by Gun Brooke
“If you had not been on our side or, rather, Armeo’s side, things could have been very different.” Kellen turned and walked toward the conference room.
“It wasn’t a hard decision to make.” Amereena followed her, nodding to Dahlia Jacelon, who was preparing some documents on her computer. “Last-minute preparations, Diplomat Jacelon?”
“Can’t be too careful. I don’t like leaving anything to chance.”
“Neither does your daughter, nor this daughter.” Amereena indicated Kellen. “Kellen has provided coordinates to the resistance headquarters, as well as a few other resistance strongholds, where our mission should begin. I’ve spoken to Captain Todd and the commanding marine officers. They’re ready for you to brief them on the last details before we enter cloaked orbit.”
“Good.” Dahlia spoke shortly, but smiled in passing at Kellen. “Ayahliss?”
“She’s cleaning up after another gan’thet session.” Kellen shook her head. “Something is eating away at that girl. She’s throwing herself into training as if this is the last thing she will do in life.”
Amereena flinched. “What?”
“I’ve tried to talk to her, but she won’t let me in. She knows enough of the technique and self-restraint now to earn the right to wear the Ruby Red suit in combat, but something else, something indefinable, concerns me.”
“Concern regarding her determination? Or her readiness?” Dahlia asked.
“Neither. I’m worried about how she approaches her training with such abandon.” Kellen frowned, looking questioningly at Amereena. “I don’t mean to be presumptuous or to pry into anyone’s private decisions.”
Amereena knew Kellen meant every word. They had become friends and allies, and they both wanted justice for Gantharat and, ultimately, peace in this sector of space. Her feelings for Ayahliss were unexpected and confusing at best, but mostly startling and guilt-inducing.
“I wish I could help by talking to her, but she’s not exactly listening to me.” Amereena sighed. Ayahliss was evading her. Whenever they ended up in the same location, Ayahliss excused herself with perfect politeness and left. She always had several plausible reasons why she was needed elsewhere, and Amereena tried to ignore the stab of pain that this behavior caused.
“That’s what I fear also.” Kellen lowered her voice and placed a gentle hand on Amereena’s shoulder. “I know it’s difficult for you. Ayahliss isn’t cruel, only unpolished. She learned even fewer social skills in her upbringing than I did. Rae overlooks this and sees beyond my shortcomings, but it’s a lot to ask regarding Ayahliss.” Kellen stopped, and a blue sheen in her eyes betrayed the presence of the famous blue Gantharian tears. “I’ve come to regard her as a younger sister, and I’m afraid she’ll throw herself into the fighting and willingly risk her life. I need to convince her that she has everything to live for, and everything to gain, by being cautious and obeying orders.” She lifted a corner of her full lips in a half smile. “And, yes, I realize how ironic it is that I’m saying this.”
Dahlia closed her computer and joined them. “You’ve come a long way by being her mentor and by being married.”
“Yes. I’d like to think so.”
They had to leave the topic as marines and space fleet personnel began to enter and take their seats. Amereena made sure her notes were in order, but half her mind was with Ayahliss. She could easily picture the younger woman’s lithe, wiry body, her soft, short hair, and the large dark blue eyes.
“We’re here to review the final details before we launch the shuttles and land on the surface.” Dahlia’s matter-of-fact voice startled Amereena and brought her firmly into the present. “The resistance is ready to join us in our effort to support the Gantharian interim government. Two vessels are accompanying us, having brought back the resistance fighters who have received a clean bill of health from the training camp on Revos Prime.”
Dahlia continued to explain the last-minute changes to the troops. Captain Todd took over after a while and eventually dismissed the junior officers. Once they had left, he pulled up new maps of Ganath, Gantharat’s capital. “We have established where we need checkpoints once we secure the city and are able to contain the Onotharians still located within their headquarters.” Todd looked pointedly at everyone. “With the number of Onotharians living among the indigenous population, we can’t relax for a moment. We don’t know which side the majority of them will choose to pledge allegiance to.”
