by Gun Brooke
“What happens now?” Jacelon asked, following Roshan’s actions with interest.
“I use my voice pattern to identify myself. We’ll see if this works like it did during our previous tests.” Her heart picking up speed, Roshan cleared her voice and hated her sudden bout of nerves. Please, let this prove I can deliver when it matters. “Paladin to O’Landha Armada. Enter armament codes. I repeat. Paladin to O’Landha Armada. Enter armament codes.”
The screen was blank for several seconds before it began to fill with bright green lines against the black background. Ship after ship in her company, all with handpicked Gantharians onboard, reported back to her with the correct code. Now they’d mount their weapon arrays, install the dormant shield enhancements, and ready the smaller vessels some of them kept behind holographic walls in their shuttle bays.
“The same lines will turn blue once they’ve completed the installations.”
“How long will it take?” Jacelon asked, looking quite impressed.
“Approximately four hours, depending on the ship’s size. I also own two hangar-sized vessels, which might take longer. My captains are very experienced and secretly trained at a private…eh, I guess you’d call it a space-mercenary camp.”
Jacelon’s eyebrows rose. “Like the one on Orsos Prime?”
With reluctant admiration, Roshan nodded. “Yes. I take it that the SC knows of its existence.”
“We monitor it. As long as they don’t harm soft targets, we won’t interfere. If this changes, the Supreme Constellations cannot sit back and watch anything that barbaric. You ought to understand, given the resistance’s attitude.”
“I do. My crews have trained there, several times, and the captains reported nothing untoward going on.” Roshan opened her mouth to continue, but was interrupted by faint static coming through the communication system.
“…to base camp. Come in. Paladin?”
Roshan stared at Jacelon as they heard the voice. “We hear you, Kellen,” Roshan said. “The admiral is sitting here next to me. Give us your report quickly. The sound quality’s poor. You’re barely coming through.”
“We’ve arrived at Kovos, and they’re herding us through long glass tunnels after docking. Many are wounded, and some look as if they haven’t slept or eaten in a long time. They’re in pretty bad shape, Paladin. I’m not certain how we’ll be able to mobilize enough manpower. The Onotharians have already managed to grind our fellow rebels’ fighting spirit to dust.”
Roshan watched Jacelon with a worried frown.
“It’s Rae, Kellen. Have you made contact with anyone?”
“Yes. I haven’t determined who the most senior resistance member is, but I have talked with a young girl, call sign Ayahliss. She’s obviously a Gan’thet trainee, and volatile, but she might be useful. We also have a famous engineer, Professor Mandira O’Pedge.”
“I know her. We’ve met.” Roshan noted the names and entered them into the computer. “Anyone else?”
“No. Well, only a poor pregnant woman. We have to handle her with care or she may lose the child.” There was a brief silence. “But not if I can help it.”
“They incarcerate pregnant women?” Jacelon closed her eyes, only to open them and look at Roshan with a hardening expression on her face. “This probably isn’t news for you, but for me…it is.”
“Have to go. I’ll contact you as soon as it’s safe and I have more news. Have you heard from the Vaksses team?”
“Jubinor spoke to Grey, but only briefly. Hopefully we’ll have heard more when you make contact next time. Paladin out.”
The static lingered for a moment before the connection was broken.
“I hope the Onotharians can’t scan for messages like this,” Roshan said wryly, out of earshot from the junior rebels. “If they do, we’ll have them on our doorstep within the hour.”
“They won’t. Our engineers have invented a crystal-coded rotating frequency scrambler for this purpose. The Onotharians will consider it space dust, or solar flares, and ironically our scrambler is built on the same principle as their own cloaking device.”
Roshan had to laugh. It was all so insidious. “The scheming and calculating of warfare,” she mused. “Don’t you ever get tired of it, Admiral?”
“Call me Rae.” Rae shook her head. “I’d be lying if I said yes. But that doesn’t mean that I like this particular situation. Having Kellen in such a dangerous environment, voluntarily captured, bothers me a great deal. If they see through her disguise…recognize her as the Protector…” She became quiet before looking straight at Roshan again. “But I don’t have to tell you how that feels, do I? The way you look at O’Daybo speaks volumes. No wonder you could vouch for her. You know her personally.” There was nothing inquisitive in the way Rae spoke, yet Roshan felt her cheeks become warm.
