Laura Jo Phillips (29 page)

She ignored her sister’s queries as she slammed and banged her way through breakfast.  Caitlyn quickly gave up trying to speak with her, much to Darleen’s relief.  Soon after Caitlyn left to open her shop, Darleen headed back upstairs to shower and dress. 

An hour later she was half way down the stairs when the door bell rang.  She considered ignoring it, but took a quick peek through the curtains first, and saw a young man with handsome, if delicate, features on the doorstep.  She took a quick check of herself in the mirror before reaching for the door knob, already having mentally catalogued and assessed the cost of the man’s outfit to within a credit of its actual purchase price.  When she pulled the door open she immediately upped her original estimate by a large margin as she offered him her most carefully uncertain smile.

“Miss Flowers?” the man asked.  Darleen immediately changed her estimate of the man’s age.  She was too good at fooling others by her own physical appearance to be easily fooled by another in the same way.

“Yes?” she asked politely.

“My name is Lio Perry.  I would like to discuss a business proposition with you,” he said.

“A business proposition?” she repeated doubtfully.

“We can speak here or, if you prefer we can go for a walk around your quaint little neighborhood.”

The way he said the word
quaint
was exactly the same as the way Darleen thought the word.  She sensed in this man a kindred spirit, and that made her nervous.  “There is a cafe in town called the CoffeeSpot,” she suggested but the man was shaking his head before she finished.

“It would be most unfortunate should we be overheard,” he said.

Darleen had the strongest impression that the misfortune would effect whomever might be unlucky enough to overhear them, rather than themselves.  She liked that kind of thinking. 

“Let me grab my purse,” she said.  The man nodded and stepped away from the door.  Darleen reached for her purse lying on the foyer table, flipped the lock on the door and stepped outside.  For some reason, she felt a small thrill of excitement.  She did not know what this man had in mind, but she had a feeling she was going to like it.

Chapter
26

“We received a copy of all transmissions made from the
Cosmic Glory
from the moment we placed it under heightened surveillance, to the moment it was destroyed,” Garen said once Riata was gone and the door firmly closed behind her.  “It took some time to weed through the usual vids of the crew to their families, position and fuel reports, and so forth, but we came up with one very interesting conversation between Captain Graey and an unknown recipient.”

Garen leaned forward and pressed a button on the vid screen that was set at an angle so everyone could see it.  They all saw Captain Graey’s round, sweaty face appear on the screen, and they all heard him as he spoke.  They heard nothing of the other party though, only silence.

 As Faron watched the Captain relate every word of his conversation with Jackson Bearen, he noted that the nervously bumbling and confused man that they had met was not in evidence.  He was clear, concise, nearly word perfect in his recitation.  He did not fidget or even wipe at the obvious sweat beading on his high forehead. 

When the transmission ended Garen turned it off.  “The
Cosmic Glory
was destroyed exactly 4.3 minutes after the end of that transmission.  One of our planet surface surveillance satellites recorded the ground-car explosion, which took place precisely 2.2 minutes after the end of that transmission.  The same satellite also recorded a faint trace of energy directed at the ground-car 45 seconds before the car blew.  We would not have known about it if they had not been looking for it.  A reverse plot of the energy trace ended in empty space.  There is no record of any ship being anywhere near those coordinates for weeks.

“We did not have any equipment trained on the
Cosmic Glory
at the time it blew that would have recorded, or even noticed, an energy trace like the one aimed at the ground-car.”

“Are we thinking Narrasti?” Faron asked.

“In the past eight and a half months we have had every source we can call into play searching under every rock in the Thousand Worlds for the Narrasti, and we’ve come up empty.  I cannot believe that a civilization as advanced as what we are dealing with now could remain in hiding so completely for so long.”

“Advanced?” Ban asked, frowning.  “A blocked transmission, a sub-dermal explosive or two in the ground-car and a bomb on the
Cosmic Glory
don’t seem to add up to an advanced civilization to me.  Those are common enough technologies for anyone to get hold of if they wish.”

“That is true,” Garen agreed.  “But there was a ship within Jasani space that went unnoticed and unrecorded by any of our system defense sensor grids, satellites or ships.  The ship came, and presumably left, without detection by the Joint Forces Defense grid either.  Whoever Captain Graey spoke with was able to block their own half of the vid transmission without bothering to block the Captain’s, and last but not least, there is the controller.”  Garen paused for a moment.  Just thinking about that damn object made him feel ill. 

“We do not know exactly how it works as yet,” he said, a note of strain in his voice that he did not try to conceal.  “It uses a type of nano-technology that is far beyond anything we have ever seen or heard of.  However, according to our scientists, it’s clear that the object is a control interface for a human mind.  It is perhaps the most insidious thing we have come across in centuries.”

Every man in the room felt nauseated just thinking of what such an object could be used for.  Faron, Dav and Ban all had a very difficult few moments when they remembered that the object they were discussing had been meant for Saige.

“Please tell us that the Bearens were able to find logical reasons for all of that unclaimed luggage,” Faron said.

“No, they have not,” Garen replied.  “At this point there are just over 125 females unaccounted for whose luggage is currently stored at the spaceport.  They have sent out tracers on all of them.  So far only a few replies have been received, but none of them have been good.”

“Not the Narrasti then,” Faron said.  “I agree of course, if they were that advanced, we would certainly have located them by now.  But who?”

