by Eric Warren
He nodded. He’d meant to meet her at the door to her quarters but he’d been late and she’d come looking for him. So much for a great impression.
Cas led her down the corridor to the nearest hypervator where they got inside, her height even more apparent in the small space. “Is your companion accompanying us?” he asked.
“She is not. She’s staying in our quarters, studying your technology. We’ve already decided she will stay on the starbase while I accompany you on Tempest to observe this threat first-hand.”
“Why don’t you both come?” Cas asked, trying to keep the headache threatening to erupt in his head at bay.
“She can be more effective on the station. It will have greater resources and we will make more progress apart. Any advancements she develops she’ll transfer directly to me and we will implement them on Tempest as we travel.”
“Will she…work with others?” Cas tried to ask delicately. But honestly he was doing good not to topple over at the moment, much less ask questions in a diplomatic fashion. Zenfor had indicated to him she wanted a consistent liaison, not to be handed around like a piece of yaarn.
“She’ll be fine.” Zenfor turned to him. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.” Cas held himself up against the side of the hypervator. Even though they traveled as smooth as anything, he could still feel the vibrations as the carriage moved forward and back, up and down. If he didn’t do something he was going to be tasting those firebrands all over again.
“You’re lying.” She bent over to stare him in the eye. “Your pupils are dilated and your skin is clammy. What have you been doing?”
“Trying to get rid of bad memories,” he admitted.
Zenfor placed her hand on the side of Cas’s neck. It felt shockingly cold to the touch, like dry ice. So cold in fact he thought it was burning him at first. “What? Ow! What are you doing?”
“Hold still,” she replied, her gray eyes focused on his. A moment later the sick feeling dissipated. It was gradual, but as Zenfor removed her hand, the feeling passed. He still wasn’t sober, but at least he wasn’t in danger of puking all over the hypervator floor.
“What did you do?” Cas put his own hand against his neck where she’d held it.
“When we’re on our ships, they regulate all our biological functions. Our bodies are designed to expel toxins through our pores. But we can also absorb them. All I did was remove some of the foreign material from your blood.”
“Does that mean it’s in you now?” he asked, still rubbing his neck.
“It isn’t enough to cause me harm and will dissipate within a few minutes.”
He pulled his eyebrows together. “Is that something your people evolved?”
“No. It is something we engineered.”
The hypervator doors opened on the concourse level and they both walked out, traversing the short distance to the main airlock where the door was already open and connected to the long gantry bridge from the station. Tempest had pulled into Eight only a few minutes before Cas had set off to collect Zenfor.
At the airlock opening stood seven security personnel, Negotiator Laska, Captain Greene, Evie, and four Coalition admirals, only one of which Cas knew. All of them smiled as if meeting reclusive and antagonistic species was part of normal operations. Though the smile on Evie’s face didn’t quite match the others. Cas still hadn’t figured out what was going on with her, but he couldn’t worry about that now.
“Mr. Robeaux.” Admiral Sanghvi stepped forward, his hand outstretched. Cas took it, wondering if this man was just as guilty as Admiral Rutledge had been in the operation to capture the Sil ship seven years ago. Because now he was about to meet a Sil in person and if Zenfor discovered Sanghvi had anything to do with the capture of that ship, it could lead to a war instead of peace.
“Admiral. May I present Consul Zenfor of the Sil Alliance.” He stood to the side with Evie as Sanghvi, not a small man himself, stared up at Zenfor.
“A pleasure to meet you in person, Consul. Welcome to the Sovereign Coalition of Aligned Systems. And thank you for your willingness to assist us.” He extended his hand for her as well, though she only stared at it, then scanned the other faces she didn’t know. Sanghvi dropped his hand, turned to the others. “May I introduce Fleet Admiral Dix, Vice Admiral Schell, and Chief of Operations Blanton.”
Cas stood in awe. They were the three top-ranking members of the Coalition Navy, and the most powerful officers in the Coalition. They were the ones who made policy. Who decided if the Coalition would help a needy planet or go to war. And Cas couldn’t help but wonder if any of them knew about Rutledge’s plans. Had any of them sanctioned it?
