Solbidyum Wars Saga 6: Defeat of the Tottalax (34 page)

“Where are the twins?”  I asked, realizing it was too quiet around the place for them to have been anywhere inside.

“They are over at James’s, playing.  Lánhuā Mao called earlier and said that James was bored and wanted to know if Lunnie and Reidecor could come over to play.”

“I hope that Lánhuā Mao, doesn’t have a screw driver lying about or Reide will disassemble her suite,” I said.

“Speaking of Reidecor disassembling things, you won’t be able to use the clothing replicator in our room until one of the engineering people comes and fixes it.”

“Oh no, what did Reidecor do to it?”  I asked.

“Don’t know, he was in our room near it when I found him, and the next time I tried to use the replicator everything that came out was magenta in color.  You can’t get anything out of it that isn’t magenta.”

“At least Lunnie isn’t messing things up,” I said.

“Oh really!  You should have seen her earlier today.  She got her hands on my makeup applicator and did a real number on herself.  She looked more like some brightly-colored animal with super long eyelashes than a member of the human race.”  Kala responded.

“Were you like that when you were small?”  I asked.

“I don’t think so, at least I don’t remember ever doing anything like that, but my sister Lunnie was very much that way.  Mother actually started keeping her makeup applicator in the family safe so Lunnie couldn’t get her hands on it.  Not that it stopped her.  Mother had some crimson naggleberries growing in the greenhouse.  Lunnie took some of the berries and mashed them on her lips to make them red.  She didn’t do a very good job, and her mouth was just one big red blur, and her hands were bright red.  Mom was furious, first because it ruined her experiment, and second because the stains from naggleberries lasted for months before all the pigment was gone.”

I laughed, “I wish I had some pictures of that.  It sounds like our Lunnie is much like your sister was when she was small.”

“Mother wouldn’t let anyone take a picture of Lunnie with those stains.  She was so embarrassed by the event.  Yes, our Lunnie is much like her aunt.  Every day she reminds me more and more of my sister.  It’s like seeing her growing up all over again.”

“Kala, what do you think about us going to the estate tomorrow and doing some riding?  Up to the lake, perhaps?”

“Oh Tibby, that sounds wonderful, I can’t recall the last time we were at the lake.  I don’t think we’ve been there since our rescue from Desolation.  Lunnie has been asking for us to go back to the estate.  Jenira can watch the twins while we ride.”

“Speaking of Jenira, how is she doing?  I mean she isn’t challenging anyone to duels or anything, is she?”  I asked with mild trepidation.  Kala laughed, “No, Tibby, other than for helping with the twins, fussing over them, and spending time with Padaran when she’s not here, she seems to be doing well.”

“Ah, yes Padaran!  How are things going with those two?” I asked

“Well, something certainly is going on, but I don’t know much about it.  Jenira never mentions it and if I bring it up, she acts as if she hasn’t a clue what I am talking about, and she quickly changes the subject.  However, as soon as she gets done with the twins, she is out of the door and heads straight to where ever Padaran is.  I will say one thing though, since she killed Shydak, her spirit seems a lot lighter, and she smiles more.”

I sighed, “I don’t know how I feel about that.  I mean I am glad Shydak is dead, but I hope Jenira didn’t receive a lot of pleasure in killing him.  It may have been justice, but it shouldn’t be pleasurable.”

“I’m not sure Jenira has any feelings about having killed Shydak other than that she has fulfilled some obligation.  Jenira is very complex and I doubt we will ever understand her,” Kala replied. 

“Say, while you are here,” she said coyly, “I know of an activity that now would be a good time for us to enjoy, one that has been severely neglected since the twins have arrived.”

I raised an eyebrow and gave her a crooked grin, “I think I know the one you mean, and I couldn’t agree more.  Moments later anyone entering our suite looking for us would have found it easy to locate us by following the trail of clothing from the living room into the bedroom.