“We don’t know,” Garen replied wearily.  “Here is what we do know: whoever it is, they have been abducting females in route to Jasan for at least two years that we know of.  They are able to identify potential Arimas, and are targeting them specifically.  We believe they use advanced technology to control their captives.  They have advanced enough technology that they have been able to invade our space without giving away a hint of their presence.  And, they have found a way to circumvent all of our immigration and security protocols, placing humans and humanoids on Jasan that should not be here.”

“So Lucky, Willy and Frank didn’t have ident cards because they weren’t even supposed to be on Jasan,” Faron said.

“Correct.  Nor was there anything in the cargo bay to give us a hint where it came from.  The ground-truck had all of its identifying numbers removed, the crate had nothing on it or in it to identify its source.  The only thing the forensics team could come up with were the real names for the three human men.  All three were convicted small time criminals, and all three were supposed to be serving time on a minimum security prison planet.  Their disappearance had never even been reported.”

“I am not sure I understand the overall goal,” Faron said.  “Are they attempting to harm the Jasani, or are they attempting to make money in the female slave trade?”

“At this time, we are assuming both,” Garen replied.  “That is also the consensus of the council.  The Royal Navy has been placed on Level Three alert, and all stations are on Condition Yellow as of about two hours ago.  I have called the Bearens in as well.  They are activating their replacements at the spaceport and expect to be here in the next couple of days for a meeting with us.  After that they will report to the council, then take command of the Planetary Defense System.” 

Garen paused again, and looked at Faron, waiting until his oldest friend met his gaze.  “I am not sending you three out,” he said. 

Faron’s eyes showed his surprise, though he managed to keep his expression neutral.  With their world under threat, it was their duty to oversee all military actions, acting as second to the Princes.  For one moment Faron wondered if they were being demoted or replaced.  Something of his thoughts must of shown on his face, or in his eyes, as Garen immediately held up one hand.

“No,” he said.  “It is nothing like that.  Faron, the Lobos have found their Arima.  This is not to be taken lightly.  In no way can our people afford to lose any of you.  You have become too important to our race as a whole.”

Faron opened his mouth to argue, but Garen shook his head.  “No, Faron, we will not change our minds on this, nor will the council.  Besides which, we need you here to help protect our Arimas.”

Faron bowed his head in acquiescence.  He could not argue against the need to protect Saige, Lariah and the royal daughters soon to be born. 

Chapter
27

By the time Faron, Dav and Ban finished their meeting and came back out onto the patio, Saige had made some decisions, discussed a few private matters with Lariah, and was more than ready to leave.

“Will you come to the river house with us tonight or would you prefer to stay here?” Faron asked, his face a mask. 

Saige cocked her head at him, sensed that his stony face was a result of his concern that she would choose not to go home with them, and smiled.  “I am ready to go home with you now,” she said.  Faron allowed his face to relax and he returned her smile.  “Suly is going to send someone up with the rest of my belongings this afternoon,” she added. 

“We can take them now if you wish,” Ban said, his desire to have Saige permanently ensconced with them obvious.

“I would rather go now,” Saige said.  “I would like to speak with all of you about a decision I’ve made.”

Faron lost his smile, his face taking on the guarded mask once more.  Dav and Ban did a good job of mimicking him.  Saige rolled her eyes at them.

She bent to hug Lariah, patted Tiny on the head, waved at Trey and headed for the back garden gate, her three men trailing behind her. 

Before they reached the graveled path Faron caught up with Saige and tucked her beneath his shoulder, Ban and Dav taking up position behind them. 

“So what is it you wish to discuss with us?” he asked.

“You don’t want to wait until we reach the house?” she asked teasingly.

“I don’t think we
can
wait till we reach the house,” he replied honestly.

Saige laughed.  “Okay, if you insist.”  She tugged at Faron until he turned around so that they were facing Ban and Dav.  Suddenly, Saige felt nervous.  “Before I say what I want to say, I want to be certain of something,” she began. 

“Very well,” Faron replied.

“I believe that last night you attempted to make it clear to me that, since your mating fangs descended, I am your only choice now.  There is no option for you to choose another, not even a human woman, to have children with.  If I decide to leave and go back to Earth, you three will live out your lives alone.  Am I correct or did I understand you wrong?”

“You are correct Saige,” Faron said solemnly.  “It is you, or nobody for us.  However, I want to add that we would choose you over any other woman even if you were not our Arima.  You are beautiful, passionate, fiery, protective, straightforward and you darn near kicked our butts this morning.  All very good reasons for us to want to keep you forever.”

“Thank you for that,” Saige said, blinking back sudden tears.  It wasn’t so much the words that touched her, though they did.  It was the deep emotion that all three of them felt when Faron said them.  “It means very much to me to hear you say that.”

 “I know that I am the one saying the words, but please know that it is meant from all of our hearts,
amada
,” he said.  Dav and Ban nodded in agreement, and she could feel their hope that she would understand their feelings. 

“I feel the same way about all of you, and I wish, more than anything, to stay here with the three of you,” she said, her voice steady though her heart was suddenly somewhere up near her throat.

 “You will stay here, on Jasan, with us?” Faron asked, needing to be certain of her meaning. 

“Yes,” Saige replied.

Ban whooped with joy, as did Dav.  Faron lifted her into the air and tossed her lightly before catching her again.  Dav grabbed hold of her as Faron released her and spun her around in circles so fast she began to get dizzy.  The moment he stopped Ban picked her up, crushed her to his chest and kissed her deeply. 

“Thank you Saige,” he said when he broke the kiss, leaving her breathless.  “I cannot tell you what it means that you have chosen us.  This is the happiest moment of my life.”

Saige felt tears burn her eyes at his sincerity.  She hardly knew what to say, so instead of speaking, she kissed him back, long and deep.