Mage

by Cyndi Friberg

  “And if we don’t?” Vox stood his ground, refusing to cower yet unwilling to become the aggressor.

  “If you continue to use Stargazer Ranch, or if one American female is taken from US soil without our permission, we will consider it an act of war.”

  Then one by one the soldiers disappeared, bio-streamed back to their ships no doubt. Which meant they could only stream one person at a time. Interesting.

  “Oh, and the answer to your question, Vox, is no.” Marsden transmitted his voice immediately after returning to his ship. “This isn’t all we’ve got.”

  A faint shimmer drew Vox’s attention higher into the sky as the final ship lowered its shields. He immediately recognized the size and shape as a Rodyte attack-class cruiser, like the Crusader or—the Relentless! “Kage,” he muttered, then swore in Bilarrian.

  “That’s right.” Marsden sounded downright smug. “The Outcasts are with us now. Make sure you thank General Nox for the shiny new ship.”

  Chapter Nine

  Emily sat across from Lexie at a small round table in the newly opened commons of Lunar Nine. The area was basically a casual lounge in the middle of the commerce tiers. A beverage kiosk served an assortment of nonalcoholic drinks for a nominal fee, and the view was spectacular. From her vantage point at the table, she could see up through the center of the tiers to the ever-morphing display dome, which the outpost engineers had brought online the day before. A lovely ocean scene faded out as a mountain vista took its place. Truly something for everyone.

  “I’m supposed to be distracting you from some sort of crisis, but you look anything but distressed.” Lexie waited until Emily dragged her gaze away from the dome before she said, “Care to explain what went on down there?”

  “Which part?” Emily smiled as memories warmed her cheeks. “Last night or this morning?”

  Lexie’s jaw dropped. “There was a last night for you and Vox and it took you this long to tell me?”

  Emily couldn’t contain her beaming smile. “It’s official. I fell right into you’re maniacal trap.”

  With an excited squeal, Lexie flew around the table and gave Emily a firm hug. “Congratulations.” Then she stilled and looked intensely concerned. “Did Vox explain about his um…family?”

  “I know everything. He’s much too honorable to claim me without telling me about his um…family.” Lexie slapped at her and Emily laughed. “You could have told me he’s a prince, you know. You had no trouble telling him all of my secrets.”

  “Hey, I’m the one who made him swear he would tell you before he let things go too far.” Lexie returned to her seat, then glanced toward Raylon’s office on the top tier. “So what happened this morning?”

  “Ever heard of Solar Warden?”

  Lexie’s forehead creased and her eyes narrowed. “I’ve heard all sorts of stories, but they’re just stories. Aren’t they?”

  “Yeah, like the moon being hollow was just a story. Colonel Royce Marsden and his black ops team showed up to throw all the ‘illegal aliens’ off US soil. He said Rodytes might own the moon, but if they start stealing human females, it will be considered an act of war.”

  “Holy shit.” Lexie shook her head, clearly shocked by the development.

  “Do you know why he would say that Rodytes own the moon? I asked Vox, but he had no idea.”

  Lexie laughed and shook her head, still looking a bit stunned. “It goes clear back to the moon landings. Lunar Nine was originally an observation station from which the Rodytes watched the space race. But they quickly realized other uses for the outpost and were in the process of expanding it when one of the astronauts wandered into a maintenance entrance. I’m not clear on the details, but the Rodyte leaders used a combination of obscure squatter laws and imminent domain principles to establish ownership of the moon. The poor astronaut was handed a fist full of legal documents and told to pack up his things and go home. That’s why NASA shifted its focus to Mars.”

  “That’s too bizarre to be made up.”

  Lexie just smiled, then her expression turned thoughtful. “Sounds like our video worked a little too well. Uncle Sam obviously didn’t feel threatened before. How big was this team, and how did they show up?”

  “That’s not just a rumor either. The US military has spaceships. They weren’t very impressive, but there’s more.”

  “More?” Lexie pressed her hand to her chest. “I’m not sure my heart can take it.”

