by Gun Brooke
Ewan sat on the couch reading from a handheld computer, his arm around Armeo's shoulders. The boy had fallen asleep against him, his homework scattered on the floor beneath him. Ewan, occasionally glancing down at the child, tenderness shining from his eyes, didn't notice her at first. This was a side of her husband Dahlia didn't often see, and she wondered if Rae ever had.
"Hi," Dahlia greeted him quietly. "Has he been upset?"
Ewan looked up, smiling. "Not really. He's brave. I don't think he wants to cry in front of me either, even though I told him it was okay. He's probably trying to live up to his own expectations of how a young man should behave."
"We ought to put him to bed," Dahlia suggested, hesitating. "Damn it, how do you act around a young man who wants to be independent and yet so obviously needs support and comfort?" How did I act around Rae? She was so self-sufficient too, or at least that's how I saw her. She never seemed to need help from anyone. Cringing at the memory of her own awkward attempts to approach her daughter, Dahlia focused on the present.
Ewan rubbed his forehead, looking just as puzzled as his wife felt. "I don't know. Rae was never this vulnerable. Or at least I didn't see her that way."
His words echoed her thoughts only too well. "Perhaps she was, and we both missed it." Dahlia dug deep for courage and approached the two on the couch. "I'll give it a try." She leaned over Armeo. "Hey, kiddo, time to hit the sack." Galaxies, I sound too perky.
Sleepy blue eyes looked up at her. "What...? Grandma?"
Wincing at the title, but with a persistent tenderness growing inside her, Dahlia held out her hand. "Let's get you organized and into bed, all right?"
Wordlessly, the sleepy child took her hand and walked toward the bedroom.
"Why don't I turn down your bed while you're in the bathroom?" Dahlia thought quickly. Should she remind the boy to brush his teeth? Giving a mental shrug, she decided to let him do it his way. He was after all twelve years old, albeit a younger twelve than his human peers.
Armeo returned about five minutes later, dressed in a thinlinnen jumpsuit. Standing in the doorway, he seemed reluctant to walk toward her. Dahlia studied him. "Would you rather I left you alone? Or asked your.. .grandfather?"
"No." The solitary word seemed to burst from the boy's lips. "I.. .1 just don't like to fall asleep alone."
"Why not?"
"I dream.. .nightmares. I dream of Kellen and Rae.. .of them being injured and not able to come back home."
Of course. Dahlia wanted to kick herself. Despite being an accomplished diplomat, she didn't possess the skill to talk to children. "Why don't I sit with you until you fall asleep, then?" she suggested, surprised at the warmth in her voice. Regarding herself as a standoffish and matter-of-fact woman, recalling how distant she had felt from her own daughter, Dahlia held her breath while she waited for Armeo's reply.
"Thank you. I'd like that." He padded over to his bed and slipped beneath the sheets. "Could you tell me what Rae was like when she was little?"
Dahlia laughed. "Kind of hard to picture the commodore as a little girl, isn't it?" Her mind wandering and losing her gaze in the distance, she smiled. "Believe it or not, until her tenth birthday, Ewa Rae Jacelon was what you call a girly girl. She loved pink fairy-silk dresses, white satin bows, and little velvet-mesh gloves. Then, right after her birthday, she became a tomboy. She began to wear blue thermilon clothes and nagged me to buy her a black leather-mix jacket. I wouldn't, but she maneuvered her father to do it. I admit she looked rough and tough when she walked off to school dressed that way. She put the fear of deities into all the other children in her class, of course. She defended the weak and defenseless even then. She would play soldier all the time. Guess it was in her blood."
"I have a problem with my 'blood,'" Armeo said in a low tone of voice. "I already know I have to choose what to do—soon. I'm the last of the O'Sarals. Kellen is my Protector. My destiny is sealed. I'll become the O'Saral Royale—or so it seems." His voice trailed off. "So her full name is Ewa Rae Jacelon?"
"Yes, and she hated it early on. She didn't mind being called Rae—she hated the Ewa part, a version of her father's name. She and her father didn't always agree on things."
"I never knew my father." Armeo's voice became slower as sleep began to overtake him. "I hardly remember my mother. Only little things."
"You have Kellen. She's a mother to you in the most important of ways."
"Yes." Armeo yawned. "How many days until they come home?"
