Lone Star Renegades (24 page)

Chapter 31

Collin carried Captain Drago into a small minivan-sized shuttle. Getting the captain’s limp body into the tiny airlock was the trickiest part. Once the three were on board, it took less than two minutes to make the trip across to the awaiting Marauder ship, a compact vessel in itself, with only a handful of uniformed Kardon Guard crew on board. Collin followed the principessa into a cramped compartment, where she gestured for Collin to place Captain Drago onto a narrow gurney.

“What is this place?” Collin asked her.

“AutoMed compartment … seriously? You’ve never seen an AutoMed?”

Collin did a quick look around and shook his head.

“This is a small ship … no room for a staffed, medical department. Medical procedures are administered via the AI. Watch it, now! Stand back!”

A bright white line of light moved from the top of the captain’s head, down his torso, and then over his legs.

“AutoMed’s now scanning his injuries,” she told him.

Collin scurried out of the way when a robotic arm descended from above. Moving at sonic speed, it whirled into position, perpendicular to the captain’s body. A metallic blade appeared and his uniform and trousers were cut away as a second articulating arm descended and began administering to his legs. Collin grimaced as he heard the sounds of bones being set. He was relieved for the captain that he was still unconscious.

“That thing’s pretty cool,” Collin said, finding it hard to take his eyes off the AutoMed in action.

“I guess … Okay … let’s leave him for now. Follow me,” the principessa said, not waiting for an answer.

This vessel really was small. Collin figured it was about the size of a doublewide trailer—but perhaps a little longer in length. As he followed the principessa in and around various pieces of equipment, and around several component-filled bulkheads, he passed three of her crewmembers. They stared back at Collin with interest. Then it hit him. He was now royally screwed. Now that he was in the hands of the enemy, gone were his chances of getting back home, and also of seeing Lydia again.

She took him directly to the small bridge. It was about the same size as the 777’s cockpit but all similarities ended there. This ship’s technology seemed to be on a par with that of the
Tyrant
’s.

Drago truly was an idiot … didn’t he know what he was going up against?

As if on cue, beyond the front convex observation window, the
Helix
blew apart. Collin looked for something to hold on to but the concussive wave never came.
Of course! Without an atmosphere, that couldn’t happen here.

The principessa flopped down into one of two tall-backed, bucket-like seats. She tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and gestured for Collin to sit.

He sat and waited for her to say something. She looked at him for a long moment and then crossed her legs. She wore snug, black leather pants and boots that came up almost to her knees.

“If you’re done checking out my legs, I have some questions for you, kid …”

Collin interrupted her: “Why were you hailing the
Helix
, Principessa? Why didn’t you charge weapons like the
Helix
did?”

“I’d appreciate it if you’d stop calling me that. Stick with Captain, or Captain Valora. As for my hail … it’s presumptuous for an apprentice, not yet even a squire, to be so forward as to question a superior.”

Collin shrugged. “You’re not my superior and as I’ve already told you … me and my friends were abducted. It’s not like we signed up for any of this.”

He watched as she rolled her eyes and shook her head. She was easily ten years older than him, but there was a youthful quality, an irreverence about her, that made her seem captivating. He could see how she and Captain Primo would be a good fit.

“The reason I was hailing that piece of shit of a ship, the
Helix
, was to leave a message for Capitano Primo.”

“What about?”

She exhaled and looked annoyed. Her attention was on a curved translucent display, now hovering before her. “We’ve got company.”

Collin watched the approaching ship. He recognized it. “Looks like you have a decision to make.”

“Are you always this annoying, Frost?”

“My little sister thinks so … It’s the
Tyrant.
You can’t defeat her in battle, and you can’t outrun her.” Collin actually had no idea if this little ship of hers could outrun the
Tyrant
or not, but he wanted to keep her off-guard. “And there’s another minor point … your husband’s commanding that ship.”

“Will you just shut up? I know perfectly well who it is. The last thing I need right now is your mouth flapping. Just be glad I haven’t put you in irons.”