“In other words, we need to watch our backs,” one of the senior officers said.
“Exactly.” Todd turned to Kellen. “Any other words before we begin countdown, Protector?”
“I have nothing to add when it comes to the logistics, but I still wish to express my gratitude that you are prepared to fight to free my home world and my people.”
Todd closed the meeting and dismissed the other officers, his face stern as he entered some information into his computer.
Kellen turned to Dahlia. “Are Roshan and Andreia with the resistance fighters joining us from Revos Prime?”
“I believe so, yes.”
“Excellent. I haven’t heard from them in a long time.”
“I have to return this to my quarters, but I’ll see you in the mess hall.” Dahlia gestured at her computer. “I also need to verify some documents, but it won’t take long.”
“See you there soon.” Kellen nodded at Dahlia.
“Who are Roshan and Andreia?” Amereena asked absentmindedly.
“Rae and I encountered them when we returned to Gantharat the second time.”
“Oh, of course. The resistance leaders you and Rae helped save.” Amereena had read the mission report from the daring rescue of thousands of captured Gantharian resistance fighters. Kellen had allowed herself to be captured and taken to an asteroid prison, where she had met Ayahliss. Amereena took a deep breath. She couldn’t afford to let her guard down emotionally now. She was here to offer legal advice and gather information for the diplomatic corps to use in future negotiations, something that would take all her time and energy. Brooding over Ayahliss and what was going on between them was counterproductive.
“Ayahliss should be ready now,” Kellen said, inadvertently tapping into Amereena’s thoughts. “We’re meeting her in the mess hall.”
“I’m not hungry, Kellen.”
“Or you’re not willing to spend time with Ayahliss because of the way she acts around you.”
“Kellen, please.” Amereena winced. “But you do have a point.”
“You care for Ayahliss.” Kellen looked unwaveringly at her.
“Of course I do.” Trying to sound casual, Amereena heard how she failed. Instead, her voice trembled and she couldn’t meet Kellen’s eyes any longer. “Damn.”
“I’m being intrusive. I apologize.” Kellen’s gaze softened. She took Amereena’s hand between hers. “It just hurts me to see the two of you in pain.”
“The two of us.” Amereena laughed and could hear how bitter the sound was. “That would suggest there is an ‘us,’ which there isn’t. How could there be?”
“Are you really asking me?”
“No. I guess the question was rhetorical. The answer’s obvious.”
“Is it?”
“I’m too old for her. She’s too young. I’m a high-ranking judge, an officer of the judicial system of the SC. She’s destined to become something amazing, maybe even a Protector one day.”
“You might have said the same thing about Rae and me not long ago.”
Amereena’s hand jerked between Kellen’s. “Are you suggesting that the situation compares?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t know that. You can’t possibly know—”
“I can make an educated assumption based on personal observations.” Kellen held on to Amereena’s hand. “Something is tormenting Ayahliss, and it’s not only the upcoming fight and all that’s at stake for her fellow resistance fighters. Her behavior makes me believe her issues are far more
personal in nature.”
“For stars and skies, Kellen, you can be relentless when you want to.”
“I’m sorry, Amereena. I don’t mean to be harsh, and I don’t pretend to know what you and Ayahliss should do to solve your personal issues. I do, however, suggest that you try, since going into battle in her current state of mind could be the last thing Ayahliss ever does.” Kellen’s voice was a few degrees cooler and she let go of Amereena’s hand. “I care for you both, but when you and Dahlia are at the negotiating table, Ayahliss will be directly in the line of fire, risking her life.”
Feeling herself go pale, Amereena drew a deep breath, ready to swear that life support aboard the ship was failing. “All right. I see. I’ll talk to her.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” Amereena grabbed her computer. “Ayahliss might not listen to me.” In fact, she was sure it was futile to even try.