"Your grandfather told me we can expect them in about twenty-four hours. They'll make it back here."
Suddenly awake, his eyes huge and round, Armeo sat up in bed, took Dahlia's hand in his, and squeezed it hard. "You promise?"
"I wish I could. How about this?" Dahlia stroked stray locks of dark hair from Armeo's forehead. "We keep them in our prayers and send them the most encouraging thoughts we possibly can, to carry them home."
"Yes," Armeo whispered, still holding her other hand. "I can do that."
"Of course you can."
Armeo settled onto the pillows, closing his eyes. Dahlia regarded the small hand in hers. Soon, hopefully, it would belong to a resourceful young man ready to shoulder his duties on Gantharat. The diplomat kept her gentle hold of Armeo's hand as he drifted to sleep, curious why her heart ached for a child who was essentially a stranger. He was indeed remarkable.
For their valiant contribution and dedication during the Second Merealian Wars, in the year of the Honorable Concession, the House of 0'Dal was recognized as Protectors of the Realm, holding forever the sacred duty of guarding the Royal Family of Gantharat. If necessary, they will sacrifice their lives to ensure the continuation of the O'Saral line. Heramian and Kajana O'Dal will form this dynasty, and their children, Beseto and Kellen, will carry on the tradition, and so will all O'Dal generations to come.
"I was named after Heramian and Kajana's daughter, Rae." Kellen's voice was clear as she read from the ancient pages, carefully browsing the leather-bound chronicle.
Today is a day of sorrow. We lost the beloved, the indispensable Messier O'Dal and his spouse, Heiden. They gave their lives for the Royal Family while traveling through the Merealian Mountains. Their children, Endine and Bondar, will be cared for, but our mourning will be long and hard. The O'Sarals' safety is compromised, and we will need to take them to a secret shelter.
Turning several pages, Kellen held her breath when the names became familiar.
Our hearts rejoice this winter morning, when we welcome to the O'Dal dynasty a girl, Kellen, daughter of Bondar O'Dal and his wife, Gillia.
She let her finger trace the beautiful calligraphy, making out her parents' names.
We are heading for times of trouble, and our proud family is now reduced to these three names. The O'Sarals need us more than ever, and we pray we can rise to the occasion.
Kellen turned to Rae. "This is why, you see...This is why I have to stay by Armeo's side as long as I live. Rae..." Her wife's hand lay motionless in hers. Kellen turned her attention back to the book.
Gillia O'Dal, beloved wife of Bondar, died in the year of Precious Prominence, when Onotharian forces descended from the skies, claiming Gantharat as a province. Drawing her arms, she fought the intruders until the youngest members of the Royal Family were safely out of harm's way...
Kellen drew a trembling breath. "My father left a personal note farther down the page."
My wife, my everything. You will live on through your daughter, who is the mirror of your beauty. Gillia, my beloved, you will be missed.
The touch was so faint it almost escaped her. Kellen snapped her head up and lost her breath momentarily when Rae's fingers loosely wrapped around her own. The book of chronicles fell to the floor when she rose to lean over her. "Rae? Can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you can," she implored.
Feeling no reaction, Kellen began to think she had imagined the faint movement. Then Rae turned her head, opening drowsy eyes into barely visible slits.
"Don't move. Shindar'sh meo," Kellen breathed. "You were hurt badly on Gantharat. You've been unconscious for days."
"Kellen." Rae licked her lips, and Kellen could feel her body tremble as she tried to move. "Flight path...Where?"
"We're on our way back to Gamma VI. We got what we came for. Please, Rae, lie still." Kellen tried to hold her down without hurting her. "We don't know how bad your condition is. Lieutenant Ng'Ar repaired your heck artery."
Rae closed her eyes again and slumped back onto the mattress. "Thirsty."
Kellen reached for a mug of water sitting next to her and held it to Rae's dry lips. She took two small sips.
"I'm so glad you're awake," Kellen whispered, trying to control her rampaging feelings. "Are you in pain?"
Rae shook her head. Stroking the mussed hair back from her pale face, Kellen leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Just rest. I'm here to take care of you."
"You..."
"Yes."
"You." Rae's lips trembled as she tried to convey something.
Kellen tried desperately to understand. "I'm fine. I wasn't injured."
Drawing a ragged breath, Rae coughed. "No. I...You."
