“We could be wrong,” Myranda softly said. “We could be looking for all kinds of sinister plots that just aren’t there. Unfortunately, I know her better than most. I saw how she hid things on the Venus. Back then I kept my mouth shut and my head down. But now … now she’s insinuated herself into the life of somebody I love.”
Lyra slowly smiled. “And you don’t like it. You want something done.”
“Let’s just say it’s better to beg forgiveness than ask permission. And if Cordis is somehow being manipulated then you know damned well Soldar is.
He’s
the one with the real power.”
“That’s what scares me, Myranda!”
“Then, honey … why the hell did you leave Soldar to her devices? If she
is
up to something I’d have thought you’d want to get him the hell away from her. Convince him to throw her out of his life.”
“I don’t think I have that power. I don’t think I ever did!”
Myranda backed up and nodded. “I think I’m beginning to see the big picture here.” She took Lyra’s hands and paused before speaking again. “You don’t know if things on that ship weren’t exactly as Aigean planned? Including everything Soldar did and said to you.”
“Christ, ’Manda! I don’t know if she didn’t even get in my head. That kind of power is … just
think
of the implications.”
“S-she isn’t supposed to be able to control us … Earthlings, I mean. At least that’s what I heard on the Venus.”
“’Manda … would she want us knowing everything she could do? Would she want anyone to know?”
“So you don’t know if what you’re feeling is real or a remnant of something Aigean planted somehow? That’s it … isn’t it?”
“My heart tells me one thing,” Lyra whispered. “My head is saying be damned careful. My head is telling me that it was all too convenient. That what we felt was something induced. Either by the situation or by … someone.”
“But what possible motive could Aigean have to use any of us now? The war is over.”
“After wars are over, that’s where the real power grab comes. Think about it, ’Manda.”
Myranda stared into the distance. “I-I can’t recall that Cordis was ever alone with her on the Venus. Or me for that matter.”
“Soldar was. And I was,” Lyra declared. “But I’ve got a sneaky suspicion that her techniques aren’t as strong when people she’s controlled in the past have been removed from her control for a long period of time.”
Myranda plopped down on the sofa. “We’ve got to do something. Even if we’re wrong, we have to tell someone or … or something.”
“Writing a report will only get us thrown in the brig. I’ve already been warned to layoff.” Lyra sighed and gazed out the balcony window toward the castle in the distance. “I’ve got a plan. I don’t know if it’ll work and I’ll have to let Soldar go to do it. But I want him free. He … he deserves that much.”
“So … you do care for him?”
Lyra dragged her hands through her hair. “Like I said, I had very strong feelings for him back then, on the Venus. But there were things he never told me. I don’t know if it was because he didn’t want to, or because Aigean wouldn’t let him. But when the powers-that-be won’t tell an Earth Embassy Security Chief about the existence of a potential threat, and they refuse to even discuss it … then there’s something very wrong.”
“What do we do, Lyra?”
“You get married to the man you love.” She took a deep cleansing breath. “This is my job. I’ve gotta handle it.”
Soldar readily accepted Cordis’ and Myranda’s wedding plans. If they were happy and there wasn’t any misgiving in the family, the Earth ceremony only served to reinforce the fact that the woman would be his new
sister
. She already wore a Ky’Nar armband.
Servants bustled around the estate and castle. Flowers now festooned the grand gallery. Tonight, there was to be a rehearsal of the ceremony and dining into the late hours that followed. Tomorrow night was the big event. Myranda and her entourage would arrive just at dusk then stay several days for the celebrating that was to follow. That meant he’d see Lyra again, after being virtually ignored by her for the last two years.
At first, he’d made excuses on her behalf. She’d been shocked into silence by his shape shifting ability. That was understandable considering even the Condorians aboard the Venus had backed up when they’d seen what he’d become.
