It was but a second before his wife darted in, and they met in the middle of the cell.
He never heard the door clang softly shut behind her.
Nor did he know that there was a human with the guard, making sure this meeting occurred and it was respectful.
It had taken Kael-ven five weeks to ascertain the state of the former Defense Minister’s mind and confirm his activities during the battle for the Yollin system. How he had acted and whether properly, and under whose orders.
It had taken Bethany Anne about five minutes to decide they needed him.
If he could be trusted.
After the hallway door had closed, Eric nodded his appreciation to the security guard. “I’ll be back here to escort her safely up to her quarters on Space Station Rig-turrik.” He handed the officer a small device. “If they have a spat or something, just click that and I’ll return to take her back early.”
Wut-ven looked down at the device and back to the human. “You expect them to finish early?”
Eric shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you enough about Yollin relationships to answer that. I’m just basing it on human relationships, and I can tell you from recent experience that one small comment, even if meant in the nicest possible way, can upset a female in the most illogical manner.”
The guard clicked his mandibles twice in agreement and pocketed the device.
Some foibles of relationships, Eric decided, crossed species boundaries just fine.
Personal Ship Powerdrive, Exiting Commercial Gate Five, Yollin System, Ring Three
Shi-tan engaged the autopilot. He was surprised by how efficiently the Yollin space traffic control was operating, considering they had been taken over by a foreign power not too long ago.
His ship, which could hold him easily and one other semi-pleasantly, was not capable of making interstellar jumps by itself. Therefore, he had to transfer between solar systems using the transfer gates. While he waited for the controllers to provide his ship with instructions, he reviewed the documents and information he could find related to traffic coming into the system.
It seemed that, surprisingly enough, these humans had increased the commercial traffic into the Yollin system, not decreased it.
He stood up from the pilot's seat and stretched his seven-foot-tall frame. As the Scion of a great warrior line, it was embarrassing for him to be categorized as a mere bounty hunter.
However, it beat becoming a mercenary in his book.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your viewpoint, his race was known for their hot tempers and quick violence. While he was a little better controlled than most, it wouldn't take much for his anger to inflame, and the spikes in his face to slide out of his skin, letting anyone who knew what was happening realize how close they were to being broken in half.
He reached up to his right ear and unhooked both his earrings. Fingering the larger of the two, he sighed and reached down to the pilot's chair, opening a small compartment and dropping them in. He closed the compartment and turned to walk toward the small stateroom on his ship.
He had more than enough money in the cross solar system banks to continue this chase. Furthermore, it provided him an opportunity to get to see these new humans up close.
Who knew? It might provide an opportunity to test his martial abilities against them.
Third Outer Ring - Yollin System Space Control
Third Shift, First Class Ships’ Controller Yri-Keva took another look at the ship’s information displayed on her registry for inbound craft. Her four legs still wrapped under her couch, she turned her torso to the right. “Turrel?”
“Huh?” he grunted. He was going through the ships in this area of space, handing one of the larger commercial ships over to the second ring. The ship was slowing down as it made its way toward Space Station One. They didn’t care about the names of the stations here in Space Control. You got a number and you were good.
Except for the humans. Their station was the Meredith Reynolds, or just the Reynolds if you were short of breath.
“Check out Ship One-One-Six coming in from Commercial Gate Three,” she told him.
Turrel confirmed his ship was passed off to Ring Two and flipped a screen, punching up Yri-Keva’s area of responsibility. It took a second for him to recognize what she was pointing out to him. “A bounty hunter?” He punched another couple of buttons on his controller. “A good bounty hunter. A Shrillex.” Turrel reached up and scratched his right mandible.
A tic, Yri-Keva had figured out. It wasn’t because he itched, but rather because he was thinking and he felt it provided an excuse not to talk.
Finally, he turned toward her. “I don’t think the humans have any rules against a bounty hunter in our system.” His right hand tapped his monitor. “I’d say send him the rules, and then notify the Empress’s representative what we have.”
“Yes.” Yri-Keva turned back to her screen and moved her controller around. “That is a good point. I wish I were a small insect on the wall of his ship when he receives the rules.”
The beep from the cockpit alerted Shi-tan that the ship had received instructions moments before he felt the artificial gravity make changes as they veered from their previous course and aligned on the new one. He looked up at the slaved monitor in his room and was happy to see his requested space station had been approved.
Then his eyes narrowed as a little red flag caught his attention.
He had received additional instructions. The red flag notified him they included rules not to break on pain of death.
Shi-tan slowly wiped his hands dry, then confirmed the sutures holding closed the slice in his chest were helping him heal properly.
They weren’t caused by his quarry, but rather a random barfight he had been in during his last night at his previous stop. He hadn’t started the fight, and once the video confirmed he hadn’t escalated the violence when he was attacked with a bladed weapon, they had absolved him of the bar repair bills and the hospitalization charges.
He looked in the mirror and smiled, his many sharp teeth lending an air of menace to what was, he thought, a very welcoming face.
He winked to himself and tossed the towel over the holder as he made his way out of the room and up to the cockpit.
Time to see what new rules the leaders in this sector of space had for him.
