Alien Refuge (9 page)

Ospar had expected Jol to do that very thing, but he scowled at his Nobek anyway.

Jol shrugged. “It was a simple repair, Ospar. What took up so much time was the protective barrier. I’ve got so many men on patrol for the E.I.K. that I didn’t have much help.”

“You know how the Earthers are about us interfering though.”

Rivek interceded, something he didn’t often do when the pair were having such a mild disagreement. “I don’t think Iris minds the intrusion except for wishing she could repay Jol in some way. Her son’s wellbeing is her priority, so she is not likely to complain to Governor Hoover.”

Ospar sensed the undercurrent of concern in the Imdiko’s voice. He prodded, “And?”

Rivek flushed. “And ... I like her. She is openminded. Open-hearted.”

As Ospar mulled his Imdiko’s embarrassed admission that hinted at more than what he’d said, Jol added, “She is a staunch defender of her child, even if that means the chance of making enemies of her neighbors. No doubt someone noticed I was at her home today and will have something to say about it. Yet she never asked that I not make the repairs and upgrades.”

That was another concern. Ospar pointed out, “It could attract the attention of the E.I.K.”

“Which may mean she will require protection.”

“And counseling,” Rivek said. He gave Ospar his most innocent look, which meant the Imdiko was anything but.

Ospar could see his clanmates were completely infatuated with this Earther woman. Through his shock he realized that brought its own set of problems, whether Iris Jenson returned the interest or not.

Chagrined, he asked, “Is she truly worth making things more complicated for me?”

Rivek patted his shoulder sympathetically. “Perhaps you should meet her and decide for yourself. I should mention I think we at the temple could benefit her son. He is quite intelligent with much potential if his delaying issues could be managed.”

Ospar folded his arms over his chest. “Now you’re just meddling.”

“‘
To not help a potential be realized is to shortchange the universe. There is no greater crime.’ I must obey my faith, even if it runs counter to my Dramok’s wishes.”

Ospar threw his hands up in the air in surrender. He knew when he was defeated. Fortunately, losing to his clanmates didn’t sting as much as losing to others. “Fine. You can introduce me at our earliest convenience.”

Jol’s com beeped for his attention, and he answered it privately. “Yes? Very good. We are on our way.” He shut it off and stood. “Councilman Maf’s shuttle has landed. Borl is escorting him to his guest quarters.”

Ospar rose from his perch on Jol’s desk. “I alerted our kitchen staff to be ready to serve dinner should the councilman desire an immediate in-depth meeting. Will you join us in welcoming him, Rivek?”

“Of course. Don’t forget the pie, Jol.”

Jol came around his desk, clutching the food container as if it was found treasure. “You know that is not a possibility.”

The three men headed out, Ospar giving Rivek the particulars of their important guest. Rivek, who kept up in all matters to do with Haven, didn’t require much briefing. Ospar was glad the Imdiko kept himself aware of things important to his Dramok. It added further ease to the stress-free day he’d enjoyed, something Ospar was grateful for since it might go late with the councilman’s arrival.

The clan traveled to the guest lodgings in the Kalquorian village, located at the north edge of Haven Colony. Like the rest of the colony, the buildings here were all Earther-style construction. The thought had been that if the Kalquorians lived more like their former enemies, it would help encourage Earthers to see the many similarities between the two species. It was also hoped that Earther females would be more open to considering Kalquorian men as viable mates.

Ospar was well aware of the three-fold mission of the colony under his command. First and foremost was the need to give Earthers the opportunity to recover from the war. Their numbers had been devastated by Armageddon, especially the women who hadn’t often been found off their home planet.

Secondly had been the Empire’s need to offer some reparation to the survivors. The blasts that had doomed Earth had been an accident and a direct consequence of Earth’s leadership, but Kalquor took the blame anyway. It had been the attempt to invade their enemy’s home base had set off the bombs planted beneath Earth’s major cities. Haven was part of that effort at atonement.

Third was the hope that bringing Earthers within the Empire, making them a part of its realm, would lead to increased breeding between the two races. Kalquor still teetered on the brink of extinction. Only the hybrid children of the indigenous population and Earthers could save its culture. It was no accident Ospar had been assigned governorship of Haven. He had worked behind the scenes since the very beginning to bring Earther women to Kalquor, to make them part of the clans. It had been his idea to send an old friend’s clan to the planet Plasius four years ago to test an Earther for breeding compatibility. When that compatibility had been confirmed he had, with the reluctant approval of the emperors and most of the council, issued the order for other women to be seduced and sometimes outright abducted to Kalquor.

In the intervening years, Ospar had become ashamed of the forced clannings he’d instigated. But the Kalquorians would be disappearing in less than 300 years, so he’d pushed the cause. He’d soothed his conscience by carefully selecting the clans for those first Earther women. He’d personally chosen Kalquorians who would do their utmost to make their unwilling Mataras happy. It was an uneasy compromise, even when he’d been utterly convinced he was doing the best thing for the Empire. He still hadn’t quite reconciled himself to his spearheading the scheme, even though the overwhelming majority of those first Mataras had indeed found joy with their mates.

Guilt over those first Earther Mataras who still insisted they didn’t want to be clanned had spurred Ospar to take action when new laws had been broached. He had wholeheartedly endorsed the proposals, both brokered by his old friend Councilman Rajhir along with Empress Jessica. The latest of these was allowing those first unhappy Mataras to be de-clanned despite the near-unbreakable rule that clanning was for life.

