Star Brigade: The Supremacy (SB3) (16 page)

“Initially,” Sam admitted. “But not after all the times I’ve lied to cover for our meetups.” She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Which I did for us.”

That made the Cerc shift uncomfortably. “I know. And I appreciate it.”

“What’s worse is having to lie about
this
.” She fingered her heartknot necklace, and Habraum grimaced. He had gifted that to her during their Cantalese trip, and knew how much she treasured it.

“Look,” Sam’s voice lowered, “I get being careful for Jeremy…and Jennica.” The air chilled at the mention of Habraum’s late wife. “I’m not asking for a defintion. But who cares if others know?”

Habraum gaped at Sam disbelievingly. “I do! Do you know how us being involved would look to anyone else? It could bring into question your promotion, getting your own CT!”

“I. Don’t. Care!” she overrode him, so angry Habraum thought she might hit him again. “I earned my CT
and
my promotion. But this is about us, not Star Brigade.” Sam’s eyes never left his face. “If ‘us’ means something to you, put your balls on the table and make a decision! Unless…”

Habraum shut his eyes and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. He had lost interest in this debate, waiting for her to finish so he could shut this nonsense down. Except she didn’t. Her silence grew in length, in awkwardness. The Cerc opened his eyes to see Sam watching him with a strange, dead-eyed expression.

“Unless you still haven’t forgiven me,” she finished, soft as silk. An angry flush crept up Habraum’s neck at her words, the loaded memories behind them stealing his voice. The indiscretion had occurred months ago, rebellion following several nasty quarrels just like this one. They’d since reconciled and moved on, but some old wounds reopened at the slightest push.

When the Cerc offered no reply, Sam’s features hardened. “Tell Tharyn I’m back at my place.”

Panic went off in Habraum’s brain. She always shut down like this when a conflict got too personal, too emotional. “Sammie—” He reached for her.

“Uh-uh.” She jerked away, about to walk past him and out of the kitchen.

He seized Sam by the waist, hoisting her up like a small child onto the nearest kitchen countertop. “
Stop
,” he growled. They were practically nose to nose now.

Sam’s face was a beautiful, unsympathetic mask. “Make it quick.”

Habraum leaned back, taking her face in his hands, knowing she wouldn’t make this easy. “I told you all that was in the past, and that I’m all in. So please have a pinch more patience with me. Let’s take these next few days one at a time. Then go from there, yea?” The Cerc’s heart thundered as he awaited Sam’s next words. She tried, and failed, to meet Habraum’s gaze directly. Finally, she shook her head and look away in defeat.

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “It’s really hard to hate you sometimes,” she grumbled.

“I know!” Habraum crowed, relieved. He spoke now with sweet murmurs, “Must be my Cercidalean charm.”

Sam looked up, no longer smiling. “And then you make it so easy. Don’t push it, chief.”

“I believe I already did,” Habraum reminded with a bright, boyish grin. “Several times!”

Sam gasped and teasingly shoved him. “Dirty!”

Habraum had to smirk. “Now who’s complaining?” The Cerc took Sam by the hips, his mouth finding hers. He pressed her up against one of his cupboards, taking his time savoring the sweet taste of her lips.

And Sam readily gave in. Just like Habraum knew she would. She slinked a hand around the back of Habraum’s neck and they began devouring each other. Crisis averted, for now.

We’re back!
Tharydane’s warning blared in Habraum’s mind.

“Incoming,” he cautioned. The pair reluctantly came up for air and disentangled.

Sam slid off the counter with a warning look. “Don’t make me regret this.”

“You won’t,” Habraum promised.

“Daddy.” Jeremy rushed into the kitchen moments later with Tharyn at his heels. “I’m hungry,” he announced. Jeremy always downed a snack or two after school, so Habraum wasn’t surprised.

“Sure, sprout. Pick from the fridge.
No
junk food!” the Cerc warned with a fatherly finger wag. “I know where you live and what you eat!”

As Jeremy pouted, Sam eyed the kitchen’s chronometer and then turned to Tharydane. “Ready to go, kid?”

“Always am,” the Korvenite retorted matter-of-factly. Habraum led them to the foyer.

“Bye, Jeremy!” Sam and Tharydane called out. The boy poked his head around the kitchen entry and waved.

“Bye, Habraum.” Tharydane breezed out as the apartment door slid open.

“See ya, Dani,” Habraum replied lightly. He turned to Sam, who stood before him.