*
Ayahliss stood outside the mess hall, loathing how cowardly she felt. She had avoided Reena ever since their embrace in her quarters, and now she was perspiring at the mere thought of sharing a very public meal with her. No wonder Reena regarded her as a child, when she acted this way. A mature, self-assured woman would stroll in like she owned the damn ship and act like nothing was amiss. Not long ago, Ayahliss had mistaken being cocky for being confident, but her time with the Jacelons and Kellen had shown her the difference.
Two senior officers passed her and politely kept the doors to the mess hall open for her. Unwilling to draw any attention to herself, she nodded curtly and strode by them. Relieved the noise sheltered her, Ayahliss had lined up to be served when she heard someone say her name.
“We’ve saved you a seat over there.” Dahlia pointed over at the senior officers’ corner where Kellen sat next to Reena.
“Thank you.” Ayahliss looked bleakly at the food the kitchen staff placed on her tray. It was difficult to judge what kind this was, since being at war had made regular food unavailable for anyone aboard a military vessel. As long as they were involved in an armed conflict, regulations stipulated emergency rations—in this case, something green, something purple, and mostly something beige.
“I know,” Dahlia said, and made a wry face, “it actually doesn’t taste as bad as it looks. I think this is some sort of goulash.”
“You’ve never served that to me, have you?”
“I’m pretty sure I haven’t.” Dahlia laughed, which made Kellen and Reena look up and notice them.
“There you are,” Reena said slowly, and nudged the chair next to her away from the table.
Ayahliss had hoped to sit next to Kellen, but changed her mind because she would have to endure Reena’s gaze throughout the meal. Sitting down, she tried to remain inconspicuous and not participate. This approach seemed to work at first, and she began to relax as she focused on the tasteless meal. The other three talked, but she listened more to how their voices rose and fell, the quality of their timbre and how familiar they were to her now.
“Ayahliss? Are you all right?”
She flinched as she looked up and noticed that she was alone at the table with Reena. How could she have missed Kellen and Dahlia leaving? How long had she been lost in thought?
“Are you all right?” Reena repeated her question, looking truly concerned now. “You’re so pale.”
“I’m Gantharian.” Ayahliss put down her utensils and refused to look at Reena.
“Yes, but even so.” Reena spoke softly. “You seemed to be completely lost in thought before. I suppose you’re eager to go home.”
“Home.” Ayahliss tried to think of the last place on Gantharat that she’d considered a home. She had been too small when the monks found her to remember her birth family. The monastery had been a home, but she had always known it was temporary, no matter how caring the monks had been. The emphasis had been on learning, on developing the body and soul. She had sometimes wished to be hugged or to sit on someone’s lap, but the monks made it clear that it was highly inappropriate. Was that why she was so drawn to Reena’s touch? Was she so starved for physical attention? This didn’t make sense, since Dahlia, Rae, and Kellen didn’t have this effect on her. Ayahliss shook her head. It was all so confusing.
“Please, darling. Look at me.” Reena’s frantic whisper and a startling hand on Ayahliss’s thigh under the table made her jump. “I’m sorry, but you’re scaring me. You seem almost out of it.”
“I’m preoccupied. I apologize.” Ayahliss could feel Reena’s touch through her pants, and the sensation was close to scorching. “I should go to my quarters and make sure I’ve packed everything.”
“I’m done. I was just waiting for you. May I go with you?”
Ayahliss wanted to say no, but it was a lie and she couldn’t be rude to Reena like that, especially not in public. “Of course. Thank you.”
They returned their trays to the recycler and left the mess hall, both sighing as they exited the noisy room. Reena chuckled and Ayahliss had to smile at their simultaneous reaction.
“Too noisy for my taste, but I guess that’s what happens when you cram so many soldiers into one room just before a mission.” Reena casually took Ayahliss’s arm and kept walking. “I’m glad you’re talking to me.”
“I…” Ayahliss was about to deny the gentle reproach, but changed her mind. “I’m sorry. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“I realize that. I don’t want your apology.”
“What do you want?” Wincing, Ayahliss wished she wouldn’t speak so often before she considered her words.