Christina Bethany Anne Lowell hopped out of the Executive Pod and made a beeline for the bay’s exit. At the moment, her parents weren't any fun to be around. She could tell they were frustrated and angry with each other as a result of how the operation had gone, and it had nothing to do with the success.
They had received the money, and they had traded the nanocyte-infested spices to the Yollins. However, Dad had gotten mighty upset when that maggot-ridden tapeworm had tried to buy her.
Personally she had thought it was funny, and she’d be happy when she was old enough to get away with using some of the creative language being around Aunt Bethany Anne was teaching her.
However, Mama had told her to go find whoever was working in All Guns Blazing and stay with them for a few minutes while her parents had "a talk.”
That was good enough for her. They had the best root beer in that place.
Ecaterina closed her eyes, willing herself to remain calm. Opening them, she turned to her mate. "I understand that it upset you when the security person tried to buy our daughter. In the future, we will probably find this funny. And I know that he pulled a gun and armed it when both our daughter and myself were in the vicinity."
Nathan, his teeth grinding, worked to keep his anger out of his voice. "No, Ecaterina, I don't think you do understand. I had a family before, and I lost them. That was incredibly painful for me. And while I don't wish to bring up previous relationships, I want you to know that if something happens to the two of you, I doubt I will survive it."
Ecaterina stepped forward and placed a hand on his arm. "I get that, Nathan, but you need to understand we are
doing operations. I don't want our daughter left up here. If it becomes too dangerous, then we will all quit."
Nathan turned to Ecaterina. "Too dangerous? How are we going to know what is too dangerous until it happens?"
"Perhaps that will be your responsibility? Make sure that we don't get into something that's too dangerous, right?"
Nathan faced forward, then slowly beat his head against the seat headrest one time for each word. "You. Don't. Under. Stand.” He stopped beating his head and turned to look at her. “Anything could happen, and we wouldn't be planning on it. We could be attacked just enjoying ourselves at supper sometime because we are known to be a part of this.” He waved his hand. “You are exposing our daughter to danger."
"Our daughter is not a normal human, and she is one of the most protected young people in this area of space. Who is going to get to her through us—through you, for goodness sake? You just ripped off an arm and threw it against a spaceship, Nathan." Ecaterina chuckled a moment. "Okay, I hope the videotape shows that because it really was funny as hell. Our daughter can change shapes. She wears some of the most technologically advanced armor that Jean Dukes can provide for her. I would not risk our daughter if I didn't think she was safer with us than here."
Nathan turned on her like she had just lost the argument. "See, there!" He pointed at her. "She would be safer here on the Meredith Reynolds then down there with us."
Ecaterina's lips pressed together as she thought. She considered his arguments and had to finally agree. While she didn't want to admit it, her greatest fear at this second, was Nathan dying somewhere she couldn't help him. "I'll tell you what…each operation we can decide how dangerous it is. If at some time it only requires you, only you will go. If it is so dangerous that Christina and myself need to stay on the Meredith Reynolds? Then you and I will discuss whether or not it is necessary for you to go on the mission. Is that understood?"
Nathan nodded his head.
"Finally, I will bet you that she will do something that will amaze you, that will make you admit she is useful in an operation,” she concluded.
Nathan stared at his mate for a moment. "You think she is going to be useful in an operation? Like, can she take care of herself or what?"
Ecaterina shrugged. "I don't know. I just feel she is going to surprise you. Hell, she’ll probably surprise both of us. You've said yourself that she is the most advanced Wechselbalg that you have ever heard about."
When the two of them agreed on the bet, Ecaterina sure hoped that her mouth hadn’t just run ahead of her gut feeling.
5
"Scott, I am on my way to Jean's lab. I need you to cover Bethany Anne.” John took a right down a corridor, heading there to get suited up. With Jean constantly talking about what they had accomplished in her group, he was aware there might be something new he could play with today.
And it seemed like this was his opportunity to have a little fun that wasn’t in the schedule.
Provided the dumb fucks down on the planet didn't become wise and decide to throw down their arms.
His friend replied right away. “John, it’s Scott. I'm inbound to Bethany Anne's position, ETA fifteen seconds. What's up?"
John took a left. “Hope I didn't take you away from anything, buddy. However, we have a situation down on the planet that is going to require some personal involvement. I told Bethany Anne I would go take care of it so she can continue the crap meeting she is in right now."
Scott chuckled. "You told her you would take care of it so that she didn't leave you stuck in her place in the meeting."
John smiled. "Well, I don't think they believe I'm qualified to run the meeting, but anything is possible. If I have to decide between Option A, which is staying up here and talking with a bunch of incredibly intelligent but charismatically lacking people or Option B, going down to the planet and potentially fucking up some people? I’ll go with Option B."
"We would all choose Option B every damned time. Ok, I'm at the door, so have fun and see you back tonight?"
"You bet. Jean and I are looking forward to taking you and Cheryl Lynn out for dinner."
John arrived at the R&D facilities, typed in his security code, and pressed his hand against the wall. EI Meredith viewed him from seven different directions to make sure it was, in fact, John Grimes, then the door lock clicked and the two guards stepped aside to allow him to enter.
