by Jaleta Clegg
He snatched at the veil and tore it free. The woman was young, her skin and hair pale in the artificial light of the room. Her lips quirked in a smile that didn't touch her icy blue eyes.
"Sonja?"
She rested her gloved hands over his lips. She leaned close to whisper, "Never speak my name. Tell me about Admiral Dace. Who is she?"
He tried to shake his head free. He trembled as a wave of dizziness claimed him.
"Don't resist, love. The more you fight, the more it will hurt."
Her breath brushed over his cheek, her lips tickling his ear. She brushed against him as she lowered her veil once more.
He bit his lip, fighting the urge to speak. She shifted behind him, her hands running along his arms. The silk of her gloves slipped over his skin. The drug slid through his veins, irresistable and seductive. He shivered under her soft touch, cold as ice.
"Tell me, Vance."
Her whispered words echoed like thunder in his mind. He dropped to his knees as the world exploded in colors. He told her everything as her drug tumbled him into madness.
Chapter 58
"It's been over a week, Jasyn. We can't stay here any longer. They're getting suspicious."
She turned away from him, pretending not to hear him. Clark followed her.
"We've got fuel, we've got a cargo. We have to go."
"Not yet, Trevyn," Jasyn answered.
"She hasn't even tried to call us," Darus said. He shook his head. "She refused all of our messages. She's changed. She's made her choice. It's as simple as that."
Jasyn bit her lip, turning her back on them to fuss with the pot on the stove. Clark came up behind her and rubbed her arms.
"Face it, Jasyn. She isn't the same person anymore. It's time to let her go."
"Maybe she'll be happy," Twyla said.
"She didn't look happy." Jasyn dropped the lid of the pot into the sink. "One more day, please. If we don't hear from her by then, we can go."
The mood in the ship was somber. Even Louie refrained from his usual cheerful babble. He fussed and refused to eat. Ghost sat on the ledge above them, twitching her tail and growling at anyone who came near.
"I'll wash up tonight," Ginni offered when they finished.
"I'll check on the cargo. Want to come?" Beryn asked Twyla. The two of them headed around the back of the ship.
Clark took Louie into the nursery to clean him up. Darus helped Ginni rinse dishes.
Jasyn crossed to the open hatch. She leaned against it, watching the evening light spread slowly over the city and ships. The ocean moved restlessly beyond the last row of buildings. She took a deep breath, reaching for the clean smell of salt water. She tried not to think about her decision. She didn't want to let Dace go, but maybe it was time. The polished, perfect woman she'd seen at the mansion wasn't the Dace she knew. It was hard to believe she would change that much but Dace had chosen her way and it no longer included the Phoenix.
She leaned on the hatch and listened to Ginni sing as she scrubbed dishes. It was peaceful. She watched the transports move past, not really paying attention. The light faded into a reddish haze. She started to turn to go back inside when a single figure caught her eye.
Whoever it was wore a shapeless gray shipsuit. She was too far away, and her head was down. Jasyn straightened, staring at the figure as it trudged closer to the ship.
Was she just wishing too hard? She moved down the ramp a few steps. It had to be someone else, going to another ship. The woman came closer. She kept her head down. Her hair was clipped short, almost shaved into a military cut. She had her hands jammed into her pockets. Her shoulders drooped. Jasyn watched her, hardly daring to breathe in case it was only her imagination drawing the figure in the reddish air.
She came to the bottom of the ramp and stopped. She looked up hesitantly. It was Dace. She was too thin, her face lined with weariness. There was pain in her eyes that hadn't been there before. She studied Jasyn wordlessly for a long moment.
"Permission to come aboard?" Dace finally asked. She looked as if a word would send her trudging away again.
Jasyn shook her head, trying to speak past the lump in her throat. "You don't have to ask permission, Dace. You own half the ship."
Dace stood a little straighter, as if a weight had slid off her shoulders.
"Welcome home," Jasyn said. She almost ran down the ramp and gathered Dace into a hug.
