Star Raiders (30 page)

With a concentrated effort she pul ed away from the undertow of memory before it dragged her so deep she’d never make it back to shore. The past was over and gone. She could al ow herself no time for grief or tears. She needed to live and plan for Rian’s future, for Uta’s future—if any of them had a future.

Isolated on the fringe between explored space and the Beyond, wel off any trade route, since she’d returned with
Independence
they’d heard nothing of what had happened in Earth space after Dempster’s demise. She chafed against the silence. Knowledge conferred power. Power secured life. And life al owed for a future. There were stil too many unknowns to feel secure.

Had she and Greyson stopped Dempster in time to prevent a C.O.I.L.

invasion, or were Consortium troops even now working their way through the outer worlds, purging al life? Uta’s council had discussed evacuating the planet, but even if they had a suitable destination and stuffed
Independence
to capacity, it would take months, perhaps years, to transport al the residents and the supplies they’d need to colonize a new world. After they’d discussed the situation, the votes were to stay and take their chances that Uta’s location remained unknown.

Though she knew
Independence
would offer little protection against attack by the Consortium, it remained in constant orbit, alert, on guard, prepared to defend Uta. Able, Terle, Bear and Damon, along with Silky, stayed on board as crew, while Eldin and Brina were now both planet-side.

Without
Independence
out transporting goods, al smuggling operations had ceased. But life on Uta continued. For now they were simply forced to do without the goods smuggling had provided. She hoped they could make a go of it. So far, so good. The dead were buried. The injured were cared for. Buildings were being rebuilt, crops replanted. Life was returning to a semblance of normal.

Normal! Shyanne gave a humorless laugh. When had life ever been normal for her?

“Mom!” Rian’s excited voice dragged her from her gloomy thoughts.

Watching him—healthy and strong, looking so like his father while dashing across the field toward her—lifted her spirits. Keeping him safe was worth any price.

Cheeks flushed, eyes bright, he skidded to a stop in front of her. “Look, Mom!” He gasped for breath as the words tumbled from his mouth. “A ship!” He pointed toward a growing speck in the sky.

She shielded her eyes against the glare of Uta’s suns. The ship moved rapidly and silently through the atmosphere. It was headed straight toward where she and Rian stood, although they were hidden by trees. As it closed the distance, tension coiled inside her. It wasn’t one of Uta’s remaining ships.

ASP? ELF? Consortium troops? How had it got past
Independence
? Was this the beginning of an invasion and her friends were already fighting? Fear twisted her gut. In an unconscious gesture of protection, she rested one hand over her bel y.

She tapped her head before she remembered her internal com link was stil malfunctioning. With al the MAT units in constant use for medical and other necessary supplies, her com link had taken low priority. And Rian was too young to have one yet.

She grabbed his arm. “Run to town and sound the alert, then go to the caves.” She wanted to take him straight to the caves, but someone had to warn the townsfolk and someone had to watch the invader.

“Ow, that hurts, Mom!” Her son grimaced.

“Don’t stop for anything.” She let go and forced herself to step back.

“Aw, Mom. I’m not a baby. I can help.” He scuffed his feet against the trampled sea grass.

“You
are
helping. You’re sounding the alarm.”

“But, Mom, I—”

“Don’t argue. Go. Now!” At his crestfal en look, she softened her tone. “Tomas is at the caves. You can monitor things through the com. I’l send a message as soon as it’s al clear.” She lifted his chin with her fingertips and met his disappointed gaze. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, Mom.” He turned to go.

“Rian,” she cal ed.

He stopped but didn’t turn. “What?”

Though her heart stil raced with fear, she grinned at his tone, the sulky inflection in his voice so similar to Greyson’s. “I love you.”

“Love you, too,” he muttered.

Shy continued watching as her son broke into a run and disappeared into the trees. A moment later she heard the noise of the foreign ship landing behind her, and, finding a more suitable hiding spot, she waited to see what would happen next.

The light of Uta’s suns sparkled off the spacecraft’s sleek metal ic form, and Shy considered it. Its landing struts hit the ground with a dul thud. Though it carried a ful array of armaments, this wasn’t a patrol or battle ship. Its design bespoke wealth and comfort, as wel as speed and power. Curiosity and anticipation edged out fear. This was a space yacht.