"What do you mean, Rae? Tell me." Kellen leaned closer, placing her ear against Rae's lips.
"...you." She sounded distressed and frustrated.
Not sure what Rae meant, Kellen was determined to say something, to not let this opportunity slip away. Rae might not make it all the way home; none of them might. Placing her cheek against Rae's, Kellen rubbed it gently. "Rae, listen to me. I want you to know I'm happy I married you. I'm grateful. I..." She kissed the smooth cheek next to hers. "I love you, Rae. I'm in love with you."
When she didn't hear a reply, Kellen raised her head and gazed down at her beloved. Rae was unconscious again.
"Evasive maneuvers. Pattern Delta Delta Four!" Owena held on to the armrest with one hand while she strapped herself into the seat with the other. "Bring us out behind that rock, Lieutenant!"
"Aye, ma'am." Leanne sounded confident while her hands flew across the helm. "We're losing the DVAs any second now."
"All hands to battle stations. Prepare to deploy assault craft." Owena closed her eyes as a blinding light lit up the view screen. "Freedom! Captain de Vies, respond. What was that light?"
"We sustained a heavy blow to our shields, Lieutenant, but we're still in one piece," came the calm voice of the Freedom's captain. "They're tailgating you. We're coming in right behind them. Don't slow down, Owena. Lure them farther into the asteroid belt."
"Aye, sir." Owena glanced at the computer screen. Five midsize Onotharian vessels, sleek and fast, approached from different directions. "D'Artansis, you heard the captain."
"Yes, ma'am."
Owena knew Leanne was pushing the Liberty well beyond her capability because she could hear the foreboding sounds of metal in agony reverberating throughout the vessel.
One of the larger rocks in the asteroid belt appeared, and Owena watched Leanne force the ship to circle it, flying dangerously close to the surface. "Hold on, folks," Leanne murmured as she jerked a small joystick closer while she punched in new commands. "This'll be a tough one."
The ship went into a roll as the faint gravity of the rock pulled them in. Looking at the view screen with darkening eyes, Owena realized Leanne knew it was their last gamble. Outnumbered by ships with far more firepower, all they could do was keep up this cat-and-mouse game until an opportunity presented itself.
A screeching noise came from the belly of the ship. "We can't open the port shuttle bay doors, ma'am!" the ensign at ops yelled.
Thinking fast, Owena knew she had only one option. "Bridge to shuttle bay two. Open doors manually."
A brief silence. "Aye, ma'am. I'm on it." The male crewman's voice was calm, as if her order had not been a death sentence.
"I want visual from shuttle bay two on one of the smaller screens." Owena pressed her lips together. Shortly an outlook over shuttle bay came into view. While the Liberty stomped and lurched through D'Artansis's evasive maneuvers, Owena didn't take her eyes off the bulky man on the screen as he approached the manual override for the massive door. Wearing a space suit with a harness attached to a lifeline, he had oxygen and pressure.
Grabbing a lever, the crewman used his entire body weight to open the door. The decompression tore at him as all air left the shuttle bay. The crewman, Owena cursed under her breath for not remembering to ask his name, hung by the lever as his body slammed against the bulkhead.
Suddenly he lost his grip, sliding along the wall toward the open door, with his safety line taut behind him. His waving hands found a fire extinguisher and clawed at the hose until he got a secure grip and held on.
"All assault craft. Deploy." Owena heard her voice grow darker. "As soon as the last one's out, close the doors. I don't want to hear the automatic closing mechanism isn't working."
"Understood, ma'am," the ops ensign replied smartly. "I'll see to it myself."
Owena stared at the brave man on the screen, his body slamming repeatedly into the wall as the smaller ships passed him. She bit down hard on her lower lip. "Medics, stand by. We have a casualty in shuttle bay two. Await recompression."
Kellen reached underneath Rae's shoulders and legs, lifting her gently and placing her on the floor, where Ensign Hammad had arranged another mattress. The two women fastened belts around the unconscious form, securing her to the bulkhead.
The Liberty lurched. Consoles in the corridors outside the mess hall exploded, and this time the DVAs went off-line. Kellen went airborne, shielding her head before she crashed into the ceiling. Grabbing hold of the light fixtures, she held on, turning and twisting to see if Rae was all right.
