Dana Cartwright Mission 3: Kal-King (27 page)

“The Republic is responsible for destroying the Crown Enterprises facilities at Arkares. Call it even…or, close to. Oh, and Captain McHale, we need to inventory all of the vessels owned by King. That whole fleet…”

“I’ll take care of it, sir.”

Kieran glanced back at the door to sickbay. “I’m taking Janz with me. He’s requested Doctor March Garcia to come along to monitor the coffin. Find me a pilot certified for my private ship, and have SSID assign two security officers to my detail.”

The Commodore offered his hand to McHale and they shook. “It’s been a pleasure, Captain.”

“Sir? Off the record, are you going to marry Dana Cartwright?”

Kieran’s left eyebrow shot upward, “I might.”

“Begging your pardon, sir, but it might appear a conflict of interest if you remain in charge and she is to inherit the assets of Crown Enterprises.”

“Oh…wouldn’t want that. Is there a remedy?”

“Well, the sokem have a stake in this.”

“Schaffer? He’s perfect. Propose it to him… Excellent idea!”
 

Janz clung to the edge of the diagnostic bed with his left hand, and to the arm of his nurse with his right. “The room is spinning,” he told them, shutting his eyes tightly to counter the vertigo.

Doctor Serge frowned deeply, administering a dose of an anti-vertigo medication. “He should stay in bed for another few days. Nurse, prepare a robo-chair. For now, that’s the best option. Have a full scan once you arrive at Centauri.”

Janz didn’t hear a word. He did open his eyes. Instead of clutching the bed, he clung to the arms of the sophisticated robo-chair they had waiting.
 

The nurse made a point of showing him the controls, and waited until he demonstrated a level of proficiency, before leading out to the corridor.

Two others, android-nurses, followed, guiding the hovering C-FIIN with Colonel Xalier safely ensconced inside.

The descent of the lift caused even more vertigo, but Janz gritted his teeth and just held on, until they reached the shuttle bay.

Kieran waited at the loading ramp to his shuttle, with a backpack slung over one shoulder.

Janz blinked both eyes, looking up, declaring telepathically,
I’m ready.

Kieran said aloud and telepathically,
“We’re waiting on our pilot. Doctor March and the security detail are already aboard
Kaiden
.”
He led up the ramp to the rotunda, and then down an interior ramp to one of the larger passenger cabins.
“You should be comfortable here.”

Janz nodded, but regretted the movement.
My ears are buzzing even louder. Is there something aboard doing that?

Not that I’m aware of.
Kieran shrugged.
Maybe you are sensitive to the air pressure on the shuttle bay.

K? I’m in bad shape.

Kieran rested a hand on his brother’s shoulder.
Hang on. Maybe Dana can help.

Janz’s mood brightened a bit.

They both felt the shuttle engines roar to life.

I’m going to check on Xal before going up to the bridge. Probably best if you stay down here. Secure for takeoff.

Kieran left the cabin and went down to the lowest deck, giving the security detail and Doctor March a nod. “We’re about ready.” He checked the coffin, giving the clear lid an affectionate pat. “I hate these things, Xal, but you’re safer in there.”

The security detail took March to a cabin one level higher.
 

Kieran Jai remained behind.
 
He secured Dana’s backpack in a storage locker, and then took a moment to investigate another next to it, with items he didn’t recognize. Inside were some small boxes, bearing Tritian delegation emblems.
 
He guessed these were Ambassador Taurian’s things from
Seraph
, brought aboard before he’d left Tonner III.

There was also a small, cigar box, singed from exposure to fire. Kieran touched it and instantly reacted, strongly feeling Dana Cartwright’s essence.
 
Curious, he opened it. Inside was a partially-melted, platinum necklace, with an undamaged jewel, a dodecagon. Kieran burst into a grin.
 

He closed the box lid and stowed it with Dana’s backpack. Then he headed back up to the bridge, just as the ship began to vibrate.

A young officer occupied the pilot’s chair. “Mackenna?”

“At your service, sir, next stop, Centauri Prime.”

Kieran slid in at the copilot’s console, securing the safety bar across his lap. “McHale did good, selecting you. Whenever you’re ready, engage.”

