Damir
I only went to Uraz skulking with my tail between my legs because of Pandora and my brood. Luckily the old bastard didn’t make me beg much for the position. Before going to Sekhmet-delta, I determined to find Barney first. Ammar and Firuza were somewhat happily “mated” and my old friend offered to take Firuza on a honeymoon of sorts. They weren’t acting as traditional mates but I was beginning to think that Firuza was at least fond of Ammar which given her situation was the best she could hope for.
They hurried out to the last known location of our ship. Barney wasn’t on it. There were no signs that his body was on board either. So the child wasn’t dead. At least that’s what I hoped. I had to wait a day or two more for Ammar to complete his investigation. Apparently Firuza was enjoying the structured adventure. I suspect that she found a way to wrap Ammar tightly around her claws.
When I heard from Ammar again, they’d found an energy signature from a Devoran ship. I could hardly believe a Devoran would find reason to be out that far in space, but he left me to contact the ambassador to find out which ships were in the sector. Not a problem since I’d be going to Sekhmet-delta. The Devorans controlled Sekhmet-beta. I decided against telling Uraz I planned to contact them. The less the senator knew about my search for Barney, the better off I would be.
After throwing my weight around about my new appointment as Commander of the Xanflorae Planets, the Devoran official was surprised that I wanted to meet. Devorans. They always have this smug way about them, as if they’re better than you because they can crawl inside each other’s heads as if that’s anything to brag about in the first place. I was forced to admit that I had arranged the meeting without consulting Senator Uraz to which the Devoran official smiled and promised to send the best diplomat he had available. His smug smile and glassy eyes unnerved me so I ended our communication without further questioning.
In the event that Ulugbek refused to give up his position, Taurean custom called for me to duel him. Uraz outfitted me with a U-corp war class ship, about five times as expensive as my trading vessel and brand new. It required a five man crew to run, larger than most of our vessels, and as commander, I could promote whomever I wanted to.
Ammar would be my first officer after moving Firuza into his estate on Tau IX, nearby her father but as lady of her own house. Soon after, an egg brood would be expected of them but I had no interest in hearing the dirty details of how Ammar would accomplish such a thing.
Before that, I had my pick of soldiers. Uraz insisted I appoint Oybik my acting first officer which I agreed to without question. Oybik wasn’t Uraz’s strongest son, but he had the most just heart and I knew he wouldn’t tell his father about our detour to Devor. Stirring up more loyal men was not difficult. The Ul’Had family is extensive and my father himself was already boasting amongst our clan about his “favorite” son’s appointment.
I couldn’t help but scoff when my youngest twin sisters sent word of my father’s apparent change of heart toward me. Rather than point out how he’d treated me like a leper for years, I got in touch with the old man and asked him to send me three worthy cousins who could make it on the outskirts of the sector. He sent Rha’tl, Mardik and Phemir, who I had never met. They were from my aunt Zamara’s brood, my father explained.
It didn’t matter. The men were there by evening and they were strong, but better trained for simulated combat than work in the field. They’d lose their green edge soon enough. We left Uraz’s compound and set forth towards the outskirts of our star system where the Sekhmet planets orbited the dwarf star — smaller, colder and invisible from the planet Tau. Our journey was swift, only a few days. As we approached the rendezvous point with the Devoran crew from Sekhmet-beta, I was the strongest that I’d been in weeks. Firuza’s claim about Pandora being on Sekhmet-delta must have been true.
The Devorans were on time. We detected their ship once they were a few minutes away and I had the men running drills the entire time, just in case. I didn’t want to be foolish and take my chances with the race of blue-skinned telepaths. Uraz hadn’t given me much information about the region’s conflicts and since my primary mission was tracking down the ship that might have initiated contact with Barney.
Once their ship was ten minutes off, Oybik made a startling announcement.
“Commander Ul’Had…”
“Yes, my man.”
“I thought you might want to know the ship approaching us is the Devoran Royal Transport.”
“With the King?”
“I can’t tell. Their telepathic shield is up and we can’t detect any definitive signs of life.”
