Protector of the Realm

by Gun Brooke

  Armeo went rigid under her hand. "Do they have a case against her? Can they do this to her... because of me?"

  "I won't lie to you. Ambassador M'Ekar thinks he has a strong case against Kellen. He believes she kept you without having the right to do so."

  "It's not true." Armeo whirled around and faced her with tears of fury in his dark eyes, his back ramrod straight, chin raised. "I was young when my mother died, but I heard her make Kellen promise to keep me when we sat with her at the clinic—several times. I heard it!"

  Looking over Armeo's head, Rae saw that Armeo's words affected Kellen profoundly. She flushed a faint blue and clutched the bed linen, twisting the down-woven sheets as she apparently struggled for composure. Her obvious inability to harness the look of utter distress on her face pierced the layers of Rae's professionalism. Suddenly she felt a totally new urge to protect someone instead of something.

  "Kellen, listen to me carefully," she said. "I know it's hard to stop once you start running. It's difficult to trust anyone. Something tells me this is what's going through your head right now. But if you stay, I'll do my best to make sure you get a fair trial. The ambassador may be powerful on Gantharat, but he's out of his jurisdiction here."

  "You can't give me any guarantees," Kellen growled. "You heard. Armeo knows what will happen if I'm found guilty. The SC will extradite me to the Onotharian authorities, and they will force Armeo to go back to live with strangers. It goes against everything—and trust this: I will not go back on my word or disgrace my word of honor."

  Letting go of Armeo, Rae walked up to the bed and sat down next to Kellen. "I hear you. However, you're under Supreme Constellations jurisdiction, and since this is a Gamma space station, special laws apply. If you want guarantees, you have only one option. Have faith in my advice, and Ambassador M'Ekar can't touch you."

  Rae's mind reeled as she gazed at Kellen and tried to make sense of the unfamiliar emotions flooding through her. She wasn't sure what was going on and, automatically recoiling, she slipped back into the comfortable role of authority, distancing herself from her turbulent feelings. "If you go along with what I'm about to suggest, you and Armeo can never go back home. At least not for a long time."

  Kellen wiped quickly at her wet cheeks. Her long hair hung loose like a golden cloud around her well-developed shoulders, and her thinlinnen shirt clung to her tall, lithe body. Temporarily incapacitated and obviously distraught, she still radiated a feline strength, her eyes relentless when she locked them on Rae. "What are you talking about? What would Armeo and I have to do?"

  "Anyone who enters SC space, no matter their origin, can ask for political asylum. And until an SC court of law evaluates and resolves your situation, nobody can do anything to you."

  "No, we can't..." Kellen began to object but stopped when Armeo walked up to the head of the bed.

  Tears as clear blue as his guardian's welled up in his eyes. Taking deep breaths, he wiped moisture from his cheeks. "I'm scared, Kellen," he whispered.

  "Come here." She hugged him tightly and rested her chin on his dark hair. "For now, we're safe, Armeo. We're safe." Lifting her gaze, she looked at Rae with shimmering blue eyes. "Let's say it was possible.

  Where would we go afterward?"

  "Once they grant you asylum, you can apply for citizenship among any of the homeworlds within SC."

  Armeo stirred in Kellen's embrace. "Remember what you said when we left Gantharat?" he said huskily. "That we had burned our bridges and might never return. I have accepted it—for now. This could be our chance, Kellen. Listen to the commodore."

  Rae could detect a tone of hope in the increased animation of his voice, and it stirred something old and forgotten, a longing for closeness with another person that made her almost dizzy as she tried to navigate around her rampaging emotions.

  She decided to support Armeo by leveling with them. "You were right in your assumption, Kellen. With this threat hanging over your head, you can't return. Not now. But you and Armeo can still have a life and a future together." She hesitated, then placed her hand over Kellen's, wondering at herself for being so uncharacteristically spontaneous. "It just can't happen on Gantharat."

  CHAPTER THREE

  Jeremiah turned to face Rae when she entered the mission room early the next morning. "Commodore, we have a bit of a situation."

  Another one. Go figure. "Report." She strode up to her next in command where he stood in front of a view screen.

  "Ambassador M'Ekar still insists we allow his ships to approach the station. All twelve of them."

