Crusader

by Cyndi Friberg

  Hearing her admit it was a wonderful relief, but it made her even harder to forgive. “You let me rot in that mental hospital for almost a year, knowing I wasn’t crazy?” Each word was filled with accusation and pain, but Ashley was unable to soften her tone.

  Abigail finally looked up, but her expression was carefully guarded. “I was terrified they’d come after us. Your insanity protected you. No one took you seriously, so you weren’t a threat.”

  There was a twisted sort of logic in the position, but Ashley had been deeply changed by her months in that facility. She’d become withdrawn and suspicious, pushing everyone away. It had taken her many years, and one extraordinary friend named Raina Solano to draw Ashley out of her self-imposed isolation.

  “I never wanted to hurt you.” Her mother sounded genuinely sorry, but was her regret enough? “I didn’t know what else to do.”

  Resentment and bitterness only made Ashley more miserable. No one could change the past, but how she reacted in the present would define her future. She needed to forgive her mother or she would never be able to move on.

  Ashley went to Abigail and knelt beside her chair. “Do you believe me now?” She ended the question with a beaming smile and they embraced. Abigail clung to her, crying softly.

  “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”

  She stroked her mother’s hair and let her cry. “I love you, Mom, and I know you love me. The rest will stay in the past where it belongs.”

  It felt surprising and empowering to be the comforter for a change. She felt so much stronger now, so much more secure. She could offer forgiveness and warmth because she was surrounded by affection and support. And she could sum up the change with one word, Bandar.

  * * * * *

  The Crusader rendezvoused with the other three ships before returning to Earth. Bandar contacted Garin from his cabin, hoping for a private word with his older brother. Unfortunately, General Nox responded to the telepathic ping. Bandar asked if Garin had made his decision about the consequences of their disobedience, but Garin refused to tell Bandar anything.

  Keyran deserves to hear it first, Garin told Bandar. Tell him to be in the conference room in ten minutes. My representatives will arrive shortly.

  Do you want me there as well? He dreaded the answer. The entire situation had been a fiasco and he’d played an active part in the events.

  You, Ashley, Nazerel and Morgan. Everyone needs to be on the same page from this point on. Am I understood?

  Yes, sir. May I say one thing before you go?

  It won’t change the outcome.

  Bandar had to try. Keyran didn’t make the decision alone. I was just as—

  Keyran commanded the mission. He is ultimately responsible for what transpired.

  Yes, sir. It was obvious Garin had made up his mind. Arguing at this point would only piss him off.

  Bandar closed the link with a sigh. There was nothing he could do to soften the blow for his old friend, so he decided it was best to just face it head-on. It had been a gamble either way. If they’d succeeded or if the com-bot had blinked out, they would have been heroes. Instead, it was pretty obvious that Keyran was about to lose his command.

  With a heavy heart, Bandar notified everyone that Garin had requested and told them to gather in the conference room.

  “What should I do with my mother?” Ashley asked. “She’s still pretty rattled.”

  “This shouldn’t take long. Ask her to wait in my cabin.”

  Ashley agreed, so Bandar made his way to the conference room. He was the first to arrive, but the others joined him a few minutes later.

  “Did you get a preview of my fate?” Keyran took a seat next to Morgan, avoiding his usual place at the head of the table.

  “I tried, but General Nox was not in the mood to indulge his little brother.”

  Keyran nodded. “I know my career is over, but I’d do it again.” He looked into Bandar’s eyes, his expression resigned. “You don’t think Garin will—”

  “This will not cost you your life.” A general was within his rights to order an execution when lives were lost as a result of insubordination. There had been one casualty during the brief battle and six others had been severely injured. Still, Bandar couldn’t believe that was what Garin had in mind.

  Bandar sat beside Ashley and waited for Garin’s “representatives” to arrive.

