Nica's Legacy (Hearts of ICARUS Book 1)

by Laura Jo Phillips

“Sure,” Bree said.

  “Good, it’s your turn,” Nica said, relieved. “What about you?”

  “Hmmm…nope, I don’t feel guilty about anything at all. I’m sure there are a few things I should feel guilty about, but I don’t because it’s a waste of emotional space and I need the room for other things.”

  “Such as?”

  “Oh well, let me see, there’s boredom, and um, oh yes, boredom, and when I’m tired of that I sit around and think about how bored I am.”

  “I don’t get it, Bree,” Nica said, shaking her head. “You’re all grown up, you’ve got nothing to tie you down, and you obviously can afford to do pretty much whatever you want. Why do you waste so much time sitting around being bored?”

  “Because I have nothing to do,” Bree said. Nica rolled her eyes. “I’m serious, Nica. I spend most of my time at our estate in the country. Ian works so much I barely see him, and aside from him, there’s no one there but me and the staff. There’s nothing to do except read, which I don’t enjoy, sew, which I hate, or walk, which is okay but it doesn’t exactly make time fly.”

  “You don’t work with your brother?”

  “Nope.”

  “You have a double degree in Agriculture and Interstellar Business, and I happen to know that you’re passionate about both subjects. I don’t know why you love them so much, but that isn’t the point. Why don’t you use some of those ideas you used to go on and on about to help manage your estate?”

  “Because Ian won’t let me,” Bree said. She said the words lightly, but Nica saw the hurt and sadness in her eyes.

  “Why not?”

  “Because he has it all under control,” Bree said. “His words. The truth is, Nica, that he doesn’t trust me not to make a mess of whatever I touch. He still sees me as a kid and I don’t think that will ever change.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Nica said. “First of all, you’re twenty-three, not thirteen. And second, you’re brilliant with that stuff. Doesn’t he know you graduated with honors?”

  “It doesn’t matter. Not to him, anyway. If I ever want to use any of my ideas or knowledge, I’ll have to marry someone with an estate and hope he’s willing to listen to me now and then.”

  Nica took a sip of her tea and set her cup down on the saucer with more care than necessary, taking a moment to consider the idea that had just popped into her mind. Finding no flaw in it, she said, “Or go live on another planet.”

  “Another planet?”

  “I own a five hundred thousand acre grain farm on Jasan,” Nica said. “I pay people to run it for me because I can’t bring myself to sell it, and I’m not the slightest bit interested in farming. If you’re willing to relocate to Jasan, you can run it. I’ll pay all the expenses for the first two years, and when you’re on your feet, I’ll turn it over to you. I can’t sell the land, Bree. Not now, anyway. But in all other respects it’ll be yours. You make the decisions, you keep the money.”

  “Are you serious?” Bree asked, shocked by the incredible generosity of the offer.

  “Of course I’m serious,” Nica said. “The main house is really nice, too. It hasn’t been lived in for years, but it’s fully furnished and regularly maintained. All you’d have to take with you is your clothes and personal effects.”

  “That’s an amazing offer, Nica,” Bree said. “I appreciate it more than I can say.”

  “I love you, Bree, and what’s more, I trust you,” Nica said. “I want to see you happy, and honestly, it’s no sacrifice on my part.”

  “No sacrifice?” Bree asked, her eyes narrowing. “If you tell me what your crops are and your average yield, I can make an educated guess as to just how much of a sacrifice it is, give or take a couple hundred thousand credits.”

  “Not to sound like a snob or anything, but I’d never miss it, Bree.”

  “I know,” Bree said with a sigh. “And you’re the least snobby person I know, so don’t worry about that.”

  “So, what do you say?”

  “I’d take this offer in a heartbeat Nica, but Ian’s the only family I have left and Jasan is a long way from Apedra. Do you mind if I think it over?”

  “Bree, you can take a month, a year, a decade. Whatever you want. The farm isn’t going anywhere.”

  “Thanks, Nica,” Bree said, unable to stop the tears that spilled over and ran down her cheeks.

  “Why are you crying?” Nica asked in surprise.

  “Because you trust me,” Bree said. “Considering the size of that farm, and the amount of revenue it must bring in, you trust me a lot. It’s a good feeling.”

  “So these are happy tears?”

  “Of course,” Bree said, swiping the tears away with her hand.

  “Good,” Nica said, relieved. They fell silent as the waiter delivered their food, and brought them a fresh pot of tea. They ate quietly for a few minutes before Bree put her fork down, drank some water, and worked up a little courage.

  “Nica,” she said, “at the risk of making you angry enough to withdraw your offer, I have to ask if you plan to spend the rest of your life like this.”

  “Like what?” Nica asked warily.

  “Alone,” Bree said.

  “You don’t have a lot of room to talk on that subject,” Nica said defensively, but Bree wasn’t put off.

  “I have an excuse.”

  “Which is?”

