Chapter Eighteen
Taryn took one last deep breath. She had no idea what was on the other end, but there was no use in putting it off. She pressed the button Kason had shown her.
A man in his fifties with graying black hair and brown eyes appeared on the screen. His light brown skin and features looked human to Taryn, but his clothing was a strange synthetic-looking material that shone faintly in the light.
However, she barely had a chance to note more than that before his deep voice spoke in CEL, albeit with a strange accent. “State your name and place of origin.”
She figured giving her name wouldn’t hurt. “I’m Taryn Demara, the leader of planet Jasvar. Who are you?”
“Jasvar? What are you doing on a Kelderan ship?”
She shook her head. “I won’t answer until you tell me who you are.”
He raised one gray brow before answering, “My name is Dextrell Jennings, originally from Planet Charlen but now working as a representative for the Earth Colony Alliance. Now, tell me why you’re on that ship.”
Taryn had no way of checking the man’s story, but she didn’t have the leverage to bargain for more just yet. “I persuaded the Kelderans to take me to their planet for a cohabitation colony agreement.”
The man tapped something in front of him and then looked at her. “Jasvar is a low-tech colony. The ad hoc distress beacon only confirmed this when the ECA received it a year ago. How did you reach out to the Kelderans?”
“That is a story for another time. I want to know why you’re here and why you didn’t answer the Kelderans’ original communications message.”
Dextrell steepled his fingers in front of his body. “The last we knew, the Kelderans were at war with the Brevkan. The ECA has no desire to become involved. However, when images of humans flooded our screens, we scanned and found two on board. It’s the ECA’s mission to protect all humans, hence why I’m talking to you now.”
“I’m in no danger, if that’s what you’re concerned about.”
“What about your planet? The message was short, but something about a virus that was slowly killing off the population.”
“That’s true.” She leaned forward. “What were you going to do to help me?”
“That depends. We need to meet in person to discuss the details further. Once you and your human companion board our ship, we can talk about relief efforts.”
She paused a second before stating, “You don’t trust the Kelderans.”
He shrugged. “All we know is they are a patriarchal society and that they make fierce adversaries. There are also no humans on Keldera. It isn’t the ECA’s concern.”
“Ah, but you’re wrong.”
The older man frowned. “I don’t have time for guessing games, Taryn Demara. Tell me what you mean.”
She hesitated a second but then remembered Kason had given her free rein to negotiate with other ships, up to a point. She might be pushing her luck a little, but hopefully Kason would understand. “I will be sending a few representatives to Keldera, once an agreement is reached. Also, many Kelderans will be living on Jasvar with my people. Some Jasvarian humans have already married Kelderan males and have had children. They should be your concern since the ECA is supposed to care for half-humans as well.”
“There is much you aren’t telling me.”
She lifted one shoulder. “Even you should know that negotiations take more than five minutes to complete. You and your representatives should come aboard, and we can talk further.”
“No. You and a Kelderan representative may come aboard our ship via a shuttle. We can talk more then. I’ll give you five minutes to decide. Send your answer via your communications. If you do decide to come aboard, you have an hour to prepare and come to our ship. After that, we’ll turn and leave you to fend for yourselves.”
The screen went blank.
For years, Taryn had wondered if the Earth Colony Alliance would rescue her people. Every scenario had been one of heroes coming to the rescue with medical supplies and a vaccine for the virus.
The reality was much harsher.
Not that she had time to think about it. She had five minutes to convince Kason to go with her.
Taryn exited the room and went looking for her prince.
~~~
Thirty minutes later, Kason closed the distance between his shuttle and the oblong ECA ship. He had two hours to talk with the ECA representatives and send a transmission to his people. If he missed the deadline, Thorin’s orders were to return to Keldera.
His sister hadn’t liked the plan, but reminding her that she needed to look after the other females had quieted down most of her protests.
Taryn’s voice filled the shuttle, and he focused on his bride. “Before you dock the shuttle, I’m going to ask one last time. Are you angry with me for making this decision?”
He sighed. “I already said no. Thorin was upset, but it’s the same decision I would’ve made.”
Taryn placed a hand on his arm. “Just know that whatever the ECA representatives propose, I won’t say yes if it doesn’t include plans for a Kelderan colony on Jasvar.”
He leaned down and kissed her hand. “Keldera is lucky to have you on their side.”
She smiled. “Someone’s going soft. I almost miss the tough, prickly warrior I first met.”
“Oh, he’s still in here. And once we start living together, I’m sure he’ll come out every so often.”
Taryn snorted. “He still won’t be a match for my daggers.”
As they grinned at one another, the urge to pull Taryn into his lap and never let go coursed through his body. However, they’d agreed that their relationship needed to remain secret, even to the ECA, until negotiations were complete. Otherwise, Thorin might claim command of the Kelderan ship, toss aside their plans, and go with his own, which wouldn’t include negotiating with the ECA.
