Chapter Twenty-Six

“Zafir, calm down, we know she’s alive,” Crowe placated the pacing man, a look of sympathy on his face. “You need to collect the others and their things. Pull yourself together, for them.”

Zafir bristled. “Eddard’s bastard dog went too far! I knew I shouldn’t have followed his orders and sent Elara after the missing team. He tried to kill her!”

Crowe sighed heavily. “Disobey orders from the inner circle? Then you would have been removed. We both know what they would have done then. You all would have been reprogrammed and sold to the highest bidder. I hear quite a few nobles want you running on dog software in their homes. That’s nicer than what they want for Elara and her team.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Zafir snapped. “There’s never a choice with the empire.”

“Elara’s current highest bidder wants her limbs removed so she can be mounted to a wall,” Crowe continued, causing Zafir to freeze. “He and the other bidders already outlined what they intend to do upon purchase, if it ever comes to that. Now, tell me again how you think you should have disobeyed orders?”

“…I thought they had agreed to keep her on to train new recruits?” Zafir asked.

“Until they decide the Resonance Project isn’t needed, or has concluded.” Crowe leaned back in his chair. “Julien is keeping them in line for now, but a little under half the inner circle is looking for a way to terminate the Resonance Project. Our time is limited.

“So, like I said, you need to get the team and your colleagues together and leave. You think I don’t know what you and Rel have been planning?”

Zafir slowly turned his head to look at General Crowe. “What do you…”

For just a moment, Crowe’s eyes turned a glowing mix of orange, pink, and red. Multiple pupils disappeared as quickly as he’d shown them.

“I’ve been here a long time,” Crowe offered with a mysterious smile. “Before this rock was sold to Creshe. Never agreed with what happened to Elara, or this ‘sale.’ I did, however, like the humans better than the people who were here first.” Crowe rose to his feet and walked toward Zafir, clamping a hand on his shoulder. “Let me deal with the empire for now. Julien and I go way back. Worry about your queen’s safety first.”

With that, Crowe left the room, leaving behind a stunned Zafir. He had so many questions he wished to ask the man, but he knew his advice was sound. The political landscape had changed. Suisuni and Citomy’s other consorts were struggling to control her, an Abysstouched vessel had been taken over by pirates, and Elara’s injury seemed severe.

Damn it… Zafir pivoted and headed straight for the common area in search of Elara’s team. [Rel, how is Elara’s condition?]

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[The attack was meant for the Y’serdyn and was poisoned. Elara has been healed, but it will take time before she wakes up. We are trying to keep her soothed so she doesn’t return to her nightmares.] Rel’s answer elicited a frown from Zafir.

[More nightmares?]

Rel responded almost instantly. [Yes. Touch seems to make her dreams drift to more pleasant things, but she spirals out of control if one of us moves away. We’re struggling to determine the barrier of appropriateness.]

[We need to talk after I fetch Elara’s team. Our plan for getting off this planet needs to be moved up.] Zafir strode into the common area, finding the team, Sarah, and Amara were all glued to the TV. “Gather your things. All of them. We have orders to evacuate to the V’shir’s ship. They have agreed to keep us safe away from Citomy’s resonance weaponry. Hurry. I am going to get Elara’s things. You have 10 minutes to gather your belongings and get to the roof.”

Startled looks were followed by hasty movements and fleeing for their rooms. Satisfied, Zafir made his way to Elara’s room next. There, he carefully boxed Rel’s hunting lantern and placed it in his inventory module. Then, he did the same for Elara’s other scant belongings.

[Jysel informed me that the Y’serdyn has a proposal that I ‘won’t like, but he agrees with,’] Rel stated sarcastically. [I agree we need to leave this system as soon as possible. Lynir is charting possibilities since the gate is still down.]

“Sir…” a voice called hesitantly. Zafir pivoted to see Erik standing in the doorway. At least that meant he didn’t have to go searching. “Permission for my squadron and I to evacuate with you?”

“You and your…” Zafir echoed in disbelief.

“Yes, sir. We are prepared to pledge our loyalty to Elara if necessary.” Erik stared back at Zafir with sharp, focused eyes. “You can pull our backups and load us in virtual if you aren’t convinced. My men are already packed and ready to go.”

“But…your families…” Zafir hesitated, astounded. [Rel. You’re getting this?]

[We can have her ship resleeve and keep them for binding if necessary. Bring them. I believe Erik was on her ‘nice people to save’ list.]

“None of us have family other than each other. We see Elara as one of us.” Erik narrowed his eyes and stepped forward. “I will beg if I have to.”

“Not necessary. Request granted.” Zafir shook his head. “You can join me, unless you need to go fetch your squadron…?”

“They’re packing up the team’s skybikes and bringing them to the shuttle. They’ll have beaten us there,” Erik reported. “We are ready when you are.”

“Good. Then follow me.” Zafir nodded. [I want this squadron refitted with Syldran neurochips immediately. For security, but also because soldiers have detonatable neurochips.]

[Have them report to the med bay on arrival,] Rel ordered. [Give them an excuse if you need to. Now, do be quiet unless it’s pressing. I’m trying to concentrate.]

Zafir frowned a little at that but shook it off as he and Erik entered the elevator.

“What’ll happen to the city if Cuntomy—er, Citomy, fires?” Erik asked, clearing his throat.

Zafir cracked a smile. “We can’t say for certain. Our Syldrari allies don’t recognize the design. If it isn’t a focused blast, Lucdra will be destroyed like Grand Anldu. A more precise tool will cause the targeted ship to explode, raining debris—including aetheric waste—down on the city.”

“There’ll be a large loss of life either way, then.” Erik grunted in displeasure, “Fan-damn-tastic.”

“Yes…forgetting the physical debris, the effects of such a dense aetheric release would madden the human population…the other species in the city would have to cull them…” Zafir murmured with a frown. “It is likely this argument that has kept them from firing yet. Citomy wants something from the empire.”

Erik snorted in distaste, but remained silent as the elevator reached the roof. There, Zafir, the team, and Erik’s squad all loaded into the shuttle and took to the air.

The further from this crazed queen, the better…