The second law that Ospar had given much time and effort to see passed was the one made before the war ended: that forced or coerced clannings of Earther Mataras would be banned following the end of hostilities. The outcome of the first Mataras had been a little too successful, it turned out. About half the council had ended up with Earther mates. The rest, mostly council members who had so unwillingly gone along with the initial abductions, had decided they wanted lifebringers of their own. Their constituencies had also clamored to add Mataras to their clans. As a result, many had fought restrictions on coercion.

The current law outlawing forced clannings had been put in place for five years, an uneasy compromise with Kalquorians who wanted the issue revisited in the future in case the Empire’s numbers continued to fall. Half of that time had already passed. With the numbers of childbirths rising, making Kalquor viable for at least the next five hundred years, it was thought the law would probably be extended. Perhaps made permanent. More and more Earther women were going to Kalquor and joining clans on their own.

One of Haven’s modest successes was kept as quiet as possible. In the less than two years since it began, well over four hundred women who had come there for a new start on life had found clans on the colony or had moved on to Kalquor to find mates. The Kalquorians did all they could for new, unmarried female arrivals, giving aid where possible. Women came to trust their hosts when they weren’t warned away by fellow Earthers, which happened more than Ospar liked. The E.I.K. had become a real problem as of late, using intimidation to keep the races separate.

Ospar had not attempted to find a Matara for his own clan. His work took up so much of his time that he hadn’t really considered it yet. Certainly he was too busy for fatherhood, though the idea had some appeal ... for the future. Rivek hadn’t had much contact with Earthers either, being a priest who spent most of his time ministering to those Kalquorians searching for greater meaning or simply looking for a clear mind to counsel them on their troubles. Jol was among the Earther population more than the other two, but it was usually in an official capacity. Nobeks dealing with security issues were not very approachable men, but Jol had found a couple of infatuations. His fascinations hadn’t been long lasting. One young woman he’d deemed as ‘too silly’ after a couple of months. Another had commed him incessantly during the day while he was working, even after he’d patiently explained to her why he couldn’t be interrupted every hour to reassure her she was on his mind.

Now a new woman had gotten the Nobek’s attention, and apparently Rivek’s as well. Ospar fought off a smile. One with a child, no less. Life refused to be simple. Still, he was curious to meet this Iris himself, to discover what it was about her that was so entrancing to the pair.

Right now, he had to concentrate on official matters. Their shuttle pulled up to the guest lodgings where Ospar’s aide Dramok Borl waited for them.

Borl had housed Councilman Maf in the nicest of the visitors’ quarters, an elegantly styled blue building with arched doorways and flowing architecture. It was a mix of Earther structure with Kalquorian sensibilities. There were no windows, since they let too much heat escape. Indoors, vids that could transmit live feeds of the outside were the rule instead. The vids could also display other landscapes or art.

Ospar had noted the homes of the Earthers on Haven and had to admit buildings without windows were much less attractive from the outside. They looked much too blank and featureless without them.

As Ospar stepped out of the shuttle behind Jol, he greeted his waiting aide. “Is all well with Councilman Maf?”

Dramok Borl was a long, lithe, almost serpentine vision of a man. His features were finely drawn and elegant, though not warmed nearly enough by a smile. He seemed more chilly than chilled, though he wore only a formsuit and official robes as he bowed to Ospar. “The councilman seems rather tired but fine otherwise, Governor. Dramok Maf is just getting settled. We are to go right in.”

“Thank you, Borl.”

Jol gave up the lead to Ospar as they approached the door. It opened immediately for them. Ospar went inside, followed by his aide and clanmates.

The floor of the entryway was tiled with large, reddish-brown squares. The walls were illuminated panels, spilling soft gold lighting over the area. The light paneled walls were another Kalquorian upgrade from the usual Earther freestanding light fixtures. Vid artwork hung at eye level, showing the mountain range that lay over a thousand miles away from the colony. Beneath that was a hand carved Joshadan table, decorated with a small bouquet of reddish-purple crystals mined on a nearby moon.

Ospar passed through the small hall space into the greeting room where Maf relaxed on a luxuriously overstuffed couch. Almost all of the furnishings were Joshadan, and Ospar knew the guest quarters were appointed better than his own home. It made a good impression on guests that ranked as highly as Maf, who sat on the Empire’s Royal Council. Ospar was determined that his colony be considered as favorably as possible.

The councilman stood at their approach. Dramok Maf was a far different man than most Kalquorians, in appearance and bearing. Those with little honor said that was why he had never clanned, discounting the formidable brain inside the poor, contorted body that housed it.

He’d been born with severe deformities, especially bones that had not formed well. He’d also been cursed with twisted muscles and ligaments. Surgeons had done their best with a badly made structure, allowing Maf to at least walk and move with some dexterity. However he still seemed like a gnarled tree distorted by brutal forces. His feet pointed in one direction beneath bowed and crooked legs, and his torso turned to the left of them. His arms were perpetually bent at the elbows, one contorted so that it always stuck out to the side. His head tilted towards his right shoulder.

His face was not handsome, but Maf was not an ugly man either. His features wore a dignified strength. When he spoke, his listeners seemed to forget the vicious blow fate had dealt his body. Maf was excellent in debate, having fed his intelligent mind with knowledge worthy of an encyclopedia. He’d been elected to the Royal Council in a landslide fifteen years prior, and no one had dared to oppose him in his territory since. The man was simply too smart and too well liked.

His resonant tenor filled the room. “Governor Ospar. It is good to finally make your acquaintance. I have heard such wonderful things about you. Councilman Rajhir especially asked that I send his fondest greetings.”

Ospar and his clanmates bowed. “The honor is mine, Councilman Maf. We are delighted you have decided to visit Haven on your tour of the colonies.” He motioned to his companions. “Allow me to present my Imdiko Rivek and my Nobek Jol.”