Sam looked up with a glowing smile. “Ciao,” she whispered before sauntering out the door. She caught up with Tharydane down the corridor, draped an arm across her shoulders, and began chattering, “Alright, kid. Time for FSG and crescent mooncake!”

“Can’t wait,” Tharyn gushed. Habraum watched them disappear around the hallway corner with a slight ache in his heart, which began snowballing in strength. CT-1 was losing an XO. He was losing his trusted second-in-command and closest confidante. Tyris Iecen, Sam’s replacement, was none of those things. What kind of leader was Habraum Nwosu without her by his side? He almost didn’t want to know the answer, suddenly feeling alone and afraid.

By the Twins, you soppy squit
, he chided,
Sammie’s leaving to head another CT, not departing Union Space
. Shaking his head, the Cerc headed back inside. In the kitchen, he found his son glowering into their fridge. Clearly, acquiring healthy snacks wasn’t Jeremy’s forte.

“Ollrigh’!” The Cerc scooped Jeremy up over his shoulder, much to the youngster’s squealing delight. “Here’s the plan. Homework after your snack.” Jeremy groaned loudly, and Habraum promptly shushed him. “Then dinner. After that, you can either doodle around in your Spacepedia thing or watch some holoview before bedtime. Sound good?” He turned his head around to see Jeremy’s response.

Slung over the Cerc’s shoulder, he nodded with an eager “yep,” probably because of the Uniopedia part.

“Okay,” Habraum beamed, “time for some apple slices!”

On Faroor’s dayside, Herope peeked over the hills bordering Thasque and began its morning climb, crimson radiance washing away all remnants of night. But morning had little effect on a megalopolis never knowing slumber. Endless veins of hovercar traffic crisscrossed over and through the city-state. Thasque’s copious rows of majestic and old-world skyscrapers constantly illuminated the cityscape. Ttaunz merchant kings and financial traders within these buildings had workdays synched with the local time of whatever Union memberworld they did business with.

Near Thasque’s epicenter stood Magnasterium, home to Faroor’s Viceroy—known to the Ttaunz as Maorridus Magnus. Grand, sprawling, and ultramodern in design, the ruby and silver government building looked more like a fortress all the way to its coppery pinnacles. Magnasterium was a symbol to all of the Old Supremacy’s past grandeur.

That symbol had never been more crucial for Faroor’s Ttaunz populace since news of the abduction cascaded across the Galactic Union at light speed. Everyone from lowborn to highborn demanded that the Farooqua be dealt with, all while looking to Magnasterium for any word of assurance from the ruling family.

That was Defense Minister Haemekk’s hope when watching Gaorr son of Maoridius Magnus address several leaders in the meeting room of Faroor’s Planetary Ministry. Even seated the Minister appeared tall and wiry, simple gold and royal-purple robes adorning his whitish pelt.

Gaorr shared his father and older brother’s look, with the pinkish pelt and long raven-black hair styled in a series of elegant braids. Regretably, any similarities ended there. “The Farooqua will pay grievously for their crimes!” he cried in fey tones. “I want ALL of their backwards tribes crushed!”

Gaorr stood at the head of the long Ministry table, donning the finest Pallanorian chael robes. His audience mostly cheered, consisting of almost every minister on Faroor’s Planetary Ministry along with the Assembly of Delegates Speaker and the leader from Faroor’s Council of Merchants. Others in the room included a few of the absent Viceroy’s principal advisers. Union Senator Praece son of Proejer, along with older counterparts Toniem daughter of Hauriq and Jaice son of Kuyver, sat across from Gaorr, their lifelike TriTran holos widecasting from Terra Sollus.

By everyone’s formal attire, this looked more highborn dinner party than crisis summit. Each male’s long hair was teased up in bird-like plumes or elegant braids. Every Ttaunz lady sported buzz cuts. Everyone had bright, button-like eyes and triangular faces. Despite small differences in skin-pelt color, robe styles, and hair—everyone looked physically faultless, thanks to mandatory genetic alteration before every Ttaunz’s ex vitro birth.

Gaorr continued with fist raised at the sea of proud homogeny, “Ttaunz and non-Ttaunz slain by the Ghebrekh must be avenged by fire and fury!”

Good. Show them your strength
, Haemekk nodded approvingly, tossing back the dark-red braid draped over his shoulder.

Several ministers roared their approval at Gaorr’s words. The Minister of Energy, Koadox son of Furaan, however, was not quite onboard. “What if your brother and that Kudoban survived?” the stout minister asked. “Will you risk their lives just to get the Ghebrekh?”

