by C. C. Ekeke
A lifetime ago, her Ttaunz perfection had mesmerized Taorr. Now Uarya reminded him of the future he might never have with Mhir’ujiid. That angered him all over again. “You’re here to talk sense into me?”
The highborn female nodded, easing into a seat on his couch. “Your mother is dissuading my father from calling a forum of the merchant families.”
Taorr stared at her. Forums were to replace the ruling highborn family if deemed too weak or financially destitute to lead. “Why?”
Uarya gave him a look. “Because of you.”
He almost yelled “Uaros can’t do that,” but knew that was false. If Taorr’s family, House Ipmas, was removed from power, that humiliation would never leave them.
Taorr grabbed his head, sank into his seat. This situation kept growing worse. “No, no, no.”
Uarya’s hand on his shoulder startled him, but he didn’t pull away.
“I was sent to persuade you of your duties. But I won’t.” Uarya sounded calm. Almost accepting. “You have every right to spurn me, after Gaorr…and the others.”
Taorr stared up at the ceiling. She and Gaorr’s betrayal still stung, despite him no longer loving Uarya.
Her hand drifted to his face, guiding Taorr’s attention back to her. She was looking impish. “I know how we both get what we want.”
Taorr tensed, recalling how scheming Uarya was. Coupled with her rampant infidelity, could he trust her? But at this point Taorr had no options. “I’m listening.”
***
“Still nothing, after all that?” Khal complained. He stood with Tyris in a darkened observation room, watching the myriad of floating holoscreens lighting up the space. Other Union Command and Ttaunz Defense Force officials had moved on to containing the lightning storms and chaos popping up all over Faroor. Physically, Khal felt more refreshed thanks to a quick powernap on the way back to Magnasterium. Mentally, he was spent.
All thanks to the piece of tattshi Star Brigade was attempting to interrogate.
Every screen featured a different angle of Ghuj’aega. Their caged adversary, a scrawny, hairless Farooqua with odd white tattoos, sat against his cell wall. Shackled with every kind of restraint Khrome could think of, this once powerful terrorist appeared utterly neutered.
But one look into those malevolent purple eyes, and Khal knew otherwise.
After the TDF and UComm had tried interrogating Ghuj’aega, Tyris had gotten his shot. The Tanoeen had interrogated Ghuj’aega for over three orvs with no success. Khal was surprised at Tyris’s questioning in there with the terrorist, circling Ghuj’aega like some ice-hewn predator. He worked every angle, provoking Ghuj’aega about killing his Ghebrekh tribe, digging into the inevitability of Star Brigade finding ways to kill him. “No merging with the Zenith Point for you,” Tyris had taunted.
All the while, he repeated one question over and over. “Captain Habraum Nwosu. Dr. Liliana Cortes. Specialist Byzlar. Where did you send them?”
Still, Ghuj’aega remained silent.
“What do you want to do?” Khal turned to his superior officer. Tyris watched the screens through beady blue eyes. The Tanoeen had not rested since they had captured Ghuj’aega. In fact, Khal couldn’t remember ever seeing Tyris sleep since meeting him.
Beneath the dark ribbed uniform, the Tanoeen’s ice-crystalline body with all its jagged spikes appeared shinier than usual. As if he was beginning to melt.
Tyris turned to him. “Take a break. Try again. Using more aggressive tactics.”
Khal’s eyes widened. “Enhanced interrogation?” AKA torture. By no means was he upset by the prospect. The chance to hurt this bastard for all the chaos he’d caused actually excited him. Khal doubted that anyone in the UComm or TDF would care. The thought was both thrilling and chilling.
The Tanoeen nodded. “He knows where Habraum and Lily are, and how to stop these lightning storms.”
Khal grinned. “Sounds good to me.”
“If enhanced interrogation doesn’t work,” Tyris said, “we call in CT-2 early.”
Khal sucked in a breath. Of course Tyris had a lot riding on getting Ghuj’aega to talk. And Tyris, as modest and concise as he was, wanted to find his superior and teammates without calling in help.
“Speaking of Sam…” Khal wanted to hold off on this topic. But after her latest, less cordial message, it couldn’t be avoided. “She’s contacted me three times asking for a status report. She’ll know something’s up if I don’t answer.”
