by Rhonda Mason
Vayne arched a brow. “Isn’t that why you commed me in private, to avoid having the discussion with Kayla at all?”
“I commed you in private because despite being an il’haar, you’re still your own man and have a right to consider a proposal on your own, before your overprotective ro’haar declares it out of the question.” He frowned. “I never meant for you to keep it from her.”
Vayne gave him a bland stare. “You don’t know Kayla as well as you think you do if you imagined she’d agree to stay on the ship while her il’haar confronted Vega.”
“Maybe you’re not giving her enough credit to make the wisest choice. She’s safest on the ship, out from under the occupation’s thumb.”
The others in the room were doing an excellent job of not looking their way. Still, Vayne lowered his voice.
“She doesn’t give a damn about her own safety, not where you or I are concerned, which is precisely why neither of us told her.”
Malkor stared at him a moment, then nodded. “At least you and I can agree on something.”
And curse the man, Vayne liked him a little more for it.
* * *
Malkor felt just a little bit guilty about not having told Kayla about the plan.
Okay, enormously guilty. He also wasn’t certain she’d forgive him for endangering her twin’s life in such a way. He’d done it out of love for her, though, and he’d make the same decision again.
The truth was, he needed Vayne. Not only was he their best ticket to a meeting with Vega, but as one of the strongest psionics alive, he was also their best weapon. Malkor didn’t know what kind of psionic strength Vega had, he only knew she had taken Vayne’s own powers from him and somehow made them her own. Add to that the fact that she would be accompanied by at least one other psionic, and Malkor knew he needed the best. Since they couldn’t sneak a dozen psionics into the palace with them, Vayne was their only hope.
Despite what Vayne had said, Malkor did know Kayla. Perhaps even better than Vayne did in some ways. He knew what it meant to Kayla to keep her twin safe. He also knew that she wanted above all things for her people to be free. He couldn’t bear the thought of her having to choose between her il’haar and her people. Was he wrong to take the choice from her? Possibly. But he wasn’t perfect, and there were no perfect choices in this war. The best he could hope for was that she understand he had done it out of love for her, and one day, maybe, forgive him for it.
There would be plenty of tough choices ahead for all of them, no matter the outcome of today’s events.
Malkor joined the others at the table to hammer out the last of the mission’s details.
“I assume you don’t have any devices that block psionic energy,” Vayne said to Wetham.
“Right. The imperials took control of the few blockers our minimal police force possessed when they took over the planet. If there are others in existence, we don’t have access to them.”
“And Vega certainly won’t have any of them active near her, not when her stolen psi powers are her best weapon,” Aarush added.
Ygreda spoke up. “My spies confirm that the case we suspect of carrying the Influencer is in Agira or Vega’s possession at all times. They haven’t been able to search their rooms, but whenever Vega and Agira leave, they have the case with them.”
“It would be better if they didn’t,” Vayne said, “because then we wouldn’t have to worry about one of them using the Influencer on us.”
Malkor had to agree. “If we get lucky and they don’t have it in Vega’s office with her, then we’ll break into their rooms.”
Ygreda pulled one set of blueprints off of the stack and indicated what used to be Kayla’s parents’ apartments. “Which are here.”
The fact wasn’t lost on Vayne, judging by his sour expression.
“We’ll want to go in with as few people as possible,” Vayne said. He looked at Malkor. “No offense, but your mental shields are terrible, and certainly no match for the Influencer.”
“Are yours?” Malkor asked, not to be a jerk, but because, as mission leader, he needed to know his team’s strengths and weaknesses.
Vayne considered it a moment. “Possibly. Not if Dolan were the one using it, but I think I can handle Agira.”
“What makes you think she’ll be the one using the Influencer?” Vid asked. “I thought Vega was the stronger psionic of the two?”
“She is, but Agira’s had a lifetime of psionic training. Compared to her, Vega’s a child, stronger or not. If I were Vega, I’d want Agira behind the Influencer’s controls.”
