There was lots of yelling, lots of growling and lots of snarling—from Kede, of course—and all Joyce could do was stare at the damned comm pad. Well, the comm pad and the tall purple alien standing before her. She was pretty sure he was smiling. Maybe. He had this whole mouth tightening thing going. He was either smiling or he had to take a crap. Assuming Ailone crapped. If they didn’t, where did everything go?
She turned her attention back to the pad in her hands and then shoved it at the tall male. “Here, take it back. Stick your happy hand in there and change it.” He didn’t take the device and she pushed it at him again, even going so far as to snag his hand and place it on his palm herself. “Undo it. Work your magic mojo, dammit.”
She sorta assumed no one was paying attention to her and were too busy screaming at each other to notice her.
She’d been wrong. So very, very wrong.
Because she gave the Ailone an order, he did the hissing chuckle thing, and everyone froze. Still forcing the alien to hold the stupid pad, she turned her attention to the gathered males. She let her gaze slowly encompass the room and finally settled on Kede.
Man, she had no idea his eyes could go that wide. Huh.
“Joyce?”
She felt Ailone wiggle his hand and she squeezed his wrist tighter. He was not getting away until he took it back. “Yeah?”
“You should let the Ailone go.” Her harau’s words were slow and cautious as he tilted his head toward said purple guy.
“Okay, when he takes it back. Make him take it back.”
Wasn’t everyone else excited by the prospect of her not being the High Warrior?
“I do not believe she understands who I am, Doshan Tria-se.”
Joyce focused on the Ailone. “You’re the Ailone? Is there a reason you don’t have a name? I understand the whole ‘Doshan Tria-se’ and ‘Terran Asshole’ thing. You’re just Ailone.”
“I am the Ailone,” the alien returned.
Do they not name their babies on their planet? What was up with that?
Purple guy chuckled and she narrowed her eyes. “It’s rude to read someone’s mind without their permission.”
Kede gasped and it seemed as if everyone held their breaths.
“My harae, please.”
“Do you know, I think that’s the first time you’ve ever said ‘please’ to me?”
“Joyce…” he hissed at her.
That was her harau.
“You are not some snake-alien. Quit hissing at me. I’m dealing with a lot of panic here and you people are not letting me take some me-panic-time. I see a mental breakdown in my future.” She felt as if her heart would burst from her chest any moment. Splat and there it was. Maybe Ailone could save her the trouble and just take it out now.
Of course, that Ailone chuckling again.
Purple alien bastard.
More chuckles.
That had her focusing on Ailone again. “Look, it’d be really great if you could wiggle your fingers and pick someone else.”
She ignored the fact that her eyes burned and her throat hurt and it really felt like her lungs decided working was so a thing of the past and no longer necessary. She fought for air, fought to get her body to do something already, but it wasn’t happening.
Ailone bent to her level, lowering himself to a single knee before her. Everyone gasped and she figured she’d done something else wrong. She hadn’t said fuck so they could go fuck themselves.
Oh God, the panic attack got worst. She was gonna die before she had a chance to live and there were pretty spots in her vision that meant she really should breathe.
“High Warrior Tria-se,” he murmured and wrapped one of those big purple hands around the back of her neck. “You must calm.”
Easy for him to say and if he laughed at her again, so help her she would come back from the dead to kick his purple butt.
“Joyce,” her name was lyrical and almost sounded like a beautiful song when he said it that way. As if her name was a symphony, it floated through the air. “You must calm.”
“Calm,” she wheezed and fought for air.
“Very good, Joyce.” Ailone’s voice still had that soul-touching quality and she ignored Kede’s strangled whine.
That did not sound good even though she was feeling good and a bolt of fear struck her.
“Do you have your hand in my brain? It’d be really great if you said no.” Like, really, really great.
“No, we are merely speaking.”
“Oh, talking. Talking I can do. I can also do this thing where you take it back.” She replied hopefully.
“They have chosen the correct Doshan, Joyce.”
“Are you sure?” she whined and didn’t care that she sounded like a baby.
“Joyce,” Kede hissed at her. “We do not question the Ailone.”
She narrowed her eyes and glared at her harau. The male had soothed her panic attack. The least Kede could do was call the man by his name. That was just rude.
“Doshan Tria-se, be calm. She does not understand and I find that I appreciate her honest reactions.” Ailone smiled.
“Why don’t we question you?” She raised her eyebrows. If she wasn’t allowed to ask questions they needed to tell her why.
