Starburst Page 17

  Meredith felt her hackles rise. “He is not a hybrid. He is a being with thoughts and feelings.”

  For the first time the knowledge assailed her of what he must have been through countless times. The thoughtless whispers and comments angered her, the same ones which must have wounded and stung him his entire life. The thought made her chest ache.

  Veshnartu raised a hand. “I meant no disrespect. His name is Chowd, I understand? But what house? The only Ru’Edan I know of that would have that name is Sur Banden...” The words came slowly. “Is he? Is he a son of the house Sur Banden?”

  Meredith turned to him, seeking help. It wasn’t for her to tell. But they would know soon.

  * * * *

  The back of Chowd’s neck prickled. He turned, searching for the threat, only to see Meredith, her face tight, and the knot of tension he carried since arriving became even more pronounced, if that was possible.

  “Excuse me,” he muttered to Jod before stepping toward Meredith. Her eyes beseeched him, yet he could discern no apparent reason. “Meredith?”

  She gripped his fingers wordlessly, telling him of her worry.

  “Are you of the house of Sur Banden?” the older woman Meredith had been talking to asked, and he turned to assess her. Perhaps in her fourth or fifth decade, the woman was obviously of the high-class. Gray-green eyes, laser sharp, watched his movements. He felt no malice in her searching gaze. “Are you?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I am.”

  “Of what rank?” Here lay the question he had hoped to dodge, but this woman likely held the rank of mate to a high senator, and he couldn’t ignore her question.

  “Immediate son and heir.”

  The women hissed their anger in reaction to his bald statement.

  “Yet you travel with the humans? Actively work with them in the hunt for your father?”

  By now all talk had ceased in the room, and he felt the awareness of gazes burning him.

  “I do and would again. My mother was a human he took to service his needs. She bore a son. Neither of us chose our fate.” He waited quietly for someone to denounce him.

  “Then you would hold the seat on the Senate? Will you accept it and the position of the head of the house?”

  Her words shocked him momentarily, and the tug at his hand as Meredith pulled away surprised him. The confusion ate at him from the inside out, as if a vat of acid exploded in his belly. This question had remained a constant companion since their arrival, and even when he slept there was no escaping it. Right now, he still had no answer, and looked helplessly at the woman.

  “It is your fate to head your house, to lead them through these trying times. It is in disarray, women promised without acceptance to those unworthy to build alliances that should never stand,” one of the other women said harshly, and he wanted to turn away from her, but responsibility was something he understood only too well. This one weighted him down against his will though.

  “I don’t know, yet.” His hoarse words fell into the silence, and the woman turned away, dashing tears from her pale face.

  He felt her keen pain, but he had to make the right decision for him and the house. He also had his oath to the Admiralty to consider, and he couldn’t ask Meredith to stay with him. That thought alone sent another shaft of pain through his chest.

  Suddenly the doors to the Senate chamber opened and the ambassador and senators re-entered the room, initially oblivious to the charged atmosphere. However, they quickly realized that something had happened, and all eyes settled back on Chowd.

  The high senator stepped forward. “What has occurred?”

  Jod pointed to Chowd. “We have the heir to the house of Sur Banden in our midst. Crick Sur Banden is the sire of Chowd Sur Banden, the chief of security for the Elector, My Lord.” Jod bowed low, and the senators and ambassador fixed stares on Chowd, some filled with hate, others understanding, but all of them with surprise.

  Chowd wanted to sink into the floor, or at least slink away. But that had never been his way, so instead he bowed low to the senators. “Indeed it is true, My Lord Senators.”

  The high senator, Esrau Svan’Er, looked at him, his pale, grayish-yellow eyes narrowed. “Really? You are the son of Crick Sur Banden?” The senator moved forward, and Meredith tried to step in front of Chowd, but he stayed her with a firm hand.

  “No, Meredith. This had to come at some point.”

  “Chowd. This isn’t your problem.”

