by Cheree Alsop
Liora shook her head. “But I’m only his half-sister.” She waved a hand to indicate the ship. “I didn’t help to create any of this. I don’t deserve it.”
Maldin gave her a kind smile. “The Days are the most powerful family in the neutral systems. They command the respect of the Coalition and the Revolutionaries, and even the Scavs and mercs know not to mess with them.” He paused, then said, “If I may be so bold as to speak freely for a moment?”
“I would appreciate it,” Liora replied.
He set a hand on her arm. “Being a Day is a privilege of blood. I am honored to be assigned to you. Your brother is a man who cares about his crew and ships, but he’s always been driven by something that has pushed him and everyone else around him. I’ve known him since he was young, and he’s always had a preoccupied look in his eyes as though he’s never quite finished with it.”
“What is it?” Liora asked.
“You,” Maldin replied. “When you set foot aboard the Eos, Commandant Day lost that look. He smiles more and he seems relaxed, which is saying a lot considering you haven’t been here that long. If having his sister on board reduces our young commandant’s stress, then you definitely deserve any and all privileges aboard these ships.”
“I don’t know why it means that much to him,” Liora said quietly.
Maldin smiled at her. “Maybe someday you will.” He made a sweeping gesture toward the hallway. “May I escort you to the arboretum?”
Touched by his kindness, Liora walked with Maldin down the long hallways of the Eos. By the time they reached the flower rooms, she knew why her brother had assigned Maldin to her. The man’s easy nature and casual ability to converse set her at ease. When he left her at the door, she made a mental note to thank Brandis for his foresight.
“Enjoy, Officer Day,” Maldin said.
“Thank you,” she replied.
Liora put her palm to the panel and smiled when the door opened. There was something to be said about having access to the entire ship. She felt touched by the rare privilege. Not that long ago, she had been a prisoner aboard Malivian’s Kirkos. Now, thanks to Brandis, she had full admission to the entire SS Eos. The Kirkos was a Gull in comparison to the ship magnificent enough to contain its own arboretum.
Liora wandered down the flower-filled aisles. The soft lights above felt comforting and the scent that lingered in the air was all-encompassing. A smile touched Liora’s lips when she thought of how she and Tariq could have used such a scent when they flew the Calypsan’s Tin Sparrow. The smile faded at the thought that Mrs. Metis had planned to use the ship for scraps; now, she was at Obruo’s mercy. The fact sent a surge of frustration through Liora.
The door slid open. Liora glanced over her shoulder to see four Gauls enter the arboretum. They looked huge within the tiny aisles spread between the rows of flowers. A closer look revealed that the first Gaul was Knox, the one Liora had fought when he accosted her in the Eos’ cafeteria.
She pretended to be interested in a pair of flowers with long orange and red petals. The petals tapered to points in shades that would make any sunset envious, and when Liora ran a finger along them, a delicate citrus scent rose into the air.
“What’s our vile little Damaclan doing touching flowers?” Knox asked when he reached her. She ignored him, so he leaned closer. “I’m amazed they aren’t wilting beneath your fingers, soulless butcher.”
Liora took a breath through her mouth to avoid the foul wash of his breath. She kept her gaze on the flowers and replied, “I don’t know what Damaclan hurt you or your loved ones, but I can guarantee that it wasn’t me.”
She saw the Gaul’s head jerk back out of the corner of her eye. He glanced at his companions, then back at her.
“What one of you did, all of you do,” he huffed. He blew air out angrily through his big nose and it knocked a petal from the flower. “No Damaclan should be alive in this Macrocosm, let alone aboard my ship.”
“I thought it was Commandant Day’s ship,” she replied with a level voice. A glance to her left showed the other three taking positions around her. Two stood in the next aisle, while the Gaul’s other friend had circled around to come up on her other side.
Knox leaned closer so that he was breathing in her ear. “Whatever ship I am on is mine, and you putrefy it with every step you take. I would appreciate it if you would jump out of the airlock, with or without my help.”
