Ull (Tornians Book 7)

by M. K. Eidem

  "Jakob? What's wrong?"

  Jakob's gaze traveled over the food area that last night he'd thought was full but realized it had only been one of five sections now open. "You have such an abundance of food," he murmured.

  Trisha's gaze followed his and realized he was right. It was something she’d never really given much thought. While they hadn't completely wiped out hunger yet, they had come a very long way. She couldn't imagine what if felt like to know the majority of your people went hungry.

  "We do, and soon your people will too. Come on." She started him moving forward again. "You need to sample again. For the betterment of your people."

  "You are just trying to make me not feel guilty."

  "That may be, but it’s still the truth. Kaliszian tastes probably vary as much as humans, but hopefully, you will know what appeals most so we can get those sent first."

  "Minister Ruskin, it's wonderful to see you again." Vanessa walked up to the Minister who had taken in her and the other females. He'd treated each of them with respect and consideration she would never forget.

  "Ashe Vanessa," Jakob took the hands she held out. "How are you doing?"

  "I’m fine. In fact, I’m wonderful. Dr. Monroe gave me a clean bill of health even though I have high blood pressure and am diabetic. But never mind that. I want you to meet my husband, Dasho, Collin." She looked to the well-built, grey-haired man whose hands rested on her waist as if afraid she'd disappear. And while he smiled, Trisha could tell by the haggard expression on his face that his wife's abduction had taken a toll on him. "Collin, this is Minister Ruskin, who took care of us on his planet and made sure we had everything we needed returning home."

  "I can't thank you enough, Minister Ruskin," he said as he stuck out his hand. "I don't know what I would have done if I'd lost my Nessie forever. These last few months have been hell."

  Trisha translated as Vanessa burrowed into her husband's chest.

  "The honor was mine, Dasho Collin." He shook the male's hand as he knew humans did. "I only regret the circumstances that allowed me to meet your amazing Ashe. My own Ashe Piri enjoyed her time with Ashe Vanessa immensely."

  "While there is still a great deal for Collin and me to catch up on, perhaps one day it will be possible for us to come to visit Kalbaugh."

  "You and your Dasho would be most welcome."

  "Jakob and I were just going to get first meal, have you and Collin eaten yet."

  "Yes. We had just finished and were going back to our rooms when I saw you."

  "Then we'll let you do that. I'm sure your husband still has a great many questions."

  Vanessa looked up over her shoulder at him. "You're right. It's going to be a while before he lets me out of his sight again, not that I mind." With that, the couple walked away arm in arm.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Trisha sighed in relief as Prime Minister Gagnon sat up from using the educator, the last one to do so, answering Jakob's questions correctly and saying she felt fine.

  "I would still like you to rest for several hours," Dr. Monroe told her.

  "I agree," Jakob said once Trisha translated.

  "Then we will convene the Council after lunch," President Garcia said, looking to Dr. Monroe. "You will let me know if there are any problems."

  "Of course, Mr. President."

  "Good, then I have some work to attend to and will see you all at one o'clock." With that, the President left the room, followed by the other leaders, while Dr. Monroe began to run some tests on Prime Minister Gagnon as he had with everyone who had used the educator.

  "Would you like to go for a walk, Jakob?" Trisha asked. "See more of what Earth is like?"

  "I would very much like that, but first, I must return to my quarters to see if Emperor Liron has responded yet."

  "Representative Burke," Dr. Monroe spoke up. "Could I speak with you for a moment?"

  "Of course." Trisha looked to Jakob. "Do you remember how to get back to your quarters?"

  "I believe so."

  "Then how about I meet you there in about twenty minutes if that gives you enough time."

  "That should be sufficient. I will see you then."

  Trisha waited until Dr. Monroe finished speaking with the Prime Minister then followed him into his office, where he closed the door.

  "I did some research, and while these aren't a perfect substitute, they are what I have." He held out two bottles. "These will help curtail your cancer’s growth. You need to take both three times a day."