As Kason maneuvered the shuttle into position to dock, he murmured, “I look forward to it, zyla.” The shuttle locked into position. “Now, let’s create the best future for both Keldera and Jasvar.”
With a nod, Taryn unbuckled her seatbelt and followed Kason to the airlock. The light signaling it was safe to debark was steady, so he reinforced calmness in his mind, ensured his markings were dark blue, opened the door and exited the shuttle.
Three individuals stood in shimmery clothing that fitted their bodies and left nothing to the imagination. However, after Taryn’s initial outfits, they were tame in comparison and Kason could easily keep his expression free of emotion.
Kason scanned the contingent of guards with what looked like blast guns in a semi-circle behind the three leaders. He had a feeling the armed guards were there for him, given what Taryn had told him earlier about the ECA only knowing about Keldera’s war with the Brevkan.
An older man with graying black hair and light brown skin stepped forward and spoke in CEL. “Welcome aboard, Taryn Demara.” He looked to Kason. “And you must be Prince Kason tro el Vallen. My name is Dextrell Jennings.” He motioned behind him. “Come, let’s not waste time.”
The human named Dextrell turned and walked toward the largest exit. His two companions followed him. It seemed odd to Kason that he wouldn’t introduce his compatriots.
Yet as Taryn moved, Kason did, too. He took the opportunity to study the unknown ship’s interior.
The cargo bay was small and could accommodate no more than three shuttles. That told him the ECA crew didn’t trust them to see more of their ship, which could reveal some of their secrets.
Kason’s respect rose a notch.
While having them trust him easily and giving in to his and Taryn’s demands would be nice, it would make him suspicious. Every time something had fallen into place too quickly in the past, it had spelled danger and possibly a trap. Their caution meant the ECA might be sincere.
As they went down one long, empty corridor, he noted that the upper halves of the walls were covered in view screens. For the moment, they displayed a lush forest while the halls echoed with faint animal noises.
Of course, the images and sounds weren’t merely for soothing nerves. It was clearly a display of power and wealth. Kason’s people were decades from having the same technology so readily available on a mere starship.
For a brief moment, he wondered what would’ve happened if the ECA had made it to Jasvar a few months ago, ahead of Kason’s arrival. He may never have gotten to know his bride, let alone win her.
He itched to place his hand on Taryn’s lower back, but resisted. He didn’t want to give the ECA anything to be used against him as a weakness. After all, they cared for humans and half-humans. Kason was onboard the ship purely because of association. He wasn’t about to take it for granted.
They finally reached a large door with two guards. Dextrell nodded, and the guards opened the doors. Inside the room was a large rectangular table with chairs mounted to the floor. Dextrell and his two comrades sat at one end. Dextrell motioned toward the other. “Have a seat.”
He let Taryn take the seat at the end and he sat to her left. Taryn spoke up first. “Now that you’ve shown us your advanced technology, your guards, and control over the situation, how about we cut to the chase? You were clearly heading toward Jasvar to help us. What were you going to do?”
Dextrell answered, “Nothing until we confirmed the situation. Since the planet was cleared for colonization, I’m curious about this virus.”
Taryn didn’t waste time replying, “It disproportionately kills off male embryos in the womb. We’ve resorted to integrating alien males into our society to prevent extinction. However, our technology is old and failing. When it does fail, we won’t be able to reach out to any alien race. We need a better long-term solution.”
In that moment, Kason was extremely proud of his bride. It was easy to see why she was a leader.
Dextrell waved a hand. “Finding a vaccine should be easy enough. How do the Kelderans factor into all of this?”
Taryn looked to Kason, and he took his cue. “We wish to form an alliance with Jasvar and establish our own colony. Until you appeared, we were also going to work on a cure to the virus as a sign of good faith.”
The woman to Dextrell’s right finally spoke for the first time. “You wish to help them for more than an alliance.”
Kason’s gaze moved to the female with long, blonde hair nearly to the floor, green eyes, and faint purple swirls on the sides of her jaw. “Who are you?”
She inclined her head. “My name is Geneva. I have minor empath abilities and can sense there’s more that you aren’t telling us.”
He wanted to know what her nonhuman half was, but focused on the more important things. “Bringing an empath to a discussion without stating the fact is viewed as deceit on my planet.”
Dextrell stepped in. “Since all we know about the Kelderans is their penchant for war with the Brevkan, we had to be careful.”
Kason was tempted to cross the room and show Dextrell how Kelderans treated threats, but Taryn touched his arm and said, “Kason only wishes to help me and his people.”
Geneva looked to Taryn. “I sense why, but also that it must remain secret. No one will share your connection outside this room. You have my word.”