“I am the Ailone.”
“Okay.” Yeah, that told her nothing.
“Joyce, he is the Ailone.” Kede tried and she sighed. He obviously understood her lack of comprehending and tried again. “There is the race of Ailones. They hail from the Planet Ail. This is the Ailone.”
She tilted her head to the side and furrowed her brow. “Like those old Scottish romance novels? The clans went by their last names and then their leader was The MacTavish or something?”
Please don’t let that be true. Please. Because then her day just got better because she’d been treating the leader of a fucking planet as if he were just a normal person, er, alien.
“That is correct High Warrior Tria-se.” Ailone, the Ailone, answered her.
“Fuck me sideways,” she grumbled, Kede snarled, and the Ailone released his huffing laugh.
Joyce sighed. “I’m gonna have to be serious and deal with this, aren’t I? I mean, you’re looking at a glorified secretary who barely managed to survive chocolate. In the grand scheme of things…”
“In your grand scheme of things, these males who have trained since they were younglings feel you have surpassed them in strength, loyalty, and honor. You disrespect their choice and their beliefs with your objection.” The Ailone continued, making her feel about a foot tall. “For the first time in millennia, the Doshan warriors will be heard and you will be their voice. Do not discard their wishes so easily.”
Joyce tore her focus from Ailone and turned her attention to Kede. The truth of Ailone’s words filled her harau’s gaze. Then she let her stare wander, landing on male after male, warrior after warrior, and saw that same truth on their faces.
They wanted her. Her.
“All right,” she whispered, taking the comm pad back from Ailone. “All right, I accept the responsibility with pride and pray to the bright light I am worthy of your support.”
She would work to not just give the warriors a better life, but one greater than they had ever imagined. The position was temporary, there was no telling how many warriors she’d piss off by the time she was kicked out of office, but she’d do her best while she had the chance.
She caught Councilman Riskz’s glare and she knew he’d cause her problems. All of the men from the council would.
Let them. Let them come after her and then they would see the power these warriors held. They would no longer be hindered by biased councilmen and an archaic hierarchy.
The only thing that would hold them back was themselves and she was pretty sure they’d learn how to get out of their own way pretty quickly.
Especially if she managed to bring her ideas to life.
She clutched the comm pad to her chest, no longer willing to release the representation of her new position.
“Ailone, if I may make a request of the Planetary Coalition.” She figured she should be respectful and shit, now that she decided to keep the job. Of course, she should probably keep her thoughts respectful since he could read those thoughts. But she’d already thought it and it was too late to make a good impression now.
The still kneeling, still huffing, alien finally replied. “The Planetary Coalition would hear the High Warrior Tria-se’s request.”
“I realize the Terrans are on shaky ground with Dosha and the PC.” —Really, PC was easier and quicker to get out than Planetary Coalition—”But the warriors would have use for them. If it is amenable, we would like to be included in some of your discussions with their leaders.”
Gah, if Ailone and the PC said yes, she would totally be talking to the president. So. Bizarre.
She sensed Ailone’s mirth, but at least he stopped laughing.
“She is not part of this council! She has not been recognized as anything more than a Doshan half-breed!” Councilman Riskz’s words rang through the silence, but a low grunt told her that her warriors had handled the problem.
Her warriors. So strong, fierce, dedicated…
“And what use would the Doshan High Warrior Tria-se have for the Terrans?”
Joyce let her gaze continue moving over the crowd, spotting Yare, Resane, and Hassee. Then further to Suthta and Moar and even… Sampson despite his black gaze that spoke of a darkened soul. Even evil could be saved with enough light, right? Except, he might need a nun to get him on the straight and narrow.
“Females, Representative Ailone.” She held the pad close to her chest and gestured with her free hand toward the councilmen. “They may accept my changes, though I’m sure they’ll fight each one. They’ll accept, but that doesn’t mean the Doshan females will. And these men,” she shook her head. “They are so very, very worthy of love. I would like them to have that chance.” Ailone opened his mouth to speak, but she kept going. She’d already been super bitchy to the male and he hadn’t ripped her heart out. This was only slightly disrespectful.
“I’m not asking to abduct women,” she narrowed her eyes at Kede and he didn’t even have the grace to look away. “But we would like the opportunity to present our case. To show the Terran females what could be had if they joined with a Doshan male. What changes their body would undergo and how their lives would be different if they joined our race.”
