A/N: Warren learns what's up with Gragne and Ab, while Ettwanae becomes impatience and worry leads to rising emotions. Then a third attempt to soulbind has unexpected results.
Chapter 37
Warren's eyes lit up when it wasn't Ab waiting outside the door, but another familiar face. "Sukja!"
After exchanging a quick embrace and pleasantries, Sukja motioned for them to head toward the Mi Lartui's main lift. "Your meeting with Ztar went well?" the Emperor's aide inquired with a curious look that read as a delicate way of probing about Ztar's all too well known salacious intentions toward Warren. There was no offense in the question.
"You know how the man is when he wants something, but we came to an understanding." Warren was still a touch amazed he'd been able to resist Ztar. Then he decided to move quickly to another subject. "Got the full treatment concerning Jharda's pregnancy. Came away with images I'm not certain I want to retain," he chuckled.
Sukja laughed heartily and splayed his orange-tinged digits in agreement. "He can be rather intense in his enthusiasm."
"That's one way of putting it." Warren slid a sly grin to his Ozjaerian friend. "So-o-o, how goes it with Atichi?" He watched as Sukja's face revealed everything Warren needed to know before the man uttered a word.
"I am happier than I can remember ever being. She is where my soul resides. Always has been, we just couldn't pursue it – not until Ztar was ready." Then Sukja placed a hand on Warren's arm as they stopped at the lift. "We have you to thank for that. You have our eternal gratitude."
Warren palmed the bio-sig control. The door immediately opened, but neither man moved to enter. "You give me too much credit."
"That is not true. Most people give you too little credit, Archangel. If not for what you did for Ztar, Atichi and I would not be together. He would still be guarding my time jealously and needing all my attention. The man he was before you, would not have allowed me a split focus. When you healed him, you gave me a chance for a life beyond serving our Emperor."
Warren believed he saw Sukja's eyes water slightly. He chose then to step into the elevator, allowing Sukja a moment to collect himself without Warren's gaze. "He was already heading down that path and all the work you put into him-"
"Archangel, no." Sukja's voice was firm almost to the point of harsh as he joined Warren in the lift. "Do not lessen what you did." The alien locked his eyes onto Warren. "You performed a miracle, nothing less. Accept our gratitude, knowing we understand that without you, Atichi and I may have forever been friends who silently longed to be more."
Warren's heart warmed. He was deeply happy for Sukja and Atichi regardless of whom and what they believed had allowed their relationship to finally take the next step. "The fact you are happy is all that matters, my friend," he said with a hand to Sukja's shoulder. Then he narrowed his eyes and slightly dipped his wings in feigned suspicion. "And now will you tell me what you did with Ab? He was to escort me back to the shuttle."
Warren hadn't forgotten Gragne's request for a rendezvous and wondered how he would get there without Ab in tow. Problem solved by the Emperor's aide apparently.
"Deck 3," Sukja commanded into the air and the lift obeyed. "He was pulled suddenly to other duties." The explanation came with a smirk. "I kindly offered to escort you to your destination in his stead."
"Which is…let me guess. Crew's lounge."
A nod confirmed. "Gragne should have Dison waiting."
As the lift opened, Warren hesitated. "Any chance you'll tell me what the hell is going on before we go in?"
"And deny myself the pleasure of watching the situation play itself out?" A pause followed as a twinkle danced in Sukja's eyes. "No chance at all."
As they stepped out of the elevator, Warren glanced at his PI as it chimed yet again. "Damn, excuse me, Sukja. Someone's been trying to contact me for a while now." Warren keyed up the message and his eyebrows shot up. It was only two words, but they were laden with meaning. "Ettwanae waits." He swallowed. The pointed missive could only have come from Volu. 'Thank god I can go back guilt free!' He quickly sent a short reply. Then he looked up at Sukja. "I need to get back soon."
Sukja tilted a hand in acknowledgement. "Then we must not keep you too long."
Warren and Sukja spied the guardsman at a back table, three filled glasses and a bottle of the familiar amber-colored drink waited. Gragne's eyes darted watchfully toward the lounge entrance as Warren and Sukja approached.
"A successful snatching of our charge I see," Gragne pointed out the obvious as the men settled.
"Guardsman Ab is otherwise occupied for awhile. Truly amazing how much difficulty the comm center is having maintaining that link to Jharda on Bast. We should have several minutes before he graces us with his presence," Sukja explained with a mischievous glint in his gray eyes.
Warren took a sip of Dison, smiling into his glass at whatever scheming Sukja had orchestrated to detain the sentry. Returning his beverage to the table, he imparted a stern look to the two men, one with bold orange hair and the other with a redder variety. 'Two carrot tops!' it suddenly hit him with amusement. "Okay you two…I don't have much time before I need to get back. What the hell is going on? What happened during the Ennovy-Eiram reception? And why the game playing?"
Gragne gave Sukja a guilty look as the Emperor's aide gestured for Gragne to proceed.
"Well…with all the focus on this Tchut incident…you know how the comnet can be – old news gets rehashed and things that were, ah, considered tantalizing in the past are suddenly all over the comnet again. Then Ab makes a comment and I defended your honor since that used to be my job. Well, defending your derriere was actually more my job, but I figured your reputation should be part of the assignment, even if I was no longer your elite guard. Just because you dumped me, I wasn't about to do likewise, so I kept my oath to protect your royalness. One thing led to another and before you know it, he and I…," the man actually blushed. Warren didn't know Gragne's mixed species could. "we had a – a wager."
Warren blinked at the orange-haired alien. "Gragne, I still haven't fucking clue what you're talking about," he admitted with a blank expression.
Sukja sounded like he swallowed a laugh. "Archangel, what Gragne so eloquently attempted to say is that he bet Ab that you knew something you apparently do not."
He looked back and forth between the irritatingly evasive duo. "A bet about what, for God's sake?"
###
"Ettwanae, Warren sent a message – he will return soon."
Relief flooded Ettwanae in an emotional wave that brought tears to her eyes. "Truly, Volu?"
"That is what his message says."
"Thank the goddess!" Her throat tightened and she fought to maintain control through surprisingly powerful feelings. "I was so scared. I didn't know how scared until now."
