Chapter 13
STRON
“And why am I doing this?” Stron asked as the wind swirled around them on the platform.
“Because you were asked to,” Khalzin said.
Still, Ston didn’t want to be here, entertaining the off-worlders with Khalzin. He hadn’t expected this show to be part of his obligation.
Though he should have known better.
If anything, he wanted to stay far away from them.
Especially Adryel.
She remained in the back of his mind no matter what he did.
With everything going on with the investigations, a lot seemed to fall to him to stay on top of—Khalzin had made a match, and as such, he was considered sheltered.
Dhomhes had returned to his home on the far side of the planet near the refineries, as far as Stron knew. And Fiviel.
No one knew yet what had become of him.
The smell of smoke in the air felt ominous to Stron. Like there was more going on than he realized. Or that Khalzin had anticipated.
He glanced at his friend. “I don't think that you have a higher rank than me.”
Khalzin shrugged. “All the more reason to remember you were asked, not ordered, to come.”
“I suppose.” Khalzin yawned.
He watched his friend. “Not enough sleep?” Stron asked.
“No more than usual.”
Interesting, Stron thought. What had Khalzin been doing with his nights? Rather, who? “Then who has kept your bed warm before she got here?”
Khalzin raised his eyebrow. “I meant that I sleep no better with her now in residence than before.” He waved his hand. “You know I do not have frivolous relations.”
Stron shrugged. “There is nothing that says one cannot. Even during Courtship.”
“That is a broad interpretation of the tradition.”
“Broad interpretations are what I survive on.” He grinned, holding back his amusement. He could see the slight shift in Khalzin’s armor, that twitch in his demeanor.
Making his friend a little irritated at his comment.
Khalzin, however, wasn’t a little irritated. He glared at him, downright hostile. “If you do not plan to fully commit to this proposition, tell me now and I will find someone else.”
“I doubt you could all things considered. One gone. Two bombings? Even the friends of a Gol-Vett cannot expect them to sacrifice themselves for a science experiment.”
“If you are not interested in participating,” Khalzin said again, “Then please walk away. I do not need more failures in this project. My father is watching in earnest.”
Stron groaned. While he’d had his issues with his own parents and proper dictates and protocols, Khalzin always had it worse. His parents were relentless—seeing him like competition rather than an offspring. “How bad?”
“He reached out yesterday to inform me that there was no shame in admitting failure in the project to the Coalition.”
“Oh. That is bad.”
“I know,” Khalzin said.
“I did not know he was--”
“It should be assumed at this point,” Khalzin said.
“Maybe you do need a frivolous relationship to release some stress. Since you are not getting that yet in your Courtship.”
Khalzin snarled.
Stron didn’t move, but he watched carefully. If Khalzin was that close to the edge, without even being in the thick of the recovery tasks, then maybe there was more to this than just physicality.
That showed emotional connection.
The exact thing that Khalzin was wanting to achieve. Or at least prove was possible.
Interesting.
“Are you being obtuse just because you can be?” Khalzin finally asked Stron.
“Just making sure you know all your options,” Stron said, a slight smile on his face. Though mostly a jab at his friend, he couldn’t help noticing how emotional Khalzin became.
Yet another piece of evidence for his experiment.
Though Stron doubted that even Khalzin saw it that way.
Stron looked back at their transport's wings shifting in the wind. They groaned a bit.
The wind was powerful today. It could make travel challenging.
Not for him or Khalzin. They had plenty of ways to rebalance that while piloting the ship, but he wondered about the females.
Were they used to this kind of height?
Or did they live down in the lower levels? Not accustomed to higher atmosphere travel? It would certainly make for an interesting day.
He wondered if the friend, Adryel, would enjoy it.
Then he stomped down the thought. He shouldn’t be thinking of her at all. Not in any way. Except maybe how annoying she could be.
She’d certainly gotten under his skin in the hallway before. How could she have been so reckless, wandering around at night like that? Anything could have happened to her! They still didn’t know who was responsible, and if it was a political attack or a terroristic one. Or both.
He crossed his arms, his patience growing thin. “Well, where are they?”
“They're coming. Janae was going to help her friend get something to wear. Very few of their personal things survived, so they are relying on us to help them and provide basic things.”
Stron sighed. Why did females always take forever to dress? “Does she not know how to use a dresser?”
