Damir
I didn’t like the way she spoke to me. I didn’t like the disdain in her large mammalian eyes, or the way her scowl reminded me of what had been nagging beneath the surface. How could I have ended up in this position? A man who has despised politics his entire life, now stuck between making an impossible choice. I could have the status in Taurean society than any normal male would have killed for, but at the cost of my principles and my mate.
It isn’t typical for mates to walk out on males in our culture but it’s within their rights to do so and I would be forbidden from pursuing her again — as is our custom. Hephaestus awaited me on the bridge with Oybik and Ammar. I hadn’t sent my cousins home yet, so they ran the ship, unaware of the Devoran delegation on board or what we were about to consider. Oybik figured they would report our actions to his father given the chance. I kept Oybik and Ammar as ignorant as possible. If I’d learned one thing from bringing the issue to Pandora, it was that the fewer people involved in this choice, the easier it would be for me to make without having my heart strings unfairly yanked in one direction or another.
We teleported to the surface where we were met by stiff white-haired Xanflorae. I hadn’t been to this part of the system in years. I should have recognized the woman who took Pandora and Firuza immediately however. These people were our citizens, no matter how odd their customs. We were accustomed to desert lands, they considered it the end of life as they knew it.
Their eerie white eyes and brown skin was as unnerving a pair as being watched in the dark. They were mammals too, like Pandora, and those kinds were rare in our system too.
Our ancestors tried to conquer theirs but it’s written their planet fought back and roots rose from the soil and wrapped around Taurean invaders, dragging them into the ground and using them to grow their planet for centuries to come. Of course our history lectures in school often dripped with such obvious exaggeration that could be easily corrected with research into our science archives.
“Welcome to the Taurean delegation — Captain Damir, Oybik, Ammar, and Sir Hephaestus, welcome.”
The man, named Xenophon, was noticeably warmer toward Hephaestus. He had his idea of us Taureans and Xenophon did not believe I would be any different from Commander Ulugbek — who had given up his position eagerly and even left the star system. I couldn’t blame the Xanflorae for the distrust.
“We are admitting you to the surface today because as the new commander, you hold a particular position to influence both the citizens of our planet, accustomed to peace with the Taureans, as well as the Devorans. With your influence, the Taurean people will perhaps listen to our plight if the government won’t.”
“I do not know what makes you think I carry power within the government. I am not certain if your Devoran allies informed you, but I am no politician. I am a trader, appointed here by Uraz to assist him.”
“You say you are not a politician, yet you were chosen for some reason,” Xenophon said.
He led us into a giant floating egg shaped vehicle, and kept the walls translucent as we flew around the former provinces of Sekhmet-delta. Even if it had been years since I’d been to the planet, you couldn’t really forget it. The dark forests. The cold. The people running about, barely clothed and laughing. So much laughter.
This version of Sekhmet-delta was bare and when you did catch sight of the climate refugees along the roads outside the forest, they were thin and looked haggard from fighting the beasts outside the forest and from fighting back hunger.
Xenophon explained what happened to the planet in grave detail and I soaked up every word of it. Commander Ulugbek’s deforestation projects had only been implemented in the past six months or so and the extent of destruction made me angry. Our grandfathers and ancestors would have never supported action like this.
Taureans were predators but we only preyed on what had a chance of winning. Once we’d broken the treaty with the Xanflorae, they’d been doomed. I realized that as we flew past their clan villages, each one had been a resplendent celebration of a particular plant or flower, and you could smell each clan from miles and miles off. Now you could only smell roses in the distance and hot desert, too much like Tau for my liking. They’d need to move into tunnels like we had if they had any hope at surviving, I thought.
“How long will the Xanflorae survive without Devoran intervention?”
Hephaestus answered me frankly, “Only five more years.”
“Five?!”
Xenophon nodded grimly, “We’ve told the population only one more generation could survive but that isn’t precisely true.”
“So we have less time to act.”
“Yes.”
This was the last thing I needed, a deadline racing toward me, over twenty children on the way and balancing my favor amongst not only Uraz, but my people. I felt for the plight of the Xanflorae. They’d lost everything — like I’d lost my ship. Like I’d lost Pandora at one point.
We went on tour through the Rose clan’s village. The children and women hid and as I stalked through their town with Oybik and Ammar in tow, I couldn’t help but feel as if we were monsters. Their living conditions were abysmal and nothing like the opulent forest kingdoms I remembered. As commander, I’d imagined having respect, but no one looked at us with respect. Their villages stank of fear and hunger.
When the visit was done, despite not being tired, I felt a heavy, exhaustive weight pressing down on me. These people needed salvation. Once we were finished with our visit, Xenophon had thanked me — his words dripping with sarcasm — for the consideration I provided the Xanflorae cause.
