Atone By Treaty

by Kayla Stonor

  Clearly Zubarev saw Oltu’s warship as the lesser threat.

  Gabrielle glanced at the Qui walking beside her.

  Oltu noticed. “If I intended Earth harm, my warship would have no world to orbit.” His raven-black wings flexed open, a fierce breeze ruffling the soft feathers.

  “How reassuring,” Cale observed.

  Zubarev cast his subordinate a measured look. “The Qui Empress has assured President Rooster the First Lord of Katar will be leaving Earth shortly.”

  Gabrielle’s heart jumped and she grabbed Zubarev’s elbow, pulling him around. “Sonestra contacted Dad?” Gabrielle checked. “He knows about Ben?”

  “Yes. The Empress confirmed to President Rooster that your brother is on Dralexi and that First Lord Oltu will ensure Dralexi complies with the Qui Treaty regarding human prisoners of war.”

  Tears sprung to her eyes. “This is the formal confirmation of life? Ben’s definitely alive?”

  Zubarev nodded. “We have no reason to doubt the Dralexin’s report.”

  “Oh my god!” Her brother was alive! She wasn’t running on hope alone. Miracles did happen! She swung to Oltu. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d received confirmation?”

  Oltu looked conflicted, his wings tightly furled. “I received the report just before we left the Thrak ‘Yla.” His eyes softened. “I wished to inform you personally, but the Honored Qui preferred that she convey the news to your father.”

  Gabrielle nearly hugged him. Her brother might have died on that planet but for Oltu, although, Ben wouldn’t be there in the first place if not for the Qui. Still, the First Lord of Katar had taken the trouble to locate him, and hopefully her father would go easier on her now, although she doubted the good news enough to mitigate her behavior. She’d allowed Oltu to manipulate her, worried her father, and put Cale through a miserable night to boot, and in the cold light of day, however vital her work with the Salhi, she wasn’t indispensable. Others would have stepped up, except she wanted to see her mission through, the Salhi needed to know the United Regions hadn’t abandoned them.

  Her father had to let her go.

  The president greeted them at the door to his office.

  “General, Colonel, Lord Oltu, I require a private word with my daughter. There are refreshments in the Sablon Room.”

  Shit. ‘Private word’ was code for what the hell have you been doing? Before she could object, Rooster took her arm and ushered her ahead of him, closing the door behind them.

  Gabrielle swung around to face him, chin high.

  His eyes sparked with anger. “Don’t you dare! I’ve been worried sick,” his voice rose and cracked, “about you.” And suddenly, her dad looked old and tired, worn down with shadowed hollows around his eyes.

  Remorse undercut her fight, a slow steady puncture. “I know, and I’m sorry, I am, but you knew where I was, that I was with Cale!”

  “I knew you were with Oltu! Of all the Qui, he’s the most dangerous! Unpredictable! Do I have to remind you Oltu had a fleet Sonestra knew nothing about? In Earth space. He has a deep distrust of humanity.” Rooster snapped fingers in her face making her jump. “He came this close to executing General Jaden! His whole negotiation strategy assumed humanity needed to stay in the Qui’s good graces!”

  Gabrielle blanched as Oltu’s mildly spoken jest took on a more sinister hue.

  If I intended Earth harm, my warship would no longer be in orbit.

  Double Shit.

  Rooster shook his head and strode to his desk, picked up a glass of water. “He wants you. It’s an unhealthy fascination. Like a spoiled child fighting for a toy he can’t have. I fear his interest will not fade with time.”

  “Then why did you ask for his help?”

  “God, Gaby, I was desperate! When Colonel Tennant reported he’d lost you I was frantic. Oltu appeared like an answer to a prayer. Goddamnit! Should never have sent you to the Fringes in the first place!”

  “That’s not fair, Dad!”

  “I’m the president, Gaby! I don’t have the luxury of taking time off to deal with family crises, and a distracted president is a liability Earth can’t afford right now.”

  Gabrielle threw her hands in the air and stalked to the window, hearing the familiar screech of frustrated ambition careening into the wall of her father’s crusade to reestablish order on a broken world.

  “I’ve always supported you,” she said quietly.

  “I know.” Sadness tinged the words.

