Stardust And Shadows

by Janelle Taylor

  With the viewer screen left on, Jurad looked at his son and asked, “Taemin, what do you know of these accusations and Garus’s treachery?”

  “They are not true, Father; I swear it on my life and honor. I do not know why Garus lied. Perhaps the Maffeians bribed him to create an intergalactic rift between us. You are wrong, Ryker; we are not responsible for the trouble. You said yourself it was an attack by space pirates.”

  “That was a lie to keep the black truth from the public. Do you think I want the Tri-Galaxy to learn the Tabrizes and Canissia Garthon tried to kill me and Jana? No, I will handle my retribution in my own way.”

  Taemin was duped by the news-communication ruse and by other sightings of “Varian” on Rigel during Ryker’s presence on the Wanderlust far away. He was furious with Canissia over her costly and stupid mistake. He was also vexed with himself for believing her wild talk and for getting involved in her crazy and desperate scheme for revenge. At the time, her claims had sounded logical and potentially very profitable for him. If he had gotten his spy’s report on Varian’s location sooner, he would not have alienated Ryker and Jana. Somehow he had to repair the damage to those crucial relationships.

  “We have been friends and allies a long time, Ryker,” the guarded prince said. “Even if that were not true, I would be a fool to destroy our vital link to Trilabs. I did not try to capture and slay you. I have not seen Canissia Garthon since she attended my nuptials months ago. If the traitorous Garus had not been killed, we could have forced the truth from him. I will make every attempt possible to unravel this mystery and to capture those responsible. How could you doubt my loyalty and friendship? How can you accuse me of such wickedness?”

  Varian used every word and expression he could think of to evoke doubts in Jurad about his son’s guilt. “Because I am sure Garus did not lie and was not working on his own or for someone else. Your longtime captain would carry out any order you gave him. There is no amount of money or coercion from anywhere to compel him to betray you. He also said things only you could have known and told him. You and Cass hoped to torture my wife until you forced the entry code to my complex from my lips to halt your cruelties. Until I married Jana, there was no weapon or tool to use against me. But any man or woman who dares to harm her will pay dearly. Do you forget I know how much you crave to conquer and rule the TriGalaxy?”

  “At one time, that was your dream and goal, too. Before Jana.”

  “So, that is why you hate her and wish to destroy her. I promise you, Taemin, you will never get near her again. Neither you nor Cass. If any harm ever comes to her, I will destroy you. And if any harm ever comes to us or to me, Grandfather will use Trilabs’ powers to destroy you and Pyropea.”

  “Your threats and anger are wasted on lies, Ryker. I am innocent.”

  “Why did you not signal us for help?” Jurad asked. “Why were we not informed of your rescue and have to learn of it by news communication?”

  “Now that you’ve heard the ugly truth, Jurad, surely you don’t think I could have allowed the Maffeians to inform you we had been located and rescued so Taemin could attack us again. His deceit forced me to rely on a previous enemy for survival, for rescue from a so-called friend and ally.”

  Varian glared at Taemin. “How dare you two plot against me and my wife! I suggest you and Cass watch yourselves carefully, and don’t either of you expect to make any future purchases from me. If the Moonwind or any Pyropean ship comes near Darkar, it will be attacked and destroyed by my automatic defense system. And tell Cass that if I ever see her devious face again, I’ll remove whatever remains of her beauty with acid. If either of you try another trick, I’ll play a few videotapes from my private collection across the Tri-Galaxy. I doubt you or Cass want certain, if any, people to hear and view you while revealing your dirty and dangerous secrets.”

  “Explain your meaning, Prince Ryker,” Jurad demanded.

  “I’ll leave that up to your loyal son, for now. Remember my warning and hear me well, Taemin, harm Jana or me and you’re dead. To you, Jurad, watch your son with keen eyes. Prince Ryker Triloni signing off.”

  Jurad locked his gaze on his son’s face. “What did he mean, Taemin?”