Dace stiffened briefly. She suddenly relaxed and returned the hug. Jasyn wasn't surprised to find her crying. Her own eyes were more than a little wet.
Ginni was next, flying down the ramp to wrap her arms around Dace. Darus and the others weren't far behind. Dace was smiling and crying and laughing as they escorted her back into the ship.
Chapter 59
Querran leaned back in her chair as she listened to the report.
The Fleet Commander stood at stiff attention while he talked. "They blew the base," he said angrily. "They never intended us to have it."
His second in command stirred. Querran glanced over at her. "You have something to add, Commander?"
The woman shook her head, glancing uneasily at her superior.
"You should have never trusted the Patrol," the man continued. "Lowell took off halfway through the fight. The whole thing was a setup. The pirates were waiting for us in the nebula. If you ask me, Lowell betrayed us. He wanted us to fail."
"I highly doubt that," Querran answered. "Why do you say it was a setup?"
"They knew we were coming. They had ships waiting to attack us. They knew exactly where we were stationed and targeted the weakest ships first."
"If they knew all about the raid," Querran asked, "isn't it obvious that they would know about the attack on the shipyard itself? The plan was to take it if possible and blow it if not. It sounds like the Patrol were following orders."
The commander shook his head. "That Patrol woman they put in charge never intended to take it."
"She would follow her orders, even if it meant dying, Commander. No, it sounds as if the whole operation was compromised. They did their best. We no longer have to worry about pirates building ships in our Sector. How many ships did we capture?"
He didn't like her reprimand. His mouth pinched tight. She was still the commander in charge, though, and he was military enough to hide his anger.
"Five," he answered. "They are barely able to fly. Four were destroyed, as per our orders to shoot if they didn't send the right codes. Three others escaped into the nebula. As a result of their attack, three of our ships are in drydock undergoing repairs. One was completely destroyed. Four lack the parts needed for a full repair."
"Yet another reason we need to keep trade routes open with the Empire," Querran said. "We don't have the parts or the means to fix our ships ourselves. The Patrol aren't the enemy here, Commander."
"They left, in the middle of the battle. If they had stayed and provided cover support as they were supposed to, we wouldn't have lost the Outlander. Instead, they turned tail and ran. It looks highly suspicious to me, Chief Querran."
"They did send a message blurb," the second spoke for the first time. "It was garbled, almost unreadable. We translated enough to know they received a priority message."
"They have their own problems to deal with." Querran tapped a mem sheet on her desk. Recent news headlines appeared on the paper. "Lowell has his hands full dealing with the Empire's problems."
The Commander didn't want to believe her.
"I want you to find the real traitor," Querran said.
"How am I supposed to question the Patrol or the merchants?" the man objected.
"Not everyone was happy about us leaving the Empire," Querran said. "I'm not asking you to look in the Patrol or the merchant ships. Look in your own Fleet. Someone betrayed us, and I want to know who."
"There are no spies in my Fleet," the man said.
"There are spies in the High Command of the Patrol," Querran snapped, out of patience with him. "Wh
at makes you think we're immune?"
The man stiffened to attention, angry at her accusations. His second looked more than a little troubled.
"I want the spies found, Commander," Querran said. "But I do not want this turned into a witch hunt. I want proof before you give me names. Is that understood?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Dismissed."
He saluted her and marched out of her office, followed by his second. Querran sank back in her chair with a sigh.
The door behind her opened. "Do you think he'll find them?" Everett asked as he joined her.
"No," Querran said honestly. "But I think she will, if they are there to be found."
Everett stood next to her desk, frowning thoughtfully at the door. "They knew we were coming and set a trap. It wasn't very successful. They still lost the shipyard and their ships."
"They have more."
"But they need bases, repair facilities, fuel stations, a support network. Their ships won't fly long without one. We'll find them."
"Are you sure your people weren't the ones passing on information?" Querran asked. "Rumor has it that merchants can be bought."