  “It’s just that I feel so useless, the president’s daughter, sitting in your castle. I feel such a fraud. I want to be out there, helping!”

  “Hardly a castle, and putting your life in danger isn’t a prerequisite for doing your part, Gabrielle. No one thinks less of you for working behind the scenes. You’re excellent at your job, a brilliant negotiator. You–” His voice cracked and tears filled her eyes. “You found Ben.”

  Gabrielle shook her head, unable to take the credit. “No, I–”

  The lump in her throat squeezed her throat tight. She turned around instead and let her father see the truth on her face, shaking her head in denial. It wasn’t me.

  When her father opened his arms, she flew into his embrace, her father, the only man she trusted to hold her close. He stroked her hair, hugged her tight and then put hands on her arms, setting her back a pace so he could look into her eyes. “Sonestra believes Oltu can persuade Dralexi to free the human slaves on their world. I checked the Qui treaty. Technically the Qui are only required to free humans held within the boundaries of the Qui Empire.”

  “Oltu has a Dralexin tribute. Dralexi’s an independent world.”

  “Exactly.”

  Gabrielle winced. “So Oltu has no reason to help us.”

  “Except for you.”

  His voice gave him away. “Dad?”

  “It was Jaden who persuaded me to ask Oltu to find you. We had a scheduled call via hyperlink while you were missing. Your psycoms weren’t working. Colonel Tennant wasn’t responding—he’d been caught in a stun grenade. Jaden sensed something was wrong, I needed help, fast, and Oltu was available. Jaden trusts him.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  A shadow crossed his eyes. He took her hands in his. “Gaby, I want to protect you. I need to keep you safe.”

  “I know—”

  “The Qui have a code of honor. Earth is now a strategic ally of the Qui, the full extent of our alliance is classified but Oltu feels a debt of honor to Earth. Humans helped rescue his sister. You are the daughter of Earth’s president and Oltu is honor charged by the Qui Empress to protect you.”

  Gabrielle absorbed his words, not sure she could have heard him correctly. “You’re letting me go? With Oltu? To find Ben?”

  He winced. “Ben and every human on that godforsaken planet. Are you okay with Oltu, Gaby? You know what I’m asking? If this is too much...”

  Heat washed her cheeks. Her heart was suddenly racing and she wasn’t sure why. Excitement? Terror? She nodded.

  “I’m not letting you go alone. Tennant has Oltu’s measure, and he understands you.”

  “They’re rivals, Dad. Cale will only make things difficult…”

  He nodded. “Anyone I send will be in a vulnerable position on Oltu’s ship. Tennant can handle pressure better than most. More importantly, he knows Ben. Ben knows him.”

  “Wow. You’ve thought this through.”

  Her father took her head in her hands. “I love you, Gabrielle.” His kiss was tender on her forehead. “Okay, don’t decide right now. In the meantime, let’s call the others in.”

  Heck. She’d nearly forgotten. “Dad, about the Salhi.”

  *****

  Oltu sensed the friction between father and daughter, and something else, a hidden agenda. Gabrielle’s cheeks were flushed, and she avoided everyone’s gaze, focused on the visual image of a mountainous region abutting a landlocked sea.

  Colonel Tennant pointed to a man sitting outside a circl
ed building, his leg stuck out in front of him. “This man’s loyal to the Salhi—took a bullet during the Doziyen’s assault on the compound. Saw him go down.”

  “I met him,” Gabrielle said. “His name’s Farivar. He can help us.”

  Oltu opened a data visual alongside the image of their Salhi connection. A timestamp adjusted to Earth’s twenty-four hour clock ran rapidly from two am after the al-Doziyen’s attack through to early morning.

  When a ground vehicle moved into range, Oltu looked at General Zubarev, President Rooster, and Colonel Tennant. “I believe this vehicle was involved in the al-Doziyen hunt for Gabrielle. The Thrak ‘Yla recorded radio transmissions of hostiles coming from this vehicle near Gabrielle’s position.” The visual reversed, the Thrak ‘Yla’s extensive surveillance allowing them to trace the vehicle back to its origin point.

  “Has to be a Doziyen stronghold,” Rooster observed.

