Tiva Boon: Heir of Abennelp (Tiva Boon Series Book 2) (14 page)

Most of the crew was adamant about finding information about the Bujeni. She did not blame them. They had scarred the Vexillum deeply, as the Rebels did her, and she understood their need to gather information. Her need, however, was revenge. She had already started putting her plan into motion by sending Harai a message. Tiva thanked her for saving her life once again, revealed her secret birthright, and asked if she and her father would be able to help. She also asked her friend to try to contact Neola, having not heard back after her second message. Sending another transmission to Abennelp from the ship was too risky.

A reply from Uucor would take at least three weeks, so she had some time to strategize. For the time being, Tiva kept Aliri and Adam in the dark. Containing her own thoughts was tough enough; she did not need others telling her what to do, despite their concern.

Captain Maar pulled the engineers, Hill and Nassut into a meeting to discuss modifications. The rest of the group went about normal duties ensuring the ship was running at peak efficiency. Tiva’s internal sweeps and diagnostics were complete. Her team was on patrol. Emerala and Aliri began talking about decorating and Tiva found her mind begin to drift. The ominous voice was pulling at her again.

Careful where you wander.
The soft voice of Cala entered her mind.

Pardon?

I can hear what you are thinking, Tiva.

Then I will have to shield myself better.

You can, but just be careful. Ruvy wouldn’t want you getting hurt again.

I appreciate his and your concern, but I am fine.
Tiva glanced over to Adam. He seemed oblivious to the conversation, but she was sure he had an idea or would be told eventually.

If you say so…

After shift, Tiva met Hemko, Axium, and Ranndom in the VR room for a training spar. She promised each of them a challenge and she needed the practice. Hemko was the strongest of the three so she left him for last. The other two seemed to take it easy on her the first few rounds, but when she told them not to hold back, she found both very challenging. Hemko threw his first strike at her, and she knew he would give her no leeway.

By the time they were through, Tiva and her team all had fresh cuts and were completely exhausted.

“Come, we take you to infirmary,” Axium said offering his hand.

“I cannot. Doctor Hino will not be pleased to see me so soon after my last visit. I shall be fine after some rest,” Tiva answered and turned to Ranndom. “Please do not mention my involvement in the training when you arrive.”

“Yes, ma’am, will do…you sure you’re all right?”

“I will be fine, thank you.” She nodded to them and exited the VR room, returning to her own quarters.

As she entered her room, the computer monitor beeped. Her heart began to race. Perhaps Neola or Harai had replied to her message. Bringing the panel to life, she tapped in her code and brought up her incoming transmissions. “Damn the spirits!” Hino requested to see her as a follow up. Captain Maar also sent word of a senior staff meeting. She saw no other messages, but noticed the translation of her Yantar was complete. She sent the log to Adam’s room.

Everyone was sitting in the captain’s office when she entered. Maar and Hill acknowledged her as she leaned back against the wall. Aliri and Emerala turned and smiled. Raife was working through a datarecorder and Adam was staring out the porthole.

“Now that we’re all here, let’s get started.” Maar glanced around the room and sat back in his chair. “Nassut and Hill have finished the modification to mask our fighters from any sensors. I’m sending a team out to scout the area and find out any information they can on these Bujeni. However, there is something personal I must attend to while we are in the area and I will be unavailable for a few days. Hill will be in command in my stead.”
The group collectively nodded. Tiva watched the captain as he spoke. Something weighed heavily on his mind. She attempted to gather a sense of him, but knew she’d have to lower her shield to get through, and she did not want to risk that, yet.

Hill went over the details. Adam, Aliri, and Raife were going in the fighters to scan for the alien hideout. Emerala would provide back up support from operations, which once again left Tiva without a duty. As Hill continued, she concentrated on the captain. He turned, meeting her gaze; she didn’t look away, instead she raised a brow to him, and he covertly held up a finger to her.

Maar dismissed the crew, and Tiva stood watch as they filed out. Adam smiled at her as he passed, so she touched his mind warmly. When the doors closed, she moved toward the captain’s desk and stood before him.

“Something on your mind, Chief?”

“I should be asking you, sir.”

He grinned slightly. “It seems there is some trouble brewing between two of my kin on a colony nearby. They’ve called me to intervene. While we are in the midst of this investigation, I cannot shun my family obligations.”

“I understand, sir.”

“I should be back by the time you are all through with the sweeps of the area. I’ve given Hill strict orders not to do anything until I return.”

“Are you planning on going alone?”

“Of course, this is a family matter.”

“With respect, Captain. I am the chief security coordinator and your safety is my primary responsibility. I would like to accompany you.”

