by Gun Brooke
Hearing the door hiss open in the living area, she held her breath for a few moments, pressed her palms hard against her thighs, and left the bathroom.
A tall, graying man boasting a neatly trimmed beard stood next to Rae, looking at her with familiar gray eyes. Rae's voice was polite and emotionless as she made the introductions.
"Admiral." Kellen nodded, extending her hand, which he accepted, taking it in his. "I'm honored you could join us for dinner." Reluctantly she admitted he seemed an impressive individual, with an unfaltering gaze and as much charisma as his daughter. Admiral Jacelon wore an SC uniform with elaborate rank insignia adorning the black jacket and had a distance in his eyes when he looked at his daughter.
His expression struck Kellen as odd. She could not fault him for looking at her with suspicion, but why would he regard his daughter with such obvious trepidation? Her own father had showed his pride in her freely and without hesitation. When he took Tereya under his wing as well, he'd extended his affection to include the orphaned girl.
The admiral let go of her hand. "It's good to meet you. And call me Ewan."
Kellen tried to guess the appropriate answer and decided to merely nod and reciprocate the unexpected familiarity. "Then call me by my first name too." Rae looked startled at her father's words, making Kellen wonder if she had done anything wrong. "Would you like something to drink, Ewan?"
"A beer, if you have one."
"Of course. Rae, do you want anything?" Kellen scrutinized her new spouse, sensing an unfamiliar tension.
"No, thanks. I'm fine."
"Kellen, have you seen my...Oh. Hello." Armeo rushed into the living room, stopping so fast he almost toppled over when he saw Rae and the visitor. He quickly regained his equilibrium after a glance in Kellen's direction and approached their guest. "I'm Armeo M'Aido, sir. You must be Rae's father."
"I am. Nice to meet you, Armeo. I've heard a lot about you."
"You have?" He glanced at the commodore. "From Rae?"
"Yes, we talked about you and your mother on the way here. I hear you're settling in well at school. Made any friends yet?"
"Yes, sir. Dorinda de Vies and David Grotny are my best friends here."
"Good. So, glad to be on Gamma VI?"
Kellen held her breath, not sure where the admiral was going with his questions. She was certain her own father would not have interrogated Armeo in this manner, no matter how subtle. Kellen was glad Armeo was straightforward and not easily intimidated.
"Very glad, sir. Rae and Kellen were married only a few days ago. They fell in love at first sight. That makes me happy, because the Onotharians can't make me go back...and nobody can hurt Kellen." Armeo's eyes were shadowed as he momentarily faltered.
Kellen didn't have to look at Rae to know she would have liked to put a hand over Armeo's mouth. Still, this was their official story.
"Why don't we sit down to dinner?" Rae said, to Kellen's relief. "Armeo, go wash your hands."
They sat down and sampled the casserole. After a first, tentative bite, Ewan gave Kellen a genuine smile. "This is great. How can I go back to mess-hall food after this?"
"I don't intend to cook every day," Kellen warned, knowing that she sounded haughty. "Perhaps a few times a week. I don't mind preparing food, but I don't want it to become a chore."
"Smart girl," the admiral remarked before sipping his dark red De-Te-Valhian beer. "Rae doesn't seem able to boss you around like she tries to do with everyone else. Mind you, that could easily become a problem unless you put your foot down right from the start."
Kellen snapped her head up at the implied criticism in Ewan Jacelon's words. She saw Rae clutch her fork. "I'd think for someone responsible for thousands of lives on this station, and ultimately millions on the closest planets, being bossy would be a desirable trait," she said, carefully enunciating every word without raising her voice.
"True, but she's been like that since she was born."
Kellen smiled faintly, making sure the admiral met her eyes before she continued. "Ah, I see. It must be genetic, then. She clearly resembles you."
Rae quickly hid behind a napkin, wiping her mouth.
The admiral looked taken aback. "Me? Really." He shot his daughter a look. "I suppose that could be true."
Rae met Kellen's glance with something resembling gratitude.
