Shalee whispered, Disrupter.
Dana added, Wait.
Janz watched the three mercenaries depart, but the door remained ajar.
August paid no attention. He glared, demanding, “You have a bad back, too?”
“Yes,” Janz hissed through the pain, focusing on King.
“You need a chair?” August pounded the arms of his.
“Soon,” Janz sighed, “if Dana can’t fix it.”
August snorted.
“She’s the best, you know.”
“If she’s the best, why do you still hurt?” August taunted.
Janz felt embarrassed, admitting, “I don’t obey doctor’s orders.”
King laughed, and set the chair to circling.
Dana’s sadness came through. He’s mad.
Shalee added, And dangerous.
Janz just watched, stalling, “August? Do you have a photographic memory like Dana has?”
King nodded. “I have full recall of everything I’ve ever read.”
“Have you read your father’s story?”
“Pfft! ‘The Calvary Incident’ is pure rubbish. Doctor Tracy made it all up.”
“Dana says…”
“She lies…”
“No, she’s perfect… She can’t lie.”
“You love her? Do you?”
Janz reddened, “She’s my friend.”
King’s chair skidded to a stop; he hissed, “She’s my sister!”
Macao dared, “No, you’re a clone. You’re not her brother. You’re a…a…replica.”
“Clones are illegal,” King shouted.
Macco countered, “Slavery is illegal!”
“Clones are an abomination! Clones are imperfect! Clones must be destroyed!”
Janz stared; King sneered.
“I hate you all! Sanctimonious, bloody Alphans! Sanctimonious, bloody Enturians! And damn those sanctimonious Gall-ax-e-ans! Clones are people! We didn’t asked to be created. We were ordered destroyed! Like trash!”
King lifted a weapon from a hidden place on his person.
It wasn’t a laser, but Janz secretly retrieved the disrupter box from beneath his body armor.
King held a projectile weapon, like the one Doctor Russet had brandished. King waived it about, and then pointed it.
Janz sucked in air, expecting death. He shut his eyes, depressed the button on the disrupter, apologizing to Shalee. I’m so sorry, my love. Forgive me.
He heard the boom, the decibels hammering his ears.
Then he felt hot, wet blood covering his face, but no pain.
Macao opened his eyes and saw orange fur covering King.
“Xal!”
Dizzy from the acoustic trauma to his ears, he reached for the Felidae, tumbling with the wounded cat to the deck.
Press on the exit wound with your hand! Dana ordered.
Thankfully, he could hear her telepathic command.
“Sir! There’s been a weapon discharged on their bridge. Possible hull breach in progress!” Commander Coe’s voice cut the silence.
“MAT everyone off that ship,” McHale ordered.
Within seconds, the MAT chief called over the COM, “Medical emergency!”
Commodore Jai headed for the lift with Captain McHale on his heels, but before they stepped inside, Coe called their attention to the forward view screen.
“Look!’
Both the Dagger Class and the docked Cutlass disintegrated into the vacuum, sending debris in a wide arc.
Coe anticipated their next question, offering, “Our screens are holding firm. No damage reported.”
“King?”
“MAT’d,” Coe returned, sheepishly adding, “Deceased.”
McHale heaved a sigh. “Keep a close watch on the other ships in King’s fleet. We’ll be in sickbay.”
The Commodore entered the triage room first, quickly observing that three diagnostic beds were occupied. On one, a body was covered by a sheet. On the second lay Janz Macao. The body on the third was getting all the attention.
Doctor Serge argued with his assistants over Xalier’s prone form. “We’ve stopped the bleeding, but the damage is extensive. We can’t chance it.”
“Chance what?” Captain McHale demanded.
“The slug pierced his lung and exited. Can’t wait. Have to remove it.”
“We have no compatible blood for a Felidae. He’s lost too much,” the assistant countered. “He’s too weak.”
Serge turned a plea to the Captain. “Sir? We could lose him, too.”
Kieran injected, “His family is at Centauri Prime. We could be there in a few days.”
“Only if we put him in stasis inside a C-FIIN.”
