She stabbed her fork at the plate before her, struck something, and brought it to her mouth. Terry Washburn sat beside her, cutting and dividing her food and occasionally guiding her hand. He had taken on the role of nursemaid and become an even closer friend if such a thing was possible. The huge man showed a gentleness that struck her as foreign to a soldier. Rarely did she wander the corridors of Resolve by herself. He always seemed to be there when she left her room. She smiled, suspecting that George, Resolve’s Artificial Intelligence, played a part.
“Hey, was that a smile?” Washburn asked. “You haven’t smiled in days. You must be thinking about Tarn.”
She smiled again, not from thoughts of Tarn but from thoughts about how wonderful this great man beside her was. “No, actually I’m thinking about you. Have I thanked you lately for everything you’ve been doing for me?”
“Hmm. Have I thanked you for saving Earth?” he rejoined.
She turned her head toward him. “I guess we don’t spend much time thanking each other, do we?”
“There are 21 creatures of various kinds on this ship, and each of us has agreed to give everything that we are. Each of us has played a key part in your missions so there’s no need for thanks. But thank you anyway. Soon, Tarn will be back with us, and I’ll get back to soldiering.”
“We don’t know what kind of shape he’s in. I hope he’s well enough to leave with us.”
“If he’s not, we can afford to wait a little while.”
“No, we can’t.”
Washburn sat back in his chair. “You’ve had another vision?”
“I’m not certain, but I think so.”
“Where are we off to next?”
“First Shipyard. After that, I don’t have the foggiest idea.”
“Hmm, not very helpful. Not more gleasons, I hope.”
She shuddered. “I don’t know. I keep sensing a word, but I don’t know what it means. I’m hoping Tarn will figure it out.”
“What’s the word?”
“Joshua. Just the one word: Joshua. It comes with no further explanation.”
Washburn stared at her, then leaned in toward Krys. “My Lady, have you met my boss?”
“I’m not sure who your boss is. Borg, certainly. Beyond him, Admiral Trexler, I suppose.”
“I do not answer to Admiral Trexler. None of the Queen’s Protectors answer to him even if we are from Earth. We answer only to the Queen and to Sir Mike.”
“How’s that a help?”
“The Queen’s senior Terran Protector is Colonel Dace, Colonel Joshua Dace.”
Her mind raced. If Joshua was the senior Terran Protector, he would be with the Queen. She took it one step further: was the Queen in danger?
She stood up. “Take me to the bridge. We have to get to the Queen. She’s in danger, and I think it’s imminent danger. The vision has become more insistent.”
Washburn spoke into the air. “George, alert Captain Stven to meet us on the bridge.”
“He’s there now, Terry. I’ll inform him that you’re on the way.”
Washburn wasted no time. Rather than lead Krys, he picked her up and hustled to the central shaft. They rose up and he stepped into the bridge, then set Krys on her feet with an arm around her waist to steady her.
Stven was waiting, and after her explanation a small puff of noxious gas escaped from one nostril of the great dragon. “My Lady, I concur, but I don’t know where the Queen is. At last report she was on Aldebaran I, but I suspect she’s gone back to either Parson’s World or Shipyard.”
“She’s on Shipyard. I’m to meet her there, and Tarn will be asked to interpret two visions.”
“What about Tarn? We need to pick him up.”
She reached out a shaking hand, and Washburn led her to a crew seat. She desperately wanted to have Tarn back by her side, but the urgency of the summons demanded action.
Her blind eyes rose up to Stven. “You know how badly I want him with us, but when it comes to the Queen’s safety we must act without delay.”
“We must act without delay, but we must act wisely, Krys. If the Queen isn’t on Shipyard we could end up chasing around after her. We need to do it as a full crew. We need Tarn. My counsel is to continue as we are, fast-shipping all the way. We’ll pick up Tarn, then set course for the Queen.”
She considered his words. “Is it because I so badly want to hear those words that they appear wise?”
“We’ll take you to the Queen as quickly as we can, and Tarn will be with us when we get there.”
