“Now,” he said, “I believe you know Lieutenant Sandra Rhom?”
Helena blinked to clear the haze of her infatuation. Now was not the time to forget her training. “Yes, indeed. I am glad to see you again, Lieutenant.”
Sandra smiled and said, “I’m happy to see you too!”
Then, like Nadine and countless other Humans, Sandra embraced Helena in that cozy Human hug. “I’ve missed you. Thanks again for saving our skins out there against those Proxan frigates.”
“Certainly,” Helena said.
“Lieutenant.”
“Sorry sir,” Sandra said. “My Lady, allow me to escort you and your guards to your quarters. You’ll be right near the bridge.”
“And after that, a tour?” Helena said, though she knew those were the Lieutenant’s next words.
“If you’re up to it of course,” Sandra said.
“I have much to learn about this vessel,” Helena said.
♦
Helena spent the next three days studying the Jupiter. Weapons, propulsion, defensive systems, support craft, sensors and communications – she examined and analyzed everything. Sleep came in small doses and Helena almost didn’t notice Nathan watching her as she reviewed the latest data set in the war room. She had been alone for many hours.
“I’m sorry,” Nathan said. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
Helena straightened herself and tidied her hair. She must look a mess!
“I could use a break,” she said. She rubbed her eyes lightly, lest she disturb her Gima markings.
“I brought you coffee,” Nathan said as he placed a cup under her nose and sat across the table.
Coffee. Stronger than her beloved tea, this Human drink kept her active long after her body waved the white flag. Helena sipped and closed her data display.
“Thank you, Captain.”
His eyes travelled the length of her face and he said, “Nathan… remember? Please, call me Nathan.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Nathan.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m just glad to get a few minutes alone with you.”
“Is something on your mind?” she asked.
“Can’t you read it?”
“I try not to invade, as you Humans call it,” Helena said. “You value your privacy and I try to honor that.”
“You try?”
Helena smiled. “Sometimes your emotions are so close to the surface, I can’t help but notice.”
“Ah… I see,” he said.
Before he entered the room, Helena sensed Rowe.
“Here you are,” Rowe said, stalking towards her. “There’s a communication device in this room. You’re not allowed in here without my supervision!”
“Calm yourself, Agent Rowe,” Nathan said. “That’s no way to speak to a superior officer.”
Rowe spat. “Superior officer?”
“On my ship, my advisors are part of my senior staff, got it?”
“Whatever. I don’t answer to you, Captain.”
Nathan stood and glared at Rowe. “On my ship, sir, you do!”
“My orders come from the Council,” Rowe said. “And she’s not allowed near an unattended communicator!”
Helena closed her eyes and exhaled. She wanted to throttle him again, but that might cause trouble.
“Well?” Rowe asked.
Without opening her eyes, Helena said, “I had the communications officer, Lieutenant Rhom, disable the transmitter in this room before I came down here. Check the logs, check with the Lieutenant, check the device right now if you want… I don’t care which.”
Rowe moved to the communicator and fidgeted with the console for a minute. “Okay. I’m going to review the logs to make sure nothing was sent from this terminal. In the meantime, I assume you’ll watch her, Captain?”
“Well,” Captain Connor said as he returned to his chair, “that doesn’t sound too bad.”
Rowe stormed from the war room and Helena opened her eyes.
“I don’t think I like him,” she said.
Nathan laughed. “I’m not a mind reader and I already guessed that one.”
“I don’t think he likes me either,” Helena said. “But that’s probably because I kicked him in the throat.”
“Kicked him? What?”
Helena smiled and rose from her seat. “I’m exhausted, Nathan. Perhaps I’ll tell you the story another time.”
He mirrored her movement, a gesture that was considered polite by the Humans. “I’d definitely like to hear that one.”
After walking her to the corridor, his smile melted her again. His charm was undeniable.
“Listen,” he said, “we have to make a quick detour. Something I promised an old friend.”
