Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
“What the hell!” Dathan exploded.
“You stay the hell away from her,” Niklas said in a quiet voice.
Xander had believed the astro-archeologist to be a mild-mannered academic. But underlying Niklas Phoenix’s tone was a hard, dangerous edge that said he’d fight to protect those he loved.
Malin drew herself up. “Excuse me, adult here. I can kiss whoever the hell I like.”
Dathan shook his head. “Mal, he’s a machine—”
Xander watched with interest as her eyes fired and she rounded on Dathan.
“I’m not having this argument again,” she snapped. “Just drop it.”
Dathan released a long breath. “He doesn’t feel anything, Mal. You deserve more than that. I know Granger screwed you around—”
“Don’t bring him up!”
Granger? Xander fought an internal frown.
As the cousins continued arguing, Xander once again felt unfamiliar emotions battering at him. His entire planet was at stake. He thought of his team who’d tried to rescue the leader of Centax. They hadn’t made it and had been captured.
His probability calculations told him they were most likely dead.
He also thought of his brother. There was a high probability Axton was dead, too.
Xander had a mission to save his planet and people. One he was created to do.
He couldn’t afford to feel.
He started working on amplifying his filters. He couldn’t afford the distracting emotions Malin Phoenix generated in him.
“She was reacting to the stress of our escape from Centax.” All eyes swung to him. “As you said, I feel little. I certainly don’t feel anything for Malin.”
The room went quiet.
Malin stared at him, her eyes blinking rapidly.
“Curiosity.” He couldn’t deny he’d been curious to see what she felt like, tasted like. “That’s all.”
She looked away. “See—” a crack in her voice “—nothing to worry about.”
Xander detected some sort of stress in her tone, but she turned away from him, and he couldn’t see her face. “I would like to focus on what’s important, the Antikythera.”
Eos bustled past, grabbing Malin by the arm. “I think we should do this in mission control. Mal and I will head up.” Eos dragged Malin with her and speared her husband with a look. “Dathan, why don’t you show Xander up? We’ll meet you there.”
Xander watched the women leave, staring at the back of Malin’s head. He didn’t like the fact that she wasn’t looking at him, or the fact that she was leaving him. Even for a few minutes.
Dathan was frowning. “Let’s go, CenSec. It’s time you tell us exactly what you want.”
Xander followed the treasure hunter out into the hangar, aware of Niklas following behind them. “What is mission control?”
“Where we plan all our hunts.”
They made their way through the darkened hangar. He switched to night vision, noted the salvaged parts, all sorted in a neat and orderly fashion. Malin was clearly efficient and competent at her work.
They climbed some stairs and then passed through a heavily secure doorway. Inside, the room was centered on a large holo-table. Shelves lined the walls and valuable artifacts lined the shelves.
Eos was tapping at the holo-table screen. Malin was seated and she didn’t look up as they came in.
Nik moved to lean against the wall while Dathan moved over beside his wife, pressing a hip to the table.
“Time to talk,” the treasure hunter said.
Xander wasted no words. “A Centaxian named Rexon Dax has taken control of Centax.” For the first time in a long time, he struggled to keep his anger out of his face.
“And that’s bad?” Eos asked.
“He’s a fanatical misogynist zealot who’s planning to tear my planet and my people apart.
” Xander’s hands squeezed into tight fists.
He’d always felt anger, but never this strong, this hot.
Damn his failing filters. “The information I was able to gather before I escaped says he’s planning on closing schools and academies.
He wants to enslave the women. All women in high-ranking positions—in the government, business, and the academies—will have been removed by now.
He’s already closed Centax Security and deemed all CenSecs enemies of the state.
He’s also going to decree that girls will no longer attend school or be eligible for enhancements. ”
Malin looked up now, but her gaze seemed to look through him. “That’s barbaric.”
Niklas uttered a curse.
“I find it very hard to believe that the ruthless CenSec forces were overwhelmed,” Dathan said. “Maybe what I heard about you guys is just hype?”
Xander felt that tick in his jaw again. “Dax hired mercenaries.”
“The giants,” Malin murmured.
“Yes.” The lack of light in her eyes disturbed him.
Since he’d met her, he’d never seen anything but animation in those violet eyes.
He wanted to touch her. “I’ve never seen anyone like them before.
Clearly fighters. They were armed with some sort of tech that disrupts CenSec technology and implants. ”
“Couldn’t use all your superpowers, huh?” Dathan again.