"I know, my Poda." The soothing words were like warm honey.
"But did they…?" she couldn't bring herself to finish the question.
"Does it matter?"
Ettwanae considered. If Warren had shared Ztar's bed during the visit, did it matter? He was returning to her, his message said. She and Warren couldn't be fully intimate and Warren had suffered Aru's urgings far more than she. It was harder on males, she understood that. If he found release with Ztar, then she would be happy for him, she decided. "All that matters is that he's coming back."
Her heart, though, knew she was lying.
###
Gragne slammed back a large gulp of Dison. "That Ztar was seen kissing Jharda at the last Ennovy-Eiram reception."
At first, Warren thought 'So?' Then it sunk in. The reception happened toward the end of his stay on Sat'rey. At the time, Warren had suspicions that Ztar and Jharda were involved an affair, but no proof. In fact, as far as he knew, no one knew or even suspected, with one possible exception – Sukja. "You mean a kiss kiss? Not a friendly, this is my old friend kiss."
Gragne's smile spoke volumes. "Oh, that was no friendship peck. They didn't think anyone saw them back in that private room. If it wasn't for a wandering comnews reporter with permission to record the reception. It was all over the comnet within hours."
"It was very unlike Ztar," Sukja added. "He forgot himself and in a moment of carelessness, got caught. That reporter was incredibly fortunate Ztar was oblivious until the incident hit the comnet. Otherwise, the woman would not have made it out of the reception with her memory or recording intact."
Warren was stunned. 'Ztar oblivious? What about me? How could I not know something like that had happened?' Warren quickly considered how he would have reacted if he'd learned of the incident at the time. It would have confirmed his suspicions, but likely wouldn't have changed much else. Yet again, considering how torn he was about his feelings toward Ztar back then, he wasn't entirely sure of how he would have handled confirmation the Turzent was cheating on him.
Reason kicked in just as quickly as surprise had. "Emperors having multiple companions is hardly news, so the big deal had to be that it was another member of his Court?"
"Precisely. And nothing wrong with that either, except it made for sensational speculation for a while concerning what the comnet label the Royal Triune. Our Emperor was livid."
"But if it was all over the comnet… Wait a minute. Ab mentioned something about the palace comnet being censored. But Ztar didn't act any different." He frowned at Sukja. "Nor did you! Was I that clueless or were you two that good?" When no response came except for a sympathetic look, he downed another draw of Dison. "Jesus, what world was I in?" Warren shook his head at himself. "But why the conspiracy?"
Sukja dipped his head patronizingly. "Archangel, you know why."
"Ztar was afraid I'd leave."
Sukja waved a hand at the self-evident reason. "It was simply agreed that it would not be spoken of and the incident became an off-limit subject for everyone at the palace – a non-event."
"Where's the bet come in?"
The guardsman grunted. "When the reception gaffe was dredged up again after the Tchutchka incident went public. That's when Ab told me he suspected all along that you knew nothing. Naturally, I said you did. After all, I couldn't let him think you were that oblivious-" Gragne cut himself off sheepishly when Sukja shot him a scolding look. "Had to uphold your honor! I swore to him that you knew, but he still insisted you did not. Then we got a bit…enthusiastic about opposing opinions."
"And the wager was made. Ab saying I didn't know and you swearing I did." Warren shook his head at the scene playing out in his mind.
"When we heard the Mi-Lartui was heading here to meet up with you, Ab and I had agreed to try to settle the issue while you were here."
"Hence your feelers in the shuttle." Another taste of Dison was required.
"Figured it was a safe bet, but of course, had to be sure." Gragne leaned toward Warren. "Then you shocked me! I knew I was in trouble, so went looking for Sukja to confirm, hoping you were still playing the "it never happened" game. He told me what I didn't want to hear – that you were never told and that no one knew you didn't know, outside himself, Ztar, and Jharda. Apparently," Gragne's eyes shot to Sukja with tempered indictment, "that was the beauty of the whole thing. They allowed everyone to believe you knew exactly what happened and chose to rise above all the gossip and innuendo by ignoring it. I fell for the ruse with everyone else." Gragne shook his head. "Well, everyone but Ab."
Warren still couldn't quite believe Ztar and Sukja had pulled off the subterfuge and he'd remained blissfully ignorant. "I fell for their ruse as well, Gragne. Imagine my shock at hearing all this!"
The elite guardsman leaned over the table toward Warren with a mischievous smirk. "Sukja is cunning. You best be leery!" he warned in low tones.
After a good laugh at Sukja expense, Gragne locked eyes with Warren. "I don't understand, Archangel. Ever since they got word of the Tchut incident, the gossipmongers have been salivating over anything that even hinted of Court scandal, old juice included. The comnet has been replaying 'the kiss' and speculating whether the Royal Triune still exists. Seeing how you're dashing about the Empire with your new shipmates and not on your sequestered planet, how could you not have known until today? You'd have to be in a black hole-" The man stopped abruptly when Sukja hit him with a censorious glare. Gragne blushed a second time having apparently crossed into impropriety. "Sorry," he mumbled.
Warren jumped allegorically between Sukja's visual reprimand and Gragne. "My shipmates don't watch the comnet much. We're a little self-focused right now."
Gragne recovered quickly. "So what did Ab say when he took you up to the Emperor? You didn't give anything away, right?"
"Done you proud, Gragne – didn't let on at all."
The man fell back with exaggerated relief. "Thank Ozja! Ab's a sly one – got to watch yourself around him. Think it has to do with all those mixed up genes in his lineage. Makes him wily."
The Ozjaerian simply shook his head at the comment while Warren chuckled.
"How did Gragne pull you into this fiasco?"
The emperor's aide sighed deeply and deliberately. "Pity, I think. All I can say in my defense is I have a soft spot in my heart for those who intend well, but circumstance contrives to twist their good intentions against them. Such is the case with our friend here, Archangel." Sukja shifted as his PI sounded two tones. "Ab has left the comm center and on his way. We'd better wrap up any preliminaries."
"So Ab bet you I didn't know?" Warren sought confirmation.
Gragne nodded.
"You lost the bet," Warren felt the need to point out that little fact.
