by Chris Reher
She raised her head. “I believe you.” She reached out to run her hands through his hair, aware that she had ached to do just that for days.
"I have wanted you," he said.
"So Anders said," she said dryly. She turned her head to look down along the long-limbed body sprawled beside her.
"What?"
She grinned. "Confirming a rumor."
He rolled his eyes. "Come, let’s see if we can find something edible in this place.”
They pulled some clothes from their kits and dressed carelessly, soon heading for the door of their suite. Nova reached high up under his loose shirt to tug playfully on the strands of hair along his spine. Tychon twisted out of her reach to escape into the hall and nearly collided with someone out there. He stopped so suddenly that she nearly walked up his heels in the doorway.
She peered around him. The tall man’s hand was still in the air as if he had been about to knock on the suite’s door. The expression on his angular face held no greeting and did not become any warmer when he saw Nova.
Tychon recovered from his surprise. “Jelani.”
Their visitor was older than Tychon by far; his eyes almost black under thick blue brows, his hair the color of slate, drawn back in a severe braid that reached to his waist. He wore the blue pantaloons and long vest favored by most of Delphi's elders.
Nova stepped around Tychon. "You know each other?"
Tychon glanced at her. "Nova, this is Shan Jelani, my wife's brother." To Jelani he said: "Come inside, Elder Brother."
The Delphian followed them into the suite where Nova hastily closed the bedroom door. “Please, sit,” she said and was not surprised when he ignored her invitation. He was regarding her like an especially nasty species of insect he just discovered crawling across his path.
“I am surprised to see you on Targon,” Tychon said, using a Delphian dialect that Nova could follow.
“As am I. However, asking you to see me on Delphi did not achieve the expected result. You can imagine my delight at finding myself in a combat zone, five levels below ground.” Jelani folded his arms and observed Nova more closely. “I am assuming that this is your…” He paused a moment. “Well, I know not what.”
“This is Captain Nova Whiteside,” Tychon said pointedly. “My co-pilot.”
The older Delphian nodded. "It is so difficult to tell sometimes," he said, hinting at her lack of uniform.
"I’m not required to display insignia," she said.
"Ah, regulations," Jelani strolled about the room, his hands clasped behind his back. "Some of which you follow."
"Get to the point," Tychon snapped. “What are you doing on Targon?”
Jelani observed them a while, his pause artful. At last his eyes settled on Nova. "This concerns Major Tychon's son, Captain. We believe him to be grossly neglected."
"How is that?" Tychon asked in surprise.
"Why, your very profession! Constantly dashing about to all ends of civilization and beyond, I suppose."
"I was drafted into this."
"You were offered the Vanguard. No one is ordered into that position. You could have had your commission on Delphi. You cannot ensure a safe, comfortable future for Kiran."
"I have my commission, pensions and private ventures willed to Kiran should something happen to me. He will always be comfortable."
"That is my point! You do not even know if you will be alive next week. I have taken the liberty of having the boy assessed on Feyd. The reports show that he is exhibiting signs of anxiety, confusion and stress."
"You are unbalanced, if anyone is. He is happy at that school."
Nova stared from one to the other. Why was Jelani so concerned with another man's child?
"I am afraid that our Delphian Child Welfare does not consider you to be a suitable parent," Jelani continued, looking at Nova with obvious distaste. "You are not only neglectful by allowing your son to be raised by strangers but, besides breaking Air Command regulations, you are also violating the moral codes of Delphi. Even just cohabitating with this Human is an affront to your people. To Kiran’s people!”
"I do not believe this," Nova said.
Tychon smiled mirthlessly. "We are a backward people."
"Do not scoff your heritage, Major! What you do off planet is your own affair. Your son, on the other hand, has certain obligations to fulfill. Obligations which, I am sure, you have no intentions of overseeing."
"You are damn right!"
