by Linda Mooney
“Yes, they do.”
As do you.
Will shook her head. “No, we don’t. Not singly. The Trinity is a warship, yes, but we alone can’t sustain a barrage long enough to end a battle. That’s not what this ship was built for. It’s not what we pledged our lives to do. I am a Nion warrior, yes, but I am pledged to protect others. I will fight, but only to defend.”
“Medical to Captain Tayte.”
“This is the Captain,” Will responded to the voice.
“Killjorn here. May I have a word with you at your earliest convenience?”
“Can you tell me now?”
The physician’s voice sounded peeved. “I would prefer we discuss this in private.” Apparently she knew the Captain was not alone. It didn’t take three guesses to figure out what the woman wanted to talk about.
Closing her eyes, Will placed a gentle kiss on Vall’s chest. “All right. See you shortly.”
“This is urgent.”
“I understand, and I said I’d be there shortly. Tayte out.”
She let out a deep sigh. “I’m at a crossroads here, Vall. I don’t want to lose you. I…I can’t. But I can’t stay with you, either.”
You are my Will. You must remain with me.
“Maybe. Maybe sometime in the near future, if the stars allow.” She hated giving him false hope. She hated herself more for pretending there was a chance for them. “For now, let’s see how far the Ben Objure will go to get you back. They must be stopped, or else a lot of innocent lives could be lost. Forgive me, Vall, but as much as I care for you, I can’t have that on my conscience.”
He gathered her closer, almost as if he couldn’t bear the thought of being separated. You are my Will. My Willis. I cannot lose you.
He kissed her again, more roughly than usual, but it was a roughness borne of desperation and fear. Reluctantly, Will pulled away from him.
“Listen. There’s a man up on the bridge who wants to take my ship away from me. He’s my top priority. I must get dressed and go up there to confront him.”
She stepped away when he dropped his arms, but he never moved from where he stood. Will entered the cleansing tube for an abbreviated cycle, then emerged and donned her overly-large uniform. After programming the computer earlier, as Killjorn had requested, it felt like she was wearing a sack.
Vall was still in the same spot where she’d left him when she turned for the door. She also noticed that during her bath, he’d put his robes back on. He looked her over, as if searching for something. Will caught his attention with a tilt of her head.
Will you accompany me to the other ship?
His question caught her off-guard. It was immediately clear to her he wanted to be with her as long as possible before they were parted. He wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
“Yes. I’ll accompany you to the other ship. Why don’t you come with me? I need to stop first at the bridge before heading for the medical bay to see what Killjorn wants.”
The shadow of a smile crossed his lips. He followed her as she exited her cabin and made her way to the tube.
They stepped onto the bridge together. After the crew had gotten over their initial surprise, Granth was the first person to greet them.
“Captain! You’re looking well.”
“Feeling a bit like a shaved grundus, but I’m mobile and cognizant. How soon until we meet with the Legion?”
“One point five-two hours, Captain,” another voice replied.
Everyone on the bridge turned to look at the man sitting in the command seat. Plymon remained motionless as he stared over her shoulder.
“This is the bridge. Civilians are not allowed. Peersoff, we need security to remove—”
“Cancel that order!” Will called out loud enough for the man to hear through the speaker. “Proceed as usual.”
Plymon swiveled the chair around. “I countermand that order! Just as I assume command of this vessel, according to Warrior Code Twenty-four!”
Will stared in shock at the man refusing to budge from the captain’s chair. At the man who had delved into her body countless times in the months they had been aboard the ship. At the man she’d originally thought was her friend, as well as her Sub-captain.
At the man who was stripping her of her rank.
The bridge remained silent, but she could feel the tension rising. Behind her, Vall moved closer.
Warrior Code Twenty-four?
Rather than answer him, Will kept her focus on Plymon. “How have I brought danger to this ship and crew?” she challenged.
Plymon glanced at Vall. “You are deliberately consorting with a humanoid of unknown origin. A humanoid with direct ties to the Ben Objure. A humanoid who has been instrumental in the attack upon Precorut. Because you refuse to put the humanoid into containment, I am taking command of this ship for the welfare of the crew.” He then stared directly at her. “Step down, Tayte, or else I’ll have security remove you.”
“You can’t do that, Sub-captain. I won’t let you.” Fortunately, her voice remained calm and in control. Although she verbally denied Plymon’s reasons, mentally she knew he was well within his rights.
Unless you refuse him.
She watched numbly as the Sub-captain got to his feet and approached her.
“I tell you what, Will. As soon as Vall is turned over to the Legion, I’ll hand command of the Trinity back to you. How does that sound to you?”
Will gritted her teeth. The man no longer referred to her by rank. And to call her by her first name in front of the crew was a huge insult.
But, again, she knew she had no choice. She had to accept Plymon’s offer. Whether or not he had sent a message to Regency Base, she had to take this challenge one step at a time. And her first step was to resume command of the Trinity.
“Will?” Plymon smiled enticingly, waiting for her reply.
A sudden thought came to her, and she knew she wasn’t ready to relent. Not yet. The Captain’s mark may no longer be on her neck, but they were still on her uniform.
