Charlie returned the gun to its holster. “Thank you, sir. I know of at least thirty in the Imperial Guard alone who’ve discussed the situation. I’m sure there’s more, sir.”
Well, thirty people revolting to overthrow a government was a pathetic force. Paltry even. However, Jason didn’t need to attack an army. All he needed to do was get rid of his father quietly, and he’d get control by default. Still, he wasn’t sure he liked the idea of being the one to work silently in the night. Such actions were too close to his father’s methods.
His hands continued to shake with anxiety. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Jason took his time deciding how to respond. “Keep your ears open for now. I’m not planning on rushing into anything. We can go slowly and work out a rational course of action if it comes to that.”
“I’m yours to command, my Prince.”
Command. Yes, command. To lead a bunch of men into a meat grinder. He’d been taught to manage people. He’d been painfully instructed on government policy and economics. His lessons on military strategy were cursory at best. Had that been intentional?
If Serigala sought retribution in the near future, Rhime could be headed for a war he wasn’t prepared to supervise. More problems for later. One damn thing at a time.
Jason examined the Lieutenant. Who was Jason to inspire such loyalty? Was he seen as a good leader or just a better alternative? Were these the grumblings of a few lower rank grunts who didn’t plan on acting or something higher up the chain? He caught himself biting his lower lip. He voiced the only important question for the moment. “Are any of the officers involved?”
“I suppose it’s just me, sir. If my rank stays when we get home.” He offered a disingenuous smile.
“Well,” Jason said with ill-humor. “You better get used to command fast if we go through with this. What about the people on board with us?”
It brought a more believable smile to the Lieutenant’s face. “Most of them, sir.”
Was Charlie the source of insurrection or was dissatisfaction so widespread that he could find it everywhere? Jason had to deal with tonight’s affairs. “Right.” He nodded firmly and checked his jacket for lint. “Please, inform our lovely pilot that dinner will be served at 19:00 hours prompt.” He moved to the bay exit, glancing over his hair one last time in a mirror.
“Certainly, sir.” Charlie stiffened himself and held a salute, waiting for the return.
Jason rolled his eyes and waved back as he left the bay. It only took a couple of days this trip for him to relearn his way around. Now, a week into the return flight, he was feeling like an old-hand at getting around the ancient beast.
At 19:30 hours, Sparrow strolled into the galley. He’d known she’d show up late and planned for it.
“Spitting out orders to everyone again, I see.” She came to a halt, and her gaze danced around the room. Yellow flowers coated the galley.
Okay, so they were synthetic, but it was thought that counted. He’d had people scouring Alexandria for every variety of yellow floral arrangement they could dig up.
“Is this supposed to make me feel better about my military enslavement?”
“Please, you’re already indentured to the company. Have a seat.” Jason unlatched the seat from its clamps and pulled it out for her. “The Admiral insisted. We couldn’t allow you to have authority over the sailors without giving you a rank.”
“I chose to be a pilot. You chose this for me.”
He set a plate in front of her. “Fine.” He waved his imperial hand around and bopped her lightly on the nose with an outstretched finger. “I hereby release you. After we get home, you can go back to transporting crates.”
She let out a growl and took a tentative bite of salad. Chewing slowly, the creases in her forehead relaxed. “What is this?” Her next mouthful was far larger and enthusiastic.
“It’s called a Vermeese…Umm. Well, it’s an animal native to Alexandria.” The chunks of leg meat mixed in were no longer identifiable as such, and it was best he didn’t mention the jumping spider portion of the name. Hopefully, she wouldn’t ask what was in the dressing. He dug into the meal.
“Well, if Daddy disowns you or something, you can always become a chef.”
“I doubt that will happen. I’m already the Emperor of Alexandria. He won’t give up a chance to add those profits to the company.” Well, not really emperor, more like Chairman of the Board.
“You gonna let him merge them together?”
