The Bounty Hunter's Honour (Renegades Book 5)

by L P Peace

  She moved back to his ear. ‘When human women are pregnant, they can get really horny. Like, insanely horny.’

  ‘Horny?’ he mouthed.

  She stared at him for a moment, her eyes widening until Ronin realised what she meant. His blood suddenly ran hotter.

  I need to get my mate pregnant as soon as possible!

  By the time they turned back to the room, the Kathen and female had sat down on another sofa across the way from them. They were holding hands and gazing at each other, the male’s hand on her stomach, as though to protect their offspring.

  ‘As I was saying,’ Thanesh continued, ‘I have called together everyone who has either expressed an interest in attending tomorrow or who is going to the meeting in an official capacity.’

  ‘I formally submitted our application to the IGC representative today,’ the male called James Whittaker said. ‘Accompanied and witnessed by Thanesh and Ilan Dahnus to ensure it was properly logged.’

  ‘Who’s their representative?’ Sophia asked.

  ‘Hekalion fucking Dar,’ Whittaker sneered.

  Ronin saw Whittaker shiver and could only imagine what Dar had been like to him. A male, bloody and yet somehow not broken. Dar liked them that way. Ronin felt his teeth clench tight in anger for the human male.

  ‘Now, thanks to Ronin, we have evidence that Dar knew about the data packet and sent someone to retrieve it. Unfortunately, he will simply claim he was attempting to help by attaining the data packet the humans need to complete their claim.’

  ‘Fucking bastard.’ Rhona’s eyes were lit by her anger.

  ‘Indeed,’ Ilan Dahnus said.

  ‘Tomorrow is going to be long and difficult. Those races that profit from slavery are not going to let the humans join easily. We know that there has been blackmail. Threats. We found the Halidan captain, along with his family who had been kidnapped over a cycle prior to his escorting Endurance. They were all dead.’

  ‘Oh my god!’ Tara whispered from across the room. Danithor pulled her tighter as the two of them whispered back and forth.

  ‘She saw him right before they left us,’ Sophia explained.

  ‘Whatever happens tomorrow, stick to the plan.’ The pale female at Thanesh’s side stepped forward. Alethia, Sophia had called her. ‘Samples from Endurance’s hold have been passed out to show what humans bring in terms of trade. We have to push the idea that what humans have to contribute is culture, trade. Things that were stolen from other slave races. Things they don’t have to offer anymore because those things don’t exist. Aavani know little about their culture before the Bentari, Mvari almost nothing. The Ualha have no culture to pass on. Earth has a rich culture and history. Music, movies, theatre, and more will be lost if the Bentari and Fedhith get their way. Then there’s those things that are commodified. Things we can trade, like chocolate.’ Alethia shared a look with Zoe, and the two of them smiled.

  ‘Terraforming,’ Rhona said. ‘They don’t have that out here.’

  ‘Terra preta,’ Tara spoke up.

  Alethia nodded. ‘So keep it on point. Don’t let them derail you. They’ll try. They tried when we confirmed our application.’ She looked at Thanesh, who nodded in response. ‘Keep them on your talking points. They’ll treat you as little better than animals. Try to get a rise out of you. Whatever you do, don’t let them.’

  ‘It’s a good job I’m not expected to talk tomorrow,’ Rhona said. ‘I have more than a few choice words for those people.’ The female’s face flushed with anger. Beside her, the male watched her with an adoring expression that reminded Ronin of how he felt about Sophia.

  ‘I think we can all agree with that one, Rhona.’ The Ilan smirked, then winked when Rhona glared at him.

  ‘What about sabotage?’ Whittaker asked. ‘What have we got in the way of evidence?’

  ‘Very little,’ Thanesh said. ‘Not nothing. But most of it is about the Bentari and Fedhith attempts to stop us joining the IGC. Which brings me to the next thing. I urge Earth to look again at my offer of Protectorate membership, just in case the IGC deny your membership.’ He was looking at Whittaker as he said this.

  ‘I’ll talk to them tonight,’ Whittaker said. ‘I don’t hold out much hope, but I will impress upon them how important your protection is should we be denied.’