Collin sat back and smiled. He then raised a wrist—the one with a scorch mark on it. Ever since the devices were removed from his wrists, he’d become aware of an ever-increasing amount of something—not energy, although there was that, too, but something more: it was raw power—a whole lot of pent-up raw power.

She started to say something and then closed her lips.

“You were going to leave him a message, so why not do it now, in person? What’s the big deal?”

“There are things you wouldn’t understand. Some of it is personal. It’s one thing to have a message forwarded by a dimwit like Capitano Drago; it’s another thing to—”

“… admit to your husband you were wrong?” Collin interjected.

“Maybe … probably. It’s becoming clear that the Kardon Guard … that Commandant Nari lied to the queen. That his real motive was to supplant the monarchy.”

“Does your mother, the queen … does she see what’s happening? Does she realize that dude’s been blowing smoke?”

She turned toward Collin. “Where do you get these ridiculous expressions? Yes, but what the queen knows in her heart and what she’s willing to say aloud are two different things. Even now, she is a prisoner in her own castle. The commandant controls her and every aspect of the monarchy, as well as his prized Kardon Guard.”

The
Tyrant
was now closing in and beginning to slow.

“They’re hailing me.” She sounded resigned.

“Truth is, I don’t know much about any of this stuff,” Collin said. “Why not just come clean about it all with Captain Primo—”

She cut him off. “You have no idea what’s transpired. The gravity of it all. When the queen chose the Kardon Guard and that maniacal Commandant Nari over the Brotherhood—those who’d loyally stood at the monarchy’s side for nearly a millennium—it changed everything. When she stood by and watched while thousands of knights of the Brotherhood were hunted down and killed … often right in front of their families … it’s not something you can simply take back. Like, oops … sorry … I chose the wrong defenders of the realm.”

Collin saw moisture glistening in the principessa’s eyes. “Just tell your husband what you told me.” He sat back and stared as the nearing ship filled the small display screen in front of them.

“Nobody knows we’re married. It was a secret ceremony.” She saw Collin’s confused expression and continued, “I’m a principessa … a princess … he’s a duke. Without my mother and the Council of Elders elevating him to the level of principe, a prince … it’s impossible. Added to that, my mother and Dante hate each other.”

She stared at the ship for a moment and seemed to come to a decision. She straightened up in her seat and composed herself. She tapped at something on the control panel—Captain Primo’s face appeared before them.

He looked surprised to see her. When her lips curled into the faintest of smiles, his tight expression gave way to one of relief.

“Constantina … you destroyed a Brotherhood warship—I won’t be able to protect you. Why didn’t you just leave?”

Her annoyance flared: “It’s not what you think. That idiot Drago ignored my hails. I didn’t come here to fight. I did everything I could to open up a channel with that ship.”

“That’s a convenient excuse, but without proof—”

Collin interjected, “Um … it’s actually true, Captain.”

Again, Captain Primo furrowed his brow. The principessa tapped something on the control panel so he could now see them both sitting in the small ship’s cockpit. His smile spread to his eyes and for a moment, he was speechless. “Why, Mr. Frost, I thought you went the way of the
Helix.
”

Chapter 32

Collin sat back and watched the principessa pilot the Marauder back toward Nero Station. Even now, as she brought the little ship up to the designated concourse gate, she looked to be on the verge of changing her mind.

“So … how long’s it been since you’ve been on a Brotherhood station?” Collin asked, trying to steer her away from what he was sure was a conflicting inner dialogue going on in her head. The last thing he wanted was for her to bolt, taking him along for the ride.

She glanced over to Collin, her eyes conveying she knew what he was doing. “A few years.”

Collin felt the Marauder being secured at the gate. Chewing the inside of her lip, Captain Valora didn’t get up right away.

He said, “Look, my loyalties are to my Chain … my fellow Earthlings. From what I can see, what you’re doing … is the right thing. If you’re afraid they’ll do something to you—”

She smiled at that. “I appreciate the concern, Mr. Frost, but that’s the least of my worries. My being here is no small triviality. I don’t have the monarchy’s blessing and the Kardon Guard would consider what I’m doing treasonable. The simple fact of the matter is there’s no going back for me, once I step onto the station.”

