by S King
“Get me the list of all the top officials above Kendrick,” I slammed the start button on the ATP and turned off the drone overhead lights. My internal fire was burning brightly enough to light a battlefield two times over.
“Oh,” Orrie stalled for a moment.
“Just do it, I'll explain later.” I disconnected the communication with him, focusing on the oncoming Eynos that were couth of the ATP. Letting the flames go that had been begging me to be released since I left Kendrick’s office.
Spreading my arms wide, the flames roared on the release and eliminated all of the Euros that were present and that were coming. I worked myself to the point of exhaustion. By the time that I shut off the ATP, I couldn't feel my body.
All of my fire had been exhausted and my muscles were jelly, just what I needed. Some of the anger that I had felt towards my superior was gone, but I stood by what I had said. Kendrick was wrong for not approving Claud’s transfer.
“Ostana!” I looked over my shoulder to see a pissed off Xerminara coming toward me.
I turned to face her after locking down the training arena, “what's wrong?”
“Who gave you the right to transfer Claud?” Well at least I wouldn't have to go over Kendrick in order to save my friends.
Frowning, I squared off with her, “excuse me?”
“You heard me, who gave you the authority to transfer Claud?”
“Did you forget that I rank higher than both of you? I have the power to transfer anyone I want to. That includes Claud.”
“We haven't been married for a full dana yet and you're already trying to separate us.”
“The transfer is for your safety on the battlefield, Xerminara.”
“Bullshit, you're just pissed off that I found my happiness and not part of your misery club anymore!”
“What?”
She stepped up close to me, lowering her voice, “admit it, Ostana, you're jealous at the fact that I'm happy and you have nothing but your reports and fire to keep you warm at night. It's not because of safety concerns, it's because you detest the thought of someone being happy.”
She was pushing a line that shouldn't be crossed and I was getting sick of my authority getting challenged from all ends of the spectrum.
Dropping my tone to match hers, I met her swirling tangerine eyes, “I’d suggest you watch who you're talking to, Xerminara. I'm not the enemy and I still have the authority to strip you of your merits and pull your rank. Don’t cross a line you can't come back from.”
“Oh yeah?” A snide smirk came across her face, “do it then, bitch.” Without thinking twice, she spit in my face before turning on her heel and walking off.
If my fire had been ignited before by Kendrick’s harsh words, it was fully enraged again by Xerminara's actions. I could handle her name calling and her theories, but I would not be treated like some low-grade officer. She needed to be taught a lesson about authority and unfortunately, I had to be the one to teach it to her.
Turning away from the shower rooms, I headed back to the military base and went into my office to prepare the termination of Xerminara's rank and office in the military. We were at war and didn't have time for personal feelings. What I was doing wasn’t personal it was just business.
Chapter 9 Missing Parlan
It pained me for what I had to do to Xerminara, but she shouldn’t have spit in my face like I was the one that stole her boyfriend. Granted, I’d be a damn liar if I said that her words didn’t hurt me worse than her name calling.
I wasn’t miserable. The complete opposite, actually; I was comfortable in my position, not only in life but also with my job. After all, I was going to be taking over Kendrick’s position in a few mjeseci. Soon I wouldn’t have to be on the battlefield unless I chose to. Yet, as I stood under the hot spray of the showerhead, I couldn’t stop my mind from replaying her words in my mind.
“You have nothing but your reports and fire to keep you warm at night. You detest anyone who is happy.” Over and over, like a broken record, Xerminara’s cruel words swam in my mind like a poison that wouldn’t stop entering my bloodstream.
The first warning beep filled the steaming shower as the water began to cool down. I wasn’t bitter for the fact that I did what I did, but I was sorry for how the friendship was taking a nosedive; two wrongs didn’t make a right, but being insubordinate wasn’t the answer either.
Pushing the thoughts away, I dried off and got dressed, the sun had risen two sati ago. Another dana was gone and now it was time to begin another one. Dragging my body from the shower rooms back to my domicile, I could think of nothing except going to sleep and wait for the nakti to come. I didn’t want to think of anything about Somsang missing, Xerminara acting out, Eikko whining about skincare or who wanted my sister dead.
“Welcome home Captain Shaye,” the holographic woman appeared to the side of me and smiled sweetly.
“Hi,” I quipped, stepping out of my shoes I tossed the things in the corner, not caring that I was leaving them in the hallway instead of taking them into my room and putting them in their respective spot.
“Is that you Ostana?” My grandmother came out of the kitchen and looked at me, “what happened to you?”
I wasn’t in the mood to be official with her nor was I in the mood to deal with the explanation of telling her where I’d been for the past two dana.
“I’ve had to handle some things for the unit and squadrons.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, “and you didn’t think to tell me that you were going to be gone?”