  “I do not know, Father. Perhaps he has become as mad as his mother was at the end. Since he met that Earthling temptress, he has changed. He fears some man will steal her from him, so he sees evil spirits and threats where none exist. Because of a wild delusion, he has made peace with his half brother and Maffei. I do not know how Varian and the Alliance accomplished such cunning deceit to turn Ryker against us, but it has worked, for the present. The day will come when Ryker learns it is we who are his true friends and allies. Be patient, Father, and trust me.”

  “What of the Garthon woman? Perhaps the treachery was her doing.”

  Taemin had speculated on that idea himself and did so again for a moment. He knew now he should never have allowed Canissia to convince him of such a crazy tale. Even if Ryker and Varian were near-twins and Ryker’s treasured wife was Varian’s cherished ex-lover, it was reckless for the Maffeian starship commander to kill the Androasian prince. After seeing them together while shaking hands and talking on the viewer live and before many witnesses, he concluded that an impersonation ruse was impossible. Taemin finally answered Jurad’s question. “If it was her doing, Father, I will find out soon. And if it was intentional deceit, I will slay her.”

  Enroute to Tartarus in Androas, Jana remarked, “At least your cyborg trick duped Taemin like it duped me on Auriga. Whatever you said or did to cause Canissia to doubt you, he has to be convinced she was mistaken.”

  “With luck, those two are at each other’s throats and will stay out of our way. That will give us time to finish our tasks with Maal and on Darkar.”

  “If you take all the secrets from Trilabs, what value will it be to me?” Jana asked. “With it, I have the wealth, power, products, and knowledge to help my people on Earth.”

  “That isn’t possible, Jana. The products are from plants, minerals, and animals located here, not on your world. Those formulas would be useless to your people.”

  “Not if I make them here and transport them there. I can afford it.”

  “And create an imbalance of power on your planet? For your country to have such things would entice attacks from others, those called terrorists, to steal or take them from America. Advancement and progress on any world must come at its own rate, by its own hands, from its own caring. Can’t you imagine the fears you would evoke by revealing our existence? Your bargain with me was for a limited supply of knowledge, not for the continual feeding of it to your people. That would create chaos.”

  “Are you sure you trust me to carry out my end of the bargain? Have you forgotten I have just cause to betray you and seek revenge?”

  “If you toss me away, Moonbeam, you will miss me and my love. Where would you ever find another love as perfect as ours? Find a man who loves you and needs you as I do? You’re too intelligent and tenderhearted to throw away what we have. You could never love or respond to another man as you do with me. Think of what we have, Moonbeam, and how we make each other feel. Think of the good times we’ve shared. Don’t they count for something? We’ve learned a lot and both matured. I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve learned from them and from almost losing you.”

  “You have lost me, so face that reality. You did the tossing away, not me. You are the one who didn’t allow what we had—had, Varian—to count for anything. If our love was so perfect, you wouldn’t have slain it in such a cold and calculating manner. What I am is too experienced to trust you again with my heart.”

  “Haven’t there been times where you’ve unintentionally hurt someone because you did what you knew you had to do for the good of everyone involved? What kind of man would I be if I went against my conscience or didn’t do what I knew could save so many lives and obtain peace? If you’d tell me why what I did was so wrong, perhaps I can understand your feelings and thoughts
better and make up for wrongs you believe I committed against you.” Her expression warned him that his last sentence was another mistake, so he hurried past it. “I know you don’t like being tricked. But knowing what you do now, tell me what I could have done differently to accomplish my goals without losing you, my greatest personal treasure.”

  “This isn’t the time and place to be thinking about us, about Varian Saar. It’s vital to your charade for me to keep seeing you as Ryker. I can’t if you constantly remind me of your true self. If you don’t back off, you’ll have me calling you Varian by mistake and that could ruin everything and cost us our lives. This ruse has cost us plenty, so don’t make it fail by thinking about me when it’s too late to matter.”