The proximity of the hulking beast and his three companions set her on edge. Liora pretended not to be bothered by their obviously malicious intentions, but a part of her advised that she wasn’t at full strength after the electricity. Tariq’s warning to take it easy echoed in her mind.
“I appreciate the offer,” she replied, keeping her gaze on the flowers. “But I prefer gravity, oxygen, and not freezing to death. Call me old-fashioned, but I like things that aren’t trying to kill me.”
“Then you’re not going to like me,” Knox replied. He made a grab for her.
Liora ducked under the long table that held the flowers. Knox’s arm knocked the flowerpot to the ground and it shattered. Liora stood on the other side. The other two Gauls tried to seize her. Liora ducked under the next table and, holding onto the table for leverage, spun and kicked.
She knocked the Gauls’ legs out from under them and they hit the ground hard. Liora ducked back under the table and slammed her fist into one Gaul’s jaw. His head rebounded off the floor and his struggles stilled. Liora ducked back under the table with the reminder that hitting Gauls in the face hurt.
Knox met her on the other side. Liora bobbed under one punch, sidestepped the next, and used the Gaul’s momentum to throw him into the tables. More flowerpots crashed to the floor.
With the thought that Brandis was sure to revoke her access to the arboretum, Liora punched Knox twice in the kidneys, then drove her elbow into the small of his back. When he reared up in pain, she jumped and slammed both elbows into his chest. He fell backwards, breaking another table and sending the flowers to the floor.
Another Gaul pinned her arms to her sides. Liora fought to break free, but she couldn’t reach him with her elbows. He lifted her up high.
“Hold her,” Knox barked. He climbed heavily to his feet.
Liora knew she couldn’t wait for him to reach her. She struggled harder. The Gaul’s hold tightened. Liora drove her head back and slammed it into the Gaul’s face. He gave a grunt of pain and dropped her to hold his huge, bleeding nose. Liora rolled under Knox’s lumbering grab, came up to her knees, kicked him in the back of his legs to send him to the ground again, and was beneath the next set of tables before his friends could reach her.
“What is going on in here?”
Brandis’ voice was almost unrecognizable. Even Liora found herself standing at attention at the command in his tone.
“We, uh, were looking at the flowers,” Knox said.
Brandis speared him with a look. “Don’t ever lie to me, Knox.”
One of the other Gauls lumbered to his feet. “Knox asked us to help him solve a Damaclan problem. We couldn’t say no.”
Brandis looked from one Gaul to the next. The displeasure on his face made it hard to look at him.
“I understand that Gauls and Damaclans have a blood feud, but I felt that the Gauls aboard my ship would understand that any Damaclan I allow to set foot here does so as my guest.” He glared at Knox. “I told you before that I expect my guests to be treated with respect.”
“No Damaclan deserves my respect,” Knox replied, his gaze on the floor.
“My sister deserves your respect!” Brandis shouted.
The shout echoed around the room.
Brandis took a calming breath and spoke quietly. “Knox, I gave you a pass the first time. It was a warning to both you and the rest of the crew that Liora is not to be trifled with. I thought you took that to heart.” He held out a hand to indicate the state of the room. “I see that you did not. When we land, you will be escorted from the
Eos—”
“But Commandant,” Knox objected.
Brandis ignored his protest. “You will be escorted from the Eos and given your stipend. You will then board either a miner or freighter and you will never be allowed to work within the Day fleet again.”
Everyone stared at Brandis.
“I-it’s all I know,” Knox said.
Brandis nodded. “I will give you a letter of recommendation, but that’s as far as I will go. An attack on my family is an attack on myself, and you know I take safety very seriously.” Brandis pressed a button on his wristband. “Reg, your presence is required in the arboretum immediately.”
“On my way,” Reg answered.
Brandis looked at the other Gauls. “Knox will be in holding until we reach Corian. Would you care to join him?”
The three Gauls shook their horned heads.
“This is your only warning,” Brandis said. “I hope to never have this conversation again.”
“Yes, Commandant,” the three Gauls replied.