  “Men aren’t interested in a woman with freckles, frizzy orange hair, and a scrawny body that’s mostly legs. You, on the other hand, have all the right curves in all the right places, a beautiful face, and disgustingly gorgeous hair when you aren’t hiding it in that braid. Men would flock around you like crazy if you didn’t look at them like you’d slit their throats if they approached you.”

  “You’re so wrong, Bree,” Nica said.

  “About?”

  “All of it,” Nica said. “Firstly, men love tall, slender women with legs that go on forever, your freckles add interest to your face, and I mean that in a very good way, and you’ve got the most beautiful gray eyes I’ve ever seen. As for your hair, just go to a salon. They’ll get rid of the frizz, give you a trim, and maybe darken it a couple of shades. And secondly, I’d never slit anyone’s throat. It’s far too messy, and there are so many neater alternatives.”

  “You’re so brutal, Nica,” Bree said, shaking her head in exasperation, but Nica just shrugged. “You know, the way you keep avoiding this subject is beginning to look suspicious.”

  “Suspicious?” Nica asked in surprise. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I don’t know,” Bree said, deciding to let it go. “Forget it. By the way, that dress you got for tonight is amazing. I’ve never seen you look so beautiful, and that’s saying something since you look pretty great in a pair of old jeans and a cotton shirt.”

  “It’s just a dress,” Nica said dismissively. “There is something serious I’d like to discuss with you though.”

  “Nica Vinia, are you saying that new dresses and men are not serious subjects?” Bree asked in exaggerated surprise.

  Nica arched a brow and Bree laughed. “Okay okay, I’ll be good. What’s up?”

  “It’s about why I’m here,” Nica said.

  “I was going to ask you about that,” Bree said. “I know you’re supposed to graduate in about a month because I planned to be there to watch it. I’m guessing something happened to change your plans?”

  “Yes, you could say that,” Nica said. She reached for her water and traced the droplets running down the outside of the glass as she spoke. “Somehow or other General Christoff learned that I used to have a strong psychic talent, and that my ring blocks it. Long story short, he expelled me from the Officer Training program.”

  “I don’t understand,” Bree said. “What did he expel you for?”

  “For blocking my psychic ability,” Nica replied.

  “But…how is that even his business?” Bree asked in confusion.

  “I don’t know,” Nica sai
d with a sigh. “I think he just wants what’s best for ICARUS, and ICARUS needs psychics.”

  “I get that, but it doesn’t give him the right to dictate your life, Nica,” Bree said. “Unless something has changed, ICARUS is not a military organization.”

  “No, that hasn’t changed,” Nica said.

  “So what are you going to do about it?” Bree asked, trying to rein in her own anger on Nica’s behalf.

  “General Christoff said that if I take the ring off, he’d be happy to let me enroll in the Psy Program. Otherwise, I’m out for good. I tried to tell him what would happen if I took the ring off but he didn’t want to hear it.”

  “Jeez, Nica, this is so wrong,” Bree said. “Who told him about the ring to begin with?”

  “I don’t know,” Nica said. “I didn’t ask. It doesn’t really matter, I suppose.”

  “There’s got to be something you can do about this.”

  “Other than take the ring off, I don’t think so,” Nica said. Then she shrugged. “Well, from what Honey said, the Dracons aren’t happy about it and have contacted the council to discuss it. She said they’ll probably be going to New Ugaztun soon to confront General Christoff in person, and they might stop here on the way to talk to me first. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Of course I don’t mind,” Bree said with a grin. “Knowing Prince Garen or, even better, Prince Trey, General Christoff might just be out of a job.”

  “Actually, Honey said it was Uncle Val who really got his hackles up,” Nica said. “But I really don’t want General Christoff to lose his job over this.”

  “Why not?” Bree asked in surprise.

  “The Clan Council chose General Christoff to run the Academy for good reasons. He’s smart, talented, experienced, and an extremely good judge of character. He’s a little heavy handed with the military stuff for a non-military organization, but you can’t believe how much that man knows.”

  “I don’t understand why you’re taking this so calmly, Nica. You’ve wanted to be a part of ICARUS for as long as I’ve known you. That’s what? Eight years?”

  “Even longer than that,” Nica said. “I was nine years old when I first learned about the ICARUS Academy and why the Jasani created it. I knew from that moment that I was meant to be a part of it. It’s not going to be easy to let that go.”

  “I don’t care how much Christoff knows. I hope he gets fired, and you should too.”

  “Don’t say that, Bree. I don’t like what he did to me, of course, but at the same time, I think ICARUS needs him.”

  “I don’t agree,” Bree said. “He’s blackmailing you, Bree, pure and simple. I wonder what the real reason for it is because I seriously doubt he’d toss out the best student at the Academy six weeks before graduation just because you have a psychic talent you don’t want to use.”

  “If there’s anything suspicious going on, I’m sure the Dracons will uncover it,” Nica said. “In the meantime, I need to decide what I’m going to do next.”

  “Well, I can think of one thing,” Bree said. Nica looked at her expectantly. “Have you considered taking the ring off?”

