by Gun Brooke
"Are you joking? My two assistants are taking care of my other bags, all six of them. This is just the bare necessities."
Ewan realized he should've known better. "Of course, dear."
Dahlia glanced at him. "Don't pretend to sound like the henpecked husband. What's going on? What's this deployment Rae has gone on? How can her wife, a civilian, go on a mission?"
Well accustomed to how his wife rattled off questions like an ancient machine gun, the admiral shook his head. "It's highly confidential. I'll brief you when we're out of earshot." Offering his arm, he said, "I decided to let Armeo stay in the commodore's quarters, where he has his own room. I've been sleeping on the couch, but I'm sure Rae won't mind if we use the master bedroom until she and Kellen return."
As they approached the commodore's quarters, Armeo came from the other direction, escorted by two security guards. The boy carried several bags, which Ewan guessed were his purchases from his shopping spree with Dorinda and Gayle.
"Granddad!" Armeo lit up and rushed toward him, obviously missing the distinguished woman who stood next to him. The boy stopped in front of him and held up some bags. "I found your brand of cigars and bought you a present."
"Hello, Armeo. A present for me? I can hardly wait." He paused. "By the way, the lady standing next tome..."
His eyes round with surprise, Armeo blushed a faint blue before he handled the situation in what Ewan suspected was strictly according to his upbringing. Armeo let go of the bags, straightened his back, and reached for Dahlia's hand, where he placed a kiss on her knuckles. "Forgive me, ma'am. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."
Dahlia looked stunned, and she held on to Armeo's hand when he tried to withdraw it.
"Armeo, this is my wife Dahlia. She's Rae's mother—your grandmother." Armeo surprised Ewan by taking a step backward and almost stumbling over a small table. His eyes shimmered, but Ewan didn't see any actual tears. Proud of how Armeo handled the situation, he did his best to act casual.
Dismissing the security guards and picking up Armeo's bags, Ewan punched in a code next to the door and ushered the other two inside. Dahlia took a new hold of Armeo's hand and gazed down at him with an unusual mix of awe and tenderness in her eyes. Used to dealing with royalty and all kinds of heads of state, his wife was not easily swayed. Ewan wondered if it was the fact that he probably was the closest they'd get to a grandchild or Armeo's heritage that influenced her.
"Hello, Armeo," Dahlia managed. "I've looked forward to meeting you."
"I have as well, ma'am.. .Should I call you ma'am.. .or?" Looking thoroughly confused, Armeo turned his head and searched Ewan's face.
"Call me Grandma, or Dahlia, whichever you want." His wife beat Ewan to it. There was a definite catch in her voice. It was as if her face had softened, making her features less sharp, and her voice assured Ewan of her sincerity. Normally Dahlia knew just how to use her body language and voice, and now, it was the "real thing," as Rae would have put it in her younger days, when she accused her mother of always faking it, always being the diplomat and never saying what she truly meant. Ewan knew this wasn't always true, although many times it was, and it hurt his wife when Rae withdrew from them.
"Grandma," Armeo said, as he pulled his eyebrows together. "I wish I'd known you were coming. I didn't get you a present."
"Don't worry about it, kiddo," Dahlia said, still holding his hand. "I think getting a grandson is hard to beat."
Ewan witnessed what very few people ever had a chance to see— his wife's slate gray eyes turning into a soft blue as she scrutinized the boy. The thought of the child going shopping for his grandparents no doubt struck a chord with his wife. Dahlia's love for beautiful things, and Rae's contempt for dead objects, had added to the rift between mother and daughter. Ewan remembered Dahlia coming home from journeys to distant SC worlds, bringing gifts from the most exotic of places, only to see resentment in her daughter's eyes for being gone so long. He had been busy building his own career at the time, but he hadn't been blind to either's pain. I didn't do much to help them, did I?
He saw the light in Armeo's eyes and knew instinctively how the boy was already opening up to Dahlia, as was his nature.
"How old are you, Armeo?" Dahlia asked.
"Twelve. Gantharians live to be about one hundred and thirty. Mr. Terence helped me figure out I'm about nine or ten human years. That's why I'm shorter."