* * * * *
Admiral Korban, Tarn, and the four Protectors they had left behind were waiting when Resolve touched down. Tarn lay semi-reclined on a floater, attended by a middle-aged woman. Stven went into conference with Admiral Korban while Washburn led Krys to Tarn. When she took Tarn’s hand, his face lit up. He pulled that hand to his mouth and kissed it.
“Hi, Lady.”
Tears cascaded from her eyes as she leaned down and kissed him on the lips. “Are you well enough to come with us? We’re anxious to be away.”
“Dr. Natai doesn’t think so, but she’s wrong. I’m ready, I’m just not very mobile yet.”
Stven came over to them. “We’re ready to go, My Lady.”
“Already?”
“We have confirmation of our next destination. There’s no reason to delay.”
Washburn took Krys’ arm and led her back into the ship. Tarn followed, his floater guided by the woman. Stven went directly to the bridge while Washburn led Krys and Tarn to their quarters. The woman helped Tarn into his bed, then Washburn led Krys to the bed. She sat on the edge beside Tarn, holding his hand.
“I wish I could see you. I’m afraid to touch you. Are you in a lot of pain?”
“I took my first steps a few days ago. I’ll be as good as new in another month or two. My Rider has things well in hand. Dr. Natai is only here in case something goes wrong, and she wants to supervise some sort of physical therapy.”
“Dr. Natai? She’s still here?”
“I’m here, My Lady,” she heard from behind herself.
She stood slowly and turned. Dr. Natai took her hands and guided them to her face. “I know you can’t see me, My Lady. Just feel my face, let your hands be your eyes.”
Krys took an instant liking to the woman. As her hands wandered over her face, she said, “Aren’t we underway?”
“I believe we are, My Lady.”
Krys’ hands went to Dr. Natai’s shoulders and stopped moving. “You’re going with us?”
“That’s the plan, My Lady.”
“Whose plan?”
“Admiral Korban’s.”
“He ordered you?”
“No, My Lady. He asked for a volunteer. I’m her.”
“Do you have any idea what you’ve gotten yourself into? Did he explain our mission?”
“I don’t think he actually knows what your mission is. I only know that what you’re doing is of grave importance to the Queen and that it involves a high level of risk.”
“Tarn and his Rider will see to his recovery. It’s not too late to bring you back.”
“Please don’t, My Lady. As Knights of the Realm, you and Tarn deserve the best support the Empire can provide. More, Admiral Korban owes you personally. There’s not much he can do to repay you for what you’ve done on his behalf. Let him at least do this much. He believes there might be additional need for my services after Sir Tarn is recovered, and I signed on with that in mind.”
“Are you leaving family behind?”
“My husband, also a doctor, was killed by the Chessori. We had not started a family yet.”
“I’m sorry. Is this your way of striking back at the Chessori?”
“No, My Lady. It might have been, but did you know that Admiral Korban has six Chessori traders under protective custody?”
“Are they the six that Sir Val brought with him?”
“They are. I met them and I no longer hold all Chessori t
o blame for my husband’s death.”
Krys’ blind eyes turned away from Dr. Natai. “Terry, are you still here?”
“I am, My Lady.”
“Will you please get Dr. Natai settled in quarters? As soon as Stven has a free moment, let him know he has a new crewmember.” She turned back to Dr. Natai. “Our next stop is the Queen. Are you prepared to be Tested?”
“Tested! The Queen!”
“Yes, the Queen. There’s still time for us to turn back if you’ve changed your mind.”
“No, My Lady. I’m staying. It will be a dream come true to meet her.”
As soon as they left, Tarn pulled Krys to himself. “Will you lay beside me?”
“There’s nothing I want more, my love.” She settled beside him and put her arms around him. “Does this hurt?”
He closed his eyes and savored the feel of her. “There’s someone that wants to come home. Will you take her back?”
“Has she . . .?
“Yes, she fissioned. I have a Rider of my own now. Hold still.”
* * * * *
When Resolve entered the farthest reaches of Shipyard’s system, Captain Stven was directed to contact another ship ahead of him that was also headed inbound. When he did, Sir Chandrajuski’s face filled the monitor.