“Dathan, enough.” Eos elbowed him in the side.
“I’m not going to just trust a CenSec. I’ve seen what they can do.”
Xander wouldn’t have respected the man if he didn’t ensure the protection of his people.
Centax ruled all the planets and moons in their star system.
CenSecs had garnered a reputation, and they hadn’t gained that by being nice.
“We were winning. But they took the Centaxian Prime hostage and used his safety as leverage.”
“The Prime is your planet’s leader, right?” Malin said.
A tight nod. “Yes. Axton Saros.”
Malin surged to her feet. “Saros? You’re related?”
“Yes. My brother.” Xander had been earmarked for Security early on, just as the charming Axton, with his ready smile, had been a born diplomat and ruler.
If he was still alive. “My CenSec team tried to infiltrate the Capitol Building, but they were captured and I lost contact with them.” He regulated his breathing and noticed Malin was staring at his hand. He forced his fingers to uncurl.
“How did you escape?” Niklas asked.
“I wasn’t in the Capitol at the time.” His gaze met Malin’s then flicked away.
“I had a security meeting near the Haxx Salvage Yard. Looks like it was arranged to get me out of the way. After I lost contact with my team, I managed to find a record of Malin being on planet…with a ship. A few mercenaries tracked me down but I…we…fought them off. You know the rest.”
“Why? Why come here?” Dathan demanded. “Surely you have numerous allied planets in your system. They’d help you.”
“Because of the Antikythera.”
“That’s right.” Malin paced a few steps. “The Antikythera is the symbol of the power to rule. Dad took me to see it once in the museum when we were on Centax. Even in its protective plas cover it was amazing. Whoever holds the Antikythera, holds the power to rule the planet.”
“By Suva,” Eos murmured. “Centax practices valengeniture.”
Dathan frowned. “Valen what?”
“It’s an ancient practice, one I thought no one used anymore.” Eos gathered herself. “It’s based on ancient law, where a ruler is selected by strength, not bloodline or election.”
“Correct, Dr. Phoenix.” Xander nodded. “On Centax, the Antikythera is the symbol of that strength. The ruler must hold the mechanism and protect it in order to be worthy of being ruler.”
Dathan shifted. “That’s crazy. So anyone can come and steal it and be considered ruler of the planet?”
“Yes.” Xander felt a rush of anger. He’d argued for years that the ruling council should change the old law, in case of a situation just like this.
They’d argued it was tradition and no one could ever steal the artifact.
“In the early history of our planet, strength was worshiped. Today it is still important.” He stared at the implants on his wrist, a symbol of what his planet cherished.
“The Prime is now elected, along with the members of the ruling council. Most think of the Antikythera and valengeniture as nothing more than quaint custom. No one believed anyone would take advantage of the ancient, outdated law like this.”
“So this Dax can do whatever the hell he wants?” Niklas asked.
“Yes. Without the Antikythera, Axton and the ruling council have no right to rule.” For the first time since he’d been a child, Xander felt a wash of helplessness.
“No allies will help me get Centax back.” He tried to catch Malin’s gaze again, but she studiously looked at her cousins.
“I have to save Centax. That’s why I came here with Malin.
” He turned to look at the others before settling on Dathan.
“I need your help to find and steal back the Antikythera.”
And if they wouldn’t help him, then he’d do it on his own.
Or die trying.
Xander was drawn back to Malin. It was like a magnetic pull he couldn’t seem to control. His gaze drifted lower down her slim neck. He wondered how soft her skin was there, how sensitive.
He blinked slowly. He was a CenSec, created to protect and carry out his duty to Centax. He had no business touching anyone, unless it was to kill them.
Emotions battered against him again. He closed his eyes and tried to strengthen his filters.
Xander’s enhanced senses picked up movement. When he looked up again, it was Dathan Phoenix studying him with a hard blue gaze. “We don’t do charity work. Sounds like you’re without any funds.”
Eos gasped. “Dathan, his planet needs help. Its women need help.”
Xander had no trouble keeping his face blank. He wasn’t really warming to Malin’s infamous cousin. “I have access to hidden Security assets off-planet that Rexon Dax can’t trace.”
Dathan turned to Malin. “I figure this is your call.”
Mal’s eyes widened. She shoved her hands in the pockets of her coveralls. “Why? He needs a treasure hunter, he doesn’t need me.”
Xander did not like her careless tone. Something had changed in the last few minutes and he wasn’t sure what.
“You’ve been involved since you helped him escape,” Dathan said.