Ever After (5 page)

“Earth Force…the law enforcement branch handling the entire affair…wanted a say in matters. The silly haggling went on and on even while doctors kept saying my godfather needed to be relieved as soon as possible. That’s why Fisk was chosen when he should have been sent to the Beta Seven sector. Now, somebody else will have to take Fisk’s place
there
.”

“I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for your godfather and you,” he softly told her.

“I honestly think he may be one of the vets whose condition won’t be easily treated.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because our physician here has had him on the required meds since discovering the disease existed. He’s not improving. In fact, one morning a few days ago, he got up and put on his dress uniform to watch a police cadet review. He…he thought he was back on Earth, at Earth Force Cadet Academy. He hasn’t held that position in twenty years.”

Dillon shook his head.

“Then he got lucid again, called me to his quarters, and told me not to let him say or do anything that would embarrass him in front of Allied High Command. He was desperate not to make a wrong decision or to let the pirates know about our collective indecisiveness…due to his being incapacitated.”

She paused for a moment. “Sometimes he’s incredibly coherent. Then he looks at strategic plans on a computer…plans that’re routinely submitted by allied embassy tacticians…and it all looks like gibberish. On those days, he needs me to explain everything. Can you imagine? A man of his qualifications and experience asking for anyone’s help?” The lieutenant took a deep breath before saying more. “It’s like he’s trying to see through a thick layer of clouds. His mind just won’t function.”

“The strategic suggestions you gave him were to keep anyone from knowing…obviously,” Dillion said as he nodded. “Still, your plans are brilliant. Now I know you’re not a spy…that you’re on the level…they’re even more impressive. I wouldn’t let myself see that before.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“I meant it as one,” he graciously admitted.

She looked down at the ground, obviously trying to maintain composure.

Dillon was greatly saddened by this news. Cygnan Fever was named for its planet of origin. To Albright’s credit, he’d wiped that area clean of criminals which made his sudden
inaction
on Mythreal so much harder to comprehend.

What he knew about Cygnan Fever wasn’t much. He understood that it attacked synapses in the brain and left untreated would destroy gray matter altogether. Legally, no one with the affliction could hold a position of authority. The general knew that, hence his willingness to share the news with his compatriot—General Fisk. Albright had wanted to be replaced before anyone found out. Keira was giving him a way to do that. Regardless, the general’s neglect in making decisions might still be questioned.

Albright deserved to leave with his head held high. And knowing these circumstances made
him
feel so much worse. The situation would have been more tactfully relayed at some later time but for his ridiculous paranoia bringing it to light now.

“I…I’m so sorry about this, Lieutenant My behavior in this matter has been…I have no words. I should turn myself in immediately. I can say I suspected someone of piracy, without revealing anything more, and then assert my suspicions were all wrong. I should come clean about my actions in bugging an embassy. My zealousness should be addressed.”

“That’s commendable but pointless!” She took a deep breath and shook her head. “Look, we’ve already established that nobody but us knows. We only have a few days until Fisk gets here. He’ll bring staff members with him who’ll ease the transition and all security documentation about the changeover will be filed with Allied High Command. They’ll be told the truth and will be advised that the information is classified. Pirates won’t be privy to the weakness in our ranks. While our foes are fully aware that all law enforcement actions coming from Mythreal must be unanimous, my godfather’s illness would give them insight into what would be a perceived weakness. That’s information they don’t need. They might see to it that
other
commanding dignitaries suddenly come down with dreadfully convenient illnesses.”

“Quite true.”

“For now all anyone wants is to see a good man leave with his reputation intact.”

“After what I’ve done, I will make no move to prevent this plan, Lieutenant But you’ll understand if I privately contact Fisk and make sure he’s aware that…as the Chief of Security on Mythreal…I’ve been briefed? In this way, we have all our bases covered. If anyone should ask me if I was aware of the situation, I can truthfully say I was—that the matter is and always has been under control.”