Then he couldn’t explain the traitorous identity Aigean had implanted in his mind to get him close to a high-ranking officer. He had never explained that the Elderian had found countless men and woman who were to have posed as prostitutes or even willing slaves, just so they could position themselves near an important Condorian official. These allied shifters would then use their frightening transformation powers to overwhelm and kill certain enemy officers when an embedded signal was unleashed or circumstances became exigent. The plan was that if the allies couldn’t kill the Condorian hordes, then they might be able to demoralize them by taking out their leaders. Leaders who’d always been a minority among their culture. The mission was suicidal. No one involved was expected to come back. But it was hoped that, with Aigean’s help in psychically coaching very powerful shifting volunteers, that they could severely demoralize the Condorian Empire or at least slow them down.
It was a last, desperate plot devised by Allied Command. Lyra, at her lowly rank, would have no need to know of such a thing. He’d excused her behavior on all counts because that general rule still stood. She still didn’t know, and didn’t need to know, the extent of what had been dubbed Operation Broadsword. Allied powers didn’t want their populations perceiving such mind control powers existed, even if they were as rare as to have limited scope. General knowledge of it now could serve no purpose, but might create havoc in war weary populations who were heartily sick of fearing what they couldn’t combat. In short, the average allied veteran, save for a very few, simply didn’t need to know there were empathic, psychic, and mind control super beings that might be able to sway officials against popular will. The operation was over. Those involved were to move on and forget or be so manipulated that their parts in the plan were dimmed by time.
Unfortunately, he was not one of those slated to let the matter drop. As a commander in Craetoria’s High Guard, he was one of a few who would always need to know. There might come a time in the future when his shifting might be necessary. He’d argued that up until current times his emotions caused him to use
the darkening
inappropriately and in anger. He’d gone to great lengths detailing what had happened on the Venus. Still, his part in the operation had been deemed a total success. D’uhr and his son, Fornax, were dead and with minimal casualties. He was ordered to maintain his status and his shape shifting abilities. Aigean was helping him in this regard. Cordis’ more limited power, on the other hand, would be excused. That was news he could celebrate.
For those who needed to forget, Aigean heartily insisted she could wipe her crew of their collective memories concerning the event. The surviving allied fighters were told varied stories that jumbled into a maddening collection of disinformation. In short, there was no shape shifting. It never happened at all. This was the edict from various highly placed officials throughout the allied worlds.
As for Lyra … she’d accept nothing but the truth. Since she hadn’t got it after making repeated attempts to obtain files, she was angry. General Shafter and others recounted the times they’d had to threaten her into leaving the past alone. The woman just didn’t understand that Shafter’s call concerning whom to tell or not wasn’t
his
choice. As a supervisor and veteran, she should have shown more patience and acceptance of the situation. Displaying fierce tenacity, she’d proven she wouldn’t. And he took the blame for what she
didn’t
know.
Where he’d understood her fears and frustrations before, they bordered on petty and arrogant now. He was tired of chasing a woman who — if she really loved him as she’d claimed — wouldn’t have shut off all communication save general missives sent by a low-ranking flunky.
She was his mate. He was being treated like some conspirator in a vast sinister plot to withhold knowledge from
Her Highness
. And what really galled was the fact that even Cordis and Myranda had found a way to develop, maintain, and cement their loving relationship. Lyra’s infantile response to the situation on the Venus was unprofessional and he meant to tell her so. Then he’d demand his armband back and tactfully ignore her for the rest of the weekend.
He wasn’t about to disrupt his brother’s happy day. But enough was enough. He was no lackey to chase a woman whose heart had obviously turned as cold as ice.
He picked up a crystal whiskey decanter, poured a good measure of amber fluid into a sparkling glass, and strode to the balcony. He awaited dusk and the arrival of Myranda’s wedding entourage. Fixated on one result and with no sense of time, he started when the door to the castle study opened and Cordis walked in.
“Sorry … did I disturb?” Cordis asked.
Soldar took a deep breath, shook his head in denial, and put his attention back on the front lawn. No one could approach without his seeing them.
“Myranda sent a message. She and her friends are on their way.” Cordis poured himself a drink before joining Soldar in his silent vigil. “Are you all right?”
Soldar glanced at his younger sibling and shrugged. “Why shouldn’t I be?”