Planet Yoll, New Yollin Government Building
Kael-ven was sitting on his couch behind his desk going through different bits of information he needed to review as he and others worked to keep the lid on the planet.
He paused briefly to watch as Snow demolished her new chew toy, once again marveling at the strength in her jaws.
With all the upheaval due to the information that people were certain of, what everyone suspected, and what everyone was lying about, there were so many holes in the dam that he didn't have enough appendages to plug all of them.
Whoever said revolutions would be easy had never tried to accomplish one with a minimum amount of bloodshed.
He pulled up his tablet when it beeped and hit the button to speak. "Yes, ADAM?”
“Kael-ven, I have been asked by Bethany Anne to give you an update about a physical confrontation in the town of R’Chkoklet.”
Kael-ven put his hand on his face and ground his mandibles together. He wiped his eyes and replied, "Okay, I'm going to assume it is upper-caste idiots again. However, if you're talking to me it must be more than what normally happens with these jackasses.” He waved a hand across his desk. “There’s activity in over a hundred and fifty different locations, right now."
ADAM responded, "Yes, this time there are deaths because advanced weapons were brought to bear. It is presently on the news, if you care to see a reporter’s view.”
Kael-ven’s shoulders slumped. "Damn, I was hoping it wouldn't get to this. Okay, I will take a few minutes and view the newscasts—"
ADAM interrupted Kael-ven’s reply. "John Grimes is preparing to come down and have a conversation with them."
Kael-ven jumped up off his couch and snagged his pistol, sliding it into the holster as he headed toward the door. He grabbed the small suitcase Jean had provided him to put on in the Pod. "Why didn't you tell me John was coming in the first place? Shit, man! Sorry, EI, AI—whatever acronym you are at the moment. John coming was the information I needed the most." Kael-ven pulled open the door and nodded to his two security guards, who stood outside. “We've got to go to a hotspot and try to talk some sense into some idiots."
He stopped as Snow barked from his feet. “You can come in the Pod, but you will need to stay there while I go talk to these morons.”
Snow growled her displeasure.
Kael-ven waved her through the door. “I know you’re brave and courageous, but you’re growing faster than Bobcat can drink beer. That’s why,” he held up the case he was carrying, “you don’t have any of Jean’s armor. Once you stop growing so you’ll be able to wear something for more than ten days before it’s too small, we’ll ask Jean to make you something. I care for you too much to have you hurt by some idiot who’s too stupid to know he’s dead if John has to ‘talk’ to him.”
Snow’s tail drooped as she went past her partner, but she didn’t voice any more objections. As much as she hated that he was right, getting shot wasn’t part of her immediate plans.
One of the security guards shut the door and locked it behind them as they hustled to keep up with the Yollin leader.
The security people ahead of Kael-ven were notified, so every single door between Kael-ven’s office and the Executive Pod Bethany Anne had provided him for rapid transit across the planet was open. The pod was even warmed up, and lifted off the ground a foot as he and Snow strode across the tarmac and jumped in.
Four other security people were inside the Pod. The door shut behind them and it took off blindingly fast.
There were newscasters stationed around the building who
noticed the speedy exit of the new Yollin leader. The fact that he was jetting somewhere blazed around the planet in mere seconds.
Most assumed he was going to the latest hotspot.
Planet Yoll, R’Chkoklet
Pehl-eck got the news that the Yollin planetary leader was most likely inbound, and she took a few moments to make sure she looked more than presentable. This could help her again.
She had already interviewed him once before, at the King’s Palace right after the Empress had killed the Kurtherian.
Kael-ven had kept his word and the Empress's word when they worked double-time to transform the palace into a museum. All the horrible and grotesque heads that had been on his walls had been buried with the plaque over them on the palace grounds, and each had a gravestone with their information.
Before they buried the heads, they had created videos of the palace to show people what it looked like before they took some of the furniture and other valuables out. However, you could find the video of exactly what the palace looked like when the king died. Bethany Anne had been very clear that it should all be there—both good and bad—for future generations.
It seemed but moments, even though it was thousands of miles from the Yollin leader’s office to the small town. The commotion at the building three blocks away increased a little as everyone noticed the Executive Pod, which bore the emblem of the Yollin leadership next to the Etheric Empire symbol, coming out of the sky.
Pehl-eck was surprised that the idiots at the end of the street didn't try to shoot at the Pod. For all she knew, they assumed that they would be able to take it over and have their own transportation soon enough.
Pehl-eck wasn't willing to bet against these aliens, nor Kael-ven.
For a previously second-caste individual, he seemed to act very wisely and thoughtfully as he tried to support their people.
The rumor was that he had been a slave of the Etheric Empire’s Queen for a total of seven years. However, a different story had it he had won back the punishment for his ship’s crew, who had already been repatriated to their homes on the planet or the space stations up above.
Kurtherian Gambit Boxed Set Three: Books 15-21, Never Submit, Never Surrender, Forever Defend, Might Makes Right, Ahead Full, Capture Death, Life Goes On (Kurtherian Gambit Boxed Sets Book 3) Page 27