McHale nodded. “Thresher will mop up here. Take my ship if you like, Commodore.”
“Mine’s faster,” Kieran assured. He turned to his brother. “Janz?”
“He can’t hear you, sir,” a human nurse cautioned, as she prepared an injector.
“Oh, yes, he can.” Kieran pried the disrupter box from his brother’s clenched fingers.
Janz stirred, opening his eyes.
What happened?
Janz responded to the telepathic demand in kind, recounting how Xalier went for King’s jugular. The gun went off.
Is King dead?
Yes.
Kieran gave Macao’s arm a reassuring squeeze. I’m taking Xal to Centauri. Want to come?
Dana’s there.
Good... I can use some R & R.
What about March and Hawk?
They’re McHale’s problem.
No, March is Dana’s brother. We need to take him with us. He’s a doctor.
For?
To monitor Xal and me.
Kieran nodded. Stay put. I’ll arrange it. Then he heard a second voice. Shalee?
Set all the slaves free.
The Commodore frowned, Shalee, I can’t…
Set them all free. Order it done. Trust me!
He withdrew his hand, allowing the nurse to minister to his brother, turning to Thresher’s Captain. “McHale, join me in the corridor?”
Once the door to sickbay closed, the Commodore announced, “It is in the best interests of the Republic to free all of King’s slaves. Will you see it done?”
“I will, sir, gladly.”
“Have them checked for those tracking devices.”
“Aye, sir,” McHale nodded, “and do what with them, sir?”
“Well, Crown Enterprises owes them. In fact, with King dead, the assets of the whole operation would belong to the next of kin. That would be Dana and her siblings.”
“The slaves are ‘assets’?”
“No, they are not. Under Republic law, they cannot be valued as slaves. They can be counted as employees, however, and should earn the current wage for their services. I would think Hawk can provide details about the whole operation. Perhaps in exchange for his cooperation, the Republic could waive all charges against him.”
“That might do it,” McHale nodded. “What about the damage to the Crossroads Station? Isn’t Crown Enterprises responsible for that?”
“The Republic is responsible for destroying the Crown Enterprises facilities at Arkares. Call it even…or, close to. Oh, and Captain McHale, we need to inventory all of the vessels owned by King. That whole fleet…”
“I’ll take care of it, sir.”
Kieran glanced back at the door to sickbay. “I’m taking Janz with me. He’s requested Doctor March Garcia to come along to monitor the coffin. Find me a pilot certified for my private ship, and have SSID assign two security officers to my detail.”
The Commodore offered his hand to McHale and they shook. “It’s been a pleasure, Captain.”
“Sir? Off the record, are you going to marry Dana Cartwright?”
Kieran’s left eyebrow shot upward, “I might.”
“Begging your pardon, sir, but it might appear a conflict of interest if you remain in charge and she is to inherit the assets of Crow
n Enterprises.”
“Oh…wouldn’t want that. Is there a remedy?”
“Well, the sokem have a stake in this.”
“Schaffer? He’s perfect. Propose it to him… Excellent idea!”
Janz clung to the edge of the diagnostic bed with his left hand, and to the arm of his nurse with his right. “The room is spinning,” he told them, shutting his eyes tightly to counter the vertigo.
Doctor Serge frowned deeply, administering a dose of an anti-vertigo medication. “He should stay in bed for another few days. Nurse, prepare a robo-chair. For now, that’s the best option. Have a full scan once you arrive at Centauri.”
Janz didn’t hear a word. He did open his eyes. Instead of clutching the bed, he clung to the arms of the sophisticated robo-chair they had waiting.
The nurse made a point of showing him the controls, and waited until he demonstrated a level of proficiency, before leading out to the corridor.
Two others, android-nurses, followed, guiding the hovering C-FIIN with Colonel Xalier safely ensconced inside.
The descent of the lift caused even more vertigo, but Janz gritted his teeth and just held on, until they reached the shuttle bay.
Kieran waited at the loading ramp to his shuttle, with a backpack slung over one shoulder.