“Stay concise,” Tyris offered with cold confidence. “Tell her Ghuj’aega’s been captured. We are exploring ways to destroy him. Don’t mention Reign or Crescendo. Yet.”
Khal wasn’t sure Sam would buy that, but he would try.
The human nodded and moved to leave the observation room. He stopped when he remembered one more thing. “What about your Imperium contacts?”
The Tanoeen’s gaze was steady, emotionless. “Still looking. Will let you know when I know.”
“Don’t waste your time.”
Both Khal and Tyris jumped. The otherworldly voice had boomed from the viewscreen. “Your feeble efforts only delay my ascendance,” Ghuj’aega stated in Standard, glaring back at the mainscreen with glittering eyes.
Khal shivered, feeling like the Farooqua was staring directly at him. “I will merge with the Zenith Point and awaken the Dreaming Farooqua,” he continued. “And when I do, this universe will be made right again.” Ghuj’aega turned away to stare at the wall again.
Khal didn’t bother hiding how rattled those words left him.
“No, we can’t kill him yet,” the Tanoeen answered before he could ask. “Go. Rest.”
Khal headed back to Star Brigade’s temporary quarters in Magnasterium, but quickly got lost. The splendor of this palatial residence’s halls were welcome distractions. The ancient Ttaunz architecture, the busts of former Maorridius Magnuses lining the walls. He almost strained his neck staring up the ceiling’s tapestries depicting the intergalactic scope of the former Supremacy before the Ruin. No matter which part of Magnasterium he viewed, Khal could smell the wealth and privilege oozing from every corner. And coming from wealth and privilege, he thought he’d experienced the upper echelons. The only negatives were the aftershocks of the skyquakes sporadically vibrating the galleries, and the fear ruling any Ttaunz that Khal saw scurrying by.
Fifteen macroms of wandering passed before he reached a translifter. Khal stood in silence, the only sounds a low humming as the golden and jeweled carrier moved up and then diagonally to Star Brigade’s quarters. Unfortunately, silence left him alone with his thoughts, which drifted back to Ghuj’aega and losing two teammates. The flippant part of Khal kept hoping Captain Nwosu and Liliana would appear soon, shaken but unharmed. But Tyris’s story about that human body on Titanoa still disturbed Khal on every level. What if they were both either dead or dying somewhere in the past? Alone and away from any assistance? Then Ghuj’aega’s eerie words floated through his brain. Your feeble efforts only delay my ascendance. Khal shuddered.
With CT-1 unable to find their missing teammates, unable to eliminate Ghuj’aega, icy fear began slithering around his heart.
The cocky hotshot Khal wanted everyone to know him as suddenly felt brittle, laughable. His world cratered and spun.
He sighed heavily, leaning head and hands on a beautifully fashioned wall. You’re not helpless. You’re not weak. Khal pushed aside the unpleasantness and filled his thoughts with the glories of Uarya’s body from a few days ago. And then the females waiting for him back on Hollus. In nanoclics, his mood improved significantly.
Khal pushed off the wall and smirked. Much better. CT-1 would find Nwosu and Cortes. They would even find Specialist Byzlar. No question. Just confidence.
An idea popped into Khal’s head then. It’s been a day, he told himself, and maybe I can cover new ground. “Take me to Taorr the Lesser’s apartments.” The translifter acknowledged Khal’s request with a soft double beep.
A
shiver rippled through the whole translifter tube. Khal barely acknowledged it. Skyquake, he told himself once it subsided moments later.
Five macroms later, Khal was striding through the corridors of Taorr’s apartments. Due to Star Brigade’s security clearance and saving Taorr, Khal had no issues entering. The trappings were just as fancy, showcasing holoimages of the kid’s bloodline dating back two centuries. Khal made a face. I’d want to run away if I had to stare at these faces every day.
The wall decorations were more pared down than on Magnasterium’s other levels.
Khal rounded a corner—nearly running into a slender and leggy vision of Ttaunz beauty. Her gown was a figure-hugging, flowing silky black number that left little to the imagination. But Khal recognized the wearer. She recognized him also, surprise, wistfulness, and terror rippling across her well-bred features.
“Lady Uarya.” Khal’s mouth pulled into a satisfied smirk. “What a pleasant surprise.”
