Protector of the Realm

by Gun Brooke

  "Thank you."

  "Sleep now. I'll come by later."

  As Kellen obediently closed her eyes, she heard the door close. Examining the possibility that the commodore might find a way for her and Armeo to stay together, she put her arm over her eyes and breathed deeply to relax. Jacelon's resourcefulness utterly impressed her, but she didn't reflect on her ingenuity or humane attitude. The way she touched me, smiled at me... Why should it matter? Such things have never been important to me before and they aren't relevant now. If she s warming up to me—so much the better. Kellen had spent the day devising several backup plans. Because her duty toward Armeo was all-important, she needed to be able to act immediately if she had a chance. She also had to regain her strength. As long as Jacelon thought she was incapacitated and grateful for any favor, Kellen would have the advantage.

  Riding back to the mission room in the rail system car, Rae thought about her own reaction to Kellen's pain. When the alien woman cried out, Rae had almost jumped out of her skin and her chair to come to her aid. Her sudden urge to comfort Kellen unsettled her. Rae was used to keeping an empathetic and protective distance from the individuals in her care or under her command. This compulsion to erase anguish from a stranger's eyes, and to console a distraught child, was simply not her method of operation. Distracted, Rae stepped out of the rail car and headed for her office.

  Wearing the SC fleet uniform for twenty-four years did not make it only her work. The fleet was her life. At one point, a dismissed lover had in frustration and anger told Rae that she wore her uniform around her heart as well.

  For a few seconds, for the first time in years, I forgot about my uniform today. The notion startled her, making her lengthen her stride as she walked briskly toward the door where the security guard on duty called out, "Commodore on the bridge!"—an ancient tradition since the tall-ships era more than four centuries ago. Nodding to her crew, Rae entered her circular office, setting the aluminum walls to semitransparent. Still a little on edge, she wanted some privacy while she read her messages.

  Several messages from official SC sources were flickering on her computer. But before she read them, she paged Jeremiah on a secure line.

  "Todd here, Commodore."

  "Report."

  "I've spoken to my friend, who's an expert at civilian law when it crosses over to military law. He's not very optimistic about finding loopholes in the military law."

  Rae bit back an impatient reply. "What does he suggest?"

  "We switch our attention to civil law." Jeremiah's voice held an odd tinge. "My friend has one suggestion that can keep Ms. O'Dal and her foster son within SC space, but it's controversial."

  "Go on."

  "If she marries a citizen of a Supreme Constellations homeworld, she immediately gains citizenship, and with that comes SC protection and the right to try a custody case in any of the SC sectors."

  Rae wasn't sure she'd heard the commander right. "You're kidding."

  "No. But she has to act right away. If she stays more than a few days longer without getting married, she risks extradition. M'Ekar is pulling his strings with several of the Council members who want Onotharat to become a full member because of its natural resources."

  "Damn. And Kellen is caught in the middle of this crap? How the hell do we solve this situation?"

  A brief silence. "I think you have to tell her, Rae." Jeremiah's voice softened, and his use of her first name, unheard of during duty shifts, made it clear he knew how this situation troubled her.

  "Yeah. I know. Of course, we'll have to prove the marriage is for real, not just a means to an end."

  "Yes, it has to last more than five years. And the happy couple needs to live together during this time."

  Rae tucked her hair behind her ears, something she' d done since her younger days when she was nervous or excited. "Any suggestions?"

  "For potential spouses?" Jeremiah sounded surprised. "I could offer, I suppose."

  "You're not serious?" Rae balked at the idea.

  "She's one of the most stunning women I've ever seen. A man would be lucky to have such a wife." Jeremiah sounded way too serious for Rae to merely ignore him.

  "You don't even know her. As far as I know, you haven't even talked to her once."

  "The language of love is universal. I'm sure I could—"

  "Jeremiah!" Rae groaned out loud at her next in command. She never could quite tell when he was joking. Am I entirely devoid of humor? That's what Father always says.

  "Rae, I'm kidding. She's not really my type—too tough." Jeremiah laughed, which flustered and annoyed Rae.

  "How droll, Commander."

