Daughter of Destiny (36 page)

Though, his back was to
her, she didn't need to see his face to sense the distaste and
hesitance to follow through on those orders. The ships in orbit
were disabled, completely inoperable, and offering their surrender.
Yet, the UN Council and the President just ordered him to fire
ground-to-orbit missiles to finish the job.

The ripple of energy as she
dropped her cloak of magic alerted the general. He spun around,
weapon in hand. She clutched her blue striped hospital gown to keep
it from gaping open and realized maybe she should have conjured
clothing first, but the pain meds in her system made her thoughts a
bit loopy.

"You can't destroy those
ships."

He lowered his weapon, but
didn't holster it. "Excuse me?" General Westing arched a brow at
her demand.

"You have no comprehension
of the events you'll trigger if you destroy those ships. Humanity
will start down a path of self-destruction from which it won't be
able to escape. For the sake of all humanity, you must disobey your
orders and above all don't insult the IGC fleet by pointing our
weapons at them, unless of course you want another far more
powerful invasion fleet to fight off."

"I may agree that the
threat has passed, but I can't blatantly disobey
orders."

"Let me restate your
options, General. Disobey those orders or I'll do it for you. Those
missiles are not leaving this base."

"I will have you arrested
for acts of terrorism if you attempt to disable this
base."

"We are on the same side,
you and I, but if you send those missiles, you assure Earth's
destruction."

Decades of Army training
and adherence to following orders outweighed her words and his own
gut feeling. She could see it in the hard set of his eyes and
mouth. She allowed only a second of anger and then she focused on
the weapon in the general's hand. With a moment's concentration, it
vanished even as the general raised his hand to once again take
aim.

General Westing tensed for
what she sensed would be a roundhouse kick to her kidney, followed
by an uppercut, a back fist to her temple, followed by a less
defined series of possible attacks if she failed to go down. He
never got the chance to move. Panic emanated from him when not a
single muscle obeyed his command. It beat at her, shards of glass
that fractured the protective mental barrier her father had
erected. She ignored the pain in her head and the adrenaline that
pumped through her veins in answer to the general's
emotions.

"I warned you. I'd rather
not do things this way, but you just have to play the obedient
little soldier." She shook her head once in regret. "This is how
it's going down. You will first contact the incoming IGC fleet.
They are to cease their advance until they hear from you again. You
will inform them that the Goloth fleet is disarmed and the ships
will either need to be repaired and escorted out of our system or
evacuated and destroyed. Under no circumstances are you to agree to
any IGC ships remaining in system, but you will thank them for
their aid. You will accept the Goloth's unconditional surrender and
coordinate the handing over of Karglock. Finally, thank IGCF for
their assistance and wish them a safe journey home." She paused to
make sure he understood and would not fight any of her orders. She
took a breath and lowered her voice to a soft melodious whisper,
"You will not remember that I came to you. You chose honor over
duty. When questioned, you will argue that it is wrong to kill an
enemy that has surrendered and goes against every global law
recognized." She released him from her thrall, returning his weapon
to his holster and shifting space back to her room all at the same
time. A frission went down her spine at the ease with which she
imposed her will.
I guess there's more Fae in me than I care to
admit.

***

Tense minutes passed. Every
second ratcheted Rotvraoq's nerves to a higher level of chaotic
adrenaline. The ensign finally reported, "IGCF has halted on the
outskirts of the system, but they aren't responding to our hail.
The humans are answering however. They have a translator program
already active."

"Activate the comm." When
the ensign nodded, he said, "This is Rotvraoq of the Goloth people.
I wish to cease hostilities and offer my sincere apologies for this
attack. The former Emperor Karglock is no longer in command." He
waited for Earth’s reply.

The response echoed through
the bridge, "This is General Westing of the United States Armed
Forces. By the authority of The United Nations and the government
of the United States of America, I hereby accept your unconditional
surrender."

Rotvraoq's mouth went dry
and his gut tightened. Assured slow death at the hands of Karglock,
a quick death at the hands of IGC, or the mercy of strangers, none
of his options appealed, but he could only pray that the human
tendency for compassion was something galactic and Earth humans
still shared.

Rotvraoq took a deep breath
and announced, "Our surrender is unconditional." Silence reigned
supreme on the bridge as his words hung heavy in the air. Static
crackled, grating on nerves already strung tight.

"You will turn Karglock
over to us. We've spoken with IGCF. They will escort your fleet to
your home planet where they will oversee the disarmament of your
military. Until otherwise negotiated, no Goloth vessel or citizen
may enter our system without prior authorization. Doing so will be
seen as an act of war and dealt with accordingly. Is this
understood?"

Rotvraoq replied, "Yes.
Those terms are acceptable. How do you wish for us to deliver
Karglock into your custody?"

"One moment," General
Westing requested. The next instant a tall blond man materialized
on the ship's bridge, but without the telltale whine and lights of
a teleporter. At first glance he appeared human, but his
luminescent eyes betrayed his true identity. Several men reached
for their weapons, but Rotvraoq held up a hand.

"Hold."

The being in front of him
was no human. Those were ancient eyes, Danua eyes, and they held no
quarter for the beings who invaded this world. Rotvraoq swallowed
the lump of fear that rose as the Danua moved toward him with
menace in his glowing eyes.

"Let your men in the brig
know I am retrieving Karglock from their custody." Then as suddenly
as the being had appeared, he was gone. Only after Karglock was
handed over and the discussion of terms complete did Rotvraoq sink
into the command chair and let out a quiet sigh of
relief.

