Striker (6 page)

Concerned for Dargon, he broke from his brothers' embrace and went to kneel next to the couch. Dargon's arm was draped over his eyes and Zeus glanced at the medic, Mayra, for guidance. With him kneeling and her standing, he met her gaze without her craning her neck to look at him. Her large, brown eyes were soft and liquid with worry, but she gave him an encouraging smile.

Dargon's copper braid draped over the side of the couch to coil like a thick rope on the floor. He ran a comforting hand over Dargon's exposed arm. His golden skin, covered in a fine, soft fuzz, tickled Zeus’s palm, relaxing Zeus as much as it did his lover.

Dargon's arm slowly dropped away from his face. Green eyes brilliant with shock stared back at Zeus. "I am sorry. I … well … I am slightly surprised. I mean, having twins is not a terrible thing … they are simply uncommon. I mean, I do not remember the last time this happened. The chances are so small."

"What do you need?" Zeus asked softly, unsure what to do to help his lovers.

"You," Dargon responded, his voice just above a whisper.

"You already have me."

Dargon's arm dropped further away. "I apologize. I should have reacted better … suspected … "

"We were both taken by surprise."

Zeus’s fingers ghosted over Dargon's cheek, dropping down to caress Alpha. "Alpha, can you safely carry the twins without help from the medical facility of the Hedisa Gamai? Is there anything we need to pick up? A special diet maybe, certain foods or vitamins?"

Zeus sensed the warmth of Alpha's emotions.
"I have already discussed my needs with Mayra. I will need extra nourishment from Dargon, and I will probably sleep much more than previously anticipated, and be lethargic even when I am awake, as I meet the demands of carrying two kits instead of one."

He echoed Dargon's exhale of relief.

"Prince Zeus, the scheduled call with the Emperor will commence in two microns," Sohm'lan announced in a formal tone.

"Go," Dargon urged. "I will stay here and rest out of view, but still be able to listen."

Zeus brushed a soft kiss over Dargon's lips before he rose to his feet. Non-essential personnel exited the stateroom as the panels on the far wall retracted to reveal the view screen. Azaes always received regularly-scheduled calls with their father when either one went offworld. Zeus had not seen his father in a long, long time. Excitement made him want to bounce on his toes.

The screen lit and a soft chime notified them of the incoming transmission. Zeus ran his hand down the lapels of his black jacket, self-consciously smoothing out nonexistent wrinkles. The screen flickered, the picture faint before sharpening. Communicating while traveling in hyperspace could be tricky. Most used the hypernet, but the psi-trackers gleaned and stole information that was not properly protected. Azaes and their father currently used a system Zeus had designed before he left for the space station. His network worked but had a couple of glitches. Zeus discussed the problems with Azaes and promised to look at the system later.

Ampheres, their father's personal assistant, sat in front of the screen. Her slanted amber eyes narrowed in concentration as she fiddled with something unseen. "Almost have it, Your Highness." She glanced between the screen and the controls. "This is the best picture yet."

Emperor Valdor Vondorian moved into view and took the seat that Ampheres vacated. Zeus’s throat constricted; he appeared older, his scales still holding a healthy sheen, but the black around his eyes and nostrils had lightened as the scales went gray. But the sunrise yellow of his eyes glowed with intelligence and patient wisdom. When Zeus met his father's gaze, he straightened to stand a little taller under the weight of his parent's steady regard.

"Zeus." The tone, the inflection of the one word, relayed all of the yearning, heartbreak, and joy his father felt, mirroring the conflicting emotions fluttering under his own breastbone.

"Father, you look well." Zeus’s voice cracked, despite his efforts to prevent it.

"How have you been, son? Your brothers told me that you were injured."

"I received excellent care. My consorts—"

"You have chosen an Amor?"

He smiled, glancing at Dargon, who now sat up on the couch. "They are fine warriors and males of honor." Zeus returned his gaze to his father, who watched him closely. "I have no doubt you and Meme will approve of them. In fact, we are expecting a child. Well. Twins, actually." Zeus licked his suddenly-dry lips as he watched his father's expression change.

His father leaned back in the high back chair, his eyes wide. "Twins? Zeus Pylos Vondorian! You are a father-to-be and you have not presented your Amor to your meme and me. You have not affirmed your bond before your people and your consort is expecting?"

Azaes and Mestor snickered behind clenched fists as if they were younglings of five summers.

"I … um … I mean … we did not intend …" Zeus felt the heat of embarrassment color his cheeks.

His father's nostrils flared wide. Zeus believed if his father had been of the Tuatara Maori he would have been spitting fiery acid that caught fire when it combined with air. He held his parent's gaze, knowing he did not have a good answer to give and his father wanted one. Impregnating his Amor prior to voicing his commitment before the assembly disrespected Dargon and Alpha. He was not in trouble because he had sex. No, he was in trouble because he had unprotected sex.

"We were unaware of the risk of pregnancy, therefore, we did not take the necessary precautions. I would have never intentionally dishonored my Amors for any reason. They will be presented to you and Meme. I had planned on proposing to them when our family next united." Zeus glanced to Dargon, noticing his shocked expression.

"Well then, I guess it is a good thing your Meme is on her way here."

Zeus’s heart skipped a beat. Meme would hand him his tail.

"Father," Azaes interjected, his fingers fluttered at his throat in agitation. "Are you sure it is safe for her to be traveling at this time? The majority of the Monticore are with you and me."