“Trust me, a ship that huge can’t fly itself. I’ll send them a message once they’re closer. Thank you Oybik.”
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
We were alone on the bridge and my cousins worked other parts of the ship. I could tell Oybik wished to be frank with me, but if he wanted casual conversation he’d have to make a request.
“Permission to speak freely?”
“Yes, Oybik.”
“Why are we meeting with the Devorans? Have you read the report on this sector.”
“No, I haven’t read it, Oybik. Like I said, I don’t have much of a head for politics and we’re not here on behalf of Sekhmet-delta.”
“But Captain…”
“Enough, Oybik. You’ll catch me up on the politics later. I need to send a message to the Prince.”
“Or Princess,” Oybik chimed in.
I glared at him and he avoided my gaze after that. I sent a message to the Devoran ship but received no response until their ship hovered over ours in space. I was surprised they didn’t empty their waste chutes over our ship because they otherwise paid no heed to decorum when it came to our vessel. A voice boomed across our ship.
“Commander Damir, we invite you aboard the transport vessel.”
“Thank you, I would like to accept your —
Before I could finish my sentence, their teleportation sequence began and I rematerialized in a waiting room on the Devoran ship. Despite my furrowed brow and steam rushing out of my nostrils, I tried to maintain an air of calm.
“Hello, I am Commander Damir…”
<<We know you, Damir…>>
The female standing across from me stared at me with intense yellow eyes that seemed to glow with a perpetual rage. Devorans made me uneasy and even more so when they crept into my head.
“If you will excuse me, I would prefer to speak out loud.”
“Of course. Welcome to our vessel. I am Dhara, Princess of Devor and this is Ambassador Hephaestus.”
“I am Commander Damir of the Xanflorae Planets. Uraz recently appointed me supervisor of the planets in this sector.”
“Right. Including Sekhmet-delta, then.”
“Yes. However, I have to admit that I have not come on business pertaining to the planet. The matter I’ve come to attend to is trivial in comparison, I’m sure.”
Dhara gave me a knowing telepaths smile, her eyes in possession of a mischievous glint.
“What matter is that, Damir?”
Her voice was surprisingly deep for a woman’s, but that wasn’t all that unnerved me about the princess. She was nearly as tall as I was and her body was strapping with muscles that bulged from her silver tunic. If it weren’t for her white hair wrapped in elaborate braids or the silver tiara upon her head, I might not have taken her for a woman. She scowled. I remembered that Devorans were rumored to have the ability to read minds.
I gulped and sighed.
“I was once in possession of a trading vessel that I flew through the Aries system. While there, an incident occurred where I lost a valuable member of my crew. Two of them really. I have reason to believe a Devoran ship came into contact with the vessel and I wanted to speak to an official about getting a list of ships that flew through the system so I could hunt down my crew member.”
Dhara smiled.
“You are a more diplomatic man than you think you are, Damir.”
So she could read my thoughts. Lovely. I huffed a plume of steam in frustration. Couldn’t she just read my mind then and leave this whole messy business of muddling through what I wanted behind?
“Thank you, Princess.”
“I believe I can do better than what you’re asking. However, I want to speak with you about matters that are more important to me.”
“We both have something the other wants. I believe that’s the basis of a good negotiation, no?”
Dhara flashed me a thin-lipped smile.
“You are very much like our own males, Damir. I’m not sure if I like it.”
While she was blunt, I was pleased that the princess was at least honest. Unlike with Firuza, I didn’t have to question her. She was subtle and appeared to keep most of her thoughts to herself, but she didn’t care for pampering me or pretending that we weren’t opponents.
“Whether you like me or not, Princess Dhara, I’m willing to hear your proposition.”
“I believe I may have information about the crew member you’re looking for.”
“You sound awfully uncertain.”
Dhara smiled again.
“How much do you know about the position you’re inheriting in the Sekhmet planets and the condition of the Xanflorae?”
“Can’t you answer that question by digging around in my head?”
Dhara looked aghast, but her smirk quickly crept back across her face.
“Fine. I’ll admit that we know you’re ignorant. Far more ignorant than Oybik, your acting first mate.”