  “Jana, please lis—”

  “No, Va—Ryker, I’ve heard enough today. I can hardly wait to see Andrea,” she began as she changed the topic to a safer one. With wisdom, he allowed her to do so.

  Maal gaped at the green-eyed blond as he related his facts and suspicions about Taemin and Canissia. “We must not trust the Tabrizes again, Grandfather. No doubt they hoped to slay us and blame the Maffeians to provoke you against them. They know we’re leaning heavily toward a new treaty and refusing to join them to war against the Alliance. They know I am the one trying to persuade you toward peace. But don’t worry, Grandfather, I will take care of them when the right time comes. First, they will endure my painful pinch by being cut off from Trilabs.”

  That revelation stunned the older man, but another did so even more. “How could you make peace with the son of the man who betrayed and destroyed your mother, my daughter?”

  “That was many years ago, Grandfather, and we’ve both changed. To hate for so long and so deeply eats into a man until it is he who is destroyed, not the enemy. We have lived and fed on thoughts and plans for revenge until that meal has grown sour and expensive. On Rigel, I had a talk with Varian. Just as I am not to blame for Mother’s deeds against the Saars and Trygues, Varian is not responsible for the deeds of his father against us. I have grown weary of our private war; it is past time to end it. We are half brothers: we carry the same blood and genes. There is a bond between us which we have both denied and resisted. To do so is self-destructive. He reminded me of something long forgotten: Galen never denied I was his son, and he did plead with Mother to let him raise me. Surely you recall it was you and Mother who refused, and he had no choice except to honor your wishes. Our parents are dead and buried, as the past should be. Before the Tri-Galaxy, Varian claimed me as his brother. Am I less of a man than he is? Could I have refused to accept his offer of peace?”

  “What if he lies, cherished flame of my soul?”

  “There is but a slim chance he fooled me. In our deepest of hearts, Grandfather, we do not know what happened between my mother and father years ago. Only they knew the truth and it is buried with them. Varian did not accuse Mother of being to blame because he does not know the truth, either. It is only natural for him and Tirol to accept Galen’s words, just as we accepted Mother’s. Perhaps it was a cruel twist of fate and neither Mother nor Father were at fault. Perhaps even they didn’t know the truth. Perhaps a chemical in the food or water worked a tragic spell on them. We know such things happen, Grandfather. Whatever took place between them, it is over for me and Varian.”

  Maal had always suspected his beloved, but selfish and defiant, child was to blame for ensnaring Galen, but he could not admit it aloud even now. “So you have made up your mind to push for a treaty with the Alliance?”

  “Yes, Grandfather, for many reasons. They risked a confrontation with Pyropea to rescue us; they saved our lives. During the voyage, I discovered that Maffei is much stronger than we realized, too strong and well trained to challenge recklessly. It will also prevent a rebellion among our people. I am convinced Varian and the Maffeians are sorry for the past and that their offer of peace is sincere. I will not tell you what to do or say, Grandfather, but I urge you to sign a treaty with them for everyone’s sake.”

  Varian paused a moment for those suggestions to sink in before he added, “Taemin will seek revenge on me for exposing his black deed. If anything happens to me, look to him, Grandfather, not to Varian or Maffei. But do not worry too much as I will guard my back and my wife well.”

  Maal reflected before answering. “I will wait, watch, and listen, cherished flame of my heart. I must have time to think on this matter and on your change of position. I have never known you to be wrong in the past, so there must be value in what you advise.”

  “That is good, Grandfather, because we all need fresh beginnings.”

  As Maal and Jana chatted, Varian thought about his impending talk with Agular to expose the breach with Pyropea and strengthen the ties to Maffei.

  Enroute home, Jana asked, “Do you think we convinced him to go for the new treaty?”

  “I hope so, Moonbeam. We did our best. You were perfect.”

  “Thanks. So were you. If your ruses with Maal and Jurad don’t succeed, you have the journals and tapes to use for blackmail.”