The next morning, after making a few arrangements with my staff, and giving some orders to Marranalis, I took Kala and the twins back to our estate on Megelleon.  That sounds overly simple, because as always there was a small army of bodyguards accompanying us, both from the Federation military and our own personal security team.  Padaran was there leading my security team; Jenira was there leading her team of Women with Swords to guard Kala and the twins.  I so longed for the days when I could do things without a crowd about me.  None of our security team, or the Federation troopers, were happy with Kala and me when I insisted that Kala and I would be riding our horses up to our lake alone, and we would NOT be taking any of them along for protection.  I had to threaten to fire or demote most of them to stop the protests.  Lunnie and Reide, as we now all were starting to call him, weren’t the least concerned about Mommy and Daddy going off, as the science team had managed to clone several ponies. The twins were all thrilled to see them and play with them.  Jenira and Raymond held them on the pony backs as they rode about inside the fenced area near the stables.

“Tibby, how long do you intend to be gone?”  Padaran asked.

“I’m not sure, maybe two hours, possibly three,” I answered.

“Will you at least contact us every hour and let us know you’re safe?”  Padaran asked.

I sighed, “Yes I will call you every hour, but we will be fine.”

Finally after assuring everyone that Kala and I would be safe, the two of us rode off in the direction of the upper lake in the mountains.  As we passed the main house on the grounds, I remarked to Kala how it was impossible to see any signs of the damage and destruction that had been caused by Ming’s and Roritat’s destruction just a few years earlier.

“It must have cost a fortune,” I said to Kala.

“It did,” Kala said, “Don’t you ever look at our financial accounts?”

“Honestly, I’ve only ever looked at them once, and there was such a long string of numbers behind my deposits that I got dizzy looking at them.  I haven’t a clue how much money we have, for all I know we could be billions in debt.”

Kala laughed, “Trust me, Tib, if we were in debt, the creditors would let you know, and know you would!”

“Yes well, but my point is I haven’t a clue how much money I have, or have spent.”

“I was looking over our accounts the other day and payments for the solbidyum reward are still coming in.  Your wealth continues growing.  You have nothing to fear.”

“What about the funds I set aside to go to building hospitals and other facilities on some of the poorer and less advanced planets?  Are they getting built?”

“Yes, last year over 100 new medical facilities were built on some of the poorer worlds, you’ve donated trillions of dollars to reconstruction of planets damaged by war with the Brotherhood and provided financial assistance to many of those affected as well,”  Kala said.

“And you’re still telling me my wealth is increasing?  How can that be?”

“By the stars, Tibby you really don’t realize how much wealth you have or how much money is coming in daily.  Why in interest alone you could do all the stuff you do and never touch your initial funds.”

“It’s not right you know.  Us having all this money.  There must be some way I can give it back faster and help more people,” I said, “I would be happy with just a small cabin up here by this lake with you and the twins living here.”

“Tib, I would too, and the twins would love it, at least until they got to be teens, then it would be boring.”  We both laughed at her comment.

When we arrived at the lake, we went to our favorite location and tied the horses up, disrobed and went for a swim in the lake.  Afterwards, we lay side by side on the grassy bank and warmed ourselves in the sun.

“It’s all moving way to fast,” I said, thinking out loud.”

“What is, Tib?”

“Everything,” I answered.  Do you realize that in just the past few weeks I’ve been involved in three battles with the Brotherhood?  First at Windsor, then on Irribis, and the Cantolla Gate hub at Enpowor and now I’m planning a fourth encounter at Weccies.  I’ve been to the commissioning of the
MAXETTE.
The twins are growing like weeds, and even though you are only minutes away at any time now that we have the Cantolla Gates, I feel like I never get to spend any time with you or our children.

I almost wish we were back on Desolation, at least there we were together and had time with each other.”

“Your memory is being selective, Tib.  You’re forgetting that on Desolation, we had long periods away from each other while you transported materials from the
ALI
to our underground house on the mesa.  You were gone for days at a time.”