For a simple diplomatic mission, the Devorans sure had done a lot of reconnaissance. I’d jumped straight into Uraz’s position without investigating and for the first time, I wondered if I’d gotten in over my head.
“Since you have already accessed my every thought, feel free to be forward with your request.”
Dhara nodded and her ambassador, who had been quiet before hand, stepped forward. He was larger than the princess and taller than her, but somehow managed to appear more demure. His ashen silver hair was only shoulder length and his eyes were small and amber rather than that troubling gemstone color of Dhara’s. His voice was measured and authoritative, perfect for a diplomat. And unlike Dhara he managed to disguise the unsettling truth that he could read your thoughts as well as his own.
“Honorable Commander,” Hephaestus began with his soothing bass voice, intended to put even the most vicious Taurean commander at ease with its warmth, “The Princess Dhara and I humbly express our gratitude at your agreeableness on this diplomatic journey.”
I nodded.
“I am thankful to you as well,” I mumbled awkwardly.
Whenever things took a turn toward the political, I lost some of my confidence.
“Before we discuss the status of your missing crew member, we would humbly request that our urgent business take first priority as it concerns not only your crew member but the livelihoods of an entire planet of innocent civilians.”
“Go on.”
“Senator Uraz installed Ulugbek as the Captain of the three Sekhmet planets currently under possession of the Taurean council members held under the Treaty of the Xanflora Peoples that the native civilians on that planet would be permitted to self-govern as long as they obeyed the rules and laws of Taurean society.”
“I was not familiar with such a treaty, I confess.”
If Hephaestus was was offended or appalled at my ignorance with regards to the treaties of the very place I was supposed to command, he did not show it.
“Don’t worry,” Dhara consoled, “Most Taurean commanders are in a similar position to yourself.”
Her smile was notably condescending in contrast.
Hephaestus waited for us to fall silent before he continued.
“For your viewing Commander, we have explicit and objective documentation of what happened on Sekhmet-delta, the planet with the biggest crisis right now.”
He handed me a thin white electronic pad. I held it without reading, but staring intently at it. This was pure politics and I had a feeling I wouldn’t get any information out of them about Barney unless I played their game properly.
“Captain Damir, six months ago, Uraz and Ulugbek conspired to break the Treaty of the Xanflora Peoples and Ulugbek sold 80% of their lands illegally to U-Corp, the corporation owned by the senator. To explore their options, the people of Sekhmet-delta conferenced with the Crown Prince, Titan, and his wife the Duchess Ariana to explore their future options. Since that meeting, these innocent people have been defenseless against Taurean raiders and an expansion of deforestation and mining services on their planet. Their natural habitat has been destroyed and an extinction event unlike any geologists could have predicted threatens to destroy their planet in a few short years.”
“What Uraz and Ulugbek have done is not legal. Perhaps you should consider bringing this to the council,” I grumbled, another frustrated plume of steam exiting my nostrils. My tail flicked back and forth against my will.
“Captain Damir, your wisdom in this matter is something we recognize, but we have already attempted contact with the council and each time they have denied our request. Over the issue of Sekhmet-delta, three council members have resigned. Mul’had, Amir and Durik. It’s all in the document.”
My hearts thudded in my chest once he named the resigned council members. These weren’t men like Uraz. They were honorable councilmen and even if I didn’t live in the star systems under their control, they were noted for their kindness and beloved not despite their wealth but because of it. For these three members to leave their posts as senators led me to believe Uraz had been a part of some big conspiracy to push them out. That was why he cycled in fresh blood — people like me who had reason to be loyal to him without question.
Uraz practiced an old tactic. You keep the doors revolving so no dissenters have the time to infiltrate the ranks and get the wrong idea about revolt. Taurean despots had been doing so for five thousand years and apparently my benefactor followed in their footsteps. My frustration turned into anger.
“I don’t see what this has to do with me. I am under strict orders from the senator and defying them will leave me dead and Uraz will continue to do what he’s always done.”
Hephaestus nodded as if he understood me, but even the telepath couldn’t hide his every facial tic.
“I understand and we believed that you would say that. Perhaps you would be moved if you saw the conditions civilians were forced to live under at Sekhmet-delta.”