  “If I can obtain treaties without using them, I will.”

  “Why? Don’t you want them to know your father was innocent?”

  “As you’ve told me over and over, many people have been hurt by the past, and I think they’ve been helped by my ruses. If I don’t have to use that ugly evidence, it will prevent more pain. Besides, instead of settling them down completely, discovering such a horrible truth could provoke them again— especially Maal when he learns about Shara and Ryker.”

  Jana was surprised by his intentions, and she was warmed by his kindness. “You like Maal, don’t you?”

  “Let’s just say he isn’t totally to blame for his feelings and actions. He had Shara and Ryker provoking and duping him at every turn. The same is true with Jurad; he had Shara and Ryker and Taemin doing the same to him. He suffered a great humiliation before the Tri-Galaxy by what she did. He loved her and wanted her, so naturally he hated my father for stealing her even if it wasn’t his fault. I know I have the power and means to clear my father’s name, but the price could be destruction of all I’ve worked and sacrificed for to achieve. Father would understand and agree.” He didn’t think it was wise to remind her there was another reason to keep his evidence concealed: many of Maffei’s secrets were revealed and discussed on those tapes and pages. Many of them were entwined with portions he would need to use to persuade Maal and Jurad of the truth. He also noticed how Jana responded favorably to the motive he had mentioned for withholding them. It was selfish and even deceitful, but he didn’t want to destroy any progress he was making with her.

  “Is my part over? Is that all you needed from me?”

  “Not until Ryker is killed in that mining accident on Caguas. You’ll have to play the grieving widow when we take his body home to Maal. That will be your last assignment, Jana, then you’re out of this situation.”

  “What if Maal still points a finger at you instead of at an accident or at Taemin?”

  “I have an alibi arranged: Varian Saar will be a long way from Caguas.”

  “The cyborg again?”

  “Until I can switch places with it and visit Jurad.”

  “You’re going to see Jurad and Taemin? As yourself? Why?”

  He explained the importance and motive for his “official” visit.

  “You two being seen in different places at the same time should cover you when the news breaks. What about me? I’ll be a widow, Ryker’s heir. You know the leeches will come out of the walls to try to suck me dry.”

  Varian caressed her cheek. “I promise you, Moonbeam, nothing and no one will harm you again, not even me.”

  “Good. Now, make love to me.”

  “What?”

  “We did agree to be allies and lovers and friends, didn’t we?”

  “Yes, but you’ve been pushing me away.”

  “I told you why, so I wouldn’t forget you were Ryker before we saw Maal. After we reach Da
rkar, you’ll become Varian again so I don’t have to worry about that problem anymore. Besides, I have to test your pull on me before I reach home and everything gets crazy.”

  “You want me? Now?”

  Her hand reached up to caress his taut jawline and to trace the fake scar there. “You know I’ve never stopped wanting you in that way.”

  That physical contact and her mood called out to him to accept her offer to share herself. The ship was like a warm cocoon that encased them in a romantic haven that drew them together. It also separated them from the outside world that threatened to yank them apart and destroy their beautiful bond. Their pull on each other was too great to resist, and neither wanted to do so. Fate had drawn them together, parted them, and reunited them. Their hearts and lives had been changed by meeting each other: souls bound as one spirit, hearts beating until eternity with love, and bodies burning until infinity with desire.

  Varian captured the hands that were stroking his cheeks and pressed them to his lips. As his gaze remained locked with hers and he absorbed her mood, his lips and tongue played sensuous music in her palms. He stepped closer to her to remove all space between them. His arms banded her receptive body and his mouth seared over her ear. It murmured sweet and passionate endearments before drifting down the silky column of her throat. He felt her tremble and sway against him, as aroused as he was. His hands removed her nightgown and robe with speed and agility, then discarded his boots and pants. Pressing their supple frames together, he savored the touch of her tawny flesh against his tanned body.