disappeared and Kellen looked at the physician, uncertain what was expected of her. “Do you know what’s going on, Doctor?”
“I can only guess. Code 82 means that someone’s invaded our space.”
“Why does this concern me?” Kellen asked, and the only plausible explanation hit her. “M’Ekar.” The name chilled her like a wet blanket around her heart. He’s here for Armeo. And to throw me into an asteroid prison to wither away. Thank the Gods of Gantharat the doctor fixed my leg. It’s time to get out of here. The commodore will be busy defending her station and won’t have her eyes on me. This is our chance, Armeo. She would have to find a way for them to reach the Kithanya, but she could deal with that once they were ready to leave.
“The commodore will take care of this situation.” Gemma obviously supported her superior without hesitation. “There. Let’s get this bandaged. I’ll work on the skin tomorrow.”
Kellen inhaled deeply as her stomach twitched. Was she going to be back here tomorrow, or would she be on her way to prison? Gemma and Jacelon’s close association reminded Kellen that she and Armeo were alone on this base. These SC citizens would prove their allegiance to Jacelon and the power she represented, which made Kellen the outsider, and this was yet another dangerous position.
Rae returned and quickly crossed the floor. “All set? Come with me.” She helped Kellen off the gurney and looked her over with sharp eyes. “You okay?”
Carefully trying her leg, Kellen was delighted that she was once again able to put weight on her leg without any searing pain. “Yes.”
“You need to change clothes.” Rae glanced at the guard. “Take Ms. O’Dal back to her quarters and give her a neutral uniform. Gemma, make sure Armeo knows his guardian isn’t here. Arrange for him to stay with someone he knows.”
“Yes, Commodore.”
“I won’t leave without Armeo,” Kellen objected, refusing to move. “I’m not going anywhere or changing into anything until you tell me what’s going on.” And enough time to lose the guard, find Armeo, and leave before you guess my intentions.
Rae had begun to walk toward the door, but now she stopped and whirled around with an impatient look on her face. “We don’t have time,” she said. “Ambassador M’Ekar has passed our outer markers with twelve of his vessels. He’s violated SC law. I have to deploy the fleet and prepare for battle.”
“Why do I have to be there?”
“You’re the reason he’s here, and you’re in danger. I don’t have time to explain the details yet.” Rae’s glance softened a fraction. “Trust me, Kellen. If you want to keep Armeo safe and in your life, you need to come with me now.”
Rae’s voice and her gaze were both steady, leaving no room for objections. Kellen examined every one of her reasons to remain suspicious of her motives and found them all valid. Nobody in authority had ever proven trustworthy in the past.
Still, another part of her, something buried deep within the rarely visited caverns of her soul, insisted Rae was what she seemed, trustworthy and protective. To Kellen’s amazement, this persistent inner voice threatened to drown out her suspicions. She snapped her head back, her contempt still simmering. “Very well. I will do as you say.”
“Be ready in ten minutes. See you at port 1.”
As Kellen changed into a plain SC military uniform, she made a disdainful face at herself in the full-length mirror, unaccustomed to wearing such attire. Like most Gantharians, she connected the practice of wearing a uniform with the Onotharian occupational forces.
She straightened the leathermix jacket. Her security guard had explained the materials, probably guessing how alien they were to her. The jacket’s synthetic material felt soft against her fingers. The blue trousers were made of thermilon, able to keep their wearer comfortable regardless of outer temperature. Kellen stuck her feet
“I can only guess. Code 82 means that someone’s invaded our space.”
“Why does this concern me?” Kellen asked, and the only plausible explanation hit her. “M’Ekar.” The name chilled her like a wet blanket around her heart. He’s here for Armeo. And to throw me into an asteroid prison to wither away. Thank the Gods of Gantharat the doctor fixed my leg. It’s time to get out of here. The commodore will be busy defending her station and won’t have her eyes on me. This is our chance, Armeo. She would have to find a way for them to reach the Kithanya, but she could deal with that once they were ready to leave.
“The commodore will take care of this situation.” Gemma obviously supported her superior without hesitation. “There. Let’s get this bandaged. I’ll work on the skin tomorrow.”
Kellen inhaled deeply as her stomach twitched. Was she going to be back here tomorrow, or would she be on her way to prison? Gemma and Jacelon’s close association reminded Kellen that she and Armeo were alone on this base. These SC citizens would prove their allegiance to Jacelon and the power she represented, which made Kellen the outsider, and this was yet another dangerous position.
Rae returned and quickly crossed the floor. “All set? Come with me.” She helped Kellen off the gurney and looked her over with sharp eyes. “You okay?”
Carefully trying her leg, Kellen was delighted that she was once again able to put weight on her leg without any searing pain. “Yes.”
“You need to change clothes.” Rae glanced at the guard. “Take Ms. O’Dal back to her quarters and give her a neutral uniform. Gemma, make sure Armeo knows his guardian isn’t here. Arrange for him to stay with someone he knows.”
“Yes, Commodore.”
“I won’t leave without Armeo,” Kellen objected, refusing to move. “I’m not going anywhere or changing into anything until you tell me what’s going on.” And enough time to lose the guard, find Armeo, and leave before you guess my intentions.
Rae had begun to walk toward the door, but now she stopped and whirled around with an impatient look on her face. “We don’t have time,” she said. “Ambassador M’Ekar has passed our outer markers with twelve of his vessels. He’s violated SC law. I have to deploy the fleet and prepare for battle.”
“Why do I have to be there?”
“You’re the reason he’s here, and you’re in danger. I don’t have time to explain the details yet.” Rae’s glance softened a fraction. “Trust me, Kellen. If you want to keep Armeo safe and in your life, you need to come with me now.”
Rae’s voice and her gaze were both steady, leaving no room for objections. Kellen examined every one of her reasons to remain suspicious of her motives and found them all valid. Nobody in authority had ever proven trustworthy in the past.
Still, another part of her, something buried deep within the rarely visited caverns of her soul, insisted Rae was what she seemed, trustworthy and protective. To Kellen’s amazement, this persistent inner voice threatened to drown out her suspicions. She snapped her head back, her contempt still simmering. “Very well. I will do as you say.”
“Be ready in ten minutes. See you at port 1.”
As Kellen changed into a plain SC military uniform, she made a disdainful face at herself in the full-length mirror, unaccustomed to wearing such attire. Like most Gantharians, she connected the practice of wearing a uniform with the Onotharian occupational forces.
She straightened the leathermix jacket. Her security guard had explained the materials, probably guessing how alien they were to her. The jacket’s synthetic material felt soft against her fingers. The blue trousers were made of thermilon, able to keep their wearer comfortable regardless of outer temperature. Kellen stuck her feet
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