Janz blinked both eyes, looking up, declaring telepathically, I’m ready.
Kieran said aloud and telepathically, “We’re waiting on our pilot. Doctor March and the security detail are already aboard Kaiden.” He led up the ramp to the rotunda, and then down an interior ramp to one of the larger passenger cabins. “You should be comfortable here.”
Janz nodded, but regretted the movement. My ears are buzzing even louder. Is there something aboard doing that?
Not that I’m aware of. Kieran shrugged. Maybe you are sensitive to the air pressure on the shuttle bay.
K? I’m in bad shape.
Kieran rested a hand on his brother’s shoulder. Hang on. Maybe Dana can help.
Janz’s mood brightened a bit.
They both felt the shuttle engines roar to life.
I’m going to check on Xal before going up to the bridge. Probably best if you stay down here. Secure for takeoff.
Kieran left the cabin and went down to the lowest deck, giving the security detail and Doctor March a nod. “We’re about ready.” He checked the coffin, giving the clear lid an affectionate pat. “I hate these things, Xal, but you’re safer in there.”
The security detail took March to a cabin one level higher.
Kieran Jai remained behind. He secured Dana’s backpack in a storage locker, and then took a moment to investigate another next to it, with items he didn’t recognize. Inside were some small boxes, bearing Tritian delegation emblems. He guessed these were Ambassador Taurian’s things from Seraph, brought aboard before he’d left Tonner III.
There was also a small, cigar box, singed from exposure to fire. Kieran touched it and instantly reacted, strongly feeling Dana Cartwright’s essence. Curious, he opened it. Inside was a partially-melted, platinum necklace, with an undamaged jewel, a dodecagon. Kieran burst into a grin.
He closed the box lid and stowed it with Dana’s backpack. Then he headed back up to the bridge, just as the ship began to vibrate.
A young officer occupied the pilot’s chair. “Mackenna?”
“At your service, sir, next stop, Centauri Prime.”
Kieran slid in at the copilot’s console, securing the safety bar across his lap. “McHale did good, selecting you. Whenever you’re ready, engage.”
The Commodore then stretched, closed his eyes, and dozed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Centauri Station, this is Ambassador Kord’s shuttle, Katana, requesting permission to dock?” Dana said, over the communication channel.
“Roger, Katana. You are clear to Bay 27 — repeat, Bay 27.”
“Two-Seven, roger.”
Dana set the ship down gently, then the deck descended and they were inside the massive private shuttle bay.
“A perfect ten landing.” Prince Korwin’s face held a grin, “Just like old times, DD.”
“Not exactly, Mister Ambassador,” Dana teased, emphasizing his title.
“Will you come back to the residence with us or stay aboard?”
“How soon will you be leaving again?”
“Oh, not for several days… I’ll need to attend a conference at Capitol City, Earth, but until then, I’d like Micah to rest at home.” Korwin released his lap restraint and rose. “Come now. You can always return later. Or, if you like, we can make arrangements for a permanent apartment at the spaceport, although, we spend a great deal of time shuttling back and forth to Earth. You might prefer having a permanent residence there.”
Dana recalled Ambassador Cray’s tiny spaceport apartment and decided, “My cabin is fine for now, but I will accompany you to the residence.”
Korwin led down to the main cabin to collect his mate, giving both Micah and the baby sweet kisses.
They were ready, but just before Dana hit the hatch release switch, Korwin stopped her.
“The security detail always goes first. And you, as captain of my personal craft, must always be armed.” He handed her a palm-sized laser. “I’ll have to give you the protocols to study.”
Baker and Carlton appeared from their lower level crew cabins with rifle weapons slung over their shoulders. “Ready, Your Highness?” Carlton asked.
“Ready.”
As the ramp dropped, the Prince sheltered his wife and son and, to a certain degree, Dana.
“Clear,” Baker called from below.
The two security officers led across the bay to a small, six-seater skip, with a large, clear viewport dome. They opened the entry door and saw Princess Micah and the baby in first, followed by Prince Korwin and Dana. After a last scout of the bay, Carlton and Baker stepped in and sat on the forward seat, programming the dome to drop and the entry door to close.