  “Someone called the Outcast was with Marsden and he was in a Rodyte ship. A pretty big one.”

  Lexie shuddered, her eyes round with worry and disbelief. “This is bad, really, really bad. The Outcasts aren’t a him. It’s a them. They’re a group of outlaws led by a technomage. Did Vox explain what a technomage is?”

  “According to Vox they’re pathetic creatures addicted to implants that attempt to make it appear like they can work magic.”

  Lexie rolled her eyes, a bit of her shock starting to abate. “Only Vox could sell that line. What he said is more or less true, except the integrated tech does a damn good job of making it seem like they can control magic. I met Kage once and that was more than enough for me. Vox can sneer at their technology, but the Outcasts snatched me right out of a bio-stream beam. Kage is scary as shit and has over a thousand men at his command.”

  “Yeah that doesn’t sound helpful at all.”

  “Raylon is going to lose his mind. He did not want AG Nox to give Kage Razel that ship. Garin did it to save my sister, but Raylon knew it would bite us in the ass.”

  “Looks like Raylon was right about that. But it doesn’t make sense to me. What can the US military offer the Outcasts that the battle born can’t? The Outcast ship was the only one even sort of intimidating, and there are several just like it out in the spaceport.” Emily heaved a heavy sigh, then suddenly perked up. “Oh, I almost forgot. Vox knows Marsden. He didn’t take time to explain when and how before we teleported up here, but they definitely know each other.”

  “Wow. I leave you alone for less than twenty-four hours and look what happens.”

  Emily smiled, but none of it was funny. The rebellion was in serious trouble and they both knew it.

  * * * * *

  “The only question that matters is what do we do about this?” Garin snapped, he was too anxious to sit, so his holo-image paced on the far side of Raylon’s office. Vox had thoroughly reviewed the challenges that developed that morning, stressing the limitations he’d discovered in Solar Warden’s technology. They’d debated ways to exploit each weakness at length. Now it was obvious that Garin was ready to move on to solutions.

  Raylon sat behind his desk, but his continual rocking revealed his restlessness.

  Years of rigorous training on the metaphysical plane allowed Vox to process stress differently. He sent calming energy cascading through his body whenever his muscles began to tense.

  “The Relentless is one of our best, but she’s still only one ship,” Raylon muttered. “Even with the Outcasts, we have them out gunned.”

  “We cannot go to war with Earth!” Garin yelled. “It’s out of the question. We did not depose a tyrant so we could follow in his footsteps. The females will volunteer or this program is over.”

  “That’s not what I was suggesting,” Raylon argued. “Humans have a concept called peace through strength. I say we flex our muscles.”

  Garin didn’t dismiss the suggestion entirely, nor did he look convinced. “This Marsden might command Solar Warden, but someone is commanding him. We need to identify his commanding officers and negotiate—”

  “You can’t negotiate with the US military!” Raylon took a deep breath, then continued in a more controlled tone. “They’re notorious for breaking treaties. Besides, we tried negotiating already and they turned us down.”

  “We rejected their insistence on secrecy. That’s what shut down the negotiations.” Garin calmed down enough to stop pacing, at least for the moment. “How well do you know Marsden?” he
asked Vox.

  “I knew him relatively well fifteen years ago. We worked together on a lengthy mission.”

  “What sort of mission,” Raylon wanted to know.

  “I was chasing a dangerous fugitive. He was one of the men chosen to assist me. He wasn’t in command back then, but he was already full of himself.” Marsden’s cocky attitude hadn’t bothered Vox because the human was also competent and reliable. But fifteen years was a long time, and power had a way of changing people.

  “Is he reasonable?” Garin persisted. “Could you talk to him and find out if there is any possibility of compromise?”

  “I’ll try.” Vox raised his hands, feeling helpless. This was taking him deeper than he’d wanted to go. He was supposed to be extracting himself from the rebellion so he could return to Bilarri and continue his preparations for becoming regional king. Each additional task he agreed to postponed his ultimate goal. “First I’ll have to figure out how to contact him.”