“Perhaps, but then again, perhaps not. Do your people not believe that all of mine are savages? Let me prove it to you. But before I prove myself as an uncaring profiteer, I want the information I came here for.”
Dhara’s eyes changed into a brilliant yellow which didn’t rattle me. She was a female, after all. She might have been a giant one, but that didn’t mean I would cower. I huffed a more indimidating and hot plume of steam and as the Devorans coughed, I produced amused clicks low in my throat.
By the time the steam cleared, Dhara glowered and Hephaestus strained to keep his cool.
“Commander Damir, perhaps you would not be so cavalier if you knew what information we possessed,” he replied, his voice chilled.
“Spit it out then. I’m tired of waiting and I have a military assignment. Uraz does not even know I am here. The last thing he would want is me endorsing treason.”
“We have the human child that you’re searching for.”
“Here? On this ship?”
Dhara scoffed, “No! Not on this ship. Do you think we’re idiots? He is nearby. And safe. We wanted to know what kind of man we were dealing with before we gave him up.”
“If you’re attempting to illegally harbor my crewman, that would violate the treaty between our peoples.”
Dhara sniffed, “Now the dragon understands treaties. I wonder if the Xanflorae could use some of that understanding.”
Point taken. I sighed. There was no use putting up a tough pretense with these people. I could have caused a scene on the Devoran ship, but I had a feeling this was one of those situations that called for the diplomacy Oybik was so obsessed with.
“I will hear your plea. After I’ve received the boy, I will return to Sekhmet-delta and give my own opinion of the political situation.”
“That is not acceptable to us!”
“Princess Dhara,” Hephaestus insisted, “Please, allow me to negotiate with our guest.”
Dhara stepped back, but her eyes continued to glow that hot yellow, which I expected would intimidate her typical ‘guest’.
Hephaestus flashed me an apologetic look and softened again now that he saw himself as close to getting what he wanted.
“Commander Damir, I thank you for your consideration. I want to present to you the terms of our offer.”
“By all means, present your terms.”
I enjoyed regaining my position of power, no matter how small my leverage was. If they couldn’t know how much I wanted Barney to be safe, I could maintain my upper hand.
“When you see the conditions on Sekhmet-delta we are reasonably convinced that morality will prompt you to act. If you wish to reinstate the terms of the Taurean treaty, it’s within your power.”
“By your own claim, Uraz and his cronies have managed to depose not one but three Taurean senators. What makes you think that I’ll have the power to act against them? What makes you think I’m foolish enough to be disloyal to the very senator that has appointed me?”
“You are aware of Devoran abilities, I assume, Captain?”
“Yes, I am. Too aware.”
“While we had the child Barney under our care, we learned about his experiences whether we wanted to or not. A man who cares for a child like that when it is not his own must have a kind heart.”
“Uraz has many children but to you that has made his heart no kinder.”
Hephaestus ignored my quip and continued to state the terms of his agreement.
“If you agree to support the restoration of the Xanflorae home worlds, you will have the full power of the Devoran government before you. Every soldier. Every ship. Every weapons arsenal at our disposal.”
“Why would you agree to do that? Sekhmet-delta isn’t in your territory and it would complete destroy your treaty with the Taurean government.”
“Devorans are not the people that we once were. Since the Crown Prince’s engagement and the first birth in our society in over a century, we have softened. The royal family has a clear humanitarian mandate now and a special connection to the planet in question.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, what sort of connection is that?”
“Before we speak more of these things, we want your word that after seeing the condition of the planet you will reach out to us and consider our offer. You would be doing justice to your galaxy and ensuring the legacy of your people is not destroyed by a few men possessed by immeasurable avarice.”
“I give you my word. I will observe their conditions and make my choice.”
But then, I’d have to find a way to tell my crew. Oybik might back me up. And Ammar. But any men from the Ul’Had clan were prone to the same conservative views that made them look up to Uraz as if he were a king. They would need more cajoling than pointing out matters of ethics.
“Excellent. We will have Barney transported over and if he agrees, we will send him with you.”