“Fully automated,” Baker told Dana. “You will need security codes. We’ll assign them once we arrive at the residence.”
The skip hovered a moment and the interior bay door opened to permit them through.
Dana watched with interest, as the skip moved through the main hatch out into the spaceport corridor, and floated forward, down the center of the walkway, following a lighted track in the deck. In a few minutes, they cleared the tunnel corridor and were in open air, following a land route toward a mountain range in the distance.
“Takes about twenty minutes to reach the palace,” Korwin offered.
Dana smiled. “We’ve known each other for a long time, but I’ve never been to the residence before, not even with Ambassador Solon?”
Korwin chuckled. “Wait until you see Forever Pointe. It’s there, on the left, after we make the turn.”
All Kieran’s memories of launching off the towering cliffs and down over the river valley, flooded back to her. “Wow…so beautiful. Have you ever flown there?”
“With a kite? Me? It’s far too dangerous,” Korwin reddened, “I’m not that much of a rebel.”
He sounded melancholy; she didn’t dare to ask why.
“We’ll stay a few days here at home, but then I must face the President.”
Princess Micah rested her left hand upon his arm. “This is Prince Eloren’s time.”
Korwin sighed, “Yes, my dearest, it is Eloren’s time.” He reached for the tiny bundle. “Today is Eloren’s birthday.”
At the palace, twenty-four blue uniformed men and women formed an honor guard, lining the stairs to the grand entry doors.
The dome on the skip popped up and the door opened, allowing warm, arid air to flow inside. It smelled sweet, perfumed with the scent of flowers.
An attractive couple, wearing formal, full-length robes, waited at the top landing, bowing to Korwin and Micah, long, arctic white capes billowing on the breeze.
“Your Royal Highness, Prince Korwin and Your Highness, Princess Mic
ah…” The male offered.
“And His Royal Highness, Prince Eloren,” Korwin announced.
The greeters glowed with pleasure.
“Welcome home, Cousins.”
Baker took Dana by the elbow, and led across the palace courtyard to wait beside other guardsmen at the foyer entry doors, which were already held open for the royal couples. “That’s Prince Harmon, son of Prince Alexi Cray, and Princess Felice, daughter of Grand Master of the Elect, Prince Amath…”
Dana assured, “I know both.”
“Oh, right, you’re from Earth.”
She nodded, observing all the pomp and pageantry, the formal greetings expected for royalty and dignitaries.
And then, an older woman appeared, standing at the center of a starburst emblem on the immaculate tile floor of the grand foyer.
“That’s Princess Grace…”
At the mention, Shalee telepathically hissed in retort to Dana, That’s the twin’s mate…
Jad’s?
Watch her...watch how she treats Princess Micah. There’s nothing graceful about her.
Dana ignored the animosity and did watch. “Is that how she treated you?”
It is. And it is why my dearest took the Macao name, my surname.
Dana watched and wondered, How will they treat me then?
Shalee declined to respond.
Instead, Captain Shalee Raja Macao, of the Shonedren, a princess among her own people, told Dana, Follow inside along the left wall. I’ll tell you when to stop.
Dana did as suggested, but knew exactly where Shalee was sending her.
The wall curved around the large foyer. Fourteen life-stars hung, equally spaced, along it, all back-lit and glowing. The second to the last had a red ruby near the center stone. Dana recognized it immediately. That’s Janz’s.
Yes…
Whose is the last?
Prince Korwin’s.
It’s full already?
Princess Micah is very wealthy, my dear.
Baker nudged Dana. They followed up the stairs to the second floor, east wing, and into a lavish suite.
Micah held baby Eloren to her shoulder, but motioned Dana closer as they stepped out onto a balcony. The Capital City of Centauri Prime lay beyond, stretching out, away from the palace, connected by gleaming roads and walkways, filling the entire river valley, which seemed a natural crater.
Dana Cartwright Mission 3: Kal-King Page 21