“Detour?” Helena asked. “Now?”
“I gave my word,” he said, “and that’s something I take very seriously.”
“How long of a detour?” she asked.
“Not long,” he said as he leaned closer. “I’m only telling you because… well-”
“You want me to go with you,” she said.
He looked into her eyes and said, “I thought you were trying not to constantly read our minds?”
“My apologies,” she said.
He eyed her and waited.
“I really don’t have any details from your mind,” she said. “Please, continue.”
“Well, I’ll be taking a shuttle down to the surface and I was wondering if you wanted to accompany me.”
“I do not think I can spare the time…”
“I know you have much to learn about the Jupiter,” he said, interrupting her. “However, I have somewhat of a surprise planned for you. I think you’ll like it.”
“A surprise?” Helena refrained from scanning his thoughts. The idea of a surprise delighted her.
“Though,” he said, “I suppose you already know what I have planned?”
Helena shook her head. “Absolutely not. I will respect your privacy.”
“So…?”
“You are most gracious, Nathan. Of course I will accompany you.”
“Great,” he said. “Get some sleep. You are off-duty tomorrow.”
“So soon?”
He shifted on his feet. “Sorry for the short notice. It took me a few days to build the nerve to ask you.”
Helena touched his arm and felt his muscles tense. She knew she was foolish to accept his invitation. However she was only marginally under control in his presence. “You Humans are so silly sometimes,” she said. “What do you have to fear from a simple invitation?”
Nathan chuckled and said, “Well, rejection.”
“Have I said no to you yet?”
Chapter 18
Helena pulled on the yoke of the spacecraft and watched as the bow rose in the air. Though Nathan was a good teacher, Helena’s nerves were close to the edge. She’d never piloted anything before!
“Good, very good,” Nathan said. “Now, I’m lowering the landing gear.”
Helena clenched her teeth as the captain’s yacht careened towards the runway. Was it always this fast? She was accustomed to resting in the royal quarters while her Antaran aircraft whisked her from city to city on her homeworld.
The spacecraft lurched when the wheels touched the ground and Helena allowed a frightened yelp escape her lips.
“Now, apply the brakes slowly,” Nathan said. “Here, let me show you.”
Nathan covered her hand with his own and suddenly the landing wasn’t the most exhilarating thing anymore. His touch replaced everything in her world. The feel of his Human flesh against her own was dangerous and provocative. She knew she couldn’t allow it, yet she craved it.
Shrugging his hand aside, Helena said, “I can do it.”
“Okay,” he said. “Just apply it smoothly. When you feel resistance, don’t go further… good. See? You’re a natural!”
Helena pulled the yacht into a hangar bay and locked the wheels in place. “Well,” she said, “I think you
are a good teacher.”
As Nathan unstrapped his safety belts, he said, “These days, they practically fly themselves.” Recognizing her look of disdain, he said, “Not to take anything away from what you just did, though.”
Helena smiled. “I’ve always been a fast learner.”
“Ready for Caledonia?” he asked.
Nathan opened the hatch to the yacht and led her onto a busy street. Gray skyscrapers rose in the distance behind an orange cloud of smog. Squat, massive buildings filled the space between her and the city proper. Humans bustled along the street and in their aircars. Everything seemed so disorganized compared to a large Antaran city.
“I still don’t understand,” Helena said as she allowed Nathan to help her into the taxi.
Nathan followed her inside and handed a scrap of paper to the driver.
“As I told you,” he said, “I’m here to help an old friend.”
“But you are on duty. And Rowe will likely follow us. Certainly this is no time to-”
Nathan interrupted her. “It doesn’t matter. I gave my word and I’ll take a few extra hours to meet him in person. As for Rowe, well let’s just say Lieutenant Rhom will be keeping him occupied. And not in a good way.”
“But why bring me?” Helena sensed excitement and subterfuge in Nathan’s mind, but no malice. She promised not to pry into his surprise and reason for bringing her, and more than once she almost broke that promise. Almost.