"Who's Mr. Terence?"
"My teacher at school. He's great. We all like him a lot."
"Sounds excellent." Dahlia smiled. "So you've been shopping?"
"Yeah, Dorinda and Aunt Gayle took me to all the stores in the big shopping precinct in the commercial sector."
"I love to shop too. You have to show me the mall one of these days when I'm not working."
Ewan groaned at the understatement. At the same time, he wondered if Dahlia would have time to carry out her suggestion, since he knew she'd have her hands full with M'Ekar. He winced at the thought of anyone being subjected to his wife's undivided attention in a matter of this magnitude. Ah, hell, M'Ekar deserves it. And more.
Glancing at her husband, the diplomat raised an eyebrow with an inquisitive look in her eyes. "Yes?" Ewan hoped that none of his thoughts were readable.
"How about something to eat? You can freshen up while I order something from Hasta's. Then Ambassador M'Ekar is all yours."
"Ah, Hasta's." Dahlia sighed. "I can't wait to try some of her pasta dishes, but for now I better stick to some soup and salad. I retain water when I'm in space."
Ewan walked over to Armeo, who was rummaging through his bags. "You mentioned something about a present, son?"
"Here, Granddad." Armeo held up a small wooden box. "It looks like something.. .something I used to have."
Ewan opened the box and saw silk paper wrapped around a small item. "Now I'm curious." He winked at Armeo, knowing he had to do everything he could to keep the boy's spirits up, even fake enthusiasm for a gift, no matter what it was. "Let's see now..." He carefully unwrapped the silk paper.
Inside, a small object glimmered in his hand—a ring with an elaborate pattern and an inscription. Large and manly, it fit perfectly on his right ring finger. "What does the inscription mean?" he asked huskily, looking at the pattern of a stylistic eagle.
"It says Norontammer 'h, 'granddad,' in Gantharian. I used to have a ring like this that belonged to my father. It had a crest on it, and the inscription on the inside said O 'Saral Royale. It was too big for me and we kept it in.. .a secret place on the farm. I didn't have time to bring it with me when we escaped."
"Did it have an eagle, like this?"
"No, not an eagle, but almost. It had a boyoda, a birdlike animal with a wingspan of more than two meters. It lives in the mountains on the northern hemisphere of Gantharat." Ewan watched Armeo's eyes turn several shades darker. "I miss it. I miss the view from my bedroom." He winced, sending the two adults a quick glance. "It's not that I don't like it here. I do. And I love watching the ships come and go...it's just..."
"I understand." Ewan cupped Armeo's chin. "I really do. I will treasure this gift and wear it every day." He wasn't lying. The ring symbolized something he couldn't put his finger on. Perhaps I'll have a chance to do it right with this child and, by not failing Armeo, I might be able to keep the truce with Rae. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he tried to cope with the unexpected emotions flooding his system. "Now, can you help your grandmother carry her bags into the bedroom and show her where she can wash up?"
Armeo lit up. "Sure. Here, Grandma, it's this way." He lifted the larger suitcase with complete effortlessness, impressing Ewan, who knew how much his wife usually packed. "Rae and Kellen sleep in here."
"In a minute, child." Dahlia watched Armeo disappear into the bedroom, then turned to Ewan. "The mission they're on is dangerous, isn't it?"
"Very. A lot is at stake, not to mention Armeo's future."
"Yes. I've read the classified information sent to Gamma VI
by the SC Council. The pro-Onotharian wing pressured the ambivalent members. Councilman Thorosac did his best to keep the discussion rational, but several planets depend on cheap merodynite crystals as their main source of energy..."
"I know. Monetary arguments override moral values." Ewan's jaw tensed, and he knew his voice betrayed his contempt.
"I'm here on a special assignment." Dahlia walked closer. "Thorosac is beyond concerned where this situation is heading. If the Supreme Constellations forms an alliance with the Onotharians or, worse, lets them in as a full member of the union, it'll be a disaster."
"Rae's gone to get indisputable evidence of the Onotharians' atrocities against the Gantharat System. Hopefully it'll make the SC Council refuse to grant the Onotharians membership."
