TICEES (39 page)

Chelan finally allowed her mind to return to the conversation, which now centered on ROPE and possible future missions to known trouble spots. She sat calmly and listened to the steady streams of information, strategies, and plans, each man’s mind working with flawless efficiency, each man honing his wits against his comrades, bettering himself at every move. To Chelan, they were deities, for they held the power of deities, but she knew that they were acutely aware of their own limitations. They were men, not above mistakes, and certainly not immortal, but their accurate assessment of themselves and their full understanding of their strengths as well as their weaknesses made them unique and extraordinary. They lived each day to the fullest, as if there were no tomorrow, and knowing full well that at their death, they would not be rising to loftier planes. Here and now was what they made of it, and with each mission they made the Empire stronger, for after death, there was no heaven or hell. This was it, with no false expectations held for the future.

The break for lunch was brief, but Chelan was not interested in food, just the conversation. Soon evening was upon them, and Chelan’s mind was beginning to wander. She was deathly cold but remained silent, afraid to interrupt the proceedings. She was also feeling the effects of fatigue, for the Iceanean day was far too long for her, and she could hardly wait to dive into the loving arms of Korba and his giant bed.

“So!” said Ticees abruptly, startling Chelan back to the present. “Pertaining to crews and new recruits, I have one final assignment, and that will be to RIBUS 7 under Korba’s command, if all the concerned parties agree.” The hologram flickered, and crew assignments appeared.

Ticees hesitated and then smiled at Korba. “I am sure that most, if not all, of you are aware of the fine details surrounding Korba’s assault on the ROPE power plant during the Rigilean mission. I suppose that maybe Toran and Roden are unaware of all the circumstances pertaining to the success of that mission, but regardless, I’d like to assign Chelan to the aerial interpretation team.”

Korba’s eyes widened, and Chelan froze. Ticees continued. “Now, it is totally up to Chelan and Korba, but it will afford her more access to RIBUS 7 in the future, on the less volatile missions at least, as I’m sure Korba will restrict her involvement with the more high-risk endeavors. I have already taken the liberty of stripping Toran of Salizar, for as far as I know he is one of the Empire’s best analysts in this field. I showed him the photos that Chelan challenged and he assures me of her potential. So, if the two parties here agree, I’ll have him take an indeterminate length of leave so he can train her personally, and most specifically in the area of weapons identification. She can train here, within the Palace, and he can familiarize her with all our technology.”

Korba smiled with delight and looked at Chelan, but she was still trying to process what had just been said.

Ticees grinned at her. “Don’t worry, Chelan. You don’t have to decide immediately. You can talk it over with your overly protective Commander and get back to me at some later date. You may even wish to speak with Salizar before you make a decision, and that can be arranged easily. Just let me know.”

Chelan could barely move, let alone speak, and she glanced around the room, all eyes upon her. She swallowed hard as she tried to deal with an onslaught of confusion. “But,” she started hesitantly, “I’m not—”

Dar leapt to his feet, his eyes alight. He whirled around and pointed at her. “There you go again. Damn it, Chelan! Come on, finish your statement. You’re not getting out of this one.”

Chelan’s jaw dropped as she looked at him, excited to talk with him, but angry at him for forcing her to speak her feelings. “I was going to say that I’m not qualified,” she shot back.

Dar shook his head at her, his grin spreading. “Oh, no you don’t, my Lady. I know you too well. Everyone knows you are not qualified, that’s why Salizar will train you. Come on. Finish your statement truthfully.”

Chelan hesitated, staring hard at Dar, a smile finally touching her pretty lips. He had penetrated her armor, and she quivered as he moved in front of her and squatted down, his eyes urging her on. “I was going to say that I’m not Iceanean,” she answered quietly.

Dar smiled. “And …”

Chelan was suddenly swept up by her love for the man and her memories of his months of attentive care and devotion. He knew her, possibly better than anyone else. “And I was thinking that I’m a woman in a man’s military domain.”