At Brandis’ motion, they left the room. An uncomfortable silence filled the air. Brandis kept his gaze on Knox. The door slid open and Reg entered.
“Reg, take Knox to holding. Inform Geris that he will remain there until we reach Corian. Geris can receive the rest of the orders from me.”
“Yes, Commandant,” Reg replied.
The human looked small compared to the huge Gaul, but he buckled cuffs on Knox’s wrists and led him away. The door slid shut.
Brandis cleared his throat, breaking Liora’s gaze on the door.
“Are you alright?” the concern in her brother’s voice was so different from the Commandant’s barking orders that Liora stared at him.
He gave her a small smile. “I saw them enter the room.” He tipped his head.
Liora followed his gaze to a small camera in one corner.
“I was hoping he had come to apologize,” Brandis continued, his tone wry. “I should have been here sooner.”
“I shouldn’t have been here at all,” Liora replied. “Your flowers….” She bent and began gathering up pieces of the first pot.
“Can be replaced,” Brandis told her. He crossed to her and caught her hand. “I have people who can do that. You have people who can do that.”
Liora shook her head. “They’re not my people, just like this isn’t my ship.” She continued gathering big pieces of kilned clay.
Brandis seemed caught off-guard by her words. “So be it,” he said. “Whatever you’d like.”
Liora paused in what she was doing. She considered the pieces in her hand. “I really don’t know what I would like,” she admitted quietly.
Brandis ran his thumb along the edge of the piece he held. “Maybe you’d like not being attacked by enemies when you are just trying to enjoy the flowers.”
Liora met his gaze. “Being attacked is fine. I’m used to that. It feels more like what I’m used to.” She waved her hand to indicate the room. “It’s all this.” She picked up one of the destroyed plants. “It’s a room made just for growing flowers. This, I’m not used to.”
Brandis was quiet for a few minutes. He finished gathering the remains of the first pot and set them on the edge of the table before he moved to the second. He finally let out a breath. “I hope you can get used to it.”
Liora met his gaze. His honesty unsettled her. “Brandis, I’m not made for this. I’m a Damaclan, not some merchant captain in command of hundreds of crew members.”
“Thousands,” Brandis replied. At her look, he cracked a smile. “Thousands upon thousands of employees with families. These merchant ships give life and employment to the neutral systems. You are not just a Damaclan; you are the half-human heir to this empire our father has created. Whether you like it or not, you are a part of this. Your decision is how much you choose to be involved.” He rose to his feet and his voice quieted. “I know it’s overwhelming, but it’s also amazing to be a part of something so much bigger than we are individually. It a place to belong, to be needed, and to make a difference.”
Liora was quiet for a moment before she said, “That sounds nice.”
Brandis nodded. “It is. It has its stressful moments. To be honest, there are times I want to run away and disappear in some distant system.”
“Take up mining on Tanus?” Liora suggested.
Brandis chuckled. “Or fishing on Kaltendarf.”
His wristband beeped. “Yes, Captain?”
“Commandant, we have reached Corian and are preparing to dock.”
“We’ll be right there,” Brandis replied. He glanced at Liora. “Ready for this?”
She nodded. “Ready.”
Chapter 6
Tariq met them at the door. He gave the interior of the arboretum a surprised look.
“What have you been doing?” he asked Liora.
She glanced back at the destroyed tables, flowers strewn along the floor, and dirt everywhere.
“I was taking it easy, like you recommended,” she said.
A laugh escaped Brandis before he smothered it with a cough. “I decided it was time for some remodeling. Liora offered to help.”
“And the Gauls,” Liora said.
Brandis nodded. “We can’t forget about the Gauls. They were a lot of help.”
Tariq gave her a searching look. “Why do I have the feeling I’m missing something?”
Liora shrugged. “We all take it easy in different ways. I happen to prefer flowers.”
Brandis let out another laugh as if he couldn’t help himself. He covered up his mouth when Tariq looked at him.
