by A. C. Ellas
“Captain Steele,” murmured a soft baritone, it had a smoky timbre and a hint of a rumble beneath. “The admiral said you liked coffee, so I took the liberty of bringing you some.” There were traces of an accent that Nick thought he should recognize but couldn’t quite place.
Nick wasn’t in a mood to be cajoled. He ignored the offer of coffee. Eyes locked on the dot of light that was Dark Star, he asked, “So, candidate, what makes you think that you’re qualified to be the executive officer of the Dark Star? Why should I select you, a man with zero experience in the fleet, over dozens of other officers who earned their ranks the hard way?”
“There is a legend at the academy that tells of a young lieutenant who took command of his ship after the sudden, unexpected deaths of all the senior officers aboard. This lieutenant ably commanded this ship through a firefight and was subsequently promoted to captain’s rank.”
“I’m familiar with my own history,” Nick said sharply. “I’m asking about you.”
“I, too, went to war when I had not expected to. I commanded people of different backgrounds, different races, even different species, and I was able to get these people to work together. Had I failed, you would not be here to question my abilities. Also, you are mistaken, I am not a man.”
Nick turned at that, surprised at the bold claim and wondering about the details the not-man had left out. His jaw sagged, his mouth abruptly went dry, and his knees tried to turn to jelly. He casually gripped the chair in front of him to maintain his balance.
Emerald green eyes bore into his, their pupils slit like a cat’s, the merest line of black at the moment. This Rovani didn’t back down or look away but met and held his gaze with insolent ease. He knew how unusual that was for one of his kind, but then, there was nothing usual about this particular Rovani. Like all his kind, his face had a feline slant to it, but it was the mane that truly gave away his identity, for each of the black hairs of his head was tipped with silver for the final inch, and the tips sparkled in the light, refracting into a zillion splashes of rainbow. Even if he hadn’t seen pictures of him before, or heard the younger Rovani crew talking about him, he’d have recognized Yeraki instantly just from Veloki’s resemblance to him.
Nick could sense Cai’s surprise and delight through their bond, it echoed his own feelings. Nick tried to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. He didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t every day an actual legend walked in and offered one coffee. Those green eyes continue to stare at him. Nick noticed the clarity of them, it was like sinking into a crystal-clear emerald sea, a shade of green so perfect they put real emeralds to shame.
Yeraki’s lips quirked slightly, and he glanced away—on purpose, not because he has to, Nick realized. He took a deep, shaky breath and realized that he’d actually stopped breathing while their gazes had been locked. Finally, he found his tongue. “War Leader Yeraki, I am honored to meet you.”
Yeri filled out the uniform well, and the black and silver looked strikingly good on him. He seemed far more comfortable in it than did the younger Rovania of Nick’s crew. He shrugged a single shoulder. “It isn’t really that much of an honor, Captain. Cream and sugar?” Yeraki had poured two mugs from the carafe. The very ordinariness of it somehow helped.
“Please,” Nick managed. He sat down in a chair and continued to stare at the Rovani. I’m being rude, he realized, but it was impossible not to watch him. Oh, my god. The War Leader of the Rovania, Yeraki himself, is here, in the same room with me... and is serving me coffee! If the situation weren’t so surreal, he’d probably break down into hysterics. He choked back an incipient giggle.
Yeraki stirred the mug gently, tapped the spoon on the edge then returned it to the serving tray. He picked up the mug and offered it. “Here. I hope I got the proportions right, I had to guess since I’ve never smelled your preferred blend.”
Nick accepted the mug, took a sip. “It’s fine, thank you.”
Yeraki took a slow sip of his own mug, watching Nick over the rim the entire time, even as he paused to savor the taste of the coffee. Once he swallowed, he lowered the mug and said, “I’m not a deity. I’m flesh and blood. I’m not perfect, and half the stories about me are wrong.”
“Only half?” Nick felt himself smiling.