  Jeremiah stopped his needling. "How do we solve it, ma'am?"

  "Are you sure this is her only chance?"

  "Yes."

  "All right. I'll take care of it. Send all the relevant documentation to my personal computer station."

  Rae signed off and stared out the view port. Outside, vessels moored and debarked; people of all species and races went through Gamma VI, the last bastion between the SC and interplanetary space. As the highest-ranking military official, Rae commanded not only the station but also eight sectors of the surrounding space.

  However, her usual burden of responsibility seemed easy compared to the current dilemma. No matter how hard it was to make clear-cut decisions involving the destiny of a multitude of people, she preferred them to her current emotional turmoil when dealing with Kellen O'Dal.

  She watched a ship large enough to be a generational vessel dock with Gamma VI's longest extendable tube. The captain was skilled at his job; the vessel gently made contact, and long cables emerged to hook themselves to the space station. Once the ship was attached, the crew and passengers could safely go through the bio-filter screening and enjoy what Gamma VI had to offer.

  Rae's thoughts returned to her current situation. She was willing to bet a credit or two that the alien woman would try to escape once she learned of the limited options.

  Rae couldn't put it off. It was time to discuss marriage with Kellen.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Gemma ran her diagnostic scanner over the wound in Kellen's leg. After she punched commands into it, she said, "We can begin the preliminary procedures today. We'll start by fusing the torn muscle fascia."

  "Thank you, Doctor." Kellen regarded Gemma with well-hidden disdain. She knew this woman was an accomplished physician, and it infuriated her to think how many people on Gantharat would never enjoy any sort of competent medical care. Instead, callous Onotharian doctors who'd been sent to Gantharat for crimes committed on their homeworld subjected them to rudimentary treatments. Many Gantharians suffered needlessly or died at the hands of these uncaring butchers.

  Kellen wanted to object to Gemma's excellent therapy, feeling like a traitor to her people for accepting it. However, she needed to regain her health as quickly as possible to be able to care for Armeo. This would probably mean fighting her way off Gamma VI at the first opportunity.

  "You'll still have to be careful, but you'll be able to move around much easier and with a lot less pain. The torn muscle worried me most, but the infection is gone. I'm surprised it cleared up so quickly."

  "You have access to sophisticated medication." Kellen tried to keep the resentment out of her voice. "I noticed a difference after twelve hours."

  "Great. All right, let's do this." Gemma reached for a small device attached to a machine next to her. "This is a deep-tissue fuser, and it won't hurt. You'll feel a slight tingle as it heals the torn muscle and then the fascia."

  While Gemma moved the fuser just above the wound, Kellen leaned back, then felt faint warmth spread through her thigh.

  "Just relax," Gemma said. "Good. That didn't take as long as I thought it would. At first I was afraid you'd need a transplant, which would have been difficult, since you and Armeo are the only Gantharians on board."

  "And Armeo may not be a fit, since he's half Onotharian," said Kellen. "I'm gratefu
l for your work, Doctor."

  "Gemma."

  "Gemma," Kellen repeated, faking obedience.

  "One more day without treatment and you could have needed an amputation. Granted, with a prosthetic..." Gemma said. "Sorry, I shouldn't talk about worst-case scenarios that won't happen."

  It was indeed a miracle that she and Armeo had reached SC space at all. Kellen closed her eyes and thought of their difficult space journey. She'd slept less than thirty minutes at a time and squeezed everything out of the old, rebuilt spaceship she and Armeo had outfitted back at the farm.

  Kellen had installed a holographic device, able to display fake biosignatures and make it look like four more crew members were aboard. She barely hid a smile, remembering how surprised Commodore Jacelon had looked when Kellen and a young boy turned out to be the only ones on the Kithanya. Her eyes ablaze, the commodore had ordered the guards to escort them to the mission room.

  Rae Jacelon was a fascinating enigma—unbending and intimidating when she ensured the safety of the space station and its inhabitants, compassionate and caring when Kellen least expected it. No matter the situation, she was always in command. The way she moved, poised yet forceful, fascinated Kellen. She thought of how she had leaned with casual elegance against the door frame the previous evening and gazed at Kellen with eyes that seemed both curious and all knowing. Kellen would never forget going toe to toe with her.