  He didn’t have long to wait. The door slid open and Raylon Lasenger strode into the room, followed by Kotto Tarr, Keyran’s younger brother. They were dressed in armor as if they were going to war rather than conducting a meeting. Raylon looked grim and brutal, as always. He’d served with Garin longer than anyone else and Bandar wasn’t surprised to see him. Raylon was a problem solver, the sort to sweep in and clean up other people’s messes. The right side of his face had been sliced open from forehead to chin during a battle twelve years ago. He wore the scar like a badge of honor, refusing to have his face regenerated.

  “I’ll get right to it.” He didn’t bother siting down. Instead, he stood at the head of the table and clasped his hands behind his back, looking directly at Keyran as he spoke. “Keyran Tarr, by the authority granted to General Garin Nox by the Rodyte Planetary Defense Force, you are relieved of duty and shall be confined to the detention level until a guarded transport delivers you to the Undaunted for final sentencing. Do you require an escort?”

  “I do not.” Without making eye contact with anyone else, Keyran left the room.

  Raylon motioned Kotto forward until they stood side-by-side. Kotto was a bit taller, but Raylon was more muscular. Both had wavy dark hair and angular features. The rings in Raylon’s eyes were green, while Kotto’s were vivid purple.

  Bandar wasn’t sure if this made it better or worse. Would Keyran be relieved or angry when he learned that he’d been replaced by his brother? Bandar didn’t know Kotto well, though his reputation was exemplary. Like Bandar, Kotto had been offered his own command and he’d chosen to remain on the Undaunted with Garin. Apparently, that was about to change.

  “Everyone stand.” Raylon waited until they obeyed before turning back to Kotto. “Raise your right hand.”

  With an expressionless mask concealing his reaction, Kotto raised his hand.

  “Repeat after me,” Raylon prompted. “I, Kotto Tarr.”

  “I, Kotto Tarr.”

  “Do solemnly swear to support and defend Rodymia against all enemies.”

  Kotto repeated each stanza, his voice strong yet mechanical.

  Bandar watched him closely, trying to ascertain his mood. The Crusader was a fine ship, coveted my many. Still, Kotto had to be tormented by the circumstances that brought him to this point.

  “I will obey the orders of my superior officers and shall demand obedience from those subordinate to me.” The stipulation felt particularly weighty after what had happened today, but Kotto spoke the words without hesitation.

  “I shall uphold this office to the best of my abilities and offer up all my strength, according to the Uniform Codes governing the Rodyte Planetary Defense Force.”

  After Kotto completed the final vow, Raylon snapped to attention. “May the gods protect you and welcome you into the afterlife when your work on Rodymia is done. Congratulations, Commander Tarr.”

  Kotto accepted the traditional greeting with a solemn nod and then the others showed their support with respectful applause. It wasn’t Kotto’s fault that any of this was happening.

  “Congratulations,” Nazerel said as the clapping died down.

  “Thank you.” Kotto’s mask slipped for just a second and Bandar saw the emotions Kotto was struggling to suppress. Anger, worry and anticipation all twisted in a conflicted mess.

  “We’re not finished.” Raylon motioned Kotto toward one of the empty chairs as he sat down at the head of the table. “Now that the official nonsense is over, let’s get down to business. Garin anticipates resistance to the new leadership. Many of these men have served Keyran Tarr excl
usively.” He looked at Kotto, gaze bright and assessing. “You’re going to have to prove that you deserve this position.”

  “I expect nothing less from Rodytes and I welcome the challenge.”

  “Good.” That seemed to settle the subject, so Raylon moved on. “I’ve been assigned to oversee all four ships. The commanders will now answer to me and I’ll answer to Garin. Each ship will have its own mission and I’m to keep everyone on task.”

  “What’s the Crusader’s mission?” Kotto asked.

  “You’ll return to Earth and ascertain the location of the Relentless. However, once the ship is found, Chandar’s rescue will be undertaken by one of the other ships. You’re too damn close to the situation to be objective.”

  Kotto glared, clearly infuriated by the decision. “Then who?”

  “I’m not sure. Garin was still debating when I left.”

