by L M Lacee
Hawk bent down a little, saying softly. ‘Madam, time to take them to the lounge, the others await.’
‘Yes, you do that. I will wait for the shuttle with our people on it.’
Melody entered and softly said to Hawk. ‘You stay with Peyton, I will take them to the lounge.’
‘Thank you, Melody.’
Peyton teased him. ‘Huh, looks like you drew the short straw.’
He nodded, then surprised her by saying. ‘I actually know what that means, and it would seem so.’
She grinned up at him and whispered. ‘Thank you Hawk.’
He whispered for her ears only. ‘My pleasure as always, Peyton.’
By now the girls were with their aunt and uncle watching Harmara greet Heather. Sedeen stood by as he too watched the meeting between his brother and treasure. Harmara walked over to where Heather waited. She looked up into the face of her golden angel and smiled. ‘Greetings, Harm.’
Harmara looked down into the face of his treasure and placed his lips on hers, and for the first time in his life he kissed another. Surprised again, Peyton said. ‘It seems like someone has been studying.’
‘What are they doing?’ Sedeen asked as the twins giggled and chorused. ‘We know.’
Harmara’s family looked absolutely astounded as Heather and Harmara arms wrapped around each other, they seemed to be getting into the kissing quite heavily. Hawk cleared his throat. ‘Commander Melody, will explain but somewhere else I think.’
Melody agreed as she hustled the audience from the shuttle bay. Peyton quietly laughed when she and Hawk heard each of the adults asking Melody questions about what was happening while they walked away.
Hawk looked at the couple and asked. ‘Should we do something about that?’
Just as the alarm from within the shuttle bay sounded. Peyton waved her hand, and the couple were gone.
Hawk stated. ‘Impressive.’
‘Thank you, they are in her cabin.’
‘May I ask, did you know you could do that?’
‘Nope, new to me.’
‘I see.’
The alarm sounded another warning, and they walked over to the window in time to see the outer doors close and a shuttle settle onto the deck. This one they saw was older. When the all clear sounded, steps slipped from the shuttle and Warriors streamed down from within.
Leading them was Captain Orin Certen, Hawk and Peyton walked out to greet them as Captain Orin saluted.
‘Greetings, Madam Peyton, Commander Hawk.’
‘Greetings, Captain welcome back.’
‘Thank you, Madam.’
Hawk walked forward, and they clasped arms, and then he instructed. ‘Greetings, Captain, please take your Warriors to the war room for their debriefing.’
‘Commander.’ Orin nodded at the order.
Peyton grinned at the other Warriors as they all stood waiting for their orders. ‘Warriors, I thank you for a successful mission.’
‘Successful?’ Asked a hulk of a Warrior with a short military style buzz cut, which was laced with a few brown streaks. He had a firm jawline and hard bronze ringed shuttered eyes, which gave him a menacing look.
He was from the tank group of Warriors. Hawk had explained who they were when they had met several of them when traveling from Earth. Darby had researched the designated tank Warriors, and the records indicated there were only twenty-four-hundred remaining on active duty. Melody hoped they would find more in stasis somewhere. They knew there were four hundred on Maikonia as Kent and Sarn were both tank Warriors. Melody had used the term cannon fodder after she had learned what the Warriors had been used for. When Darby had unwittingly asked Melody why she called them that, she had growled, that it was self- evident. Peyton had explained it to her after Melody had stormed from the room. The reason for the muscled Warriors existence angered Melody, and time and again Peyton had seen her spending time with the Warriors. It was easy to work out who they were, with their wide shoulders, deep chests and well-muscled bodies. The tank Warriors were immensely strong of body and mind, sadly they were often thought of as slow-witted and not very intelligent.
It was a mistake Kerol told Peyton to believe this of them, as he had not met one who was not a scholar of some type with intelligence to spare. And as Peyton stared into this Warrior’s eyes, she knew that to be true. On their way to Maikonia, Peyton had made it her business to research the Warriors and memorize their faces.
‘Your name is Warrior Hue Artton, correct?’
He swallowed and answered. ‘Yes Madam.’