Well, she thought, at least she was in control on some matters. She suppressed a sigh.
“I told you. It’s a surprise. Of course, for all I know you have already read my mind.” Nathan grinned and held her eyes for a few moments.
“I could if I wanted to,” she said.
Nathan leaned towards her and said, “Are there no surprises for you anymore?”
Helena mumbled softly, “I’m not accustomed to surprises.”
Nathan smiled. “That’s because they’re too uncommon for you.”
As the taxi sped through the air and streets of Caledonia, Helena examined her face in the window. What was she doing? Her mission and her duty to her people should be first in her mind, yet she found electricity between her and Nathan. Her heart hummed on a different level when she saw him. And to be sitting so close to him! The proximity was explosive.
“There’s the Gaffer Tower,” he said, reaching his arm across her space to point through her window.
Nodding, Helena said, “Impressive.”
He was wearing a simple gray jumpsuit and jacket. Helena had grown accustomed to seeing him in his uniform. His civilian clothing only fanned her interest as she found the man behind the uniform just as pleasing as the starship captain.
The taxi hovered near a platform on the docks of a dirty river. Nathan and Helena exited and were met by a small group of grimy Humans in workman’s clothing. One of them stepped forward and shook Nathan’s hand.
“It’s been a long time, Captain,” the Human said.
“Too long, Sean,” Nathan said.
Sean eyed Helena and said, “I see you’re not alone?”
Falling into her well-trained habits, Helena scanned Sean’s mind for violence and found the man a hard working leader amongst his people at these docks. He oversaw a large community of immigrants struggling from the economic inequity on Caledonia. Several years ago, Nathan helped Sean and his people settle on Caledonia, yet their relationship formed before those events. Sean helped Nathan with something emotional and important. Nathan still felt he owed Sean a great debt.
“This is Helena, from Antares,” Nathan said.
“Nice to meet you milady,” Sean said.
Helena tilted her head towards Sean and said, “You as well.”
“To tell you the truth,” Sean said, “I wasn’t sure you’d show.”
“I gave you my word,” Nathan said.
Sean shrugged. “These days, words don’t seem to be enough. We’ve hit some rough times.”
“Well, I’m here and I’ll help however I can,” Nathan said.
Sean fidgeted with his belt and avoided eye contact. “What we really need,” he said, “well, it’s almost too much to ask. But I don’t have anyone else to turn to.”
“You know I’ll do what I can.”
“Yeah,” Sean said, squinting to meet Nathan’s eye. “That’s why I feel like crap for even asking you. You’d be dumb enough to actually say ‘yes.’ Well, here goes. We need medical supplies-”
“Done,” Nathan said.
“For a hundred thousand people.”
Nathan whistled and raised his eyebrows. “That’d clean me out. I’d get more than a mere reprimand.”
“Caledonia still sees us as outsiders,” Sean said. “We really have no way of caring for our injured, sick and our young.”
“Your government does not care for its people?” Helena asked. “How is this possible?”
Nathan shook his head and said, “Only when a citizen cannot afford their own medical care. However, Sean’s people are still considered immigrants here on Caledonia. They really have no recourse if they cannot afford it.”
“So,” Helena said, “in many ways, your culture expects its citizens to fend for themselves?”
“There’s always a way,” Nathan said. “Okay, Sean, give me a minute.”
Nathan led Helena away from the group and contacted the Jupiter on his mobile communicator.
While waiting for a response Helena said, “You are going to hand over the Jupiter’s supplies?”
Nathan nodded. “I gave him my word I would do anything in my power to help him if the need ever arose. I am keeping my word.”
“How did he help you?” Helena said.
Nathan paused, but his communicator was still dark. Then he said, “When my parents were accused of Proxan sympathy, they were sent to a detainment camp. Sean helped me rescue them from a fate of hardship and isolation.”