Dahlia briefly closed her eyes. "She's on her way to Gantharat, isn't she? That's why Kellen O'Dal is on this mission too." As always, his wife's powers of deduction were flawless.
"Yes."
"How much does Armeo know?"
"He's a smart kid. He knows his heritage, but he's not aware of his desperate situation right now. It's enough that he worries about Kellen and Rae."
"His fears aren't exaggerated."
"No. I'm afraid not. The way politics are developing, their mission is a last-ditch attempt."
CHAPTER TWENTY
"It looks like Earth." Rae studied the sight of Gantharat, green and blue, parts of it obscured by clouds as it revolved on its axis.
Two moons and a belt of asteroids orbited Kellen's homeworld, but its beauty was lost on her at the moment. Concentrating on the task at hand, she could think only of their plan as the Liberty approached the Gantharat System. Kellen had spent the better part of three days working on it. She hadn't slept much, and now she ran a new diagnostic of the Liberty's long-range scanners, which still showed no activity to suggest the Onotharians knew they were coming. But it was too early to be confident.
"The coordinates, Ms. O'Dal." Rae didn't raise her glance from the many computer screens attached to the captain's chair.
"We'll come in on a low trajectory, heading two-four-eight, and then the chain of mountains will guide us." Kellen knew the landscape well and had opted for one of the dormant volcanoes that bordered her estate as a good place to land. They couldn't risk keeping the vessels in orbit.
"Send the calculation to the Freedom, Ensign S'hos," Rae ordered. "Lieutenant D'Artansis, enter the data. Half-impulsion."
"Aye, ma'am." Leanne D'Artansis took the sleek ship into a soft turn, perfectly aligning them with the flight path. "Course corrected."
"The Freedom is right behind us," Ensign S'hos reported.
Kellen glanced at the young man next to her. S'hos had used the derma fuser once more on her elbows, making sure the skin healed without scarring. Being a native of Drebruria III, he was a small, dark-skinned man. Drebrurians were renowned not only for their humble outlook on life but also for their analytical skills. S'hos certainly exemplified both traits. He had gone through the SC Academy in record time and now held a senior position despite his youth. Kellen genuinely liked S'hos and was impressed by his low-key way of carrying out his duties, as well as his willingness to learn from her, a civilian.
"Ms. O'Dal." S'hos now interrupted Kellen's train of thought. "I'm picking up broadcasts from the Gantharian networks, some of it in Premoni. I've heard them mention your son several times."
"Let me listen." Kellen plugged in an earpiece and held her breath as she listened to the male voice on the major broadcasting service.
"...not only has his existence been kept from us, his loyal subjects, but he is now in the hands of the greatest threat ever existing to the Gantharian people. A phalange within the Supreme Constellations is unlawfully claiming the child, and only the controversial actions of our representative will help us reinstitute our only surviving monarch..."
Kellen ripped the earpiece from her ear. "Commodore, the Onotharians are well underway with their local propaganda, making it sound as if hostile people within the SC are holding Armeo against his will. I know how this works. The Gantharians are by no means fools, but the Onotharians are good at what they do. I've seen what their tactics can achieve."
"All the more reason to stay out of view when we're planet side," Rae said. "How much longer, Lieutenant D'Artansis?"
"ETA the chain of mountains and the.. .was it the Besiac volcano, Kellen?" Leanne asked.
"Yes."
"And you're sure it's dormant?"
"Very sure."
"Just checking. ETA in two minutes." Leanne, at the helm, sent Kellen a reassuring grin. Kellen tried her best to return it, but she was already switching into battle mode. Focusing on the task at hand came easily, and she was not accustomed to using irony and friendly banter as a way to relax, as her travel companions were.
"All hands, prepare for landing. Shuttle bay, ready assault craft for launch shortly after touchdown."
Leanne's hands moved quickly across the alien console, and all Kellen felt of the landing was a small surge and a faint jolt when the DVAs adjusted to Gantharat gravity.
"And we have touchdown," Leanne informed them.
"The Freedom has landed as well," S'hos added.
"Any sign we were detected?" Rae turned to look at Owena Grey.