“Half are completely wrong, and the other half aren’t exactly what I recall happening either.” Yeraki shrugged a shoulder. “I have made mistakes, you know. I made some during the war, mistakes that got others killed. I learned from those mistakes, at least enough to not make the same mistakes twice. The one thing I truly learned is that leadership is hard and those who must lead need others who can help with that burden.” He took another sip of the coffee.
“I wanted to meet you, speak to you, before deciding if you would be a good fit for my ship and crew,” Nick began then shrugged. “That point is moot, of course.”
“Why would that be?” Yeri countered. “It doesn’t matter who I am if the two of us cannot work together or if you think I won’t be able to integrate with the other officers or the crew of your ship.”
Nick had to admit he was right. Nothing had really changed but his perception, and though he was simply inclined to accept Yeri on the basis of who he was, he really should follow through with the questions he had. They weren’t the questions he’d originally planned to ask, he’d tailored new ones on the spot to fit the circumstances. “The admiral told me you had a doctorate in quantum physics, but the Rovania haven’t been awake long enough for you to have completed more than an undergraduate course of study, and even that would have been difficult to accomplish.”
For several long moments, Yeri was silent. He seemed to be waiting for something. Finally, one of his eyebrows twitched, and he asked, “Are you asking how I came to be a doctor of physics?”
“Of course,” Nick replied, baffled. He’d thought that was obvious.
“My apologies, I’m still not used to the roundabout way modern humans have of asking something. I was raised to answer direct questions only, not to respond to observations.” The corner of Yeri’s mouth hitched upward into an almost smile. “It amused my master to teach me to read and also to attend the University of Athens. I received a doctorate in quantum physics long before I became a Lineage stud. When I woke in this time, I spent a great deal of time in refresher courses—I slept through eight hundred years of research and discoveries—and I was able to pass the recertification exam that was created to test my knowledge. So my doctorate is considered current, and yes, before you ask, I am familiar with singularity physics.”
The Rovania Nick was familiar with were open books, emotionally speaking. Yeri wasn’t. He gave little away. Nick studied him, wondering what thoughts and feelings hid behind the bland mask Yeri presented. “Tell me about your military experience.”
Yeri lifted his left hand and pulled the sleeve up, showing Nick the inside of his wrist. There was a tattoo there, a double-headed eagle clutching lightning bolts in its talons, the roman numeral four emblazoned on its breast. “As a youth, I spent six years as a scout for the Euro Defense Forces Special Operations Team Four. Much later, I was sent to Noram to assist the Psion Squad in the Green War then remained there as Squad Leader for over twenty years. Even later than that, I led my people and the human resistance fighters in our war against the Q’Kathi invaders.”
Nick nodded, his follow-up question already prepared. “Most of your experience has been in leadership positions. How much trouble will you have following orders?”
Yeri laughed once. It was a harsh, almost derisive sound. “Captain, I was a slave for most of my life. Trust me, I know how to obey. I will not have any trouble following your orders.”
“What if you don’t agree with my orders or think I’m dead wrong?”
“If I disagree strongly, I might question the order, I might even argue, but I will still, in the end, obey you. If you require blind obedience, it’s not an executive officer you’re seeking
but a puppet.”
Nick smiled. It was a good answer and more than he’d hoped for. “In that case, I am pleased to offer you the position of executive officer of the Dark Star.”
Yeri held up a hand. “There is something you must know, and agree to, before we move forward, Captain.”
“Oh? Do tell.” Nick tried to control his impatience. Now that his decision was made, he wanted to whisk Yeri aboard the Dark Star and march him straight to Cai’s chambers.
“I remain an active stud of the Lineage. We lost too many of our race in the massacre and the fighting that followed to permit me to retire. The Breedmasters understand what relativity will mean if I am aboard a starship. There’s no guarantee that I will be on Earth every February, especially since the fourth fleet is based out of Hevetich.”
“That’s true enough.” Nick shrugged. “We can set you up with a sperm collection system such as the Guild uses for Astrogators.”
