December

by Karen Lofgren

  *

  Vandoraa crept up the steps of the former Capitol Building, not wanting to be seen by anyone, human or Drevi. The sun had already set on the east coast and the crescent moon was high in the sky. Vandoraa had been mesmerized by Earth’s moon the first time he set eyes on it, and found himself looking up at the beautiful shape even now. Dreve had two moons, but they were much smaller and less visually striking than this one, in his humble opinion.

  He slid inside the building. The Drevi had installed their own intruder alert system, of course, but he knew how to circumvent all of those. They were mainly in place to prevent humans from entering the building unauthorized. For someone with even basic Drevi military training, avoiding the motion-sensing devices was easy.

  His brother would be here. Tavron was practically living in his new office. Many high-profile Drevi commanders and diplomats who were in the area maintained an office in the building. Since it had been the home of human governing bodies for centuries until a few months ago, it was a perfect place for them.

  Vandoraa straightened as he strode down the hall, made two lefts, and continued down another hall. Finally, he found himself in front of Tavron’s office. Instead of announcing his presence in the traditional Drevi way by stating his name and business outside the door, he let himself in.

  Tavron glanced up, surprised at the lack of a greeting, but the surprise turned into euphoria as he realized at whom he was looking. “Vandoraa? Oh my God, you’re alive!” He practically leaped out of his chair, gathering his little brother in what humans would call a “bear hug.”

  “You’ve picked up some human slang,” Vandoraa observed warmly as he returned the embrace.

  “What happened, Vandoraa? Where were you? Your commander informed me you went missing the same time as the human ship that was in lock down.” Tavron was worried, as he rightly should be. Vandoraa looked up at his brother, eyes vacant and entirely unsure what to say. Tavron was tall even by Drevi standards—reaching close to eight feet. His bald head was a bit more pronounced in places than Vandoraa’s, and his silver almond-shaped eyes regarded his brother with concern. He was dressed in the robes of a Drevi diplomat: a violet robe with fluffy white trim. Underneath that he wore a plain black shirt and trousers. Like all Drevi, his skin was a light gray and he had a band of scales that ran symmetrically up his neck and ended in a curve above his eyes.

  “I—” Vandoraa tried to begin, but found he just didn’t have the words to describe his experiences to his brother. So he settled on a joke. “I took a trip to Kolea.”

  “So they did kidnap you,” Tavron said, his eyes darkening.

  “No, no,” Vandoraa said quickly. “I, uh, fell asleep. On the ship. Then they stole it.”

  Tavron had to let his brother’s comment sink in before he burst out laughing. “Seriously, little brother?” He used the endearing Drevi term for a younger brother, pochak.

  Vandoraa felt himself smile for the first time in months. “Yeah, I know.”

  “So, how did you get back?” Tavron seemed to know the answer, but wanted to hear Vandoraa tell his story.

  “Oh, Tavron, I was so scared. Every second I thought they might decide to kill me. But they took me to Kolea as a prisoner of war. They still have over a dozen Drevi soldiers in their custody from the Kolea-Dreve War.”

  “I know,” Tavron said. “That’s been one of my top priorities, to free those men and women. Are they being treated well?”

  “Yes.” Vandoraa looked out the window in shame. “Better than we treat our prisoners of war.” There was silence before Vandoraa chose to speak again. “I got back because I made a deal with the human, Ted Anderson. I said I’d help him and the Kolean military retake Earth, but I made the vibration, so my promise is void.”

  Tavron was confused. “How in the name of the Holy Mother did you get away?”

  Vandoraa quickly told him the story of why he had gone along with Ted and his close Kolean friends to Earth’s surface, the encounter with the Drevi scout ship, and the deaths of the four people. His voice shook as he got to the part about the shootout, and he felt shame well up inside his chest at his own weakness. He had joined the army, not the Sisters and Brothers of Peace.

  “Does anyone else know of this?” Tavron asked immediately after his brother finished.

  “No.”

  “You didn’t go to the House Manager stationed here, or your commanding officer first?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  Vandoraa faltered. “I—I don’t know.”

  Tavron seemed to be struggling to decide whether or not to tell his little brother something important. Something dangerous. Finally, his trust won out over his fear. “Vandoraa, I have a confession to make. I’ve been working to undermine this invasion.”

  Vandoraa couldn’t have been more shocked if his brother had just admitted he was the bastard offspring of their mother. “You’re what?”

  Tavron sighed, looking away to a neutral place, out the window. “I don’t know, Vandoraa. I shouldn’t tell you—the only reason I am is because we are family and there is no stronger bond.” He drew in a deep breath. “But this just isn’t right. I’ve seen what we’re doing. I know how horrible it is.”

  “So, you don’t want me to report to anyone?”

  “I can’t control your actions, Vandoraa, but you must see that we cannot go on like this. Scientific study? Military conquest? Maybe we should work on fixing our own planet, our own problems, instead.”

  “I guess I agree with you, but this is treason.”

  “No, you’re committing treason. I’m working to change the system from the inside, legally,” Tavron said with a laugh.

  “Tavron...” Vandoraa was struck speechless. Was his brother really suggesting this?

  Tavron was silent for several moments. “Only you can decide your actions,” he finally said. “Just remember, you’re the one who has to live with yourself.”

  Vandoraa’s eyes drifted to the floor as his mind processed his older brother’s words. It was his choice. If he told his superiors what he knew, he would undoubtedly be welcomed back a hero. But if he did that, he would doom humanity to eventual annihilation—maybe not of the body, but definitely of the spirit. If he sided with Ted, he would never be trusted by Ted or the Koleans, but he would be standing up to the oppressors, in this case, his own government and military. Betrayal. Not so much of Dreve—his family had never supported the current Queen—but of his House. His family. What would they think? Gavton would never speak to him again, if not outright try and kill him, for dishonoring the Drevi army. His father might understand, but his mother would be less forgiving. And as everyone knew, she had all the power. Would they throw him out? Would he become Houseless? The mere thought sent a shiver down his spine. Was it really worth it?

  “For what it’s worth,” Tavron continued, his voice soft and calm in spite of what he was saying, “I think you should return to the humans and Koleans. Help them. I’ll remain here and continue what I’m already doing. Think about it. Maybe getting kidnapped wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened. You’ve been given an opportunity. I wouldn’t waste it.”

  Turning away, Vandoraa whispered, “I will go back, for now. I might not be able to leave again, but I can always withdraw my help or mislead them. I need to think. See through their eyes some more.”

  “That’s fair,” Tavron said. He reached out to hug his brother again. “I love you, pochak. Please stay safe.”

  Vandoraa said nothing so his brother wouldn’t hear a voice choked with tears. The invasive watery substance welled up in his eyes, and he had to turn away. Crying was not considered a sign of weakness on Dreve, for males or females, but it was something private he didn’t want his brother to see. “I love you too, Tavron.” Unable to find the strength to look his brother in the face again, for what he knew could be the last time, he crept out the door and back into the night that concealed the unknown.

  XIIr />