If this doesn’t work, you must avenge my demise, Desmond.” Hox M’Ekar, the former Onotharian ambassador, glowered at his manservant.
“Don’t worry, Your Excellence. Kyakh, who sold me the device, assured me it’s foolproof.”
“Let’s not waste any time then. No matter how infallible this procedure is, it’ll still alert the SC law enforcers. The chip emits signals on a regular basis, and if it’s shut off, they’ll appear like hawks from the sky.”
“We’ll be gone from Jasin long before then.” Desmond looked convinced, but given the man’s youth, M’Ekar wasn’t inclined to take his optimistic statement at face value. “Kyakh owns a nearly brand-new Legacy-class vessel, the Viper, perfect for escaping SC space. Once we’ve captured that Jacelon woman, Kyakh will fly us successfully across the border to intergalactic space in less than three days. The SC has never intercepted the Viper.”
“I hope you’re correct, young man.” M’Ekar rose and rubbed his neck, a habit he had begun the day that damn SC doctor implanted the lethal microchip in his spinal cord. If he strayed outside his designated area on this godforsaken, mosquito-infested planet, the microchip would receive a signal that released a minuscule amount of a highly lethal substance. It would kill him within a few hours, unless any of the law-enforcement forces that carried the antidote found him.
“I would never trick you, Your Excellence.”
When M’Ekar had promised Desmond a glorious career as one of his most trusted aides, the young man had quickly capitulated. M’Ekar’s guardian-turned-accomplice wouldn’t join him in his escape, however. It almost saddened him to think of Desmond’s early death. It is a necessary sacrifice for me to reach the greatness I was born to enjoy. “Excellent,” he said with a nod. “How long?”
“Kyakh’s crew is three weeks away from this sector.”
M’Ekar stood, motioning Desmond closer. “Then we should prepare.” He chuckled. “Not that I have much to pack.”
Desmond suddenly looked nervous. M’Ekar knew that a lot depended on his manservant, who was probably realizing what he was undertaking. It was important to reassure him. If Desmond turned on him, M’Ekar wouldn’t know how to get in touch with this Kyakh. He placed a fatherly hand on his shoulder. “What would I do without you, son? You have proved that you’ll make a fine aide de camp.”
Desmond appeared more self-confident. “Thank you, Your Excellence. I look forward to serving with you.”
M’Ekar wondered if the sting he felt was one of remorse at the hopeful and admiring expression on Desmond’s face, but shrugged it off. People were useful for a moment, and when they weren’t—they were expendable.