Everyone waited for an answer as the young Ttaunz stared blankly. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. Trembling, Gaorr turned imploringly to Haemekk for guidance.

Senator Praece openly guffawed. Haemekk suppressed a cringe.

“It is alright, youngling,” the Minister of Defense reassured Gaorr as he rose. “We understand your passion for Faroor and your family is...overpowering,” he took over before Gaorr looked even more the fool. “We all warned Taorr this would happen should he continue his reckless pursuit of peace with those savages,” Haemekk continued in a soft voice.

“The boy was trying to unify this planet’s two species,” Koadox shot back, his bluish pelt bristling in distaste. “How is pursuing of peace reckless?”

“When it causes senseless deaths,” Haemekk countered. “Those diplomats would still live had they not followed Taorr’s lead.” That ignited several protests from around the room. Haemekk spoke over them easily, barely raising his voice, “Despite our search efforts and those of UComm PLADECO forces stationed here, the Ghebrekh and their hostages remain cloaked from detection. At this point, we must assume the worst.”

“But…we can’t just give up,” whined Vaer daughter of Gyex, the Assembly Speaker. “Taorr is heir to the Magnal Chair. And with Maorridius on—” The impassioned female stopped in mid-sentence, stealing a terrified glance at the Union senators sitting behind Haemekk.

“On sabbatical, yes,” Haemekk covered, shooting Vaer a look of sheer loathing. He knew Maoridius Magnus’s bleating mistress couldn’t be trusted.

“No,” Senator Praece challenged, sitting upright. “Faroor needs its leader and he’s vacationing where?” The room went deathly quiet.

Haemekk sighed to hide his seething. “He searches the Ruin of the Old Supremacy for lost technology that can further Faroor’s growth.”

That silenced everyone. The Defense Minister continued, “Even if Taorr and the Kudoban envoy still live, those two are no doubt being tortured beyond recognition—given the Ghebrekh’s history.”

Several of the attendees, including a prominent Supreme Council member, reluctantly agreed with Haemekk’s assertion.
They’re mine
, he mused with satisfaction.
And Gaorr’s blunders should be mostly forgotten.

“We all know this Ghebrekh is an amalgamation of all Farooqua tribes. That makes every single one liable,” the minister said with subdued ire, resting both fists on the table. “We of the pure blood must show those savages the price of crossing the Supremacy Reborn.”

“Exterminate them all, I say!” Gaorr cried, springing back to his feet. His renewed gusto met almost no fanfare, so he quickly sat back down. Despite being second in line for the Magnal Chair, everyone knew who in this room held the real power.

“Haemekk,” an elderly Ttaunz with long silvery hair and a slight hunch spoke. Lauric son of Lautheran, key member of the Supreme Council, offered opposition now. “Though I want to skewer every Farooqua myself, it is not wise to actually do so.”

Sitting next to Haemekk, Gaorr childishly mimicked Lauric. The Defense Minister could have backhanded him for that stupidity.

“A few major planetary republics have suspended trade with Faroor due to recent events,” claimed the Minister of Finance. “Why else do you think—” He stopped and looked around in mild alarm, as did everyone else. The surrounding walls had begun to quiver violently. Items like datapads and graphic pens rattled and slid off the meeting table. Even the holograms of the three Union Senators flickered in and out several times. Haemekk’s mouth twisted in distaste.
Another skyquake.

Everyone silently clung to their seats. Skyquakes were so common nowadays they had become mere nuisances. A few macroms later, it subsided and everyone adjusted their attire as if nothing happened.

“As I was saying, why else are our stock markets in freefall?” Lauric continued. “It behooves us all to consider the potential backlash of such measures.”

“I care not of what the rest of the Union thinks.” Haemekk’s eyes narrowed. “Our future leader is possibly dead, an unforgivable affront to Faroor’s ruling house. By
Ttaunz
hands, the Farooqua will pay.”

“We knew you would do something this ill-advised, Haemekk,” Senator Toniem cut in with singsong relish. The room’s halolights gleamed off her short, spiky red hair and violet pelt. “There will be no reprisal against any Farooqua tribe until Taorr and the Kudoban are found either dead or alive.”

Shock trembled through the room. The Defense Minister faced the Union Senator with a dagger-like gaze, seething. “
What
?” he venomously drew out the word.

Jaice chimed in, “This is a Galactic Union mandate. The UComm was already deploying a special-ops team to handle the Ghebrekh. Due to this crisis, their arrival has been moved up.”