Chapter 58 #2
“But we are not agreeing to the previous terms,” Survii said, a low growl in his voice. Both human males stiffened and, very briefly, panic flashed in Lie’s eyes.
And that was better. Survii would not grant him any satisfaction for this.
“Survii,” Alanna’s voice came, softly, from behind him.
He looked back at his mate and gave her a soft, reassuring smile that the two human males couldn’t see. It was completely gone by the time he looked back.
“Those terms were predicated upon the condition that this was a peaceful negotiation.”
John cleared his throat. “If you wish to re-enter negotiations, we, of course, would-”
“No. The terms of the agreement can stand. You have already sold my own mate to me in order to get them.” Again, he couldn’t stop his growl from threading through the words. “But ten of us stepped foot onto your planet. Ten of us will leave it again or there is no agreement.”
He saw understanding dawn on the male’s face. But it was clearly not a good emotion. They also knew that it was most likely that Tuvo and Hattie were already dead.
He relented slightly. “Tuvo and Hattie will be returned to us – be it alive, or their bodies. If they have burned, then their ashes. Find them, President Townsend. Until they are back amongst us, there is no deal to be made here.”
He gestured and Navine cut off the feed before either male could speak again. He was not at all inclined to hear any more of their words.
The lights in the room came up and, immediately, Alanna was rushing onto the platform. Coming to him with a worried expression.
He immediately opened his arms, taking her into them with a smile.
It was good to have her near him again. He might not carry the psychological load of the past days like she did, but being separated from his mate for any length of time this soon after she had been in danger was not easy on his nerves.
She was only safe in his arms. She was only safe right here.
The expression on her face told him that she wasn’t feeling nearly so relieved.
“Are you really going to reject the agreement?” She asked, worried.
The other females stood at the base of the platform, staring at him with equal unease.
As horrific as this was, Earth was still their home planet.
The idea of being cut off from their family, their past, was too terrible a notion to consider.
Even after everything they had suffered, Earth was still their home and no matter how far away they traveled, they didn’t want to lose that connection completely.
And the power to do so was purely in Survii’s hands.
He was the ambassador tasked with obtaining this agreement and he alone had the ability to make it reality or not.
Atem might outrank him on Turv, but in the eyes of the Coalition, Atem was only the representative of Turv.
Survii was the one empowered to make contact with Earth as an ambassador.
“Tuvo and Hattie will be returned to us,” he told his mate gently. “No matter what I must do to make it happen.”
“But Survii…”
“Be at ease, vi Vitralai,” he growled, nuzzling her forehead with his nose.
“I have no intention of rejecting the agreement. As you said, we knew coming here had its risks. But one way or another, we will get their bodies back, no matter what remains of them. And we will honor them properly in the domini way. I won’t allow their ashes to be scattered, even if it is not an insult or punishment among your people. ”
“Where are we on that?” Atem asked, looking at the crew of the ship.
It was one of the ratchi officers that answered.
“Nothing yet, sir. The forest they were over is too dense. We don’t have the equipment to penetrate it to search for them, and it’s filled with life so heat signatures can do nothing.
Without being on the ground ourselves, we cannot hope to find them. Dead or alive.”
Survii wasn’t surprised to hear it, but the news very obviously made the other females sink into themselves. Depressed by hearing it. Clearly still holding onto hope that, somehow, the two would have survived an exploding plane.
Survii couldn’t blame them either. He kept trying to think of scenarios in which Tuvo would have been able to protect himself and Hattie. If they made it into a forest, they had a chance. No matter how wild it was, Tuvo would be able to take care of them there.
But they had to have survived the explosion first, and that was the real question.
There was some discussion about tracking them, but that task had been given to Haviss and the team of ratchi on board.
They were superior trackers, through most means, including through technology at a distance.
If it came to it and Survii had to bring other aliens onto Earth, he would be bringing ratchi, no matter how poorly received the reptilian people would be.
Their sense of smell would be invaluable in searching on the ground.
The agreement itself might not be in total jeopardy, but the humans were walking a very thin line and on one side was the full force of the Coalition. A superpower that Earth and its militaries were in no way capable of fighting.
And they knew it.
That knowledge was one of the reasons they were trying so hard right now.
