by Kimber An
Ashley shook his head. “Approximately 20,000 kilometers.”
Olivia looked over her shoulder at the stars and spinning asteroids on the forward screen. “Helm, we need to crawl like a cat towards the beacon. Can we do it?”
“Yes, Captain. The risk we‘ll be detected by either side is high though.” Lieutenant Mir tried out different headings, eyes darting between his piloting controls and the forward screen.
“Well, we’re not out here to play it safe.”
An hour later, Olivia stood with arms folded, watching the moon-sized asteroid pass to starboard as they inched along.
“Captain!” Sachi spun around tactical, fingers flying over the panels. “We’ve tripped a Menelaen sensor net. I’m detecting ships.”
Olivia strode back to her station to study the starry grid. “A short battle group…there.” She pointed at three red dots. “What’s the lead ship’s designation?”
“IMS Mydis.”
Olivia looked up at the forward screen, watching the sky destroyer and its two flank destroyers emerge from behind some space rocks. “Edward.”
“Their shields are down and their weapons remain off-line,” Sachi reported, studying her readings. “Canon ports are open, but canons are not extended. That’s the Menelaen gesture to indicate no hostile intent.”
Mr. Ashley looked up from the communications station. “The Mydis is hailing.”
A beep interrupted.
Sachi checked. “Three United Fleet patrol ships closing on our position, all
weapons on-line!”
“United Fleet?” Olivia charged back to her command chair. “What the hell are they doing on the Intari section of the DMZ?” Hunting down a renegade starship, duh.
The Maverick rocked with a volley of warning over the port bow.
“They’re mighty pissed,” said Sachi.
Olivia watched as the patrol ships passed over and engaged the Mydis battle group, all weapons firing. “They must be under Admiral Jackass’ command,” she muttered as the lead ship jockeyed with the Mydis for a position closest to her own vessel.
The raider’s captain spoke over com. “Captain O’Keefe, you are in violation of treaty. Power down your engines and prepare to be boarded.”
“Oh, go suck a squid,” muttered Olivia, channeling her daughter’s slang.
“Captain, I’m intercepting transmissions between the Mydis and the lead patrol ship.”
“On speakers.”
“Yes, Ma’am, on speakers.
Olivia stood listening.
Edward’s voice came clear and strong over com. “United Fleet patrol ship, I am loathe to fire on a human ship. However, the Maverick is commanded by my wife, Captain Olivia Delano. I will not allow her to be harmed or abducted. Stand down your attack.”
A male voice responded from the lead patrol ship. “Captain Edward Delano, there is an outstanding warrant for your arrest. Power down your weapons and prepare to be boarded.”
“That’ll be the day.” Olivia watched as the Mydis swung wide and blasted with forward canons, striking the patrol ship’s engines dead-on. The patrol ship sputtered to all-stop, spewing hyperdrive coolant. “Edward’s refitted the Mydis with bigger canons and better maneuvering thrusters.”
The Mydis took position between the Maverick and the other patrol ships.
“Edward always loved charging to your rescue.” Isaiah appeared at her side, seemingly out of thin air. “He loved how it pissed you off.”
Olivia shot a glare. “Sachi, how close are we to Junior’s com beacon?”
“Not close enough.”
As they watched the forward screen, the flankships pursued the United Fleet patrol ships fleeing for the border, battering their aft shields with fire.
“Starboard,” commanded Olivia. “Ahead, one-quarter sub-light.”
“Aye, Captain,” responded Mir, making the adjustments. “The Mydis is adjusting course to match.”
“He knows what we’re after,” said Olivia.
“Captain,” said Sachi. “He’s powering the secondary laser canon on a low frequency.”
“He means to destroy the beacon to keep us from snagging it. He won’t fire on the Maverick.” Olivia lifted her chin from her hand, elbow on armrest. “Slap his hand, Sachi, and grab the beacon as soon as we’re in range.”