"If the price is high enough," Everett agreed. "They know the price for selling me out, though, and I doubt the pirates would pay more. If it was one of my people, you can rest assured I will find them. And then they will wish they had never been born." His smile was cold.
Querran shivered. "For their sake, I hope you never find them."
He laughed. "If they betrayed our pact, there isn't anywhere they can hide."
Chapter 60
The Praetoris downshifted into Linas-Drias with shields raised and weapons charged. Lowell stood next to the captain's chair, red lights washing over him as the ship went to battle alert.
Rik glanced at him as he issued orders to his crew. "Straight course to the planet. Broadcast the emergency priority signal. Fire warning shots on any ship that doesn't move out of our way."
Lowell cleared his throat. "I sincerely hope that won't be necessary."
"What did you expect? A parade?"
Lowell didn't bother to answer. He watched out the main viewscreen as the ship flew towards Linas-Drias. Ships scattered out of their path, mostly yachts and personal transports. The merchants were far fewer than they should have been. He waited, knowing the Patrol ships in orbit would shift to block their approach.
The tense silence on the bridge was shattered by a chime from the com station. Rik nodded at the tech. He connected the call.
The view of ships changed to that of a middle-aged woman with short-cropped dark hair and an Admiral's pins in her collar. "Commander Wexford, what is the Praetoris doing at Linas-Drias? You were stationed with the seventh fleet at Besht. And why are your shields and weapons raised?"
Rik took a deliberate step back and to the side, his attention turning to Lowell as he did so.
The woman drew in a sharp breath. "Why isn't Commander Lowell in cuffs and restraints?"
Lowell clasped his hands behind his back. "Because I'm not under arrest."
"You are wanted for dereliction of duty and treason. Commander Wexford, if you will not arrest this man immediately, you and your crew will be declared guilty by association."
Wexford shifted his gaze back to the Admiral. "I'm afraid I can't do that. High Commander Lowell is not the one who should be under arrest. We have proof to convict Theodys and Flanigan, among others."
"You will lower your shields and power down your weapons immediately. You will be escorted to the station where you will dock and surrender. Consider yourselves under arrest." The Admiral snapped off her connection.
"Open a channel, please," Lowell spoke to the crew. "Commercial and military frequencies. Then play the message I recorded."
The tech nodded as he punched in the commands.
Rik shifted closer to Lowell. "Do you really think they'll listen? You're accusing a lot of powerful people."
"With the proof to back it up." Lowell tugged his ear. "We might catch a few. But this was mostly to shake the hornet's nest and see what emerged. We'll see whose loyalty remains intact."
"The ships are arming weapons and closing, sir." The scan tech spoke crisply, as always, but with an undertone of resignation.
"Hold your position." Rik turned to Lowell. "What do we do when they fire on us? Shoot back?"
"They won't return fire. Not if they're listening."
Lowell's message contained a full accounting of Flanigan's actions as Fleet Commander along with the atrocities committed in the Patrol's name. It ended with the proof of Theodys' betrayal.
The ships slowed, surrounding them. Their weapons remained charged, but no longer targeted the Praetoris.
Lowell stepped down from the platform to stand next to the com station. The man clicked the channel to a live feed without being asked.
"You've heard the short version," Lowell spoke on the open channel. "I have more. Names. Dates. Evidence of treason from within the Patrol. It's time we cleaned house and arrested the real traitors. The charges against me are false. I'm coming to headquarters for a full account."
The man cut the feed.
"Dock with the station," Lowell ordered. "We'll start there."
The cruiser's engines slid them forward, towards the Patrol station orbiting above the planet. The Patrol ships moved back, clearing a path.
"Good sign or not?" Rik mused, watching the ships.
"They aren't shooting. That's good enough for me." Lowell tugged his collar. "We'll see what reception we get at the station."
Time dragged in tense silence. The crew spoke only when needed as they maneuvered the ship towards the station. They believed in him, Lowell reassured himself. If they didn't, they would never have followed his orders. He mentally reviewed the other members of the High Command. Which ones could he trust? Vandergilt would be on his side, she'd supported him before. Yambasa and Edwards, maybe. Julainis and Levin? Unknown. Kovalli followed Theodys. Lowell glanced at the com screen.