As a smuggler she’d seen her share of cruise ships and private yachts, though none compared to this one. It was a beauty. Shy guessed it would comfortably hold ten to twelve passengers plus a crew of five. And though the smal er ship would easily fit in this ship’s docking bay, its elegant lines reminded her of the
Lady
Hawk
. Against reason, hope unfurled inside her.

She stepped forward. Though her com link wasn’t working, she was sure the ship had a vid link and an exterior microphone. She stepped into the open.

“Unknown ship, identify yourself!”

As the ship’s hatch opened, her breath locked in her throat. Hand on her bel y, she waited, knowing whoever emerged would change her life.

A man appeared in the opening. Hope turned to lead, weighing down her heart.

It wasn’t Greyson. The older man moved slowly down the ramp, and she stiffened against the urge to curl into a bal of misery. She didn’t know him. Stil , something about him—the mussed, gray blond hair, the way his lips tilted up on one side, the confident set of his broad shoulders—struck a chord in her memory.

Only feet separated them. His sea green gaze eagerly searched her face.

Recognition dawned. She knew this man. Chalmer Dane. Her father.

Memories slammed into her: His strong arms cuddling her smal frame. The comforting smel of his spicy cologne. His deep, compel ing voice reading yet another bedtime story. With a gasp, she sucked air into her lungs and staggered.

She looked around wildly for something real and solid to latch on to.

Another man fol owed Chalmer out of the ship. This one was as much of a shock, for he was the man she’d cal ed father: Stewart Kedar. He smiled at her, a familiar, beloved smile. More memories battered her fragile emotions. Heart racing, she moaned. Tears blurring her vision, she stared in disbelief. To keep from crumbling she locked her knees.

The two men spoke as one.

“Shyanne.”

“Anna.”

She looked up as stil another figure appeared at the top of the ramp. His hand shading his eyes against the glare of the suns, he stood tal and strong…and alive.

For the first time since she’d left him, his name slipped through her lips.

“Greyson.”

Reality dissolved.

Chapter Twenty

Greyson caught Shyanne as she col apsed. Cradling her limp form in his arms, he carried her aboard the ship. Their faces creased in concern, Chalmer and Kedar fol owed, hovering behind in uncertainty.

Gently he lowered her into one of the lounge chairs in the main cabin. When he tried to straighten away from her, her hands clamped around his forearms. Her eyes flew open. “You! You bastard! You’re alive!” Rage flashed in her eyes. He reeled back in shock as she pummeled his chest. He knew she’d be angry, but he hadn’t expected her to physical y attack him.

He caught her flailing fists and pul ed her close.

For a second she struggled in his hold; then she sagged. Her body heaved as sobs racked her. He looked at Chalmer and Kedar in helpless dismay. Both shrugged.

Using his position as ASP director, he’d commuted the remainder of Kedar’s sentence and commandeered the Dane Enterprises yacht. Not that Chalmer objected. During their trip to Uta, Greyson had come to know the two men he cal ed Father. Chalmer would always be his true sire, but cal ing Kedar by that title felt comfortable as wel . Both men had contributed to the man he’d become.

For al their differences in background and position, in many ways the two were alike. Neither could handle his daughter’s pain—or would wil ingly face her justifiable wrath.

“Cowards,” Greyson cal ed as they backed hastily out of the room.

Holding Shyanne, he sank into the chair to wait out the storm. Her tears soaked his shirt. Her scent—sea air and sun-warmed woman—surrounded him.

Her warmth seeped into his soul, easing the cold empty knot residing there. For the first time in months—
years
—Greyson al owed himself to relax, to let tension and fear drain away. If necessary he’d stay like this forever, waiting. Soon enough she’d demand answers. Soon enough she’d make the choice that would determine the course of the rest of his life.

Her soft body went rigid against him. When she jumped to her feet, he jolted in surprise.

“We have to contact
Independence
. You were in stealth mode, I’m sure.

They’l believe Uta is under attack. I sent Rian…” Without waiting for his response, she headed unerringly toward the yacht’s bridge.