***

Kieran flashed into form
less than fifty yards from where Zane’s crumpled ship lay. Acrid
smoke filled the air and the hiss and groans of torn, cooling metal
met his ears. His father had slowed the ship, so he said, but there
had been little he could do that wouldn't risk harming the alien
human. Katarina's threat rang in his head. He sorely hoped she
wouldn't blame him. It was their father after all who summoned
Torin to babysit, much to his relief, although Katarina might see
it merely as one more desertion. Finn may have tasked him to
retrieve her consort, but if his father's efforts had failed, he
was not sticking around for his sister's wrath. Up until now he
only ever feared his father, but that one moment when Katarina's
eyes settled on him with her demand, he saw his sister anew. She
had their father's titanium will and power at least as equal in
measure, even if her skills were a bit rough. No sane man, human,
Fae, or alien, would dare cross her when that look was on her face
and the power of the Fae burned bright in her eyes.

He squinted in the clearing
smoke and strode toward the ship, but Zane was already climbing out
of its battered remains. Zane shook his head and blinked several
times before focusing on him.

Kieran gave him a wry grin.
"So, how many magical faeries do you see?"

Zane smirked even as he
raised a hand to his temple where a small cut dripped blood. "Only
one, thank
Omeha,"
he replied with a wince as he touched the
cut.

"Come on. Let’s get you out
of here." They climbed gingerly over wreckage, and as soon as Zane
was able to stand without weaving about, Kieran flashed them back
to the base’s infirmary.

They appeared amidst
bustling activity. Soldiers and civilian associates brought in
wounded in a steady stream. Kieran stared in shock as his father
moved from one injured man to the next, telling the nurse what was
wrong with each, and healing the ones that didn’t have time to wait
for treatment. Finn’s actions were so un-Fae like that Kieran just
stood there in stunned silence.

***

"Zane!"

At Katarina’s relieved
exclamation, Zane left the support of Kieran’s arm, leaving the boy
to gape at his father. Zane rushed across the main room of the
infirmary to the small private room off to the side where a tsking
nurse was replacing Katarina's I.V. line. Zane waited only until
the nurse was finished before perching on the bed and kissing
Katarina as if his life depended on never releasing her lips. When
he finally lifted his lips from hers, Katarina sent a not so gentle
fist into his stomach. The air left his lungs, but the punch didn't
have enough force to hurt.

"Damn it, Zane. Can’t you
do anything without nearly getting yourself killed? If you EVER
scare me like that again, I swear I’ll…I’ll…" she trailed off,
unable to come up with a fitting threat.

"Never let me leave your
side again," Zane supplied with a teasing grin. "I think I’ll risk
it."

"Oooh!" Katarina said as
she pulled his head down to hers for another searing
kiss.

A small sound of infant
displeasure made them reluctantly end the kiss. The bassinet was
beside Katarina’s bed opposite Zane, and a little fist waved
spasmodically in the air.

"They’re okay?" Zane
asked.

"Colleen and Adrian are
fine. They’re small, but they’ll grow."

He studied Katarina, trying
to feel his way through her body with his new powers, but his
clumsy attempt told him little. Katarina clasped his hand. "I'm
fine. A little banged up and more exhausted than I've been in my
entire life, but fine." He gathered her in his arms and held her
close until he could push down the fear of losing her. Her quiet
steady presence in his mind comforted him and brought him peace. He
feared what might happen were he ever to lose her. He took a deep
breath and released her so he could get up and walk to the
bassinet. Zane stared down at the tiny infants.

"They’re ours," he
whispered in awe. When he carefully lifted Colleen into his arms
and cradled her to his chest, he looked up and saw tears slide down
Katarina's face. This was what they both yearned for and never
thought to have.

Alone in the bassinet,
Adrian started fussing. Katarina laughed and wiped away the tears.
She reached over and rescued him. Zane sat down on the bed beside
her. The bond shared among them was the most powerful feeling of
love he could ever imagine.

Zane wrapped his left arm
around Katarina. "They’re beautiful
rahmali o mi."
He
pressed a kiss to her temple and then claimed her lips again. He
took exception to having to end the kiss when someone coughed
discreetly. Zane leaned his forehead against hers and turned just
enough to see Kieran standing in the doorway.

"I'm refraining from
threats of impending death only because you're her
brother."

Kieran frowned, and Zane
decided to be generous and not take offense when the boy ignored
him and spoke to Katarina. "Father's putting me to work. I'll be
aiding in search and rescue. Call me if you need me."

"You didn't stay," Katarina
said as she turned to look at her brother.

"Father superseded you and
besides, Torin knows more of what to do with babies than I
do."

Katarina pursed her lips a
moment and Zane was glad her displeasure was aimed elsewhere.
"There was no need for Da to chase after me, or to summon Torin,
but I'm glad he had the presence of mind to make sure they were
guarded by a family member. Until we are home and wards put into
place they cannot be left unguarded."

The frown on Kieran's face
deepened, as if such a thought had not occurred to him, but Zane
sensed Katarina's fears. He didn't dismiss them either. The
hostility from some of the Fae was fresh in his mind. Katarina was
wise to take precautions. It wasn't a surprise that Kieran did not
yet fathom the consequences of his sister's arrival and the
weakness the twins presented. His pampered life gave him no
reference for betrayal.

The frown disappeared and
he shrugged. "If you insist. I'm glad your consort lived and you
are well. I best get to work before Father complains I'm not
working." Kieran shifted space, leaving them alone.

Zane pulled Katarina into
the space beside him as he leaned back in the bed and propped his
feet up. "Will you punch me if I say good riddance?"

Katarina laughed and leaned
against him. "Nah, I'm too tired. My brother is a bit more Fae than
I expected. I know that sounds silly, but I suppose we'll get used
to each other in time."