Only Human (17 page)

The Delphian followed them into the suite
where Nova hastily closed the bedroom door. “Please, sit,” she said and was not
surprised when he ignored her invitation. He was regarding her like an
especially nasty species of insect he just discovered crawling across his path.

“I am surprised to see you on Targon,” Tychon
said, using a Delphian dialect that Nova could follow.

“As am I. However, asking you to see me on
Delphi did not achieve the expected result. You can imagine my delight at finding
myself in a combat zone, five levels below ground.” Jelani folded his arms and
observed Nova more closely. “I am assuming that this is your…” He paused a
moment. “Well, I know not what.”

“This is Captain Nova Whiteside,” Tychon said
pointedly. “My co-pilot.”

The older Delphian nodded. "It is so
difficult to tell sometimes," he said, hinting at her lack of uniform.

"I’m not required to display insignia,"
she said.

"Ah, regulations," Jelani
strolled about the room, his hands clasped behind his back. "Some of which
you follow."

"Get to the point," Tychon snapped.
“What are you doing on Targon?”

Jelani observed them a while, his pause
artful. At last his eyes settled on Nova. "This concerns Major Tychon's
son, Captain. We believe him to be grossly neglected."

"How is that?" Tychon asked in
surprise.

"Why, your very profession! Constantly
dashing about to all ends of civilization and beyond, I suppose."

"I was drafted into this."

"You were offered the Vanguard. No one
is ordered into that position. You could have had your commission on Delphi.
You cannot ensure a safe, comfortable future for Kiran."

"I have my commission, pensions and
private ventures willed to Kiran should something happen to me. He will always
be comfortable."

"That is my point! You do not even
know if you will be alive next week. I have taken the liberty of having the boy
assessed on Feyd. The reports show that he is exhibiting signs of anxiety,
confusion and stress."

"You are unbalanced, if anyone is. He
is happy at that school."

Nova stared from one to the other. Why was Jelani
so concerned with another man's child?

"I am afraid that our Delphian Child
Welfare does not consider you to be a suitable parent," Jelani continued,
looking at Nova with obvious distaste. "You are not only neglectful by
allowing your son to be raised by strangers but, besides breaking Air Command
regulations, you are also violating the moral codes of Delphi. Even just
cohabitating with this Human is an affront to your people. To Kiran’s people!”

"I do not believe this," Nova
said.

Tychon smiled mirthlessly. "We are a
backward people."

"Do not scoff your heritage, Major!
What you do off planet is your own affair. Your son, on the other hand, has
certain obligations to fulfill. Obligations which, I am sure, you have no
intentions of overseeing."

"You are damn right!"

Jelani shuddered visibly. "We all
tried to dissuade my dear sister from choosing you, a commoner, for her mate. A
commoner who went on to pursue a career that led to her death! She would be
alive, if not for you."

"You are going too far," Tychon growled
dangerously.

"Will someone please..." Nova
began, confused.

Jelani glanced in her direction for only
the briefest moment before answering. "You did not know that Kiran's name,
by birthright, is Phera?"

“No!” she gasped.

Jelani nodded. "Dana produced the last
heir to Phera’s reign. We must see to it that this bloodline continues. He should
not be removed from Delphi. He needs proper guidance and tutelage. As it is, he
is cast aside in a military school." He glared at Tychon. "He does
not even know who he is!"

"He is a little boy."

"That does not exempt him from his
duties. Of course, he must be led with caution. I am myself applying for
guardianship." Jelani headed for the door, perhaps sensing that Tychon was
ready to explode. "I am certain that Child Welfare will decide that it is
better for our future sovereign to be returned to his clan and the Council than
to remain in the custody of a free-living Union agent and his Terran
consort."

Tychon snarled and stepped closer to Jelani.

"I had intended to offer you a
choice," Jelani said, appearing unruffled. "But after reviewing your
public record and hearing about your, ah, adventures, I can see what choice you
would prefer."

The door closed silently behind him.

“I can't wait till you translate all of
this for me,” Nova marveled.

“We're going to Feyd. Today.” Tychon dropped
into a chair and reached for a screen on a nearby table. After a few moments he
was cleared to reach Colonel Carras.

"I need to apply for special leave,"
he said without preamble.

Nova peered over his shoulder at the
Colonel’s surprised face.

"What the devil is this about?  I need
you here, Major. You were right, earlier. We found four abandoned shrills near
the east service bays. That means at least four more rebels on the base. This
is no time for vacations."

Quickly and with undisguised irritation, Tychon
relayed their awkward meeting with Jelani.

“Are you sure this is necessary? Do you
really think he’ll take the boy from Feyd without your permission?”

"He said as much. He only needs the
right governors on Delphi to issue the directives. Look, Tal, he couldn't care
less if I was living with six grush cats. The best thing that ever happened to
his own ambitions was Dana's death. He will use my son to gain a seat on the
Council. Perhaps even as regent. That cannot be. I must get to Feyd."

"Phera rules Delphi?" Nova asked.
"I thought he was a sort of local leader or an ambassador or
something."

Tychon shook his head. "We have a clan
system with an appointed council, but Phera is at the head. He has tremendous
influence over the people. Dana was his daughter and Kiran is his official
heir. I have every intention of returning him to the Court. But not as Jelani's
pawn."

"And he’s using me? To discredit you?”
Nova asked, her voice a whisper.

"Seems that way." Tychon turned back
to the monitor. "Tal, how about that emergency leave? I want Kira out of
there until I can get Phera to step on Jelani’s plans. He’s a reasonable man. I
have friends in the Outlands that will look after the boy."