After refilling his plate twice, Armeo declared he was full. "Kellen, may I go to Dorinda's quarters? David's coming too."
"For an hour or two, but I have to call security. In the meantime you can help me take the dishes into the kitchen."
Armeo grimaced, but stacked their empty plates and carried them out of the dining area. Kellen contacted the security detail, then returned to the table. "Anything more to drink, Ewan?"
"No, thanks, I'm fine. I take it Armeo doesn't go anywhere without security?"
"Rae arranged for it our first day here. Now, with several recuperating Onotharians on the station, I fear for his safety."
The admiral leaned back and produced a cigar. "On my way here I reviewed the initial mission report. You did everything by the book, Rae, as usual."
"Meaning what? Every captain's log on every SC ship at the battle will validate that report." Rae's voice was short. She tossed her napkin on the table and rose from the chair. "Unless you're going to let anyone accuse me of coercing my crew into lying..." Putting her hands on her hips, she looked daggers at her father.
"Wait a minute," Ewan Jacelon barked, "I never said—"
"You didn't have to," Rae interrupted, setting her jaw and folding her arms. "You insinuated—"
"What's wrong?" a small voice asked from the kitchen.
Looking over her shoulder, Kellen saw Armeo, his face white. She was about to answer when Rae walked over to him. To her surprise, her wife drew him close and draped her arm around his shoulders.
"Nothing's wrong, Armeo. This is how my father and I exchange information." Her tone was vaguely sarcastic. "We sometimes don't see eye to eye on things, but you know what? We usually end up agreeing one way or another." The door chime beeped twice. "Here's your escort now. You can visit with your friends for two hours, all right?"
Armeo looked up at Rae, his face serious. "You weren't arguing because of me, were you?"
"No. In fact, my father thinks you're a splendid young man. Isn't that so?" Rae stared at the admiral, her eyes uncompromising.
"Absolutely." The admiral produced a new cigar. "Armeo, before you go, may I ask you a question?"
"Yes, sir."
"Are you worried that Rae won't be able to protect you and Kellen?"
Armeo began to shake, and Rae tightened her grip on him. "I... I..."
"Listen to me, young man. If anyone can deal with the situation, it's Rae. She may not always do things the way I would, but the results are the same. She'll know what's best for you."
Kellen saw a look of surprise mixed with something vulnerable pass over her wife's features. Finally, Kellen saw a similarity between Rae's father and her own. It had taken Armeo's pain to bring it out in the open, but there it was. I wonder if Rae sees the tenderness in his eyes when he looks at Armeo.
The tone of his voice was the same as that of her own father's when he'd left that last evening: I'll be back early tomorrow morning, Kellen. Many lives are at stake. I don't have a choice. Don't wait up for me. Of course she had waited. Sitting by the large fireplace in the grand room on the first floor, she'd waited until Tereya woke up. Two days later, a hover vehicle had driven up to the farmhouse. Bondar O'Dal's body showed no visible signs of violence until they turned him over and she saw the plasma burn on his back through the hole in his clothes.
"There, you see?" Rae said, and ruffled Armeo's dark hair, breaking Kellen's journey into bleak memory. She raised her voice. "Enter."
Ensign Y'sak, a familiar security officer, stepped inside. Good, Armeo will feel safer and more at ease with someone he's used to.
During the awkward silence after A
rmeo left, Kellen picked up the last of the dishes and carried them into the kitchen. She wondered if she should close the door, but before she had time to do so, she could hear father and daughter talking in the dining room. Suddenly the loss of her own father stirred and reminded her how much Bondar had loved her. He'd shown it so easily. Unconditional love, something she would never experience again.
"Thank you for treating Armeo so well, Father." Rae's voice was low, but sounded sincere.
"He's just an innocent kid. You can tell he's been through a lot these last few weeks, though he puts up a brave front. You're right, he's courageous."
"Yes, he is. Kellen's taught him well."
"She seems remarkable." The admiral spoke in a less certain voice. "It's none of my business, but how do you feel about her?"