  “The Thrak ‘Yla assumed orbit two hours after your request for assistance, we have reconnaissance data since then,” Oltu advised. The visuals expanded out from the stronghold, tracking heat signatures in several directions for hours.

  Zubarev shook his head. “Detail’s amazing.”

  “Commander Jsut is analyzing more recent scans,” Tennant advised. “We have over thirty hours of al-Doziyen movement and our Salhi friendly has been vetted as non-hostile with no connections to known al-Doziyen operatives. Oltu will take us in cloaked. Gaby will make contact with Farivar and introduce Doctor Alev Demirci. Demirci speaks fluent Farsi. She’ll make an excellent liaison.” Tennant glanced towards Gabrielle. “Though this mission was Gaby’s initiative, and her dedication has opened doors for negotiation, Gaby’s agreed to Alev Demirci managing negotiations in her absence, but we need the Salhi to trust Demirci like they do Gaby.”

  “We should assume someone saw Oltu flying over the Caspian basin,” Gabrielle said, her assessing look stirring Oltu’s blood. She stiffened, turned to her father. “I want to get ahead of any rumors. If we want the Salhi to be allies, we need to be open with them. We must demonstrate an open alliance with the Qui, so they understand the Qui are not our enemy and that because of this, the K’lahn are no longer a threat to humanity. Let the Salhi see the UR’s ambassador survived, that we are committed to honesty and openness with the Fringes, and give Demirci a chance to build goodwill with Farivar so he can vouch for her.”

  Rooster nodded, looked directly at Oltu, his narrowed eyes suspicious. “What’s your agenda here, Lord Oltu? In our previous meetings you’ve made clear your preference for a more direct military solution to the Fringes.”

  Tennant and Zubarev both looked up, Zubarev curious, Tennant challenging.

  Oltu detected Gabrielle’s body temperature rising. She expected him to admit his attraction to her, and the shocking truth was his world did suddenly revolve around her. His priorities had been rearranged by the complexities of her life and mission. He followed in her wake and his reluctance to set her aside shocked him.

  The Qui Empire plotted war on their oldest enemy. Nothing was more important! Sonestra and the Aphitor relied on him to provide a technological advantage—increased speed, enhanced cloaking, additional firepower. This was his contribution to make, and his fleet defended the Sura K’la, defended Earth from attack by the Surashan Empire.

  Gabrielle distracted him; a persistent drain on his attention.

  He’d taken advantage of Gabrielle’s misfortune, imagined an easy conquest, a brief interlude to satiate his lust. He’d disapproved of Sonestra’s fascination with her human tribute, despaired as three Qui of the Royal Court formed deep-seated bonds with the humans they had been assigned to retrieve, had censured them for their frivolous addiction.

  Humans demanded acknowledgment, challenged their superiors, demanded respect, refused to cow before an ancient race that had founded a galactic Empire. Sonestra’s capitulation before this unjustified conceit infuriated him, but then Jaden proved worthy of her faith in him, honorable beyond Oltu’s expectations, and then Gabrielle...

  Oltu could not describe the depth of his feelings towards this creature, this human female. He knew she tested him, and despite his better judgment, his numerous commitments, he couldn’t fail her.

  “The mission is important to Gabrielle and I have concluded her objective has merit.”

  Gabrielle radiated relief, but she met his gaze with a curious light in her eyes.

  “And what is Gabrielle’s objective?” Rooster pressed.

  Oltu blinked slowly, taken aback the president needed to ask, but then coming to the uncomfortable realization he had no instant answer. Skal! The Qui had stated their concerns regarding the Fringes on multiple occasions, but Rooster refused to consider a final solution. Gabrielle’s objective surely encompassed Earth’s pressing need to provide stability to the area, to expand the United Region’s reach, find a peaceful solution to a historical clash of beliefs and cultures. Others could achieve this aim.

  The Salhi spoke of others, others like Gabrielle, hidden for their own safety.

  Gabrielle postulated human survivors of K’lahn captivity, but her sense of mission predated the Salhi’s revelation.

  What invested Gabrielle’s heart?

  What purpose gave her the strength to survive the al-Doziyen’s attack on her mission and reason to go back?