He turned his attention to Malkor. “Is there anything preventing this from being as easy as using me to gain an audience, shooting through their psi shields with plasma weapons, and walking out? I hope there isn’t, because I really like the sound of that.”
Malkor chuckled. “That does sound fantastic, but sadly, no, it won’t be that easy. As IDC we’re not privy to the details of all the army’s military-grade tech, but I do know they possess several different gun-jamming device types.”
“We can confirm that,” Aarush said. “I’ve seen them employed here on Ordoch.”
“All right,” Vayne said, “then we’ll go with plan B. My ‘guards’ will deposit me in Vega’s office. You’ll then turn around and walk out, whether she dismisses you or not.”
“Is that wise, you facing them alone?” Rigger asked. Malkor could tell the rest of his team was wondering the same thing, but none of the Wyrds looked concerned. Actually, Wetham, Ygreda, and Aarush looked slightly offended by the question.
Wetham answered her. “He can’t fight Vega, Agira, and the Influencer if he has to worry about shielding you too.”
“You forgot about shielding the room as well,” Aarush said, “to keep Vega or Agira from alerting the guards and calling for reinforcements.”
A damn good point. They’d never get out alive if Vega called the whole palace down around their heads. Malkor said, “Since we’re hiding our faces under holograms, we can bring an Ordochian with us, provided they understand Imperial Common. They can stay outside the office and handle the telepathic shielding, and you can handle Vega and Agira.”
Vayne was nodding. “That will work.”
Malkor cleared his throat. With all Vayne had been through, some of it at the hands of Vega herself from the sound of things, Malkor wouldn’t blame him if he were out for blood. However… “We need Vega taken alive.”
Vayne arched a brow, and the entire room quieted to a hush. Was this the part where Vayne told him to frutt off? Because that moment had been coming since the day they met.
“We need her to stand trial on Falanar as an enemy of the state,” Malkor continued. “She needs to be publically discredited, so that the true extent of her crimes can be discovered.”
Vayne continued to stare at him, and he began to feel just a little uncomfortable. Was he reading his mind right now? Kayla had said that if they practiced mentally reinforcing their shields over and over, that at least he and the octet would know if someone was trying to mess with their minds. But she’d also added, “As long as the psionic isn’t super strong.”
“I’m not going to kill her,” Vayne finally said, but his tone didn’t reassure Malkor.
“You’re not?” He almost added, “Then what are you going to do?” because it was clear Vayne was planning something.
Vayne answered the unspoken question. “She stole my powers from me. I’m merely going to take them back, and if she doesn’t survive…” Vayne shrugged, and though he didn’t exactly smile, the look in his eyes chilled Malkor’s blood.
* * *
And so it was, finally, at long last, that the Yari was ready to shake five hundred years of dust from its bones and fly once again among the stars.
Kayla was ready to shake the shit out of her il’haar and Malkor simultaneously, but sadly, they were both out of reach at the moment.
A note, Vayne? Seriously? She couldn’t begin to process her emotions, not wh
en so many other things needed her attention. There would be time enough to skin him alive later. For now, it was time to free Ordoch.
Kayla stood on the bridge next to Hekkar, holding Corinth’s hand while everyone else arrived. Corinth clearly had his own feelings about Vayne leaving them behind, but he hadn’t shared them. Kayla didn’t know whether Corinth gripped her hand because the coming jump was so momentous, or to stop her from following Vayne and leaving him behind, too.
Natali stood front and center, next to Ida. Ida’s crew were stationed at various consoles, ready with comms, weapons, and navigation. Kayla didn’t trust any of them, but as the Ordochian rebels filed in, then Kazamel and his small crew followed by Noar, she became more certain that with these loyal people, Natali could take command of the ship in a second if it became necessary.
Her one nagging worry was the absence of Science Officer Fengrathen. She was the stepa who’d touched everything off by appearing in the corridor when she should have been in cryo. Presumably she was loyal to Zimmerman, but hadn’t appeared when he was captured. Her body had not been found, which meant she was a loose end when they could ill afford to have one.