Gragne squirmed. "Technically, you could view it that way."
"Technically, my ass."
Gragne leaned toward Warren. "It's a matter of honor now, Archangel. Yours and mine. He can't know you didn't know. We need to do some strategic sidestepping!"
"Translation – employ deception to maintain your elevated stature in the eyes of staff and by default protect Gragne's pride," Sukja offered helpfully. "At least that's how he hopes you view it."
Warren eased back, crossing his arms and giving his wings a quick flick for effect. "Can I ask what you wagered?"
A lengthy pause followed. Then the guard tilted his head. "You're still with me on this right, Archangel? I mean, you and Ab… you didn't work out some sort of agreement or anything?"
"You're paranoid, Gragne!" Warren pronounced with a chortle. "No, no agreement. Now what was the wager?"
Alcab/Turzent eyes met Ozjaerian. "You allowed yourself to fall into the trap, Elite Guardsman Gragne. Don't look to me to explain your lack of cerebral function."
Warren bemused silently, and waited patiently with raised eyebrows.
"I- I really believed Archangel knew!" the man pleaded to Sukja. "I mean, really, how could he have not-"
"Archangel, sir," the smooth baritone voice of Ab startled everyone as he approached. "My apologies for being unavailable to provide escort. Unexplainable and highly unusual difficulties with the comlink to Bast delayed me." The imposing figure of Ab closed in behind Gragne, who visibly clenched his jaw.
"The delay was welcomed. Gave us a time to catch up before I head back. Join us?" Warren invited with anticipatory smile. 'Oh, this could be good!'
"I'm told the shuttle has been prepped to return you to Tchutchka. The crew waiting, sir."
"They'll wait a few more minutes while we finish our Dison. Sit with us, Ab. And drop the sir business – makes me feel old. Both of those are orders, by the way." He grinned broadly.
Abmirzarcz pulled up a chair and settled in. Sukja signaled the server to fetch another glass and soon Ab was sipping Dison in his usual reserved style.
"All is well with Jharda?" Warren inquired.
"Apparently. Though I would prefer to be at her side, she has capable guard with her while duty calls me here. And as circumstance would have it, I have the pleasure of being assigned to you once again, even if briefly. Besides, to leave you solely in the hands of Gragne would be foolhardy."
Warren admired the face that was completely devoid of emotion. If he didn't know Gragne and Ab were indeed good friends, he'd had assumed the slam was dead serious. The delightful thing was that Ab knew that Warren knew.
Gragne snorted. "And I suppose leaving him with you is a better fate?" Gragne swiveled toward Warren. "Archangel, whom would you rather have at your side? Me, who has a sense of humor, knows how to have a good time, easy to talk to, charming, and can take down half an armada with just a portable phase cannon and hand gun, or Ab, who recites poetry, uses words longer than your forearm, and prefers to hit the single, big button to wipe out the enemy from afar?"
Warren contemplated for several heartbeats, much to Gragne's obvious dismay. "You each have your role and place. I would be hard pressed to choose one over the other. What do you think, Sukja? Ab or Gragne? Each offers strengths."
"Opposites that complement." Sukja offered, topping off their glasses from the bottle in the center of the table.
"Well said," Warren flattered. "Still, if one had to choose…" Warren added a perplexed frown to his teasing.
"Difficult. It would be as if one must choose between functionality and design."
Warren nodded thoughtfully. "Good analogy. Gragne performs very well, but Ab does so with sophistication."
Gragne sighed, leaned back, and crossed his arms. "Enjoying yourselves?" he asked looking back and forth between Warren and Sukja.
Ab waved his glass to insert a thought. "Perhaps we amble too far from the premise of elite guard – to serve, to protect without regard to one's own welfare, to ensure the health and longevity of our charge."
Warren recognized the paraphrase of the Elite Guard Creed. "Then I chose both, since I would be safest sandwiched between the skills and experience of you as a complimentary pair." He smiled widely at the two men he had grown fond of during his time on Sat'rey. Dison, old friends, and a second wind kicking in to override his weariness from the long day joined forces to make Warren feel daring. 'Might as well plunge right in!'
"So Ab, I understand you and Gragne have a divergence over a certain Ennovy-Eiram display of affection. Is there anything I can clear up about that situation?" Gragne nearly choked on his Dison at the directness of the question. Warren shot him a smirk.
Ab set his glass down with deliberation and leveled his eyes to Warren's. "When in the company of royalty, propriety dictates certain subjects be addressed only when broached by said royal. I hope my impertinent colleague did not offend in his enthusiasm to reconcile converse opinion."
Gragne jerked with disapproval. "Ab, jettison the pruditudes. This is Archangel. Talk like a normal person and maybe we can follow your ramblings!"
The man who was elite guard to his very core nearly withered Gragne with a condescending gaze. "Must I remind you that we are on the Emperor's ship and not alone?" Ab admonished with a nod toward other lounge patrons. "Appearances of familiarity and chumminess are inappropriate." Then Ab shot a quick glance to Warren and Sukja to confirm the cutting remarks were only half-hearted.
Gragne muttered something under his breath and shook his orange-topped head, but then a sly smile crossed his face. "You're dodging a Royal's question, or did you think I'm too dim-witted to have noticed?"
'Yup, this is proving entertaining,' Warren admired the verbal sparring between the unlikely friends. It really was no contest, though. Gragne was a plain talk, gung-ho, no-gun-is-big-enough guy. Ab was reserved and analytical; the intellectual one. Gragne hadn't a chance in the current combat arena.
With Ab's lack of immediate response, Gragne saw an opening. "Doubting your position on the matter in question, Ab?"
The refined guardsman looked to Warren and Sukja. "My apologies, sirs, but I must ask about the appropriateness of the topic. It was a rather delicate matter at the time."
A tilt of the hand toward Warren signaled Sukja's deferment. He took it readily. "The topic of Ztar's kissing Jharda at the Ennovy-Eiram reception is wide open. And we'll drop all pretenses of propriety at this table." Warren upturned one corner of his mouth. "That's another order, Guardsman."
