Protector of the Realm (12 page)

“Don’t worry. I can help.” Kellen yawned. “Later.”

“Much later, by the looks of it,” Rae teased, desperate to keep their conversation light.

Kellen lay down and jerked at the covers. “I’m so tired all of a sudden.”

“Stop, stop, let me take your boots off.” Rae unfastened the buckles on the black combat boots. “There you go.” She tucked the covers in around her wife, not thinking how her thoughtfulness might seem to Kellen. “You take a nice nap. I’ll page Gemma and have her come over this afternoon when things settle down in the infirmary.”

“Thank you.” Kellen’s voice was dreamy but her grasp tight as she caught Rae’s left hand in hers. “I mean it. Thank you.”

An unfamiliar feeling constricted Rae’s throat. At a loss for words, she held Kellen’s hand until her delicate eyelids covered the blue brilliance of her eyes. Tucking her hand in under the covers as well, Rae straightened her aching back. As she looked down at her wife, a sudden paresis in her throat made it impossible to swallow. “You’re welcome.”

She left the bedroom and headed for the small kitchen area. Reaching up for the big jar of Cormanian coffee, she tapped the dispensing sensor twice, wanting her beverage strong. Water boiled instantly in the safer-glass jug in its niche in the wall, and she poured it over the condensed coffee.

Rae drew a trembling breath, her hands unsteady as she raised the rounded titanium Keep-Hot cylinder-mug to her face and blew the steaming beverage.
The look on Armeo’s face almost did me in.
Rae shuddered at how close she’d come to botching it with the boy.
Still, he seems okay for now. Kellen’s done a good job raising him.
Armeo seemed secure in his approach to things, not afraid to show emotions.
What if I end up keeping him at the same distance my parents kept me? What if I’m just not cut out for parenthood? Five years is a long time in a child’s life.
And Kellen…

The look on Kellen’s face when Rae suggested marriage might very well haunt her for a long time. Rae knew she’d given Kellen very little time--hardly any--to think things over. But what choice did she have? M’Ekar would’ve been able to demand her extradition on the spot, more or less.

Stirring her habitual coffee even though she didn’t take synth-o-sweet in it anymore, Rae wandered into the living room and stood looking out the view port. The incredible vastness of space ought to have made her feel small and insignificant, but it didn’t. Instead it filled her with a sense of adventure, a desire to explore and encounter new worlds, species, and…She shook her head.
I do love the element of danger. That’s another thing that makes me unsuitable for being part of a family unit.

She was completely without experience in this matter. Emotionally distant from her parents for as long as she could remember, and later married to her work, Rae considered herself a poor candidate for this assignment.
I’m not exactly a catch, Kellen. I’m too old for you. I’m too busy.

Suddenly Maeve’s face appeared before her inner eye--their maternal, nurturing cook who’d taken her parents’ place in being there for her. When she was sick, or upset, or merely wanted to share something exciting, it was Maeve who listened, comforted, and rejoiced with her.
I can draw from that. I can try to be a Maeve to Armeo. Damn it, I’ll just have to find a way to do it. He deserves nothing less, now that he’s lost his home.

As for Kellen, she was at a loss how to compensate the beautiful woman.
I can make sure she wants for nothing. I have enough credits to buy her anything.
Appalled, Rae stopped her train of thought, putting the mug down on the small ledge beneath the view port with a loud thud.
Damn it, I’m not going to buy her affection.
Her parents used to come home with expensive gifts after their travels, and they collected dust on Rae's shelves. She had never liked the presents but was too well brought up to say so.

If Kellen ever grew to like her, if they stood any chance for friendship, affection would have to develop naturally.
I just have to bite my sarcastic tongue and not hurt or confuse her. She’s strong and can fend for herself, but in many ways, she’s at my mercy. I must never forget that.

Taking a large gulp of the bitter drink, Rae swallowed, feeling it warm her belly and energize her system almost instantly.
I don’t fear many things. Right now, I fear I’m simply not good enough.