Uarya had fixed her expression to portray a confused but cordial smile. She pointed at Khal as if trying to recall something. “Apologies. Your name again?”
Khal chuckled. Playing the forgetful game, are we? He’d dealt with females far more attractive, unyielding, and wealthier than some random Ttaunz merchant princess, breaking down all their defenses. “Funny.” Khal leaned closer, whispering in her ear, “Last we met, you remembered my name loudly and repeatedly.”
That wiped any confusion off Uarya’s face. A word from Khal could crater her betrothal. And she knew it.
He raised a hand as she tried to speak. “Our secret is safe.” His smirk stretched obnoxiously, echoing how superior he felt. “Nice seeing you again. In the flesh.” He kept walking. Honestly, Khal wouldn’t mind another go.
Too bad that one is off limits. Khal shrugged and quickened his pace. He soon arrived at the entrance to Taorr’s actual rooms. The doors looked near impenetrable, nine feet of dark iron with shimmery platinum tapestries of trees woven across the entire length. And that didn’t include the security systems ready to evaporate unwelcome guests.
“Taorr,” Khal spoke for the comms. “Lieutenant Khal al Abdullah from Star Brigade. Had some follow-up questions if possible.” The doors swung open. Khal frowned. Who still used doors with hinges anymore?
He found the Magnal heir in his common room. The room was larger than some apartments. Taorr sat on a floating white foam couch, wearing proper fashionable raiment befitting his station. His hair was combed out and pulled back in a low ponytail. He looked less gaunt from his imprisonment. However, Taorr’s face looked drained beneath his blue pelt.
“There’s no way out.” He turned to Khal. “No matter where I look, I see only one doorway leading down a path I no longer want.”
Uh-oh. Khal moved to Taorr’s side. “What happened?” he asked.
Taorr shook his head. “My parents are moving up my marriage date to Uarya. And if I end the engagement, her family is threatening to call a vote on the Ttaunz leadership. That hasn’t happened in over forty years since my great-grandfather took power.”
Khal made a face and folded his arms. “Eeesh. Okay.”
“And,” Taorr raised both hands only to let them drop, “if I leave with Mhir’ujiid, everyone knows my brother as Magnus will be a disaster.”
Khal didn’t care about this Ttaunz drama. But if listening got him answers on Captain Nwosu and Dr. Cortes’s potential locations, he’d endure it. “I’m sensing another option.”
Taorr gave him an odd look. “Uarya offered to stop her family from calling a forum if I gave her my DNA for an offspring.”
Khal snorted, knowing Ttaunz children were created in labs to weed out genetic defects and impurities. He found that ridiculous and gross. Yet it was a win-win for Taorr, who still looked unhappy.
“What’s the problem, then?” Khal frowned.
“Leaving with Mhir’ujiid and abandoning my child!” The Ttaunz leaped up, walking back and forth.
“You don’t have to abandon your child,” Khal replied.
Taorr replied with a sad smile. “If I abdicate, my child becomes the next Magnus due to lineage laws. But I am banished from my family for life.”
Sounds familiar…minus the ruling a whole planet part, Khal mused. A low vibration shook the room. Both Khal and Taorr tensed, only for the vibration to simmer down. Another skyquake.
Khal continued. “Do you love Mhir’ujiid? Or is she just a distraction from your duties?”
Taorr whirled on him, furious. “I love her more than anything in this universe.”
Khal nodded, arms folded. “Then go with what will make you happy.”
Taorr opened his mouth to protest. “I can relate,” Khal interrupted. “I’m from a wealthy family in the energy trade. I was expected to follow the family business.” He looked Taorr in the eyes. “Wasn’t interested. I did everything to delay the inevitable. Even flunked out of university once.”
Khal plopped down on the couch, brushing back his mop of wavy black hair. “My parents gave me an ultimatum. Follow their lead or get cut off.” Khal snatched up a Galdorian surkuch fish egg, popping it into his mouth. Delicious… “I took option two, which nearly destroyed me.”
Taorr looked unmoved, impatient. “How—”
Khal raised a hand, quieting him. “A third option appeared…with costs.” Khal’s heart trembled, recalling those costs. “Which I’d pay again if presented the same choices.”
Taorr was completely lost. “What was your third option?”
Khal leaned back, hand still raised, giving the common room a casual, sweeping glance. “Look around.”