“Aye, Captain, slapping hand.” Sachi opened laser canons and blasted the Mydis canon port. “Two seconds to beacon. He’s bringing primary laser canon on-line.”
“Power the tryon canons.” Don’t even think about it, Edward Delano, or I’ll never sleep with you again.
“Acknowledged. He’s holding fire. Grabbing beacon.”
Olivia watched the blue tractor beam shoot out and grab the tiny cylinder out of the black void of space.
Edward Delano stood on the command deck of his Menelaen battleship, fixated on the image of his wife’s starship on the viewscreen. His face hurt with tension, red, moist. “Please,” he whispered.
“Viceroy?” The weapons officer hovered over his console behind him. “Awaiting your orders.”
The communications officer spoke up. “The Maverick is an Alliance ship and the communications beacon may contain classified information, Your Highness.”
Delano pointed at the weapons officer. “Order all ships to hold their fire! Captain Olivia Delano is my wife!”
Commander Bo stood beside the Viceroy, tucking his hands behind his back.
“As First Officer, I confirm the Viceroy’s order. Captain Olivia Delano is Queen of Denahi. She is also Sacred Mother to Princess Rowan. The Wrath of the Sun and the Moon will be upon us all if she is harmed.” The crew bowed their heads and returned their attention to their respective consoles.
Delano’s glanced at his right-hand man. “Open a channel to the Maverick.”
“Channel open.”
Delano cleared his throat and spoke in a formal tone. “This is Viceroy Delano to Captain Olivia Delano, please respond.”
The seconds passed with no response.
“Captain Olivia Delano, this sector of the De-Militarized Zone is a volatile area in the Intari conflict. Please accept my protection.”
Again, no response.
“Captain Delano…our daughter, Princess Rowan, is anxious for you to visit the Palace of Denahi. You have my word your crew will be received as honored guests, free to return home with their starship at will.”
Delano watched as the Maverick powered up sub-light engines and turned slowly away from the Mydis. His eyes stung, watching it vanish behind an asteroid. “Maintain continuous scans of the Maverick to ensure her safety.” He sat back in his command chair, chin leaning into hand, elbow on the armrest. “Withdraw.”
The crew worked in silence.
Several minutes passed before Delano lifted his chin from his hand and spoke.
“Bo, arrange to have the Princess brought to me at once.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” said Commander Bo.
A while later, Olivia sat, hands folded upon her desk. She waited for Stella to load the smuggled data-disk into the drive. Finally, the first image appeared. “My baby.” Her nose stung, eyes pooled with tears.
Junior‘s freckles had mostly faded into womanhood and her curls had eased into waves. “Hi, Mom. I miss you. So does Dad and he’s missed you a lot longer.” She worked her computer, loading information into the data disk. “Most of the disk’s memory will be taken up by data concerning Jackson, Dad, and the incident which led to the charges against Dad.” She glanced up. “Admiral Park has agreed to testify too.” She tapped a panel. “This first part’s just for us.” She folded her hands, looking into the screen. “Dad hasn’t even had a girlfriend since you divorced him, Mom. He is one lovesick puppy, I‘m telling you.” She pushed a button and a secret recording of Delano replaced her image. He wielded Aodhan in a practice session, whipping the sword around his still-powerful body.
Olivia’s gaze ran down his finely toned torso and ling
ered around his loins. A blush crept up her neck. Memory took her back to the night of the Wu-Cheng wedding, the night Junior was conceived.
If any man deserved a monument to his masculinity, it was Edward Delano.
Chapter 17
Naana departed Denahi to visit her sick mother only an hour before the order was received to bring Junior to the Mydis.
Lali was undergoing fertility treatments and Beling was in seclusion, observing the death anniversary of her husband and unborn child.
That left Palin and Talya in charge and they quickly made the necessary arrangements. They knew better than to keep her father waiting. She had a pretty good idea what was up, but went along as though she didn’t.