  "They told me I'd find you here," a voice said, making Kellen snap her eyes open. Rae stood next to the gurney, as if Kellen's thoughts had summoned her there.

  "Hello, Commodore," Gemma said, not taking her eyes off her task. "Almost done."

  "Good. Is everything all right?"

  Kellen wondered if her ears were playing tricks on her, or if the other woman's voice really did sound concerned. Of course not. Why should she? I wonder why she s acting like this. I've given her nothing but trouble. Watching the other women discuss her as if she weren't present, Kellen tried to interpret Jacelon's tone of voice.

  "She's doing very well. We were able to start the procedure one day early."

  "Excellent. I need to talk to you, Kellen, and it's urgent. I have some new information, and time is running out..."

  Rae's communicator came to life with a loud beep, and Gemma looked up and stopped what she was doing.

  "Jacelon here."

  "Commodore, we have a Code H82. We need you right now." Commander Todd's voice was quiet, but urgent.

  "Any new decrees from the Council?"

  "No, ma'am, no new orders. We operate under standard rules and regulations."

  "Good. On my way. Ready the destroyer and the frigates. ETD in fifteen minutes."

  "Very good, ma'am. Todd out."

  Rae turned to Kellen, her eyes a dull gray. "We have an emergency. Normally I wouldn't discuss it at the infirmary, but it concerns you. Gemma, how long before Ms. O'Dal is mobile?"

  "Five minutes, to close the fascia and dress the wound."

  "Good. It's important. I'll use your office in the meantime."

  Rae disappeared and Kellen looked at the physician, uncertain what was expected of her. "Do you know what's going on, Doctor?"

  "I can only guess. Code 82 means that someone's invaded our space."

  "Why does this concern me?" Kellen asked, and the only plausible explanation hit her. "M'Ekar." The name chilled her like a wet blanket around her heart. He's here for Armeo. And to throw me into an asteroid prison to wither away. Thank the Gods of Gantharat the doctor fixed my leg. It s time to get out of here. The commodore will be busy defending her station and won't have her eyes on me. This is our chance, Armeo. She would have to find a way for them to reach the Kithanya, but she could deal with that once they were ready to leave.

  "The commodore will take care of this situation." Gemma obviously supported her superior without hesitation. "There. Let's get this bandaged. I'll work on the skin tomorrow."

  Kellen inhaled deeply as her stomach twitched. Was she going to be back here tomorrow, or would she be on her way to prison? Gemma and Jacelon's close association reminded Kellen that she and Armeo were alone on this base. These SC citizens had sworn their allegiance to Jacelon and the power she represented, which made Kellen the outsider, and this was yet another dangerous position.

  Rae returned and quickly crossed the floor. "All set? Come with me." She helped Kellen off the gurney and looked her over with sharp eyes. "You okay?"

  Carefully trying her leg, Kellen was delighted that she was once again able to put weight on her leg without any searing pain. "Yes."

  "You need to change clothes." Rae glanced at the guard. "Take Ms. O'Dal back to her quarters and give her a neutral uniform. Gemma, make sure Armeo knows his guardian isn't here. Arrange for him to stay with someone he knows."

  "Yes, Commodore."

  "I won't leave without Armeo," Kellen objected, refusing to move. "I'm not going anywhere or changing into anything until you tell me what's going on." And enough time to lose the guard, find Armeo, and leave before you guess my intentions.

  Rae had begun to walk toward the door, but now she stopped and whirled around with an impatient look on her face. "We don't have time," she said. "Ambassador M'Ekar has passed our outer markers with twelve of his vessels. He's violated SC law. I have to deploy the fleet and prepare for battle."

  "Why do I have to be there?" '

  "You're the reason he's here, and you're in danger. I don't have time to explain the details yet." Rae's glance softened a fraction. "Trust me, Kellen. If you want to keep Armeo safe and in your life, you need to come with me now."

