Tuavo Crais stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the planet grow larger in the main view screen, his thoughts troubled. They pulled me from the hunt for Aeryn Sun to send me on a mission to conscript children off a planet that is at the far edge of our territory. Why? There is nothing here to concern Admiral Braca. No renegades, no seditious rumors, no colony of Leviathans. Only the one report of an uncollared Leviathan in the neighboring system, bringing goods and merchants to the commerce planet for trade.
"Captain Crais." His second in command stood off to his right, his hands clasped behind his back just as Tuavo's were.
"What is it, Lieutenant?" Tuavo pushed his wayward thoughts to the back of his mind. His duty to the Admiral in charge of Special Ops was not to question his orders, but to carry them out. And whatever caused Admiral Braca to send me here will become evident in time. Or, if not, I will ask him when I make my report.
"There is a Leviathan in the system. Uncollared, and moving towards the edge of the system. It was in orbit around the planet, sir."
Tuavo raised an eyebrow. Well. So this is where that Leviathan originated from. He tried to remember what else the report had said, but nothing more was leaping to mind. He would have to re-read the report when he returned to his quarters. "Leave it be for now, Lieutenant. Only once our mission is complete, if it has not left the system entirely, will we pursue."
The lieutenant nodded. "Of course, sir." He turned away with a crisp nod, moving around the command deck, receiving the reports of the technicians who operated the carrier.
What about this Leviathan is unusual enough to pull me from hunting the most dangerous renegade still alive, Admiral Braca? You would have given me orders to capture it if it was a simple, normal Leviathan. So what is special about it? He frowned, shifting forward onto his toes a moment before rolling back once more.
"Bring your report to my office when your duty shift is over, Lieutenant Jamys," he ordered as he turned on his heel, leaving the command deck to his second in command.
There has to be a clue in that report. And I will need that information before we arrive in orbit. There has to be someone on that planet who has information about that Leviathan, more than was in that report, and they will lead me to it.
A grim smile crossed his face as he stepped into his quarters. It was this drive that had made the Admiral in charge of Special Ops pick him out, and this drive that made him one of the best Special Operatives in the Peacekeepers. You will not be disappointed, Admiral Braca.
"Sir?" Lieutenant Jamys stood at the door to Tuavo's office, his hands clasped behind his back in perfect inspection stance.
Tuavo powered down the reader, leaning back in his seat as he watched the Lieutenant from hooded eyes. "Yes, Lieutenant Jamys?"
"We have arrived in orbit around the planet, and the next duty shift awaits your orders to begin the conscription." He didn't meet his commanding officer's gaze, keeping his eyes fixed on a point somewhere on the back wall near Tuavo's head.
"Good. Inform the Lieutenant on duty that I will take charge of the conscription personally."
Surprise flickered briefly across Jamys's face, before it was hidden behind a professional mask. "Of course, sir."
"Dismissed."
Tuavo waited until the door had closed behind Jamys before a thoughtful frown settled across his features. So, who is this Bialar the merchants refer to as the captain of the Leviathan? It can't be my brother. He has been dead ten cycles now. Ever since that disastrous encounter with the half-breed. Or so all the reports claimed.
His frown deepened. It would explain why Admiral Braca sent me on this mission. If it is my brother, he will think I am dead. And he will never suspect me to be carrying standing orders to execute him on sight. Orders that were not rescinded with his apparent death.
Standing, Tuavo made his way through the ship towards the marauder bay. There, the commandos who were assigned to the duty shift snapped to attention, awaiting his orders.
"Captain," said their commander levelly as he approached the grizzled woman. "You are accompanying us on this mission, sir?"
He nodded. "You will provide me with an escort, Lieutenant, and you will provide me with the names of the parents of all those you conscript."
She looked puzzled, but said nothing to object to his odd orders. "Yes, sir."
He nodded, and turned away, stepping aboard her marauder. Soon enough, I will know if you are alive, brother, and if that Leviathan is your precious gunship. Admiral Braca will be most pleased if it is, and it is returned to the Peacekeepers where it belongs.