  "Three?" she frowned at that. "I only had to take the other twice."

  "I know, but these aren't as long-acting, so you'll need to maintain your levels. They also offer no pain relief, so you'll need to take this." He handed her another bottle. "Take it when you do the others, but if you need more, you can take it."

  Trisha released a heavy sigh as she took the third bottle. "Alright. Any side effects I should know about?"

  "Fatigue, nausea, possibly some blurry vision, and lightheadedness. You need to get as much rest as you can and eat as much as possible." He ran a critical eye over her. "I haven't seen your charts or known you long, but you seem to have lost some weight since we first met."

  "I've been sampling Tornian and Kaliszian food for the last few days, and while it was good, I wasn't sure how my system would react to it, so I probably wasn't eating as much as usual."

  "I see," Dr. Monroe hummed, obviously not wholly believing her. Loss of appetite was a later symptom of this cancer. "Well, now that you are on Earth, I expect you to start eating more. Your body needs it."

  "I will, and thank you again for helping me."

  "No thanks needed. I wish I could do more. The returnees have all told me how much you helped them."

  "I didn't do anything but listen and answer their questions the best I could."

  "Which is what they needed. You made the return home easier for them and my medical staff."

  Trisha felt her eyes mist at that. All she'd ever wanted to do was help people, to make a difference the way her mamá, father, and tío had. When diagnosed with cancer, Trisha thought that wouldn't be possible, but now to hear she had, even if it were only for a few, meant a lot.

  "Thank you for that. There is something else I need to discuss with you. I'm assuming you are aware of everything that is happening here." Because nothing ever stayed secret, even at a top-secret facility.

  "If you are referring to the fact we now know for sure there is life on other planets, then yes."

  "Do you know why the Tornians and Kaliszians are here?"

  "To prevent our people from being taken and to negotiate treaties."

  "Yes, but there are some that chose not to return."

  "Yes, some of the returnees told me that. That several women had decided to stay with the Kaliszians."

  'So, they didn't know about the ones with the Tornians,' she thought, so she wasn't going to open that can of worms. "Yes, but what they didn't tell you, because they most likely didn't know, is that those two women, Jennifer and Mackenzie, are both pregnant."

  "Really." Monroe leaned back in his chair, giving her a considering look.

  "Yes, and one of the things needing negotiated is Earth OB/GYNs to go and assist their Healers with the pregnancies and births."

  "I wasn't aware of that."

  "You wouldn't be since, as of yet, it hasn't been brought up. The Kaliszians’ priority is securing a trade agreement so they can feed their people, but it is going to come up, and I'd like to be ahead of the game when it is."

  "How?"

  "You're a doctor, and while I realize you’re not an OB/GYN, I was hoping you might still be able to come up with a list of doctors that would be interested in the groundbreaking opportunity. The first Earthian-Kaliszian babies." She wasn't going to tell him that an Earthian-Tornian baby had already been born.

  "It would be an amazing opportunity," Monroe agreed. "I do know a few OB/GYNs. I'll reach out discreetly, of course, and see if I can d
o that for you."

  "Thank you. Now…" She rose from her seat. "I'd better go take these." She gestured to the bottles in her hand. "Then go meet up with Minister Ruskin."

  "Don't overdue," Monroe warned. "Your system needs to get used to this medication."

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ull had never had a problem with the monotony of space travel before. He liked to use the time to hone his fighting skills, which is what he'd done traveling to Earth. But now, sparring held no appeal. Wray had recalled the Searcher, and he needed to get close enough to Luda to find out why so he could return to Trisha.

  Reaching into his vest, he touched the bottle he'd found. Over the last few days, he'd been carrying it, to have something of hers with him at all times. Primarily as Trisha’s scent from the pillow, he now rested with, was fading.

