The Power of Three (3 page)

“
You work too hard.” Esca leaned
against the door. There was no reply and the deliberate static in
Ash’s mind stopped Esca from communicating properly with him.
“Ash.”

Without turning, Ash finally replied.
“There’s an emergency vote coming up. I have to deal with it.”

“
Ash
.” Esca
pushed through the psychic fog as hard as he could.
“
I’m sorry
.”

“
As you so rightly put it, I’m not your
mother. If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me. I promised I’d
never interfere with your career.”

“
You said you didn’t.” Esca looked up
at the ceiling and then back down at the floor. He was so crap with
words. “I behaved like an ass. We’re mated. You have a right to be
worried about me.” He sucked in a breath. “It’s just that if I
don’t go back now, I’m scared I’ll never go back, and I’ll be stuck
behind a desk for the rest of my life.”

Ash turned to look at him, his features a
perfect mask, his smile the political one Esca hated. He shrugged.
“Then go.”

“
What do you know about this mission
that I don’t?” Esca asked slowly.

“
Nothing.” Ash turned back to his
screen, which now showed the floor of the Senate and the votes
coming in. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

“
Don’t freking lie to me.”

“
It’s not a matter of policy or actual
knowledge.” He sighed. “It’s more a personal sense of disquiet that
I didn’t want to mention because you already think I’m
overprotecting you.”

“
Like a premonition?”

“
Exactly.”

“
And what is it you fear?”

“
That this time you won’t
come
back.”

Esca exhaled like he’d been punched in the
gut. “Great. Thanks. I appreciate your confidence in me.”

“
That’s not what I meant.” The screen
flashed a warning and began to count down the seconds. Ash glanced
back. “Esca, just let me attend to this vote, and—”

“
Frek you.”

Esca wrenched open the door and slammed it
shut as powerfully as his psychic shields. The door to his suite
was ajar, and his bags sat ready at the foot of the bed. He picked
them up and headed for the elevator. If he stayed here any longer,
Ash would seek him out and he had nothing to say that wouldn’t
provoke another argument. Soldiers were a superstitious bunch, and
the last thing he needed when he was already nervous about a
mission was someone foretelling his death.

Especially his own damned mate.

Frek
him. Esca
hoisted his bag onto his shoulder and stepped into the elevator.
Whatever awaited him, it had to be better than that.

* * *

“…
And the alliance troops are from
Etrusca, a small militarized planet at the far end of our system.
One thing to be aware of with this species is their aversion to
psychics. Other than that, they have proven to be a most worthwhile
fighting force.”

Esca blinked hard and focused on the screen
as the ship’s captain brought him up to speed on the new
mission.

“
Why don’t they like
telepaths?”

His cousin stopped talking and stared at him.
“I don’t know why. Just don’t be obvious about communicating
telepathically in front of them, that’s all. Are you feeling
okay?”

“
I’m fine. It’s just a lot to take in.”
Esca sat up straight. “Where do you want my team?”

Trenx put up a map. “This is the military
installation we’re planning on obliterating, so we need as much
up-front intel as you can get us. We’re combining your team with
the Etruscans to get the fullest coverage we can, but you’re in
overall command.”

Esca studied the well-guarded facility set
high in the mountains of the planet below them. “Not a problem.” He
rose from his chair.

“
You’re not planning on going on this
one, are you?”

“
Why not?” Esca could almost feel his
hackles coming up.

“
It’s only an exploratory expedition.
If it’s successful, and depending what we find, we’ll want you down
there to lead the first strike.” Trenx frowned. “Your team have
worked with the Etruscans before—they won’t mess up. Captain Jong’s
in command.”

“
She should do a fine job. What time
are they off?”

Trenx consulted the screen. “In less than an
hour.”

“
Then I’ll go down and listen in on the
briefing.” Esca nodded at his cousin. “Thanks for the
update.”

Trenx finally smiled. “It’s good to have you
back.”

Esca made his way down to the launch decks
and was directed toward a small room where he could already hear
his second-in-command speaking to the assembled team. She sounded
extremely confident, and why shouldn’t she? In his absence, she’d
handled everything in a way that had made him proud.

And jealous as hell.

The whole room sprang to their feet as he
appeared in the doorway.

“
Major!” Captain Jong saluted him.
“Good to see you back.”

He nodded, took a seat and gestured for her
to continue. After a second, she did so, her delivery impeccable.
He took a moment to check out the original members of his team and
the new additions from Etrusca. There were about twenty of them in
all, roughly half male and half female. He was so used to picking
up other team members’ random thoughts that it was odd to have
nothing coming back from half the room. How did they communicate in
situations when they couldn’t speak? Telepathy was invaluable to
his team and had saved their lives on more than one occasion. He’d
have to ask Jong how they handled it.

As she drew to a close, Esca shifted in his
seat and she looked inquiringly at him.

“
Is there anything you want to add,
Major?”

He stood and faced the room. “Just that I’d
like to welcome the Etruscan members of our combined force.”

One of his first team members stood and
saluted him. “Will you be leading us today, sir?”

“
I don’t see any need. Captain Jong is
capable of carrying out a surveillance operation such as this in
her sleep.”

There were a few smiles, and he thought he
detected a hint of relief in his second-in-command. “I will be
coming on the next mission. I look forward to seeing how much you
have improved under Captain Jong’s excellent leadership.”

He stood back to allow the soldiers to file
past him, sharing a smile with those he knew and a nod with the new
team members. Jong waited until they’d all left before approaching
him.

“
If you wish to take command, sir,
I’m—”

He held up his hand. “You’ll do fine,
Captain. I have every confidence in you.” He looked out of the
door. “I only see nine Etruscans. I thought there were ten.”