Tariq shook his head. “Anyway, we need to discuss the plan about Obruo. I’m not sure letting him aboard the ship is a good idea.”
“If we don’t, we won’t find out what his intentions are,” Liora replied. “We’re guessing that he wants the orb, but we need to know why. It’s also our only chance to find Mrs. Metis and Kiari.”
“It’s dangerous,” Tariq said. “I’m going with you.”
Liora set a hand on his arm. “Tariq, if I’m worried about you, I won’t be able to get the information from him we need.”
“Liora—” he began.
“He’s unstable,” Liora said, cutting off his protests. “If Obruo gets a chance to use you against me, I’ll give in. I don’t know what he has planned, but I can’t risk letting him have control over me again.”
“You don’t have to give in for me,” Tariq said.
“I love you,” Liora replied. It was the first time she had said the words aloud. The intense look in Tariq’s eyes made her chest tighten. “I love you,” she repeated, “And I can’t watch anyone else I care about be hurt by that Damaclan. If being alone with him for a few minutes means I can find out where Devren’s family is, it’s worth it. I’m stronger than the last time we met him. I can be in control.”
Tariq and Brandis walked with her down the hallway in silence.
“I’ll be right outside the door,” Tariq finally gave in.
“I’ll have guards ready in case he tries anything,” Brandis said. “One word, and he’ll be taken down.”
Brandis’ wristband beeped again. “Captain Hart,” he said.
“Commandant, we have landed and your father is requesting your immediate presence.”
“Already on our way,” Brandis replied.
He led them to a mobile hallway that extended from the Eos to the landing hub. As soon as they set foot on Corian, a troop of guards fell in around them. They were escorted through a busy central station where everyone rushed past without slowing to look at the guards. Men and women in black, green, and blue uniforms pushed huge sealed boxes, a group of Crustacites carried ammunition crates in their claws, and several Torkans towered over the crowd; they treaded carefully to avoid stepping on anyone with their round feet.
A uniformed Calypsan juggling a stack of crates ran into a Torkan’s huge, leathery leg. Liora watched over her shoulder as the big Calypsan apologized to
the even larger Torkan.
“Are you alright?” Brandis asked.
Liora turned her attention back to where they were going.
“I’ve never seen a Torkan in real life,” she said. “Malivian said he had one lined up once, but the deal fell through.”
“Who’s Malivian?”
The question sent a cold sensation through Liora’s stomach. Tariq’s hand slipped around hers from her other side. She glanced at him. His understanding expression eased her tension.
“He’s, uh, someone from my past,” she said. “He’s gone now.”
Brandis had the sense not to ask more questions. They stepped onto a hovercraft inside the central station and the guards fell in around them. A few minutes later, they stopped at a huge door.
“Credentials please,” a woman at the elevated desk near the door asked.
Brandis handed her his wristband. She scanned the band, then pushed a button. The door beside her slid open. She gave Brandis back his band.
“Welcome home, Commandant Day.”
“Thank you,” Brandis replied.
He motioned for Tariq and Liora to follow him inside. The door shut, leaving the guards on the other side. Their footsteps echoed along the hallway as Liora and Tariq walked with Brandis to the door at the end. It slid open when they drew near. Brandis led them down a small aisle which opened up into a room far bigger than Liora had anticipated.
“Chief Decerpo, may I introduce my son Brandis and my daughter Liora.”
It took Liora a moment to locate who was speaking within the huge room. Rows upon rows of seats lined the walls; half of these seats were occupied with more Damaclans than Liora had ever seen in one place. The other half was filled with uniformed members of the Day fleet who silently watched the proceedings.
Near the middle of the floor stood a raised dais. Two forms waited on it.
The man Liora had spoken to on the Eos screen gave her a warm smile. A hot and cold sensation ran over her skin at the fact that she was in the same room as her father for the first time in her life. He stood close to Brandis’ height and his gray hair was combed back in the merchant fashion. He wore a tailored suit that contained the same blue and silver colors as the uniforms of his staff, and his bearing held a pride and self-assuredness Liora had seldom seen.