  “What will we be doing?” Kotto failed to conceal his annoyance.

  “Reopening Lunar 9.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding.” Bandar spoke the words reflected in the expressions of Kotto and Nazerel. The females just looked confused. “That outpost was deserted over thirty years ago.”

  “It was fully functional when it was shut down,” Raylon asserted. “Garin has no reason to believe it can’t be reactivated with minimal effort.”

  “What is Lunar 9?” Ashley asked.

  “It’s a scientific outpost inside Earth’s moon,” Raylon told her casually.

  She gaped at him. “There’s a Rodyte outpost inside Earth’s moon?”

  “Several actually,” he admitted with a cheeky smile. “Lunar 9 was the last and largest.”

  “Unbelievable.” There was so much hostility in Morgan’s tone that Nazerel reached over and took her hand. “This is the first I’ve heard of it. Do Rodytes understand what alliance means?”

  Raylon chuckled. “You’re Director Hoyt, I take it?”

  “I am.”

  “I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Raylon Lasenger.”

  “Garin’s enforcer.” Nazerel’s light tone did nothing to defuse the tension building around them.

  Raylon shrugged, clearly unconcerned with the title. “Garin’s ready to start moving forward. Things on Rodymia are deteriorating faster than anticipated, so we need to start making preparations.”

  “Preparations for what?” Uncertainty rippled across their link as Ashley glanced at Bandar.

  “Arrival of the battle born.”

  Ashley shot to her feet. “I knew it! You are invading. This is what you’ve been planning all along.” She glared at Bandar, then Raylon, and suddenly their empathic link slammed shut. Apparently, his nanites were responding to her brainwaves now. It was doubtful she even realized what she’d done.

  Raylon’s smile didn’t warm his eyes as he motioned her back down in her seat. “Relax, Ms. Kane. We’re a long way from an ‘invasion’, but I won’t lie to you. We’re the vanguard for a much larger force. We’re looking for allies not adversaries and there’s a lot we can offer humans in exchange for access to willing females. Do I need to say that part again? We are only interested in creating bonds with willing females. But regardless of the complications, the battle born will no longer tolerate being manipulated and abused.”

  She just stared at Raylon in mutinous silence.

  Taking advantage of the opening, Bandar asked, “What’s going to happen to Keyran once he’s returned to the Undaunted?”

  “He’ll be reassigned to a position with less responsibility. Garin loves the old man. You of all people know how much they mean to each other. But Keyran screwed up. Garin had no choice but to make an example out of him. Orders must be obeyed or the entire system falls apart. Frankly, you’re damn lucky he focused his ire on Keyran. He was justified in recalling all three of you.”

  “I understand.” The situation hadn’t been black and white. If he’d lost Abigail’s signal, they might never have located the Relentless again. Still, he understood Raylon’s position. They’d greatly increased the risk by acting on impulse.

  Raylon pushed back from the table and stood then turned toward Kotto. “I’d like to use the Crusader as my headquarters, as long as you have no objections.”

  It was a courtesy and everyone knew it. “Of course, sir,” Kotto replied. “Will you require staff as well?”

  “They’ve already been selected. We arrived on the Intrepid, but their mission will keep them on the move. It makes more sense for me to be on the Crusader. My staff can double up, which means I’ll need three cabins including my own.”

  “That won’t be a problem.” Their conversation continued as they left the conference room.

  “That was—unexpected.” Nazerel muttered as he pushed to his feet.

  “Not really.” Bandar sighed as he stood as well. “Even Keyran knew Garin would have to replace him.”

  “I meant Lunar 9. Why wake it up after all these years?”

  “Neutral ground?” Morgan suggested. “It will give them a place to set up shop while they negotiate with…” She looked at Bandar, eyes narrowed. “Do you know which government General Nox plans to approach?”

  Bandar shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “Garin has been frustratingly tightlipped lately. I don’t think he’s intentionally keeping things from me. He’s just incredibly busy.”

