“What did you agree to in return?” Rhys asked.
“Access to the ship for three months. All the alcubium on board. Which reminds me . . . could you store four containers of it for me? I’ll swing back by and pick it up in about three months.”
“Oh, that’s clever,” Rhys said. “And here I was starting to think you weren’t living up to your House roots. Of course I will. What else?”
“I also promised him a week of debriefings on everything I know about the drive, XAD Six, and alcubium.”
“That’s it?” he asked.
“I know, right? It’s unlike him not to at least try to negotiate terms. But the contract is legally binding and will stand up in the Consortium courts. I’d like you all to look it over, see if I’m missing something obvious.”
I brought up the vid screen in the wall and transferred the contract to it, large enough that everyone could read it at once. They read in silence while I looked for anything that would invalidate the contract. Father was sneaky, after all.
“Everything looks fine to me,” Rhys said.
“Me, too,” Loch and Veronica agreed.
I turned to Veronica. She met my eyes and then glanced away. “Did Rhys persuade you to stay?” I asked gently.
“I can be very persuasive when I put my mind to it,” Rhys said with a grin.
Veronica’s face flushed with color. “Yes, I’ve decided to stay. However, when your father sends you to war, I want to go with you.” She cut me off before I could do more than utter a syllable. “I know it will be dangerous. But I owe you. I know you say I don’t, but I do. And besides that, I like you and don’t want you to die. So I will go with you and keep you out of trouble.”
“Good luck,” Loch muttered. I elbowed him in the side.
“And I’m going, too,” Rhys said. “So don’t think about leaving me out of the loop. And if Albrecht even thinks about going back on his word, you know we’ll bust you out.”
Loch sighed and ran a hand over his head. “Rhys is right; your father better not try any shit. And I suppose I won’t mind sharing a ship with these two again.”
“You don’t know how much your support means to me,” I said. I hugged each of them. “I’m going to miss you. I will try to visit even before I get my ship back.”
Rhys and Veronica left a little while later. They were trying to convert back to local time and it was already deep into the night. Loch stayed but we both knew our time was limited.
I signed the contract and sent it to Father, along with a note that I would arrive tomorrow, barring any trouble. Postponing my departure would just make it harder. Besides, the sooner I left, the sooner I could return.
I found Loch on the flight deck, going through the maintenance records for the ship. “Find anything interesting?” I asked.
“Just ensuring everything is ready for you,” he said. “I know it’s only one jump, but I won’t be there if anything goes wrong. It’s making me crazy.”
I bent down and pressed a kiss to his neck. “How about I distract you?”
He made a sound low in his chest. “I could be persuaded,” he said.
I swung his chair away from the console and straddled his lap, facing him. Then, with a grin, I proceeded to show him just how persuasive I could be.
Chapter 26
The next morning I found Loch back on the flight deck, staring moodily into a steaming cup of coffee. As far as I could tell, neither of us had slept well.
Loch met my gaze and his jaw clenched. He looked like a man getting ready to impart bad news. Nervousness settled into my belly as I imagined what he was going to say. Had he decided I was too much trouble for a relationship after all? What if this was truly goodbye?
“I’m going with you,” he said, his voice hard.
I blinked, sure I’d heard him wrong.
“If you won’t take me on Polaris, I’ll follow on my own. But either way, I’m going with you. I know it’s not safe and I don’t care.”
Relief and joy surprised a laugh out of me. “Okay,” I said.
Now he was the one who looked blindsided. “You’re going to agree, just like that?”
“Yes. In fact, I was going to ask you to come. I couldn’t sleep last night, so I spent the night thinking. I have a plan, but it’s dangerous.”
His smirk was sharp enough to cut. “I’m dangerous,” he said. “It’s time the Consortium figured that out firsthand.”
I shook my head. “If you go in as a threat, they’ll treat you like one and eliminate you. This is my area of expertise. You have to be willing to trust me and follow my lead, even when it seems what I’m doing is counterintuitive.”
I held my breath as his eyes raked over my face. Finally, he sighed and nodded. “I’ll defer to your expertise. But if things get dicey, I’ll get us out by whatever means necessary. Let’s hear your plan.”
“I’ll bring you with me as my bodyguard. Thanks to the contract with Father, I can get you diplomatic immunity. It won’t prevent the other Houses from attempting to capture you if they realize who you truly are, but it will give you some cover. Do you have a secondary identity chip and a clean identity?”
Loch nodded. “I contacted Rhys this morning to make sure it was still good.”
“That will make things easier. I’m going to have to let my sister Bianca know your real identity because I need her help. We’ll use your secondary identity for everyone else.” I sighed. “It’s still going to be risky. It would be much safer for you to stay here.”
“I’m going. And going as your bodyguard is a lot less risky than sneaking in, which was my other plan.”
I stared. “You’re kidding, right?”
His grin did not reassure me.
I sent Bianca a priority message while we waited for a jump point. I’d need her help as soon as I landed, so it was better to give her at least a little warning. Loch had clipped into the navigator’s chair while I wrote the message. I slid into the captain’s chair and tried to ignore my nerves.