  ‘Hopefully, they’ll say yes this time.’ Alethia had a grim look on her face. Ronin could see she didn’t believe the humans would accept the offer.

  ‘Perhaps a few of us, human and otherwise, should go with Whittaker and put a case into Earth?’ Sophia said.

  ‘God knows I’ve tried,’ Rhona said. ‘But I’ll be up for that.’

  ‘I’d like to try,’ Alethia said. ‘I’ve never spoken to anyone from Earth. They won’t talk to us. But maybe if I’m there with all of you, they’ll listen this time.’

  ‘It’s gotta be worth a try.’ Tara leaned forward in her seat.

  ‘I think if a lot of people talk to them, it might have a chance of working,’ Whittaker agreed.

  ‘First, we have other things to discuss,’ Thanesh said.

  The meeting went on for another hacri. Finally, they were released into the party with a better idea of what they were up against.

  It was early morning by the time they’d finished speaking to Earth, and though they’d listened, their answer remained the same. They would not join the Tessan Protectorate. To do this, they’d have to give them the plans for their defence system. Those plans weren’t even included in their IGC application, and they refused to share it.

  Sophia was yawning as they walked back to their suite. Thanesh had spoken to them. Alethia. Ronin had even said a few words. Danithor called them all vashni, and Daris tried to charm them.

  Whittaker and Danielle had gotten the closest to reaching them. However, in sharing their experiences with Earth gov, they’d just made them all the more stubborn in their refusal. Fear was a great motivator. Unfortunately, it didn’t always motivate people towards the most sensible decision.

  With only a few hours to go before they were due to meet in the central sphere, Sophia and Ronin curled up and went straight to sleep.

  The following morning, Sophia skipped breakfast with the ladies, opting to spend the morning with her mate instead. They made love, then both of them dressed before they went down to the atrium to await everyone who’d opted to stand in the central sphere.

  They gathered in groups, Zoe and Daris arriving along with Rhona and Makios. Tara and Danithor joined them a short while later.

  The human contingent arrived next. All as one, they entered the atrium in a huddle, almost like a school of fish grouping for protection.

  The Tessans arrived last, with Alethia and Thanesh at the centre of a group of guards.

  Because there were so many of them, they were allowed to take a ship across rather than using the transport pods. The Tessans brought them all on their flagship, The Alethia, and they crossed the thousands of miles from the inner ring to the central sphere.

  Sophia watched the traffic between the two structures.

  ‘Pods,’ a voice said beside her. ‘They’re like small cars and are totally automated.’

  Sophia looked down at a small human woman with black hair, big blue eyes, and pale skin. ‘You look like Snow White,’ she smiled down at her.

  The woman’s pale skin became pinker, and she smiled back. ‘My parents used to say that,’ she said. She held out her hand. ‘Arabelle. This is my mate, Decimen.’

  A golden alien appeared next to her. His skin and hair were golden, and he had green-gold cat-shaped eyes. He was utterly stunning, with a nose slightly broader than human. Along with his long hair, which was shaved at the sides and gave the impression of a mane, he looked leonine. There was an apprehensive look on his face.

  ‘Not happy about being here?’ Sophia asked.

  The woman shifted, her smile faltering. ‘The last time we were here, we were slaves of Hekalion Dar,’ she said. ‘Rhona and Makios Desa
res helped us escape. You know them, don’t you?’

  ‘I do. I spent time on their ship training for this mission,’ Sophia confirmed. ‘Isn’t it dangerous for you to come back here?’

  ‘It’s a long story, but thankfully both of us were sold illegally,’ Decimen said. His voice was rich and almost sinful. Arabelle looked up at him with unrestrained adoration in her eyes, and when he looked down at her, he returned the look in force. Sophia almost felt like she was interrupting a profoundly intimate moment.

  Ronin, who’d been talking to his two new best friends, appeared at her side.

  ‘Speaking of mating, I mean, mates!’ Sophia took hold of Ronin’s offered hand. ‘This is mine, Ronin.’

  They watched as the ship entered an air dock in the central sphere; near to what Sophia would consider the north pole of the structure.