  “Yes, I have.” She folded her arms across her chest, shivering as though she were cold. “My first thought was to come here and ask you to help me try it again. But then, when I didn’t hear from you, I thought that it was just as well. I mean, you remember what happened last time.”

  “I do,” Bree said. Nica’s screams weren’t something she’d ever forget.

  “When I was half way home I got your message asking me to come and it kind of threw me. Then I decided what I really needed was to just visit my friend and talk to her about it all and see what she thought. So here I am. Selfish, aren’t I?”

  “I don’t think so,” Bree said. “If that makes you selfish, then I’m equally selfish for wanting you here because I’m lonely.”

  “Okay then, we’re both selfish,” Nica said. “I can accept that.”

  “Me too,” Bree said, smiling. They returned to their lunches, eating quietly for a time. Then Bree picked up her water glass and rolled it between her palms. “I think we should give it another try, Nica.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes, I really do,” Bree said, her eyes going to the golden ring with the cloudy green stone that Nica always wore on the forefinger of her right hand. “It’s been three years since the last time we tried it. Maybe it’ll be different now.”

  “Do you really think so?”

  “I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do, Nica,” Bree said. “But we’re talking about you giving up a future you’ve worked toward since you were nine years old. That’s what? Fourteen years? So yes, I think that, in that light, it’s worth a try at least.”

  “You’re right,” Nica said. “It is worth a try.”

  “Good, that’s settled,” Bree said. “Now, have you thought about what you’ll do if taking the ring off doesn’t work?”

  “Yes, I have,” Nica said. “I have three choices, I think. The Welfare Group is one, of course. I’ve known Commander Singer since I was a kid. Well, she was a captain then, before she got promoted to run the organization. I think she’d take me if I applied, and I’m sure I’m qualified. Actually, I’m overqualified.”

  “The Welfare Group does great work,” Bree said carefully. “But I think they might be a bit too passive for you. Do you have any other ideas?”

  “I could go to Rathira and work with Kapia. I told you about her, remember?”

  “Yes, of course,” Bree said. “She’s a princess, right?”

  “Yes,” Nica said. “She spent a couple of years living on Jasan, learning healing techniques from the Tigrens to take back home to her people. When she returned to Rathira she began training others, and last year she opened her third medical clinic. She plans to open a lot more of them and provide free healing to whoever needs it. There’s a lot of work to be done there.”

  “Isn’t Rathira a Class D planet?”

  “Yes,” Nica said with a sigh. “It’s got no technology at all, and only a handful of people even know there are worlds beyond their own. It’s very primitive, but at least I’d be helping people.”

  “That’s a plus,” Bree said, nodding. So long as Nica could find a way to help people, she’d be okay for a while, at least. A Class D planet might not be the best fit for her, but it would keep her going until something else came along. “What’s the third one?”

  “Well, there’s always the legacy,” Nica said in a soft voice. “Actually, this situation that I’m in right now is exactly what it was created for.”

  Bree nodded. “I know, Nica, but you’ve never seemed too interested in striking out on your own.”

  “No, I’m not,” Nica agreed. “I don’t know why, either. It just doesn’t feel like the right thing to do for me. But, if I lose ICARUS, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what I’ll do.”

  “Let’s try taking the ring off first,” Bree said. “And who knows, maybe the Dracons will get this all straightened out and all of this worrying will be for nothing.”

  “That would be great,” Nica said. “Not to change the subject, but how do you grow such big butterflies here?”

  Bree’s eyes widened and her cheeks reddened. “Butterflies?” she squeaked, then cleared her throat and reached for her water glass. After taking a long drink she set the glass down, her eyes not quite meeting Nica’s. “We don’t have butterflies on Apedra.”

  “Really?” Nica asked, frowning at Bree’s reaction. “None at all?”

  “Nope,” Bree said, looking directly at Nica now. “A few years ago someone tried to import some, from Earth I think, but for some reason they don’t survive here.”

  Truth, Nica thought. “Well, you’ve got something here that looks a lot like a butterfly. I saw two of them outside my bedroom window this morning. One had blue wings and the other had green wings, and I swear their wings were nearly as big as my hand. I thought I saw a couple at the skyport yes
terday, though that might have been a trick of the light. Right now there are two of them over there in the corner, behind that dessert cart. One’s blue, and the other’s green, just like I saw this morning. I don’t know what they’re doing inside a restaurant, but if they aren’t butterflies, what are they?”

  “I’ve no idea,” Bree said, dropping her eyes without even looking where Nica pointed. “Are you finished eating?”

  “Yeah, sure,” Nica said, frowning. Bree was obviously being less than honest with her on this subject, which was very unusual for her. As curious as Nica was, she knew enough interplanetary etiquette to know that a subject that might seem unimportant to her could be quite serious for a native. Since Bree obviously didn’t want to discuss the butterfly-like creatures, it would be extremely bad manners not to let it drop.