  Rae snorted with contempt. "He must be mad. Doesn't he realize we'll enforce the laws? Request denied."

  "It isn't that simple. As you know, the ambassador has connections in high places within the SC Council."

  Leaning against a railing behind her, Rae glared at Jeremiah and felt her jaw tighten. "And he thinks this makes him exempt?" she huffed. "Not unless he has a declaration from the Council. But it does complicate our lives."

  "We just finished the background research you requested. Perhaps the report contains some useful information we could use to persuade the ambassador to be more.. .diplomatic in his approach."

  "Good idea." Rae led him into her office and motioned for him to sit. "Go ahead. Begin with Kellen and the boy."

  "Kellen O'Dal graduated from the Gantharian Academy of Pilots with honors and moved to the countryside with her friend, Tereya M'Aido, the spouse of Zax M'Aido. A few months later Zax was killed in the line of duty, but the follow-up investigation was inconclusive. Around the same time, Tereya gave birth to Armeo, a Gantharian/Onotharian hybrid. The two women stayed in the countryside and brought the boy up together until Tereya died in a vehicle accident when her son was five."

  Jeremiah looked up at Rae, and she could tell from his pensive expression that he suspected something. "No one witnessed this accident, and the subsequent investigation was also inconclusive."

  ''Two parents gone, both of their deaths unexplained. Go on."

  "Ms. O'Dal enrolled Armeo in a nearby school, where he did very well, especially in science and math. She's never tried to conceal his whereabouts."

  "So far, everything she's told us checks out." Rae tugged a lock of her short red hair as if she were trying to uproot the truth. "Now, the ambassador. Why is he so interested in this boy? Are they related?"

  "The ambassador's late wife was born a M'Aido. She was from a very wealthy family, with long-standing political connections. The M'Aidos have long served in the Onotharian government."

  "Hmm. The ambassador could be using the M'Aido name to pressure us. Go on."

  "M'Ekar's wife died seven years ago and..." Jeremiah looked up from the computer screen. "Quite a coincidence."

  "Same year as Armeo's mother," Rae mused. "Interesting."

  "Only four weeks later, actually."

  Rae leaned forward on her desk. "Kellen risks capital punishment for running with the boy." She shook her head. "I can't believe she would do that unless she had a very good reason."

  "The political complication is tricky. If M'Ekar circumvents your authority..."

  Rae knew Jeremiah was right. If the Council decided to extradite Kellen, she would starve to death in a prison cell on Gantharat, away from the boy she'd raised.

  "I need to discuss this with Kellen. I told her she'd be safe if she applied for asylum. Now I'm not so sure. The M'Aido name carries a lot of weight, and I'm sure the ambassador intends to use it."

  Jeremiah nodded. "You can't let it happen, Rae."

  "I wish I could think of an alternative solution." Rae closed her eyes briefly and pictured a scene with Kellen that she'd rather avoid. "I'll go talk to Kellen again. How about approaching one of the civilian lawyers? He might see things from another angle."

  "Good idea." Jeremiah brightened, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "I have a friend in the new business section who just moved to the station. He owes me one, and he can keep a lid on things."

&
nbsp; "Excellent. Report back soon." Rae rose from her desk.

  Jeremiah rose also, but stopped halfway to the door. "By the way, about those ships..."

  "I haven't forgotten. If the ambassador brings them into our space without proper documentation, he'll find a warm welcoming committee."

  "In other words, you'll blow him out of the skies."

  "Damn straight."

  "So much for my career."

  "Cheer up. It hasn't come to that yet. And you can always look back at your career and say it was short and eventful."

  "Thanks, ma'am, I'll remember that," Jeremiah said with a pained expression.

  Rae had to smile. "Dismissed."

  Jeremiah walked out of the center office, leaving Rae to gather her thoughts. She didn't look forward to disappointing Kellen.

  Because Kellen's leg didn't hurt so badly, she could sit at the desk in the other room. However, her head was spinning from trying to absorb all the research she had done since four o'clock that morning, when she couldn't sleep. Armeo was back in school, having insisted on rejoining his new friends. Kellen was proud of how he'd bounced back.