“Vidscreen to activate,” Ida ordered, recalling Kayla to the present.
One look at the screen reminded her that her problems were so much greater than a single woman on a gargantuan ship.
The fleet of rooks covered the Yari like a shiny black skin, lights flashing and rippling wildly as they readied themselves to attempt the jump. The baby rooks, and it seemed like there were millions of them, clung to the hull like so many stickers, though how much help they would be, she couldn’t say.
Kazamel, who had been standing with his eyes closed near the portals, finally opened them. “Ready?” he called, his voice sounding confident. He was in contact with the rooks, and would be the one to give the actual order to attempt the jump.
“You may be proceeding,” Ida answered.
Kazamel nodded, closed his eyes, and then…
…nothing.
Nothing at all.
There had been no feeling of movement, no time had passed, but Ida let out a happy “Whoop!” anyway.
What…?
And then Kayla saw it. Or rather, didn’t see it. The Mine Field was gone. The horizon of debris she’d become so accustomed to seeing was absent from the view, and in its place was a new arrangement of stars.
Holy—
::It worked!:: Corinth grabbed her arm, as if he needed something concrete to grasp and prove he wasn’t dreaming. ::I can’t believe it, it worked!::
All around her people were cheering and hugging each other, but inexplicably, all she could do was cry. Fat tears rolled down her cheeks as emotion overwhelmed her for a moment. Even more than stepping through the Tear, this felt like coming home.
Which meant she had a war to join, so she had better get her shit together.
They’d had the rooks blink them near Ordoch, but not too near, as no one was sure what the creatures’ accuracy rating was. They also wanted to be out of weapons range of the imperial ships in orbit while they got their bearings. The sub-hyperstream drives on the Yari worked fine and could take them the rest of the way.
Beyond the viewport, Kayla could see the adult rooks frolicking in a dance as exuberant as any the babies had done. Blue, silver, and white lights flashed in a dizzying display. They had a moment of sheer enjoyment, all of them, and then:
“The imperial ship is hailing us, en’shaar,” Ariel said, breaking into the revelry.
Kayla glanced around. The bridge was packed, giving the illusion of a battleship filled to the airlocks with people.
Natali nodded at Ariel to accept the comm.
The vidscreen switched images and Senior Commander Jersain Vega of the IDC greeted them from the throne room of Ordoch.
Thank the void Natali was the one in charge; she had the icy aplomb to handle Vega. Kayla had too much history with the woman to be anything but hostile and aggressive.
“Natali,” Vega said. “So good to see you again.” She wore a formal IDC dress uniform and sat in the chair Kayla’s father used to occupy.
Kayla didn’t realize how hard she was gripping the pommels of her kris daggers until her palms started to hurt.
“Vega. I cannot say the same.” Natali’s voice was as fine and sharp as laser-cut crystal.
“There are rumors here,” Vega continued, “that the Reinumon heir has returned. I thought they might mean you, but now that I see you’re on that derelict ship, I wonder if they meant Vayne. Did you send him to the planet ahead of you?”
Natali ignored the question and asked one of her own. “How soon can I expect your ships to leave Wyrd Space?”
Vega didn’t miss a beat. “Just as soon as you provide me with a cure to the TNV.”
“What I will provide you with is a chance to withdraw from my planet with your lives.”
“Is that so?” Vega didn’t seem impressed. “Perhaps—”
“Captain,” Benny said, interrupting. “The PD is having the primed and ready for firing, on your command.”
Natali whipped around. “What? No, stand down!”
Ida smiled a cold smile, one Kayla had never seen from her before, and a terrible foreboding settled over her.
“She’s the traitor!” Kayla shouted, realizing too late that they had put the wrong ship’s officer in the brig. She drew her kris and sprinted toward Ida, but she couldn’t move as quickly as sound.
“Fire at will, Benny.” Ida’s voice rose above the chaos that erupted on the bridge as the rebel soldiers scrambled to stop her and her crew from reaching any controls whatsoever.