  They disembarked the ship and were led to a series of vehicles which brought them the remainder of the way.

  When they arrived, they were reunited with Endurance's crew, who’d piloted the Earth ship into another air berth several miles from where they had entered the station.

  Once they were all together, they were led into a private room.

  The Ilan, who’d come in his private vessel, arrived with an entourage a short time later.

  Immediately, several of the Protectorate males scanned the room for observation devices.

  The doors opened a moment later, and they were called.

  The central chamber was a circular room with a domed ceiling covered in viewscreens that looked out into the space beyond.

  The room was bright. One side was a table upon which sat the most powerful members of the IGC. The founding races. Across from them was a curved, sloping wall into which dozens of individual balconies were set. Members from across the IGC sat there looking out into the room.

  Hekalion Dar sat with a male that looked so much like him he could only be his son. He watched them, glaring at Ronin as they walked over to the observer's gallery, leaving Whittaker, the only member of the diplomatic contingent to have reached the station to approach the podium alone.

  He stood in front of them, and something within him shrank. He turned around, his eyes searching through the crowd of humans and alien mates. When his eyes reached Sophia, she gave him a thumbs up and smiled encouragingly.

  There was a flash of uncertainty before he drew himself to his full height and turned back to the council.

  ‘Welcome. I am Kethis Reedan. I believe you wish to make a statement in support of your application?’ It was the Amaran representative who spoke.

  Whittaker cleared his throat. ‘Yes.’ He went quiet, seemingly preparing himself for his speech. He was looking down at the screen for several long moments before a low chuckle started in his throat. It built before he seemed to come to his senses, though he couldn’t stop himself from grinning.

  ‘You know, when I was on Earth, I wrote a speech for this day.’ He held up a pad he’d slipped from his pocket and waved it around for everyone to see. ‘It was full of hope and optimism for our future out here,’ he pointed at the room, ‘with all of you.’ He turned then, looking at Hekalion Dar. Fury and hatred filled his face. ‘With you.’

  Turning his back on Dar, he looked back at the table upon which sat the original members of the IGC.

  ‘The idea of reading that out now, after the last few weeks… is ridiculous.’

  Whittaker cleared his throat once again. ‘We named our ship Endurance. Captain Durrani, may god help her wherever she is, pushed for the name. She made a big speech the day we launched about endurance being a human superpower, and I stood there and thought, you clueless idiot.’

  Sophia felt her jaw drop open.

  ‘I thought, stupid bloody name. But after the last few weeks, you know what? She’s right. You,’ he turned back to Dar, ‘conspired to sell us into slavery and stop us reaching this place. But we’re here anyway! We’re here. You can kidnap our citizens, but the will to break free fuels us. You can attack our home system, but we will beat you back. Because we’re in this for the long haul. You can pull every trick and every venal, cowardly move, and we’ll always be here to put you down.’

  ‘That is a grave accusation.’ It was the Nemari ambassador who spoke.

  ‘Yeah, and when we have the proof, we’ll provide it. That I promise you.’

  Whittaker seemed to lose strength. Sophia crossed the hall and placed herself under his arm; he looked at her, gratitude on his face. Ronin appeared at his other side, helping to take his weight.

  ‘Well said, James.’ Ronin’s voice stumbled over the word ‘James’.

  Sophia caught Dar’s eye. She smiled at him, pulling on the pride of a thousand generations of humanity. She took all of that pride and let him see it all. Of course humanity’s will was strong. Implacable. Humanity had fought predators, disease, alien invasions, and the cusp of self-annihilation to stand here today. Dar would never understand that they were strong because he didn’t see them as being real people.

  They were made of steel. No, amot. And like amot, we take the strains and pressures against us and use it to make us stronger.

  Silence in the chamber stretched on. Finally, an alien leaned forward. ‘I am Kemar Eteran, the Adosian representative. Would you like to make a statement in support of your application?’

  ‘I submit this,’ Whittaker said breathlessly, holding up the pad. ‘I’m sure you can all read.’ Whittaker handed the pad to Sophia and walked back to the doors through which they’d entered, leaving the central chamber behind.