Thankfully, I’d only promised consideration. The damage to this planet was too vast to fix from what I’d seen. Ammar and Oybik were beginning to grasp that the true intention of my visit may have been to deem the Xanflorae worthy of liberation. The two men appeared utterly divided on the issue. Before I made my decision, I knew it was right to take their counsel into consideration.
I couldn’t bring myself to spread the burden of determining the fate of an entire species. These creatures were not as physically tough as Taureans, but their proud civilization shared aspects of ours that long ago, our people had once been able to acknowledge.
Hephaestus teleported us from the planet to his ship. He requested conference alone, so I sent Ammar and Oybik back.
“I sense you are conflicted,” Hephaestus said once we were alone.
By ‘sensed’ I imagine he meant that he crawled into my mind and invited himself to my every thought.
“The condition of the Xanflorae is heart-wrenching.”
“Yes, you believe that. But you do not believe it is your place to do anything about it.”
I cocked an eyebrow at Hephaestus finally exposing what I’d long suspected, that he crawled into my head at his own liberty without any regard for my consent on the matter.
“Do not think I’m not sympathetic to their cause. I cannot imagine a world where my children couldn’t know my planet. Yet what you are asking me to do is all but treasonous. While senators on my planet have lost their careers, these men can manage without. They are lifelong politicians. I am a trader who is indebted to the man who gave me this post.”
“Hm. I see. You require a sweeter offer then? Barney’s freedom was not enough?”
“It is not because of your offer that I consider declining.”
“What could be more important than the lives of the less fortunate?”
I glared at Hephaestus then.
“What happened to you Devorans? You were conquerors like we were but with far less tolerance for difference. Where are the non-telepaths in your system? That’s right, you eliminated them like scum. Yes, my people have broken a single treaty, but I don’t want to be preached at by one of the most feared races in the galaxy.”
“I can see that you’re upset.”
“Yes, I’m upset. Because now the fate of my species, the entire way we’ll be judged in history will be determined by what I do. And I never wanted this. I only wanted my mate. And my freedom. And a nice big ship.”
“You can’t ignore the world around you, Damir.”
“Let me ask you something, Hephaestus.”
“Yes, Captain?”
“If I disagree. If I don’t help you. Will this affect Devoran success?”
He chuckled.
“You ask good questions, Damir. Are you sure you aren’t meant for politics?”
“Answer the question.”
“No. It will not affect us. But it may affect diplomatic relations with your planet in the future. We are giving you a chance to avoid a conflict bigger than what you’re prepared to face.”
“You mean to say more than you do.”
Hephaestus smiled but revealed no more.
“I apologize,” I said, “I do not think I can assist. My position within the Taurean system is precarious.”
“Very well, Damir. I hope history remembers you as you deserve.”
He was stiff now with none of his diplomatic charm, his typical Devoran coldness followed. These ice people were the opposite of Taureans. We were hot-blooded and passionate, fiercely loyal to our own kind, whereas the Devorans had typically been cold and logical. Even this foray into protecting another species was unusual. I’d only seen this type of senseless interest in other species’ well-being from one person — Pandora.
Saying no to her would be a hundred times harder than saying no to the blue-skinned diplomat who was already ready to usher me off his ship if not shoot me out into the dark vacuum of space. Once I returned to my ship, Ammar and Oybik awaited me to hear my decision.
“We’ll be returning to Tau in a few days to report back on the conditions to Uraz. He should know to expect trouble from the Devorans.”
Oybik shifted uneasily and opened his mouth to disagree. Ammar held his arm, holding the young man back and nodded.
“Yes, Captain.”
“We need to get medical attention for Pandora as well. We’d better take her to Tau’ro and see a mammalian specialist.”
With my new position, I’d actually afford to have a real specialist examine Pandora. We’d never want for anything. And if a few woodland people suffered, it would be unfortunate, but no responsibility of mine. I hadn’t taken anything from them. I was merely following orders and remaining loyal to the man who had given me everything — my ship, my title, my crew, and a career that was beyond unexpected.
Once I’d informed the men of my choice, I went to see Pandora again. She’d already put Barney to bed by the time I returned. She was still livid from our conversation in the morning.
“Have you made your choice?”
“I don’t want to talk of choices right now. How are you? How is your…”
Her stomach stuck out another inch. Her mobility was restricted even further and as Pandora unveiled herself, I realized how little time we had left. Her warm green veins were visible beneath the skin on her face. Her body strained to feed the immense brood that grew inside her.
“Say nothing,” she grumbled, “I want this to be over soon.”
“Yes. You don’t have much longer. I’ve ordered the men to prepare us to fly back to Tau’ro soon.”
“What about the people on Sekhmet-delta.”
“At this point in time, there’s nothing that can be done.”
“Liar.”
“Pandora?”
“You’re a liar. I can tell. You can do something but you’re choosing not to. You’re choosing to allow millions of people to die.”