  He knew she feared him choosing the Ru’Edan way, that it would take priority over his oath to the Admiralty. It would also mean the end of any hope for a future together, and as much as he wanted to shy away from that knowledge, the time had come to make a choice between responsibility for his house or for his humanity. He couldn’t have both. He had to choose one or the other.

  “My Lord Senator, if I might intercede on behalf of Chowd.” The ambassador’s words filled the silence.

  “Indeed, Ambassador, I feel that we should sleep on this and return to this discussion in the morning. At the moment we are not fresh enough of mind to make decisions. Chowd Sur Banden, your presence will be required in the Senate chamber in the morn.” With that implicit dismissal, the senators and their partners bowed low and retired from the room.

  Chowd opened his mouth to explain the situation to the ambassador, but the ambassador held up a hand. “Not now. It’s late, and we need our rest. I suggest we retire and discuss this in the morning when we are also fresh.”

  Chowd felt dissatisfaction at the situation. He turned toward Meredith to find her lips compressed, white strain lines evident. Her eyes glinted with the pain he knew the situation brought her.

  “I guess we’d better head back to our cabin then.” She too headed for the door as he watched.

  * * * *

  Chowd woke slowly, thoughts of the night before battering him. Once they had arrived back at their cabin, Meredith had turned her back, grabbing nightclothes from the pile on the small shelf, and headed in silence to the sanitary unit. He waited patiently, but when she finally returned she climbed into the bed and turned her back. He understood her fears that he would leave to take his place in Ru’Edan society as Crick Sur Banden’s heir, but right now he didn’t have an answer to give her. I should have told her.

  He couldn’t blame her. He could barely live with himself at the moment as he alternated between doing what felt right for others and doing the right thing for himself, and Meredith. He pushed out of the bed, heading for the sanitary unit and shutting the door. The face in the mirror looked haunted.

  “You are going to have to make a choice.” His statement hung in the air, a tacit acknowledgement of not just his needs but everyone else’s as well.

  He opened his bathing bag and reached for the denta-tab he kept handy and wiped his face. Once these small tasks were completed, he opened the door, checking to see Meredith in the same position, before stripping down and pulling on a clean uniform.

  He acknowledged he’d chosen the coward’s way out, but right now, he didn’t want to see the withdrawal in her face. He looked back at her before swooping in to lay a kiss on her brow, careful to keep it light and not wake her. She murmured and shifted before a soft snuffle told him she had settled back in.

  He opened the door and headed into the corridor. Once Chowd checked his wrist chrono and ascertained the hour, he headed to the ambassador’s cabin, nodding at the two guards on night duty.

  “Anything interesting?” he asked.

  They shook their heads, and he depressed the call button.

  The disembodied voice came through the intercom. “Yes?”

  “It’s Chowd Sur Banden, Ambassador. Are you ready?” He hoped that there would be no waiting. He wanted to get this meeting over and done with as swiftly as possible.

  “Yes. I’m coming now.” The door slid open in silence, and the ambassador stepped out into the corridor. “Lead the way, Commander Sur Banden.”

  He bowed, and they started off,
the guards taking their position at the rear as they moved down the corridors and through the checkpoints to the meeting areas. Here the senators waited, many sporting frowns. Together with the ambassador, he stopped just inside the doorway.

  “Chowd Sur Banden, we thank you for attending. Come, we will move into the discussion chamber. Ambassador Vierghent, we would appreciate your attendance as well,” Esrau Svan’Er spoke gravely before indicating the next room.

  They formed their ceremonial line and trooped in, the ambassador and Chowd taking the rear positions as they crossed the threshold. The chamber itself was comfortably furnished. A large, semi-circular table sat in the middle of the room, and high-backed chairs sat at intervals, all dark woods with blue textile coverings, which he soon discovered were actually fur pads.

  He took a seat, nervous flutterings in his belly assailing him. He longed for a drink of water. The senators took their seats, whispering among themselves and checking desk screens.

  “Chowd Sur Banden, we have asked you here to discuss the situation that has arisen. For our records, please state your name, sire, and current designation.”

