Embracing Emily (#7 Warriors of Kelon) (2 page)

“Do I need an excuse to see my little girl?” His gaze fell to her leg as he moved around his desk.

“Considering I talk to your secretary more than you, yes.”

Her father snorted, retaking his own seat and leaned forward with a small smile on his lips. “Could never get one past you. You don’t have to call to talk to me, my door is always open, love.”

She knew it, but keeping her distance helped her independence and sanity. When she was around her father, he tended to be over-protective and controlling.

He leaned back in his chair. “I suppose you know about the Kelon team soon to arrive in the city.”

“Anyone who reads and watches television knows, I think it’s wonderful news.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

“Dad, I know you're heading up the operation. Congratulations on the promotion.”

“Thank you, but I want to talk to you about our country's new working relationship with these aliens.”

“You do?” Emily stared in surprise. “Isn’t it classified or something?”

“Some things are, but what I’m telling you isn’t. Since the M.A.R.C Cosmetic’s incident...” Another huge news issue which went global—the fact a rogue cosmetics company held aliens captive and experimented on them. “...as you can imagine, we’ve no desire to get on the bad side of a race who are far more advanced than us. Thankfully, they are friendly. Anyway, the Kelons learned they could be taught to speak English other than relying on translators.”

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach while she got the gist of what her father was on about, yet she couldn’t understand why he was telling her. She enjoyed her job teaching English to immigrants at the community centre on the east side of Melbourne. Sure, it didn’t pay much, but with the trust fund her mother left her, she didn’t need a huge income.

“They asked us to provide teachers. Emily, considering you’ve recently lost your job at the community centre, I’ve appointed you to teach English to the Kelons, they seem to listen better to women than men.”

Emily stilled in stunned silence as the weight of her father’s words sank in.

“I’ve already cleared it with—”

“Wait, what? What do you mean I’ve lost my job at the community centre? I was there today!”

“Due to lack of funds with the new government cutbacks, they’re being shut down. I assumed someone informed you of this.”

“No one’s told me anything—and just how did you know about this before me?”

She met her father’s gaze. Oh, she knew he has been keeping close tabs on everything she did. It was nothing out of the ordinary, he was always overprotective. Despite her approaching thirtieth birthday, she hoped he would start to let go and let her live her own life.

Ever since her illness left her with partial paralysis of her left leg, he had become more overbearing. Years of hospital treatments gave her back her mobility and enabled her to live a good life. She strived to stay active and healthy, enjoying time out with her friends even if she couldn’t do fast-paced dancing or chase a tennis ball. There were so many alternatives to have a go at and enjoy. Just because she had a one bum leg didn’t mean she needed to sit around and have a pity party. It was the attitude her mother drummed into her head when Emily was first able to leave the hospital on two feet.

There were no secrets or anything to hide, her life was an open book, but she felt as if they were keeping secrets from her.

Anger sparked through her veins, she tired of him trying to control her life. She reached for her crutch and pushed to her feet.

“Enough, Dad, I’m going home.”

Her elbow crutch clanked when she threaded her arm through the cuff and gripped the handle, leaning heavily on it to turn and walk ungracefully out of her father’s office.

“But the job—you will do it.” He’d moved to stand in her way and she glared up at him. Unfortunately, she had not inherited her father’s six-foot height, but her mother’s five-foot-five.

Her head still spun with the news of her sudden job loss and her father’s constant spying. Now, he wanted her to teach Kelons?

She sucked in a breath to hold back a few choice words. She really wanted to spit at him. His gaze softened as he again glanced down at her crutch. In his eyes, she saw the guilt he refused to let go.

“Why me, Dad? I thought the military would have someone who takes orders, rather than a civilian.”

She caught the flash of annoyance before he schooled his features. “It was also a request the teacher be non-military. Since we’ve started dealing with the Kelons, we’ve found them to be hard lined with human men; they don’t take shit from anyone, but they’re extremely considerate and respectful when it comes to women. There is a fair mix of civilians and military working with the Kelons. You would have a guard at all times while working with them. In no way would you be in danger. I dare say, you'd be safer than in your old job and I’ve already got you the security clearances.”