  A rattle came from the other side of the room, and the door hissed open. Commodore Jacelon stepped inside.

  "Kellen, I'm glad to see you up and about. How's the leg?" She strode up to the desk and leaned her hip against it, her arms folded.

  "Much better, thank you. Dr. Meyer was here an hour ago. She seemed pleased." The sight of the commodore made Kellen's stomach clench. Uncertain why the other woman spurred such a reaction, she forced herself to appear unfazed.

  "Good. May I sit down?" Jacelon gestured to a chair next to Kellen, who hadn't realized it was up to her to grant the Gamma station's commodore the privilege of sitting.

  "Forgive me. Of course."

  Jacelon sat down, leaned back, and crossed her legs. "This morning Ambassador M'Ekar asked to bring his entire fleet of ships here, despite our laws."

  "Surely he can't do that?" Kellen felt her tongue betray her as her mouth went dry. Licking her lips, she pressed herself hard against the backrest of the chair.

  "Normally he wouldn't, but the ambassador may have some connections tied to the M'Aido name. His late wife was a M'Aido."

  "I know. She was Zax's aunt. They had very little to do with each other because Armeo's father settled down and married on Gantharat. Zax's father was a colonel in the Onotharian space force." Kellen examined the impenetrable expression on Jacelon's face and suddenly recognized it as similar to her own reflection sometimes. At once she felt uneasy. "Something has come up, hasn't it?"

  "Ambassador M'Ekar has a connection high within the SC Council and won't hesitate to use it." Jacelon leaned against the desk on one elbow. "I'm sorry, Kellen, for getting your hopes up yesterday. He might persuade the Council to extradite you even if you do apply for asylum."

  A cold hand dug its nails into Kellen's heart, and sudden vertigo made her cling to the armrests of the chair. "Armeo would be devastated." She felt furious yet afraid. "I'm forced to beg, for his sake, Commodore. Can't you do anything?" Swallowing hard against the dryness in her mouth, she stared at the other woman and forced the next word over her lips. "Please."

  "Yes, I can," Jacelon assured her. "I'll be damned if I'll turn over a woman and her foster son to someone out to destroy them, no matter who they are. Kellen, listen to me. Why is the ambassador so determined to get his hands on Armeo?"

  "Armeo is the last in the M'Aido dynasty. He's the heir to all their assets, including a seat in the Onotharian government once he's old enough. The M'Aidos were almost royalty on Onotharat for centuries. When the family died out with Zax and his aunt, I knew the Onotharians would hunt Armeo down if they knew of his existence too early. I never meant to rob him of his inheritance, Commodore. I merely wanted him to be old enough to take care of himself before he claimed it."

  During a brief silence, Kellen watched the different pieces fall into place in Jacelon's mind. "So if he were under the ambassador's influence, M'Ekar's power would increase..."

  "Tenfold. More than tenfold."

  The two women looked at each other in silence. "And any influence you have on Armeo is diametrical to the ambassador's interests." Jacelon nodded as if she was thinking carefully.

  "Armeo deserves to grow up and be loved for who he is, not because of his heritage or his political usefulness." Kellen tried to rise from the chair, but the searing pain in her leg made her utter a muffled cry and lean forward, holding on to her thigh.

  "Don't move," Jacelon ordered. "What did you do? Let me look at it."

  Kellen glanced up at the other woman and saw nothing but concern in her eyes. "It's not necessary. I just moved too quickly, that's all." She dismissed her pain with disdain.

  Jacelon apparently wasn't about to be rebuffed. "I know you're resilient, but don't turn down help when it's offered, Kellen. Let me see. You didn't tear it, did you?"

  Her hands trembling, Kellen slid the loose-fitting retrospun cotton infirmary trousers down her hips, awkwardly leaning from side to side to get them off. Jacelon leaned over her and lifted the bandages to examine the wound on her upper thigh. The soft touch didn't surprise Kellen, who had felt how careful Jacelon was two nights earlier, but today it created a totally new shivering sensation that startled her, although it faded quickly.

  "Oh, it looks much better. Did Gemma say when she would close it?" Jacelon smiled warmly up at her in a way that caused a faint echo of the shivers to appear.