Jelani shuddered visibly. "We all tried to dissuade my dear sister from choosing you, a commoner, for her mate. A commoner who went on to pursue a career that led to her death! She would be alive, if not for you."
"You are going too far," Tychon growled dangerously.
"Will someone please..." Nova began, confused.
Jelani glanced in her direction for only the briefest moment before answering. "You did not know that Kiran's name, by birthright, is Phera?"
“No!” she gasped.
Jelani nodded. "Dana produced the last heir to Phera’s reign. We must see to it that this bloodline continues. He should not be removed from Delphi. He needs proper guidance and tutelage. As it is, he is cast aside in a military school." He glared at Tychon. "He does not even know who he is!"
"He is a little boy."
"That does not exempt him from his duties. Of course, he must be led with caution. I am myself applying for guardianship." Jelani headed for the door, perhaps sensing that Tychon was ready to explode. "I am certain that Child Welfare will decide that it is better for our future sovereign to be returned to his clan and the Council than to remain in the custody of a free-living Union agent and his Terran consort."
Tychon snarled and stepped closer to Jelani.
"I had intended to offer you a choice," Jelani said, appearing unruffled. "But after reviewing your public record and hearing about your, ah, adventures, I can see what choice you would prefer."
The door closed silently behind him.
“I can't wait till you translate all of this for me,” Nova marveled.
“We're going to Feyd. Today.” Tychon dropped into a chair and reached for a screen on a nearby table. After a few moments he was cleared to reach Colonel Carras.
"I need to apply for special leave," he said without preamble.
Nova peered over his shoulder at the Colonel’s surprised face.
"What the devil is this about? I need you here, Major. You were right, earlier. We found four abandoned shrills near the east service bays. That means at least four more rebels on the base. This is no time for vacations."
Quickly and with undisguised irritation, Tychon relayed their awkward meeting with Jelani.
“Are you sure this is necessary? Do you really think he’ll take the boy from Feyd without your permission?”
"He said as much. He only needs the right governors on Delphi to issue the directives. Look, Tal, he couldn't care less if I was living with six grush cats. The best thing that ever happened to his own ambitions was Dana's death. He will use my son to gain a seat on the Council. Perhaps even as regent. That cannot be. I must get to Feyd."
"Phera rules Delphi?" Nova asked. "I thought he was a sort of local leader or an ambassador or something."
Tychon shook his head. "We have a clan system with an appointed council, but Phera is at the head. He has tremendous influence over the people. Dana was his daughter and Kiran is his official heir. I have every intention of returning him to the Court. But not as Jelani's pawn."
"And he’s using me? To discredit you?” Nova asked, her voice a whisper.
"Seems that way." Tychon turned back to the monitor. "Tal, how about that emergency leave? I want Kira out of there until I can get Phera to step on Jelani’s plans. He’s a reasonable man. I have friends in the Outlands that will look after the boy."
Carras nodded. "Make it fast. I have the feeling that if I don't let you go, you'll go AWOL. Take the Eagle. I don’t have time for you to play civilian. On the way you'l
l prepare a full report with footage on the incident with the rebel carrier. And, Major,” he added. “Try not to assault any more of my pilots. At least not in the most heavily surveilled spot on Targon.”
Nova grinned at Tychon. She considered for a moment. "So why isn’t Jelani the crown prince or whatever you call Kira on Delphi? He’s Phera’s son, isn’t he?”
“Phera doesn’t like him. Disowned him, in fact. They haven’t spoken in probably five years. I don’t know what Jelani did, but it must have been something terrible. So now he thinks he can use Kira to get what is owed him.”
“At least I now know who's been browsing through your files," Carras said.
"What files?"
"Your family records, mostly. Jelani must have been gathering ammo for this meeting. The access logs show that someone looked not only at your files but also the files on Dana and Kiran."
"Is that legal?" Nova asked. "How would he get clearance?"