He grinned up at her. “I appreciate that, Chief, but things might get ugly…matter of fact, I’m certain of it.”

“Only more of a reason to bring an ally with you, sir,” she said, standing firm, her body never moving, and her eyes focused on his. “You know my skills, you know I can be an asset.”

“True enough, but this is not a Union business, Boon, this is personal…”

“I am aware.”

“You just overcame a strenuous ordeal, I can’t put you in danger so soon after.”

“Sir, I have been in battles. I know my limits. I am fine, I can help.”

“And I cannot ensure your safety.”

“Understood.”

“All right, if you want to come, I’d be happy for the escort. I will make sure Hill knows. Schedule one of your men for the command center. I’ll be leaving first thing in the morning, get some rest and meet me in the hanger tomorrow, we’ll take one of the cargo ships.”

“Yes, sir.” Tiva nodded and moved toward the exit.

“And Boon,” he called out after her. She turned and he smiled. “Thank you.”

Tiva finished out the remainder of her shift working through internal data scans and diagnostic reports. Her teams were on standard patrols, but no one expected anything to happen while in orbit of the moon.

She wanted to tell Adam face to face she was going with the captain, though she was certain word had already traveled. Her stomach growled as she entered the lift, so she made her way to the mess first to get something quick to eat. Vinni was behind the bar as usual. She often wondered if he ever slept.

“You want a sandwich and juice, Ms. Boon?” he asked, while cleaning a few scattered dishes.

“Yes, please.”

He disappeared behind the counter, and the doors to the mess hall opened. Adam walked in and grinned as he approached. He sat down next to her and when Vinni brought over her plate, Adam ordered the same thing.

“Morning, m’lady.”

“Greetings, Adam,” she replied, cringed inwardly. He was going to continue calling her that. From him, she did not mind, but the knowledge of her true birthright was limited to him and Aliri. She wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible.

His wing rose up to her shoulder and rested there as he smiled at her. “How are you?”

“I am well, and yourself?”

“Better now…” He thanked Vinni quickly, took a bite of his sandwich, and chugged down on his drink. “Couldn’t sleep again?”

“I am readying for departure. I am escorting the captain to see his family.”

“You are?”

“Yes, I felt it appropriate to go with him under the circumstances.”

“Are you sure you’re up for it, Tiva, I mean…you know.”

“Yes, I am fine.”

“Maybe I’ll go too.”

“Adam, that is not necessary. He and I will be fine; it is a minor incident on his home colony.”

He frowned. “All right…”

“I do not think it is wise he goes alone, especially if some trouble is to be expected.”

“True…so when are you leaving?”

“In a few hours,” she answered and finished the last of her meal. “Would you like to walk around the arboretum with me before I go?”

“I have a better idea; we should play a bit.”

“Play?”

“Yes, play. I found this fun program for the VR room, sorta like skeet shooting from back home, it’ll be fun and relaxing before you head out.”

“Very well.”

After ‘playing’ and saying farewell to Adam, Tiva made her way to the vessel that would transport her and the captain. Captain Maar arrived while she was lost in thought staring through a porthole. She turned upon hearing him call, and quickly readied to leave. Maar sat beside her and held out an item wrapped in a black cloth. She met his eyes and raised a brow.

“Back at home, my people fought with metal weapons, like your world.” He peeled back the cloth. “This is a heptock, a type of dagger still used by many of us.” In his palm was a vicious two-pronged weapon.

The primary blade was double edged, tipped, and longer than the side part, which curved outward and curled back toward the blade. It was sharp and deadly. The handle was long, reaching the captain’s elbow. She slowly picked up the weapon and studied it. In her mind, she began picturing movement with the weapon. It could inflict severe damage, she was certain.

“We’ll put the ship on auto navigate and head to the back and practice. I want you prepared.”

“Yes, sir.”

N
either spoke during or after the spar. Tiva sat across from him wrapping her arm and wiping the blood from her thigh. Maar was in no better condition with a slice on his stomach and pierced calf. He grinned at her then moved back to the cockpit. She took her seat alongside him. They were nearing the colony.

Maar called his cousin for clearance to land, and programmed the coordinates into the computer.

His cousin, Wixx Maar met them on the landing strip. He was a large dark-skinned man, with similar features to her captain, but had spiked black hair. Wixx, however, wore more rugged and loose fitting weapon laden clothing.

He escorted them through thick brown brush and trees, past a security checkpoint, and finally came to a small clearing with two large black stone complexes with one smaller residence in the background. As they walked to the residence, Wixx explained the set up of his family’s land to Tiva.

“The first large building is for supplies, the second is the residence of my security teams. My home sits on the edge of the land here.” He gestured across the expanse toward the trees. “Behind the forest are two towns and several other families in my care.” He motioned them inside.