“Thank you.”
Hephaestus sent word to the ship and Dhara left the two of us. I was beginning to think the strapping woman hated diplomacy more than I did. She was far from what I expected of a princess. As we waited for Barney’s transport to rendezvous, I sent word back to my ship and Hephaestus offered me congealed wine which he drank without sputtering or choking as if his tastebuds were already numb to the burn like mine were.
“Commander Damir, you asked me for more information regarding the connection between Sekhmet-delta and our home world and it’s probably best for me to explain without the princess.”
“Go on.”
“A short time ago, our planet’s crisis grew interminable. We sought desperate solutions and the Prince Titan came to a realization that our planet needed a fresh infusion of DNA.”
“Devorans do not mix with others,” I replied sharply.
Hephaestus smiled, diplomatically of course, “No, we typically don’t. However given the circumstances, the species that the Prince identified was beyond suitable. They had telepathic potential, were genetically compatible and they were not involved in any of the Devoran intergalactic conflicts for the past fifteen thousand years.”
“Such a species would be rare.”
“They are. Have you heard of a planet called Terra, or Earth to some of its inhabitants?”
“You must know that I have heard of it.”
“Right. Barney.”
“Yes.”
“Prince Titan made a human from that planet his wife. Upon her arrival there was a bit of a family dispute and Princess Dhara gained custody of the new duchess after she was mated and sold her to an Arietan named Baneb.”
“I know Baneb.”
Hephaestus again, pulled back his cheeks into a quick thin-lipped smile.
“I’m certain you do.”
“How does this pertain to Sekhmet-delta?”
“During her travels, the new duchess met a female from Sekhmet-delta but eventually they parted ways. When the duchess became established in Devoran court, she remembered the kindness of the female and beseeched the court to acknowledge the plight of the Xanflorae.”
“It worked?”
“Duchess Ariana can be persuasive and even more so when she and the Prince agree on something. Ever since the birth of their second child, they have agreed on nearly everything. This quest to help the Xanflorae is because of this human. She has a heart that is unheard of in this part of the galaxy where everyone sees enamored by conquest.”
I’d never heard of a subject speak towards a monarch with such frank and unencumbered affection. His eyes sparkled rather than glowed and Hephaestus’ voice was more rapid with excitement as he spoke of the foreigner who would soon be his queen. He was right about one thing, the Devorans had changed.
After our conversation, Princess Dhara returned with two children. The first was Barney.
“Damir!”
He raced toward me and wrapped his hands around me. I hugged the boy close, lifting him up and feeling as if he were my own son as we reunited. Pandora would be so happy to see him. And I was happy too. His arms clutched around my neck tightly, resting on my ridges as he pressed his face into me.
I set him down on the ground and Barney beamed. He appeared a little pink from the cold — Devorans enjoyed unpleasant temperatures most of the time — and his hair was now down to his shoulders and worn in that wild Devoran way with braids and adornment.
Behind him, the second child edged forward. She was smaller than Barney. Dhara announced, “This is the young princess, Persephone of Devor.”
The princess bowed, her long silver hair falling in front of her face. Her eyes lacked the typical amber color of Devorans and her skin was the color of an icy lake, with dark blue veins visible beneath it.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Captain Damir,” she said softly.
“The princess is only a year old, and Barney has been keeping her company. They’ve grown to become quite fond actually. I brought Persephone over to say goodbye.”
“The princess is a year old? One year?!”
“Yes, I know. They grow up so quickly,” Dhara replied.
“Thank you for bringing the child. I request teleport back to my ship.”
“That will be arranged.”
Dhara had underestimated the little princess’s unwillingness to say goodbye to her playmate. Their tearful goodbye lasted twenty minutes. Barney kept a stiff upper lip, doing his best to remain strong.
Once we were safely aboard the ship, my crewmen had questions. I’d gone on what they believed was a simple diplomatic mission yet returned with a fully grown child. I met with Oybik and told him to answer their questions with a few curt and shallow explanations.
We laid in our course to Sekhmet-delta and I met with Barney alone to learn the truth of what had happened to my mate’s young son while he was away.