“Welcome back, Captain,” Chandrajuski said in welcome.
“Your timing is good, Sire. We’re here with word of some risk to our principal.”
Chandrajuski considered for a moment, then replied, “Let’s rendezvous. I’ll take you aboard.”
“Very well, Sire.”
Chandrajuski was waiting when Resolve entered his hangar bay. Stven escorted him to the lounge, the purple scales of the dragon reflecting corridor lights while the bright green body of the great praying mantis seemed to absorb them. When they reached the lounge, Stven stood aside. Chandrajuski stepped delicately into the room and stopped, focusing instantly on the two sitting on a couch. The last time he had seen them, Tarn had been an ensign not long out of the academy and Krys had been a frightened but determined young woman. He had sent both of them on a mission to spread word of the Queen’s survival. After what they had accomplished, he felt a strong desire to bow before them.
Krys couldn’t see him, of course, but Tarn Lukes was sitting beside her and could. He struggled to his feet, looking as if he needed to salute but was out of uniform. Chandrajuski understood: Tarn still looked upon him as a vastly superior officer. So much had happened during the brief, intervening years, and now all three of them shared the title of Knight of the Realm. Krys sensed Chandrajuski’s presence, and the light odor that always accompanied him confirmed her guess. She bowed her head without rising from the couch.
Chandrajuski listened to his heart and lowered his back legs, then his long neck, a Gamordian’s method of bowing. “You’ve traveled far and done well, both of you. I’m pleased to see you again.”
“It’s good to see you again, Admiral,” Krys replied. “On Centauri III you held when it would have been easier to flee. Because of that, and because of the strategy you put in place, a strategy that is still in place, our Queen might yet prevail. I wish we could reminisce, but we are here on urgent business. The Queen is in danger.”
“Tell me what you know.”
“I received a vision, a vision of only one word: Joshua. I believe, but I am not certain, that the word is a name. The leader of the Queen’s Terran Protectors, Colonel Joshua Dace, is the only Joshua we know. Since he is her Protector, I must assume the danger is to her.”
Chandrajuski’s long, elegant legs carried him deeper into the room. “Not necessarily, Krys. The vision could apply directly to him. He is not with the Queen.”
“Is she here?”
“Yes.”
“If Joshua is not with her, where is he?”
“He’s on Triton with your brother, Reba, and Mike.”
“Triton!”
“The Queen is determined to speak at the first convocation of the Senate, Krys. Actually, she has no choice. If Struthers is legitimized by the Imperial Senate, he will become the legal ruler of the Empire. His first act will be to classify us as Rebels. She can’t let that happen. Sir Mike has been tasked with developing a plan to get her in and out. The others are there to assist him.”
She turned to Tarn. “What do you think? Do we go to Mother or do we go to Triton?”
“The vision is specific, Krys. Joshua is our focus, and you sense urgency. However, I have two other visions to interpret. We’re here. We might as well do what we can. If our next stop is Triton, the trip will take months. We can’t display our fast ship capabilities in the Triton system.”
Chandrajuski batted his fists together. “You’re not going anywhere but to the Queen, Krys. She has issued a general recall for you.”
“She what?”
“The Queen heard about your recent exploits, about how you’ve gone on the offensive, and she is not pleased. It was never part of your assignment. You’ve accomplished more than any of us ever hoped, but your days of wandering the galaxy are over. It’s time for you to take your rightful place by her side.”
“She’s trying to protect me?” Krys asked, her anger rising to the surface.
“Most likely. But look at it from her point of view. Besides the fact that she loves you, you’ve become an important asset in our battle to restore the Empire. We can’t risk you getting killed on some backwater world that has no strategic significance to the war effort.”
“I see. So Krandt, Grnlee, Orion III, Aldebaran I, Earth, and now Triton have no significance to the war effort.”
“You know that’s not what I mean.”
“Had I not gone to Krandt, we would have lost two Imperial Senators and a district. Had I not gone to Grnlee, we would not have a hypercom. Had I not gone back to Orion III, the sector would be lost - again. Had I not gone to Earth, the war would be lost.”