Taorr spun around, nearly jumping out of his pelt. Khal was telekinetically levitating every chair, table and unmoored object in the common room off the floor except the couch he sat on. Taorr marveled.
As he should, Khal smirked. “I was twenty when my powers manifested. Seemed like a curse initially. But after changing the course of my life, I saw what a gift they are.” He hadn’t pondered his activation in years. Even now, the memories were too painful. Khal pushed those thoughts aside and lowered his hands. All the furniture landed gently in their original positions.
“Take option three,” Khal declared, no longer smiling. “Yeah, you’re being selfish. But why endure a loveless marriage and a leadership role you don’t want?” He stood up and approached Taorr, who eyed him in unmistakable reverence. Khal didn’t mind that. “Live your life how you choose, not as your parents choose for you.”
Taorr nodded, still gawking. “No wonder Uarya slept with you.”
Khal froze. That bitch told him? A wave of fear washed away all his swagger. He opened his mouth to spin some excuse.
Now Taorr shook his head. “I don’t care. My feelings for Uarya expired years ago.”
Khal exhaled heavily, more relieved than he cared to show. Cortes was right. I should do my homework before sampling the locals.
“I mean,” Taorr smiled. “After your betrothed sleeps with your own brother, all other indiscretions pale in comparison, right?”
Khal searched Taorr’s stony expression. Was he joking? “You got some space opera-level drama here.”
Taorr laughed, sounding like a chirping bird. Uarya laughed the same way. Must be a Ttaunz thing, Khal surmised with a boisterous chuckle.
His wristcom beeping interrupted them. “Excuse me,” Khal said, seeing Tyris’s name, and scurried from the common room.
“Commander,” he answered once outside of Taorr’s apartments.
“The others found Reign.” The excitement in Tyris’s cold voice was palpable. “He has none of his comm devices, but DNA scans confirms his identity. They are flying to retrieve him as we speak.”
Relief filled Khal to the brim. “Thank the Maker.” Finally, some good news. “What about Crescendo and Byzlar?”
“Nothing yet,” the Tanoeen answered.
That dampened Khal’s mood. But by finding Captain Nwosu, then Cortes and Byzlar would certainly be
next. “What do you need from me?”
“Just rest,” Tyris said. “I’m in our temporary lodgings pulling together Ghuj’aega’s past attacks. Looking for a weakness— Sergeant Fiyan’s calling. I’ll add her to our transmission.”
After a nanoclic, the Nnaxan soldier could be heard. “Commander Iecen.”
Khal straightened in posture. He didn’t care for the urgency in her terse greeting.
“Sergeant,” Tyris replied. “We found Captain Nwosu. Any luck finding Specialist Byzlar?”
“None. But that isn’t why I contacted you,” she said tersely. “I got word the TDF is moving Ghuj’aega.”
“What?” Khal and Tyris barked at once. The former whirled, heart racing as fast as his feet through the corridors of Taorr’s apartments for the nearest translifter.
“Maorridius Magnus wants him tried for his crimes,” Fiyan stated, sounding as angry as Khal felt. “Make a big public show of how the Ttaunz deal with its enemies.”
Khal swore under his breath, finally finding a translifter in these garish corridors. “UComm is planning on stopping them, I hope,” Khal blurted out. It wasn’t a question.
“UComm forces on Faroor are mobilizing now,” Fiyan replied with subtle resentment. “Though we are spread out across the planet quelling the violence between Ttaunz and Farooqua forces.”
“Khrome put a tracker on Ghuj’aega’s restraints,” Tyris said. “I’m checking now…”
Khal entered the translifter with a wrought golden doorframe, waiting for a location.
“They’re moving Ghuj’aega to an unmarked sublevel with a secret hangar bay. Can’t get any other info.” Tyris addressed Khal by codename. “Vertex, I sent you the location. Get there now. I’m in route.”
“On it,” Khal said, entering the command into the translifter’s console.
“Sorry. But that sublevel doesn’t exist,” the computerized voice replied.
Khal swore loudly. Must be a special access-only level of Magnasterium. Entering the level data from his wristcom twice more got the same results. He shouted in wordless ferocity, almost telekinetically ripping that blinking console from the translifter wall. This meant he and Tyris couldn’t prevent the goddamn Ttaunz from screwing their mission again.