The provincial yacht arrived on the Midas flight deck only a few hours later, along with its two fighter escorts. Junior was taken straight to the command deck. As required by protocol, she wore a long white gown with silver belt and headband.
The Viceroy waited, arms folded. He turned to her. The guards withdrew.
“Hello, Father,” she addressed him formally before the crew.
“We encountered the Maverick.”
“Mom?”
“Come with me.”
Junior followed him into his office. He walked to the window, back to her. “What happened?”
“The Maverick retrieved a communications beacon, apparently left by you,” Delano said, turning to her. “A Defensive Fleet ship detected her and attacked. I intercepted them and let your mother go.”
“With the beacon?”
“Yes.”
Junior breathed relief.
“What have you done?”
Junior squared her shoulders, realizing for the first time she‘d picked up the habit from her mother. “I downloaded all the information I’ve collected into the com-beacon. I rigged it with a timer so it would release from the hull of your right flank destroyer as soon as it came within visual range of the DMZ. It emitted Claryon particles only, so Mom would know it was from me. Menelaen sensors consider Claryon particles space junk. Satchi worked out this signal system for the Maverick a long time ago.”
“Do you realize that was espionage?”
“Yes.”
“Do you realize that is a crime punishable by death in the Menelaen Empire?”
“Yes.” Junior drew breath. “Mom still has friends in the United Fleet. Once she delivers my information into Admiral Codetalker’s hands, an investigation can be launched. I know how the United Fleet works. Jackson is no dictator. The information I’ve collected can prove him guilty of conspiracy with the Intari Premerean Guard, ending his career and exonerating you of all crimes.”
“If I had not found your mother first, she might’ve been killed!”
Junior felt his wrath.
“Rowan, listen to me! Jackson is mustering an invasion fleet on the other side of the DMZ! Tensions are mounting! War could break out at any time! And when it does, it won‘t matter who the hell is in charge of the United Fleet!”
Junior swallowed.
Delano grabbed her upper arms. “I have to bring your mother under my protection before the shooting starts!”
“My mother knows how to defend her own,” said Junior. “And so do I.”
“What are you saying? Are you planning to run away?”
Junior didn’t answer.
“Listen to me!” Delano shook her. “If you leave my protection, you could be captured by an aristocrat and coerced into a political marriage! You could be picked up by Premarean Guard and interrogated! You could be arrested for espionage by the Orachi and executed!”
“You want to protect us.”
“Yes! You must convince your mother to…”
“There’s no way in hell, Dad.”
He slowly released her.
She turned and walked two paces towards the door, then faced him again. “I love you, Dad.” She shook her head. “But, I don’t trust you.” She gestured towards the command deck and her words shot out. “I’ve seen how much you enjoy the power you’ve acquired, the way you scare the living daylights out of people with your helmet and cape like you’re some kind of god.” She propped one hand on her hip. “My mother would never break her oath to the United Fleet to live a life of luxury at the expense of a people who do not even have the right to vote.”
“You don’t understand!”
“It’s not difficult to look into the faces of the Denahi and see they are Intari! You are taking part in the oppression of a conquered people! There is nothing I can do to stop you from choosing that life, but I will not be a part of it. And neither will Mom.”
“Rowan, you’re becoming hysterical over matters you do not understand and I will not allow you to endanger yourself in the process!”
Junior knew what he meant - more security, more restrictions. “Who’s hysterical?” She walked out.
Minutes after departing the Mydis, Junior settled into the sofa in the private aft section of the provincial yacht. She curled up, leaning on the arm, and pulled a silver blanket around her. She still wore her long, white dress for the formal visit, but had removed the headband. Her line of sight fell into a staring position, despair filling her heart. The hero has become the villain, locking the princess up in an ivory tower himself. If she ran away, her father might chase her across the border, but her mother would conclude he truly was the villain she’d feared all along. Mom won’t take him back like this. She won’t listen. No one ever listens to me.
Despair.
Then…euphoria.