He walked back to his desk, snagging a large manila folder and handing it to her.

“Dad, I don’t know.” She hesitated, but accepted the folder, staring at her name stamped on the front. She felt a little dizzy at her life being again pulled out of her hands and spinning out of her control.

“Just think about it. All the details are there. They arrive in two weeks, which should give you plenty of time to move.”

She blinked. “Move? What do you mean, move?”

“Well, the facility is on the other side of town from your apartment. It’ll be best if you move back here with me.”

Emily suppressed the urge to yell at her father. She pressed her lips together as a throb started in her temple, and then she drew in another deep breath.

“If I take this job, let me make this clear. I am
not
moving back home.”

The Colonel’s lips twitched up into his ‘we’ll see' smile. “Emily, we’re all we have left now: you can’t blame me for wanting my only daughter near, especially with your condition.”

Sadness filled his eyes when they drifted to the photo of her mother still sitting on his desk. Emily’s anger melted, replaced with the same heavy sadness, the emptiness of her mother’s loss still ached deep within.

“I miss her, too, Dad, but it was her who wanted me to live a full life not a half-life.” She shifted the folder to place her hand on his arm, and the Colonel suddenly pulled her into a tight hug. Emily realised how lonely he must be feeling. It was only two years since she’d moved out and two more since he’d lost his wife—and she, her mother—to breast cancer.

He set her aside as her mind whirled for an answer for them both and she sighed, feeling her resistance fading. “I need my space, Dad, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be closer.”

The Colonel nodded, his game face back in place. “A fair compromise. I can offer you a house on base for the duration of your contract.” It looked as if he was talking to himself now. “Read the file and let me know soon, so I can make the arrangements. You’ll like this job, Em. Despite the media hype, these Kelons are good people. We need to help the rest of the world to see it too, to see they are bring us advances to help us cure things like cancer, heck, even the common cold. We can’t blow this opportunity.”

Damn the man, he used every form of emotional manipulation against her. What were a few immigrants learning English against the medical advancement of the human race?

“I’ll get back to you soon.” She clutched the file, leaning more heavily on her crutch as she continued out of her father’s office. The sorrow making her heart heavy was for her father; he always had trouble letting go, but even if these Kelons did help bring a cure for cancer and fix other illnesses plaguing humanity, it could never bring back those already lost.

* * * *

“Why am I here?”

Standing in Kelon Prime high command was the last place he wanted to be.

“Watch your tone, Vallarr.” High Commander Kerr folded his arms. Vallarr met Kerr’s cool gaze. “I was told you were fit for active duty again.”

Vallarr shook his head. “No.” It did not matter if he regained all his strength and fought daily in the training arena. Physically he was fit, mentally...There was no way he would ever be ‘fit’ again.

“No?” Kerr's brow plate rose as he studied Vallarr. He dropped his hand before lowering himself into a chair and picked up a data pad, scrolling through the information.

“Your wounds have healed. I see you are having daily, extended training sessions with the younger warriors,
and
the report from Healer Solron has cleared you. You are fit for duty.”

Vallarr’s gut clenched at the mention of the healer, the memory of Sara’s sad eyes haunted him as much as...He fought back the bile rising in his throat as guilt swamped him. It was the main reason he spent so much time exercising and fighting—to keep his mind from slipping back, going into a constant loop of 'what ifs' and flesh stripping regrets.

Vallarr shook his head. “I am no longer fit to command a ship or warriors. If you think—”

High Commander Kerr dropped the data pad on the table with a clatter. “I am not giving you command of a ship. I have a different mission for you. I am assigning you as guard, off world.”

His stomach slowly settled, relieving his shoulders of some of their tension. It was fitting they send him away after the shame of his actions six weeks ago. He was nothing but a failure. What kind of commander let so many in his care die?

“I understand, High Commander. What am I to guard?”