“Absolutely. Of course. I-I might have prevented all this by having contacted
you
. It’s just that you have a reputation for following rules, sir. I didn’t want my godfather removed from his position so quickly as to make him seem incompetent. That’s the very thing I’m trying to prevent.”

“Obviously, my reputation in regards to following rules has been greatly exaggerated or I’d not have broken a very important law,” he wryly pointed out.

“Let’s just say we both made mistakes.”

“Mine being far, far, worse,” he sadly admitted while shaking his head. Then he considered the utter selflessness in this girl’s actions. If what she said was confirmed by General Fisk—and he was sure it would be—then she was truly one of those rare women who cared deeply about those she loved. She’d let her godfather take credit for some unique, bold strategy that would have gotten her promoted into Earth Embassy’s upper-echelons.

Few females of her ilk had ever crossed his path. Women of his acquaintance wanted power and money. As an unattached member of the royal clan, he’d been used by them many times, as a means to secure a fortune. That’s why he’d stayed single for so long.

“Though I have no right at this point, may I ask for one thing, Lieutenant?”

“Please do.”

“I’d like to be at the ball, to see the general in command one last time. Before he came to Mythreal, your godfather’s reputation as a great leader was second-to-none. I owe him my thanks as a veteran, and as a Mythrealian. I know many here who’re alive because of him. I should have remembered all this before jumping to an asinine conclusion. A situation that will haunt me for the rest of my life. Especially where you are concerned.”

She smiled brightly. “You needn’t worry about what I think of you, sir. I won’t be here for long. I’m not on Fisk’s team. I asked to be brought to Mythreal when my godfather notified me of his condition. General Fisk knew my reputation, and gave me this chance to…fix things.” She smiled. “Fisk has always been a very good friend. If it hadn’t been for his quiet intervention at my request, I’d be stationed on Taurean Seven by now. And the renowned reputation of the great General Albright would have been in shreds. I’m still hoping what I’ve done won’t have been in vain.”

He considered her words for a long moment. “Lieutenant, not to be the bearer of bad news, but you must realize that Taurean Seven is a highly isolated outpost. Nothing like Mythreal. It’s barren. Terrible by comparison. Life there is quite hostile.”

She nodded and gazed around the small glen. “I know. I won’t ever see anything as beautiful as Mythreal again. I just wish I’d been posted here for real. And under better circumstances.”

In that instant he saw undeniable beauty in this plain creature. Beauty he’d have never considered under other settings. Sadly, that revealed much about his shallow nature. Even as he’d rejected women for their greediness, he’d misjudged this one for her looks. Hypocrisy and the tendency to jump to wrong conclusions were flaws that needed purging from his character. He’d overlooked this woman’s intelligence. That, more than anything, had been his undoing.

Because Keira Foley was so different from all the women he’d ever known, he’d count himself lucky to be in her company at the ball, if only for a short time.

“As far as the Valentine’s Day ball is concerned,” she said as she addressed his request, “I’ll have an invitation printed and sent to you. It will include anyone you care to bring. It will be sent straight to your home. No one will question an ally’s attendance at an Earth function. It’s simply a matter of inviting friends to a party.”

‘Friends’
. That word to describe this newfound trust rang true, even after their abysmal start. “Thank you. Thank you for giving me this chance to prove I’m not a suspicious, overbearing, and paranoid dolt, Lieutenant As to being friends, I’d most certainly consider us such from here on.”

“Of course. And now that I think about it, sir…I should have expected someone probing into the matter. My godfather’s lack of attendance to his duties was suspicious. Before I arrived, he’d accept no one else’s help. The disease…it causes a certain amount of distrust among those not known well to the victim.” She tucked a stray strand of brown hair behind her ear before saying more. “I’m only sorry it took Earth so long to address the matter…sending a replacement, I mean. The issue wouldn’t have become such an opportunity for gossip.”