“Goodness, you look exactly like Kellen when she’s feeling awkward. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.” She glanced over at the young rebels. “And in public, so to speak.”
“It’s all right,” Roshan murmured. “I’ve always had strong feelings for O’Daybo, and I hate the fact that she’s where she is. If I could have prevented her from going, I would have. But I don’t outrank her, so…” Roshan shrugged. “And she’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself, despite the fact that she’s fairly small.”
“She seems very knowledgeable. Well read.”
“She is. When we were young, she was the one who never missed an exam, was always on time, and kept me afloat at the university—” Roshan broke off, knowing she was being far too open. Granted, Rae was a high-ranking SC officer, but so much danger surrounded them, it was wiser to remain tight-lipped. Angry at herself, Roshan fought to stay friendly. It wasn’t Rae’s fault that she instilled such openness in the ones she spoke to. “Anyway. She’s definitely able to perform. I just want that to be clear.”
“Very clear.” Rae spoke softly. “And between us, I also understand that you can’t share everything with me. Some things are hard to explain, and some are private. That’s the part of warfare I hate the most, how it splits families, and friends, apart. I can enjoy the tactics on paper, in a way, because it’s like a game of chess. But I loathe the idea of civilians ending up hurt, homeless, or worse, dead. My father, who’s also an admiral, incidentally, says it’s my greatest strength and my biggest weakness, that I can’t just disregard the issue of collateral damage when I plan an operation. But I am who I am, and Kellen is who she is. I inherited her title, through our marriage, so it will be interesting to learn of Gantharat’s reaction when they’re free and we can tell them that they now have two Protectors.”
Roshan knew she must look utterly foolish, sitting next to Rae, slack-jawed, stunned beyond words. “Protector. We didn’t realize…Oh, damn the stars!” She wanted to rise from the chair and bow but knew this would tip the other rebels off. “Protector,” she murmured, “I wish I’d known, or studied the old teachings better. The Protectors are mythical, fairy-tale people for many of us. We can hardly recall the times when they joined the O’Saral Royales in the Twin Lunar Parade through Ganath’s streets. They rode massive maeshas, and it was a festive, happy time…” Roshan’s voice faded, and she had to blink away tears.
“Blue tears. You’re so like Kellen. She stands tall and proud, as you do, and it’s clear that you’ve had a profound effect on her, ever since you took her father’s body home. She told me about it in detail, coming here, so I’d understand without a shadow of a doubt why she trusted you.” Rae smiled and shrugged. “I confess that I tried to warn her that people can sometimes change, but Kellen was completely unfazed. ‘Not Paladin. Never,’ she said. And apparently she was right.”
“And apparently she picked the best spouse she could ever hope to find. Or perhaps you picked her?”
Rae smiled crookedly. “Let’s just say that she found me, fired on me, and then I proposed to her—all within a few days.”
Roshan wondered if she would
ever become so bold, so decisive, qualities that seemed to define the true essence of Rae Jacelon. Uncompromising when it came to her duties, but ready to move heaven and earth to save the ones she loved. “I hope we—”
“Commander Grey to base camp. Commander Grey to base camp. Come in.”
“Grey, this is Paladin,” Roshan said quickly, and adjusted the sound quality. “Your admiral is here with me. Go ahead.”
“O’Daybo and I are being placed in the cargo bay of an Onotharian vessel and are leaving for Vaksses in an hour, or less. Everything has gone according to plan.”
“What’s your physical status, Owena?” Rae asked.
“O’Daybo sustained a minor cut when a few of the guards tried to squeeze too many of us into the lift that took us up into the spacecraft. I’ve looked at the injury. It’s minimal, but the fact that O’Daybo is a Gantharian/Onotharian hybrid makes her blood red. We have to avoid any more incidents, or the guards may become suspicious.”
“Read you, Owena. How long before your arrival at Vaksses?” Rae checked her chronometer.