“You can’t deny a command from the Queen, Krys.”
“Can’t I? Maybe the time has come.”
Tarn put his arms around her. “You know that’s not true, My Lady. Of all the things we have done, we have yet to disobey a direct order from her and we never will.”
“She’ll never let us go to Triton.”
“We’re going there because of a vision, Krys. She was with you on Lianli. She won’t like it, but she, too, has answered the call of the Leaf People. She will do her duty. Giving you the freedom to respond to your visions is part of her duty.”
Chandrajuski’s head swooped into their faces, his eyes on fire. “The Queen’s duty is to the Empire, no one else. Who are these Leaf People?”
Krys lifted her hands to his face. She didn’t know if a Gamordian would consider her action a breach of etiquette, but she didn’t really care at the moment. Tarn had spoken out of turn, and she now had to share the secret of the Leaf People with an outsider. With just a moment of thought, though, she realized that Chandrajuski was not an outsider. He was one of the called. She mentally reviewed all of her visions and wondered if the visions were one of the means utilized by the Leaf People to call others to their quest. Certainly, each of those recipients had contributed materially to the successes the Queen’s forces had so far enjoyed. She smiled at the thought. Yes, each of them had been called.
With her hands still pressing into his face, she said, “It’s a long story, Sire. The Queen’s story, I think.”
Tarn disagreed. “If it’s anyone’s story, it’s yours, Krys. It was you they called.”
“No, my love. They called all of us. Including you,” she said to Chandrajuski. She dropped her hands. “Remember the dilemma your vision placed you in back on Orion III? There was no clear path for you to follow. An impossible choice had to be made. What did I advise you to do?”
“I will never forget your words. You said, ‘Listen to your heart, always. If you do, you will know what is right. You will never be asked to do more.’”
She nodded. “You told me those w
ere the words of a woman, not the words of a warrior, but you were wrong. They are the words of the Leaf People.”
Chandrajuski’s eyes, eyes that reminded Mike of Albert Einstein, blinked slowly. The rest of his body held precisely still as if poised to catch his dinner.
“The Leaf People are wise beyond measure, Admiral, and they are the source of my visions. I hope that one day you will meet them. It will change your life. They called six of us by name that day, called us to a duty we did not understand at the time. I am their Messenger. They named a Guide, but they did not tell us who the Guide was. I assumed he would be my Guide, but I was wrong. He interprets the messages sent to me by the Leaf People, and he guides the recipients of those visions. Tarn is the Guide.”
Chandrajuski looked at Tarn in a new light. “You guided me. You were just an ensign, but your wisdom saw me through terrible times.”
“I didn’t know at the time that I was the Guide, Admiral. I know now that I am.”
“Four others were called by name that day,” Krys continued. “My brother, Val, was named the Right Arm, and he has been just exactly that for our First Knight. Otis was named the Protector of future generations. The Queen, Daughter as she was called then, was named the mother of future generations. She was told that she would be called as no other Chosen before her had been called. Finally, she was told that her Talents were nothing without the Knight, the last one called by name that day. Her Talents were nothing without him because he held the keys. I think those keys include the fact that we would have no Empire had he not saved our Queen.”
Krys let Chandrajuski digest her words, words that encompassed so much. His great body had not moved a muscle. Then his eyes blinked, and she knew he was ready for the rest.
“Before parting, the Leaf People left us with one more gift. They told us that others would answer their call, others who also listened to their hearts. You are one of those called, Admiral.”
A back leg lifted away from her, then the other legs followed in sequence, then he froze again. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you deserve to know the source of my visions. It’s time for you to know that even our Queen hears the call of someone higher than herself. Here’s the key, Admiral: None of us had any idea what the Leaf People were talking about. That event occurred 12 years before the fall of the Palace. They foresaw all of our difficulties. They are not willing, or perhaps they are not able, to resolve our problems, but they can and do offer guidance. It is up to us to make the decisions, and we who were called that day, including you, have no one but ourselves to shoulder the consequences of those decisions.”
Voice of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book Three) Page 16