Chapter 28
Rennek
Together, Kate and I make our way to Gorrard’s. Her head wrap was lost in her struggle with the slime who tried to assault her. Now her beautiful red mane is on display for all to see. I am even more on edge because of this. Males stop in their tracks when they see her. I am not worried she will be attacked again though, not with me walking by her side. I glare and growl at all those who stare and though she holds my arm tightly her features are brave and stoic. My mind is focused on all that surrounds us, but within my core I am aware of my swelling of pride--that I have such a beautiful mate on my arm, that she chose me.
When we enter Gorrard’s establishment he is not at the bar, but one of the Sivoleans nods to me and goes up the back steps. I lead Kate to the table we sat at earlier. The same female still sings on the stage nearby. She is a species I am not familiar with. Thick blue tentacles fall from the crown of her head and she sways along with her melody. It is a beautiful song.
“Do you your people dance, Kate?” I ask my mate. She raises a brow at me.
“Yeah, we dance. Do your people dance?” She asks, the surprise lacing her voice causes me to laugh.
“I do not know of my people, but I dance. Does that surprise you?” She leans back and appraises me from head to toe.
“Hmm, well I was surprised to find out there were aliens. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised there are dancing aliens,” she jokes. “But, no. I don’t think I’m surprised you dance. You’re like the perfect boyfriend--of course you dance.” She pauses to reflect. “But if you tell me Da’vi dances you’ll blow my mind.”
I chuckle at the image that brings up. “Yes, that would ‘blow my mind’ as well.” I look at my smiling Kate. It is grounding to have her by my side, it makes all that is difficult so much easier to bear.
“What is ‘boyfriend’?” I ask.
Her cheeks flush and she begins to mumble a response, but just then Gorrard emerges from the stairs and after scanning the room he heads towards our table. I stand.
“Brother,” I say in greeting and we clasp arms.
When we sit silence quickly falls upon our party. I have too many questions to know where to begin. Gorrard seems to be waiting for me to take the lead. Kate senses my hesitation and places her hand on my leg. Her touch comforts me, but I still struggle to put my questions into words. I realize I still fear what the answers will be.
“Please, can you tell us everything?” Kate asks. “From the beginning?”
“You were born after the migration then? I suspected as much, you are young still. But your father? He never told you our history?” Gorrard asks with a questioning expression.
“There was never… an opportunity,” Kate answers for me. Gorrard takes this in and hangs his head in his hands.
“It is a sad day to learn such news. Your father gave our people such hope--something to live for again,” Gorrard tells us.
“My father…” I grit out, clenching my fangs, but Kate stops me before I can tell Gorrard exactly what I think of my father.
“Please, Gorrard. From the beginning, there is so little we know,” Kate requests.
“Yes, of course. Our people, the Vendari, are a very old race. We are from a very old and desolate region of space. The stars around us were dying, as was ours. Our scientists struggled to find new ways for us to continue on despite our expanding sun. Our planet was becoming cold and hard with no life coming from within. Our ways were dying. Everything. Our culture, our beliefs. They were dark days. We feared even having fledglings… not knowing if they would…” he trails off and looks away momentarily.
“The Six Kings convened and brought with them the most intelligent minds in all of their lands. A decision was made, to look out into space and find a new home. Some thought perhaps that as a people we had run our course. It took time to get all to agree there was more out here for us. In the end, the Vendari longed for the old days and to resume our way of life. Starting new elsewhere was the only solution.”
“However, it was difficult to say goodbye to our planet. So, we looked for something that felt similar. It was called Project Elysia. Sensors ran for seven years, until finally we found our new home, or we hoped we had. It was a great distance away, and the sensors couldn’t provide us with complete assurance. But it didn’t matter. We were out of time.”
“Massive ships had been built. Six of them. One for each King and his people. A beacon was sent ahead to guide us. We were all to be placed in cryo for the long trip. Even at great speeds it would take many years to reach Elysia. Some of us were set to wake early, myself included, so we may scout ahead and decide if this planet we were headed towards was truly meant to be our Elysia,” Gorrard toys with the pendant at his neck again.
“I was there briefly, on our new planet. I found myself alone after the crash. Injured. Our equipment was obliterated. I had to seek out medical attention. I was lucky to be able to get a pod to function and I left. The beacon was never activated. I couldn’t have activated it, even if there was time--I had no key or code…”
“What would the beacon have done?” Kate asks.
“It would have called the six ships. Let them know the planet was all we had hoped. It would have activated the thrusters and begun the wake cycle for the cryo units,” Gorrard explains.
“Wait, what? So, everyone from your planet is still out there somewhere, frozen and asleep in space?” Kate asks horrified. My mind reels and my stomach feels as if it is going to empty itself onto the floor. Gorrard nods painfully.
“When I first saw you, I had hoped it meant the other ships arrived somehow. That our people found home and they were safe.” Gorrard searches my face. “But you are a mystery to me, my King.”
“I am no King,” I tell him.
“You are your father’s son,” he insists.
“How do you know Rennek is the king’s son… or the king or whatever?” Kate inquires.
“The wings. None but royalty have wings,” he tells us. Kate’s eyes go wide at Gorrard’s response and though I admit it would explain why I am the only one with wings, I know my father was no king.
“You called him the Grey King? What can you tell us about him,” Kate questions.
“He was my king. My family followed the greys for generations. He was of great intelligence. It was he who encouraged the plan for Project Elysia, our whole planet would have died and all our people with it, if it hadn’t been for his leadership.”
“Where are our people now, Gorrard?” I ask, breaking my silence.
“I have not been successful in locating them. The first thing I did after I was healed was gain employment so I may secure deep space, long range scanners to begin the search. I have eight now, on surrounding moons and planetoids. It has been thirty years since my crash and based on my estimated speed and trajectory calculations, they are still approximately ten years out.”
“What happens if the beacon isn’t activated? Will they just arrive in ten years and wake up?” Kate questions.
“I do not know,” Gorrard shakes his head. “I do not know if they will remain in cryo… suspended and waiting. I worry too that if they are not awoken they might be discovered by slavers or pirates. We hadn’t anticipated how much more populated this region of space would be, I do not know if the migration ships were programed to manage attacks. These questions--the fears, have plagued me for years. The fate of every male, female and fledgling has been in my hands alone. It has been a terrible burden and your presence only brings more questions,” the old and scarred Vendari’s shoulders sag.
“You are no longer alone, brother. Can we hack the beacon?” I ask.
“You honor me, my King.” Gorrard says, sincerely and humbly. “I did hire a hacker once in an effort to try to activate it remotely, but it was expensive and she was ultimately unable to sync with our technology. This seemed to be a dead end, so I placed more of my efforts on the scanners.”
“You will have to show my friends and I your data from the scans. I believe we will be able to help. The person I am here looking for might be able to offer resources as well,” I tell him.
“Who had keys or access codes for the beacon?” Kate questions.
“There were two senior officers on board our scout ship, they had the code. Each king had the code also,” Gorrard tells us. I cringe at this. My father was out raiding planets rather than caring for his people--the people he supposedly encouraged to journey out into the stars. It makes little sense to me.
“My crew, they are Vendari also,” I tell him.
“No…” shock covers his face.
“Half-breed, like myself.”
“I do not understand how…” Gorrard’s gesture his shock--just as a laser blast flashes towards us, connecting with the older Vendari’s arm.