“I see,” Helena said. “And that is cause for you to compromise the Jupiter’s supplies? You would put your crew in danger to fulfill your oath?”
“Of course not,” Nathan said as his communicator flashed into life and Lieutenant Sandra Rhom’s face appeared on the device.
“Yes, Captain?” she said.
“Lieutenant,” Nathan said, “I need you to do me a favor.”
“Sure, Captain,” she said.
“We need another full spread of medical supplies for Jupiter’s medical bays,” he said.
“Sir, we’re already-”
“I know, Lieutenant,” he said, “it’s not for us. I want you to arrange a trade with one of the merchant houses here on Caledonia. We’re carrying several tons of useless star cataloging equipment in hangar bay seven. By the time we get around to delivering that stuff to the science lab at Vega, the war will be over. I’m sure hangar bay seven will suffer battle damage between now and then. We may as well help some people out here with the value of that equipment before it’s lost to a Proxan torpedo. Understood?”
Sandra smiled and said, “Aye, Captain. I’ll get right on it.”
“I’m sending you the address for delivery of the supplies,” he said.
“Aye, Captain,” she said. “I’ll let you know when everything’s arranged.”
“Thanks, Lieutenant,” he said as he cut the uplink.
“That’s sneaky,” Helena said, impressed with Nathan’s ingenuity.
“Sometimes, you have to make your own equilibrium,” he said. “Sean’s people need those medical supplies more than the scientists at Vega need their lenses and lasers.”
As they walked towards the waiting Humans, Helena said, “Besides, as you said, cargo bay seven may fall victim to the rigors of space battle. It would be a pity if all that equipment were destroyed.”
“I’m actually saving it, if you think about it,” he said with a playful smirk on his face. “Maybe it will make its way to Vega faster in the hands of a merchant house. After all, we’re at war and it could be quite some
time before we’re in the Vega system.”
Helena smiled as she enjoyed his fiesty gambit. “Excellent point.”
“You’re all set,” Nathan said.
Sean cocked his head to the side and said, “What?”
“The supplies should be here within a few days,” Nathan said. “Enough for everyone.”
The Humans gasped and smiled at each other. Sean stepped forward and embraced Nathan in a manly hug.
“You’re the man,” Sean said. “I feel like a jerk for doubting you.”
Nathan tightened his grip and whispered into his ear, “No, my friend, it is you who is still the better of us. You’ve sacrificed enough. I will always be here to help, however I can.”
Helena eyed Nathan as they reentered the waiting taxi. He noticed her attention and said, “What is it?”
“You are a very interesting Human, Nathan Connor.”
He smiled and said, “How do you mean, Helena…?” He paused, distressed.
“Your intuition is correct,” she said as she sensed the reason for his alarm. “You have never heard my surname. And that is because I do not have one. Antaran females are not given their family’s surname at birth like Humans. Instead, we either live our life without one or we inherit our husband’s surname.”
“Now that’s interesting,” he said. “Me? I’m not too interesting.”
“I must disagree,” she said. “Your actions with Sean speak to your strength of character. From what I have read about your culture, such acts of kindness are not commonplace.”
“The media prefers stories of violence,” he said. “I’m not surprised if all you’ve heard about Human life is our history of war, murder and greed.”
Helena nodded. “From what I’ve studied, that sounds accurate. Of course, since I have arrived, my opinion has changed. Your ability to terraform your world into one of beauty is a marvelous achievement. People like Admiral Stugardt, Nadine and yourself have given me hope that your race is not a lost cause.”
“Lost cause…” he said. “I hope we’re not that bleak in your eyes.”
Helena allowed the question to linger as they sped through the streets in their taxi. Buildings, other vehicles and pedestrians whipped by her window in a blur of brown and gray. The smog-filled sky cast a sickly pallor on everything and everyone. This planet wasn’t as beautiful as Terra.
For Duty (Antaran Legacy Book 1) Page 13