Over seven thousand people were in his charge, all displaced souls from their home world. On the far side of the continent was Maar’s other relative, an uncle who was head of another town. His land wasn’t thriving as well as Wixx’s, and crime waves had ravaged the settlement in recent months.

Wixx gave Tiva and Maar a quick tour then escorted them to the dining room. Tiva observed quietly most of the night as Maar reunited with his cousin and several of the settlement leaders. She appreciated Wixx’s position; he just wanted his people to live in peace, free from worry of harm or theft. He had proof of their uncle’s doings and knew the only way to stop him was to confront him. He hoped the captain’s presence might help keep things peaceful.

Wixx raised his glass and looked down at the table of Oninus warriors. “We thank our cousin Trevo for returning to help our cause.”

“To Trevo!” several men shouted and raised their glasses.

Maar lifted his as well. “Peace to the colony, sons of Oninus!”

“To peace!”

Tiva saluted with the others, and felt several pairs of eyes on her. Wixx wiped his mouth with his sleeve and nodded his head to her.

“In the morning we shall go meet with our dear uncle and tell him we will not tolerate his insurgence any longer. Let us hope that he is reasonable and is willing to listen.”

Wixx Maar showed Tiva and her captain to their rooms. She thanked him, waited for him to leave, then slipped out of her room and stood near the captain’s door standing watch. One of the settlement leaders noticed her, but said nothing. An hour or so afterward, Wixx appeared and walked toward her.

“You should rest, Tiva Boon. We’re going to talk, but with my uncle, one can expect trouble in the morning.”

“I understand, but I am here to ensure the captain remains safe.”

“I didn’t realize he was that important to the Union.”

“I am here in a personal capacity, sir,” she said straight-faced.

“Really now? He didn’t tell me that…” He rubbed the side of his bumpy temple. “Either way, we’re glad to have you. Each person who comes to help is most welcome.”

Tiva turned suddenly. Others were near. She held up her hand to Wixx and moved down the corridor silently. She opened her sense and felt a wave of anger surrounding her. Whipping her head back, she attached Timbur and ran back down the hall.

“Captain!”

“What? What is it?” Wixx asked, his hand already gripped around his heptock.

“The enemy has surrounded this area.” Tiva banged on the door; it flew open, and Maar stood there with a tired yet surprised look on his face. She looked toward him. “Arm yourse…”

Before she finished, the front of the home burst open in a ball of green and blue light. She slammed back against the wall as sirens blared through the air. Wixx helped her to her feet then took off running down the broken hallway.

“All teams, perimeter breach! Get the hopters in the air and secure the area!”

She turned to find Maar getting to his feet. The gaping hole in the ceiling, and what was the front of the home, exposed the cold, black, starless sky. Maar ran after his cousin, and she followed without a word.

Above her head, Tiva heard the whirl of the hopters. They looked like winged escape modules. They whipped across the sky firing out into the darkness.

When she neared Wixx’s location, she noticed several hundred armed men standing in front of the two main complexes. Security teams were filtering out of the building, and the men from dinner appeared out of the forest with another hundred warriors. Tiva flexed her arms, and drew the heptock in her other hand. She glanced over and met her captain’s eyes. He nodded and then together they ran into the night to fight the oncoming force of men.

Never before had she fought this hard, she was not as strong as these warriors. Challenged beyond anything she’d expect, Tiva found herself drained and struggling after only a few hours of fighting. She kept Maar in her sight the entire time, working with him to bring down enemies. She was surprised that he did not strike to kill, only hinder. It took great control and effort for her to hold back, but these were not her people she was fighting against, they were not the Rebels.

Both sides seemed to be losing people regardless. But the Maar cousins were closing around the attackers.

Wixx took off in another direction suddenly, and the captain followed. Tiva fought her way through, several young men trying to keep up, but when she neared the edge of his land, a large woman stepped in her path.

She struck down with her blade and without waiting, lifted her other dagger-filled hand, and swung at Tiva’s stomach. She blocked the strike with her Timbur and twisted backward barely escaping the slice. The woman flipped the weapons over and came at Tiva again, swinging at her with more force and speed. She blocked several of the attacks, but was clipped in the shoulder and thigh. As she stumbled to the ground, she threw the heptock at the woman, and punctured her calf. The Oninus woman screamed out and fell back. Tiva jumped up, retrieved the weapon to another loud cry, and kicked her in the head knocking her out.

Tiva continued down the path, and found Wixx and Maar standing over another man. She stopped and watched.

“Call them off, Gessin,” Wixx demanded, the tip of his weapon under the man’s chin.