“Not every world has machines that produce clothing for--”
The bay opened.
The women appeared, flanked by guards, dressed in traditional Kantenan clothing.
Khalzin’s attention darted to his mate, but Stron found himself staring at Adryel. Her clothing, less bright, but just as flattering, clung to her shape, revealing a sensual curve of her hips that left Stron feeling desires he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
“Oh,” Stron said.
“Remember her now?”
“Never forgot,” Stron said.
“You should not forget that bold hair,” Khalzin said.
There was much more to her to remember than just the hair.
Guards surrounded them as they were escorted across the platform to Stron and Khalzin.
They got closer, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of Adryel. Her bright hair danced around her face like a fiery halo, and the very elemental draw he felt grew by the moment.
Which left Stron puzzled.
Why did he feel this? Especially so strongly for the independent female.
“Oh it’s you,” she said, low, that only he could hear.
“Were you expecting someone else?” He asked quietly.
“I would hope that Khalzin would have more than one friend.”
“Sadly, he does not.”
She chuckled. “You’re mean.”
“I am who I am.” Stron held out his arm. “May I escort you?”
“Certainly. And that’s probably good.”
“What is?”
“That you are who you are.”
“Some days,” he said.
How did she do that? Get him so quick to say things he’d never say to anyone?
Did she have some kind of spell on him? Was it in her aura? Something that wasn’t disclosed in the dossier about the potential mates?
He needed to be careful with her, he thought as he escorted her Khalzin’s private transport. The guards stayed with the females, and when they reached the ship, the guard acted as though he was going to board with the four of them.
That would make tight seating, and truly, they were just going on a tour. Surely they would be fine without the guards for a short time. After all, what did he and Khalzin train for almost daily? Those trainings weren’t just for entertainment.
It was expected, and required, that he, like any other Gol-Vett, or higher level of Kantenan, to be proficient in combat.
Stron didn’t have to use his skills very often, but they were necessary. And he would use them.
If necessary.
Stron stopped the guard. “We have this, guard, but thank you for your service.”
The guard nodded and took up position on the platform.
The four of them got themselves situated in the ship.
“So, we truly do have you two to ourselves,” Adryel said as she sat down in one of the seats.
“Would you prefer the guards?” Janae asked as she sat down next to Adryel. Stron took the position in the copilot's seat, shifting the seat so he could see the two female’s faces.
Adryel grimaced as she shifted in the seat. “Not particularly. I've seen enough of them already.” She twisted again before she put on her own restraints. “These are so weird to sit in.”
“What is wrong with the seats?” Khalzin asked.
“Not the seats. The clothing,” Adryel said.
“You'll be fine once you get used to it,” Janae said.
“I guess,” Adryel replied. “It is just not at all what I signed up for. Explosions. Armored dresses. Guards everywhere.”
Her gaze hit his for a moment.
“Currently, they are a necessity, until this situation is resolved,” Stron said.
She sighed. “I know.” She stared out the window. “It just isn't what I expected.”
“What did you expect?” Stron asked.
“A new place to be that was safe.”
The ship went silent with Adryel's words.
Maybe his prediction that he told his mother before was true. That these really were brave females, just looking for some place safe to be.
A glance at Khalzin, and he saw his friend’s suddenly stern expression—guilt on his brow. He raised his eyebrow and Khalzin waved his hand slightly, a gesture to leave him alone.
The engine hummed as the ship rose into the air. Winds pulled on the vessel, knocking them around a bit.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Adryel grabbing the hand holds with a tight grip, her expression narrowed, and jaw clenched.
Her lips moved, like she spoke, but Stron couldn’t make it out over the engine’s initial start-up motions.
Khalzin shifted and they started to smooth out a bit, and he started flying up the side of the nearby mountain. Speed accelerated, and in a moment, the dampener fields leveled out the windy ascent, making it smooth as they headed for the top of the mountain.
The sound levels lowered to a tolerable hum, and Janae spoke first. “You don't realize how tall that mountain is, until we move up the side like this.”
“I haven't seen this much natural green since, well, since I can't remember when,” Adryel added, one hand on the window frame. “Since it was safe to be outside in it, I guess.”
He met her gaze. “We will keep you safe until this is resolved. Lock my words in,” Stron said.