Laska sidled up beside Cas, leaning in. He had to hunch down so she wouldn’t have to speak loudly. “Not bad for an amateur.”
“I never thought we’d get this far,” he replied. “But I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Her face didn’t betray any emotion. “Your flattery is transparent. You need to practice more.”
He chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good luck with the rest of your assignment. I fear the real challenge is yet to come.”
“Wait.” Cas screwed up his face. “What do you know?”
“No more than you. But making contact is one thing. Maintaining it is another.” She stuck out her hand. He gave it a shake; she had a surprisingly strong grip. “Stay honest and you’ll do fine.”
“Thanks,” he said. She strode off past the Admirals and Zenfor who were engaged in conversation. He was surprised she wouldn’t be coming with them on the rest of the journey, but he assumed her role on the ship had been completed. She’d done her job; there were plenty of other disputes in the Coalition for her to negotiate.
“I want to see the man who decided Sil life wasn’t worth the price of a weapon,” Zenfor interrupted the admirals as they extolled her. Cas couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride at her dismissal of them. Anyone else would have been in awe. Yet the consul couldn’t care less. Cas snuck a glance at Evie who didn’t seem to be paying attention to the exchange.
“We will escort you there immediately,” Admiral Sanghvi said. He turned to Captain Greene. “How long will the Tempest need before you can depart again?”
“A few days. We experienced some extreme gravitational effects out there. Our chief engineer wants to double-check everything. Especially if we’re going to be out for an extended period of time.”
Sanghvi’s gave the captain a stern glare. “Don’t wait too long. It may seem like we have a lot of time but these bastards will be here before we know it. We need to know as much about them as possible before they arrive.”
“Why the sudden urgency?” Greene asked. As best Cas could tell, he wasn’t about to be bullied by the admiral.
“Let’s discuss it later,” Sanghvi replied, turning back to Zenfor. “If you’ll follow me I’ll be happy to take you to our brig.”
Zenfor remained still. “I thought I made it very clear I was not to be passed off like a common piece of rock.”
Sanghvi stopped dead in his tracks, his face turned red. “Please accept my apologies, Consul. Mr. Robeaux will escort you at your convenience. Will you allow us a moment?”
Zenfor nodded, then walked over to the windows, gazing out at the ships under construction inside the starbase. The admiral said something to the other ranking officers who stood off to the side with their security teams, then made his way over to Cas, who did his best to hold his breath. If the admiral smelled the alcohol on him there was no way it would be good. “I understand the trip back was uneventful,” Sanghvi said.
“No problems. Ev—Commander Diazal and I gave her all the non-classified information on the Coalition which she’s been studying. We figured when she returns to her people it might help. But we weren’t sure how much to share with her.”
“Everything,” Sanghvi whispered. “This is a top priority and we can’t afford to be paranoid. If th
ey’re going to help us then she needs to have as much access as anyone else on the ship. I don’t care what it takes.” He glanced back at the Sil who hadn’t moved from her spot. The only thing animated about her was her eyes, flicking back and forth. “She’s remarkably human-esque.”
“I noticed,” Cas said.
“Have you given any more thought to my offer? You’ve really outdone yourself on this mission. I’ve spoken to the other admirals, there is no resistance to giving you back your full commission. In fact most of us agree it would be preferable. You know certain…details you haven’t divulged. We appreciate that. And we want to show our appreciation.”
Cas gritted his teeth. This was the reason he’d left in the first place. The duplicity, the lies. But Page’s words came back to him. How could he affect any change if he wasn’t inside the system, working to make it better?
Sanghvi placed his hand on Cas’s shoulder. “Think about it. Standing offer.” He rejoined the other admirals, all of whom were sneaking looks at Zenfor. She didn’t seem bothered.
Evie sidled up beside him. “Are you okay? You look…pale.”
“The admiral is still offering to give me my commission back,” he replied.