Abmirzarcz suddenly looked uncomfortable with Warren's directives. It was obvious his sense of what were proper conversational topics with a member of royalty was at direct odds with the current subject. 'Hell, this is a touchy issue,' Warren recognized. 'We're talking about whether or not I knew Ztar was having an affair.' Yet because Turzent Emperors were entitled and almost expected to have multiple lovers, he also realized it wasn't so much the topic as the blend of interlocutors that was causing the unease.
Warren watched Gragne study his fellow guardsman with mixed apprehension and anticipation. Ab was more difficult to read as signs of discomfort faded, but appeared to analyze the situation as he sipped Dison. Warren wondered what the men had bet. He'd not release them from his presence until he knew. 'There are times when you need to throw the weight of your position around – this is one,' he decided.
Ab returned his glass to the table and leaned toward Warren. "That being the case, sirs, then perhaps we can resolve this rather awkward issue expediently. Gragne is of the opinion you knew about the referenced incident. I, on the other hand, feel that in an effort to spare you any discomfort, knowledge of said incident was withheld from you." Then the man apparently felt obligated to explain further. "It is not that I believe in any way you to be less than insightful, Archangel. Rather, I know how skilled those around you can be at shielding people they care about from imbroglio."
Sukja was watching him closely – Warren didn't have to look to know. Was Sukja feeling twinges of guilt at the deception he and Ztar connived? But Warren understood the reasoning and held no animosity toward either conspirator. Besides, it was all in the past.
"Is there a question coming at some point?" Warren asked smoothly, but without harshness.
Coal-black eyes sighted in Warren. "Before we settle this indecorous matter between me and my colleague, please understand our behavior is not normally what I would partake in or condone. I allowed myself to be pulled into a juvenile wager to which honor then bound me. My humblest apologies, sirs." Ab looked from Warren to Sukja. "Know this ill-mannered conduct will not be repeated." With the last words, the black eyes jumped to his cohort with near lethal intensity. Gragne flinched.
"Apology accepted." Warren acknowledged with a nod. "Ask away, Ab. Let's get this settled."
Ab eased back in his chair; the air of confidence unmistakable. "The question, then. Were you aware of the publicized Ennovy-Eiram reception kiss between the Emperor and Court Member Jharda while you lived on Sat'rey?"
Warren swallowed a sip of the sweet, fiery liqueur and did not rush into an answer. Gragne had stopped breathing and Sukja was studying Warren with great curiosity. He suspected the Ozjaerian was trying to determine where Warren's allegiance would fall – to loyalty or truth.
'Oh, decisions, decisions. What to do?' Warren pondered with more than a little amusement. Perhaps he could drag out the suspense a while longer. "Before I answer that question, I have one of my own. What were the wagers?"
Gragne released the breath he was holding a little too loudly and gave Warren an uneasy grimace.
"I offered a year's worth of subbing," Ab jumped in. "Gragne, you see, is growing restless and seeking female distraction. So I offered to fill in for him personally as our schedules allow when both the Emperor and future Empress are in residence at the palace. That would provide him more opportunities to gallivant in Yaunra in rummage of unsuspecting victims."
Gragne snorted and threw a scowl Ab's way. "That's his take on it, Archangel. He forgot to add that should schedules not permit, he would make the necessary arrangements to ensure someone covered my shift. Seemed like a good deal to me!"
Ab smiled a slow grin. "Until I named my price."
A finger pointed straight at Ab. "It's sadistic! You gain nothing by it but the possibility of watching me suffer," Gragne nearly snarled.
"Ah, but you accepted the wager. Quite enthusiastically, as I recall."
"Because Archangel knew all about the reception! I'd never have to pay up." Pleading eyes shot back to Warren. "It was a sure bet. Couldn't lose."
The wry smile on Ab's face never faltered.
"Gragne, what is the price if you lose?" Warren prompted.
"I'd rather walk through the Pits of Pardian. Hours of agonizing hell would be more desirable!"
Ab tilted his glass to observe the viscosity of the Dison. "She regards you highly, Gragne, though I believe her esteem is mislaid. Imagine, though, how happy you'd make her."
Warren was intrigued. "Who are we talking about?"
Ab was going to speak, but Gragne beat him to it. "Only the most annoying, persistent, gaudy, completely-not-my-taste woman in the palace."
The emphasis on 'woman' held all sorts of connotations. "Who?"
"Wxia'ne's sister."
Warren instantly recognized the name – the head of palace entertainment. A Wynnaran. Squat, plump, snouted, with gray wrinkly skin, small pupil-less eyes, and cupped ears, the species resembled the Earth mammal commonly called moles. "He has a sister?"
"He does," Ab tapped the table with a finger for emphasis. "And she has her intentions set decidedly on Gragne."
The man moaned his discomfort. "She even dresses like Wxia'ne – just to add to the overall aesthetic appeal." Sarcasm ran heavy.
Sukja laughed as Ab smirked. Warren recalled vividly the garish attire the temperamental, artistic staff member boldly wore. His imagination conjured up a female version of Wxia'ne and it wasn't exactly attractive to his Human sense of aesthetics. "I don't recall a sister being at the palace when I lived there."
Gragne shook his head. "No, she arrived shortly after you ditched us. It didn't take long for her to lock onto me. She's been the bane of my existence since."
Ab actually laughed at that. "You should see the lengths one of Emperor's fearsome elite sentinels will go in the attempt to evade Dreia'ne. Quite entertaining."
"You'd do likewise if she was after you!" Gragne accused harshly. "The woman is like a rueger-derr."
The comparison of the Wynnaran to the famed animal known for its relentless pursuit of prey conjured more amusing images. Warren chuckled. "And so if Ab wins, then you what – take her out on a date?" The pieces fit.
A sigh nearly exploded the across the table from Warren. "Exactly," the tone was both fearful and defeated. "So you see what's at stake here, Archangel, right? You understand the seriousness of the situation?" Desperation swept over Gragne's face.
"I think I get the picture." He also wondered how much of the unwanted female attentions were involved with Gragne's earlier offer to go with Warren as personal guard on his and Ettwanae's mission.
Sukja leaned in, his eyes twinkling with sadistic mischief. "So perhaps you'll settle the issue now and we can all learn whether or not Gragne and Dreia'ne have a future." That elicited a groan from the potential suitor.