“
There’s one more, sir, but she’s not
usually invited to the meetings.” Jong grimaced. “I have to brief
her separately. She’s not considered equal to the
others.”

“
What the hell does that
mean?”

“
They won’t sit with her, sir.” Jong
shrugged. “I’ve tried but they just won’t.”

“
Is she infectious or
something?”

“
No, she’s a telepath.”

“
Ah.” Esca nodded. “Captain Trenx said
something about that to me earlier.”

“
She’s the most useful member of the
team. She only has basic skills, but I can at least communicate
directly with her.” Jong hesitated. “However, it’s hard for her to
get her team leader to listen.”

“
Which one is he?”

“
Captain Wassain.”

Esca studied the soldier who was busy suiting
up for the mission. He looked like a pompous ass. “There’s no point
talking to him about the stupidity of this right before an
operation. Let me know whether you encounter any issues. I’ll keep
an eye on the situation when I go out with you later.”

“
Thank you sir.” She saluted him. “I’m
really glad you’re back, Major. We were all beginning to
wonder—”

He cut her off with the professional smile
he’d learned from Ash. “Whether I’d make it? Having your kneecap
and thighbone shattered into a hundred pieces takes time to fix.
I’m recovered now.”

“
I’m glad to hear it.” She lowered her
voice. “It’s tough at the top.”

“
From all reports, you not only
survived but thrived in command, Captain.”

She flushed. “Thank you, sir. I’d better go
and get ready.”

“
Good luck, Captain.”

He nodded and watched her stride confidently
away. If Ash’s gloomy prediction did come true and he didn’t
survive the mission at least he’d be leaving his team in excellent
hands.

Pushing such negativity aside, he took the
elevator back up to the command center and settled in to watch the
progress of the raid.

* * *

“
No, dammit—don’t!” Esca realized he
was shouting at the screen and that Trenx was giving him dubious
looks. He pointed at the display. “Those Etruscan idiots are far
too close. Even a blind geriatric could spot them.”

Trenx pointed to his mouth. “Tell Jong, don’t
scream at me.”

“
Sorry.” Esca clicked on his mike.
“Jong, are you receiving me?”

A burst of gunfire made him wince. Behind it
he could just make out the sound of Jong’s voice issuing crisp,
succinct commands.

“
I’ve got it, Major.”

“
Good.”

“
We’re coming back in.”

“
Even better.”

Esca took off his headset and dropped it on
the console. Pushing back his chair, he nodded at Trenx and his
second-in-command, and headed back down to the launch deck to await
the return of his team and their debriefing.

He didn’t have long to wait until the men and
women started to filter in from the landing craft. Captain Jong and
the Etruscan leader were the last to appear and were arguing
intensely. Esca stopped them from entering the debriefing room and
pulled them to one side.

“
What’s going on?”

Captain Wassain saluted. “Nothing,
Major.”

Esca turned to Jong and raised an eyebrow.
“Captain?”

“
Sir, he left one of the team down on
the surface.”

“
What
?”

Wassain shrugged. “As I said, it’s not
important. She knew the risk. She also knows we won’t recover
her.”

Jong stepped forward. “We don’t leave anyone
behind, Captain.”

“
Private Lang knows the deal. She’s
considered natural wastage and totally expendable.”

“
But—”

Esca held up his hand. “Jong, which team
member is he referring to?”

“
Private Lang. Their
telepath.”

“
As I said, natural wastage.” Wassain
turned to Esca. “Can we get on with the debriefing? My team fucked
up and I’d like to know why. It was probably something to do with
that scum we left behind.”

“
By scum you mean your telepath?” Esca
pointed behind him. “You do realize that every single member of my
team who just saved your
ass
is a telepath?”

Wassain’s face turned as red as his
regimental facings. “I am aware of that, sir.”

“
And yet you don’t consider your own
team member to be worth
saving
?”

Staring steadily ahead, Wassain didn’t
answer. Esca motioned to Jong. “Take the team through what happened
and send me a full report.”

“
Yes, Major.” Captain Jong saluted and
headed toward the door.

Wassain went to follow her and Esca blocked
his path. “Not you. You’re going to tell me exactly where you left
Private Lang.”

* * *

“
I don’t like this.” Trenx glowered at
Esca. “Ash will have my head.”

“
Ash can go frek himself.” Esca
continued to dress and arm himself. “It’s quite simple. I’ll take
Wassain and find Private Lang. If she’s still alive, we’ll
rendezvous with you at the original pickup site, and you can blast
the facility to kingdom come from space. You have the
capability.”

“
You’re too valuable.”

“
I’m a
soldier
, not a senator’s pet.”

Trenx swung around in his chair. “I should
inform Ash.”

“
Why? You know he doesn’t interfere
with my job.” Esca shoved another grenade in his belt. “By the time
you’ve gone bleating to him, I’ll be safely onboard again, and
you’ll look like an idiot.”

Trenx raised his hands. “Fine. You’re higher
ranked than me. Do what the frek you like.”

“
Thank you.” Esca checked the time.
“Ask Jong to send me that report. I’ll listen to it as we approach
the surface and make sure I don’t repeat the same
mistakes.”

* * *

Esca landed the shuttle and reset the
controls to automatically pilot the vehicle back to the ship after
they’d disembarked. Captain Wassain watched him, his expression
deeply unhappy.

“
This isn’t necessary, Major. My
superiors are not going to like it.”

Esca stared him down. “I don’t give a damn
what your superiors think. This is my team and Private Lang is a
member of it. No one gets left behind on my watch.”

“
I’ve given you her last coordinates,
sir. Can’t we just extract her from there?”