“If only it were that simple.” Yeri chuckled softly and shook his head. “Rovani mating is complicated, on purpose, I’m told, to prevent any chance of unauthorized or accidental breeding. Only the female estrus scent can trigger me to make viable sperm. That scent can’t be spoofed at the level required to fool my nose. The solution is to bring the necessary females with me.”
Nick envisioned Yeri at the head of a harem of females and snorted mirthfully. “I see.”
“They’ve all been trained as crew,” Yeri added. “They tell me they’re looking forward to this nearly as much as I am. A female cycles only once every three years. No more than a third of them will be in heat in any one season, the Breedmasters were careful in their selection. But, you will not have me available during mating season, which can last three to four weeks.”
“Accept it,” Cai urged him. “We can work around Rovani biology, and he’s right about their depleted numbers. If we want the species to thrive and remain beside us, they need to increase their population tenfold at least.”
“We can live with that,” Nick said aloud. “Anything else, Commander?”
Yeri’s lips twitched. “Not unless you had any further concerns or questions.”
“Ask him if he wants to be incognito,” Cai said. “He has a fearsome reputation.”
“My Astrogator wants to know if you’d prefer us to try to conceal your identity due to your reputation.”
“That would be difficult to manage and ultimately pointless.” Yeri shrugged. As before, only one shoulder was involved. “Also, how much trust would your officers lose in you when they found out you’d lied to them about who I am? No, it’s better that I be known for who I am and to face whatever backlash there might be.”
Nick nodded. “Welcome to the Dark Star, Commander Nathizo.” Then he chuckled. “This is ironic in a way. I just submitted a request to admiralty that you be sent to us as a consultant. Veloki and Lytario wanted your assistance in studying a planet we were just at.”
“My assistance?” Yeri’s left eyebrow twitched. “Whatever for?”
“According to your people, you’re an earth talent. I’ll give you our report to read, but essentially, we’ve encountered hostile, intelligent trees. Loki and Lyto felt you might be able to communicate with them.”
“I suppose it’s possible,” Yeri said after a moment. “I’ve never communicated with plants before, but then, Earth plants aren’t sentient. I can affect them, make them grow better, so theoretically, if the plant was intelligent, I might be able to hear it.”
Nick bemusedly headed for the waiting shuttle. He still couldn’t believe that Yeraki would be on his ship, under his command. It was like the wildest of fantasies suddenly coming true. He had to resist the urge to pinch himself to see if he was really awake and not dreaming.
“Captain, a moment?”
The pleasant, accented voice broke through his reverie. He turned toward the man, a medical doctor by the insignia. “Do I know you, Doctor?” He wondered if this had been one of his doctors that one time he’d been here on a medical after he’d been kidnapped and tortured by an insane Guild chief.
“I’d be surprised if you did,” the man replied with a certain wryness to his voice.
His accent was oddly familiar to Nick. He’s Greek. It abruptly clicked as he noticed the Lineage logo worked into the doctor’s insignia. “What can I do for you, Doctor?”
“I wished to speak to you about your new executive officer.” The man glanced toward the conference room. “I’m assuming you accepted him, given your dazed expression.”
Nick opened his mouth to retort then closed it with a snap. “Who are you?”
“I am Leonides Tavlakis, doctor of Rovani medicine, senior Breedmaster, and Yeraki’s handler. Or I was his handler, up until we set them free. I’m still his friend, and that’s why I wanted to talk to you.”
Nick studied the man with renewed interest. Doctor Tavlakis was a handsome man, nearly as tall as he was, with dark, slightly wavy hair and piercing blue eyes. His tanned face showed many laugh lines but few frown lines. “I’m listening, Doctor Tavlakis,” Nick said mildly.
“Yeri is everything you think he is and more. There is real substance behind all the stories about him.”
“I think I already figured that out.” Nick pursed his lips and checked the time via his implant. He wasn’t on a schedule, but his patience was limited.
