Chapter 18 One Reason #2
Jace drew in a deep breath to center himself. “Ah, now we get to deal with General Intoshkin and his belief that I’m Earth’s property.”
“Do you have a plan?” Khoth asked.
“No.” Jace grinned again when he saw the flare of alarm in Khoth’s eyes. “I am totally flying by the seat of my pants.”
Frowning then, Khoth asked, “How can one fly--”
“Don’t ask. I don’t even know what it originally meant. And I’m not even going to take up the bandwidth to know.”
“I see.” Khoth was still frowning, evidently attempting to parse what the phrase meant.
Jace almost thought to put him out of his misery and ask the AIs to explain to him so he could relay it to his Commander, but then thought the frown on Khoth’s face was cute. If it kept Khoth from remembering the missing selchilite then all the better.
“We should get in. Gehenna and Thammah are on their way with your mother,” Jace said, his heart beating a little harder at yet another tense confrontation on his hands.
“Yes, if I see your pants coming undone in the meeting, I will assist you,” Khoth said with solemnity.
Jace bit down fiercely on his inner cheek to stop from bursting out laughing. Finally, he answered, “I do appreciate that, Khoth.”
The door to the meeting room opened. Jace let out a whistle.
The space was beautiful. The room was long and rectangular in shape with a curving ceiling overhead.
Golden light painted that ceiling from behind molding all along where the walls met the ceiling giving the room an almost cathedral appearance.
There were three tables set up in a triangle pattern.
His table was the point of the triangle and was at the backmost wall.
On that wall it showed Earth, blue and white and beautiful, slowly spinning through space.
The view shifted and he saw war-like Mars, the red planet.
The view shifted again and they were in the rings of Saturn.
Jace knew that all of the planets in the solar system would be shown one at a time and then the gate appeared before him.
Jace felt his heart twist in his chest and he took an involuntary step towards that image.
The gate called to him.
The gate was freedom.
The gate was the stepping stone to all he was meant to do.
Khoth lightly touched his lower back, drawing Jace back to himself.
He blinked and looked up at his Commander.
How could he explain why that gate made his heart soar like it did?
Adventure. Fate. Promise. A huge leap forward for all of humankind.
It was like finding out that Star Trek could be real.
Not in some distant future, but it could be right now.
He thought of all of those people out there that, like him, had dreamed of going to distant planets, hearing alien tongues, walking in cities in solar systems that humanity had no idea about.
Khoth had always had these abilities. Jace wouldn’t blame him for not understanding the almost painful desire of it all.
And it was too hard to explain right now, especially with the general walking up to Jace briskly with one hand extended.
“Jace! Son! You look well,” the general said as he took Jace’s right hand and shook it.
“General, as do you,” Jace answered with a smaller smile.
“We saw what happened with High Councillor Voor,” the general’s own smile became a little thinner. “While it was well done, you should have talked to me beforehand.”
“General--”
“And you’ve got to talk some sense into your father there! Your mother, too, though she, at least, isn’t pretending to leave the U.S. military!” General Intoshkin chuckled.
Jace realized that his mother was at one of the tables at the “legs” of the triangle.
She gave him a small smile and tip of her head.
His father stood at attention by the table at the front.
And his father wasn’t wearing a flight uniform or any of his military uniforms, but was instead dressed like Jace.
Osiris? Jace asked, half laughing.
He has joined the crew, the Osiris answered. He needed appropriate attire.
So we’re going black Empire look? I admit I like it, Jace said.
“So my parents told you about their plans. My mother will remain as a liaison or ambassador for Earth to all alien species while my father’s agreed to join the Osiris’ crew.”
“Well, yes, but they’re behaving as if your father has retired his commission and--”
“He has. The Osiris is not a U.S. vessel,” Jace said firmly. The general was not one to take a hint. “I meant what I said earlier. I don’t represent humanity or the United States. I am a neutral-ish third-party.”
“But--”
“It’s better this way,” Jace told him.
“I can’t see how!” General Intoshkin erupted. “Without you, we have no leverage with the Alliance! We won’t even have the crashed Osiris!”
“Because I’m going to get you protection for Earth and humanity will have access to the stars,” Jace stated.
“I believe humanity joining with other races against the Khul is important. I believe that humanity can prove itself a good partner to other species. I believe you and my mother can make that happen.”