Kerr’s lips twitched up into a smile. “No, Commander, I do not think you do understand; it is who, not what you will be guarding. We are setting up a new embassy and healing research centre on Earth, and we are putting a lot of effort into this new, tentative alliance with the humans. You, Commander Vallarr, will be in charge of the guard contingent. Human males are unpredictable and prone to aggression when they do not understand things. You are to keep the peace and see to everyone’s safety.”

“You cannot be serious!” Vallarr’s mind exploded into a sandstorm of emotions. How could High Command let him protect others on a planet he never wanted to see—and be among a people he’d failed.

Kerr narrowed his gaze. “I am very serious.”

“But I am damaged. Earth is the last place I should go.” His words rose in an angry yell.

Kerr rose to his feet, his body rigid. “Are you refusing to follow my direct order, Commander Vallarr, refusing to do your duty?”

Damn fire demons, there is no getting out of this.
He drew in several deep breaths, trying to calm his pounding heart.

“No, High Commander, I apologize. Of course, I will do my duty.”

Kerr nodded. “Go pack, you leave in twelve hours. Keep our healers and science officers safe, Commander Vallarr. Dismissed.”

Vallarr turned. Keeping them safe from the humans was easy, but who would keep them safe from him? He wanted to question the High Commander’s orders. Why send a damaged warrior to Earth? Kerr read the reports, he knew what happened.

Suck it up, be the warrior you were trained to be, not this weak coward you have turned into!

Emily hated long corridors, stiff pale-patterned vinyl floors and white painted walls with long fluoro tubs for lighting at intervals. No matter how modern or new, they were dull, dry and void of all personality. Worst of all, they echoed with the clanking of her crutch while she hobbled through to reach her assigned classroom. Entering the base, being surrounded by strong, military men, she felt the weight of her disability for the first time in a while. Despite her get out and have a go attitude, her love of comfort food helped her pack on a few extra, unwanted kilos. In short, she stood out among the tall, fit and healthy.

You can do anything you put your mind to, Em, girl
. She smiled at the voice of her mother in her head, shaking off silly thoughts of self-pity.

“Miss Morland!” She turned at her name and the quickened pace of heavy military boots hitting the same floor as he jogged to catch up with her.

The tall man in casual uniform halted and gave her a salute. Emily rolled her eyes.

“You do know I’m a civilian.” She tilted her chin at his lowering hand. “You shouldn’t do that for me.”

Young and handsome, his face curved up in a grin. “Sorry, miss, you being the Colonel’s daughter and all, and it’s kind of habit.”

Without a doubt, her father would have made it clear, she was his daughter and to be respected. The Colonel, when in a bad mood, was not a man to be trifled with.

“I’m Lieutenant Jon Simmons, at your service, well...I’ve been assigned to make sure everything runs smoothly and you don’t get into trouble with...well, your new students.”

“Say it as it is, Lieutenant, you’re my guard.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes, the Colonel was very clear about—”

She waved her hand at him. “If you’re going to be hanging around me at least you could be helpful...” She held out her heavy bag filled with language books.

“Of course.” He relieved her of the bag.

“I left a box of classroom items in my car, do you think they could be—”

He already unclipped his radio and ordered who knows who to retrieve her box.

“You should have come to the front and asked for help.”

Her right eyebrow raised at his gentle, scolding tone, but his gaze dropped to her crutch.

“My little brother was born with scoliosis. He’s a tough little cookie, stubborn and never asking for help when he needs it.”

Hearing about the Lieutenant's brother softened her somewhat towards the man smiling in empathy.

“People with disabilities value their independence, but thank you, Lieutenant, I’ll ask for help the next time I need it. What’s your brother’s name?”

“Josh. He turns ten next month.”

Emily eyed the smiling, strapping young man. He must be late-twenties and nearly six foot, and he clearly adored his little brother.

The military compound, ‘New Hope’, was set up right by the Dandenong Ranges, two hours from Melbourne. She only arrived this morning, with a few suitcases in her car, flatly refusing her father’s offer to have movers come in and box up her whole apartment. Her living on base would be temporary, so she packed only enough to feel comfortable and at home.