"Doesn't need it. Those are public records accessible from anywhere, in this case some place on Aram. The Major, Dana and Kiran are important people. Much has been noted about them and there wasn't anything in those files that isn't public knowledge. The only reason that I was even alerted to that is because there were also a few attempts to get into your classified files, Tychon. Unsuccessful, of course.”
Nova frowned. “How would Jelani have the means to even try to hack into military information systems?”
“Who else would want to know about me or my family?” Tychon shrugged and quickly concluded their call to Carras before picking up his flight jacket. “Let’s be gone.”
She shook her head. “Ty, we can’t. You’re exhausted and angry. I’m beyond tired. How do you think either one of us is going to jump safely today?”
He frowned, undecided.
She took the jacket from him. “Nothing Jelani can hire can travel as fast as the Eagle. We’ll get there in one short jump. After we get some food and some sleep.”
He continued to scowl at nothing but finally nodded, resigned. “I didn’t think he’d go this far, Nova.” He glanced at her. “I suppose I’ve given him plenty of excuse to convince the Council. He won’t need much more.”
“Because of the Human. Because I’m beneath you. Is that it?”
“That is how they see it.”
“Do you?”
He inhaled sharply. “Is that what you think?”
She shook her head and turned away. “I don’t know what to think.” She felt tears burn in the back of her throat and fought to keep her voice steady. This day had brought such extraordinary excitement beginning with the battle above Targon, the absolute thrill of spanning her very first reach, and the wonderful mental connection she had experienced with this man who had then come to her with such passion. And then Jelani had taken it all away. Now there was pain and confusion and not a second for her to discover what the moments they had shared meant to Tychon. Had it meant anything at all? “It’s been such a bloody long day…”
She felt his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Nova,” he said softly. “I’ve dragged you into something you should not have to deal with.”
She turned but did not look into his eyes. “Maybe it’s best if I asked for a transfer, Ty. There is so much at stake here for you. For Kira. Don’t let this be my fault.”
“Out of the question! He’ll find another reason to take Kira. I am not going to back down because of some outdated principles. I won’t let them run my life like that!”
She looked up. “I’m a matter of principle?”
“No!” He took her face into his hands. “Gods, no. I won’t use you like that. I won’t let them use you like that. I…” Unable to find the words, he bent to kiss her. “Just don’t leave me now.”
Chapter Six
“Aren’t you going to let them know we’re coming?” Nova asked when they prepared their approach to Feyd. She had changed into her fatigues, as he had asked, displaying the insignia identifying her as a Union officer.
Tychon climbed out of the pilot's couch to hand the helm over to her while he, too, dressed in uniform. They had flown direct from Targon, taking turns interfacing with the ship in order to achieve speeds that the autopilot refused to consider. With the single jump required between Feyd and Targon it had taken less than ten hours to reach the school.
In the end, they had time to spare before Feyd's terminator turned night into day above the hills that sheltered the school. They had used the time inventively but found that his pilot couch was not the most comfortable place in which to practice Terran-Delphian relations.
“If I know Jelani, he’s already contacted them," Tychon said. "Who knows what story he’ll concoct to stall them. He’ll find a way to hold us up until he’s got Delphi authority convinced I beat the boy three times daily. It’ll be more awkward if we just land on top of them and look official. I don't want to give them time to think.”
She watched him fasten his gun belt. Using the Eagle to transport his son, while not entirely protocol, was acceptable with Carras' permission. But implying their authority in a civilian matter seemed quite another matter. It was yet another indication that the power of rules, as Anders had told her just days ago, depended on where you break them. She had to admit that, once fully dressed, Tychon did not look like someone who would tolerate an argument. Then he ruined the illusion by straddling her legs.
"Hey, I'm trying to fly this thing," she protested when he leaned down to kiss her. "Get into your chair, we're going in."
She entered Feyd's atmosphere and soon headed toward the city. They bypassed the airfield and flew directly to the school where they descended on an empty playing field. By the time Nova had fastened a respirator over her face and they debarked, two staff members were already hurrying toward their plane.