‘Well Warrior Hue, the answer is yes, you are all back alive and whole. Your charges are alive and healthy, and you made no one dead. Which I am told is very important.’
She raised her eyebrows at Hawk.
Who raised one back as he agreed with her. ‘Exactly Madam, it is always better if we do not kill anyone.’ He turned to his Warriors taking his cue from Peyton. ‘You all did well, Madam Peyton is right, now go get some food and rest, the ladies have cooked for your return.’
A Warrior asked. ‘Which ladies?’
Smiling, Hawk told them. ‘I believe it was Lady Esther and Brenda.’
A cheer went up, and they all saluted and fled as though they had not eaten in wekens.
She grinned at Hawk as he said. ‘It seems they are learning from the female Warriors.’
‘Oh, are you talking about the cheer, yes it is definitely a Terran response to good news. Can you have Warrior Hue placed on our guard squad, please?’
He looked down at her. ‘May I ask why?’
She shrugged. ‘Just a feeling.’
‘I will see to it. He usually teams with a Warrior named Iaan Jerffon.’
‘Both of them please.’
‘As you wish, Madam.’
FIFTY-THREE:
Avana walked down the steps from the shuttle, minus her baby. ‘Avana!’ Peyton called, and they rushed to hug each other. ‘You have been missed, where is Koana, did you lose her?’
Avana hugged her back and laughed, which made the three males coming down the steps behind her, pause in their approach. One male held the blue infant who stared around her in what appeared shocked amazement. She had bright inquisitive blue eyes and white hair which had grown and now resembled spikes.
‘No Madam, she is with her Uncle Jarrod.’
Peyton grinned. ‘I bet that came as a shock the title and baby.’
Avana rolled her eyes and whispered. ‘You have no idea.’
‘So, I am guessing the three serious looking males in black robes walking behind you are your brothers.’
Untangling herself from Peyton, Avana agreed. ‘Yes they are, and they adore Koana.’ She then addressed Hawk. ‘Greetings, Commander Hawk, you are well?’
‘Greetings, Sene Avana, I am very well. Welcome back.’
‘Thank you Commander. Star Daughter, Madam Peyton, and First Commander Hawk Roeah, please allow me to introduce my brothers.’ As they came forward, they all bowed.
Avana said. ‘My three brothers. Jarrod, Malchol and Telfor Hananva.’
Hawk inclined his head. ‘Greetings.’
Peyton inclined hers as well. ‘Greetings and welcome to Maikonia. I realize you are upset with your capture. Did you find out what drug was used to incapacitate you?’
Jarrod Avana’s eldest brother stepped forward. None of the brothers were as brown as Avana nor did they have her nut brown hair coloring. Jarrod’s hair was long and almost completely sun blond, he was well-muscled and at six foot six, worth a second and third look. His brothers were almost carbon copies of each other in weight and height, at just over six foot four, they too were handsome and each of them had streaks of blond hair. Peyton noticed all three were brown eyed but seem to differ in the depth of brown. She thought that if they allowed themselves to believe in love, they would find that bachelorhood would soon be a thing of the past.
When Jarrod came closer to Peyton with baby Koana who on seeing her, reached out
her little hands. Peyton happily took her from his arms.
‘Hello, baby blue-berry, Auntie Peyton is very happy you are home.’ She kissed her forehead, and the baby glowed and giggled, turning to Avana she said. ‘She has grown so much and you found out what world she comes from?’
Avana nodded. ‘Oh yes, the Solverea family helped with that, they have a vast database of races.’ Peyton raised her eyebrows, and she smiled. ‘Yes, Madam. I remembered to bring the information back for Darby.’
She said with a laugh. ‘Thank you Avana, you know us so well.’
Hawk cleared his throat, Peyton shared a grin with Avana then said. ‘Yes, I thank you Commander, so Specialist Jarrod did you?’
Avana nudged her brother. ‘Madam, means you.’
Jarrod said. ‘I do not understand, Specialist?’