Kellen held her breath while she waited for Rae to reply. It took so long, she wondered if her new wife would refuse to answer.
"She's a mystery to me. I don't know how I feel, but I do know this. She's put her and Armeo's lives in my hands, and I'm not going to fail them. Granted, she fired at me when we ran into their ship in space, but she had her reasons. I feel.. .protective and responsible."
"And how does she feel about you?"
Rae gave a low laugh. "I'm not sure. One minute she seems to despise everything I stand for—the power, command, everything. Next, she's defending me against my own father. I sprung this marriage on her as the only way to keep them safe. We're strangers, and yet she has to share my quarters. I expect her to trust me, and I think she's low on trust right now. She's prepared to take Armeo and disappear if she thinks it's called for."
Kellen shuddered. She felt naked where she leaned against the door frame, not realizing until now how well Rae had pegged her.
"I guess you don't trust her?"
"I don't know. It's not that clear-cut. I trust in her love and devotion to Armeo. But that might make her decide to grab him and run if I can't convince her they're better off here. She's wild." A brief silence.
"Father, I know we've had our differences, but I need your help."
"Let me guess. You need someone beyond reproach to testify on Armeo's behalf and possibly act as his guardian, so you can keep him with you and Kellen."
"Yes. Let's face it. Kellen's dependability is not exactly impressive. In the eyes of the SC and the court, I might be just as bad, for marrying her so suddenly."
"True. So that's where I come in. You don't trust her to live up to her end of the bargain, and you need me to vouch for you."
"Yes."
Furious at their reasoning, Kellen moved quietly to the doorway, glancing out at the two who stood opposite each other. The admiral had rested his cigar on the dining room table and was now raising his hands, placing them on his daughter's shoulders. Memories of how her own father had done just that, and how she missed having someone to share her burden, fueled her anger even more. They dared criticize her without having a clue what they were talking about!
Rae placed her hand on her father's arm. "Would you do it? For Armeo?"
The admiral's smile made Kellen close her fingers around the door frame. He looked so much like Bondar at that moment, as he gazed down at his daughter. Witnessing the similarity, she felt as if all of her intestines had wound up in a tight knot.
"Yes. You're not the only one with a passion for the law and ethics. Besides, Armeo's political dynamite. When you get full custody of him within SC territory, M'Ekar will probably try to kill him once he learns he can't get his hands on him."
Kellen felt bile rise in her throat, and she slammed her fist into the door frame, her breath gushing from her lungs. "No," she snarled, making Rae turn her head at the tormented sound.
"Damn." Striding over to her pale wife, who seemed ready to tear the door frame from the bulkhead, Rae extended her arms toward her. Kellen evaded her touch and glared at her with eyes of blue fire. Rae realized this was Kellen unleashed, and made a new, more guarded, attempt to reach her. "Listen to me. When my father announces his offer to be Armeo's guardian, no one in his right mind will even consider trying to kill him. Instead, people will look out for him, wherever he goes."
"H'rea deasav'h! This is a nightmare," Kellen thundered, her voice carrying loudly through Rae's quarters. Blue tears rose in her eyes. "M'Ekar will never give up, and Armeo will never be safe." She breathed deeply and rapidly as she paced back and forth.
"Yes, he will." Rae reached out and took her wife gently by the arm. Kellen turned around, slamming a strong hand down on Rae's wrist. Rae had started to pry it off when she suddenly stopped and stared down at their joined limbs.
Rae tried again, not about to admit how painful Kellen's grip was. "Listen to me! He'll stay with us, and we'll protect him until he's old enough to manage his estate and heritage. We'll keep him safe, Kellen." She lifted her eyes and gazed into Kellen's eyes without blinking, determined to convince her.
"It's hard to believe." Kellen's jaw worked spasmodically as she searched Rae's face, as if seeking the truth. Tears clung to her dark eyelashes, quivering before they dislodged and ran down her cheeks. "In fact, it's impossible to believe when M'Ekar risks starting a war with the SC to find him. He didn't hesitate, sacrificing Onotharian ships and soldiers..."