  Now, a week and a half from Earth, they were finally close enough to contact Luda directly. The only reason he hadn't was because Veron hadn't arrived yet, and if he didn't soon, Ull would start without him.

  "I should have known you'd already be here."

  "You're late," Ull growled.

  "No, I'm not. The scheduled transmission isn't for another," Veron looked at the time, "Two minutes."

  Ull had no answer for that because Luda had sent them a comm earlier to arrange the time. Instead, Ull turned to the comm station and began entering the transmission code.

  Veron said nothing, just took in Ull's overall demeanor. He'd been a very different male since they'd left Earth. More solemn, withdrawn and reserved as if there was something that weighed heavily on his mind. It made sense as they'd left the negotiations so suddenly, but for some reason, Veron felt it was more than that, but couldn't figure out what.

  "You're early." King Grim's face appeared on the comm screen after several moments.

  "We didn't want to keep you waiting, my King," Ull said, speaking for both of them.

  "I see," but Grim's tone said he didn't believe Ull. "The Emperor will be here in a few moments." With that, Grim moved out of the view of the comm. Less than a minute later, the Emperor's face appeared.

  "Veron. Warrior Ull."

  "Emperor," they both immediately responded, crossing an arm over their chest and bowing to him.

  "Sit," Wray ordered." Once they had complied, he continued. "I'm sure you want to know why I recalled you so suddenly."

  The question didn't require either of them to answer, so they remained silent. "There isn't anything dire…"

  "Then why did you recall us!" Everyone was shocked by Ull's outburst, including Ull. He knew better than to question his Emperor. Not because Wray refused to allow it, or ended anyone who did, but because it needed to be respectful, which he wasn’t. Bowing his head, Ull said, "My apologies, Sire."

  "Was there something important going on in the negotiations that I am unaware of?" Wray asked.

  Ull lifted his head. "No, Sire. I have reported everything discussed. I feel it is in everyone's best interests that the planet not be left unprotected. Another Ganglian ship could arrive to investigate why the one we destroyed did not return." The possibility of another Ganglian ship arriving and the chance of them kidnapping Trisha had caused him sleepless resting periods since they'd left.

  "There is little chance of that," Wray dismissed. "The Ganglians can't communicate as great a distance as we can, even within the Known Universes. So, they wouldn't be expecting a comm from that ship yet."

  "That doesn't mean they couldn't have sent more than one ship." Ull felt the need to argue the point.

  "You sound like you care what happens to Earth, Warrior Ull."

  "Of course, I do!" Ull immediately exclaimed. "They are the key to the survival of our race."

  Wray was surprised by this. While he knew Ull would do whatever his Emperor asked of him, he hadn't exhibited this passion in doing so before. Wray responded, "Their females are. Females, I believe you were in favor of just taking. What has changed your position?"

  The Emperor couldn't believe the shame that crossed Ull's usually reserved face.

  "That was unfit and unworthy of me, Sire. I should have realized that my Emperor, my King, and even my own Lord are wiser than a lowly Warrior with no female."

  "You are now against invasion even though it would bring immediate relief to your brothers-in-arms?"

  "Yes."

  "Explain."

  "Sire, before I traveled to Earth, I had no respect for Earth's males. After all, if they were fit and worthy, they wouldn't allow their females to be unprotected. But after interacting not only with their males but several of their females who are powerful world leaders, I have come to believe they respect their females far more than we do. They show that respect by giving their females the freedom to choose how they wish to live, even if it puts them at risk."

  Ull wasn't sure he was expressing this well. He was a warrior after all, not an ambassador, but it was what he felt and now believed.

  "You support this? Females being at risk?"

  "No, Sire, but I now understand it. They believe in giving their females a choice, just as we once did. Many of their females choose to live independently, and if they find a male they wish to share their lives with, they do. As equals."

  "This is something my Kim has expressed to me many times. She wishes to be a more active Empress, doing more than just giving me offspring."

  "As does my Lisa here on Luda," King Grim said, speaking up.