Warren took a draw of Dison and weighed his options. He was not one for lying, but the truth would send his friend into Dreia'ne clutches, at least for one evening. Yet as uncomfortable as the situation may be for Gragne, he'd survive and likely find a way to end the woman's fixation. Less than the truth and Ab would be indebted to Gragne for a full year, facing potentially many double shifts. Still, a guard shift at the palace wasn't exactly demanding. Most times, it simply meant waiting at standby for a call to serve. 'Gragne got himself into this mess,' Warren judged without mercy. 'What is my motivation to lie to save his ass? If it was ever revealed I wasn't truthful, my integrity would take a nasty hit.' He looked at each man in turn. 'Yet Gragne looks so damn desperate. He did risk his life to save me from Drex, accompanied me to Ennovoc prison and to Fjai and on my little mountain retreat…' The imperial guardian was more than that. He'd become a friend in that time. And friends do for friends. But lie?
The question left no wiggle room. Did he or did he not know of the infamous kiss while on Sat'rey? He most certainly did not. 'Truth or lie? Truth or lie?' Then Warren caught himself. There was another option.
He set the Dison down and gave first Ab and then Gragne a searching look. Ab still exuded confidence while Gragne's expression leaned more toward pleading. "As is my royal prerogative, I chose not to answer such an invasive question. What I did or did not know of our Emperor's behavior is none of your affair."
Gragne's mouth dropped open and then quickly snapped shut. Ab, though, apparently had anticipated the dodge and gave Warren an accepting bow of the head. Had he known all along that Warren would choose decorous nondisclosure?
Warren spread his hands on the table and pushed his chair back. "And now, gentlemen, I need to get back to Tchut – other friends are waiting." Standing, he waited as his tablemates followed suit.
"Sir, your shuttle is ready. I'll wait for you just outside the lounge."
'The man's insightful,' Warren decided as Gragne swooped over to his side with Ab's departure.
"Archangel, you just saved me from a horrible fate. Not exactly as I thought you would, but thanks! By all the gods of Sat'rey, if I had to entertain that woman for even one evening…" He left the rest to imagination.
Sukja shook his head. "Don't believe for a moment that Ab doesn't know exactly what the true situation is. The man's much too intelligent. He let you off, Gragne," Sukja's opinion mirrored Warren's.
Gragne cringed. "I'm done betting against Ab. Too dangerous!"
Sukja and Warren laughed at Gragne's expense one last time. Then Warren placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "I appreciate your belief that I wasn't as clueless as I apparently was," he said a wink at the guard, followed by a sharp eye to Sukja. "Sometimes I'm not as observant as I like to believe."
The Ozjaerian tilted his head and gave Warren appreciative smile. "Archangel, you are not easily kept in the dark. Ztar and I were lucky other matters overshadowed our efforts. I hope you forgive the deception and understand the motives."
Warren nodded. He'd dwell no longer on the topic. "I really do need to get back."
Goodbyes exchanged, Warren left old friends behind, followed Ab to the launch-ready shuttle, and was soon heading toward the flat planet where new friends waited.
###
Far below, Ettwanae fretted and she began to pace the bay where she had decided to wait. Still no Warren. What was delaying him?
"He said soon, right, Volu?"
"He did."
"Then what is taking so long?"
Irritation was creeping in, along with a touch of fear that perhaps Ztar had managed to hold onto Warren after all. Conflicting emotions tugged and tore and agitation escalated. As she paced, illogical imaginings began to form. What if he just buying time and had no intentions of returning? Make her think he was coming back when all along he was planning to stay with his former lover? That'd be just like a man – lie, then duck and run!
"Warren will come. We must be patient." Volu's tone sounded concerned, throwing fuel on the fire.
Irrational anger grew by the step. Wings spread, brow furrowed. "He's not returning, Volu! He's listening to Ztar tell him he's better off leaving me. No more Aru tension to endure. No more enemies hunting us. No more frustrating roadblocks wherever we turn. Who wouldn't want to get away from that!" She began to shake as emotions welled up from a place that frightened her, adding to her mild panic. She knew that place. It meant only one thing.
"Ettwanae?" Volu's voice filled the bay. "He returns."
It was all she needed to hear. She collapsed to the floor, tears of relief running down her cheeks.
###
A significant portion of Hercjell's team was snipped off like an acrochordon and she had been furious. Anger erupted when Director Sident explained the request for her to appear in front of him with project files in hand was only a ruse, and that two days after her departure, the facilities were raided by imperial forces that had been tipped off by their own people.
"It already happened? But I had no time to prepare! At least you could have warned me, even covertly," she challenged her long-time superior. "I had personal affects, research tools – those should have been saved!"
Director Sident apologized, but not overly so. Those loses came with the job. She knew as well as he the price of their allegiance and was speaking out of knee-jerk anger. Her most valuable data had been spared, as was she and two other senior scientists. He explained critical research data was erased from facility computers shortly after she left and did not fall to the Empire. That helped appease his unwitting apprentice's fury. She calmed, as he knew she would. After all, she was unscathed. A testament to her worth to the organization she would believe, and he'd do nothing to change that perception.
al'Verta pushed and probed for the whys, but she gained no more than he was willing to share. He did not mention the benefit to Omnipotent. That project was not discussable.
"You and I both operate knowing we are tools for the greater organization, al'Verta," he began, invoking her first name. Her kind put their family name first with given name following. "Decisions are made at levels above us that may seem illogical or without merit, but that is only because our knowledge is limited by necessity. We must either trust those making the decisions or we will see injustice and chaos everywhere – not a pleasant way to live. The orders came from the Prime Director herself and they must be respected. She holds the complete picture where you and I see only pieces."
He was relieved when she accepted that and the anger dispelled. If his protégé was going to rise further through the ranks, she needed to be able to accept the premise even when it negatively impacted personally. Someday, she may be giving the same speech from his chair.
Then he outlined the next phase of Project 1165 and any remaining animosity in Hercjell quickly evaporated.