“Hmm, true, but it certainly seemed like we had more time together.  Tell me Kala, do you regret me having shown up here in the Federation?  I seem to have disrupted everything with my appearance and bringing the lost solbidyum back.”

“Tibby, you ask that question a lot, and I always give you the same answer.  No, Tib, I never feel like that at all.  I feel blessed to have met you and even more blessed to be your bond mate.  I love our children, and I can’t begin to imagine anyone I would want to be their father more than you.  I don’t regret you being here for one second.”  Then she rolled over on top of me and kissed me passionately, and I felt my emotions stirring inside me.  I slowly began returning her kisses as our passions grew.  Sometime later, after making love, and we lay catching our breaths, we heard sounds coming up the trail.  We retrieved our clothing and were nearly dressed, when unexpectedly Padaran, and our bodyguard contingents came bursting into the clearing.

“What's the matter,” I asked, “what’s going on?”

“Are you all right sir?”  Padaran asked excitedly.

“Why yes, perfectly fine,” I said still somewhat dismayed.

“You never checked in sir, and when we tried to contact you, you didn’t reply.  You’re over two-hours late checking in,” Padaran exclaimed.

I glanced down at my wrist and noticed my wrist com was missing.  “Padaran, I’m sorry.  It's my fault.  Kala and I decided to take a swim in the lake, and I removed my com link and placed it in my saddle bag.  We didn’t realize how much time had passed.”

Padaran relaxed and gave a sigh of relief, “You really gave us a scare, Admiral.  We didn’t’ know what might have happened to you.  We rushed here as quickly as we could when we could not reach you.”

“Well, we’re safe and everything is all right.  I guess we can head back now,” I said as Kala, and I climbed back in the saddles on our horses.

“Good, sir, we’ll accompany you back,” Padaran said.

I looked at Kala with a grin and a wink as I said, “Not likely,” as Kala and I took off in a gallop that left Padaran and the troopers far behind.

Kala and I had finished unsaddling our horses when Padaran and the troopers finally caught up with us.  “Tibby, I must protest, how can we protect you if you run off and leave us?”

“You know, Padaran I haven’t a clue, but let me know if you figure a way,” I said.

“While we’re here and I have a chance to talk with you, what’s the latest status with the Ruwallie Rassons’ desire to join the Federation?”

“They have decided to wait until they have proven themselves in battle against the Brotherhood.  They think that by doing so, it will improve their chances of being accepted.”

“A smart move on their part,” I said, “though I doubt with the changes they have already made, that they would have been rejected.  I suspect, too, that they realized if they join the Federation now, they won’t be able to keep the loot they take from the Brotherhood they capture anymore.”

As I curry-combed Lightning, I had another thought.  “Padaran,” there are Ruwallie Rasson ships spread out all over the galaxy right now, aren’t there?”

“Yes sir, we have trade ships out everywhere.”

“All Ruwallie Rasson ships are equipped with laser canons, aren’t they?”

“Why, yes sir,” Padaran said. I could see he was trying to figure out where I was going with this. 

“How many Ruwallie Rasson ships have DSC systems now?”

“I don’t know the number, sir, but I would imagine at least 80% to 90% do.”

“Is there any chance there might be a Ruwallie Rasson ship out in any remote sections of Sector 3?”

“I don’t know, sir.  Nybidong should be able to answer that question.  I know he charts the whereabouts of all Ruwallie Rasson ships.”

“Could you check into it and find out?”

“Certainly.  Is there something else I should know about this?” he asked, his curiosity fully tweaked now.

There is a planet of minimalistic pacifists out on the rim of Sector 3, called Maisha.  Ming has an asteroid headed toward the planet and intends to destroy it, and we can’t get there in time to save them.  We can’t even warn them; and even if we did, they have no weapons to defend themselves, and no ships to flee in, or divert the asteroid.  Our single hope is if there is some ship near there that we can contact, and that it has laser cannons.  If there is, it can either blow the asteroid up or at least fragment it enough so most of it will burn up in the atmosphere,” I said.