“None of this was General Albright’s fault,” Dillon asserted. “As you stated, I should have come to you before making accusations. Certainly before bugging your godfather’s office. It’s a hard lesson, but I’ve learnt it well.”

“Well, you understand
now
. That’s what matters. And soon, maybe the other embassy dignitaries will understand. Though they’ll be asked to keep what they’ve been told confidential, Godfather won’t be thought of as having suddenly become incompetent in his later years.” She shrugged. “Most importantly, the transition will be smooth. Hopefully, the populace here and on Earth…the ones who’ll be kept in the dark about his disease…will think much better of my godfather. If they knew he wasn’t all there, mentally speaking, there’d be an uproar about the secrecy.” She sighed before continuing.

“They’ll wonder what
else
we’re keeping from them. For that reason, it was my intention to make it publicly seem as though Godfather was carefully weighing suggestions from various sources
before
making up his mind. The whole scheme was to give him a way to retire discreetly, on his own terms. He’s a hero back on Earth. I’d like him to remain that way. I don’t want a political issue made of it. Nor a spectacle made of a man I love.”

“Understood. And I totally agree with not only your motives but your handling of this entire situation. You are a remarkable person, Keira Foley. You’ve successfully kept me from destroying trust among eighty embassies. For that I thank you most profoundly.”

He offered his hand. She grinned and shook it in a universal gesture of friendship.

“Thank God this is settled and over,” she laughingly said. “And now…I’d better get back to the embassy or someone will send out a search party. Good day, sir. Thank you for responding to my note. If you hadn’t…”

“I think we should dispense with titles,” he smilingly suggested. “After what we’ve just accomplished and what I put you through first names should be the order of the day.”

“No harm done. It’s over as far as I’m concerned. I’ll see you at the ball…
Dillon
. And I’ll keep a dance saved for you.”

“Keira…I’ll most certainly look forward to a dance. Again…my profound apologies,” he offered as he put one hand over his heart and bowed slightly.

She smiled even more brightly as she turned away, mounted her own small shuttle, and flew into the distance.

Dillon stood there, amazed, grateful, humbled, and awed.

Forgiveness came that easy. At least it apparently did with her. Of course, she was trying to keep the general population of her world and his from knowing they’d had a mentally compromised man in a powerful position. It remained to be seen if the diplomats would be quite as tactful and keep their collective mouths shut. Still, she’d done a much better job at handling this situation than he. Would he ever get over feeling like an absolute fool?

Once more it struck him hard that he’d never known any female quite like her—probably never would again. He’d underestimated someone who shouldn’t have been. Truth rang from every word she spoke, even in the gleam of her bright blue eyes. He’d assumed so much, so very wrongly. But she’d forgiven so easily.

“Quite a woman,” he whispered to himself. “Quite a woman, indeed!”

****

The week went by quickly.

During that time Dillon gave thanks for having so narrowly escaped the loss of his career and the ultimate demise of Earth-Mythrealian friendship that’d lasted for many centuries. The more he thought about his actions in the matter, the more remorse he felt.

At the ball tonight, he meant to make reparations, and in a way the girl who’d so magnanimously and wonderfully forgiven would never forget. If no one else danced with her or gave her the time of day, as they had during the few functions they’d mutually attended, then he’d be the one to keep her from becoming what Earther’s described in very old-fashioned terms, a
wallflower
. It was, as he understood it, a term for one who attends a party only to be ignored by everyone else because of their looks.

As promised, his elaborately decorated invitation had arrived earlier in the week. The missive bore the theme of this year’s event—
Ever
After
. Supposedly, the idea was to invoke a dreamlike world of fairy stories reminiscing chivalric, romantic acts.

Sadly, with the upcoming change in Earth’s command, all the rest of the royal household was deep in consultation with members of General Fisk’s staff. Fisk would only make a cursory appearance at the ball, probably to honor the outgoing man in charge—to let Albright leave as he’d arrived—in command.