Lee nodded. “But, there are things you don’t know that you must know because I won’t be there. I am the only doctor of Rovani medicine left, and until I train others, admiralty won’t risk me on a ship.”
“Like what?” Nick gazed at the man, wondering if the real issue here was jealousy.
“There are three main problems. First, he’s older—nearly two hundred, in fact, which is late middle age for his species. Because of his age, there are a host of health problems we’re staving off through diet and exercise. I’ll give your ship’s doctor his full medical record, of course.”
Nick nodded. “Okay, that sounds easy enough. Next?”
“He has a seizure disorder. They’re infrequent and usually the result of extreme stress or overstimulation. The real problem is that if he seizes, he can’t break out of the seizure. It’s a medical emergency that could kill him if not resolved. Again, I’ll give your ship’s doctor the information and the injection we use to break the seizures.”
That was a real surprise. “I thought the Lineage only accepted perfect specimens as studs,” he quipped.
Doctor Tavlakis snorted. “It’s not a genetic issue. His genes are perfect, he was the first triple pip in a century, and he, his siblings, and his offspring have greatly raised that bar.”
“Triple pip?”
“Ah, under the old standards, triple pips were given to those Rovania who scored in the ninety-fifth percentile or better for their race in all categories. It was an extremely rare award.”
“I see.” Nick shook his head. “So, the third issue?”
“He has a sex drive.”
Nick blinked at him then laughed at himself for having picked up the Rovani mannerism. “What about the shot?”
“I’m going to give it to him, but it might not work.” Tavlakis shrugged. “They can develop tolerance to the injection, and when they do, it stops working. He hasn’t had it in over twenty years, though, so his tolerance might have worn off, but it might not have.”
“Oh.” Nick considered the ramifications of that.
“I wouldn’t mind that a bit,” Cai murmured on their private channel.
Nick tried not to smile. “I’ll keep a close eye on him.”
Doctor Tavlakis held up a data cube. “His full file, including my treatment notes, medication list, everything. Keep this copy. I’ll send an official one to your doctor.” He handed it over.
“Thank you, Doctor Tavlakis.” Nick pocketed the cube. “Do you have any good news to share about my new XO?”
The man laughed. “Yeri’s good qualities outwei
gh his problems by a large margin, but I’ll let you learn the pleasant bits on your own... except for one word of advice. Lick him where he licks you.”
Chapter Sixteen
Hevetich station was a large collection of randomly assembled pods, struts, rings, and other arcane structures that had grown in an organic fashion over many years. It was the largest space station in human-held space. It was not large enough, however, to permit a ship the length and mass of Dark Star to dock. Yeri stopped before a viewscreen in the lounge nearest the shuttle bay. The shuttle was due to arrive within the next quarter hour. Until then, Yeri had nothing else to do. He amused himself by trying to locate the Dark Star in space. It should be following the station at a distance of one hundred kilometers.
“Yeri?” The voice was a soft contralto. “Will the shuttle come soon?”
He glanced at Tsaraina as she stopped beside him. “It should be here in a few minutes.” He wondered why she’d asked, she could read the board the same as him. Suspecting that she simply wanted an excuse to approach him, he draped an arm over her shoulders and drew her in to his side.
She sighed softly and pressed against him, confirming his suspicion. He didn’t mind her presence. How could he object? She had never mated with any stud but himself and had given them many fine children, including a set of twins. She was pregnant now, in fact, from this most recent mating season. He’d been surprised when Lee had sent along some of the pregnant females, too, but it made sense once he thought about it. Lee was making sure his set mates, those that were bred to him regularly, didn’t fall out of cycle with him.
He studied a point of light that was moving at a tangent, identified it as a tug, and dismissed it. It was a different point of light, one whose aspect didn’t change, only seemed to grow brighter over time, that really interested him. He pointed to it. “There’s the shuttle.”
“How can you tell?”
“It’s heading straight for us.”