Cutting my eyes at her, I leveled my voice with her, “and you didn’t think to tell me that I had a twin sister? I guess we’re even. Good night,” I started to turn to go to my room when she snapped.
“That is none of your concern.”
Again, my internal fire ignited as I turned back to her, “she’s my fucking sister, Othala! I beg to differ that it is my concern! Not only that, but in Parlan? Of all fucking places to hide her. So, please indulge me on how it’s none of my concern that I have a sister that looks exactly like me that I had no idea about until an officer told me about her when he was trying to identify the person or persons that was trying to kill Emric and I with Eikko and Somsang’s aircraft!” People were going to learn to stop snapping on me like I wasn’t capable of defending myself.
She looked taken aback by my sharp tongue and the fire angels that were dancing around my balled fists.
“When did you see her?”
I scoffed, putting my shoes back on, “you know what? I’m going to get to the bottom of all of this and.” I pointed at her to stop any rebuttal or excuse that was about to come spouting out of her mouth, “I’m getting my own domicile. I’m not going to continue to come home and then get attacked by you when you’re the one that’s been hiding things.”
Eikko came out of the kitchen looking concerned by the screaming. I pointed at him, “let’s go.”
“Ostana Liri Shaye!” My grandmother stamped her foot like a child would do, “don’t you dare think about walking out!”
“I’m not thinking about it! I am walking out!” I pushed Eikko from the front door and stormed past him as the door slammed shut and the Parlan woman warned against damaging the domicile unit.
Eikko remained silent as he walked beside me with a box in his hand.
“What is that?” We made it to the domicile adjusters offices in record timing.
He glanced at the box, “you haven’t eaten for almost two days. I figured you’d be hungry.”
I stopped, looking from him to the box, “you grabbed my food before leaving?”
“And mine, I wasn’t that hungry. So…” he shrugged as if bringing me food wasn’t a big deal. Scratching his neck as he sat down next to me after we signed-in, he said, “by the way, I’m sorry for snapping at you yesterday.”
“What?”
He looked at me, seeing that I didn’t know what yesterday meant, “what’s the word for it
,” he leaned back in the hard chair, staring at the ceiling, “jučer. I’m sorry for snapping at you jučer.”
I smirked, he was sweet for trying to learn Padrieg language and I had to admit that for once the chicken, kale and brown rice smelled more divine than anything I’d ever smelled before.
“I should’ve taken you two back. You were right about that,” the words felt foreign coming from my mouth.
In Padrieg you didn’t admit when you were wrong because once a decision was made, then it was what you had to live with. There was no eating crow or whatever the expression was. Strictly business and nothing else. Black or white, no grey.
He sighed, pulling me against his side, “it’s all fine. You were on a mission to locate your sister,” he closed his eyes as if the nakti was too long for him as well.
“How’d you know that I was trying to find Theodora?”
He cracked an eye open, “it was kind of obvious when you were arguing with your grandmother.”
I kept eyeing the box of food, “right.”
“Here,” he handed me the box of food and a biodegradable fork.
Thanking him quickly, I popped the top of the box and started stuffing my face. I’d never been so excited to eat the healthy meal in all my life; if I couldn’t get any sleep, then at least my stomach was going to get full.
By the time that I finished eating, the domicile director came from the interior of the building and called my name.
“Captain Shaye?” He was gorgeous according to Padrieg standards. Ice blond hair combed away from his face allowed the drone lighting to highlight his bright garnet eyes and show off the perfection of his complexion. Naturally, he stood at six-foot-seven and held the same serious expression as anyone else in the purple sun society.
I dusted my hands off, tossing the box in a compact incinerator and shook my hand, “pleasure.”
He smiled at me, taking in my five-foot-eleven figure before meeting my dark garnet eyes, “it’s all mine. I’m Zephyer Brandr the director of domicile assignment.”
Something that resembled a growl came from Eikko as Zephyer turned his attention to the Parlan man.
“Mr. Kangho,” Eikko offered his hand to Brandr and didn’t smile as the other man took what was offered. I couldn’t tell if Eikko was jealous or being territorial, but I didn’t have time to think too much on it because Brandr let and easy smile cross his face before turning to the side and motioning for us to follow him.
“This way please,” we followed the director at a safe distance, giving me a chance to ask Eikko what that sound was.
“Why did you make that sound in your throat?”
He glanced at me, the purple flecks in his eyes beginning to swallow the natural rose-pink color, “what noise?”
“That growling sound?”
A devious smirk lifted at the corner of his mouth, “I make a lot of sounds, Ostana.”
“Right,” I let the topic go for now and decided to wait and see if he would make it again when a different man approached me.