“What makes you think that I am consorting with Vall?”
Plymon stifled his laughter. “Are you so stupid to have us believe that the two of you aren’t having intimate relations?”
Placing her hands on her hips, she gave him a half smile. “Have you seen us having sex?”
“I saw the both of you totally naked in your cabin!”
“A state of undress is what most people assume before cleansing themselves. And as for Vall’s nudity, he’s spent the majority of his life without clothes. Talk to Killjorn. He drops those robes the first chance he gets.”
“Then what is he doing in your cabin?”
“Why does it matter to you?”
A thread of strength uncurled inside her. Another idea came into focus, and Will lifted her chin. “Have you explained to the crew why you’re so concerned about my bedroom antics? Have you told them we were fekking partners during this mission?”
She could tell the others around them were surprised by the announcement. It wasn’t unusual for members to pair up during a long assignment, and to have the captain and Sub-captain become partners was commonplace. But this announcement gave her and Plymon’s relationship, and the Sub-captain’s current claims, an entirely new perspective.
What’s more, it made Plymon’s grab for the captainship highly suspicious.
“Tell you what.” Will crossed her arms over her chest. “Give me back my chair. Vall will become the Legion’s responsibility in less than two hours’ time. I also ban you from my cabin for the rest of this mission. Once we reach Regency Base, you can transfer to any warship of your choice, with my blessing and glowing reference.” She glanced around the bridge. “Any of you may transfer with no hard feelings.”
Walking past him, she went over to the command chair and placed a hand on the arm console. Her face went hard as she gave the order. “Get out of my chair, Sub-captain, and assume your station. Now.”
Now.
Plymon’s eyes jerked over to where Vall remained near the door. Will watched as the blood drained from his face, and she realized Vall hadn’t spoken to her. He had spoken to Plymon, and somehow she had overheard him.
After several tense seconds, the Sub-captain silently rose from the seat and moved to the side. Will slid onto the warmed upholstery and turned to face the view screen.
“How long, Granth?”
“Uhh…” The communications officer stumbled as he checked the timescope. “One point two hours…Captain.” The last word was emphasized.
Will smiled. “All right, then. We have a little time before company arrives. I’m hungry. What say someone goes down to the food processor and brings back some breakfast? I could use a hot bowl of brallas right now.”
She glanced at Plymon. She started to suggest he be the one to run the errand, but the man was already teetering on the edge of rebellion. It would be best she stayed clear of him until after the handoff.
Fortunately, another crew member volunteered and left the bridge. By the time he returned, the rest of the ship would know about the confrontation between her and Plymon. It wouldn’t take long to find out who was on Plymon’s side, and who remained loyal to her.
What about Killjorn? Vall silently reminded her.
She can wait. Or she can come up here to speak with me. I have a ship to run.
You are brave.
The sound of his praise whispering in her brain was enough to calm her. Hiding her smile, she checked on the fuel consumption report, unaware of the Sub-captain leaving the bridge.
Chapter Seventeen
Good-bye
The two hours she had to remain sitting in her captain’s chair, awaiting the arrival of the ship that would take Vall away, were sheer torture. Time and again Will cursed the fact that she had elected to come up to the bridge and confront Plymon, rather than spend the time wrapped in Vall’s sensuous embrace. No matter how many times she mentally argued with herself that her actions had been necessary to save her captaincy, and despite Vall’s mental approval of how she had conducted herself during the confrontation, she knew she would regret that lost opportunity to make love with him one final time.
Every so often, she could sense Vall moving behind her, either shifting from her right to her left, and back again, but never sitting. And keeping well within arm’s reach. He broke into her thoughts on occasion to ask a question about the space surrounding them, or about the ship. Rather than answer aloud, she tried to mentally respond, and include what she hoped was a more meaningful image in her mind. Because he didn’t comment any further about that particular question, she assumed he got her answer.
She also noticed he never touched her, or in any way implied by body movement or gesture that they were intimate. She had no doubt the crew believed Plymon when he declared she and Vall were lovers. The man had been trying to tear her down in their eyes, but she had a suspicion he only managed to degrade himself instead. At least, that’s what she hoped.
“Legion coming in range,” Magnus noted.
Closing her eyes, she girded herself and breathed in deeply. “Magnify.”
The view screen blurred slightly before readjusting the focus. In front of them, a gleaming ship, almost like a small golden sun, could be seen heading their way. Will smiled slightly, knowing that at that same moment, the Legion would be seeing them in the exact same way. Except the Trinity of Hope was not gold in color, but rather a silvery white shade. A hue that enabled them to effectively use star shine and light rays as background camouflage whenever they needed the protection.
Both ships were Nion warships, but as shown in their coloration, they were nothing alike in size or configuration. The Trinity was a small, faster ship, created for quick, lethal strikes. The Legion was larger and more suited for diplomatic missions. Will nodded to herself. She’d known Captain Ambris Alamet for many years, and she was secretly glad to know she’d be handing Vall over to a man who would keep him safe until they arrived at Regency Base.
“Incoming communication,” Granth announced. Before Will could acknowledge or order the officer to open up the message, a familiar figure appeared on the small ledge in front of the view screen. Will waited for the holographic figure to fully solidify, then flashed the man a smile.