“I want you to feel free around me. To trust me.”
“I do. I mean, I do trust you.”
“But you’re guarded around me, and I suppose I can hardly blame you for that.” Reena sounded and looked sad.
“Reena, don’t.” Ayahliss’s throat swelled into a knot that wouldn’t go away. She hated feeling this emotional, but she didn’t know how to handle it. “Please.”
“Oh, darling.” Reena nudged Ayahliss into a corridor and she tried to object.
“This isn’t my—”
“No. These are my quarters.” Reena opened the door with a quick command and tugged Ayahliss inside. “I can’t let you go down to the planet in this state. You need to be able to focus on your assignment, and if I’m responsible for your distress, we have to figure things out.”
Ayahliss stood inside the door and looked at the otherwise so stern and powerful judge. Her hair billowed around her shoulders, wild curls like a force of nature in a red cloud. Her austere black trousers and long black shirt, buttoned in the front, couldn’t hide the fact that she was curvaceous and utterly feminine.
“I need to know something,” Ayahliss blurted out.
“What? What, Ayahliss?” Reena took her hands and pulled her toward the couch beneath the viewport. “Please, tell me.”
Chapter Nine
The alarm klaxons tore through the sound of running feet in the narrow corridors of the Salaceos as Madisyn dashed toward the ladder leading to the bridge on deck one. Logging into her duty station, she glanced over at Weiss, who stood ready at tactical to the right of Podmer in his command chair.
“Target in grid four-eight-one, Captain.” Weiss delivered her report in a clipped voice. “We are barely outside SC territory.”
“All the better.”
Madisyn wondered why the captain of the ship Podmer was pursuing risked being on the wrong side of the border during wartime.
“Move in at full impulse.” Podmer drummed his fingers against the armrest of the command chair, the only sign of his excitement.
“Full impulse.” At the helm, Struyen tapped in new commands.
“They’re powering their distortion drive,” Weiss said. “They’ve detected us.”
“Take out their propulsion system,” Podmer ordered.
“Aye, sir.” Weiss focused on her console. “They’re dead in the water, Captain.” To everyone else, Madisyn knew Weiss sou
nded casual, but having glimpsed some of the authentic Weiss, Madisyn detected a tinge of something hollow, desolate.
“Good. Open a communication channel.” Podmer glanced at Madisyn.
“Channel open. Go ahead, Captain.” Madisyn adjusted the volume.
“SC vessel, this is the Salaceos. Stand down weapons and prepare to be boarded.” Podmer’s thundering voice echoed across the bridge. “I repeat. Stand down and prepare to be boarded.”
“Negative, Salaceos. This is Captain Rhoridan of the Supreme Constellations vessel Koenigin. We are prepared to match your firepower.” A stern female voice seemed completely unimpressed, and Weiss had to admire this captain’s guts.
“I’m sure you’re ready to fire, Rhoridan, but are you really ready to risk your passengers’ lives?” Podmer spoke with a slight purr. “Our scans show you harbor more than sixty passengers. I’m pretty sure they’ve paid good money for a luxurious trip among the stars.”
“It beats the alternative. Being assaulted by common thugs is hardly appealing.”
“Koenigin is locking plasma torpedoes, Captain.” Madisyn ran continuous scans of the SC ship.
“Double the charge of our own torpedoes and reroute all auxiliary power to our shields.” Podmer leaned back in his command chair, crossing his legs. He looked more like he was enjoying a day at the beach in his favorite sun chair. Madisyn knew he thrived on playing this cat-and-mouse game, but also that his hot-tempered, ill-mannered behavior lurked just beneath the surface.
“Ten seconds, Captain,” Madisyn said.
“All hands, brace for impact.”
The other ship’s torpedoes hit and rocked the Salaceos enough for the bridge crew to cling to their seats.
“Report,” Podmer barked. He was agitated now, judging by how his veins stood out like a pulsating pattern along his forehead and down along his neck. He could switch moods within the fraction of a second, which disconcerted Madisyn.