Jason shrugged. “Not sure. I’ll need Rhime resources for the next few years to build up their defenses. The planet won’t turn a profit for a while, but he’s always been willing to think long-term when it comes to business.”
She finished her salad in a flash and wiped the remaining dressing up with a hunk of bread. “So, what happens next?”
“I go home and face him. If he killed Martin, even if it was while he was in one of his rage blackouts, I think it’s time for his reign to end.” His bite of food caught in his throat, and he needed to take an extended gulp along with a large swallow of wine to get it down. Had to be the stupid spider legs. It had nothing to do with his nerves.
She drew back and took on a grim expression. “You know, talking about that sort of thing is treason. When it was just the four of us on board, it was okay, but you have loyal Rhime sailors out in the hall, so I wouldn’t speak so blithely.”
“Don’t be so sure they’re loyal. I’ve spoken to Lieutenant Springer about the situation. He was close to the palace for a long time and saw or heard about some of the Emperor’s crazier moments. My father may order people to shut up but word gets around.” He didn’t want Sparrow involved with any of this and kept the specifics to himself. Jason gathered up the dishes and pulled out the next course.
“Did you color code this meal?” She asked.
Lightly tanned puff pastry stuffed with linsin meat on one side of the plate. Steamed broccoli with butter for the green on the other. Orange streeth glazed in yellow mapleberry sauce along the sides. “Presentation is everything.” Jason waited for her to take the first bite.
She dug in with complete abandon, smiling as she devoured one dish after another. For some inexplicable reason, she ate each selection individually. Never switching from one to another. She had the entire plate gobbled up before he was halfway through his portion.
Sparrow watched him as he continued his meal. “So, is this all an attempt for more forgiveness or something else?”
Her directness caused a queasiness to well in his stomach. It was now or never. He slowed his chewing in an attempt to stall. Jason gulped another healthy swallow of wine — thankful for the Alexandria variant. While they called it wine, instead of containing alcohol the fermentation process produced a different chemical.
“I did have something else to ask you.” His throat shriveled and cracked — drying up like a fallen leaf in the sun. He took another sip while the glass shook in his hand.
She gave him a wry grin and nothing useful to go on. Leaning back in her chair, she crossed her arms. “So, ask.” Sparrow had to have some idea what was coming but left him twisting in the wind.
He’d never done this before and words eluded him. Smooth with the ladies was not in him. When he invited her down to Nephele, it was under the pretense of needing supplies. Just a few short days hanging around each other. “I…” His hands closed into sweaty fists under the table. “I’d like to court you.”
She broke up laughing. It wasn’t quite the reaction he sought. “Geez, Romaro, I was ready for you to ask permission to climb back into bed with me. Who the hell says court anymore?”
It took all his will not to correct Romaro to Romeo. He cleared his throat while wondering what response he would’ve gotten with the other question. More sweat broke out and a flush ran over his face. “When I get home, I’ll be back under everyone’s scrutiny. I can’t be in a relationship without the whole planet knowing about it.” No discreet one-night-stands for him. “
If we were officially dating, you’d be under some of that scrutiny as well.”
“Officially dating,” she scowled. “What kind of idiotic crap is that?” She stared into his eyes, deep in thought. The hint of her top lip went under her teeth. “Are you asking me to stop being a pilot?”
“I don’t like the idea of only seeing you a few times a year when you’re back on Rhime.”
“You’re asking me to change who I am.”
He wiped the sweat from his palms. “I’ve thought of that. How about a compromise?” Relationships were supposed to be balanced with compromise. In theory anyway. He’d never had one before.
She pressed a few crumbs of her meal to a finger and licked them off. “Go ahead. What’s this grand compromise?” She spoke with casual disregard but something about her nervous motions betrayed her. He’d peaked her interest.
“Let me talk to your boss. Have them only send you out on short runs so you have more time back home.”
She gnawed on a nail. “So, my Prince-Emperor boyfriend will have a friendly chat with David. Hmm. I wonder how he’d take that.” She kept her tone neutral, but her eyes twinkled.