“I’ve learned from O’Daybo and some of the other senior leaders here that Vaksses is located in the outer ring orbiting Gantharat. Approximately three hours, transport speed.”
Roshan knew the Onotharian transport vessels were meant to carry as many bodies as possible, rather than move rapidly. She wanted to speak to Andreia, but refrained from asking for her. “Very well,” Roshan managed. “Get back to us as soon as you have something new to report. Paladin out.”
“Will do. Grey out.”
Roshan sat still, her thoughts whirling so wildly, it was impossible to sort them, never mind speak intelligibly.
“I suppose they won’t report in before the vessels have landed,” Rae said, and stood. “I have matters to attend to on board my ship, so I’ll borrow one of your hoverbikes and—”
Roshan flinched. “I can’t allow you to go without a security detail. You’ll have to take four guards with you. More, if you like, but no less than that.”
Rae made a wry face, then nodded regally. “If you insist.”
Roshan sighed. “Another pigheaded one,” she murmured.
“Excuse me?” Rae lifted an eyebrow.
“Nothing.” Ah. So clever of you, Paladin. “Let’s go get you sorted then. We need to hook up a secure link between our communications center and your bridge.”
“Agreed. I’ll get right on it with my engineers.” Rae stood up. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
The moment they stepped out into the sunshine, Roshan knew that something had changed between Rae Jacelon and herself. It had been a long time since she’d made any new friends; she simply hadn’t had time to indulge in anything personal. Roshan could hardly believe how easy it had been to talk to Rae, and she wanted to do it again. She just hoped that they’d live long enough.
Chapter Seventeen
Cold rock walls with metal ore veins surrounded Kellen and Doc as the guards herded them into an enormous room chiseled out by prisoners on Kovos who’d come here before them. While they were being pushed by the guards and bounced off each other, Kellen and Doc tried to keep the pregnant woman, Sarambol, away from the worst of the shuffling. Ayahliss finally seemed to realize that Kellen and Doc weren’t her enemies and had taken a protective stance, probably ready to attack anyone who dared threaten them.
Kellen looked at the fifth member of their little group, Mandira O’Pedge, who seemed tired and pale as she leaned against the rough wall. As if Ayahliss had read Kellen’s mind, she moved up and placed a strong shoulder under Mandira’s arm. “Here. Lean on me.”
“Thank you, child.” Mandira closed her eyes briefly. “This is what I get for being too stubborn. I had to check on those security systems myself, didn’t I? And I had to do it the exact night the Onotharians launched their worst attack ever on us.”
“Don’t give up,” Kellen murmured. “We need your skills up here. Let Ayahliss take care of you, and conserve your energy.”
“Kellen! Guards, two o’clock, coming this way.” Doc pushed her behind him. He was a tall, gangly man, and she tried to make herself inconspicuous. Knowing she was a celebrity by now, she’d used the derma fuser to alter her features. Still, she didn’t want any of the guards to come close enough to examine her too carefully. The pouch of medical instruments Doc carried was another reason for them to keep a low profile.
“All clear,” Doc murmured. “From what I know of this place, we’ll go through a scanner when we enter the facility, and that’ll be the last we see of any guards. Then, we’re all on our own.”
“Wonderful.” Mandira shook her head. “I can’t help but wonder how the ones who’ve been here for years have found a way to exist.”
“We’ll know soon enough. They’re moving us in now. Stay close,” Kellen said. “Sarambol, make sure you’re between Doc and me.”
Sarambol clung to Kellen’s hand, white-faced and trembling. “I’m not usually such a coward,” she sighed, her voice trembling. “Ever since I found out I was pregnant…well, things have changed.”
“We understand.” Kellen didn’t elaborate, but she knew exactly what Sarambol meant. From the day Tereya O’Saral had told Kellen that she and Zax M’Aido were expecting a child, Kellen’s duties had doubled, and her life had never been the same. Armeo. How I miss you. She deliberately pushed the thought of the beloved son of her heart away. Thinking of him would distract her and make her lose her edge.