"None. The pirate scrambler is effective to a degree. So far, no sign of Onotharian ships."
"There could be cloaked ships out there, ma'am," Ensign S'hos said.
"I've scanned on all frequencies and don't detect any disturbances or patterns that indicate cloaked vessels." Kellen punched in another set of commands. "Nor are there any movements other than wildlife within a two-thousand-meter radius."
Rae stood. "Let's go then. And make it snappy."
Captain de Vies, with maintenance, two security guards, and enough crew members to serve as backup, would stay by the ships in case of an emergency. Kellen hoped they wouldn't need them.
She raced through the narrow corridors, slid down the ladders without touching the steps, and scurried up the assault craft she would fly in order to lead the others to what was left of her estate.
Right behind her, Rae entered the navigator's seat and strapped herself in. "Jacelon to de Vies. We're ready. What's your status, Captain?"
"Ready to launch in two minutes, Commodore. Awaiting your go-ahead."
"Affirmative. Launching in two minutes, then. Jacelon out."
Kellen adjusted the harness, checking her instruments and the eyepiece attached to her helmet. Wearing the standard-issue SC flight coverall, she rolled her shoulders, content to feel the familiarity of her own combat outfit underneath.
"Everyone's set to go." She heard Rae's throaty voice in the headset. "No more delays. Open shuttle bay doors."
The large doors hissed open to show the ground, black from ancient dried lava. "Assault craft, deploy. Formation Delta Two Delta behind Assault Craft 1."
Kellen punched in the command for the start sequence, and the small vessel hummed to life. Exiting the shuttle bay, she flew out and immediately began the steep climb out of the volcano.
Their timing was excellent. Dusk had begun to fall, and the sky was multicolored orange and purple. Kellen made a sharp turn, flying low to avoid the sensors that picked up everything larger than birds traveling through the Gantharian atmosphere. Glancing at her left view screen she saw the other shuttle craft forming a double W behind her.
"So, this is your home." Rae's voice was soft in Kellen's headset.
"Not anymore," Kellen replied harshly. "My home is with you and Armeo. I can't relate to a geographic site. It's not a home."
"As happy as your words make me feel, I still think you're wrong, darling." Rae's voice was tender. "This is where you were born. This is where you originated. It may not be home right now, but it was once— and might be again, one day."
"I don't think so. I could never subject Armeo to such danger again."
Rae didn't answer. Perhaps she realized there wa
s no point and it wasn't the right time to discuss the matter.
Keeping an eye on the sensors, as well as taking visuals through the shuttle windows, Kellen adjusted their course to avoid flying in plain view of local residents. She began the breathing pattern her gan'thet master had taught her, to enter the preferred state of mind before battle. Not missing a beat, she reduced speed and flew along the soft contours of the landscape.
"ETA one minute," she informed Rae in a monotone. "Former main structure to your right, sixteen degrees."
Kellen tried to convince herself seeing her burned-down property wouldn't affect her. She couldn't afford to let it break her concentration.
Rae gazed out the small window of her hatch at the charred acres and dead trees of Kellen's once-prosperous farm. The Onotharian agents had torched not only the different structures on the property, but also the crops and the grazing fields for the maeshas. The darker, slightly elevated areas, Rae assumed, were where the buildings had once stood.
Kellen landed the assault craft and immediately opened the hatch above their heads and unbuckled her belt. "We have to hurry. They're bound to discover us sooner or later."
Rae was already halfway out of her seat, pushing up and reaching for the handlebars to her right. As she swung her legs over the edge, she felt with her feet for the ladder. The two women made their way to the scorched ground. New grass was beginning to work its way through the ashes, which Rae took as an omen. "Life prevails," she murmured out of earshot of the others.
Glancing around at the sixteen crew members, Rae saw determination mixed with something she couldn't put her finger on. Owena Grey stood behind Leanne, her ice blue gaze unwavering as she met her commanding officer's eyes.
"All right, people. We don't have much time because at this time of the year, the nights last only a few hours. Six of you secure a perimeter around the shuttles and what's left of the barn." Rae pointed at a large pile of burned rubble. "The rest of you, bring the equipment and come with me."