Why they had been willing to allow them to kill so many humans like it was nothing.
It wasn’t just the trade deals and the advancement of their species on the line, it was the threat of an unknown and vastly powerful alien force that stood behind Survii’s back, ready to defend them if necessary.
After discussing the search efforts for a while, they left the room and went their separate ways – Romival practically running back to the nest where he had left Holly. Survii imagined he wasn’t going to see the nervous female again for some time.
He and Alanna, however, just started walking.
He let her lead. Not really concerned about their destination or their pace. He fell into step beside her, smiling as she meandered through the ship. Looking worried, but safe.
“Do you think…” She started slowly. “Do you think there’s a possibility that Tuvo and Hattie could have survived?”
He thought about his answer carefully before answering. “I think if there was any way it could happen. Tuvo would have done it.”
“Is that a diplomatic way of saying ‘no’?”
“It’s a diplomatic way of saying, ‘I don’t know’,” he chuckled, but it was a hollow sound. “You are right to say that Hattie wouldn’t want us to give up. But Tuvo would want us to protect our females at all costs. Including cutting ties with Earth.”
They came to a halt in front of a long viewing window along a well-traveled part of the ship. They both stepped closer to the glass, letting people pass behind them.
And stared at the view of the moon.
The silvery, barren landscape was glowing in the unprotected force of the sun.
It seemed to sparkle, but at the same time, appeared completely static.
There was no wind to disturb the endless planes and hills of dust. And beyond it, mesmerizing against the blackness of space, was the Earth. Glowing blue and green and white.
“It is a beautiful planet,” Survii said, unable to deny that. “Even if the males of your species are completely reprehensible.”
“Some of the people are completely reprehensible.”
He grinned at her correction. “You are determined to make me see the good in them.”
“And you’re determined to focus on the bad.
” She turned, putting the moon and the world at her back to stare at him with her glowing, golden eyes.
The contrast of the background to her dark skin and the rich black shirt she had chosen for the day, gave her a halo like some ethereal being not of this dimension.
“You are the best thing to come from your Earth, Alanna,” he said, reaching for her.
“I am just another ordinary girl. There are thousands, if not millions, like me.”
“There is no one like you.”
“Even just statistically, that’s incorrect.”
He laughed, putting his hands on the window, caging her in his arms. “There is no one like you,” he repeated more emphatically.
“No one who would face the Coalition to fight for her planet. No one who would keep doing so even after everything that happened. No one who would continue to see the good in them, even after her people had proved her wrong so many times.”
“See,” she grinned, “you’re proving my point. There are so many people down there that would do the same. Who would do more.”
“But none would do it like you.” He kissed her forehead.
“Survii, please,” she gave him a pleading look. “Please see the good in my people. It’s there. And they can prove it to you. Let them. Please.”
He let out a long breath. “You’re the one they’re disappointing, Alanna. And that’s what I can’t stand most of all.”
“Me?”
“You are fighting so hard for them, yet they seem determined to throw your efforts right back in your face. And I hate that. I hate that they drive you to beg for their lives. You deserve more than that, Alanna. You are too good for them.”
“Survii…”
“Alanna, I-”
His combot beeped, alerting him to an incoming comm. He growled, annoyed, as he gave the order for the device to answer.
“You’re needed in the comm room,” Navine said without preamble.
“I’m busy,” he growled, hating that they had been interrupted. Right when he was about to tell Alanna that he loved her. “Tell the humans I’ll talk to them when they have news about Tuvo and Hattie for me and not a moment before.”
“It’s not from Earth. It’s from the High Imperium. The Coalition wants an update straight from you since you’re back on the ship.”
Survii’s growl deepened, frustration eating at him.
Alanna chuckled, running her hand down his chest. “You can’t say no.”
“I can if I say it diplomatically.”
She laughed, pushing him back. “Go. I’ll see you in our room later, okay?”
He sighed, stepping away. Annoyed, but unable to deny his mate anything. And she wasn’t wrong. He could hardly refuse to speak to the High Imperium.
“We’ll continue this conversation later, vi Vitralai. Ready yourself for when we do.”
The threat, the promise of those words, startled her. He could feel her eyes on him as he was walking away, heading back to the comm room.
And he flexed his ass just a bit for her to enjoy the view as he did so.