Read Online The Exiled Earthborn by Paul Tassi - Free Book Online

pointed the way to his destination. Some were already suiting up. It appeared that the Guardians had been training on this ship for some time, at least to the point where they knew their way around. They only needed someone to turn it on and fly it, a role Alpha now filled.
    Comms was a large area buzzing with officers and flooded with an array of monitors everywhere he turned. As soon as he was spotted, a man ushered him to the rear of the room. A small screen floated up to his face, then tripled in size. Two familiar figures appeared. It was Talis Vale, and she was holding Noah in her lap.
    “Madam Chancellor!” Lucas said, unable to hide his surprise. She was in a new ensemble from the gown she’d worn earlier, but bruising on her neck and face indicated she hadn’t escaped the assault entirely unscathed. Dried tears were etched on her cheeks in two columns, but when she saw Lucas, she grinned. As did Noah, and the boy reached for the screen, trying to touch him.
    “I’ve told you a dozen times to call me Talis, Lucas,” she said with a weak smile. “It is good to see you well. I was thrilled to learn of your survival.”
    “I’m glad to see you’re safe too, Talis. But I have to say I’m sorry for the loss of your daughter.”
    Her smiled faded.
    “Thank you. I hope you don’t mind that I’ve appropriated your child to help me through this difficult time. He’s a constant source of joy, even in this darkness.”
    She bounced Noah on her knee and he giggled.
    “Of course. I can imagine no greater protector for him.”
    Talis gazed off out of frame, her tone softer when she spoke again.
    “I never thought I’d lose her. My sons, my husband, my father. Those deaths I knew in my heart would come someday as they fought impossible enemies millions of miles away. But Cora? She was supposed to be safe here. I cannot believe it.”
    Lucas didn’t know what to say.
    “I’m sorry.”
    But that didn’t feel like anything close to enough.
    She turned to face Lucas once more.
    “The reason I called you here isn’t to pine for the lost. I’m issuing you an order I hope you’ll follow, even if you’re a citizen of a planet other than this one.”
    “Anything.”
    “If you find Hex Tulwar in this mess after saving your companion, ensure he is captured alive.”
    Lucas was taken aback.
    “Alive? After all that he’s done? Conspiring with the Xalans? Killing your … killing so many?”
    She shook her head.
    “If you come home with his head, this will look like a covert assassination rather than a rescue mission. Even if his death is warranted, it will set the entire region on fire and we’ll have two full-scale wars on our hands instead of one.”
    Her right hand was trembling as the other held on to Noah.
    “As much as I want vengeance for my daughter, I won’t put more lives at risk for my own vendetta. But I cannot say the same for Mars.”
    Lucas nodded.
    “I’ve heard he and Corinthia were … close.”
    “That was kept secret by them, but it ended some time ago for reasons my daughter didn’t care to divulge. But he never stopped caring for Cora, and I’m worried he’ll tear Tulwar limb from limb if no one stops him.”
    Lucas rested his arms on the console in front of him.
    “Why aren’t you issuing this order to him? Or Admiral Vale?”
    “I have, but if Tannon isn’t on the ground, you can be certain none of the Guardians will intervene to stop Mars. He’d defy a direct order to avenge Cora even if it meant possibly spending the rest of his life in a cell.”
    “I’m not going to lie, I’d love to see this bastard dead as well, even if I just learned his name a few hours ago. He took Asha, killed innocents …”
    Talis nodded.
    “I understand, but he must face justice for his crimes in a civilized manner. If we execute him on the spot like barbarians, we’re no better than the Order itself in the eyes of the world.”
    Lucas sighed.
    “I’ll do what I can, but Tulwar’s death