  “Chowd Sturat Sur Banden. My sire is Crick Sur Banden, fugitive, rogue, and head of the house of Sur Banden. My current designation is commander. Chief of security aboard the Earth Empire vessel Elector.” His voice remained steady.

  Esrau Svan’Er nodded before continuing. “What is the current status of your fealty?”

  Barsha! There was only one answer he could give. “My fealty is to the Earth Empire.” He took a deep, expanding breath, attempting to clear his mind. He had no idea where this would lead.

  “Will you assume the mantle of head of the house of Sur Banden?” another senator asked, and many watched, waiting for the answer to the question.

  “I don’t know,” he answered as truthfully as he could.

  “What? How can you not know? What mischief is this?” A younger senator pushed back from the table in anger, and the ambassador raised his hand calmly.

  “Senators, I would imagine Commander Sur Banden does not know the status of the house. He was unaware of the situation until the last few days. Isn’t that right?” The ambassador looked meaningfully at him, but he didn’t need coaching.

  “I was unaware of this. I had long ago given my pledge to the Empire. Any changes to that will require thought. I can’t and won’t change my allegiance without considering the implications fully. You would expect that of those who have sworn themselves for the Ru’Edan worlds, and I can only do the same for the Empire.” He did not need this right now. Anger at the situation burned, but he wrestled with his warring emotions, reminding himself to remain calm.

  He watched as Esrau nodded. Surely they will accept that for now?

  “Under the circumstances, then, I feel it is important to share with you certain information that has come to our attention in the last few galactic days.” Esrau raised a hand as some of his fellow Ru’Edan began to protest. “No. As Crick Sur Banden is his sire, it is his right to know this.”

  Esrau extended his long, slim hands to the holo sequence actualizer on the table in front of him. Images, hazy at first, formed into a planet. One Chowd had not seen in many years. Not since his flight from Otega.

  “We have become aware that Crick Sur Banden is running and is probably in poor condition. After the battle on the Alpha Star Colony—” Esrau stopped and nodded deeply, acknowledging the part the Elector had played in the situation, before continuing. “He and the few rogues that were with him escaped in a shuttle. All of which you already know. What you do not know is that our spy within his camp has informed us they are headed for Otega. To his base there. They made a stop on a merchant planet, one that has no political ties to either ourselves or the Empire. At the time of the loss of the Alpha Star Colony, he suffered other losses. Losses that he may not yet be aware of, if our intelligence is correct, but that we understand will cause him some discomfort. Some females and rogues he held by force escaped from the planet. Among them, we know of one other hybrid.” Esrau stopped and looked hard at Chowd.

  Another like me? Before any reply could form in Chowd’s confused mind, Esrau continued.

  “Like you, this one is also a child of Crick Sur Banden. Of course, as with yourself, the daughter was born of a human mother. We believe that he was holding on to her in order to create an alliance. At this stage, we do not know who with, though it wouldn’t surprise me if it were the Phobos pirates.”

  Chowd stood slowly, his mind whirling around the ramifications as he paced behind his seat, fingers spearing through his hair. This news shouldn’t surprise him, yet he found the knowledge both unexpected and worrisome. Another hybrid like me? One Crick will sell to the highest bidder? Anger churned in his gut at the thought of another creature bought and sold for Crick Sur Banden’s ugly purposes. A half-sister, bred to use to curry favor. He turned back to look at the senators, concentrating on taking the information and filing it for later consideration and investigation.

  “What else?” His voice sounded strangled and tight as anger bubbled, but he controlled himself.

  “We know that the injuries he sustained when you escaped have been causing him to become unstable. He is addicted to Xeradax.”

  Chowd nodded. He too had learned that. He still had contacts within the base, but none of them had shared the other information. He wondered about that briefly before shoving the questions aside.

  “And?” He looked at the senator, waiting for whatever else he had to share.