He wasn’t sure if the idea appealed to her or not. “Was that a yes or a no?”
“No, you idiot. I don’t want favors.”
His heart sunk. “Okay, you have a better idea?”
Getting up, she circled around the table and took up his hands. “Jason, I like you. I like you a lot. Can’t we keep everything casual for now? I’m just getting my career started, and I don’t need some big public drama in my life right now.” She kissed his forehead.
Jason inhaled deeply, enjoying her closeness. “So, how about that other thing instead?” He pulled her onto his lap and hugged her.
“Hmm? What other thing?”
“That get-back-into-bed suggestion.”
“Oh.” She kissed him and infused her voice with a hint of sexuality. “Well, I didn’t actually suggest it but okay.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
By the time Jason’s miniature armada broke through the last node and headed into orbit around Rhime, his group had shrunk to a modest three ships escorting Sparrow’s cargo vessel.
Ambassador Tully and the senior hospitality officer on Alexandria had gone overboard with the amenities. It was the type of thing he should’ve expected from a planet where a high governmental official had an advanced degree in interior design. True to the Ambassador’s tastes, the bay floor now had a coating of overlapping area rugs in muted earth tones. Various tapestries speckled the walls with murals depicting notable landscapes from Alexandria. It provided a comfortable feel and kept the engine noise to a minimum.
He could’ve done without the naked statuary of a group of people doing some acrobatics he didn’t think were humanly possible. His head tilted looking at it. “You want to try that?”
Sparrow smacked his butt and moved past him. “You bored with vanilla sex already?” She collected her jumpsuit from the deck and snatched her bra off one of the statue’s arms. “You nervous?”
“Terrified spitless, I believe the old expression went.” He was still trying to decide if it would be appropriate to show up wearing the dress uniform. “Maybe I should go with the toga. It might prevent problems. I don’t think the sailors were happy seeing me wearing it back on Alexandria, and I doubt the Imperial Guard would enjoy the sight, either.” Just because his father occasionally wore the uniform didn’t mean he had the right to do the same.
“Oh. So now you’re concerned about insulting people?”
Jason shot her a glare. It was more joking gesture than annoyance. He tossed the jacket on the bed and picked up the toga. “Just looking to limit the problems. If this turns into a fight, I’ll need support from the guards.”
“Well, I’m sticking to the plain company jumpsuit. Do you really think you have a chance to overthrow him?”
He couldn’t get the stupid toga to fold over his body properly. “You know how to put one of these things on?”
Her lips pursed for a second, fighting back a laugh. She went over to him, giggling and zipping herself up. “You have it upside-down, idiot.” Pulling it out of his grasp, she flipped it over and helped him.
“My father’s behavior this past year hasn't exactly been something to inspire loyalty. If it becomes necessary, I’ll take my time working out a plan. I’m not walking into his office today looking for a fight.”
“Lift your arms,” she ordered.
“Reconnaissance only today. Get a feel for the situation.” He turned around, allowing her to get the wrap in place.
“Is he meeting you when we land or will you have to wait until you get to the palace?”
“Admiral Hackett told me Dad couldn’t get away. He’s getting another body upgrade today. We are meeting with reporters when we get downside.”
She stepped back and shook her head. “You can meet with reporters. I’m not getting in the spotlight.”
“Oh, no you don’t.” Lunging forward, he picked her up and squeezed tight as they kissed. “You’re going to be at my side through the press conference. You can duck out on my meeting with Dad this afternoon, but I’ll expect you at dinner.”
“Me? What the hell do you want me for during the interview? And it’s too soon for me to meet family. Will it even be safe in the palace today?”
“Moral support. Besides, my father has already heard about you. You’ve been sent a personal invitation, which you’re not allowed to refuse.” Jason put her down.