“And you believe the Terran females would be willing?”
Joyce remembered back to how happily she’d snuggled into Kede’s arms and nodded. “I believe they would. There would be those interested in travel, those looking for love just as these males are. Others who are interested in studying the galaxy. Not many, maybe not enough to see each male joined, but even one is better than none.”
“That is a truth I cannot argue High Warrior Tria-se.” Ailone rose to his full height and towered over her. Over her and every other male on the ship.
Damn he was big.
“The Planetary Coalition will include High Warrior Tria-se’s request in our future discussions with the Terrans.” Ailone’s voice held the same disgust as she felt when referring to her ex-planet. But if it meant her warriors were able to feel even a part of the happiness she embraced with Kede… it was worth it.
“You will have to negotiate citizenship with the council.”
Joyce almost released a whine. Almost, but did not. Didn’t mean Ailone didn’t “hear” it.
“I will reveal, High Warrior Tria-se, that the Planetary Coalition adopted a new directive during our travels.” Joyce raised her eyebrows and waited for Ailone to continue. “Any being containing even a fraction of another race’s genetic material may renounce their birth race and embrace their biological race. They are not, however, permitted to reclaim their birth citizenship. Once it is relinquished, it is gone.” Ailone’s tone brooked no argument.
She knew if a woman went so far as to leave Terra to join with a Doshan, shaking free of their Terran citizenship wouldn’t be difficult. Her heart lifted, the possibilities stretching out before her. Her friends could find happiness with a female.
“You can’t overrule a planet’s justice and government! Even the Planetary Coalition cannot do that.” Councilman Haspava cut through the ensuing silence and drew Ailone’s attention.
“You are correct, Doshan Haspava.”
Joyce’s gut clenched. Was their chance at joy already snatched from them?
“You are correct, and yet you are not.” Ailone padded to the center of their wide circle, his focused gaze traveling over the gathered males. “We cannot force your people to accept other beings without cause.” She didn’t miss Councilman Haspava’s smug smile.
Dickhead.
“We can, however, point out that as part of the treaty with the Planetary Coalition you agreed to provide sanctuary to other coalition races. We are simply ensuring that these refugees are treated as citizens as they truly are.”
“Then we will outlaw conversion,” Riskz snapped back and Ailone flashed his alien smile. “We won’t allow anyone to skirt the law.”
It was really kinda creepy.
“Which is your right.”
Joyce almost collapsed, seeing her brief victory fading fast.
“Yet I would like to bring your attention to one point of interest. Doshan Resane?” Everyone’s gaze swung to the medico and she noted his unnatural stillness. She didn’t think she’d ever seen a warrior unnerved.
Then again, after watching Ailone stick his hand in Wardsen’s head, she could see how he was a little scary.
“Yes, Ailone?” Resane eased into the circle. “How does the Planetary Coalition have need of me?”
“When High Warrior Tria-se boarded the Vehly, what actions were taken?”
Resane frowned and Joyce wrinkled her nose in embarrassment, remembered the day clearly. She replayed the hurt toe and Kede and leaking and no probing but yes to the panic. And… genetic testing?
Ailone turned to her. “Yes, that is the aspect I wish to discuss.” He looked at Resane. “You performed genetic testing on High Warrior Tria-se.”
“Yes, Ailone.”
“And you discovered…”
Resane’s frown slowly cleared, a grin gradually splitting his lips. “That she was a very close match to our genetic code. It is what led me to believe she would be able to carry Doshan young. Terrans have code that matches ours. It is not in excess, but it was enough to allow full conversion without difficulty.”
Joyce narrowed her eyes at Ailone. “You are a sneaky bastard.” Once again the room held its breath and she huffed. “You guys need to really stop thinking he’s gonna pop my head off.”
“I am considered very dangerous and deadly. I command the most skilled army in the known galaxies. We can penetrate any race’s defenses.” Ailone huffed back at her.
She snorted. “Coat your hand in chocolate and we’ll talk. The point is I don’t have to get permission from anyone to send out a Terran wide invitation, do I? And they can outlaw conversion all they want because we’re all Doshan at heart anyway. It’s not a conversion so much as accelerating evolution.”
She glanced at the councilmen and she wondered if Resane should whip out one of his little scanny things. Riskz looked like he was gonna have a heart attack.
Ailone smiled. “No, you do not need their permission, but it would be best.”
When had she ever done anything easy?
Never. The answer was never.