It was flattering if he was getting jealous about the fact that men from my society were giving me attention. But I had to keep telling myself that it would never work between he and I.
“Please have a seat,” Brandr motioned to the seats in front of a large gunmetal gray desk and closed the door behind us. “Tell me what’s going on,” he said, taking his own seat.
Leaving out the specifics, I explained to the handsome director why I needed a domicile of my own and how soon I wanted it. When I was done, he looked at me with his mouth twisted to the side.
I knew what I was asking for was unheard of, but I could not stand to go back to my grandmother and her secrets.
“Captain Shaye,” Brandr started, looking at his holographic screen of my information. “I don’t have a problem with assigning you your own domicile but what is going to be the problem is when you enter into a marriage agreement.”
Of course, it was, I thought to myself as I rubbed my forehead. The problem with living in a business-driven society was the rules that the society ran by.
I could get a domicile of my own but if and when I entered into a marriage agreement my husband would have to move in with me or we’d have to give my domicile to someone within our family. It saved the society from having unnecessary open domiciles as well as keeping track of its civilians. If too many vacant domiciles were within the society then anyone, including people like Eikko and Somsang could live within a fully functional home without having to pay any dues to the society.
Taking money away from Padrieg was unheard of and everything, every damn thing, was tracked, monitored, and recorded by the officials of the society. Squatters were the poison of Padrieg and unfortunately, the military couldn’t stop all of them,
“And if I stay in a single status?” I asked, taking Eikko and Zephyer by surprise.
“What…what do you mean remain in a single status?” Brandr and Eikko turned to me with curious eyes.
“As in, I refuse to enter into a marriage agreement. Are you telling me that I have to stay in the domicile that I’m currently in?”
Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t pull rank on Brandr because he was of the same status as I was, and one status didn’t trump the other in this case.
“Well in that case,” Zephyer twisted his mouth again. “I can't argue with you about what the future may or may not hold.”
He pulled up the empty domicile map and allowed me to pick which one I liked best. When I did, he drew up the agreements and explained the process that would follow this meeting.
As I thanked him for everything he’d done, he looked at me with a smirk, “may I speak with you for a moment in private, Captain Shaye?” Brandr made it a point to look at Eikko.
Again, Eikko made that sound in the back of his throat before walking ahead of us and waited by the front door.
“What is it?” I turned my full attention to Zephyer.
“I was wondering, of course, I don’t know what the relationship is with you and…” he looked at Eikko for a second, “but I was wondering if you would like to go to the entertainment district with me for a koncert in three nakti?”
Taken by surprise, I stared at him wide eyed. The last time someone asked me to go with them was Emric. Thanks to the wreck those plans were shot to the red sun and back, but now here I had someone from the domicile district asking me to go with him to a koncert in three nights.
“Mr. Brandr,” I started, hearing my communication beeping in my ear, “I would love to, but I can’t. The military is going through some serious situations right now and I can’t afford to divert my attention to anything else but my duties at the moment. I hope you understand.”
He smiled, “I do. I knew that I was taking a chance with someone of your status, but I thought that maybe you would have a day off soon.”
“I’m sorry,” and I was, but at the same time. I felt kind of good about making Eikko jealous.
“When you do get some time off, come see me. Ok?”
I smiled at him, nodding, “I will. Pleasant skies, Zephyer.”
“Pleasant skies, Ostana,” he smiled at me again before walking me to the door with Eikko and bid us a zbogom again before returning to his duties.
Zephyer had assured me that movers would go to my grandmother’s domicile and collect mine and Eikko’s things before the end of the dana. Thanking my lucky stars, I answered the communication.
“Yes?”
“Captain Shaye, the officials are calling a meeting and are needing your attendance,” Emrys sounded more nervous that she was passing a message to me than a worried kitten.
“What time?”
“In one sati,” I thanked her before disconnecting the communication and looked at Eikko, “you did it again when Brandr asked to speak to me alone.”
“What’d he want?” He asked, ignoring my statement.
Fine if he wanted to play this game. I shrugged, “to ask me out on a datum.”
<
br /> “A date?” He barked, turning to me. Well, he picked that up quickly, didn’t he?
“You sound jealous.”
“He’s not your type, Ostana,” Eikko continued to walk alongside me at a relaxed pace.
“How would you know what my type is?”
“It’s not Emric or Zephyer, I’ll tell you that much.” I could tell by the set of his mouth that he wasn’t going to say anything else but that didn’t make me feel any better.
Thanks to Brandr letting me pick my own unit, I was closer not only to the shower rooms but also the military base. Instead of it taking me ten minuta to get to the base it would only take me three. I swiped my arm across the identification panel and smirked at the Parlan woman welcoming me home.