Adryel nodded. “We shall see,” she said, though it was low. She probably didn't think he would hear. Or that anyone would.
“Do we have any idea when this will be resolved?” Janae asked.
“The investigation is ongoing,” Stron said. “When we know more, we shall let you and your people know.”
“What do we know so far?” Janae asked.
“It is more what we don't know. We know it is not one of the major factions here. They would have taken credit immediately if any of their groups were responsible,” Khalzin said.
Stron nodded. “We also know that whoever was responsible had resources to make this happen and preserve the secrets of it.”
“Which typically means either a lot of power, or credits, or death,” Janae said.
“Or some combination thereof,” Adryel added.
Khalzin traveled over the lands, slow and outside of traditional flight paths to allow them to look outside. Show off their world in a positive way.
Much better than this dark conversation going on inside.
Though no one seemed to be looking at the greenery out there, anyway.
“We have seen the ugly side of humanoids,” Janae said. “No species can claim they do not have that side of their people. On Trinity Alpha Prime, I saw it all. Regardless of the humanoid species, there were always those who were good, and those who were not.”
“We hope to be those who are good,” Khalzin said.
She smiled. “I think you are on your way.”
Her smile was warm, and if Stron wasn’t mistaken, she reached for him. For a second, anyway, but stopped herself, and put her hand back in her lap.
Adryel saw the gesture and raised her eyebrow.
Stron hated to say it, but he liked her distrust of everything. There was something appealing about the way she studied and questioned things.
“So, you two are getting along, then?” Adryel asked, touching Janae’s arm.
Janae nodded. “We are.”
The female beamed, and Khalzin saw her through one of the reflections in the vessel.
Stron was about to say something about them looking at each other with lovesick expressions, and he caught Adryel’s gaze.
She rolled her eyes, her gaze meeting his.
He smiled back, and for a brief beat, everyone was silent.
Stron shifted to a different topic than the brewing attraction on the vessel.
Partially because he wasn’t sure if he met Khalzin or his own growing interest in Adryel. “What happens to the rest of the volunteers from the program? If you are not chosen while here? Do you go home?”
“You mean before the ship got blown up?” Adryel asked, raising one of her eyebrows.
No one spoke. Guilt covered Khalzin’s face. Stron understood. While bringing the females to their world wasn’t his idea, he shared in the guilt. These females came here to find a home. Mates. A general sense of safety, and look at what has happened.
Kantenans were honorable. Strong. Trustable.
And the first humanoids that come to their world are bombed.
Adryel sighed and rolled her eyes. “Calm down. It's sarcasm, and it's my defense mechanism.”
“It was a joke?” Stron asked.
“A badly timed one, evidently,” Adryel said. “But yeah.”
“That will take some adjusting to,” Stron said. “Do you know the answer? Beyond your defenses?”
Adryel smiled. “I know that Kantenan was the first of two other stops the Galactic Alliance was going to be making on this run through the galaxy. Not sure where the other worlds were, but I knew that anyone who was not chosen here would be able to try again and attempt to find a mate.”
“Does that bother you? Parading for other humanoids to decide to select you?” Stron asked.
Adryel shrugged. “We are here by agreement, so we know what is expected. And there are rules, which is helpful. We have to do certain things, like study the cultures we are going to.”
“Is that taxing?” Khalzin asked. “Studying the different cultures and worlds?”
“Taxing, no. It just gives those of us who did actually study the worlds a bit more information about what we were going to see.” Adryel glanced at Janae before she spoke again. “Like, I know that tower over there is Rue Ve-Max, in honor of old Kantenan culture.”
“Well, you're not wrong,” Stron said. “But you're not quite accurate.”
Janae looked out the window.
“I didn't say I learned everything. Just an overview, really,” Adryel said.
Khalzin chuckled. “It is one of our oldest and most important structures. Our Coalition meets there. Our laws are created in that building. It is a very important location for our people.”
“Like I said. Important. And I knew what the name of it was.” She glanced at Janae. “Unlike other people.”
Janae laughed. “Well, when you don't expect to get selected, or even looked at, you don't really do much studying.”
“So where are we headed?” Stron asked.
“I thought we'd start with an overview, and then maybe go to Terra North?”
Stron nodded. “I think they'll like that.”