“The man is persistent, I’ll give him that.” She crossed her arms and joined him in watching the admirals converse with Captain Greene and Laska.
“I’m considering it.”
He wasn’t looking at her face but could feel her eyes on him. “What changed?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’m tired of being on the outside. Maybe I can do more when I’m back in. Though he alluded to it being contingent on my continued silence on…certain matters.”
“Rutledge?”
“Among other things.”
She made a long exhale. “It’s your decision. Just don’t make it for the wrong reason.”
He turned to her. “I thought you’d be elated.”
“I am,” she said too quickly. “There’s…it’s just a lot going on.”
He narrowed his eyes. Even through the fog of inebriation he could tell something was off about her. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. Bit of free advice though. Next time you’re coming to meet the heads of the Coalition Navy I suggest you do it sober.” He winced, unable to look her in the eye. Instead, he turned away, staring at a stray spot on the carpeted floor. “I’ll see you later. Have fun down in the brig.” She disappeared in the corridors of the ship.
Cas took a deep breath, attempting to will the intoxication away. Of course it never worked but what was the harm in trying? He made his way over to Zenfor, who still hadn’t moved from her spot. “Ready?”
“I’ve been ready.”
Unsure what to say, Cas made his way across the bridge with her beside him, steeling himself for the inevitable confrontation.
3
Evie slipped through the doors to her quarters, fell against the wall, and slid down, exhausted. This whole endeavor had already been taxing. Ever since she’d seen the orders sending them out to Omicron Terminus she’d had a dead weight take up permanent residence in her stomach. Not because they had to face this oncoming threat; she could handle that no problem. No, it was because their route would take them past Cypaxia, and in turn, her father.
She pushed herself up and pulled her brown ponytail back over her shoulder, removing the clips that kept it in place. She needed a shower. But first she needed to make a call. A call she’d been putting off for three weeks. As she sat down at her work desk her eyes found her family’s sword hanging on the far wall in her quarters. For the longest time it had been nothing but a decorative item. That was, until she’d taken on infiltration missions, as an intimidation tactic. And it had worked great. Right up until she’d had to kill with it.
She jerked her attention away, activating her personal communication device. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she didn’t even want to guess what her blood pressure was at the moment. Maybe she should take a page out of Cas’s playbook and take a few drinks before making this call. Though it would probably only increase her anxiety and her paranoia. For some reason alcohol did that to her.
She just needed to calm down and focus. And try not to lose it. Evie tapped the comm coordinates in and waited for the call to connect.
“’ello?” The screen showed nothing other than an empty room, sparse and composed mostly of beige colors. A couch with upturned pillows sat in the background, beyond which was a window with the shades drawn. Canvases of art leaned against every surface.
Her heart panged hearing the voice of her father on the other end. How long had it been since she’d last spoken to him? A year? Right after she’d been transferred to the Tempest. “Dad, it’s me.”
“Amanda?”
“No, Dad. It’s Evelyn. Your daughter.”
“I know my own daughter’s name!” the man shouted. “Evelyn. Is that you?”
“Hi, Dad.”
His face moved into view and she had to brace herself against the table. He’d deteriorated more than she would have thought possible in a year. What remained of his hair had gone a shock white and his pupils were milky, despite the fact the doctor reports hadn’t indicated any vision problems. But worst of all was his paper-thin skin. Like that of a mummy. Guilt pulled at her heart. She should have been making these calls more often. She should have taken some time off to visit. But she’d put it off, focused on work. Anything so she wouldn’t have to think about him.
“How’s your work on the…the…Saragosa?” His eyes tried to meet her, but faltered, finding some unknown point off-screen.
“I left that post over a year ago. I’m on the Tempest now, remember?”
“Of course,” he said, his voice stronger and more serious. More like the father she remembered. “How is your work on the…Tempest?”
“Good. We’ve been given a very important mission. Which is part of the reason why I’m calling.”
“Oh?” He’d stilled, his gaze finally finding her.