Carras nodded. "Make it fast. I have
the feeling that if I don't let you go, you'll go AWOL. Take the Eagle. I don’t
have time for you to play civilian. On the way you'll prepare a full report
with footage on the incident with the rebel carrier. And, Major,” he added.
“Try not to assault any more of my pilots. At least not in the most heavily
surveilled spot on Targon.”

Nova grinned at Tychon. She considered for
a moment. "So why isn’t Jelani the crown prince or whatever you call Kira
on Delphi? He’s Phera’s son, isn’t he?”

“Phera doesn’t like him. Disowned him, in
fact. They haven’t spoken in probably five years. I don’t know what Jelani did,
but it must have been something terrible. So now he thinks he can use Kira to
get what is owed him.”

“At least I now know who's been browsing
through your files," Carras said.

"What files?"

"Your family records, mostly. Jelani
must have been gathering ammo for this meeting. The access logs show that
someone looked not only at your files but also the files on Dana and Kiran."

"Is that legal?" Nova asked.
"How would he get clearance?"

"Doesn't need it. Those are public
records accessible from anywhere, in this case some place on Aram. The Major,
Dana and Kiran are important people. Much has been noted about them and there
wasn't anything in those files that isn't public knowledge. The only reason
that I was even alerted to that is because there were also a few attempts to
get into your classified files, Tychon. Unsuccessful, of course.”

Nova frowned. “How would Jelani have the
means to even try to hack into military information systems?”

“Who else would want to know about me or my
family?” Tychon shrugged and quickly concluded their call to Carras before
picking up his flight jacket. “Let’s be gone.”

She shook her head. “Ty, we can’t. You’re
exhausted and angry. I’m beyond tired. How do you think either one of us is
going to jump safely today?”

He frowned, undecided.

She took the jacket from him. “Nothing Jelani
can hire can travel as fast as the Eagle. We’ll get there in one short jump.
After we get some food and some sleep.”

He continued to scowl at nothing but
finally nodded, resigned. “I didn’t think he’d go this far, Nova.” He glanced
at her. “I suppose I’ve given him plenty of excuse to convince the Council. He
won’t need much more.”

“Because of the Human. Because I’m beneath
you. Is that it?”

“That is how they see it.”

“Do you?”

He inhaled sharply. “Is that what you
think?”

She shook her head and turned away. “I
don’t know what to think.” She felt tears burn in the back of her throat and
fought to keep her voice steady. This day had brought such extraordinary
excitement beginning with the battle above Targon, the absolute thrill of
spanning her very first reach, and the wonderful mental connection she had
experienced with this man who had then come to her with such passion. And then Jelani
had taken it all away. Now there was pain and confusion and not a second for
her to discover what the moments they had shared meant to Tychon. Had it meant
anything at all? “It’s been such a bloody long day…”

She felt his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry,
Nova,” he said softly. “I’ve dragged you into something you should not have to
deal with.”

She turned but did not look into his eyes.
“Maybe it’s best if I asked for a transfer, Ty. There is so much at stake here
for you. For Kira. Don’t let this be my fault.”

“Out of the question! He’ll find another
reason to take Kira. I am not going to back down because of some outdated
principles. I won’t let them run my life like that!”

She looked up. “I’m a matter of principle?”

“No!” He took her face into his hands.
“Gods, no. I won’t use you like that. I won’t let
them
use you like
that. I…” Unable to find the words, he bent to kiss her. “Just don’t leave me
now.”

“Aren’t you going to let them know we’re
coming?” Nova asked when they prepared their approach to Feyd. She had changed
into her fatigues, as he had asked, displaying the insignia identifying her as
a Union officer.

Tychon climbed out of the pilot's couch to hand
the helm over to her while he, too, dressed in uniform. They had flown direct
from Targon, taking turns interfacing with the ship in order to achieve speeds
that the autopilot refused to consider. With the single jump required between
Feyd and Targon it had taken less than ten hours to reach the school.

In the end, they had time to spare before
Feyd's terminator turned night into day above the hills that sheltered the
school. They had used the time inventively but found that his pilot couch was
not the most comfortable place in which to practice Terran-Delphian relations.

 “If I know Jelani, he’s already contacted
them," Tychon said. "Who knows what story he’ll concoct to stall them.
He’ll find a way to hold us up until he’s got Delphi authority convinced I beat
the boy three times daily. It’ll be more awkward if we just land on top of them
and look official. I don't want to give them time to think.”

She watched him fasten his gun belt. Using
the Eagle to transport his son, while not entirely protocol, was acceptable with
Carras' permission. But implying their authority in a civilian matter seemed
quite another matter. It was yet another indication that the power of rules, as
Anders had told her just days ago, depended on where you break them. She had to
admit that, once fully dressed, Tychon did not look like someone who would
tolerate an argument. Then he ruined the illusion by straddling her legs.

"Hey, I'm trying to fly this
thing," she protested when he leaned down to kiss her. "Get into your
chair, we're going in."

She entered Feyd's atmosphere and soon
headed toward the city. They bypassed the airfield and flew directly to the
school where they descended on an empty playing field. By the time Nova had
fastened a respirator over her face and they debarked, two staff members were
already hurrying toward their plane.

“Shan Tychon,” they were greeted by the
breathless administrator. “We don’t allow air traffic here at the school. I’m
sure you’re aware of that."

He had a blue-haired woman in tow, looking
less interested in the state of the turf than the strapping Delphian that had
landed. Nova's glower went unnoticed as the woman barely spared her a glance.
Nova gained a puerile sense of satisfaction when she glanced at Tychon's hands,
knowing to what use he had put them only an hour ago.