Bialar carried Krys into the house, sitting on the rug in front of the hearth next to Myshe. She held Nyki close as the five-cycle-old slept. The Peacekeepers had not arrived at the farm before dark, and Xenobya said it was unlikely they'd come in the middle of the night, but no one was inclined to go up to their beds.
Xenobya was asleep on her rocking chair, with Leena in her lap, the toddler sucking her thumb. Alyk leaning against the wall near his mother, with Jabryla curled up in her brother's lap. And Nytali carefully settled herself down next to Bialar, leaning against him as she cradled Marko.
"They will come tomorrow, most likely. We are near enough the city that it will not take them long to come here." Nytali looked down at Krys, sleeping in his father's arms, and when she spoke again, her voice trembled. "I don't know how I'm going to let him go, Bialar." She met his gaze, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I know I must, but it is so hard."
Bialar extricated one arm from under the heavy weight of his son, to wrap it around Nytali's shoulders. "We will survive, as your family did last time they came," he said softly, even as his arm tightened around his son. "I promise, Nytali."
She nodded against his shoulder, but said nothing, eventually falling into a fitful doze, as Myshe was doing on his other side. Bialar looked over his family once before opening the link with Talyn.
Talyn?
Bialar? Talyn's answer was fainter than usual, and he got little more than the words, and a slightly worried overtone. The distance was putting a strain on the link.
How many ships did the Peacekeepers have?
Three. One was large, and it brings the nightmare almost to the surface. It is large enough I could have fit inside it ten cycles ago.
And the others?
Smaller. Not Leviathans. I don't know.
Bialar sighed softly. He'd hoped that the Peacekeepers ships might shake something loose in Talyn's memory at least. It is all right. Perhaps when they come to take Krys and Nyki, I will remember something.
I'm sorry, Bialar. Talyn sounded downcast, and Bialar frowned.
Why? That you can't remember is not your fault.
But it doesn't help us if we can't remember. What if it is dangerous for the Peacekeepers to find you?
Than we will deal with that when it happens. I can't leave Xenobya to deal with Nytali and Myshe on her own. They need me here, especially after Krys and Nyki have gone with the Peacekeepers.
I know. Talyn was silent a moment. But I'm scared. I don't know why the Peacekeepers scare me, but they do. And not for me. I can take care of myself, even against their largest ship. But I'm scared for you. You don't have much to defend yourself with, Bialar, except memories you can't remember.
Bialar grimaced. He had hoped Talyn would not remind him of that. His stomach clenched, as fear once more rose, unwilling to be shoved aside this time. I know, Talyn. And if anything happens to me, you stay there. You wait until the Peacekeepers leave, and you come here, and you take Xenobya and Nytali and Myshe, and the children far from here. Far from anyplace the Peacekeepers are.
Talyn said nothing, and Bialar's fear grew as his ship stayed silent. At last, Talyn replied, I will. And once they are safe, I will hunt the person who kills you, no matter where they go, and I will make sure they repay their debt to me and to the family with their life.
A smiled curled Bialar's lips at the savage tone of Talyn's voice. So long as the rest of the family is safe, Talyn.
Of course. Talyn paused. You should sleep for now. You should be at your best when they come tomorrow.
Bialar nodded absently, already beginning to compose his thoughts, to at least attempt sleep. Goodnight, Talyn.
Tuavo kept alert as the commandos walked up the lane to the farmhouse. It was the fifth one they'd come to today, and he could see, from the road, that the family was waiting outside. Like everyone else. They know what is coming, and they refuse to hide from it. He knew the Lieutenant in charge of the commandos was from this planet, and knew her record. The refusal to hide from adversity was a trait that served the conscripts from this planet well in their rise through the ranks. Not even those bred to service are as fierce in their dedication as those from this planet are.
He could see only one man, pacing the porch, and he frowned. No household he'd seen yet had lacked for adults. But this one... Perhaps this mission will not take as long as I suspected.