General Intoshkin studied his face. “You do believe that.”
“You won’t be in charge. Not at first anyways.” Jace gave a faint smile.
In many stories humanity’s drive always led them to eventually be in the thick of things when they met other species. He had no doubt that would happen in real life.
“Oh?” General Intoshkin lifted an eyebrow and there was a faint smile on his lips too.
“It’s better that humanity earns its place rather than be given it,” Jace told him.
“We’ve only ever asked for a chance!” General Intoshkin took off his cap and wapped it lightly against his thigh.
“And be on the Council.” Jace sighed and shook his head. “But as to me and humanity being separate... some of the things I do in order to get rid of the Khul may not be things that humanity may want to hitch its wagon to. I can’t be ruled by a committee, general. I need my freedom. Full freedom.”
“I was told to stand down,” General Intoshkin sighed, not realizing that had been a clever lie by the Osiris. Jace wasn’t sure how that was going to go over when it was discovered. “So that’s what I’m doing. But I sincerely hope you know what you’re doing, son.”
He poked his cap against Jace’s chest.
“Me, too,” Jace said.
General Intoshkin turned to Khoth who had been hovering nearby in a semi-protective attitude towards Jace. The general’s expression softened.
“For what it’s worth, you not only did the right thing, you were honorable as all get out. Humanity will forever be in your debt, Commander Khoth,” the general said. “You’re a good man.”
Khoth tilted his head. “I did not do this for humanity, but for all species, General Intoshkin. I believe that the Pilot and the Osiris need to be independent.”
The general smiled and looked between them as if he sensed something about their relationship and that this was the real reason for Khoth’s behavior.
In some ways the idea that Khoth would choose him over everything sounded romantic.
But in most ways, Jace would have only felt horrible guilt if Khoth had compromised himself for that reason.
“We’re just going to get seated,” Jace said. “High Councillor Voor is nearly here.”
“Of course, another big moment or do you think that she will give up with a whimper this time?” General Intoshkin laughed and twirled his hat in his fingers before going to join his mother.
“The general does not like High Councillor Voor,” Khoth remarked.
“No, no, he doesn’t,” Jace agreed. “But I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual.”
“He shows the ambition that many Thaf’ell feel but hide away,” Khoth stated.
“So does she see herself in Intoshkin?” Jace’s forehead furrowed.
“No, what she sees is a being who has been able to show his ambition and not be broken for it. I think she is jealous,” Khoth answered.
“Come. She really is almost here,” Jace said and led them towards the top table.
His heart twisted again in his chest as he said that.
It had been easier addressing her over a burger and fries on a comm link instead of face to face.
He reminded himself of Khoth’s earlier words that he had done nothing, except that wasn’t true.
He had goaded her and lightly guided her into destroying herself.
And this meeting was likely to go worse.
Would he be able to hide his discomfort doing this?
Would he feel as much discomfort as triumph?
For he had to admit he’d felt good about what he’d done. Yet sad too.
His father saluted Jace and Khoth, which had Jace blinking and Khoth performing a formal bow.
“Uh, Dad?” Jace asked.
“Jace, I’m not Dad here and… you’re not Jace, you’re the Pilot,” his father reminded gently.
“Oh, right, I need to give you a title,” Jace said.
“Actually, the Osiris already did. Flight-Master Parker,” his father told him and saluted again.
“Aw! The Osiris took my fun away!” Jace groused. “We could have come up with cool titles together. Though Flight-Master is pretty cool. Though… you’re not quite a flight master yet.”
“I’ll be starting my training after today’s meeting,” his father said. “The Osiris anticipates that since I’ll be the first in the program that I’ll be the first to master it and train others.”
“The Osiris again?” Jace curled up an eyebrow.
“Yes and no. It was Flight-Commander Thammah’s orders about the training. Seems like the Osiris decided to keep her title,” his father said with a grin. He was clearly loving this.
I’m glad someone is, Jace thought with a sigh.
His father turned to Khoth, his expression serious. “You saved peoples’ lives today, Khoth. Your actions--”
“The Pilot is responsible for saving any lives,” Khoth interrupted smoothly. “I just choose to be on the side that would do so.”
His father nodded after a moment’s hesitation. “Still. Thank you.”