  He searched her mesmerizing eyes of golden resin with lustrous shots of red and brown.

  “Gabrielle wishes to establish common cause with fellow humans she believes share her values.” He spoke slowly, feeling his way. “Fellow humans trapped by fear and years of isolation. She wants to experience their resistance, to nurture their bid for freedom.”

  Her mouth opened in surprise, luscious tempting lips. Her eyes softened and a shaft of joy pierced Oltu’s heart. The room brightened, colors deepened.

  Silence reigned for long moments, even his pounding heart could not drown the silence.

  Oltu had rarely experienced such complete silence.

  “Well,” Rooster finally said, his voice crashing the moment. Earth’s president looked at General Zubarev and then at Gabrielle. “I have the answer I needed. The mission is a go.”

  *****

  Gabrielle struggled to speak clearly with her limited Farsi and lapsed back to English with Doctor Alev Demirci translating, but she suspected Farivar understood her fine, despite his frowning silence. As Farivar’s son helped his father to a chair at the table, Oltu set up by the rear window, while Cale Tennant hovered in the open door where he could keep watch inside and out, his firearm resting on his arm.

  Their host sat with his injured leg straight out, a bloody scarf strapped over his loose pants around his upper thigh. He surveyed them with cautious eyes that matched his charcoal over-tunic, the relief he’d shown on seeing Gabrielle alive and well replaced by wariness. His suspicion passed over Demirci and settled on Oltu, almost as if he detected Oltu’s alien nature, which should have been impossible. Even Gabrielle couldn’t detect his Qui, his scent under strict control, although Oltu’s tall, chiseled musculature and piercing eyes of green made him hard to ignore—that and his dark-blue uniform and overcoat, the material tighter and more sheen-like than Cale’s flat black UR fatigues.

  When Farivar directed his son to leave, Gabrielle stepped aside to let the boy pass.

  Alev Demirci slung her medical bag onto the scrubbed wooden table and took out a med scanner. Farivar scowled and waved her off with a terse rejection before she’d even approached him.

  Gabrielle gestured at the blood-soaked dressing on his leg. “Doctor Demirci can help you.”

  “I’m a surgeon with the United Regions in Istanbul,” Demirci said in Farsi, slow enough Gabrielle understood her. She approached the man and showed him the instrument. As she explained its purpose, Farivar’s gaze turned to Gabrielle.

  The doctor stopped her explanation, a slight frown on her lips, one eyebrow raised at Gabrielle.

  “Farivar, I know you understand me,
” Gabrielle said. “You followed my meetings with your leader fine. I want to convey my thanks, my appreciation for what Abbas did for me. Many of your people died saving my life. The Salhi honored its promise to protect me and has earned the trust of the United Regions. We want to support your cause. We have a chance to create peace in this region and,” she smiled, “we need you in good health to make that happen. Please, let Doctor Demirci help you.”

  Farivar grunted even as his eyes skittered to Oltu, but then he grimaced, grabbed his leg and nodded. He moved to untie the dressing until Demirci stopped him. As she moved the scanner around the site of his injury, Farivar spoke Farsi, glancing between Gabrielle and Oltu, his words rapid, growing angry.

  “He says you were seen,” Demirci translated. “Men loyal to the Salhi saw a creature with wings fly you to safety,” her gaze flicked from Gabrielle, and then rested on Oltu before refocusing on her scanner, “and the story’s spreading fast. What have you told them?” She showed the result of her scan to Farivar and mimed yanking out the bullet.

  “Yes, yes.” Farivar’s tone and gesture told the doctor to get on with it.

  “I told you that the United Regions made treaty with the Qui to stop the K’lahn war.” Gabrielle pulled back Farivar’s attention. “A Qui did rescue me.” She returned his suspicious gaze, willing him to hear truth in her words. “What’s important is that the Qui who rescued me wants the peoples of Earth to be at peace.” She wouldn’t mention that the Qui had once proposed a more permanent solution to the conflict in the Fringes—annihilation of the enemy. She turned and looked at Oltu. “This Qui saved my life.”

  For a moment, she couldn’t tear her eyes from Oltu’s but then Farivar erupted with anger and words of accusation.