The tech glanced up at him. "Your message was sent as soon as we downshifted, sir."
Lowell nodded. He had to trust that someone believed him enough to arrest Kovalli before the man disappeared. If he hadn't already.
The docking clamps locked around the Praetoris. The woman at the helm turned to Wexford. "Ship is secure, sir."
Lowell flexed his hands. This was his fight now, one of words and legalities not weapons. Or so he hoped.
Rik turned to the man at the weapons control. "I need an escort, Zubaida. Volunteers only. I'm going with Commander Lowell."
"Make sure they're well-armed," Lowell said. "Just in case."
Zubaida snapped a salute then left the bridge.
"Ready?" Lowell asked Rik.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
They turned to leave the bridge. Half of the ship's crew stood to follow.
Lowell opened his mouth to protest, then changed his mind. These were people he was proud to have at his back. He trusted them more than he trusted the ones waiting on the other side of the airlock.
Most of the ship's crew crowded behind him when he opened the airlock door. Zubaida had found an impressive number of hand weapons. All of them were armed.
The door slid aside. Lowell stepped forward into the docking bay of the station. Weapons cocked on both sides of the door. Several dozen Enforcers, in full battle armor, surrounded him. Lowell raised his hands. He hadn't armed himself. He suspected he'd be met with force and he really didn't want a shooting war, not yet.
"Commander Wexford," he called over his shoulder. "Secure the ship. If they won't let you undock, blast your way free. Someone has to tell the truth."
Rik stepped up beside him. "I'm coming down with you. This charade ends now."
Lowell lowered his hands, shoving them in his pockets as they waited. The Enforcer troops stayed at the ready, weapons aimed at Lowell. They stood like statues.
Lowell sniffed. "Some idiot is going to get imp
atient and start shooting soon."
Rik glanced behind him. His crew guarded the entry into the ship, determination in every line of their set expressions. "My crew will hold steady."
Lowell rocked on his heels. He itched to be moving, to arrest those truly responsible, but nothing he could do now would force this to move faster. Unless he wanted to die a very violent death.
The Enforcers finally stirred, shifting aside to let a woman stalk forward. She fastened the last buttons on her uniform as she approached. Her eyes looked sleepy, as if she'd been rudely awakened. She stopped to glare, her prominent chin thrust forward.
"High Commander Grant Lowell, you are relieved of duty and under arrest until your evidence can be verified and corroborated." Her voice was sharp, hard as the steel deck plating under his feet.
Lowell held out his wrists. "Then arrest me, but do it quickly, Vandergilt. Before the real traitors escape again."
The woman waved one of the Enforcers forward. He snapped force cuffs around Lowell's wrists.
"Theodys confessed in his suicide note. The traitors have been dealt with. Except for you."
"Do we really have to play this game again?"
"Where have you been, Lowell? The charges against you are substantial."
"Flanigan's report? He's one of Theodys' plants. I've been trying to save the Empire, Liesl. The longer we stand here posturing, the longer Kovalli will have to cover his tracks."
Vandergilt shook her head. "He was arrested last week. His execution was this morning. You're too late, Grant."
"Then take off these cuffs and let's finish the job."
"I think I'll let you wear them a while." She turned to the men around her. "Clear a shuttle for immediate launch. The Emperor would like to speak with you, Grant."
Lowell shrugged. Let her play her game. He had bigger fish to catch.
Chapter 61
The freighter was old. It made scary noises whenever the sublight engines came on. But the crew seemed to trust it. Deena sat at the galley table and watched them fondly. The captain was an older man, Ky Jefferes. The ship was the Black Rose. The others on the crew were a very mixed lot. They were all men, which she'd thought a bit odd. She'd been passed on to their ship after numerous jumps on other ships from other planets. She'd lost track a long time ago of where she was. They'd all taken good care of her, even if the quarters had been tight and the company a bit rough.