The Commodore then stretched, closed his eyes, and dozed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“Centauri Station, this is Ambassador Kord’s shuttle,
Katana
, requesting permission to dock?” Dana said, over the communication channel.

“Roger,
Katana
. You are clear to Bay 27 — repeat, Bay 27.”

“Two-Seven, roger.”
 

Dana set the ship down gently, then the deck descended and they were inside the massive private shuttle bay.

“A perfect ten landing.” Prince Korwin’s face held a grin, “Just like old times, DD.”

“Not exactly,
Mister Ambassador
,” Dana teased, emphasizing his title.

“Will you come back to the residence with us or stay aboard?”

“How soon will you be leaving again?”

“Oh, not for several days… I’ll need to attend a conference at Capitol City, Earth, but until then, I’d like Micah to rest at home.” Korwin released his lap restraint and rose. “Come now. You can always return later. Or, if you like, we can make arrangements for a permanent apartment at the spaceport, although, we spend a great deal of time shuttling back and forth to Earth.
 
You might prefer having a permanent residence there.”

Dana recalled Ambassador Cray’s tiny spaceport apartment and decided, “My cabin is fine for now, but I will accompany you to the residence.”

Korwin led down to the main cabin to collect his mate, giving both Micah and the baby sweet kisses.

They were ready, but just before Dana hit the hatch release switch, Korwin stopped her.

“The security detail always goes first. And you, as captain of my personal craft, must always be armed.” He handed her a palm-sized laser. “I’ll have to give you the protocols to study.”

Baker and Carlton appeared from their lower level crew cabins with rifle weapons slung over their shoulders. “Ready, Your Highness?” Carlton asked.

“Ready.”

As the ramp dropped, the Prince sheltered his wife and son and, to a certain degree, Dana.

“Clear,” Baker called from below.

The two security officers led across the bay to a small, six-seater skip, with a large, clear viewport dome. They opened the entry door and saw Princess Micah and the baby in first, followed by Prince Korwin and Dana. After a last scout of the bay, Carlton and Baker stepped in and sat on the forward seat, programming the dome to drop and the entry door to close.

“Fully automated,” Baker told Dana. “You will need security codes. We’ll assign them once we arrive at the residence.”

The skip hovered a moment and the interior bay door opened to permit them through.

Dana watched with interest, as the skip moved through the main hatch out into the spaceport corridor, and floated forward, down the center of the walkway, following a lighted track in the deck. In a few minutes, they cleared the tunnel corridor and were in open air, following a land route toward a mountain range in the distance.

“Takes about twenty minutes to reach the palace,” Korwin offered.

Dana smiled. “We’ve known each other for a long time, but I’ve never been to the residence before, not even with Ambassador Solon?”

Korwin chuckled. “Wait until you see Forever Pointe. It’s there, on the left, after we make the turn.”

All Kieran’s memories of launching off the towering cliffs and down over the river valley, flooded back to her. “Wow…so beautiful. Have you ever flown there?”

“With a kite? Me? It’s far too dangerous,” Korwin reddened, “I’m not that much of a rebel.”

He sounded melancholy; she didn’t dare to ask why.

“We’ll stay a few days here at home, but then I must face the President.”

Princess Micah rested her left hand upon his arm. “This is Prince Eloren’s time.”

Korwin sighed, “Yes, my dearest, it is Eloren’s time.” He reached for the tiny bundle. “Today is Eloren’s birthday.”

At the palace, twenty-four blue uniformed men and women formed an honor guard, lining the stairs to the grand entry doors.
 

The dome on the skip popped up and the door opened, allowing warm, arid air to flow inside. It smelled sweet, perfumed with the scent of flowers.

An attractive couple, wearing formal, full-length robes, waited at the top landing, bowing to Korwin and Micah, long, arctic white capes billowing on the breeze.

“Your Royal Highness, Prince Korwin and Your Highness, Princess Micah…” The male offered.

“And His Royal Highness, Prince Eloren,” Korwin announced.

The greeters glowed with pleasure.

“Welcome home, Cousins.”

Baker took Dana by the elbow, and led across the palace courtyard to wait beside other guardsmen at the foyer entry doors, which were already held open for the royal couples. “That’s Prince Harmon, son of Prince Alexi Cray, and Princess Felice, daughter of Grand Master of the Elect, Prince Amath…”

Dana assured, “I know both.”