Dar’s smile spread, and he winked at her. He stood and backed away from her, and then his eyes landed on Korba. “Haven’t you taught her anything yet?” And with that, he fell back into his chair.

Chelan looked at Korba, who was struggling to contain his laughter. But he did not have time to respond because Ticees spoke.

“My Lady, it does not matter that you are not Iceanean. If the Emperor can be an off-worlder, then so can a photo interpreter. I have asked you do a service for the military, not for the Breeders. And the fact that you are a woman is of no consequence in any aspect of our lives, save those jobs requiring brute strength, and this job certainly does not require that. You are more than capable of holding this position. Your sex is irrelevant.”

Chelan took several large breaths. “Your offer is more than generous, my Lord, and I assure you that I will give it serious consideration.” She looked over at Dar, and he nodded to her, smiling warmly.

Her heart skipped several beats. She looked at Korba as he reached over to her and squeezed her hand affectionately.

Toran cleared his throat and leaned forward, grinning at Ticees. “So what’s this preferential treatment here?”

Ticees shook his head. “To what are you referring?”

Toran tried to elaborate but was interrupted as Korba stood abruptly. He had touched Chelan for the first time since their arrival, and her icy hand infused him with concern. Only now did he notice her subdued shivering and the excessive whiteness of her skin.

He swung his shroud off and wrapped it tightly around her. Picking her up, he sat back down in his chair with her curled up on his lap. Korba nodded at Ticees. “Excuse me, my Lord,” he said sternly as he shot a cutting glance at Chelan. “It seems that my Lady here has failed to inform me of the fact that she is on the verge of becoming an Iceanean icicle.”

Ticees frowned. “Yes, I’ve noticed that annoying tendency in her myself.” Ticees then looked at Toran. “You were saying?”

Toran smiled as he looked over at Chelan. “Well, you automatically assigned the most beautiful crew member to RIBUS 7. Doesn’t RIBUS 6 or 8 have any say in this? After all, I’m supplying Salizar.”

“With all due respect,” Dar interjected, “RIBUS 8 surrenders all claim to the Lady Chelan’s services.”

Toran’s eyes flew to Dar’s. “Are you mad?”

Dar shook his head and then nodded toward Korba with Chelan nestled into him affectionately. “I have no intentions of competing with that. Besides, if you make Fremma Second-in-Command on RIBUS 7, you secure the fact that she will never step foot on any other vessel.”

Toran’s eyes opened wide as he looked at Fremma. “Oh, what’s this, Fremma? I sense that someone has left out a tidbit of vital information here.”

Fremma smiled. “Let’s just say that I take care of the Lady Chelan in Korba’s absences.”

Toran’s face suddenly lit, and Chelan immediately reddened.

Dar chuckled and leaned forward. “Chelan, you know we only tease because you react so beautifully. Don’t take offense. You know that none is intended.”

“No offense is taken,” said Chelan shyly. “I’m just not used to your openness yet. Besides, I’m sure that an invitation to RIBUS 8 is far from forthcoming,” and she glanced at Solis.

Solis squirmed. “I assure you, my Lady, that you are more than welcome, but I doubt that your generous forgiveness would ever extend to the point of working under my command.”

“Nonsense,” she smiled. “You know that there was no forgiveness forthcoming because there was nothing to forgive.”

Suddenly, Ticees cleared his throat. “Is someone going to fill me in here, or am I to guess at what’s going on?”

Solis was instantly discomposed.

Chelan moved to take the pressure off the man. “One night when Dar had command of RIBUS 7, my Lord, during the Rigilean mission, I happened inadvertently upon Solis in the Command Center. He knew nothing of my existence at the time, and upon my unexpected presentation, he sought to dispatch what he thought was an intruding alien who had somehow infiltrated the Command Center.”

Ticees’ eyes widened as he looked to Solis.

“But as you can see,” interjected Korba, “he was unsuccessful in his bid to secure the area, and luckily, the Lady Chelan is still with us.”