Rae walked out into the kitchen, ran the mug through the dish-cleanser, then placed it on its shelf. Duty called, and in this case it was a blessing. She would have to think about her private situation later.

*

The mission room was boiling with activity. Rae found Jeremiah standing with a communication device pressed to his ear, evidently trying to hear over the buzz. She raised her hand to greet him, only to see him frown and shake his head, pointing at the communicator and then back at her.

With a sharp twitch just beneath her sternum, Rae walked up to him just in time to hear him say, “She’ll be with you in a minute, sir.” He pressed a sensor and let the communicator rest on the desk while he looked at Rae. “I have a subspace call for you, ma’am. It’s the admiral.”

Several admirals served in different capacities throughout Supreme Constellations space, but everyone referred to only one person as “the admiral,” without any other designation.

“Oh, God.” Rae reached for the communicator, suppressing an exasperated grunt before she pressed the sensor. This was turning out to be her life’s most challenging day on a personal level. “Jacelon here, Admiral.”

“What the hell’s going on out there?” Admiral Ewan Jacelon barked. “I’ve had several dispatches arrive, not to mention inquiries by foreign nations and media. Are you trying to start a damn war with the Onotharians?”

“No, but they seemed to have their hearts set on one.”

“What are you talking about? My information says you blew them out of the water.”

“I did, but only when they fired up their weapons array after they broke at least three different SC laws.”

“The ambassador enjoys diplomatic immunity.”

“It expired the minute he used weapons toward military targets within SC borders. I know what the law says, Admiral.”

He muttered something inaudible. “Then I heard some other surprising news, girl. What on earth possessed you to get married all of a sudden, at your age?”

“Is this official business or a private call, Admiral? If it’s private, I really don’t have time right now. If it’s official, refer to me by my title.”

“I think it’s both! You’ve always gotten yourself into trouble. I don’t know who this person you lured into marrying you is, but I hope he’s strong enough.”

Rae knew it wouldn’t do much good to answer the admiral’s tirade, but she still tried. “She. And yes, she’s very strong. In fact, I think you’d like her.”

“We’ll see soon enough. The Council is sending me to settle some business at
Gamma V
, and now they also want me to calm down the situation you’ve created.”

Her stomach lurched, and Rae felt like screaming. “What a surprise, Father. Not that I’ve created any sort of situation, but you’re always welcome to visit. Is Mother coming too?”

“No, she’s on vacation in the Reposa System. I don’t expect her home for another three weeks.”

“I hope she enjoys herself. Now, I don’t have time to talk anymore…”

“See you in a few days, then. Jacelon out.”

Staring at the communicator, Rae steeled herself and glanced to Jeremiah, who stood at his console next to her. “You heard him. He’s on his way here.”

“Why?”

She had to laugh at Jeremiah’s startled expression. “He’s going to ‘calm down’ the situation I created. Honestly, all things considered, I’m not sure if things are looking up or down.”

How she hated when her father always assumed she was at fault. When she was growing up, no matter the circumstance, the admiral--back then a captain--seemed unable to give her the benefit of the doubt. If someone from school complained, Ewan Jacelon, who never found the time to socialize with his only child, would suddenly make time to scold her without listening to her side of it.

Rae quickly understood her father’s greatest disappointment--she wasn’t the boy he had dreamed of. Even though she chose typically masculine extracurricular activities and early on decided to follow in his footsteps, he declared the next best thing would’ve been if she formed a family unit and provided him a grandson.

Her mother, illustrious diplomat Dahlia Jacelon, with a far-reaching reputation for her skills, also had little time for her daughter. Absentmindedly, she’d pat Rae’s hair, comment in passing on her perfect grades, and then fly off on another planet-saving mission. Knowing full well that her own minor problems or worries couldn’t compete with the lives of millions, Rae went to Maeve. The cook, having worked for the Jacelons since before Rae was born, was always there.