The admiral walked up to them and stood next to his daughter. Rae glanced up and noted the compassion in his eyes, amazed to see this kind of emotion so visible on his face.
"You're right, Kellen." The admiral's voice was unyielding. "We'll need to deal with M'Ekar on several levels. He's dangerous, not only to Armeo. If he keeps this up, he'll become a political liability to Onotharat. They're seeking membership in the Supreme Constellations, and it's to our advantage that his illegal actions may make that impossible."
"I wish I could be sure of that." Kellen looked at the two standing in front of her, her breathing still labored.
"Let's deal with things one at a time," Rae said, knowing Kellen was still on edge, her volatile nature rampaging behind her mask of restrained fury. "I've requested the Dalathea to rendezvous with us in six days, and until then we can start preliminary hearings and exchange documents over secure links with the court officials." She turned to her father. "If you're unable to stay until the court ship arrives, we'll need your testimony for guardianship on record."
"No, that won't be necessary. I don't feel comfortable leaving until this is settled. It's not that I don't trust you to handle the situation, Rae."
Rae's first reaction was to insist she could handle station business without his interference. Opening her mouth to let him know, she gazed at Kellen and recognized the standoffish disdain the other woman had initially displayed when she first came aboard Gamma VI. Hoping they were not back at square one, she said, "I'm not offended. In fact, I can use you. The station is incredibly busy, and I'm expecting two generational ships entering SC space to arrive soon."
Not sure if she had imagined her father's surprise, Rae switched her attention back to Kellen. "Forgive me for saying this, Kellen, but there's more to this than Armeo's safety. We're caught in the middle of a rapidly escalating political game that can get out of control if we're not careful. We can't afford to lose our heads."
Kellen quickly swiped all traces of her blue tears away and straightened her back. Now that she was apparently calming down a little, Rae could see her left leg was trembling.
"Why don't you sit and relax that leg of yours while I finish clearing the table? Father can help." Rae shot him a mock glare, trying to ease the tension for Kellen's sake. She would deal with her father later. She truthfully needed his assistance and expertise, but she would never allow him to sweep in and start running her station.
Rae made sure Kellen elevated her leg with a cushion underneath her knee and carried out the last of the pots, noticing that the expression on the admiral's face at the prospect of household chores apparently even made Kellen smile warily. She gave her father a pointed look, and he rolled his eyes at her, removing the n
apkins and thermo plates before he joined her in the kitchen.
Rae placed the pots on the counter and turned around, leaning against it. "Thank you." She fought not to show any emotion, knowing her father disliked such displays from her.
"No need for thanks. It's the prudent course of action." The admiral placed his load on the counter. "If we don't neutralize M'Ekar, and quick, a mere custody case will turn into a diplomatic and political nightmare."
"You realize I did everything by the book. I had no other choice but to engage." Did that sound as pleading to him as it did to me? Rae wanted to thud her forehead against the bulkhead.
"My dear, you never do anything if it's not by the book. And if there's a loophole, I'll trust you to find it too."
Rae smiled. "True. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to go off like that." Damn, why do I always fall into this trap of seeking validation from him? To date, he s never genuinely approved of anything I've done.
"Rae, listen to me. I still have to go through all the reports and records. The next six days will give me time to do this. I never doubted your actions or your word, but I need to make sure we have everything in order. Besides, how would it look if I went easy on my own daughter?"
"Oh, the stars forbid it ever be said you were easy on anything," Rae replied sardonically. "That would be a miracle."
"At ease there, crewman, or I'll have you cleaning port ways."
Rae smiled reluctantly.
"I'm going to the VIP quarters now," he said. "It's been a long day."
"And I'm going back to the mission room. I have a lot of work to do."
"Kellen seems upset. I think you better work from home this evening. Perhaps everything's catching up with her."
Astonished, Rae said, "She'll be fine. She doesn't expect me to sit around and hold her hand."
"Armeo will be gone for at least another hour. Take my advice and stay here."
Smoothing her hair behind her ears, Rae nodded. "All right, if you insist."