Rae was hanging from the three belts, the infusions ripped from her veins. Blood trickled from her arms and legs. Blessing the fact that they had strapped the bedding and blankets around her, Kellen slowly made her way toward the outer bulkhead.
Another explosion reverberated through the ship, propelling Kellen through the mess hall. The tables were attached to the floor, but chairs tumbled around the room. Desperate to get to Rae, to protect her from the flying objects, Kellen let go and jumped. She landed on her feet close to Rae, but as she reached for the table next to her, for leverage, the Liberty reeled again.
"All hands prepare for impact." Owena's voice over the comm system was grave. "We're on a collision course with an asteroid. The ship is out of control."
It was instantly dark when the lights went out. Her outcry became a whisper when Kellen found the first belt around Rae beneath her fingers. Holding on, she inched herself up along Rae's body, covering it as the universe went crazy around them.
Owena squinted through the smoke and muted light from an emergency source. "Reroute all power to the main deflector. We need to keep the shields up!" Coughing, she slapped the communicator on her shoulder. "Grey to de Vies. We're not going to make it, Captain. Almost all systems are failing. What's your status?"
"We're right behind you, Lieutenant." The man sounded adamant even through the static. "We're not leaving your side. Get the Liberty under control, Lieutenant!"
"We're trying, sir."
She watched Leanne's hands fly, struggling with the controls. The Liberty twirled past the asteroid with only twenty-five meters to spare.
"Damn it, D'Artansis, you're going to sever the ship." Alex's voice crackled over the comm system.
"She just saved our asses...sir," Owena said through hard-gritted teeth. "Please, Captain, stick to the plan. Get your part of the evidence back to Gamma VI. You can still out fly them."
"There's still a chance for you, Lieutenant Grey."
The main view flickered to life. "We have visual, Lieutenant." The ensign at ops hung on to her console, clutching at the titanium bar. Owena glanced up, cold dread filling her.
"Damn. Do we have long-range sensors?"
"In a few seconds, ma'am." A brief silence. "Onotharians attacking from two flanks. W
e're caught between them and a dense part of the asteroid belt."
"It doesn't matter. Check your readings again. Tactical?"
"Oh, God, ma'am. A ship's decloaking. They've brought reinforcements."
A jolt rocked the already battered ship as a tractor beam locked onto the Liberty. D'Artansis's hands danced across the helm. "I can't break free, Owena!"
"Try sending a tachyon pulse through their tractor beam."
"We don't have enough power to do that," the tactical officer responded.
"Damn! Grey to de Vies. Do you have the Onotharians on your sensors?"
"Yes, Lieutenant."
"Get out while you can, Captain."
"We're not leaving you."
Owena bristled, and the stressful situation made her growl. "Now's not the time for heroic actions, sir. Get the Freedom out of here. You still have a chance! It's your duty, sir. Don't let this mission be for nothing."
Captain de Vies's voice came through the static loud and clear. "I'm sorry to inform you, but it's too late. We're caught in the same tractor beam. We're entering the Onotharians' ship as we speak."
Owena swallowed against an ever-growing lump in her throat. Oh, shit. "Plan B, then, Captain?"
"Yes, Lieutenant." De Vies sounded matter-of-fact. "It's been an honor, Owena. Don't delay. Godspeed."
Owena unbuckled and rose from the chair. "All hands. We've reached the point of no return. At least we'll take some of them with us." She pressed a sensor to open a small hatch on the elaborate armrest. Icy blue diodes flickered in alien patterns. She held her index finger above the smaller sensor inside. "Initiating self-destruct sequence in three-two-one. Engage."
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
"Self-destruction sequence initiated. All hands to escape pods." The computerized voice resonated throughout the Liberty. "Three hundred seconds and counting." Kellen raised her head, horror filling her, quickly followed by profound sadness. They didn't have time to reach escape pods. They would enter the Onotharian ship's cargo doors any minute.
Kellen curled her body around Rae's, closing her eyes as she awaited the blast that would end their lives. Her thoughts flew to Armeo, and she tried to transmit her feelings for him through the light-years between them. "I love you, Armeo. I love you and Rae and.. .I'm sorry. I let you down.. .I'm so sorry. Forgive me?" She hid her face in Rae's hair, all her fury gone, feeling only deep regret. I tried, Armeo. I swear on my parents 'sacrifice, I did my best. I'm sorry it wasn't enough.