  Rae's voice and her gaze were both steady, leaving no room for objections. Kellen examined every one of her reasons to remain suspicious of her motives and found them all valid. Nobody in authority had ever proven trustworthy in the past.

  Still, another part of her, something buried deep within the rarely visited caverns of her soul, insisted Rae was what she seemed, trustworthy and protective. To Kellen's amazement, this persistent inner voice threatened to drown out her suspicions. She snapped her head back, her contempt still simmering. "Very well. I will do as you say."

  "Be ready in ten minutes. See you at Port 1."

  As Kellen changed into a plain SC military uniform, she made a disdainful face at herself in the full-length mirror, unaccustomed to wearing such attire. Like most Gantharians, she connected the practice of wearing a uniform with the Onotharian occupational forces.

  She straightened the leathermix jacket. Her security guard had explained the materials, probably guessing how alien they were to her. The jacket's synthetic material felt soft against her fingers. The blue trousers were made of thermilon, able to keep their wearer comfortable regardless of outer temperature. Kellen stuck her feet into the knee-high, black leathermix boots outfitted with an auto-refreshing thermo-lining. She remembered with a smirk how the guard pointed out their self-cleaning feature. Never anything but shiny boots in the SC fleet.

  Five minutes later, at Port 1, Kellen saw the docks filled with crewmen on their way to the ships.

  Large portholes overlooked the vessels moored outside. The largest ship, a destroyer, was anchored to her left, and her guard guided her to the entry gate. "Kellen O'Dal is the commodore's guest," he said. "Permission to come aboard."

  The ensign stationed at the gate checked his computer. "Affirmative. Permission granted."

  The security guard checked his chronometer. "You have less than four minutes to report to the bridge, Ms. O'Dal."

  Kellen was not unaccustomed to being aboard a tightly run ship and lengthened her stride, moving faster than her guard as they hurried through the gate and rushed down a corridor with transparent walls. They reached the ship's main door, where they repeated the procedure and once more obtained permission to come aboard. A tall, muscular woman wearing a security officer's insignia walked up to Kellen.

  "Ms. O'Dal, I'm Lieutenant Owena Grey, chief tactical officer on Gamma VI. I have orders to esc
ort you to the bridge. Come with me."

  "Thank you."

  Kellen followed the dark-haired woman through long corridors. All around her, crew members scrambled to reach their posts as one message after another boomed over the shipwide comm system. They saluted Lieutenant Grey with hurried movements, which she acknowledged with a brisk, "Carry on, please." Of the same height as Kellen, Grey moved with the panther like grace of someone trained in combat skills and the martial arts. She wore her black hair pinned up in a tight twist, and her uniform was immaculate. Her eyes were dark blue under black eyebrows and straight bangs. Sharp angles and planes helped form a strong, formidable face.

  The bridge, on Deck 1, was controlled chaos. Ensigns manned the posts along the semicircular wall, standing behind computer consoles and talking in low voices into their communicators all at once. Lieutenants manned four more consoles within the outer circle. One was empty, and Kellen guessed it was Lieutenant Grey's post on the bridge. The main view screen on the far wall depicted the vast space outside Gamma VI.

  Kellen took in the scene, listened to the intent voices, and felt the rising tension before battle. Suddenly taken back in time to her years in the Gantharian Academy of Pilots, she found it amazingly familiar to observe these people prepare as a team for the same goal. Once she had thought she would pretend to cooperate with the Onotharians and try to change the system from within. Her life had not worked out that way. Instead she had lost not only her chance to make a difference, but also everyone she'd ever cared about, except Armeo. A part of her connected now with the unique mix of exhilaration and dread that preceded a space mission.

  "Three minutes to launch." A voice pierced through the conversation, and everyone scrambled.

  The two command chairs sat on a dais between the four stations. Although a couple of lieutenants obscured her vision, Kellen recognized the voice the moment the woman occupying the chair spoke.

  "Ms. O'Dal, ma'am." Lieutenant Grey rounded the consoles and approached the chair.

  "Thank you, Lieutenant." Rae stood, stepped off the dais, and glanced at Kellen, while Lieutenant Grey assumed her duties at the vacant computer console.