Peyton nodded. ‘Yes, it is what your designation is now. You have to admit Master has a nasty connotation to the name. So I decided on Specialist, it sounds professional and friendlier. I am sure you realize it is all about first impressions.’
Hawk cut in. ‘Madam, believes the people of our home world will not feel threatened by the title Specialist.’
Before Peyton could challenge him on what he said, which she felt was what she had said. Jarrod nodded. ‘I see the logic to the designation.’
‘Now he sounds like Hawk.’ She grumbled to Avana, who grinned and muttered back. ‘Males.’
Jarrod answered her question. ‘Madam, we did not discover which drug was used. They declined to tell us and we decided it would be prudent not to push the point.’
Peyton nodded. ‘Alright, I will find out, it is unacceptable, we cannot have you being drugged. Now are you all happy about making Maikonia your home?’
Telfor asked and his voice sounded young and bewildered, which could account for the attitude he answered with. ‘If we are not?’
Avana sucked in a breath at his belligerent tone, her brothers tensed as well. Especially when Hawk rested his hand on his blaster.
Peyton glowed a little and smiled. ‘If not, then I will endeavor to find you somewhere you will be happy and safe to live Specialist Telfor. As much as I want you all to live on Maikonia Prime. I will not keep you against your will.’
‘As if you could.’ Malchol the second eldest brother scoffed as Jarrod sighed and placed a restraining hand on his arm. An arm Peyton noted that tensed under his hand, her eyes turned black and filled with stars as her voice took on the song of the Stars.
Masters are you under the illusion you are in control here, that your fate is anything other than what our Daughter wills.
Malchol turned pale and with his brothers bowed their heads. Jarrod answered for them. ‘No, Star Child, we do not.’
Our Daughter wishes you to remain on her world. To make your home among her people, your people, if you wish. But make no mistake, you are only there by her grace and by our will. Specialist Jarrod, your future is within your grasp. Specialists Malchol and Telfor, you will find your true calling on your new world. Embrace this new life with honest hearts and needars and seize this opportunity to live free as your sister did. Sene Avana you have been missed.
‘Thank you, Star Child.’ Avana answered with a smile and a look to Hawk, who nodded with a small smile of his own.
Subdued, the two younger brothers stood back as Peyton said. ‘They can be intense, but always truthful. I do wish you to live on any of our worlds and before you ask, I want nothing from you. Make your own decisions, you are intelligent, capable and good people.’
Jarrod raised an eyebrow as she smiled gently. ‘Yes you are, your reputation is probably warranted but as we all have reputations of some kind or other. Commander Hawk and I, as well as our people, do not care. Your sister and your niece need you to make the leap of faith that you made before this happened. You know you must… you know you have. I will not allow you to be harmed or shunned. Your lives are your own, what you make of them is up to you now.’
Hesitantly, Telfor said, ‘I wish to heal minds and help others. I do not wish to be a weapon anymore.’
‘Then that is what you will do, all of you choose your own path and to be honest Telfor, we would welcome your aid. We have Warriors that need help and Turqualls as well now. So if you can help them, that would be wonderful, but it is up to you to decide.’
Malchol stepped forward. ‘Telfor is better with four-legged beings, I and Jarrod with bipeds, it is something we have discovered.’
When Telfor made a small sound, Malchol turned to him and said. ‘You know it is true brother.’
‘I would not disagree, Malchol. Madam, I would very much like to follow that path.’
‘Thank you. I think we will need all the help we can get, you know of the sleepers?’
‘We do.’ Jarrod inclined his head. ‘This is the life Avana promised us.’
The weight they carried seemed to lift from their shoulders, and their expressions seemed to relax minute by minute. Peyton eyed their robes as she asked the brothers. ‘Do you have to wear the robes all the time? I mean, are they a symbol or something.’
They looked at the hot and heavy black robes with distaste, and Avana answered for them. ‘No, they hate them, but the Elders say they must wear them.’
Peyton grimaced. ‘Well, I do not say that, no one at home or here demands you do. So loose the robes and wear whatever you like. If I was you, I would try the jeans.’