“Oh, no. Not again.” She drew a deep breath. The two feelings - unreasonable goodness and dark despair wrestled each other with her caught in the middle, desperately clinging to self.
She lost the battle and closed her eyes.
Some time later, she felt a hand stroking her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, bleary, focusing on a face, the face of the yacht’s pilot. His helmet was off and he studied her, stroking her face, purring, glowing. He slid his fingers up into her famous red hair. “So…beautiful…” His breath quickened.
“What are you doing?” Junior knocked his hand away.
Then the force which was Ariez slammed him against the hull.
Sucking in her own breath, Junior felt her away along the side, bound for the cockpit. To touch a princess meant certain death for him. He not dare take such a risk, unless…
“It’s true!” The pilot followed her. “You are engaged in the Courtship Rites with someone.” He pursued her out the hatch. “Reject him and allow me to prove my worth.”
“Oh, shut the hell up!” Junior ripped open the door to the cockpit. The co-pilot and Palin and Talya were dead, slumped over and partially out of their seats, plasma shots in the backs of their heads. A little scream and she leapt backwards.
The pilot caught her from behind. “I was to deliver you to Admiral Jackson, but if we were to Bond now…”
Junior could see a blue tractor beam pulling the yacht into an enormous Defensive Fleet starship. She knew the markings. Jackson’s ship. “Why have you done this?”
“It is the only way a male of my caste may enjoy the pleasure of the Holy Bennu.”
Junior just registered the sounds of the yacht entering the hangar and settling into its assigned place. She felt him gripping her tightly. Her face reddened and she snarled, focusing all her energy on indignation. “You stupid son of…”
Grabbing his face, the pilot staggered back and burst into flames, shrieking.
Stumbling back against the wall, Junior slipped into the cockpit.
The pilot grappled at his face, flames eating away his skin, eyeballs bulging out.
Still partially in Jackson, Ariez knew the horror she felt and prepared to leap onto the gangplank as soon as it was low enough to do so.
The pilot ran out and fell off the end, half-way to the floor, and rolled around in a ball of fire. Emergency technicians rushed in with fire extinguishers.
Ariez hoped they would be too late. “Ro
wan!” Catching the edge of the gangplank, he swung up and found her huddled between two seats in the cockpit.
“He killed them.” She held the hands of her two dead ladies-in-waiting to her face. “He killed them all.” The flight crew slumped out of their seats.
Ariez lifted her into his arms and held her close. “Shhh, it’s all right. We’re together now.”
She went cold against him and shoved him back against the hull. “What the hell are you doing?” She shoved past him and ran down the gangplank.
A scream quickened his pace after her and he spun her away from the sight of the pilot’s burned corpse and into his arms.
“I killed him. I didn’t mean to kill him.” She quaked, hands in front of her face.
“It was Divine Retribution, My Love. He’ll never have the chance to harm another female now.” Ariez held her tight to his side and addressed the crew. “Get that disgusting heap away from the Princess now! He murdered the crew and her most trusted ladies.”
The technicians heaved the corpse onto a manual gurney and carried it away.
Finally, Ariez could focus completely on her. “Rowan…”
She jabbed elbow into his gut. “Don’t touch me, you dirty old goat!”
He felt his face heating up with her anger and backed away. “Rowan,” he whispered, glancing at technicians assessing shuttlecraft damage. “It’s me –Ariez.”
Her green eyes widened. She remembered. How much she remembered, he could not tell. Confusion shrouded her heart.
“Remember me.”
“Yes, I remember you!” Her hands went to her hips. “You’re the jackass admiral who framed my father for crimes and manipulated my mother into divorcing him!”
“No, no, it was not me! It was the Intari.” He focused on keeping his breathing under control. “Your thoughts are chaos. Your anger is fire to me.”
“No kidding and I have a headache you wouldn‘t believe!” She rubbed her temples.
“Please, come with me.” Ariez opened a hand to the lift.
She glared at him, but proceeded into it. “I could kill for anything chocolate right now.”