  Apparently tired of looking up at their men, the females both stood.

  “Well, he’s playing two roles, rebel leader and loyal general,” Morgan reminded. “That’s a lot to juggle even for a Nox.”

  After a thoughtful pause, Nazerel asked, “How well do you know Kotto?”

  “I know of him more than actually knowing him. He’s Keyran’s baby brother. We’ve never really interacted. But I trust my brother. If Garin thought Kotto was the best man for the job, then I’ll give him the benefit of a doubt.”

  Suddenly, curiosity animated Nazerel’s expression and he looked at Ashley. “You never told us how you did it. How were you able to guide us through the ship?”

  “Pyre Sterling is Chandar’s mother,” Morgan told the men. “Chandar sensed a blood relative and activated a familial connection with Ashley. Then she used Ashley’s link with Bandar to—”

  “But she wasn’t just mind sharing.” The more Bandar thought about the specifics of what Chandar had done, the more impossible it seemed. “She was aware of where I was and everything that was happening around me.”

  “She’s an organic female harbinger,” Nazerel stressed each word in the impressive list. “It’s likely she doesn’t even know the full extent of her powers.”

  A surge of guilt and sympathy reopened their empathic link and Bandar swept Ashley into a comforting hug. “Oh, angel, this was not your fault.”

  “Your connection to Chandar is likely our only hope of finding her again,” Nazerel stressed. ”And we will find her again.”

  Ashley looked into Bandar’s eyes and found the strength to smile. “Because we won’t stop looking until we do?”

  “Exactly.” He reinforced the claim with a tender kiss.

  “Let’s give them some privacy.” Without waiting for Nazerel to agree, Morgan dragged him from the room.

  Bandar rested his hands on her hips, leaving enough space between them so they could see each other’s faces. “So, have you ever wanted to visit the moon?”

  She smiled then laughed, her joy curling into his mind. “You’re serious?”

  “I completed my mission. Not only does the research team have Daniel Kane’s documentation, they have samples from his primary test subject. Until General Nox defines my next mission, I’m just along for the ride.”

  “I’d love to explore the moon with you, as long as we take my mother home first.” She shook her head with a guilty smile. “I love her dearly and would have died if anything happened to her, but she knows how to push my buttons like no one else.”

  “I’m pretty sure that can be arranged.” He smoothed her hair back fro
m her face as her features tensed.

  “What about Chandar?”

  “I haven’t forgotten about Chandar.” He moved his hands to her shoulders and pulled her closer. “Now that Garin knows she’s alive, no force in the universe will protect Akim. Chandar will be rescued and we will play a part. However, that part will likely be less direct than it was before.”

  “And you’re okay with that?”

  “Military life quickly teaches you that you won’t always be the one to lead the charge. That doesn’t make you less valuable than the person who does.”

  She moved even closer, wrapping her arms around his waist. “So where does this leave us?”

  “We can shape our future however we want. That’s the point of all this. We’re attempting to give battle born sons new and different options.”

  “But those options can’t be paid for at the expense of human females.”

  He eased her back and framed her face with his hands. “Have I taken advantage of you?”

  “No, but—”

  “But nothing. Each battle born son must find his mate before any of this means anything. If he senses his true mate, he will feel for her the way I feel for you. These things cannot be faked and they cannot be forced. We are no danger to human females.”

  “I want to believe that so badly.”

  “Why would you doubt my words when you’ve experienced it for yourself?”

  She hesitated a moment longer, then blew out a shaky breath. “It always comes down to trust, doesn’t it? I have to trust that you’ll protect my people because they’re important to me.”

  “That’s a good reason, but I’ll give you an even better one. I will protect your people because they’re the best hope my people have of building a future far different from the one we’re allowed on Rodymia. We’re in this together, which is as it should be for mates.”

  She wrapped her arms around him again and pressed her face against his chest. “I know you have things you should be doing, but I can hardly believe we survived. Can you hold me for just a little while?”