Worry dogged him as he fol owed. Nothing had gone as he’d planned. Though what he’d expected from Shyanne he wasn’t sure.

He caught her hand before she could hit the com. “
Independence
already knows we’re here.”

She whirled around. “When? What?”

“We contacted the
Independence
when we entered Uta’s space. This is a diplomatic envoy, not an invasion. Because of our part in stopping the piracy and preventing a C.O.I.L. intervention, Earth government has declared Uta and al the outer-world planets adjacent to Earth space as proscribed planets.” It was the best of al possible outcomes, considering Earth’s probationary status. This rendered Uta and other independent human colonies unclaimable by any Consortium world, protected them without stripping their freedom. Both Greyson and Chalmer had negotiated long and hard in the Earth Council to secure these concessions before he’d admitted to any coordinates.

“Earth asks that each world consider joining Earth, but doesn’t insist they do so. The price of protection has already been paid.” He saw the rage drain out of her. She sagged into the captain’s chair and stared up at him. Tear tracks streaked her pale cheeks. He stood in silent expectation as her gaze roved over him. He knew the exact moment it landed on the emblem emblazoned across his left breast. Pain flickered in her eyes, and then they went cold.

“Congratulations, Director. It seems you’ve gotten everything you wanted.

Position. Power. Control.”

“Not everything.”

The hard line of her lips softened. “Why are you here?”

“To bring you the pardons I promised.” Afraid of seeing rejection and anger in her eyes, cognizant of the wrongs he’d done her, he sank to his knees in front of Shyanne and bent his head. “And to beg forgiveness.” She stood and stepped away, presenting him with her back. “I forgave you long ago. But it means nothing. You’re the director of ASP. I’m an ex-smuggler. An outcast and exile. Your life is on Earth. Your duty and career are there. I can never return, so we can never be together. I survived losing you twice. I can’t do so again.”

He noticed she was touching her bel y with one trembling hand. He came to stand behind her. Her sweet scent rose on the heat of her body. “No, I’m not.” Confused, she turned. “Not what?”

“Not the director of ASP.”

A flicker of hope rose in her eyes as they searched his. His own hope lurched to life in response.

“But that emblem—”

“I accepted the position long enough to make a few changes, to find a replacement and pardon my father.”

“B-but why? You worked your whole life to become director. It meant everything to you. You’l be good at it.”

“Perhaps, but my successor wil do better.” He smiled at the memory of being able to promote the other man. “Carter Kincaid cursed me to hel and back, but he accepted the position.”

Shyanne’s lips twitched. “The man wil certainly shake up the agency.” Staring into his beloved’s stil -wary eyes, Greyson took her hands in his and held them to his chest. “Compared to what I’d have to give up for that job, it means nothing. Without you, I have nothing, I
am
nothing. I love you, Anna Shyanne Kedar Chalmer, my ex-smuggler, my star raider. Forgive me. Be my love, my life, my wife.”

She jerked her hands free and threw her arms around his neck. “Yes. Yes.

Yes and yes!”

He grinned down at the love shining out of her eyes and teased, “There’s a lot we need to talk about. Things we need to do. Plans we need to ma—” She pul ed his head down and covered his mouth with hers, and he couldn’t find the desire to resist. “Later,” she murmured against his lips. “Much later.”
Epilogue

Uta, five years later

Greyson looked up from his desk as a smal blonde whirlwind blew into his office.

“
Daddy!” Four-year-old Arianna bounced across the room and into his lap. He leaned back in his chair and nuzzled his daughter’s sweet-smel ing neck.

She giggled, then squirmed away. “Uncle Eldin says you come now.” It was time! It was early! Greyson’s heart raced with both excitement and fear.

He wanted to dash out the door to Shyanne’s side, but forced himself to remain calm so as to not frighten Arianna.

He didn’t resist as she tugged him toward the door. Once outside the building, Greyson wasn’t surprised when Arianna abandoned him in favor of her beloved older brother, Rian.

“Hey, Dad. Uncle Eldin says it’s time.”

Worry etched the boy’s rapidly maturing face. Hovering on the verge of manhood, Rian made Greyson proud. In the last few years they’d forged a strong, loving bond, but Greyson couldn’t forget the years he’d lost.