right or wrong, it was now imperative that he return to Ia’na Eidyn and do everything in his power to stop the galaxy from being torn asunder.
Knowing he had a duty, not just to his true master but to the Ghowrn system as a whole, Julian should have been laser focused on making sure his plan would not fail. After all, here at last was the very situation he was created to oversee. And yet, he held no such focus. Instead, he found his heart full of petty jealousy. That Gevandar was down on Fhasmyr, making plans and working towards forgiveness, while he sat helplessly by, awaiting the order to take down the imperial forces, stirred in him uncomfortable feelings he knew better than to entertain, yet he did anyway.
He cleared his mind, switching his thoughts to the task at hand as he tried desperately to shove aside the unwanted emotions.
The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, he reminded himself with a pained smile as he thought back on a long ago memory of watching that particular Star Trek movie one night at the lake with the Whitmore family. Ellie had jokingly commented that Julian reminded her of the logical Vulcan. He wished now that he could as easily ignore his emotions and embrace logic with all of his being.
He climbed from the cockpit of his ship, knowing that if he stayed out in the hangar too long someone would be sent looking for him. He’d only used the excuse of running a diagnostic on the ship as a means of having a private moment to discover what it was that caused Ellie’s emotional turmoil. The last thing he needed was more reason to cause distrust.
Soft footsteps in the distance made him think that perhaps he’d already lingered too long, until he spied Commander Vonsse at the far end of the hangar, eyes somewhere in the starry sky above. Clearly, the commander had heavy thoughts of his own and Julian did not wish to disturb the man. But before he could turn away, Vonsse looked up and caught his eye, waving as his wandering turned into deliberate steps.
“So I see I’m not the only one with a head too full of worry to properly rest this evening.”
Puffy circles ringed the commander’s eyes, punctuating his words.
“I spoke with Ellie,” Julian admitted. “It seems there was a change of plans.”
“Indeed there was,” Vonsse said, puffing out his cheeks and blowing out a long breath. “I’ve received a transmission from Mikk with instructions to standby and await the tactical schematics. I can’t say I’m not worried. I’ve always been proud of my lady’s ability to think on her feet, but I wish she wasn’t so secretive at times.” He squinted at Julian. “So what is it that has your circuits in a twist?”
That Vonsse could easily read his mental state was not a good sign.
“Did Lady Meioak tell you Prince Gevandar followed them to Fhasmyr and was the very reason for the change of plans?”
Vonsse’s eyebrows raised.
“Surely not.”
“El’iadrylline felt no threat from him,” he explained. “As much as I would scoff at the idea that the prince had a change of heart, I will not second guess the intuitive knowledge of my true master.”
“I’m sure I’m supposed to agree with you, but my emotions run a little high where the royalty of SiFa are concerned,” Vonsse replied. Julian was relieved the commander did not ask additional questions, especially those he did not wish to answer. “Ours is a system full of flaws,” he instead went on. “Has been for quite some time, I daresay. Long before my time, in any event. I’d like to believe that this liberation effort will usher in an era of c
hange for our people, but I have never been a blind optimist. I’ll accept any small steps forward when they are made.”
Julian nodded, but kept quiet. He was aware only that the SiFa microsystem had their own government structure which had not always fallen in line with the rest of the Ghowrn Federation, but not much more.
“It’s the wait that will be hardest.”
“The wait?” Julian questioned the commander. They’d walked the whole perimeter of the hangar and had circled back to the entrance. He paused, wishing to keep their conversation private and knowing that the others were camped just beyond the door, awaiting their instructions.
“Mikk says they plan to strike in the early morning hours. I suspect they’re not striking at night mostly because pulse travel will be difficult enough for Ellie, even with that armor of hers. That puts us at about mid-day here. I don’t know about you, but rest is going to be hard to come by.”
“It appears you’ll need to try at least,” Julian said with some amusement as they entered the terminal. Bodies lay sprawled out on the floor, across chairs, and curled up on all forms of makeshift bedding. “You don’t want to find your crew more refreshed than you in the morning.”
“Fair point,” Vonsse said with a sigh. “Though with all the good real estate taken, I would be better off curling up in one of those ships.”
Only Vitokk remained awake, nose buried in his tablet as he awaited news, but even he was yawning. Julian gave him a small tap on the shoulder.
“Get some rest,” he said, sliding into the other chair. “I’ll wake you up if we hear anything.”
“Thanks, kid,” Vitokk said with another yawn. “Gimme a sec though. I’m finishing up an email to Gertie.”
Julian waited until Vitokk set the tablet down before asking, “How is she?”
“Great, last time I talked to her, but uh…” His face fell suddenly. “She’s got a doctor’s appointment coming up. Says its nothing, but I don’t know. I might be overreacting, but I’m hoping for an opportunity to slip away, you know? I don’t want to be two or more days away if it turns out to be more than nothing.”
The Princess Rebellion (The Kyroibi Trilogy Book 2) Page 23