Avana shook her head as she tried not to laugh at their completely bewildered expressions. Peyton asked Hawk. ‘Can you comm Trina for me please, have her meet us before we get to the lounge. Now come on family, let us go see what the spies are up too.’
Hawk closed his link and said with a touch of disapproval. ‘Madam… spies?’
Which made her grin as she bounced the baby in her arms. ‘What… like that is not how you think? They drugged and kidnapped Avana’s family, so they are suspects. And they are taking Heather with them, so I am allowed to be snippy.’
‘Yes Madam.’ He said as he fell in beside the male Jarrod and his brothers, who slowed as they let the females move ahead.
Peyton walking in front with Avana asked. ‘Did they all get the download?’
‘No, my brothers did not need the download. They received the information from me in our way.’
Peyton stopped and whispered loudly. ‘Are they cyborgs?’
‘No, you impossible female, they are my brothers.’
‘Well, it could have happened, and you might not have known.’ She said as she eyed the three males.
Exasperated Avana asked. ‘Are you watching those vids again?’
‘No... Maybe, what’s it to you?’
‘Peyton, I thought we talked about that last time.’
‘And I said, I refuse to discuss this with you until you have watched some vids with me.’
Avana sighed loudly, then gave in. ‘Well, I promised.’
Confused, Telfor asked Hawk. ‘Madam is upset?’
Hawk smiled. ‘Not really, she is letting her sister leave with the Assaen, as he is her mate and she is not very pleased that they drugged you but understands why.’ He looked at them and asked. ‘How did they, everything I know about Masters is you would smell or detect a drug?’
‘We were distracted, and that is all that I will say on the matter. We will not allow it to happen again.’ Jarrod said as he and Malchol looked at the youngest brother.
Telfor looked ahead and made no eye contact with any of his brothers or Hawk as he grasped at a topic. ‘Cyborgs, Madam, likes cyborgs?’
Hawk silently laughed it seemed like the younger brother had made a mistake and was now deflecting. He shook his head. ‘No, she has never met one, and she wishes too. It is a thing.’ He held his hand up. ‘I am sure Avana explained about the Terrans culture and their penchant for abstract ideas.’
Jarrod raised an eyebrow as he murmured. ‘Yes, she did. We were not sure if what she told us was possible.’
‘This i
s one of those ideas and believe me, it is more than possible.’
‘Ahh, I understand.’ Malchol nodded wisely, which made his brothers suspicious as Hawk muttered. ‘I am elated one of us does.’
Peyton asked Avana as they entered the lift. ‘So any sparks with anyone while you were away?’
‘Sparks, I am unaware of what you mean.’
‘Yeah, you know, daddy material for little Koana.’
‘Oh… you are asking if I have had intercourse with a male.’
‘Umm… not really, more like interest.’
‘No, none, no sparks. I have told you Senes do not mate. There is no one who will wish to mate with me. Senes are destined to walk the worlds alone.’ Avana explained once more as they got off the lift.
‘Oh, what a load of tuap!’
Avana said loudly. ‘What do you mean tuap, it is not tuap? All know this.’
Peyton made the baby giggle by tickling her as she told Avana. ‘Well, I do not know this at all. You know for a Sene, you are slightly screwed up, as are your brothers. I bet they think they cannot have mates either.’
‘All know this about Senes and Masters.’ Malchol told her as they got off the lift.
‘It is a fact, as you already know Madam Peyton.’ Avana agreed with her brother. ‘And I am not screwed up, whatever that is?’ She growled at Peyton and stood tapping her foot.
Peyton grinned at the sight of the normally reserved Sene showing her annoyance and said gently. ‘It is tuap, you know whatever you have been told or shown was a lie. The Elders lied and have continued to lie to you all. You four are living proof of that.’
Trina came along the passageway and they all turned to watch her. She smiled when she saw Avana and Peyton with Koana.
Peyton said to the brothers and sister. ‘This is Trina and you will see as we stand here, on this Warship proof they lied to you. Because as you watch you will see you can have mates and that they are somewhere waiting for you. One just needs a little help to find them.’
Trina stopped short of the group and trilled. ‘Avana, we have missed you.’