“You are family. You are disgracing our name with this fighting! Didn’t we leave our world so we could live in peace?” Captain Maar interjected.

“We are starving, don’t you understand?” Gessin pleaded, his eyes focused on Wixx.

“Then why not ask for aid? We are family, we can arrange something…Godspeak, Gessin there is no need for this.”

“My lieutenants told me you would not see them.”

“I spoke with no one…”

“They said you would never help.”
Wixx hung his head. “You were lied to, Gessin. Trust in me, my word. We can work something out…Call off your men.”

The man hesitated, but nodded and lifted up a small device. He called back his men, and Maar turned to see Tiva standing by.

“Are you hurt?”

“Mere scratches, sir. You?”

“Fine.”

Maar and Tiva stayed for two days ensuring both sides were happy. Gessin dealt with his lieutenants, and Wixx offered food and medical supplies to the other settlement. Her captain offered any spare supplies they had as well. Other trade-work agreements were established, and Maar even procured himself more members for the
Tolox
. Two second cousins to Wixx who wanted to broaden their knowledge of space. Maar offered them posts with the engineer staff, as they were both hopter mechanics.

Wixx held a departing dinner for the group, and as he escorted them back to the transport, he pulled Tiva to the side as Maar said goodbye.

“Thank you for your assistance, Tiva Boon. You did a gallant thing, risking your life to come here. I will not forget.”

“I am pleased I could help out, sir.”

He chuckled deeply. “You did more than that, warrior woman, you are a member of this family now. Keep my cousin safe.”

“I will.” She bowed her head and entered to prep for launch.

A sense of calm and pride filled her. Her hands took not one life, she injured, and crippled most likely, but she sent no spirits to their afterlife. She was fighting and winning her battle with the dark voice.

The captain took his seat and informed her that the two passengers were settled into the back and she had clearance to take off. She guided the craft up and out of the atmosphere, back into space, and activated the navigation controls to take them back to the
Tolox
. Tiva sat back in her chair and sighed a breath of relief. Maar let out a small chuckle.

“My cousin took a shine to you. He asked me to welcome you to the family.” He smiled. “I agreed wholeheartedly, your assistance was invaluable to us. Of course, Wixx thinks I brought you because of your sixth sense, I assured him that was not the case.”

“I was glad to assist, sir.” She glanced over at him. “Captain, there is something I must tell you.” Her tone hardened and she folded her hands together. “I have recently uncovered something from my past that puts me in more danger than I was in before. In the book saved from the ship was a letter telling me of my birthright. I am the king of Abennelp’s first born child.”

“That means you are royalty?”

“Correct, and as I am the last alive, it is my duty to serve my people. And while I have yet to make a decision about my future, I thought it wise to let you know I am still in danger.”

“I appreciate you coming forward, Chief, and I will take your warning to heart.” He grinned. “When you figure it out, let me know and I’ll do anything within my power to help.”

She bowed her head. “Thank you, Captain.”

~*~

Easing back into the
Tolox
, Tiva saw the majority of the command crew, the head of engineering, and Ranndom and Axium waiting in the hanger. After the craft locked into place, Tiva exited and descended the ladder, then waited for the captain. He approached the crew and called for a report.

“The survey is complete, sir. Jay and Em are still going through the logs.” Raife handed him three datarecorders.

“We scanned the planet, two moons, and the colony; there’s a ton of information,” Adam added as he smiled at Tiva.

“Welcome back,” Aliri chimed in. “We’ve gone through about half of it, should be another couple of hours. We haven’t been detected; the moon is providing coverage still, so we’re safe for the moment.”

Maar nodded to his crew then introduced his cousins and Tiva stepped to the side to confer with her team.

“Welcome back, Boon,” Axium said jovially. Ranndom grinned.

“Thank you, anything to report?”

“Nope, not a damn thing,” Ranndom answered. “It’s been quiet the entire time.”

“Please ensure all reports from the past four days are in my office, I will want to review them.”

“They’re already done and waiting for you to check out.”

“Very well, I will see you both in the morning.” Tiva excused herself and moved back toward the captain. He was chatting with his cousins, the senior staff, and the engineer. She stood by for a while and listened to the friendly banter then the engineer’s wrist-comm beeped. One of his team needed him. Maar dismissed the group, and most left. Adam and Aliri stayed behind.

“Is everything well with your family?” Aliri asked the captain.

“Yes, all fine. Boon made some new friends.” He grinned.

Aliri and Adam both chuckled as Tiva’s markings turned pink. She rolled her eyes playfully and gathered her belongings and new weapon. “I was glad to help.” She repeated for the third time. The captain was taking a risk keeping her on the ship; it was the least she could do in return.