  “You do not seem surprised by this news. Tell me, Commander, have you an informant within the base?” the younger senator called out, and Chowd turned, fixing him with a stare he hoped would quiet his outbursts. In response, the senator scrunched down in his seat.

  “Will you accept the position of the head of the house and renounce your fealty to the Empire?” Esrau waited for his answer.

  Ahh, how I wish I could avoid this boggy ground. He opened his mouth to reply, but the ambassador beat him to it. “Senator, I must protest—”

  Esrau raised a hand. “In all fairness, Ambassador, I need the commander to answer.” His eyes turned cold while rapid-fire thoughts tumbled around in Chowd’s mind.

  I can only give one answer. “Senator, I will not renounce my fealty to the Empire.” He expected an angry outburst, yet Esrau simply smiled.

  “Thank you, Commander. I think we are concluded for now. However, you must realize that this opens a can of worms. One that must be addressed. Either you accept the role you should, by birthright, assume, or step aside. In this case, I need you to be sure. On that basis, I believe you should have time to reconsider.” He spread his hands. “You are excused.”

  Chowd took a step back, glancing at the ambassador, who looked as confused as he felt. Yet even now, some of the sting in the air began to dissipate.

  “What will... What will happen to the house if I don’t accept?”

  “In this instance, it was necessary for an heir come forward. They need to renounce it before we could mandate a new head. There is one here. He is... He thinks as we do. But we will require you to formally denounce your position, should you choose to take that path. Take some time and think it over, because once you make a decision, it’s final.” Esrau smiled, and Chowd felt the heavy chain of responsibility.

  “I’m ready now.” Chowd thrust forward his chin, but Esrau shook his head.

  “Later. You must reconsider the choices and opportunities that come with it.”

  Chowd nodded and backed out of the room, the door closing in front of him. He walked over to a chair and sat with a thud. What in Eshra’s name has just occurred?

  His comm bleeped, and he lifted the device. “Yes?”

  “Chowd? Where are you?” Meredith’s voice filled the air, and for the first time since leaving the cabin, he smiled.

  “Outside the meeting chamber. Why?”

  “Because something’s happened, and I think you need to come and se
e.” Her voice was strained, and he felt a moment of panic. He had left her alone. What if something had happened to her? Barsha! How could he face Duvall if Meredith was hurt? How could he live with himself?

  “Meredith—” A buzzing noise emanated from his communicator. He shook it. “Meredith? Are you there?” All sorts of visions filled his mind, but there was only one thing he knew for certain—he had to get to Meredith. Now.

  Chapter 13

  “I can’t...” Meredith looked at the blackened shell of the ambassador’s room. Someone had obviously expected to find him there. Not even she’d known of his absence this early. Something had exploded with a bang, catching her attention and creating a mess of the ambassador’s suite. The smell of burned textiles filled her nose, and she grimaced. Eyes running, she coughed and took a step back from the smoky doorway.

  She’d tried to finish telling Chowd what had occurred and that she was unharmed, but her communicator had failed right when she’d needed it most. Her stomach churned when she thought about how he might get the wrong impression that something had happened to her, but there wasn’t much else she could do right now. He’d be there momentarily.

  Raven stood in the doorway with Jemma. “Whatever it was, there is very little evidence for us to collect. The sooner we get back to the Elector and away from these Ru’Edanians, the better,” he added under his breath, and she smiled, knowing he hadn’t wanted anyone to hear.

  “Chowd will be here soon, and he’ll know what to do,” Meredith said.

  For the first time since this mission began, she allowed her misgivings to take form in her mind. She was unsure of her ability to hold her own in the face of the repeated attacks on them. After all, she’d done nothing but cause more problems than she solved.

  Jod Svan’Er had deployed guards to seal off both ends of the corridor, so the sound of thudding footsteps captured her attention. Maybe it’s Chowd. She turned, her hair swinging free.

  “What in Eshra’s name happened here?” His voice cut through the air, and she slumped a little, feeling reassured by his presence. He didn’t look in her direction and that cut her to the core. She twisted her fingers together as she watched.