After we received the jump point, I triggered the hangar’s roof door to open, then let Polaris take off under autopilot. The route to Earth was already programmed.
I was going home.
The thought didn’t fill me with the warmth I thought it would. I felt vaguely uneasy. I’d changed a lot in the last two years. I wasn’t as naive or trusting, and while I was still loyal to House von Hasenberg, I’d lost the rose-colored glasses. I wasn’t sure my family would appreciate the changes, especially when they arrived along with a convicted murderer/bodyguard and a lot of uncomfortable questions about the Genesis Project.
APD Zero dropped away and the sky opened up. As soon as we’d cleared the atmosphere and put enough distance between us and the other ships in the area, the FTL kicked in and we jumped.
I hadn’t swapped out the alcubium, so this was a conventional FTL jump. I kept an eye on the systems as we popped out the other side, but the time in Sedition meant the drive had had plenty of time to cool down. The ship slid neatly back into normal space and Earth glowed blue in front of us.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Loch asked.
“Yes,” I whispered. It was hard to imagine that the entirety of the Consortium’s vast power flowed from this little sphere of blue and green.
Because of its importance, everything within a light-year of Earth was neutral territory. That neutrality was fiercely defended by the most seasoned of the RCDF forces. No matter what happened between Houses out in the greater universe, Earth remained peaceful.
That meant I had a good chance of seeing Richard in person at the next Consortium event, and I couldn’t even punch him in his pretty face. And I had no idea how I was going to prevent Loch from going after him.
No one challenged us as we approached. I’d added my House seal to the ship’s registration. The RCDF would verify the validity of the seal, but once it proved genuine, they wouldn’t even log our passing—only non-House ships were logged.
&n
bsp; The House designation also meant that I’d been able to request a jump point much closer to the planet. We’d be on the surface in less than thirty minutes. My fingers trembled with anxiety.
I began pulling on my public persona. The spaceport might be in von Hasenberg territory, but it was still public. My father would expect me to act above reproach until I was safely in our private residence. And if I was going to bluff Loch’s presence in, I’d need to be as cold as ice.
I pushed my anxiety deep, until I was a still lake. I could do this. I would do this. We entered the atmosphere and my calm barely rippled.
Polaris dropped toward Serenity, the only city on Earth and the heart of the Royal Consortium. Thousands of years after Earth was abandoned, the Consortium had worked for decades to make it habitable once again. Then they turned it into the seat of their power and a natural museum to human history. Anyone was welcome to visit, but few were invited to stay.
The city itself formed a circle, with the Consortium common buildings in the center and the three remaining High Houses each in their own quarter. The last quarter used to belong to the fourth High House, but after its fall, the lower houses took over, moving in from the outer sectors.
Each quarter operated independently, with its own utilities, amenities, and security. The quarters were divided into sectors starting from the middle and moving outward. Sector One, the innermost sector, contained the family residence for House members. Access was restricted to family and high-ranking staff.
Sectors Two through Ten contained various extended family and staff residences, as well as offices, shops, and all of the other things found in a large city. The sector numbers were used mainly for addresses and directions—sectors weren’t divided by functionality. Travel between the various quarters and sectors was encouraged and frequent.
The von Hasenberg family spaceport was on the outer edge of Sector One. There was a larger spaceport out past Sector Ten, but Polaris was small enough not to need the extra room.
Serenity was spectacular on approach, a beautiful city carved out of a lush green jungle. The ocean sparkled in the distance, a shining blue jewel.
Each quarter’s architecture reflected the High House who claimed it for its own, especially in the inner sectors. The outer sectors tended to be high-rises, as the need for housing outstripped the need for design.
But the family residences were works of architectural art.
House Rockhurst’s residence was a gleaming metal and glass building with clean lines and simple, elegant design details. House Yamado’s residence was a beautiful natural wood building with a stunning curved tile roof. And House von Hasenberg’s residence was a stone building with tiny, intricate details carved into each of the various facades. I’d stared at our house for hours and discovered new details each time.
Polaris settled into a hangar at the family spaceport with a barely perceptible bump and anxiety tried to break through my control. I took a deep breath and held it until I no longer felt like I would vomit the instant I moved.
Loch unclipped and bent down to peek at my face. “You okay?”
“I will be,” I said. Loch nodded and pulled on the hooded cloak we’d decided was his best defense against recognition. I took a deep breath and stood. Loch shouldered both of our bags. Showtime.
No one came out to greet us, so I locked up the ship and headed to the house. I used my real identity chip to let us in. This was a side door, so the foyer wasn’t as grand as the main entrance, but the marble floors and plaster walls were just as I remembered them. A passing staffer gave us a curious glance, but other than that, no one noticed our arrival.
Disappointment stabbed deep.
I don’t know why I expected Father to be waiting with open arms, but I guess childhood dreams are the slowest to die. I stiffened my spine and decided to beard the lion in his den.
“Stay close,” I murmured to Loch.
I found Albrecht in his study, consulting with three of his military advisors. The room was filled with rich wood paneling and heavy, ornate furniture. It was a room designed to intimidate, and when I was younger, it had worked. Looking at it now, though, it appeared hollowly ostentatious.
