The Parvac Emperor's Daughter (The Space Merchants Book 3)
Page 50
“That research is how he ended up in hiding on a mining colony where he delivered me and altered my brain in some way.”
“When he tried to add you to his family by using Arlo Dano, he almost began a war with Parvac,” Simon added.
“Did he do something to Arlo and Cleto’s father? Was he the reason for that proposal that got you and Hiroshi falsely imprisoned? Ephors. All of this was because of Dr. Crispus’ love of Nora and his anguish in losing her. He is a brilliant man, but he is trapped in his pain and fear. He’s letting pain and fear control him. Oh, Simon.” I covered my face and cried.
Gina’s continued barrage of my doctors distracted them from my outburst, but the increased beeping of the machines attached to me had Isidora pouring calm into me. I managed to focus.
“I know what it’s like to be trapped in a prison of pain and fear of my own making. I crippled myself for so long, but not like Dr. Crispus has. If Parvac takes him….” I shook my head. “It would be wrong. Even after his attacks against me, Ephors, and her citizens, it would be wrong. Pain has consumed and tortured him long enough. Gina?”
Gina paused in her criticism of my doctors and approached me. “Yes?”
“I need to see Ambassador Jiri, Eric, Kane, and Papa. We all have something we need to discuss.”
“Alright, I’ll see to it,” Gina said with sincerity.
Simon kissed my nose. “I’m taking my wife home. If I have learned anything from all of this, it is to cherish every moment with Isidora that I have. I love you, sweet cousin. Eliot, Auria, and Evan will see you after lunch. We were warned to not come all at once.”
“You had better come visit me.”
Simon gave me a wicked grin. “Do you think I intend to miss a chance of visiting the beaches of Thalassa with my gorgeous wife?” Simon sent me a mental image of Isidora in a swim suit made of less fabric than a silk square.
Isidora smirked at him and said, “What makes you think I’ll even bother wearing one?”
Simon’s eyes shot to her as red crept up his neck to cover his face. Isidora winked at me before sauntering out of the infirmary with an exaggerated sexy swinging of her hips. Simon hurried after her. I rolled my eyes. Sherman chuckled and moved to sit in the chair previously occupied by Gram’s embroidery bag.
I noticed the painful swelling in my breasts. “Where is Neema?”
The Parvac doctor called Pierce to bring her. Neema cried and reached for me when she saw me. Once she was in my arms and had begun to relieve my aching with her pulls, I noticed the gel compression bandage attached over my heart. Through its clear composition, I could see tiny metal pieces linked with thin wires.
The doctors were angry when the men Gina had called arrived for our meeting. However, both of them were hesitant to offend either Ambassador Jiri of the Parvac Empire or the Lady Montgomery of Arachne’s ruling class and an ambassador of the Galaxic Government. Sherman kissed me and excused himself from the proceedings.
“Kane, will you call Papa?”
While Papa was relieved to see me, my request angered him. Quietly, I gave him my opinions of Dr. Stanley Crispus. Captain Kane Valen and Captain Eric Alaric presented him with facts. Neema cried and held her hands out to her grandfather’s image on the large vid-screen that Lieutenant Dalus had set up. I watched as the fury slowly left my Papa’s face. Emperor Probus stared off at something in his office.
“Dr. Crispus is a paradox, weak minded but brilliant. All too well do I understand the torment of the untimely loss of the woman I loved. I will not forgive his criminal acts against the Parvac Empire. I will never forget that Dr. Crispus had the opportunity to return to me my wife and newborn daughter, but instead refused to act for his own selfish reasons which is ironic. Was he unaware of to whom they belonged and what rewards might have been bestowed upon him? However, as a gesture of peace and cooperation, I will remand Dr. Stanley Crispus to the custody of the Galaxic Government.”
Gina inclined her head to Papa. “A detailed summary of Dr. Crispus’ criminal acts, sentencing, treatment program, and rehabilitation will be sent to you, Emperor Probus, along with regular updates. On behalf of the Galaxic Government, I thank you for your compassion and cooperation,” Gina curtsied, tapped away at her vid-screen, and departed. I knew her mind would be consumed with legalities for days.
“Say goodbye to Ling for me.” Gina turned and smiled before she walked through the door. “Who can hold Neema? I’m tired.”
Ambassador Jiri beat both Kane and Eric with his open arms. Neema smiled coyly at her new admirer. Dr. Svenson replaced my blankets with warm ones and looked at me with approval. My eyes spilled over when I gazed at Papa’s image. “I’m so proud of you, Papa.” I had noticed Simon’s lime green silk square tucked near my hip when the blankets were changed and used it to blot my eyes.
When I looked up, Papa watched me with dark unreadable eyes. Papa’s brow furrowed as something urgent stole his attention from me. Ambassador Jiri, Kane, Eric, and I exchanged glances. When I couldn’t take it any longer, I said, “Papa, what is it?”
He looked at me and then at the others. “Parvac has just intercepted a distress call from Sector 45320B. At least, I think it is a distress call.” Papa tapped away at the data he was receiving. “The language is indecipherable at present. However, the embedded visual of a large planetary mass with a trajectory toward a habitable planet says everything.”
Kane and Eric were like starving Silk spiders with prey in their sights.
“Sector 45320B is months outside of Parvac space. It is unexplored territory,” Kane said.
“Yes, however, you are protecting your cousin and our future emperor, my grandson.”
Kane’s disappointment was tangible. Kane wanted nothing as much as he wanted to go on that mission.
“Papa, I’m ready to come home. I could use an extended stay on Parvac. Then, after Niklos is born, staying in the Palace for a few months seems like a good idea.”
Kane turned to me with eyes full of gratitude and then looked again at my Papa. Papa leaned back in his chair. “Nephew, bring my daughter and her family safely home to me, ready your ship and crew, and I will place this matter in your hands. Effective immediately, I am promoting you to vice admiral. You will order two additional Parvac deep space warships to accompany you. I suggest you begin prepping your captains for the mission.”
Eric’s crisp blue eyes were fierce. “The Galaxic Militia eagerly awaits the opportunity to assist the Parvac Empire in this rescue mission to Sector 45320B, Sir.”
Papa turned his attention to Eric. Then, he looked to Kane, who gave a subtle nod of agreement. “I graciously accept the assistance of Captain Eric Alaric and what ships the Galaxic Militia can spare. Fuel and provisions will be awaiting your arrival on Ephors. Admiral Valen will meet you there to debrief you and your captains with further details.”
Eric, Kane, and Ambassador Jiri saluted Papa. Then, Kane and Eric each kissed one of my cheeks before excitedly rushing from the infirmary. I heard Eric barking into his vid-screen at Quaid.
“You just made your cousin a very happy man,” Papa said.
“He deserves it, and it’s true. I do need some quiet time. Anyway, we have a visit from my family to look forward to.”
Papa winked at me as the screen went dark.
The End
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