Solis looked to Korba almost apologetically, but Korba smiled at him, as did Chelan.

Ticees stood and walked toward Chelan. Slowly, he reached out and pulled Korba’s shroud down from her neck, revealing the scar across her throat.

Toran’s face lost its color, but he remained quiet. Ticees continued to look at Chelan’s neck. “So this is your handiwork, is it, Solis?”

“Yes, my Lord,” answered Solis uneasily.

“Regardless,” said Chelan as she grabbed the shroud from Ticees and looked up at him sternly, “I have decided that they are simply to be added to my features as beauty marks and as ultimate proof of my induction into the Empire.”

Ticees’ eyes widened. “Obviously you are off the hook, my dear Solis. You are indeed fortunate.”

“Yes, my Lord. I am aware of that.” He looked to Chelan. “I am painfully aware of that each time I lay eyes on the lovely lady.”

Chelan smiled warmly at him. She then turned her attention to Toran. “So, as you can see, I wreak havoc on the crew wherever I go, so you would be wise to shun my services.”

Toran’s azure eyes penetrated hers, causing her to hold her breath in anticipation. He was silent momentarily as he pondered her words. “Quite the contrary, my Lady. I would look forward ever so much to the challenge you would provide, and your presence, no matter how disruptive, would be welcomed.” He continued to stare at her, her warm smile causing him to melt from within.

He took a deep breath and then tore his eyes from her, seeking out Tarn. “And speaking of being off the hook, it looks like you are faring all right, my good man, considering your original blunder.”

Tarn smiled and glanced at Korba. “Yes. It seems that my past sin has been forgiven.”

Korba nodded. “I had no choice,” he said. “If it were not for Tarn’s insubordination, Chelan would not be with us today.”

Toran chuckled. “Why do I have this nagging feeling that where Chelan has ended up was not the original intended result, Tarn?”

All eyes flew to Tarn, and the man actually wavered. “You are astute in that regard, my Lord. Manza wanted her for his collection pertaining to Calley, but I had other plans, even if I didn’t realize it at the moment.”

Chelan bit her lip as her eyes locked with the Commander’s. The room became very still.

Tarn finally cleared his throat. “But it was never meant to be. I will say, however, that the best possible outcome has come to pass. Our Lord and Commander has once again found his life mate, a bond that none could ever hope to challenge.”

Chelan’s eyes misted at Tarn’s words of unselfish love. Korba gave her a loving squeeze, reassuring her that Tarn spoke the truth on every level.

Ticees sat back and rubbed his hand over the day’s growth on his jaw and observed the continuing interplay between the men and Chelan. Every one of them had been instantly struck by love for the little alien, her intelligence and her humor rendering all the men spellbound, and his own heart ached.

Swinging her to him was going to be far more difficult than he had originally anticipated, and it would require assiduous and meticulous planning. She was being watched diligently and lovingly now by all three Warlords and their main men, and nothing else in the galaxy that he knew about was blessed with such potent protection and effective security. And indeed, nothing else and no one else probably warranted it more than the bewitching alien. He would have to watch his step, and he could afford no mistakes. He would maintain a low profile over the next few weeks, and then, when everyone least expected it, he would act.

The next two months went smoothly for Chelan, and she had finally begun to accept the strongly fortified Palace as her home. She spent long hours studying Iceanea in detail, learning about its geology, geography, and people. Ticees had also made good on his offer of a military position on board RIBUS 7 and had sent Salizar to her for her training.

Chelan enjoyed both her tutor and her work immensely. She had a unique aptitude for her new job, and Salizar capitalized on that quickly, working with her as much as she would allow and pushing her as far as he dared.

Time passed quickly for Chelan, and Korba stuck to his word about never leaving her alone. When he was not with her, Fremma was by her side or within range of her call. Dar had gone away to begin the extensive military training of the new Warlords, and Chelan missed him dearly. She had never had a chance to talk to him alone, and though she had not seen him since their daylong meeting with Ticees, she thought of him frequently and lovingly.