###
Gatebi and Flint lounged in the gathering room two days after leaving Tchutchka Centrus. Out of the corner of her eye, the Alcab watched her shipmate use his mutant gift to ignite a food wrapper that he'd tucked into a glass. She knew the sign. The young man was worried about something.
"Flint, you know how Volu feels about that. She will sting you."
The teen stared at the flames devouring the odent berry packaging, surprisingly little smoke rising up. "It's not like I'm gonna burn the place down," he quipped back, but there was no heat behind the defense.
"It's the idea, Flint. You would not appreciate someone setting a fire inside your abdomen." Gatebi used no accusing tones, only stated blandly what Flint was well aware of. She knew not to ask outright what was wrong as that sometimes backfired with the teen. Flint would open up at his own pace.
His pace was quick that day. "Whadda think about leaving the Empire? I know we all agreed, but I'm not sure I'm likin' the idea so much."
Gatebi studied Flint more closely, a motherly look softening her face. "You are worried?"
Flint stiffened at the possibility his bravery was perhaps in question. "It's not me I'm worried about. Me and War can handle anything. It's you and Twae. It's not safe out there, that's what you all said. Empire good – Commonwealth okay – points between, nasty. Bad dudes with bad ships and even badder guns, remember?"
"Guns are useless without a target, Flint. We'll be cloaked the whole way across the Barrens."
He leaned back and crossed his arms. "I know that, Gabby! Still, isn't the Barrens where all the illegal stuff happens? Gangs hidin' out and smugglin' shit between the Empire and Commonwealth? And there's no law, right? Like the Wild West or somethin'!"
Gatebi lowered her PI to her lap. "I don't know what you mean by Wild West, but there is no law enforcement in the Barrens, you are correct. That's why those who wish to escape both Commonwealth and Imperial authorities tend to congregate there even though it's illegal to cross into the Barrens."
"Yeah, right – like the criminals are gonna pay attention to that law!"
"We'll just be passing through and Volu will be phased. No one will know we're there."
Flint would not be deterred. "A lot can happen in 10 days. That's how long it'll take to cross, right?"
A nod confirmed. "Don't worry, Flint. Volu knows how to protect us. Her weapons are kick-ass, to use a term you seem attached to." She parted with a reassuring smile, and Flint couldn't help but laugh.
"Ya know, Gabby, kick-ass comin' outta your mouth just ain't right!" Silence fell over the lounge as both were lost in their own thoughts. Flint absentmindedly popped odent berries into his mouth. "Isn't Atlas or whatever it's called supposed to have been the hang out for some long-dead race? Isn't the place under big keep-out sign?"
"You were paying attention, at least partially," Gatebi said in feigned amazement. "The name of the planet is Atmoz Prime. And yes, it is classified as a preservation site."
The teen huffed. "Hey, give a guy a break, will ya? All your talk of worlds and places I got no clue 'bout." He tossed a berry into his mouth. "Vo said she didn't find much about the place. But if there's some secret military base or a Dark Ones fortress, that wouldn't exactly be posted on the comnets."
Gatebi tilted her head at Flint. "When we get close, Volu will be able to determine if that is the case."
"Ya think we're gonna find anythin' on that dust ball?"
"If Warren and Ettwanae were correct in their recreation of the Dark One's holo display, yes, I believe will find something. What that will be, I cannot guess."
Flint grew quiet once again. A frown formed as he looked down.
The Alcab leaned forward, arms on thighs. "Flint, you are indeed worried. In truth, I am as well. We will be far from all we know – more on our own than ever before. Are you certain you don't wish to return home?"
Green eyes shot up. "I'm not a quitter, Gabby. I told Twae I'd stay and I will. All I'm sayin' is this could be really dangerous now that we're leavin' the Empire. Having Warren here and knowin' he's got Ztar Almighty to cover our backsides has been kinda…good, ya know? We get in big ass trouble, SOS to Ztar!" Flint smirked, but then his face fell serious quickly. "But we leave our home turf and we got nobody again."
Gatebi rose and joined Flint on the lounger, placing a gentle hand on his forearm. "We've got each other, just like before Warren came."
Flint studied the hand resting on him. Five short fingers and thumb, no nails, medium brown skin. An alien's hand. A friend's hand. "Yeah, you're right. We was out there before without a safety net, and we did okay, didn't we?" he asked looking up into the alien eyes.
"We did." Gatebi withdrew her hand. Flint almost wished it had lingered longer.
"Who needs Ztar Almighty when you got me and War? Huh?" he said thrusting out his chest. "Two kick-ass mutants like us can take out a lot of bad guys!"
The orange-haired Alcab smiled and shook her head, then returned to her favorite chair.
Then a new subject popped into his head. "Gabby, did you ever hear what Warren's big Tchut secret business was all about?"
Settling into a sprawled position to pick up reading where she'd left off, Gatebi gestured negative. "Ettwanae told me that Warren has not shared that with her either. I told her to remember that he's Royal Court and there will be things he cannot discuss with us. She still seems upset with Warren over that. I suggested she trust Warren – if he can't speak of it, he can't. Unfortunately, that wasn't what Ettwanae wanted to hear."
"Guess you're right." The woman's last statement led to another topic. "Gabby, have you noticed anything different 'bout Ettwanae lately?"
Elongated, whiteless brown eyes narrowed. "Flint, could you occasionally use my actual name?"
"What's wrong with Gabby? Nicknames are…what's the phrase?…a term of…endearment! See, I like you, so you get a nickname. Simple idea, but nobody 'round here but War seems to get that."
Gatebi sighed. "What do you mean about Ettwanae?"
He shrugged. "I dunno. Like maybe off or touchy or somethin'."
A frown crinkled Gatebi's forehead. "Perhaps. She does seem overly irritated about Tchut and having a hard time accepting that Warren can't discuss it. And she has been a bit moodier-" Gatebi eyes widened and she shot a worried look Flint's way. "How long has it been?"
"'bout long enough, I think."
"If that's the case, we had best prepare ourselves."
"Least this time, we know what's comin'!"
Gatebi nodded. "Maybe Warren can help."
"Yeah! He'll be our shield. Wonder if he goes through the same thing, though."
Apprehension flickered across the Alcab features. "I prefer not to consider the possibility, especially if they go through it together."