“Firing,” Benny confirmed, his words sucking all the air from the room and freezing Kayla in place. What had he just done?
“For Ilmena!” Ida crowed, her eyes shining with triumph as Ariel, Benny, and Larsa echoed her. “Mission of ours is complete.”
The rebels descended on the crew and yanked them away from their stations. Natali cut the comm to the planet, and they all watched in horror, waiting for one or all of the imperial battleships on the screen to be obliterated.
They waited.
And waited.
“Natali,” Kayla said, getting her sister’s attention as Ida continued her victory speech despite nothing happening.
“Now all of Ordochians having the taste of their own weapon,” Ida went on.
Kayla could only speak in a whisper as dread rose up inside her. “I don’t think the PD is at all what we thought it was…”
22
VANKIR CITY, ORDOCH
The way into the city was blissfully uneventful.
They rode in a doubly stolen vehicle—stolen once by the army, then retaken by the rebels—Trinan and Malkor up front, Vayne and Mai in the back. Mai had been Aarush’s choice as the strongest psionic in the rebel base, and Vayne concurred. Thankfully, he was well trained in fighting and tactics by Aarush himself, too. Malkor would still rather have his octet with him than another psionic, but he agreed with the plan.
Their IDs held up without issue at the city’s vehicle gate, not that the guard gave them a second look. The sight of Vayne in the backseat took all of his wide-eyed attention. Not every day you see the military’s most wanted man. After being assured that Vayne had been properly dosed with the anesthetizing agent that would block him from using his psi powers, the guard waved them through the gate.
The same thing happened outside the Complex of Oligarchs, and at the palace gates themselves. Vayne was a star attraction.
“We’re taking you on every op from now on,” Trinan said. “No one looks at us twice with you around.”
“I’m wondering if Vega told them I drink imperial blood or something. I’ve never seen people so frightened.”
As they walked up the palace steps, Malkor felt the eyes of everyone on them. He led the way, head high, eyes front, wearing an expression that did not invite questions or conversation. Trinan and Mai followed behind
with Vayne between them. Vayne, with hands cuffed and head bowed, did a passible impression of a disgraced prisoner.
Malkor presented everyone’s IDs in the lobby and demanded an immediate audience with Vega. The lobby, which had been bustling with soldiers and functionaries, suddenly emptied of all non-essential personnel. The guards held their weapons a little tighter as the soldier at the security station made the call.
Minutes later, a contingent of three soldiers arrived, clearly having been summoned. Malkor expected an argument over being allowed to escort the prisoner all the way to meet Vega. Typically with such a high-value prisoner, everyone wanted to take some credit for the capture, no matter how small. If not that, then at least have the glory moment of being the one to present the prisoner to their commanding officer.
Not so in this case. The soldiers merely asked that Malkor and the others follow them. No one, it seemed, wanted to take possession of Vayne.
Instead of putting him at ease, the lack of problems was winding Malkor tighter. It always seemed that the longer it took for the shoe to drop, the harder it fell. Not that their plan allowed any room for error in the first place. So he kept his mouth shut and followed the soldiers through the palace. Walking through the halls was surreal after five years. He never thought he’d be back here, and certainly he hadn’t thought he’d be back here fighting against his own people. As with the rest of the city, the soldiers had made some changes—the Reinumon banners had been taken down and some statuary removed—but it was in large part unchanged from when he’d been here the first time.
And when he was gone? What would it look like in another five years?
Hopefully they would all have a chance to find out.
* * *
It was probably best, Vayne mused, that his part required keeping his head lowered and acting drugged to oblivion. Otherwise, he’d be tempted to murder every last soldier they came across, mission or no mission. It was still a struggle to remain impassive as he followed Malkor through the halls of his childhood home, his memories forever tainted by the overlay of imperial occupation.
He gritted his teeth as they walked, counting the seconds until he stood before Vega and could finally unleash five years of rage. They’d be lucky if he didn’t burn down the entire palace.