“Welcome aboard, Captain Alamet.”
The older gentleman almost started to see her sitting in her chair, but managed to quickly recover. “Captain Tayte, you look in remarkable health. If it wasn’t for the new hairstyle, I would have sworn the report I received from Regency Base was in error. How are you doing?”
“Weak, but I’m functioning. I’ve missed talking to you, old man.”
“I miss our card games, Willis. Don’t forget, you still owe me eighteen thousand creds!”
Will laughed. “You forget you cheated. I owe you nothing!”
“Legion in transport range, Captain,” Magnus relayed.
“Will you care to come over for an hour or two?” Will inquired. Although she would love to chat a bit with her friend, she knew the real reason why she was trying to delay the inevitable. Sadly, Captain Alamet shook his head.
“Sorry, Captain, but we were already overdue to dock on Piedra Prime when we were ordered to meet you here. My time table is unreasonably short, or else I’d gladly take you up on that offer.” By the look on the man’s face, Will could see he was genuinely regretful.
“It’s alright. Perhaps we’ll run across each other at Regency Base.”
Alamet smiled. “Let’s hope. I’m still waiting to collect my winnings from you.”
Will snorted as the holo figure disappeared. Carefully getting to her feet, she turned to look at Vall. “Come with me.”
Silently and obediently, Vall followed her to the tubes and down to the transport bay. Captain Alamet was already there, along with his Sub-captain, when they arrived. Felderen stood behind the monitor, ready to send them back aboard the Legion. Will and the captain clasped arms lightly yet affectionately.
“By all the stars, my heart nearly broke when I heard about your stripping,” Alamet admitted. His eyes reflected his worry and grief. “I expected to find Plymon in your chair when we rallied.” He checked her out from top to toe. “Are you fully recuperated?”
“Not yet. I have a few more days before I can re-armor myself, but otherwise I’m well enough to resume command.” She held out a hand to Vall, who took it, and drew him forward. “Ambris, this is Vall.”
The captain was almost eye level with the young man. Alamet nodded. “So you are the person at the center of all this controversy?”
Vall turned wide eyes to Will. Before he could ask her, she flashed him a smile. “Captain Alamet will take you aboard his ship and deliver you to Regency Base. There, you’ll be tested until they discover your point of origin. Then, if you want, you will be returned to your planet and your people. Don’t worry. The Legion of Mercy is a bigger ship, and it’s better armed. It will keep you safe until your arrival.”
I will not leave you. I cannot.
He started to reach for her as sadness filled his face. Will quickly took his hands in hers.
“Don’t worry. This is where my duty ends. You’re no longer my responsibility.”
You cannot leave me.
She never believed it could hurt so much to say good-bye. Her heart was slowly ripping apart, and the pain was worse than when her skin had been shredded from her body. This wasn’t a quick stripping. It was slow, torturous, and horrific.
“You must go, Vall. You have no choice. I have no choice.”
You said you would go with me to the other ship.
“I thought there would be more time to say good-bye, but you heard Captain Alamet. He has to leave as soon as possible.”
My choice is to stay with you. You are my Will.
His grip on her hands tightened. She could almost envision him throwing his arms around her and refusing to let go.
At that very moment, he wrapped her in his
embrace. She started to protest when his mouth came down over hers, and his kiss seared itself into her soul. Will felt herself falling apart, to the point where she knew she would embarrass herself in front of the two officers and her crewman. Silently, she pushed against his chest. His arms released her, and she landed lightly back on her feet. Tears spotted her cheeks, but if she wiped them away now, it might further complicate things.
Will gave a shaky laugh as she put a little space between her and Vall. Sometimes a brief bit of truth was in order. “I’m sorry, Ambris. As you can see, we’ve become quite fond of each other.”
Captain Alamet lifted a questioning eyebrow. She could almost see shadows of disdain in his face. “Indeed. Will you be all right, Willis?”
“Yes. Thank you again for your concern. It seems my emotions are more unstable than usual because of my recent accident and the medicants I’m having to take. Forgive me.”
She glanced at the Sub-captain…Buel? Bruelle? She’d forgotten, but dismissed it. Alamet would put the man in his place if he ever questioned her actions.
“Please keep me informed on his progress.”
“Most definitely,” Alamet promised. Turning to Vall, he said, “You will have free reign of my ship, except for the bridge. My name is Captain Alamet, and this is my Sub-captain, Bunelle. If you ever have a problem, or need help, request one of us. Understand?”
Vall gave a single nod. Alamet glanced at her.
“He’s not mute,” Will explained. “My physician says he has the ability to speak, but he chooses not to. We assume his captivity aboard the queen ship is the cause.”
“I read your report. Indeed, he’s been rescued from a severe situation. Can he write? Or communicate via any other method?”
She hesitated to mention the mental connection she held with him. It was possible just the two of them could converse because of their unique closeness.
“I don’t know if he can write. My xenobiologist was in the process of teaching him how to use the ship’s monitors.”
“Good. We’ll expand upon that so he can ask for us if he needs us. Time to go, Vall. Time for last good-byes.”