  “We can still contact the Relentless, unless they’ve gutted their com-system,” Raylon pointed out. “All we need to do is tell Kage when and where you want to meet.” He looked at Garin and opened his mouth, but the general shut him down with a furious glare.

  “I don’t want to hear it. Trusting Kage was a gamble and I lost. Fortunately, I was suspicious enough to slip a man inside his camp and document the description and transponder codes of every one of their ships.”

  “That will help,” Raylon agreed. “Now I need to know everything about this Solar Warden program.”

  “I’ll let you get to it.” Garin sighed and then looked at Vox. “I’m not expecting miracles. Just open a dialogue. See what you can find out.”

  “Of course, sir.” He wasn’t technically one of Garin’s men, but the general deserved respect for all that he’d been able to accomplish, and all that he was still trying to do.

  Garin ended the transmission and Raylon batted a mug off the corner of his desk. “Gods damn it!” The mug bounced off the wall with a resonate thud, but only cracked rather than breaking. “I knew that son of a bitch would betray us. I could see it in his cold black eyes.”

  Vox only knew Kage by reputation, so he didn’t comment. “Will he deliver the message to Marsden or should I figure out another way?”

  “He’ll deliver the message. It will probably amuse him to know we’re preparing to grovel.”

  “I have no intention of groveling.”

  Raylon shook his head. “Don’t listen to me. I need to go work this off in a training cage. I’ll contact the bastard myself just to make sure he follows through. But I need a time and location.”

  Vox thought for a second then said, “There’s a bar in Boulder called the Charter Club. If he doesn’t know the place, he can easily find out. I’ll be there tomorrow night at eight. Tell him to come alone or I won’t stay.”

  “Got it, and thanks again.”

  Vox left Raylon’s office with more questions than when he’d entered. Not a good sign. But he spotted Emily and Lexie as he walked toward the elevators and his spirit calmed. They were chatting, smiling and laughing as if they didn’t have a care in the world. He could still sense Emily’s tension, so he knew a good deal of their levity was for show. Neither wanted the other to realize how worried they were, so they smiled and teased, as good friends often did.

  He had a mate, an extraordinary, wonderful mate. He was still struggling to believe it was true. He would father children and continue the Loriet dynasty. Now all he had to do was convince his father that bonding with a human hadn’t been an intentional insult.

  Too impatient to wait for the lift, he teleported to the lowest level then joined the females in the commons.

  “How did the meeting go?” Emily asked as he approached.

  “As well as can be expected. I was the bearer of some very bad news.”

  “Are you two going to hang around here or head back to Stargazer Ranch?” Lexie asked.

  “And risk deportation?” Vox indulged in a little sarcasm. “I thought I’d spend the night in Emily’s apartment. I think we’ve both had enough excitement for one day.”

  “Is there room for both of you?” Lexie laughed. “I’ve seen inside that thing. She can barely turn around.”

  “It’s not that small,” Emily objected.

  “If Kaden could teleport, I’d make him take me somewhere new every night.” With that parting shot, Lexie stood, blew Emily a kiss then walked out of the commons.

  “Maybe we should go back to Stargazer Ranch,” Vox mused. “I have to meet Marsden in Boulder tomorrow anyway, and my cabin is much more comfortable than your apartment.”

  “I honestly don’t care where we go as long as we’re together.”

  He took her by the hands and pulled her to her feet. “I hope you never regret those words.” He pulled her into his arms and teleported them to the living room of his cabin.

  She slowly raised her head and looked around. “I think I’m finally getting used to teleporting, but why are we in the living room, not the bedroom?”

  “I need to unwind. I’m too distracted right now to give you my complete attention,” he admitted with a weary sigh.

  “All right. Do you want a drink? I know it’s early, but I won’t tell anyone.”

  “Actually, I’m hungry. Did you and Lexie eat, or can I make you a sandwich?”

