Warrior's Valor (41 page)

“And their attempt to destroy the ecosystem isn't disruptive enough?” Dwyn took a step forward, and Emeron placed a hand on her arm to stop her from throttling the condescending Nerposs.

“I see that politics still reign,” Emeron said calmly. “I am prepared to work as your liaison on a few nonnegotiable conditions.”

Nerposs pulled his bushy eyebrows into a homogeneous black line. “Conditions? Explain.”

“You will find out who
personally
sent the high-tech bots after us and punish them for attempted murder. I'm sure you're aware that the SC forces possess two of those bots, and it wouldn't look very good if they beat you to it, would it?”

“I have already told you—”

“
Personally responsible
, the person who gave the actual order,” Emeron demanded.

“Very well.” Nerposs was obviously seasoned enough not to reveal his annoyance at being ordered around.

“Second, Ms. Izontro plans to present her report to the SC Council on behalf of her employer, and you will personally ensure her safety, by any means necessary, before, during, and after she's written it.”

“I cannot be responsible for what happens to Ms. Izontro once she leaves Corma,” Nerposs objected, clearly irritated.

“Hopefully, Ms. Izontro will use Corma as her home base from now on, so you will have plenty of opportunity to ensure her safety.” She was careful not to look at Dwyn as she spoke. They hadn't talked about the future, at least not in that many words, but she wanted nothing more than for Dwyn to stay with her.

Nerposs looked ready to implode at Emeron's last statement. “Very well. Of course Corma will benefit from having a person of Ms. Izontro's courage and expertise.”

Dwyn coughed, and Emeron was briefly afraid that her lover would explode into a fit of laughter at the minister's forced words.

“I will shortly return to the Disian village that the crash devastated,” she said. “I will convey your thoughts and ideas to the elders.”

“Commander D'Artansis,” a woman to the far right said, “let the Health and Social Department know when you go back. We would like to send whatever aid you might require.” This minister sounded both caring and sincere.

“Thank you. I will.” Emeron nodded gratefully. “The Disians are a formidable people, but they need help.”

“You can page my office any time you require assistance.”

Emeron listened to a few more polite niceties, but knew she had gone as far as she could this time. She would gradually grow into this new role, and with Pri's help, she would also be able to embrace her Disian legacy. Briijn had taught her many things, but she knew she had only begun to understand the mysteries of her culture.

They told the ministers good-bye, and once outside the impressive structure, Dwyn drew a deep breath. “Politicians,” she muttered.

“I know.” Emeron walked toward the commercial hovercraft where the pilot waited. Inside, she pulled off the headpiece, grimacing as she rubbed her neck. “Not quite used to wearing this stuff.”

“You look stunning.” Dwyn kissed her softly on the lips. “Absolutely wonderful.”

“Thanks.” She leaned into the gentle caress. “Normally, I could care less about exterior beauty, but your compliments mean something.”

“That's just it.” Dwyn smiled. “Your inner strength and beauty make it possible for you to do justice to garments like these. You seem proud of your heritage for the first time.”

She sobered. “Yes. I've failed my grandmother and all she taught me for so many years.”

“Don't.” Dwyn shook her head vehemently. “You needed time to let things fall into place. We all live our life at our own pace. This is your destiny, and you've assumed this role with grace. All the knowledge of the intricacies of Cormanian and SC politics you've gained during your years as a commander will be an advantage.”

“And I won't resign my commission.”

“Smart move.” Dwyn rested against her as the hovercraft circled the block in order to reach the air corridors. “Now that we've settled that, what about the fact that you told the ministers you hoped I'd work from Corma in the future?”

“Yes.”

“If my imagination isn't playing tricks on me, that answers my earlier question, doesn't it?” Dwyn sounded certain, but still looked worried.

“Yes.” She tipped Dwyn's head back. “Dwyn. I love you. I can't imagine life without you.” The words were simple and direct, but Dwyn's tears were all it took for her to realize how strong Dwyn's own feelings were.

“I love you.” Dwyn threw her arms around her neck. “And I don't ever want to leave you.”

“Good. Then stay.” The hovercraft ascended to the tenth-level air corridor above the clouds, and the sun's rays poured over them. Dwyn's hair ignited with highlights of silver that made it shimmer like a live entity. Emeron stroked the silken tresses. “Stay.”

“Oh, Emeron. Of course I'll stay.” Dwyn held her even closer. “For as long as you want me to.”

“Forever.”

“Yes. Forever.”

Kellen was sitting in bed when Rae returned to their quarters, propped up against the headboard with a portable computer console on her lap. Rae stood still just inside the doorway, for a moment enthralled by the beautiful, strong woman who was her wife. She had never met anyone quite like her, and she knew with complete certainty that she never would.

“Writing your report already, darling?” she asked as she began to unfasten her uniform jacket.

Kellen smiled faintly. “No. I've already done that. I checked my correspondence from Revos Prime. It's very encouraging. The Gantharian refugees are making great progress, and several teams are considered deployable already.”

“Excellent.” Rae slid her pants off and hung them on a chair by the view port. “Ayahliss and Armeo asleep?” The domestic normalcy of the question struck her as slightly surreal after everything that had taken place in the Disi-Disi forest.

“Yes. Armeo had a hard time settling down. He chatted about every topic he could find until I told him he wouldn't have anything left to share with us tomorrow unless he went to sleep.” Kellen tucked her computer away on a table next to the bed. “Ayahliss was probably completely drained. She retired right after dinner.”

“So, it's just us old folks?” Rae winked and removed the rest of her clothes.

