by Mara Jaye
They may be exiled with their chosen or serve a sentence passed down from the Emperor from their crime.
Ha. On Earth, nothing happens to most of our leaders no matter what crimes they commit. I’m sure double standards exist everywhere in the universe. What if the Emperor is a sixth worlder’s bondmate?
He loses his leadership before assuming general Alliance citizenship status. Afterwards, he will receive the sentence given him by the new emperor.
Somehow, I doubt Eldan will be punished for saving me no matter what my status is. Who is the current emperor and how long have they been in power?
The current acting Emperor, LucKrell Nial assumed leadership in Ghar sas 20,642. I convert the time to Earth’s and three years ago? The same time Eldan said they’d reached Earth? Prior to Nial’s ascension, his brother LucKrell Eldan ruled for sas 12, 5 of which with the Empress PasShell Jeul. The next successor to Emperor Eldan is ElKrell Daneul.
Computer, stop. I glance around at the others. A nanosecond or two had passed, yet, I’d learned a lot. “This is bad. Very bad.” I can’t help but shake my head at Eldan. “Thank you for saving my life, but you shouldn’t have. This is bigger than I will ever be.” I turn to G’nar. “Now I understand why you’re so angry about my life. I’m sorry.”
G’nar scratches the back of his neck before sighing. “No, don’t be. I’ve been through this before with someone else and am frustrated. I expected better from our Emperor.”
“We’re even, then,” Eldan said. “Because I expected less insubordination from you.”
“You rely on my honesty.” G’nar bowed his head and placed a fist over is heart. “I owe you the truth in all instances.”
Their arguing bothers me, and I try to deflect their conversation. “Is there a chance you’ll not be Emperor when your brother steps down? And if you do, what will that mean for Daneul’s eventual ascension to the throne?”
Eldan looks from his son to me. “If I bring you to Ghar, I’ll face charges of disrupting a primitive world’s technological evolution. You’re the proof which will remove me from the throne. Daneul won’t be the next in line. I’ll have accomplished what the Vahdmoshi tried to do in the assassination of my father and my wife.”
“Oh.” My eyes sting with tears. I’m not worth his sacrifice. Don’t get me wrong, I love life and know I’m worth something. But am I worth a good leader giving up a galactic rule? No. Certainly not.
Eldan takes me in his arms. “G’nar, I’d like to speak with Paxton alone, please.”
“Yes, sir,” G’nar says. “Come on, Dan. Let’s look in your backpack and see what souvenirs you brought back from Earth.”
“Okay.”
The door closes behind them. I feel his lips in my hair as he says, “You’re worth every sacrifice I’ll have to make for you.”
“Am I worth Daneul’s, too? Because I don’t think I am.”
“You are. He needs a mother.”
Yikes. The sex was amazing. I could even admit to loving Eldan and adoring Daneul, but mother and bonds? “Hmm. Maybe we should wait until reaching Ghar before you make a decision we can’t reverse.”
He lets go of me enough to lean back and look me in the eyes. “Where we go doesn’t matter. You’re mine. I’m yours.”
The words bring up another data burst of material. Eldan begins kissing my neck. Thanks to the rush of information, I barely notice. In this batch of facts, I’m learning about Gharian marriages, the emotional connections enhanced by nanites, or in my case, bionans. Unions occur during lovemaking, solidifying the bond between the two into a permanence broken only by death.
Death? What the actual fuck has Eldan done to me? Not only can I never go home, I’m mated for life to someone I barely know? How the hell did that happen and when? I didn’t agree to any of this.
Pax? He stops pulling my shirt up in the back. What’s wrong?
Damn him. He knew what he was doing when I came to his apartment. Even worse, he doubled down by coming to my place for another fuckfest. No wonder he hid for three days. Bastard. I disengage from his arms and back away. You need to leave. Now.
“Why?”
“Really?” I shake my head, wondering how he can’t know why I’m furious. “You tricked me into a union, took me from Earth, and the best I can hope for is being sentenced to a failure of an Alliance colony. Jesus, it’s where G’nar is from, isn’t it? No wonder he’s so pissed. You’re a monster.”