Rae looked up at Jeremiah, who still seemed stunned. She knew her father liked her next in command, and also her friend, Captain Alex de Vies, who lived aboard this station. She couldn’t help but wonder how differently the admiral would have reacted if either one of these men had defeated M’Ekar’s fleet or gotten married.

Over time her nonrelationship with her parents had made Rae distance herself from them, knowing she could never please her father or really matter to her mother. Some would say heading for deep space was overdoing it, but she disagreed. It was by far the best solution. Here she served a purpose, and she knew she was damn good at her job. Living on Earth, in the shadow of her parents, was no life for her.

The commercial section of
Gamma VI
buzzed with activity. Most civilians were coming off duty and shopping in the multitude of stores that lined the six-meter-wide corridor. Unlike those in the military section, the materials used to construct and decorate this part of the station were luxurious and aesthetically pleasing. The floor was made of D’Tosorian silver-marble that shimmered underfoot. Transparent aluminum windows showed displays of the goods for sale, and Kellen marveled at the high-tech equipment available, as well as the multitude of garments, food stuff, and jewelry. Armeo stopped in front of a window where games and toys overflowed the moving shelves, his eyes huge and darting.

Proud of him for not begging either her or Rae to buy him something, Kellen glanced at Rae and wondered if she noticed. Half expecting her new spouse to make Armeo choose a gift, she was surprised and relieved when she didn’t. Rae didn’t need to buy Armeo’s affection.

As they approached the Food District, mouthwatering scents hovered in the air, and Kellen noticed the crowd around them became denser. The ones who recognized the commodore in civilian clothes nodded respectfully and looked at the three of them curiously.

Kellen walked closer to Rae. She was concerned for Armeo’s safety, as usual, and draped an arm around his shoulders. Armeo glanced at her, apparently surprised, but smiled and hugged her around the waist. The contented, curious look on his face as he obviously tried to assimilate all the new sights and sounds made her smile in return. Looking down at Armeo, she wondered if anyone could possibly mistake the two of them for the fugitives who had been towed to
Gamma VI
three days ago.
Three days? I can’t believe it’s only been three days.

Having retrieved more of her things from the
Kithanya
, Kellen was relieved to find the bag she’d packed a long time ago with a few sets of representative clothes, just in case she needed them. She wore a simple white suit with long sleeves made of retrospun cotton, and wide-legged trousers. Armeo had insisted on wearing his new school uniform--nuevosuede blue trousers, a short reversible twillmix black jacket, and brand-new nuevoskin shoes.

Rae was dressed in black trousers of the same material as Armeo’s and a long gray Cormanian fairy-silk tunic with a black leathermix belt.

“People are staring,” Kellen murmured out of earshot from Armeo, who was walking in front of them. She did not recognize the awkward shyness that flooded her, making her feel vulnerable. Also, she wondered if any of the many eyes turning their way belonged to anyone out to harm Armeo.

“I’ve noticed,” Rae replied dryly. “We’re probably the talk of the town right now. As I said, the grapevine here is unbelievable. Ah, here we are--Hasta’s, my home away from home.”

Kellen looked through the windows into the crowded restaurant. “It looks full.” The thought of pushing through a room packed with staring strangers almost made Kellen insist they return to their quarters.

“I have my own table. Commodore’s privilege.” Rae’s glittering eyes took the arrogance out of her words. “And there’s Hasta herself. She owns the place and is also a famous chef.”

A woman of unfamiliar alien descent approached them. Small-boned and barely as tall as Armeo, the chef wore her almost glowing white hair in a tall, elaborate style. A reddish tattoo adorned her face, creating intricate patterns along her hairline, down in front of her ears, and curling in waves along her long, slender neck. Hasta’s skin was nearly as white as her hair, making her bright red lips and the blackness of her eyes all the more noticeable. She wore a long, light blue tunic over black trousers, both with golden threads woven into the unknown, shiny material.