“Hello, Father,” I said, not bothering to wait until he acknowledged me. The three advisors darted startled glances at me but none dared to comment. Cowards.
Albrecht was a little older and grayer than the last time I saw him, but he’d lost none of his presence. His gaze pinned me in place. He waved a hand at his advisors without looking at them. “Leave us. Return in ten.”
They practically tripped over themselves to exit the room.
“Where is the ship?” Albrecht asked.
“It is nice to see you, too, Father. Yes, I have been well, thank you for asking.” At his pointed glare, I continued, “Polaris is in the family hangar. The House codes are allowed as first officers.” It would allow the scientists and engineers access to the ship without allowing them to remove me as captain.
I’d also geofenced the ship to Earth’s orbit, so there would be no long-distance travel without me on board. If Father wanted more access, he’d have to renegotiate our deal or crack my override codes.
“Who is that?” Albrecht asked, gesturing at Loch.
“My bodyguard. He requires diplomatic immunity, as agreed.”
Father brushed a nonexistent crumb from his dark suit jacket. “Ian will take care of it. Expect debriefing to start in two hours. You are dismissed.” He turned back to the display on his desk.
“Debriefing will begin tomorrow or not at all,” I said calmly.
Father looked up with narrowed eyes. That look meant trouble. Anxiety churned through my system, but I kept my face serene. I would not be steamrolled this time. I felt Loch move closer as I stared down one of the three most powerful people in the universe.
When I didn’t flinch or look away, Father’s lips twitched into a grimace. “You always were the one with the most backbone,” he said. “Damned inconvenient, but you did manage to bring me a Rockhurst ship. Debriefing will begin tomorrow at six. Do not push me further.”
I inclined my head. “Thank you, Father,” I said. I retreated before he could change his mind.
In the safety of the hallway, the adrenaline pumping through my body made me shaky and nauseous. I kept my facade intact and breathed through it. I had too many things to do to have a breakdown. First and foremost, I needed to track down Bianca.
“So that was your father,” Loch said quietly. His tone was neutral and his voice was flat. I couldn’t guess at what he was thinking.
“That was him in a good mood,” I said.
“Are all the councillors of the High Houses like him?”
“In one way or another. Lady Rockhurst is known to be coolly levelheaded and ruthlessly persistent. Lord Yamado has an explosive temper and both the will and the firepower to back up his threats. House von Hasenberg has long been known as the moderate House, but being moderate compared to the extremes isn’t exactly moderate.”
I led Loch back toward my suite, so he could drop off our stuff before we went looking for Bianca. Walking down the familiar hall to my rooms brought back a million memories. This house was saturated in them. I opened the door, unsure what to expect.
My suite looked exactly the same.
The foyer opened to a large living area with clustered seating areas. Done in shades of cream and blue with dark hardwood floors, my suite had always been an oasis in the heart of the Consortium storm. On the left was a small, fully functional kitchen—though the synthesizer saw more use than the stove. A dining table for fourteen dominated that side of the room.
On the right were the doors leading to the formal sitting room and study. A hallway led deeper into the suite to the guest bath and my private rooms. Just seeing it again, preserved as if I’d never left, was enough to bring tears to my eyes. I blinked them away and ushered Loch in.
“You’re late,” Bianca called from the sitting room.
>
I froze for a half a breath, then I ran to greet her. “Bianca!”
Bianca sat on a brown and gold brocade settee, but she stood when I entered the room. She wore a somber gray day dress that still managed to emphasize her delicate figure. Bianca wore the colors of mourning while in public thanks to her bastard husband’s death nearly a year ago. In another month or two she could return to her usual bright colors and she would be free of the man once and for all.
She was the shortest member of the family by far, so she made up for it by wearing ridiculous heels. The pair strapped to her feet today seemed to defy gravity. When I hugged her, we were the same height, even though I knew she was more than ten centimeters shorter than me.
She squeezed me tightly. “I’m glad you’re back,” she said softly. “I worried about you.”
Bianca felt almost fragile in my arms. She’d lost weight she couldn’t afford to lose. I pulled away to look at her face. Under the carefully applied makeup, she looked tired and worn. “What’s going on?” I asked her.
Her smile was quick and rueful. “I should’ve known you would notice,” she said. “I am fine, just tired. I’ve had a lot on my plate lately.”
I looked away. A lot of that stress was due to me. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I never meant for you to work yourself to the bone. You should know that.”
“It’s not your fault,” she said. At my disbelieving look she amended, “Okay, it’s not all your fault.” Her eyes darted over my shoulder. “But I would like an introduction to the man who is trying to claim my baby sister.”
“Be nice,” I warned.
“I’m always nice,” she said innocently, but her smile spelled danger.
“I’m assuming you swept for bugs?” I asked. At her nod, I waved Loch into the room from where he was hovering at the door, still cloaked and hooded. “Bianca, meet Marcus Loch,” I said when he reached my side. “Marcus, meet my older sister Bianca. You can take off the cloak.”
Polaris Rising Page 29