Kellen looked at her with darkening eyes. “Old? Who's counting years when you do that?”

“Do what?” Rae feigned innocence and slid into bed. “I'm tired, but not
that
tired.” She pulled Kellen on top of her and kissed her with all the passion and love in her heart. Kellen's hands roamed along her body, igniting small flames on her skin.

“I'm so happy,” Kellen whispered. “So happy we're all together again.”

“So am I. It frightened me to think I might lose my mother just when we were...you know—”

“Beginning to know each other as mother and daughter, rather than merely as accomplished women.”

“Yes.” Rae was thankful Kellen rarely needed extensive explanations. She lovingly caressed Kellen's smooth skin and laced her fingers through her hair. “Now, what are you thinking about? You have that certain look in your eyes. You're brooding, darling.”

“I…” Kellen sighed. “I'm concerned about how long I'll be able to harness this urge, no, this need for revenge. When I'm in this environment, with a clear command structure, it's not difficult to stay in control. But down on Corma, in the forest, it was a different matter.”

“How so?”

“I acted on impulse, and when I fought White, I didn't want merely to win, but to finish her. I try to teach Ayahliss the art of self-restraint and yet my feelings rampage in me, especially when you and Armeo are in danger, and I have hardly any control.” Kellen lowered her face, then met Rae's gaze again.

“You're not being fair to yourself. You've come a long way since you fired on my ship a year ago. You've gained a commission as a lieutenant commander on your own merits, and nobody has had anything but good to say about your conduct.” Rae held up her hand to forestall any protests. “I know your demons haunt you. I know that better than anyone else. You're handling them, darling. You are. And it will get easier.” Rae brushed her lips over Kellen's. “Trust me.”

“I trust you.”

“Good. I'd never lie to you.”

“I know. You're very honest.” Kellen kissed along her neck, murmuring words between the caresses. “And I want you. Now.”

“Oh, my.” Rae knew she didn't want anything more than to give herself to Kellen, let her take her to that place where they forgot everything except each other. “I love you.”

“And I love you, Rae.” Kellen moved in between her legs, making her whimper, a sound nobody but Kellen had ever heard from her.

This moment was theirs alone, and for these precious minutes of ecstasy, nothing was wrong anywhere in the universe.

*

Kellen sat up, hearing the door to the living-room area hiss open. She hadn't fallen asleep yet. She kept mulling over the reports relayed from the SC Command. As their Gantharian subject-matter expert, she had spent the last three days on the
Dalathea
studying the intel she had missed regarding her homeworld.

The resistance movement on Gantharat reported that the Onotharians had instituted worldwide sanctions against the Gantharian population. Medication and food rations were in short supply as it was, and this development was alarming, if not surprising. Kellen knew that dictatorships customarily employed this punishment, and she worried for her world.

Now she rose, concerned as to who might have entered their private quarters. She quickly pulled on pants and a shirt and entered the living area, which was empty. A quick glance into Armeo's bedroom showed the boy asleep, his feet on the pillow and the blankets on the floor.

She glanced into Ayahliss's room and found it empty. The bathroom was empty too. Frowning, she ran barefoot into the corridor just in time to see a lithe figure turn a corner at the end of it. Kellen sprinted after her, nonplussed at what she might be up to, but when she turned the same corner, Ayahliss was already inside the quick-lift. Kellen called her name, but the doors were closing. Checking the computer console next to the lift, she saw that Ayahliss was going to the twenty-second floor. She frowned, wondering what she might be up to, and as she caught the next lift, she knew the answer.
M'Ekar
.

Kellen had no weapons, but she was grateful she still wore her ID bracelet. It would identify her to any of the guards and make it easier, she hoped, to catch up with Ayahliss. Why was she doing this? Was it because of her perceived helplessness at the kidnapping, or because she had felt useless while Rae and she were in the Disi-Disi forest rescuing Dahlia?

The lift stopped at the twenty-second floor, and Kellen knew she was at the right one. An unconscious guard lay just outside the lift. She checked his pulse and respiration quickly and determined that he was merely knocked out. Cursing Ayahliss under her breath, she ran toward the prison infirmary. Another downed guard by the door leading into the outer perimeter told of Ayahliss's presence. This guard was also unconscious, and Kellen kept moving forward through the corridors. A nurse on duty poked her head out. “Yes? Can I help you?”

“Have you seen a young woman, a civilian, run through here?”

“A young woman? Here? Of course not.” The nurse looked almost offended that Kellen would ask such a question.

“I am Lt. Commander Kellen O'Dal. Let me through the doors to the locked area. She must have sneaked in there.”

“I most certainly think you must be wrong, Commander... Did you say O'Dal, ma'am?” The nurse stopped gesturing and looked more closely. “Oh, ma'am, I'm so sorry. I didn't recognize you.”

“Now that you do, will you open the door?” She tried to remain calm, when all she wanted was to open the first weapons' locker available and blast a hole in the door unless the nurse didn't stop gushing over her and open it.

“Of course, of course, ma'am...Protector.” The nurse pressed her ID bracelet against a sensor and performed a retina scan. The door clicked open. “When I think of it, if this person of yours was sneaky, she could have hidden behind the orderly who went inside to help restrain a patient just a moment ago.”

“Thank you. I'll take it from here. Carry on.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

The door closed behind Kellen and she ran, her feet growing colder by the second, hoping to get to M'Ekar before Ayahliss did. Luckily she knew where the former ambassador's room was and Ayahliss didn't.

Or so she thought. Around the next bend, a heavy-set man lay unconscious with several colleagues gathered around him.

“Did you see who did this?” she demanded as she approached them.