“I sense a bit of nervousness. It’s surprising since I’m the one who should be suffering a bout of anxiety, not the Best Man.”
Soldar refused to rise to the bait. He sipped more of his drink and kept his countenance stoic, trying to show as little emotion as possible.
“This is none of my business and you can tell me to go take a flying leap off Dragon Mountain … but since learning of Lyra’s appointment to the embassy and her participation in the wedding, you’ve made yourself notably scarce in regards to family gatherings or any other social events. Father and Mother have commented. The girls too,” Cordis told him.
“I have duties. Setting up a new law enforcement agency with officers that are too young and inexperienced is proving difficult. Sadly, that’s what’s applying for the position these days. Our older, more qualified veterans just want to be with their families. The war took its toll in that regard and they aren’t open to shift work or dealing with criminals.”
“Father has suggested recruitment off world.”
“That takes time. Hence my absence from evenings with the family,” Soldar reiterated.
“You’ve been remiss in other areas. You haven’t taken the opportunity to welcome the new Earth Embassy staff. Personally. As the eldest son you have obligations in that regard.”
“Most of them are part of Myranda’s entourage. Because Father will be officially welcoming them during tonight’s festivities, I saw no point. I’ll add my greetings to his.” Soldar said as he turned from the exquisite view and faced his brother. “Where’s this going? You should be in the foyer awaiting our guests. Not standing here finding excuses to chat with me.”
Cordis put his glass down on the balcony wall. “All right. I’ll get right to the point.”
“If this is going to be a lecture concerning — ”
“It is, Soldar! You’ve let this thing with Lyra Markham erode your contentment. It’s been two years. The incident on Reisen Four is over. If you don’t want her, tell her so and let it be done. There are any number of Craetorian debutantes who’d willingly offer you invitations. All you need do is appear more … available.”
“Am I a child that you’d lecture me this way?” Soldar angrily asked. “Would a barely legal girl from a prominent family … a girl who probably never had to fight for anything in her life … have anything in common with me? Is that my future?”
Cordis slowly smiled. “If you’re in the mood for someone more mature … someone who knows the value of discipline and honor and who’s been strengthened through adversity … why are you being such a dragon’s ass concerning Lyra?”
“I’m beginning to picture you on the edge of that mountain you spoke of,” Soldar groused.
“That’s not an answer.”
Soldar sighed heavily and sipped more of his drink before retorting, “Let’s just say I tried. Seen that. Done that. Got the rejection!”
“To paraphrase one of Earth’s most famous bards … methinks thou doth protest too much.”
Soldar frowned and glared at Cordis. “That’s quite amusing. You’re the household sage now?”
“Older brother … if it helps better understand Lyra’s silence, consider what she’s lost. Consider the fear she might have of losing anyone else she cares about. The war may be over, but you and she are still in precarious occupations. She was still assigned to General Shafter’s battle group, mopping up areas of the galaxy we’ve never heard of. She did this even as we began putting our lives together back here,” Cordis asserted as he pointed toward the ground. “Perhaps she’s not sure parts of the war are really over. It may be that she’s concerned over certain aspects from the past. Matters you and I consider closed.”
Soldar couldn’t respond. If that was a scrap of information Myranda shared with Cordis, he was sure Lyra had mentioned it only in confidence. Here at last was a real reason, not just an excuse, for her having dismissed him after Reisen Four. Even his shape shifting in front of her would pale next to that kind of fear. She’d sabotage a relationship, as many veterans did these days, in order to avoid any more pain. After ten years of war, that reaction was all that was left to some. Particularly those who’d lost their entire family.
“Don’t think on this too long, Soldar. Others won’t hesitate.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Cordis swallowed the rest of his drink before responding. “Think of her as a piece of prime real estate.”
“She’s not property!”
Cordis patted Soldar on the shoulder. “I know. But you’d do well to stake a claim before someone else does. Sooner or later, loneliness will have its way. And she might find herself eventually accepting someone into her bed. Someone unworthy of her.”