Kason frowned. “Dextrell will follow your orders?”
“Yes, he will,” Geneva stated. “I am the captain of this ship. I’m sure you can understand why I didn’t want to advertise that fact from the beginning, given that Kelderans are a patriarchal society. But after seeing the way Prince Kason has allowed Taryn to speak for all, I think he has accepted that women can handle being in charge. Am I right?”
“Yes, Taryn has shown me that a female can be a capable leader.” Kason could feel Taryn’s eyes on his face, but he focused on Geneva. “But now it’s my turn to ask—what do you plan to do? Spare me the flowery language and false promises. My own people are anxious for our return. I don’t wish to keep them waiting.”
Geneva nodded. “I understand. But I also can’t make a split-second decision without all of the facts. Provided there’s peace on Jasvar, we will leave some observers there to report back to me. In exchange, you will offer a few hostages to live on my ship. If after a few months my people on Jasvar give a positive report, we will head back this way, return the hostages, and assist Jasvar. If not, especially if war breaks out between the new Kelderan colonists and the Earth descendants, my people will leave and we’ll never return. That should be reasonable.”
Kason didn’t like the assumption his people would start a war, but thankfully Taryn spoke before he could. “Why hostages? You have my word that no one will be harmed.”
Geneva shook her head. “As much as I’d like to trust your word, especially as I sense you’re an honest person, it is ECA’s policy. The practice has saved many ECA representatives’ lives in the past. If you refuse, we can’t help you.” She motioned toward a door on the side of the room, different from the one they’d entered. “You may go in there to discuss the offer privately. I’ll give you five minutes.”
Taryn stood. “Thank you.”
Kason wanted to growl, as five minutes wasn’t enough to make any long-term decisions, but at Taryn’s stern look, he followed her into the room. When the door clicked closed, she faced him.
~~~
One look at Kason and Taryn could tell he was barely hiding his anger. While his markings might be blue, the tightness of his jaw told her all. She placed a hand on his chest, taking as much comfort from his heat as he hopefully took from her touch. “I know the situation isn’t ideal, but there is always the chance your scientists can’t find a cure for the doom virus. The ECA’s help would be invaluable.”
He grunted but placed his hand over hers. “I don’t like the fact they hold all the cards. I’ve heard things about some ECA ships in the past. The female captain seems harmless, but empaths can be tricky to read since they can funnel others’ emotions and portray them as their own.”
“Then we’ll just have to work quickly to ensure the Kelderan settlement becomes a reality. That way, you can help me in case things go awry.”
“Of course I’ll help you. But there’s one point I don’t like—the ECA will be on Jasvar when you’re not there, and I don’t think they’ll wait until you finish negotiations to make the journey.”
She searched his gaze. “I would guess that your father and brother won’t leave the planet unattended to meet with me on Jasvar, either.”
He shook his head. “Not with the antimonarchy factions gaining strength.” He squeezed her hand. “But there is one card we can play. Ryven and my other warriors are still back on your world. If a small ship of warriors takes Kalahn to Jasvar, Ryven will trust any message she delivers. They can ensure the ECA doesn’t try anything in your absence.”
She sighed. “I hate planning all of this without asking Kalahn first.”
“She will agree. After all, she’s the one who wants adventure. If I don’t mention she’s missing to my father, then he probably won’t notice. At least until she’s already gone and he can’t do anything.”
Kason proposal required a lot of trust. Yet as she studied her warrior prince, she didn’t need empathic abilities to know she could trust him. After all, she’d trusted him with her body, and he was also close to capturing her heart. The next step was allowing him to help her people. “Okay, we’ll try your suggestion. Still, I want to finish the settlement negotiations as quickly as possible. My people take strength from my presence.”
He brushed her cheek. “Of course. Now, let’s see if we can get those people to agree to our plan and get off this ship.”
She nodded. Just as she opened the door to the conference room, the entire ship rolled to one side, and danger warnings echoed in the room.
Geneva stood and shouted, “Computer, what just happened?”
The computer answered, “An unknown projectile took out one of the main engines. The ship moved until balance could be restored with backup thrusters.”
“Can you pinpoint the source?”
“From the direction of the Kelderan ship on starboard,” the computer stated.
Geneva shot Taryn and Kason a look. Taryn barely managed, “It can’t be,” before Geneva tapped something on her wrist. “Guards, secure the visitors and lock them up. Captain to bridge, lock a tractor beam on the Kelderan ship.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” an unknown voice answered.
In the next second, the guards came in and surrounded Taryn and Kason.
Taryn looked to the captain. “There’s no way the Kelderans would fire on you.”
“For the moment, that’s what appears to have happened. Until I figure out the truth, you’ll be staying a while.” Geneva motioned at the guards, and something pricked her skin. In the next second, the world went black.