  Kemar pointed at Sophia and an Adosian aide crossed the floor, taking the pad from her. The Adosians were grey, but both males had the same mark tattooed on their necks.

  ‘Are there any more statements in support of your application?’ The Amaran representative looked at the large party of humans.

  Sophia and Ronin walked back to the gallery as Zoe passed them.

  Over another hour, people went to the podium and spoke. Finally, the council began to confer among themselves.

  Sophia carefully watched them. Some looked bored. Others, on both sides of the argument, watched every movement, listened to every word.

  There could be no reason to turn them down. Humans had reached the minimum necessary levels in power, population, urban growth, and every other critical metric centuries ago. The only thing keeping them from membership had been the lack of a deep spaceship, and now they had that. Each side argued back and forth.

  ‘That’s interesting,’ Ronin said when a blue-skinned male with black hair stood and began speaking, ‘that the Dessex representative should be objecting to your membership. They are in the Protectorate. Against slavery. For trade. Something isn’t right. Races are arguing on the wrong side.’

  ‘Blackmail? Bribery?’ She looked into Ronin’s chartreuse eyes.

  ‘They already took the family of the Halidan captain to get their way,’ Ronin pointed out.

  Once the Dessex representative sat down, Hekalion Dar stood. ‘I have no objections to the humans joining,’ he said before immediately sitting down.

  Sophia felt her blood chill. She exchanged a look with Rhona, who watched her with eyes wide open and a wary expression on her face. Rhona jerked her head towards the doors. Makios, Sophia, and Ronin followed her.

  ‘What is happening?’ Thanesh approached them as soon as they were through.

  ‘Hekalion Dar just failed to object to the human’s application,’ Makios growled.

  ‘They are on discussions already?’ Thanesh turned to the Ilan, who nodded and turned to an aide. The aide left the room.

  ‘He didn’t object?’ Alethia said, taking a position next to her mate. ‘What did he say?’

  ‘Just that,’ Sophia said. ‘Then sat down.’

  ‘Thanesh?’ Alethia looked up at him, trusting completely that her mate would know what to do. His amber eyes searched the room.

  ‘Several of your allies voted against their membership,�
� Ronin provided.

  ‘Yes. I believe Dar is blackmailing them. I need evidence, though. We need to talk to those members who objected individually. If we can get them to speak out…’

  ‘That’s unlikely though, isn’t it?’ Sophia said. ‘If it’s bad enough to change their position on something like this, then surely they don’t want it coming out?’

  ‘No. But I do not intend on giving them a choice.’

  ‘We have eyewitnesses that can testify that some of them attended parties at Dar’s,’ Alethia said. ‘Parties where slaves were forced to perform for the desires of the attendants, intimately. Publicly.’

  ‘Madre de Dios!’ Sophia closed her eyes. Ronin pulled her closer to him.

  ‘Those that are Protectorate member worlds have new laws preventing them from attending such events,’ Thanesh took over for Alethia, who had paled at her revelation. ‘According to our eyewitnesses, not only did these members attend, but they did so knowing the kind of party they were invited to. It’s not evidence, but it may inspire those being blackmailed to admit it. Unlikely though that is. However, it does allow me to call on the homeworlds for their decisions rather than leaving it to the IGC representatives who have a possible conflict of interest. Those worlds will allow membership. But that can’t be done this rote.’

  ‘Where are these witnesses?’ Sophia thought about the human and Aavani she’d met on the ship. She hadn’t seen them since, she realised.

  ‘We left them on Alethia,’ Thanesh said. ‘We’ll fetch them shortly.’

  ‘What about James?’ Ronin asked.

  ‘He didn’t do well out there,’ Sophia said. ‘We shouldn’t have let him go out.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Rhona scoffed. ‘Watching him call Dar an ugly twat was worth the time here alone.’

  ‘That was enjoyable!’ Makios smirked.

  ‘He had a little episode when he came back.’ Alethia’s face filled with concern. ‘We had him escorted back to our ship so he could spend some time in the medical bay.’

  The doors opened, and the room began to fill.