Evie tried not to let her emotions betray her face. Even if he wasn’t all there he might see something that could set him off. Last time it had been nothing but a simple blink of her eyes. He’d sworn up and down she had winked at him. Like she was giving him a secret code. They’d had to call in the emergency doctors. “I’m passing Cypaxia in a little over a season. I thought I would come see you. Say hi.” She’d worked it out. Cypaxia was on a tangential path from their primary course. She could take a shuttle, stay a day, then rendezvous with Tempest on the other side of the system. She’d have to get clearance from Greene, but she doubted he would mind slowing the ship to normal speed for just a day. It wouldn’t take that much time off their journey and it was likely the last time she’d ever see the once-great Osborne Diazal alive again.
“Come to say hi…” He scratched his chin, his gaze drifting off to the side of the room again. “After all this time, now you decide to visit?”
Damn, he was more lucid than normal. She should’ve known better than to expect he wouldn’t notice. “Dad, I’m sorry. I’ve been busy. But I’m coming now.”
“Don’t bother. I don’t want you here. I don’t want anyone here!” He shoved what few items were on his desk off to the floor, where they shattered. “You didn’t care enough to stay. You left me! They all leave me in the end!”
Tears prickled Evie’s eyes but she bore down. This was what she deserved. For neglecting him. Somewhere off-screen a door swooshed open.
“Mr. Diazal! What are you doin’?” It was Macha, one of his caretakers. She moved into the screen and pulled him back, restraining him. “I have a code nine. Repeat, code nine,” she said. It took her a moment to realize the comm link was still open. She glanced to the screen and her eyes met Evie’s. “Oh heavens. Commander—I’m so sorry. He’s just having a bad day.” Evie’s father pulled and strained at her, trying to scratch her with his nails. She deftly avoided his blows.
“It’s okay,” Evie said, her voice cracking.
“I called to tell him I’m coming to visit. I should have warned you it would upset him. My ship will be passing close by in a season.”
Two more caretakers rushed into view of the screen and helped restrain Osborne, who screamed at all of them. One placed a small device to his neck and he stopped flailing, his body going slack. Macha released him and moved to fill up most of the screen so Evie wouldn’t have to watch. “I’m sorry you had to see that, Commander. He’s been getting worse. I assume you’ve been reading the reports?”
Evie nodded. By law, she was required to receive and sign off on them since her father was no longer in full control of his facilities. There weren’t many cases like his, most people could be treated or even cured of mental disease. But there was something strange about what afflicted him, and none of the Coalition scientists could figure it out. Back when he’d been first diagnosed, he’d even tried his hand at discovering what it was with no success.
“It’s good you’re coming. We’ll do our best to have him ready for you. But I wouldn’t expect much.” Macha leaned closer to the screen, so her face filled up most of it. “He’s been getting worse by the day. Do you know an Amanda? He keeps talking about her.”
“No one that he would know. Unless it’s someone he met after I left,” she replied.
“He’s never mentioned her as long as I’ve been here. But lately it’s been like he can’t talk about anything else.”
“When did it start?” Evie asked.
Macha bunched up her face. “A few weeks ago? I added it into the reports.”
Evie sighed. “Right. Of course. Sorry, things have been…hectic here lately.”
Macha gave her a sympathetic smile. “You may want to get here faster if you can. At this rate—”
“I’ll look into it. Thanks, Macha.” Evie turned off the comm, throwing her head back and covering her face with her hands. How was she supposed to face him in that condition? Even when he’d been lucid her father had always been a handful to deal with. The word eccentric couldn’t begin to contain Osborne Diazal. After she’d grown up and fled that house into the academy she’d learned he hadn’t always been so…off kilter. Old friends or colleagues who had drifted away from him found her to ask how he was doing, and in the process she learned he had once been much different. But apparently drifting in space with a baby for a year had changed him fundamentally. For Evie his behavior had been normal because it had been what she’d grown up with. Only after getting out of the house did she realize not everyone’s parents were subject to hysterical fits of anger or sadness with little or no provocation. And some parents even told their kids they loved them every now and again.