  "Tomorrow, probably, if it improves like it has been. She assured me it would be much less painful after the derma-fuser treatment."

  "Gemma is wonderful at emergency medicine."

  "She's a true professional," Kellen said as Jacelon covered the wound up again. "She's never made me feel like a prisoner, and she's very considerate of Armeo." Still surprised and suspicious of any perceived friendliness, Kellen had to admit the CMO had not made any untoward remarks or hinted at Kellen's situation as a prisoner.

  Kellen found she missed the warm and careful touch when Jacelon let go of her after she helped her pull up her baggy trousers. Not counting Gemma's professional touch, no one had touched her like that for a very long time. With care and kindness, but anyone can fake that. She couldn't allow herself to relax around Jacelon. A commodore in the SC was only a short step away from a promotion to admiral. Playing Kellen for a fool, and using her, could be part of a career shortcut plan.

  "Your status might change soon, since all the evidence so far backs your story. I know you don't have the freedom to roam the corridors, even if you could actually walk, but these quarters aren't so bad, are they?"

  Looking seriously at Jacelon, Kellen wondered if she realized how eager to reassure she sounded. "These quarters are more than sufficient. It's a relief to be able to stay with Armeo and not be confined to the brig."

  "That's what they would have done to you back at Gantharat or on an Onotharian prison asteroid?"

  "You've heard of their prison asteroids?" Kellen was surprised that the commodore cared enough to find out about the harsh conditions of a subject nation.

  "My lieutenant provided me with extensive research. I'm aware the asteroids orbit one of the moons, which in turn orbit Gantharat. The Onotharat penal system is appalling and nothing the SC Council condones. I guess that's one reason why Onotharat is not a full member yet. We have diplomatic liaisons, but that's all."

  "I'm sure the Onotharians would see it as a political triumph if they could use the M'Aido name to gain membership. The ambassador has great ambitions."

  "I'm starting to understand that. I'm going to—"

  A distinct beep came from the communication device attached to Jacelon's shoulder. Pulling it to her lips, she spoke quickly. "Commodore Jacelon. Go ahead."

  "Commander Todd here, ma'am. Are you free to talk?"

  "Not quite yet, Commander. I'll let you know when I'm back in the mission room. Jacelon out."

  Turning toward Kellen
, Jacelon reached out halfway, only to let her hand fall back down again. "I'll have to go take care of this. Hopefully Commander Todd has found something that will help your situation."

  Kellen felt a mixture of emotions surge to the surface as she leaned back to regard Jacelon. She knew she had let her guard down more with this woman than she had done with anyone in a long time. She felt terrified, since it was too great a risk, and relieved at the same time to allow another adult to take charge, if only for a moment. "May I ask you something, Commodore?"

  "Go ahead."

  "I fired my weapons at you, and you had every right to be angry when you brought me aboard the station. Why do you go out of your way to personally assist us?"

  Jacelon sat quietly for a moment. "A great injustice is in progress. One woman and a little boy against twelve spaceships. Armeo's testimony and your own, together with the facts my staff dug up. The barbaric capital punishment Onotharat employs. Armeo losing the person he sees as his parent. These things all play a role." Jacelon shrugged. "I can't sit idly by."

  "This might cause you problems professionally. You may step on toes belonging to someone powerful."

  Jacelon smiled, waving a dismissive hand in the air, an elegant gesture. "It wouldn't be the first time. Now, I have to leave. Get some rest and hurry up the healing process."

  How utterly attractive she looks when her arrogance manifests itself like that. Kellen's foolish heart picked up speed at the sight of Jacelon's smile. She rebuked herself for being nearly taken in by a few kind words and a simple smile. The Onotharians were not this subtle. This woman also wanted to control her and Armeo. She was just using a different tactic. Kellen nodded, as if in submission. "Good idea. I'm tired."

  As Jacelon helped Kellen raise her leg onto the bed, Kellen reluctantly absorbed the feeling of Jacelon's kind hands.

  "Thank you, Rae," she murmured without thinking. Seeing the other woman's surprised look, Kellen bit her lower lip. "I'm sorry. Commodore."

  "Don't worry about it." Jacelon's smile appeared again. "You can call me by my first name when we're alone, all right?"