“Oh, right, you’re from Earth.”

She nodded, observing all the pomp and pageantry, the formal greetings expected for royalty and dignitaries.

And then, an older woman appeared, standing at the center of a starburst emblem on the immaculate tile floor of the grand foyer.

“That’s Princess Grace…”

At the mention, Shalee telepathically hissed in retort to Dana,
That’s the twin’s mate…

Jad’s?

Watch her...watch how she treats Princess Micah. There’s nothing graceful about her.

Dana ignored the animosity and did watch. “Is that how she treated you?”

It is. And it is why my dearest took the Macao name, my surname.

Dana watched and wondered,
How will they treat me then?

Shalee declined to respond.

Instead, Captain Shalee Raja Macao, of the Shonedren, a princess among her own people, told Dana,
Follow inside along the left wall. I’ll tell you when to stop.

Dana did as suggested, but knew exactly where Shalee was sending her.
 

The wall curved around the large foyer. Fourteen life-stars hung, equally spaced, along it, all back-lit and glowing. The second to the last had a red ruby near the center stone. Dana recognized it immediately.
That’s Janz’s.

Yes…

Whose is the last?

Prince Korwin’s.

It’s full already?

Princess Micah is very wealthy, my dear.

Baker nudged Dana. They followed up the stairs to the second floor, east wing, and into a lavish suite.

Micah held baby Eloren to her shoulder, but motioned Dana closer as they stepped out onto a balcony. The Capital City of Centauri Prime lay beyond, stretching out, away from the palace, connected by gleaming roads and walkways, filling the entire river valley, which seemed a natural crater.

“Wait until it goes dark — it’s breathtakingly beautiful at moonrise,” Micah whispered.

Dana sensed something more from the Princess and suggested, “You should rest.”

“I’m a little hungry,” Micah admitted, “Won’t you please join me?”

It wasn’t merely a request.

Micah clasped Dana’s left hand for support.

“Here, let me take the baby,” Dana offered. She cradled Prince Eloren in the crook of her left elbow and, moving slowly, they retreated to a dining area within.

Servants came, unbidden, with trays, setting small bowls of fruit and what looked like a pudding before each place setting.

Dana waited until Princess Micah was settled before returning the sleeping babe to her arms.

“I’ve rehearsed this for a month,” Micah giggled, “but it is different now.”

Dana reached for a pitcher and was about to pour, but a servant quickly took up the task and offered Micah the first fruits.

“Is there anything you would prefer,” Micah offered.

The medical doctor side of Dana took over. “I think we should run some tests on you and the baby.”

Micah gave Eloren a whispered kiss upon his forehead, and then closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, holding it then exhaling. Her body began to glow after a second deep breath. Her complexion shimmered with energy. Eloren began to glow, too.

“Your Highness?”

“Sometimes assuming human form is depleting. Please take him.”

Even as Micah passed over the baby to Dana, her mitten hands were beginning to lose their shape.

Micah assured via telepathy,
I will return.

Korwin reached them and knelt beside Micah’s chair, his arms holding the nearly lifeless host body, tears wetting his cheeks. “This happened once before. She was exhausted. I don’t know where she goes, perhaps another dimension…”

Eloren began to cry, little fitful gasps. Dana rocked him gently.

“He must sense she’s gone,” Korwin guessed, rising, reaching for his son.

Dana was at a loss, watching Korwin cradle the child. “You’re going to need a nurse, someone to watch over him.”

“We talked about that, just wasn’t expecting it this soon,” Korwin mumbled.

“And we need to run some tests,” Dana added.

“I did.”

“Micah’s powers may have skewed them.”

“Oh, you’re right.” Korwin cooed and calmed his son with gentle rocking motions, handed him back to Dana, then he lifted Micah’s host body and led into an adjoining room, a bedroom, where a baby crib and changing table were already arranged.
 

Korwin carried Micah, setting her gently down on the bed.

Dana went to the crib with Eloren. She spotted Korwin’s medical kit on the bedside table, retrieved it, and offered it to Korwin. As he ran the diagnostic, she went to a duplicator and ordered a baby bottle with warm premature-infant formula.