There were two children sitting on the porch steps, watching them with a mix of fear and bravado on their faces. The girl inched closer to her brother, and Tuavo noticed their hands clasp each others, tightly.
Looking up at the man, who had stopped pacing behind the children, Tuavo hid his surprise behind a cold mask. So you survived your suicide mission, brother. But why are you here, in Peacekeeper space, instead of on the far side of the Uncharted Territories, where you would have remained hidden?
Tuavo stopped at the base of the stairs, the commandos arrayed behind him, keeping wary eyes on the family. He could see two of the women sitting next to each other, holding hands as tightly as the children on the steps. Another woman, older, sat on a bench with three children pressing close to her.
"You are here for Krys and Nyki, are you not?" Bialar spoke, his voice the same commanding baritone Tuavo remembered.
Tuavo looked up at his brother, and this time, had more difficulty hiding his surprise. There was no recognition in the brown eyes, only a mix of wariness, suppressed anger, and fear. There is something not right here. Tuavo's eyes narrowed.
"The commandos are here for the children. I am here for you, renegade." He kept his voice cold and devoid of emotion, pulling the pulse pistol from its holster on his thigh.
The women gasped, and the oldest one shoved the toddler her held to the boy next to her. She darted in front of Bialar, her eyes sparkling with anger. "You will not harm my husband here. Not in front of his children, and my sisters." Her voice was controlled, despite the distinct undertones of anger.
"He is a renegade Peacekeeper, and my standing orders are to kill him. Step out of the way."
The woman shook her head. "No. You can't kill a man who doesn't even remember who he was. At least give him the chance to find out who he was. And do not do this here. You can't do this here. Not on my land, in front of my sisters, and his children."
Tuavo growled, frustrated with the defiance of the woman. But she wouldn't move, and he would have more trouble on his hands than he cared to if he killed her. She was not denying them the children, or the harvest, and if he harmed her, he would break the agreement between the Peacekeepers and this world. Which would not earn him a promotion from Admiral Braca.
He lowered the pulse pistol with visible reluctance. "Put Bialar Crais in restraints," he ordered through gritted teeth. "Then go to the next farm. The marauder will be there when you have retrieved the children."
"Yes, sir!" The commandos snapped to obey, placing restraints on Bialar, who was strangely docile.
Or not, Tuavo thought when he caught a glimpse of Bialar's eyes. A threat of violence glittered in the depths of the renegade's eyes, restrained for the sake of his family. Behind Bialar, the younger women were pale, and silent tears ran down the face of the one.
"Alyk, keep an eye on your sisters." The oldest one was speaking, half-turned towards those still on the porch. "Nytali, Myshe, you can take care of the farm while Bialar and I are away. Is that clear?"
Nytali and Myshe nodded in unison, one of them murmuring, "Of course, Xenobya."
"Where do you think you are going, ma'am?" Tuavo fixed Xenobya with a cold stare, which she returned with the same.
"I am accompanying my husband wherever you are taking him."
"Xenobya," Bialar began, turned to look at her. Tuavo was amused to see a pleading expression on his brother's face.
She narrowed her eyes, glaring at him. "No, Bialar. You will not tell me to stay here. My sisters are capable of watching over the farm for a few days, and the children. But I have no intention of allowing this man, Peacekeeper or no, harm you without my knowledge. Nor will I allow him to carry out his orders while you cannot remember why those orders may have been given."
Tuavo raised an eyebrow at her choice of words. "And if he does remember, ma'am?"
Xenobya turned her gaze on him. "Then I have little choice. But I will know then why you wish to kill my husband, without giving him a chance to defend himself."
Tuavo nodded his head briefly in acknowledgment. You may wish you remained ignorant in the end, woman.
Author's Note: Admiral Braca is NOT Miklo Braca. He may be related, but not closely. But he is important to the plot, so keep an eye out for more of Admiral Braca, whose first name will be revealed only if/when he shows up in person.