Chapter Ten
Pax
Eldan stares at me for several seconds before his expression turns hard and cold. “I see. Do you really feel that way about me?”
My heart hurts to answer, but I manage to say, “Yes. You’re a monster.”
His face is impassive as he says, “Then Enforcer MacKrell is correct. I’ve made a serious mistake.”
He turns on his heel and leaves my room. His absence is a physical presence in here. I sink to my bed, still able to feel him in my mind. There must be some way to block others from communicating with me so I search for and find the answer. After turning off my innercom access for others, I lay back with my hands behind my head. I don’t want to talk or think. What better way to ignore the world, er, universe, than going through the tutorial for my forced upgrade?
After a couple of hours, I’m mentally exhausted. It’s all good, though. I have a notification system set up, updates for my favorite topics, and have learned a lot about the Intergalactic Alliance. I’m hungry as well. One day, I’ll not need to convert current ship time to Mountain Standard Time for home and back again. The whole sas being Gharian years, too? Ug. So. Many. Conversions.
I reach out to the ship for the food choices and smile. Daneul has programmed in some of his favorites. The kid loves his mac and cheese. This sounds good for dinner, so I send an order. Before I continue to write an app to replace my beloved notebook system, a square on the opposite wall lights up. The system tells me the food is ready so I go eat. The others are in a communal kitchen of sorts, or so the ship’s computer says.
I’d prefer to stay alone for a while. This whole internal system is a tech head’s wet dream. Not mine, but I’m still having fun with the various functions. The food is good. A little bland, but then I do love my spicy. I also feel uneasy and don’t know why. I put the empty plate back where the square is and the wall seals the space shut.
There’s a touch in my mind from Eldan every once in a while. As if he’s checking my status. It’s tinged with anger and sadness, but I don’t care. He’s sentenced me to this life, one I didn’t ask for. Daneul wants to talk to me, too. I’m not sure I can let him without crying. After finding the bathroom, I settle back into bed. It’s nighttime for the rest of the ship. There’s nothing urgent waiting in my notifications, so I crawl under the covers.
I must have fallen asleep while studying various artworks from other worlds. My face is buried in the pillows and I need to wipe a bit of drool. Maybe it’s a good thing I’m done with Eldan. Only, my soul aches for him. Like I’m peeking into an out of date container of yogurt, I check my notifications. There are several. Surprising, since I’ve only been online for a day or maybe two. I need coffee and send a request to the nutrient dispenser.
The note attached to the coffee mentions Eldan contributed to the formula. I wander over and take a sip. Heavenly, which means I hate him a little less than before. I take a few more drinks. As soon as I turn on my innercom for messages, one comes in from G’nar. We need to talk before landing on Ghar. It’s important.
I can’t help but groan because he’s not one of my favorites right now. There’s a message from Daneul and I answer it first. Hi!
How are you feeling? Still angry at my dad?
A little, I have to admit. All right, a lot. I feel like he’s pulled a horrible prank on me with the only bright spot the time I’ll get to spend with you.
I’m just happy you’re with us, too.
Ug. Us. I push the idea away. I am too. Any plans for the day?
>
Dad wants me to learn more about Ghar before we arrive.
Sounds fun. I send another message for another cup of coffee.
I’m supposed to leave you alone today, let you adjust, dad says.
Ah, well, that might be good as long as we make plans for this evening. I exchange the empty cup for the full one. Maybe have dinner together and talk about what’s next.
With dad and G’nar?
No. With neither, I think while drinking. Sure, of course. See you then?
Sure.
He leaves my thoughts. No wonder Daneul always seemed so precocious. The kid has probably had nanos since birth. He’s a six year old with all the knowledge of the universe in his tiny little head. Children and nanites are another subject I want to explore. If I ever have children, and not with Eldan at all because I’m still furious, how will I keep the nanos from transferring to the baby? There’s so much to learn. I don’t have to search on how old the Gharian culture is to know there’s a lot of catch up to, oh, the answer pops into my mind. Okay, so I’m several thousand years behind on my galaxy homework. Great.