They followed the crowd to a narrow gate where a blinking arch lined the rock wall. This was going to take some engineering, since they depended on Doc’s small pouch of instruments for their continued success.
“Let me go through first, with Sarambol and Mandira.” Kellen squeezed Sarambol’s shoulders. “When I pinch you, throw yourself to the floor and cry out, as if in pain. I’ll tend to you, and in the meantime, Doc will slide the pouch around the arch. I’ll try to reach it, but if I can’t, Mandira and Ayahliss, you have to try.”
The other women nodded, and then they were almost there. Kellen held Sarambol’s shoulders firmly as the crowd pressed against them. Kellen didn’t even attempt to remain standing. Instead, she kept her head down and tugged Sarambol with her, fearful of losing her grip on her. When they were just under the arch, she squeezed Sarambol’s shoulder tight.
To her relief, Sarambol sank to the floor with a cry. “Oh, it hurts! Please, help me. It hurts!” Either Sarambol was a professional actress or the pain was real. Kellen opted for the latter as she flung herself to her knees next to the girl and saw the sweat bead on her upper lip. “Stop, stop!” Kellen called out. “She needs help to get up.”
The crowd kept pushing, trying to get away from the guards. The six guards manning the arch stepped together and formed an effective wall. “Fucking idiots! Halt!” the closest guard yelled. “Get her out of there!”
“I’m trying to!” It wasn’t hard to sound desperate. Kellen kept her eyes on Doc, who stood to her far left, and saw him toss the small, flat pouch through the crack between the metal arch and the rough rock wall. It landed just inside, but Kellen couldn’t reach it.
“Ow! Please, make the pain stop!” Sarambol cried, and at the same time, Mandira knelt next to them, close to the pouch.
“There, there, girl. Here, let’s get you up and out of this bottleneck.” Mandira placed her arm under Sarambol’s and made a sweeping motion with the other one. When she moved, the pouch was gone.
Relieved, Kellen nodded to Mandira and Ayahliss. They half carried, half dragged Sarambol out of the three-meter-long tunnel behind the arch and stumbled into an equally crowded corridor, badly lit by small diode lights.
As Doc joined them, Mandira handed him the pouch. “You better hang on to this, Doc. I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”
They stood in the mayhem consisting of hundreds of Gantharians all trying to come to terms with the fact that they had arrived at Kovos, the notorious, hellish place that f
rom now on was their prison.
*
“Duck!” Andreia tugged at Owena, just before the Onotharian guard behind the human woman swung his weapon at them in outrage. “It wasn’t her fault.” She knew reasoning with him probably wouldn’t work. A pair of young rebels had tried to protect an older man who’d stumbled into the guards when leaving the ship on Vaksses, and now utter mayhem had erupted.
“Back off! Back off!” the guard yelled, and flipped a switch on his rifle, aiming at them.
Andreia grew cold and tugged at Owena, who merely stood still, staring at the line of Onotharians taking up position. “Don’t. Come on!” Andreia hissed. “We can’t afford to cause any trouble. Not yet.”
“Fine.” Owena glanced darkly at the guards who now dragged the older man off to a corner. “They’re going to hurt him.”
“I know.” It sickened Andreia to imagine the cruelty the guards subjected “offenders” like him to. Swallowing against the rising bile, she kept walking through the long corridors leading to the inner sections of the Vaksses asteroid. Once used as a military hospital, it was still a high-tech facility and boasted a clean environment compared to Kovos. Andreia had seen pictures of Kovos and shuddered to think of Kellen and Doc, stuck in such a horrible place.
Owena looked down at the small digital ticket the guards had given them when they disembarked from the transporter. “I think we’re in the right corridor, judging from the sign there.” She pointed at the wall next to a door.
Realizing Owena didn’t read Gantharian or Onotharian, Andreia checked the sign and nodded. “You’re correct. This is our room.” She peered inside. “Ours and almost twenty more individuals’.” Walking inside, they saw cramped bunk beds, narrow tables and stools, and two small cabinets, all in a twenty-five-square-meter room. “Let’s hope the ventilation is working,” Andreia muttered. And that our neighbors are ready to help when we need it.