He’d considered the best way to make his reunion and decided the more people the better. Sovereign Sneaky preferred moving in the shadows. Charlie had already talked to one of his friends this morning and reported there hadn’t been any outbursts of uncontrolled rage for the past month. “Charlie has orders to get you out at the first sign of trouble.”
She let out a groan and whined, “I don’t want to go.” She brushed away some imaginary lint. “I like the blue one better. This tan just makes you look pale. Have you tried your Mirre thing on him since we got back into the system? This could be a trap.”
“No. It’d be a little pointless. He’ll be getting reports of our flight in. If I show up in the palace now, he’ll know it isn’t real. If it’s a trap, Charlie hasn’t heard about it from any of his friends. The only alternative is to stay away from Rhime. I’m done running.”
“I’d rather not go to your funeral.” She circled him and stopped in front, looking up into his eyes. “You could still talk to him inside the Mirre. Gauge his reaction.” The depth of her concern touched something in him.
He bent down, allowing her to attach the last clip over his shoulder and took the opportunity to kiss her again. Straightening back up, he threw out his chin. “No. For once in my life, I have no desire to sneak around ahead of time. I want to deal with this situation like anyone else would need to.”
She mouthed, idiot, and shook her head. “Right. That’s you.” Her eyes sparkled. “Just like everyone else.”
“Yup. I’m just a plain monarch like all the rest.”
“How about your uncle? Do you still think there’s a chance he’s alive?” She spoke in an offhanded manner but there was something about her frozen posture that told him she was on pins and needles, waiting for his reply.
Jason held his breath for a moment and then blew it out in a huff. Giving a slight shake of his head, he said, “No. Charlie told me plenty of people saw his body. He’s gone.” He would not start crying again. There’d been an ocean’s worth of tears the past couple of months. It was time to move on.
Sparrow unfroze and pulled him into a hug. “You want to check on your babies one last time before we land?”
Jason perked up, grinning. She hadn’t shown the same level of interest in the creatures as himself, so she was only asking as a way to cheer him up and keep him distracted. “An excellent idea. Dr. Wilkes told me the eldest two on his ship are about ready to come out of the tanks.”
Hand-in-hand, they left his room and headed to the nursery next door. “How can he tell? Isn’t he guessing most of this stuff?”
“Hell if I know. He mentioned something about an acceleration in weight gain. Then rambled on about chemical changes. I couldn’t keep track.”
The cargo bay opened, startling two guards. The men had been sitting on the deck playing rixt. They jumped to their feet and saluted, causing a stack of chips to topple onto the game board.
Jason put on a stern expression. “Gambling on duty?” He really didn’t care. For now, there wasn’t a lot for any of them to do. He scratched his head and converted it to a return salute as his arm dropped. Both of them looked terrified, and Jason could envision the sweat about to form on their brows.
“Sorry, sir,” one of them offered.
“Who’s winning?” He let a smile break through.
The two shot each other a glance. “I am, sir.” The taller man, Corporal Lynch spoke.
“Relax, gentlemen. Anything to report?”
They broke out of their at-attention-stance, and Lynch said, “The internal power cells are fully charged and ready to disconnect from the ship. We changed the filters out last night, and they aren’t due for the next round of nutrients for another hour, sir.”
Jason walked down a row of tanks with Sparrow on his arm. The gurgling of churning fluid filled the air along with an overpowering scent reminiscent of the palace tomato garden. “Have either of you noticed any weird emotions while staying in here?”
The other corporal chimed in. “Suspicion, sir.”
Jason spun around and faced them. “What’s that? Umm. Corporal Munoz.”
“Suspicion, sir.” He repeated. “I’ve been thinking Corporal Lynch has been cheating all morning.”
“You ass.” Lynch scowled at his comrade. “You always think people are cheating when you’re losing.”
Munoz returned the scowl, only doubled. “Prince Jason asked if we’ve felt any strong emotions. I didn’t say you were cheating, just that I’ve been feeling that way.”
Shabin- The Reluctant Prince of Rhime Page 24