“How certain are you of … what’s his name? Commandant Nari? That he really has ulterior motives, like taking control away from the queen?”

“Oh, I’m one hundred percent sure of that. My mother lives a secluded, protected life. I don’t. It’s not so much a question of if Nari and the Kardon Guard are taking control, as it is of how bad things will get once we’re under their control.” She stood up, now ready to leave the cockpit. “Come on, let’s go.”

Collin quickly stood and felt his feet start to leave the deck. He instinctively grabbed at the closest thing, the back of his chair, and watched as it bent backwards—as if it were made of rubber.

“Terrific. You owe me one Marauder cockpit chair, Frost.” She walked out of the cockpit.

* * *

There were ten armed Brotherhood guards waiting for them as they exited the Marauder, who hurriedly surrounded them both. Apparently her arrival
was
a very big deal; Collin could see the nervousness in the guards’ watchful eyes as they were ushered down the concourse toward the hub of the station.

Captain Primo was waiting there for them as they entered the bustling station hub. His eyes never left the face of the principessa. “I’ll take her from here. Return to your duties.”

It was evident the guards had received different orders. No one moved. Primo stepped in close to the one Collin assumed was the highest-ranking guard in their group.

“Sargente, I am quite capable of escorting the principessa from here. I take full responsibility. I’m giving you a direct order.”

The guard saluted. “Yes, Capitano.”

The men broke formation and followed the leading guard, quickly disappearing into the throngs of people. Captain Primo and the principessa flew into each other’s arms. Wrapped together, neither spoke for a long time. Collin, realizing he was staring, looked away and waited.

When they finally separated there were tears on the principessa’s cheeks and the captain, too, looked close to tears.

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” the captain stated, stepping back and composing himself. “The ammiraglio is anxiously waiting for us. The implications of your being here … being here voluntarily … are big. We need to get going. I’ll make sure nothing happens to you, Constantina, that you’re safe.”

She nodded but didn’t look overly confident he’d be able to keep that promise. For the first time the captain then acknowledged Collin. “Good to see you’re still in one piece, Mr. Frost.”

The principessa said, “He saved Drago’s life … I was there to see it. By the way, he’s still in my ship’s AutoMed.”

“Well, it looks like the Brotherhood owes you their gratitude, Mr. Frost.” Primo’s glance took in the missing minimizer bands on Collin’s bare wrists.

The captain and the principessa hurried along, with Collin tagging close behind. It wasn’t long before someone in the crowd recognized her. Heads turned—people gawked. The three ducked into an elevator and exited at Level 20, the very top of the station hub. Like a penthouse on a goliath-sized, high-rise building, the deck was expansive and much more open than the levels below. Huge curved observation windows looked out onto the viewable part of Nero Station and at outer space beyond.

They headed for a grouping of compartments that took up the whole opposite side of the deck. A substantial-looking counter blocked further advancement. A woman in a Brotherhood uniform looked up as they approached. Collin saw a small metal sign reading
Ammiraglio di
divisione Zumpanno
sitting prominently on the countertop in front of them.

“He’s waiting for you, Captain Primo,” the woman behind the counter said.

“Thank you, tenente di vascello, Le Monte.”

The woman had a prissy, pinched face. Collin knew schoolteachers with a similarly unpleasant look. She turned a disapproving glance toward him. Before she could say anything more, the captain said, “Commander Frost is with me. We’ll go right in now.”

They then entered the wide open hatch into a large office compartment, which, like the deck, looked out onto the station and beyond through a floor-to-ceiling observation window. A large man, with grayed salt-and-pepper hair, looked up as they entered. Collin noticed he wore an impressive Brotherhood uniform, with gold piping detail, and a different kind of insignia on his collar.

The admiral stood and came around his desk. “There you are … welcome, Capitano Dante Primo, Duca of the Brotherhood House of Torre.”

Apparently things are a bit more formal on the admiral’s deck
, Collin thought. The admiral stood before the principessa, bowed, and took her left hand in his own. He kissed the back of her hand and stood up straight. “Principessa Constantina Valora, Capitana for the Kardon Guard. I am honored with your presence and so very pleased to see you again.”