  “We ate and you just got raked over the coals. Have a seat and let me take care of you for a change.”

  He smiled and sank onto the nearby sofa, too emotionally spent to argue. Garin’s and Raylon’s outbursts had been directed at each other most of the time, but Vox felt battered by their frustration. If the meeting hadn’t come on the heels of the showdown, he wouldn’t have felt so exhausted. But he’d been terrified for Emily and the trainees, afraid that the invaders had wanted far more than to issue a warning.

  Pulling off his boots, he rested his head against the wall and tried to relax while Emily moved around in the kitchen. The downside of their link was that he’d been able to feel her fear. He’d known his mate was terrified and he hadn’t been able to comfort her. If Marsden had wanted to make a more profound impression, he could have slaughtered every person on the training field without revealing his position. Unless he couldn’t fire his weapons through the human version of covert shields. It was an early limitation the battle born had worked long and hard to overcome.

  “You said something about a meeting with Marsden,” she called, still working on his lunch. “How did that come about?”

  “Raylon’s in the process of setting it up, so it’s still a little iffy.” He opened his eyes and straightened, not wanting to shut her out.

  She returned bearing a sandwich, apple slices, and a beer. She’d also brought a beer for herself. Most of his family members would be horrified by such simply fare, but he’d grown fond of the casual food of Earth. Every dining experience didn’t need to be an eight-course meal.

  “You don’t sound pleased with the development,” she noted. “Is it something you’d rather avoid?”

  “Not necessarily. I just promised my father I’d return to Bilarri within three months and that was roughly two weeks ago. The trainees were making great progress, but their training is on hold until we figure out how to deal with this complication.”

  “Isn’t there somewhere on Lunar Nine that would work for the training sessions, maybe a vacant warehouse or gymnasium?”

  He took several bites before answering. He really was hungry. After clearing his mouth with a swig of beer, he explained, “The training sessions will be easy to relocate, but none of us are sure how to deal with the volunteers. Stargazer Ranch was supposed to be a sort of filter, weeding out anyone who wasn’t a good match for the transformation program before they set food in Lunar Nine.”

  “Could they be taken to one of the ships?” She took a drink as she waited for his answer.

  He nodded, hurrying through an apple slice. “There are several with adequat
e accommodations to handle a steady stream of females, but again a spaceship might be enough of a curiosity to draw tourists rather than serious participants. That’s why we wanted to do the in-depth orientation at Stargazer Ranch.”

  “The battle born will think of something. Necessity is the mother of invention and they have the most to lose.”

  It was a gentle reminder that he wasn’t directly involved in the rebellion. He nodded and munched for a minute in silence. “You’re right. They’re my friends and I care about their future, but this is their battle to win or lose. And they’re the ones who have to live with the outcome. I’m a peripheral player.”

  Her brow arched. “I seriously doubt you’ve remained on the periphery of anything you’ve ever done. It’s not in your nature. All I meant by the comment is that you don’t have to shoulder the responsibility all by yourself.”

  He finished the sandwich and set the plate aside, quickly grabbing the last two apple slices. “I think a nice long shower might help me relax.” He took a bite off one of the slices then held it to her lips. She obediently accepted the morsel, her soft lips brushing his fingertips. “Would you like to join me?”

  “I’d love to,” she whispered, eyes filled with mischief.

  They shared the last apple slice, then he finished his beer. She took a final sip, setting the rest aside. He wasn’t sure when she’d taken off her boots, but her feet were now bare. Her skirt swished around her calves as they walked into the bedroom. He opened the shower door and turned on the water, letting it heat while they undressed.

  “Your father’s going to hate me, isn’t he?” Disappointment and resignation washed into his mind on the heels of her question. “That’s why Lord Drakkin asked if you’d told him.”

  Vox backed her against the sink and unbuttoned her blouse. “My father is used to having things his own way. Unfortunately, his first-born son is just as stubborn as he is. I didn’t set out to find an unconventional mate, but I won’t forsake the love of my life because my father disapproves.”