The teen put on an exaggerated horrified expression. "They'd be no survivors! Doubt even Vo would come out alive. They'd find us with our faces and limbs ripped off and adrift in space," he predicted direly with a shiver.
"Best not to contemplate that scenario," Gatebi suggested, making a point of starting to read.
Flint stretched out on the lounger and snatched up his PI. "Right, too traumatic." He was ready for another round of Lanic World to take his mind off pending catastrophe. Maybe he'd beat Vo this time.
"Hey, Vo!"
Silence.
"Flint to Vo – you there?" he tried again, knowing exactly why the Eshaar'ne was ignoring him.
An odd cross between a sigh and soft growl permeated the air. "For the three-hundredth forty-sixth time, my name is Volu."
"You make my point, Volu. Nobody gets the nicknames business. Aliens! Clueless!" A wave of his arms emphasized his frustration. "But was wonderin' if you've figured yet out where we're stopping for supplies?"
"Based on our trajectory, Ayni is our best option. Warren and Ettwanae are in agreement as it also offers a chance for them to stretch wings."
"Ayni is one of the border colonization planets, correct?" Gatebi injected.
"You are correct. Sparsely populated as yet, but does have one larger city where supplies can be purchased."
"Hope they got odent berries!"
"Do not raise hopes, Flint. Ayni may not offer the variety we are accustomed to."
"Damn. I'm gonna ask, though. Love these things!" With that, he popped the last one in his mouth. "Vo..lu," he emphasized the second syllable as he wanted an answer. "Is Ettwanae startin' to molt?"
Gatebi quit reading and an anxiously expectant expression filled her face.
The room suddenly felt heavier. "The signs all indicate that is the case, Flint."
"Shit." Flint was almost afraid to ask the next question. "And Warren?"
Heaviness eased. "I sense no similar changes in his biology."
Two aliens let out simultaneous sighs of relief.
"Thank god! One rabid bird's enough!"
"We should warn Warren," Gatebi suggested.
"He already knows."
"How?" Flint demanded.
"I told him."
Flint sat up quickly with an angry grunt. "And you didn't warn us!" he accused with a hand waving between him and Gatebi.
"I would have shortly. However, I wanted to spare you too much time for anxiety to build."
"That was considerate, Volu," Gatebi said with an approving nod, "right, Flint?"
The Human flopped back down into the lounger. "Yeah, thanks a million, Vo. You got our backs, I can see that," he snarled, but there wasn't much fire behind the sarcasm. Flint proceeded to blast Lanic World bad guys into oblivion with vengeance.
###
She moaned as powerful hunger and delicious, sensual pleasures merged. Ettwanae gripped his wings where flesh met feather and pulled him tightly to her, pressing his chest against her breasts. Their mouths locked, and fire danced between them. That blaze burned a white-hot trail to her nether regions. She wanted him there – she must him inside her. Rampant passion was beginning to wrestle control; Aru demanded consummation.
He groaned as lust demanded release. They were so close. He wanted her as he'd wanted no other. Warren longed to feel her everywhere – all at once, to merge with her physically, mentally…to his very soul. The aching was nearly more than he could bear. Raw need flashed in Ettwanae's eyes. Primal drives were rising. They needed to make their move soon or risk losing control.
"Warren, now!" she begged in the raspy voice of desperation.
He raised his hips as she spread herself. At the same time, he reached down to the passionate energy he had shared with Ztar so many times. It rose quickly as if impatiently awaiting his call. Rapturous bliss rolled up from that deep and mysterious place.
"Hurry," she urged. She felt him at her entrance. Then like a viper's strike – pain! Searing. Deep. Repulsing. "No-o-o! D-don't stop!" She fought to block the torture. Her almost-lover's body shook violently above her.
Warren tried, he really did. He'd dealt with pain before, but this was different. Not so much physical as it was…what? He couldn't describe it any more than he could fight it. And he certainly couldn't finish the act – his body simply couldn't perform while in searing agony. One last hope. He fought the scorching to surge up more euphoric energy and pushed it outward to Ettwanae.
"Warren, NO!" Volu's scream shattered Ettwanae's chambers.
Too late. Opposing forces collided and the room went supernova. An explosion of blinding brilliance erupted between their bodies, expelling Warren violently off Ettwanae and the bed, slamming him into the opposite wall. He slid to the floor, consciousness fighting to escape the hellish pain consuming his body.
"Ettwanae! Warren!"
The Eshaar'ne's cries cut through the haze of dulled consciousness and confusion. 'What happened?' Ettwanae fought for understanding. "Warren?" she managed when she realized he was no longer atop her, no longer in the bed. Panic! The room whirled as she struggled upright, blinking to see pass the retinal flash affects. Then she saw him…crumpled on the floor, unmoving. Her heart nearly stopped. "Warren!"
He stirred.
"Warren, please!" She pulled herself to the edge of the bed, close to sobbing. "Oh, goddess, let him be okay," she prayed aloud.
"Ettwanae, he will recover," Volu reassured, though the tone was tense.
Lowering herself to the floor, she crawled on hands and knees. Just as she reached him, his eyes opened, but looked frighteningly vacant.
"My poor soulbound," she said taking his face into her trembling hands. "Warren, p-please, speak to m-me." She brushed back his hair, and pulled him into her, wrapping her arms and wings around him. He was shaking violently, and his breathing ragged.
/ Volu? / she called gently with her mind.
/ I am here, Poda. /
/ What happened? /
/ Warren should not have attempted what he did. It was very dangerous. /
/ I agreed to it, Volu. We thought it might help. If we could use the pleasure of his Source filtering to dull the pain of rejection… /
/ I understand how it would appear a reasonable tactic, but the very nature of Warren's filter caused this. Soulbinding is a merging of Ura energy via sexual intercourse. Warren manifests Source through the limbic brain – the sexual center. He conjures a variation of the very thing Ura is prohibiting. / A mental sigh filled their connection. / I should have predicted the attempt…I should have warned you. /
/ Volu, this is not your fault. We were foolish not to talk with you first. / Ettwanae would not let her Eshaar'ne assume guilt for their actions. She whispered reassurances into Warren's ear; the only response was a groan. / He will be okay? /
/ He will. The backlash of energy was a shock to his body and lifeforce, but I can detect no permanent damage to either. Warren only needs rest. /
They sat there for time unknown. She whispered, cooed, stroked his back, wings…held on until the trembling stopped and his breathing became steady. Eventually, his arms drew up and around her.