I go back as far as their history will allow. Fascinating stuff about the Dark Secret and the Origins of humanity across the galaxy. Soon, I’m in deep, learning everything about how habitable planets like Earth were seeded when a chime sound in my mind.
Pax, Dan says you’re available?
Hearing G’nar’s voice in my head is only a little terrifying when I’m not expecting it. I am and finishing my second cup of coffee. I take it you want to talk right now?
Yes, please.
If you’re going to bitch at me about what Eldan and I have done, let’s meet in person.
Fine. Follow the directions I’m sending you.
Ah shit. He didn’t deny the bitching part. Thank you. The galley is handy since I’d planned on being there with everyone for dinner. I leave my room, a little amazed at how doing so hadn’t occurred to me before now. The ship is rather small, but then it’s a personal transport. Oh wow. Schematics of all sorts of spaceships flood my mind. This is a royalty only transport scrubbed of insignia. Interesting but before I can ruminate on anything, I’m at the galley.
I take a deep breath, refusing to be cowed by G’nar’s militant attitude. After walking toward the opening door, I see him sitting at a table. “Hello,” I say and walk over. “If you’re going to chew me out for all this, don’t.” I sit across from him. “I fully expected to die.”
“I’m not going to say anything except I’m sorry for my anger earlier.”
“Oh.” I didn’t expect contrition. “It’s all right. Now that I know what’s at stake, I understand why you were upset.”
He shrugs. “I still am. If I’d known Eldan was as drawn to you as he was, I’d have never brought you by the apartment.”
“What? Drawn to me?”
“He felt the beginnings of a bond when you two first met. He said when you shook hands with him, the touch began the process.”
“A year ago? Why did he wait so long?” I shake my head because I know the answer. “Sixth world citizen. Gotcha.” G’nar nods and I need to know. “Why isn’t he telling me all of this?”
He gives me a sly grin. “Because you’ve denied him access to communicating with you. He figures you might like me better right now.”
“He can’t override my blocking him?”
“No.” G’nar shakes his head. “Pless, no. That’s a criminal offense.”
The rule against intruding mentally makes sense. If this new system in my head is similar to Earth computers, they’re hackable. I shiver and say, “I have a lot to learn.”
“You do, but—” he begins, but stops. His mouth slightly open, he pales before leaping to his feet and running through the door.
“What the?” I get up and follow, using access to the ship’s computer to track him. He’s going to the bridge. I go, too, and when the door opens, I hear the alarm. The entire room is bathed in red light and I stand there in shock. We’re truly in outer space. Even worse, there’s a huge screen with another spaceship shooting lasers at us.
“Paxton! Get the hell out of here,” Eldan shouts at me. “Get back in your quarters and buckle in.”
Before I can refuse, Daneul grabs my hand. “What’s happening?” he asks.
“Pless it all to Tunsa!” He runs over to us. “Both of you get back to your quarters. They’re safer.”
I glance at the boy and we agree. “We want to stay here and help.”
Eldan’s eyes glaze. G’nar is quiet, too. Both men are frowning and I’m pretty sure they’re talking about us. Eldan returns from the conversation and takes my arm. “Look, we’re being attacked and I want you both out of danger. The living areas are fortified and we can separate if the worst happens.
“No!” Daneul shouts. “I’m not running away.”
“Paxton, take my son to safety. Now.”
I nod, taking Daneul’s hand and going for the door. There’s a crash and the ship shudders.
“We’re hit.”
Shit. This is real. I pull the boy to my quarters. He’s silent, as am I. Once we’re in my room, he clings to me. “I know, buddy. Let’s do what your dad said and buckle in so he won’t worry.”
“Okay.”
We’re secured when the ship shakes again. I bite my lip, wondering if the ship’s computer can report on what’s happening on the bridge like the fight is a baseball game. I send a message, asking if the information can be broadcast in my room.
“Sending bridge information now,” the artificial voice says. Daneul gives me a grateful looks as the computer continues. “Superficial damage reports incoming, direct hit on the Vahdmoshi cruiser. Controls banking to avoid direct hit from enemy craft. Tracker deployed. Tracker attached.” Our ship shakes. “No critical systems hit. Repairs recommended. Weapons fired at enemy. The craft has broken off. Enemy has left the area.”