“Shan Tychon,” they were greeted by the breathless administrator. “We don’t allow air traffic here at the school. I’m sure you’re aware of that."
He had a blue-haired woman in tow, looking less interested in the state of the turf than the strapping Delphian that had landed. Nova's glower went unnoticed as the woman barely spared her a glance. Nova gained a puerile sense of satisfaction when she glanced at Tychon's hands, knowing to what use he had put them only an hour ago.
“I understand,” Tychon said. “But we are in a hurry today. I have so little time in my schedule, you see…”
The Delphian teacher looked around, smiling. “So where is Kiran? We hadn’t expected him back so soon.”
Tychon’s eyes snapped to her. “What?”
Her smile wavered. “Aren’t you dropping him off?”
Nova felt her knees weakening. “He’s not here?”
“Ah, no,” she said. “He’s been on Delphi, hasn’t he?”
“I think I’d know if he was on Delphi,” Tychon said, barely controlling his voice. “Why do you think he’s there?”
“Major,” the administrator looked panicked. “I’m sure we will sort all this–"
“Where is my son!”
The administrator used his wrist array to call for another supervisor to assist, no doubt afraid that Tychon was about to dismember him on the spot. Nova thought his fears might be well-founded.
Tychon glanced at Nova. “Jelani,” he growled.
“Your… your staff came here,” the administrator said. “Not Shan Jelani. A few days ago. They had your sigil. It all seemed in order. You wanted to meet Kiran for a holiday on Delphi, they said. Winter solstice in the mountains. He was so excited.”
“My staff?” Tychon gestured toward Nova. “This is my staff! And no one carries my sigil. Did they say that they were on my squad?” He paused for a moment. “Were they even Delphian?”
“Well, no. A Caspian and a... a Human. And a K’lar woman.”
Tychon rounded on the Delphian tutor, his fury blazing. “You should know better. You know that Phera would never permit him to be taken off-planet without a Delphian mentor. Nor would I.” He pointe
d at the building behind her. “Those are officers’ children in a war zone. What were you thinking?”
Nova stepped closer to him and placed her hand onto his back. The two staff members practically cowered before them now, knowing his anger was justified, afraid of the repercussions to come. Grandson to Phera, Kiran was no ordinary officer’s child. “Major,” she said softly. “We need to get back in the air.”
Tychon closed his eyes, breathing deeply. “Yes, you’re right.” He directed another angry glare at the staffers before turning away. “You two had better get some explanations together. Until then, collect every scrap of video you have of those people and send it to Colonel Carras on Targon.”
Nova hurried ahead of him into the ship. Taking the communications console, she contacted Feyd’s traffic control to request an investigation into any flight plan that may have been filed for this stopover. There was no record of any delegation from Delphi among the volume of flights that passed through here each day. She requested a log from both nearby charted gates to be transferred to Targon.
Tychon had launched the Eagle and headed for the jumpsite back to Targon while she was still engaged with the Union controller.
“You don’t think he’s on Delphi?” she asked when she had closed the com link.
“Phera would never stand for this nonsense. If there is something legal that Jelani can do to get his hands on Kiran, he would not interfere. But kidnapping? Lying to the staff here? That's not something he'd tolerate. See if you can find out where he is. If you find him, have him meet us back on Targon.”
"Can you just arrest him?"
"I can as long as he’s not on Delphi."
Nova connected to the relays to send transmissions to Delphi, Magra, Zera and Targon - all likely destinations. Her clearance as Vanguard ensured that her inquiries received priority at every destination. Still, it took a while before they reported back, one by one, during which a tense silence seemed to take up all the space in the cabin. “He’s still on Targon,” she reported finally. “I guess that’s something.”
“This is my fault,” Tychon said, his eyes on screens that showed nothing of interest. “Why did I ever think he’d be safe on Feyd?”