  "I believe Lady Abby has also expressed that desire to my brother," Ull told them.

  "While honorable," Veron chimed in, "that may be a problem for some of our warriors."

  "Then they should be barred from having an Earth female," Ull declared again, shocking everyone. "For it is only these females exerting their right to choose, and them choosing to Join with a Tornian male, that will save us."

  "And do you believe they will?" Wray asked.

  "If our males just take and force them as we have already done," Ull's gaze went to Grim, who was standing behind his brother. " No. But if they give the females the time to get to know them, and show them the respect they deserve, then yes."

  "I see."

  "Sire, was this the reason you recalled us?" Veron asked. "To discuss face-to-face with Warrior Ull his opinion on how things are proceeding?"

  "No, but I find his change in attitude very interesting."

  "I believe Representative Burke had a great deal to do with that."

  "The female Queen Lisa insisted you needed to contact?"

  "Yes, she and Warrior Ull spent an extensive amount of time together, on and off the Searcher."

  Wray ran an assessing eye over Ull, a thought beginning to take root. Wray had been a much different male before he'd met his Kim, just as Grim, and Lord Ynyr had been. Now it seemed Warrior Ull was affected too. Earth females appeared to have the ability to bring out the best in a Tornian male even when they weren't Joining with one. "Earth females do have a powerful influence on our males."

  "Truth," Ull agreed quietly.

  "So why have we returned?" Veron asked.

  "You feel negotiations are going well for us, Warrior Ull?"

  "Yes, Majesty. While it will take some time to organize the matchings between our males and Earth females, the Earth Council is going to be agreeable."

  "It will take more than one ship to protect Earth, which is why I recalled you."

  "I don't understand, Sire."

  "Three ships full of Tornian Warriors and the repair units the Earth leaders requested, are orbiting Luda and will return to Earth with you."

  "You recalled us so we could escort them?" Ull had a hard time keeping the anger out of his voice and off his face.

  "You, Warrior Ull, will transfer to the Protector. Warrior Taup is its Captain, and together you will lead the Watcher and the Sword back to Earth."

  "Sire?" Veron asked.

  "I need you at my side, Captain, and the Searcher. Captain Taup is a fit and worthy male who understands his duty
as do all the warriors selected."

  "Are they expecting to be allowed access to females?" Ull demanded. It would destroy everything they'd been working for if a group of rogue warriors descended on Earth and kidnapped unwilling females.

  "No, they've been expressly told they will not be allowed on Earth's surface. They are there only to protect the planet from the Ganglians. They will do their duty."

  "And who has final authority if one forgets that duty?" Ull growled.

  Wray's eyes narrowed, and he tilted his head slightly to stare at Ull. "As I have not yet decided who should become the Tornian Lord of Earth, I grant you the power to deal with any Tornian issues that arise."

  "Taup and the other Captains will be made aware of this?"

  "They will."

  Ull nodded his acceptance. He would make sure that every warrior knew that if they disobeyed him or if they caused any friction with Earth, he would end them.

  "But I do expect them to be among the first to try out whatever matching system Representative Burke initiates."

  "I do not believe she will have a problem with that."

  "Is Captain Veron correct?" Wray demanded then watched Ull bristle when he asked. "Have you and Representative Burke become close?"

  "She is an amazing female that I have the greatest respect for, Sire. I have done my best in all our exchanges to treat her as such," Ull replied stiffly.

  "Done your best?" Grim growled. Trisha was his Lisa's friend. If this warrior had insulted her, in any way, Grim would end him.

  Ull looked to Grim. "As I'm sure you are aware, King Grim, Earth females speak their minds and are willing to tell a warrior when they believe he is wrong. It takes some time to adjust. Representative Burke and I got off to a less than perfect start," Ull refused to look at Veron when he snorted softly, "but we resolved those issues and now have no problem working together."

  "Is this your belief, Veron," Grim demanded.