Warren slowly became aware of Ettwanae's lulling vocalizations. Odd sensations he couldn't recall feeling before were disconcerting. There was numbness somewhere he couldn't pinpoint. His body was whizzing and tingling and he felt detached, his mind clouded, but it was all easing. Finally, he could speak.
"I'm sorry…so sorry. Are you okay?" he asked into her hair.
"Shhh, it's okay. I'm okay. You took the worst of it."
Gently, Warren pulled back and studied her face. After resisting Ztar during their visit four days earlier, the longing for sexual closure with Ettwanae had become unbearable. He and Ettwanae had talked and decided to try again, despite the possibility of further escalating the drive to mate. Then just before they tumbled into bed, ill-fated inspiration came and he suggested using what he could conjure to plow through Ura's painful rejection. Near disaster. Another failure. His fault.
"I should have known better…should have known it couldn't be that easy…"
The defeat in his voice nearly drove her to tears. She took his hand into hers.
"I'm sorry," he said again, unable to look at her, only at their joined hands. "You could have been hurt."
She combed fingers through the golden hair. "No apologies. We knew it could be risky. Let's call it another test…a chance to learn more about what we're facing."
Warren looked up, locking blue eyes to blue. "Unfortunately, the enemy is our own bodies, Ettwanae. How we can fight that?" Anger sparked.
"We don't know until we tried everything. I want to keep trying. Maybe there are drugs or pain inhibitors or something. I won't give up!" She put a hand behind his neck and rested her forehead against his, closing her eyes. "We'll find a way. We'll force the bonding. The amulet will fully waken. We'll find Etxan'Ir and a way to make everything right. You'll see." Her words were brave and confident; she wished she felt the same. She released him, kissed his forehead, then his cheek. "I love you, Warren. I will always love you."
The words were like a dagger to the chest. She loved him. He was likely falling in love with her. They could not consecrate that love. Warren stroked her golden hair. Need was rising again...urgings so intense he shuddered and almost want to push her away knowing he could do little to satisfy those desires. Instead, he clung to the woman who was day by day stealing his heart. "I want to be what you need me to be, but I don't know how to fight this!" he hissed in frustration.
"We'll find a way. Don't give up hope."
Despite her words, he was disheartened. They couldn't bond. Did that doom their mission to failure? Was it foolish to hope otherwise? Were they being too stubborn or unrealistic to accept that reality? But he'd promised Ettwanae that he wouldn't give up – not on their mission and not on them. At that moment, though, all their dreams seemed delusions.
Ettwanae moaned and Warren realized the urgings were escalating. 'God, I'm getting tired of this,' he lamented silently as they untangled their bodies. Warren suddenly realized he was weary to the bone. "I need some sleep." She nodded with understanding and he rose cautiously, still feeling unsteady. After slipping on his jeans and giving Ettwanae a quick kiss on the forehead, he left to return to his own room and collapsed in bed.
His mind wouldn't let go, though, despite numbing physical fatigue. It wandered to their next destination – Atmos Prime. Could be a wild goose chase, but his gut told him that was not the case…if they had the right planet. Even a small miscalculation or fault in memory and they had the wrong star system. But what choice did they have? Atmos Prime was their only lead. Would it be worth the effort and the risk?
Then thoughts drifted to his comm of two days earlier to Charles and the update he'd given his old friend. Charles' reaction was tempered, almost as if the man wanted to say he told Warren so. The lack of information in the retrieved nodes, the long-shot trip to Atmos Prime that may turn out to be nothing more than a Dark Ones stronghold, to the inability to bond with Ettwanae. All signs of pending failure. All confirmation of the foolishness of the quest. That is what he had read in Charles' face and tone.
"I don't give up easily," he'd told the elder man. In hindsight, Warren had sounded more like he was trying to convince himself than Charles.
Volu was racing toward the edge of the Empire with a couple stops planned along the way – one to sate Warren's growing craving for airtime, and one to fill Volu's holds to overflowing. Then they would pass through the buffer zone known as The Barrens between the neighboring realms before entering The Systems Commonwealth and the great unknown. Once outside Turzent space, they would truly be on their own. No more safety net called Ztar.
A smile crept onto his lips as warm memories of the Turzent drifted across his dulling mind. Part of Warren wished he had given in to the man's desire. Maybe Ztar was right…maybe they did need each to be whole…
Then drowsiness stole thought. Curling up on his side, Warren spread one wing across in a feathery blanket. Softness and warmth melted away the remnants of troubled ruminations and he drifted off.
###
A/N: The reception kiss storyline was actually something I had considered for the last book, Circle Complete. However, it ended up on the cutting room floor, as they say… didn't move the story forward and actually would have added unnecessary complications. Ztar did attend the Ennovy-Eiram reception with Jharda (as Warren had suggested he do) not all that long before Warren left Sat'rey to return to Earth.
Since according to Soulbound, the topic had been declared off-limits at the time, it fits that Ztar's attendance of the reception isn't elaborated upon in Circle Complete and was the "non-event" Sukja terms it here. A bit of a stretch, perhaps, but then again, the events and happenings in the lives of our characters beyond what we read about in a story could fill volumes.
Resurrecting the side story gave me an opportunity to break up the seriousness of Soulbound and inject what I hope is a bit of humor with one of my favorite supporting characters – Gragne. While even here the kiss incident doesn't move the story forward, I felt one: it is a needed change in mood and tempo, and two: the incident can be in and out of the storyline cleanly with no lasting repercussions or complications.
You, the reader, are the final judges whether or not "the kiss incident" is a positive addition to the story. If nothing else, hopefully you enjoyed the brief trip on the sidetrack.
Next time: Hercjell al'Verta makes an appearance, Warren and Ettwanae get to 'stretch wings,' and the unrelenting sexual tension takes its toll on Warren in a frightening way, resulting in a major decision.