“No, I am choosing loyalty to the man who gave me this position.”
“Out of the goodness of his heart, I’ll bet,” Pandora snapped.
“You don’t understand. Without Uraz, I would have never been able to retrieve Barney.”
“Without Uraz, none of this would have happened! I wouldn’t be pregnant. I wouldn’t have been kidnapped! He’s the one who caused all of this. Why be so blindly loyal to him?”
“My loyalty isn’t blind,” I growled.
“Then you are!”
“You will watch your tone?”
“Or what? I’m guessing you wouldn’t harm your precious egg brood.”
She puffed up her chest and puffed out her pregnant belly. Despite her small size, my mate was quite a force to contend with.
“I have taken the counsel of all around me and I’ve made the smartest choice, not just for us, but our future.”
“Get out,” Pandora hissed.
“Pandora, see reason…”
“Get out! And tomorrow, you will teleport me down to the surface!”
“No! These children are mine just as much as they are yours. You will come to Tau’ro with me.”
“I won’t!”
“Yes, you will!” I snarled.
A plume of hot steam caused Pandora to cough. She flailed her arms and shrieked, “You will not intimidate me Damir!”
Her hands thrust into my chest and she pushed my aside, storming out of the room, waddling as fast as her legs could carry her given her condition. I followed her until she was safe in Barney’s room, but I didn’t bother speaking to her again. She’d be angry, but surely she’d change her mind once she realized I’d done all of this for the security of our young.
That night, I could hardly sleep. I lay naked in the rich mineral dirt on the floor of my quarters and as my body temperature cooled, I remembered the first night I saw the mysterious creature in Uraz’s subterranean estate. I remembered the chill that went down my spine dealing with Firuza and her father, and that pending sense that betrayal was on the way. That feeling had never gone away. Both Oybik and my mate were right about the man I’d pledged loyalty to. From the very beginning, I’d been a part of Uraz’s game.
In the morning, I rushed to Pandora’s chamber as soon as I thought she’d be awake. She wasn’t there and neither was Barney. I pressed the intercom to speak with Oybik.
“Oybik, where is my mate and her son?” I growled.
“Captain, we should discuss this on the bridge…”
“Answer me…”
“She held us at the end of her weapon for thirty minutes ago and requested teleport to Sekhmet-delta. We were in no position to argue.”
“You sent the mother of my children to a doomed planet. What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking I don’t want to be shot in the head by a mammal,” Oybik snarled.
“Do not forget your respect, Oybik.”
“I have not forgotten my respect. Perhaps it is you who has forgotten yourself,” Oybik replied.
“I cannot leave her down on the planet. Arrange defense weapons. We’ll leave in an hour.”
“That may not be possible, Commander.”
“Why not?”
“We need you on the bridge. There’s been an urgent communication from the Senator.”
“Your father?”
“Yes. My father.”
Great, just what I needed, reporting to Uraz with a crisis on my hands. I stormed down to the bridge, filling the halls with a thick fog as I fumed over the condition of my new position. This was supposed to be an easy outpost deal — not the stopgap measure between an intergalactic war.
On the bridge, I stormed past Ammar and Oybik to the written message from Uraz — an unusual form. The message was marked for opening with only my access codes. I took the message privately on my message pad.
“Captain Damir, I have chosen you to assist in the ultimate resolution of the Sekhmet-delta conflict. Over 80% of the planet’s resources have been siphoned and to avoid further problems, I’ve sent a H-Class Missile to the planet’s core. You are to oversee total annihilation of the planet and control any nuclear warnings that may exit the atmosphere and might alert the Devorans as to our plan. By the time you receive this message, the missile will have begun its journey through space. Stand ready and clear your men off the planet’s surface. — Uraz.”
I dropped the message pad and stared out the view screen at Sekhmet-delta, the planet that would be turned to space dust and iron molecules in only twenty or so hours. Pandora was on the surface below. That foolish mate of mine had allowed her bleeding heart to carry her down to the surface and if she died…
It wasn’t just her. It was the willingness Uraz had to destroy an entire people once he’d siphoned off their resources. It occurred to me that Pandora and Oybik had warned me of the same thing. To Uraz, everyone and every thing was a resource to be sucked dry. He’d discard me when he was finished, just like the poor, pitiful planet below.
“Commander, is everything alright?”
“No, Oybik. An H-Class missile is hours away from striking the surface of Sekhmet-delta.”
“Commander Damir, permission to speak frankly.”
“Permission granted,” I whispered, running over possible solutions in my mind.
“An H-Class missile will vaporize the planet completely. We should evacuate as many women and children as we can.”
“We should obey our orders!” Ammar countered.
“No, Oybik is right,” I murmured, “We should evacuate who we can. And we should find a way to stop that bomb. This isn’t us. This isn’t who our people are.”