I ask aloud for Daneul’s benefit, “Computer, is the battle over?”
“Yes. We are en route to Gharian space.”
Daneul frowns. “Computer, who order the course change?”
“The Emperor.”
He looks at me, his eyes wide. “We weren’t going home but stopping by another planet to talk with Uncle Nial.”
“Computer, stop broadcast.” I undo the ties and nod at Daneul. “Let’s go to the bridge and see how everything is. I’m sure your father has a good reason for his decision.” He does as I suggest and soon, we’re with G’nar and Eldan. Neither one look at us as we enter the room. The lights have changed to white.
“Sir, I’m not sure if we should be going to Ghar after this. The Vahdmoshi now know where you are and will follow us home.”
“Let them. I’ll alert the entire Alliance fleet to greet them.” He stands up from the center chair to come over to Daneul and me. “It’s time for us to go home, for me to take back my Empire.”
Chapter Eleven
Eldan
Pax is still angry with me. I don’t blame her but I don’t have time to sooth her right now. The closer we get to Ghar, the more I feel back to my usual role as leader. I have Nial send me more information. There’s no need for a minimal information protocol now, since we’re not on Earth anymore. He does as I ask and I’m almost overwhelmed with what he’s kept from me. I do approve of his judgment but there’s a lot to go through. Maybe it’s fortuitous Paxton ignores me. I’ll get more done this way.
Dinner time comes and goes. I’m still in one spot, processing. G’nar pinged me but I gave him my busy notification. Daneul has, too, while Pax was silent, of course. It’s late when the last bit of information is categorized. With the time difference, the hour on Ghar is late enough in the morning for me to open communications with Nial.
Greetings. I trust you received the data burst? he answers.
I did, thank you. Have you learned of our attack by the Vahdmoshi.
Yes, and am not surprised, he replies and I know he’s pinching hi
s nose the way he does when he’s irritated.
When will our escorts reach us?
In seven hours and why does my HUD tell me you have four life forms on board?
Nial’s going to be angry. I would be, too, but none of this can be helped. I’m bringing someone back with us.
He’s silent for a few seconds. A captured Vahdmoshi? How?
Not exactly. Despite my intentions, I’ve bonded with a woman from Earth.
I see. The silence stretches out again and before I can say anything, his voice in my head comes across, clipped and angry. You do realize you are not exempt from the law.
I do.
She can not come here.
I’ve allowed a sixth worlder to reside on Ghar before.
I don’t need to tell you that particular barbarian was an abductee who had no choice in the matter. Not some gal picked up on a lark.
I didn’t choose her. My system did.
You could have overridden.
She accepted without knowing the consequences.
He’s silent again. I know he’s looking up the laws and exceptions. Very well, he says. You may land and I’ll render my decision on what to do with her then.
Excuse me?
I am still acting emperor. No matter what you did on Earth, you’re still bound by the Intergalactic Agency’s laws as much as anyone else. If I let you slide, how long do you think the Vahdmoshi will wait before attacking them? The only thing keeping those animals from Earth is the fear of the Alliance eradicating them.
And we would, too.
Of course. Primitives deserve the same chance to evolve as we have.
I bite back a grin. Pax wouldn’t react well to the term. When you meet her, please don’t act as if she’s lesser.
Is she not?
No, she’s aware now. I had to reprogram a few bionans to save her life.
I see. He’s quiet for a second or two. Arrive safely. We’ll talk in person about the plan I have for you.
Your plan?
Yes.
The connection breaks. Being emperor has given Nial bigger boots than his feet can fill. I’ll need to bump him back to prince and remind him of who I am. I twist my head side to side, stiff from being in one position for so long. I stand and after a quick bite from the food dispenser, a visit to the restroom, and setting up my day for tomorrow, I get into bed. I miss Pax and reach out to her. She’s still blocked and I sigh in frustration. She’ll come around. No one can resist their bondmate forever.