Normally, none of them would have voiced a concern, their star craft being one of the best in all of the galaxies, but with Canry's warning of a trap in Valespian space, their apprehension seemed well-founded.

Their father continued as if Azeas had not just warned him of the possible danger waiting for them in Valespian space. "Your mother is well-guarded. She travels in the care of several of the noble houses: Cordyl, Tutatara, and Tigiere." Zeus met his father's gaze and he sucked in a deep breath at the name Cordyl. The knowing look in his father’s eyes caused his stomach to plummet. His abrupt departure from Atlainticia had not fooled his father after all.

"The Basilisc are escorting your meme personally," his father continued.

Zeus’s lips twitched with humor as he and his brothers released their pent-up breaths simultaneously. She may be in the company of Rathmar and his father, Timsah Gadrius, but next to the Monticore, the Basilisc were the best choice to be by her side. The Monticore were the Elite Honor Guard who protected the royal family when they left the palace.

The Basilisc were the Home Guard: the palace and the surrounding grounds was their sole territory to protect.

"Did she say why she is coming? I thought she prepared the palace for the commitment ceremony for Ariafella and me," Azaes said.

With a glance at Zeus, their father replied. "From what I understand, Azaes, your Amor overheard Timsah boasting a trip to Haven regarding an unresolved issue. Both your meme and Ariafella agreed that the trip was too dangerous for Timsah to take common transport, especially after what happened at the space station when you left in search of Zeus. She insisted they all go and take the warship escort to ward off the common brigands."

Zeus thought the timing of his imminent return home and Timsah's trip was suspicious. The head of House Cordyl had, knowingly or not, drawn his parents' attention. Zeus did not want them involved in business with that foul male. He still had nightmares about what he endured at Timsah's sadistic hands. Zeus had not reported the abuse to his father to keep the whole House from being banished to the Black Sands Desert. What kind of help did Timsah believe he would receive in Haven?

"There is much we will speak of when you arrive." Again his father held his gaze. Zeus understood he would have to explain his actions with House Cordyl to his father, as he had to Azaes. He did not relish explaining to them that he trusted his parents, but he felt too ashamed and humiliated to confide in them. He did not want to cause continual strife in the family because there were those, few as they were, who hated him for his human appearance—for what he could never be in their eyes.

After a moment of tense silence, Azaes moved the conversation on. "We will arrive later than we indicated on the flight schedule. There is a stop we need to make for Zeus’s Amors that will add time onto our journey. I do not know how much longer we will be, but I will contact you when we are closer to arriving."

"I look forward to your arrival. Zeus, you will be lucky to leave Haven unwedded if your meme has anything to say about it." His father paused and his smile grew until it split his face in a sharp-toothed grin. "Twins? I look forward to meeting your Amors. Be safe, my sons, and return to me unharmed," their father formally intoned.

"We will be vigilant on our journey and return with our honor intact." Zeus and the twins replied together.

The screen went dark, but not before Zeus read the worry in his parent's normally more guarded expression. Alongside the verbal conversation, discreet hand signals had conducted silent information between them and their father. The Mar'Sani were the people of Poseidon and they spent as much time as possible in his waters. There was not a family who did not have members born with the Longing who lived in the waters. While swimming in the ocean's depths, they used the language of the hands to communicate. The military used a shorthanded version of the language, a closely-held secret of their race.

Zeus digested what they had learned. Dargon approached, a puzzled expression on his face.

"You seem upset."
Alpha sounded worried and Zeus automatically reached up to stroke the symbiote in a soothing manner.

"We were given some valuable information," Azaes replied. "Zeus, you need to teach your Amors the rest of our language."

He nodded to indicate he understood. Dargon needed to be able to comprehend what was said with their hands as well as their mouths. Dargon's expression became more puzzled.

"Our language has two components: the verbal, and when we do not wish to reveal something to those who are listening, discreet gestures," Mestor explained.

"So while you were speaking, you were signaling with your hands and having a separate conversation?" Dargon tugged Zeus closer, placing a protective arm around Zeus. "Do I want to know what was said?"

"Ships are disappearing in Valespian space and Galactic Patrol is not answering any of the communications sent from Haven," Zeus replied.

"Meme is not simply travelling with that tailless skink, Timsah," Mestor hissed in anger. Zeus had confessed to Azaes his abuse at the hands of House of Cordyl. Mestor had a quick temper and Zeus had not yet spoken to him of the matter. Predictably, Azaes seemed to have given Mestor some of the details.

Zeus broke away from Dargon and went to Mestor. He knew his brother would be angry for his sake and embraced him. He meant the gesture to be a quick reassurance. Mestor, on the other hand, crushed Zeus to him. "There is no dishonor in making yourself vulnerable to those you care for. Rathmar abused your trust. I do not care that he secreted you away to keep his father from harming you further. He did it not because he worried for your welfare, but to protect his father. Instead of standing tall like a male of worth, he cowered in the shadow and now bears your mark for his gutless behavior."

Rathmar's words always haunted Zeus, even though he understood they were untrue. "He said House Vondorian was weak because they harbored a soft-skinned monkey and that weakness would be the death of our father. I marked him for the veiled threat." Zeus remembered pulling from his last reserve of energy to knock Rathmar back, tripping him, and pouncing on Rathmar's back, his knees digging into scaled shoulder blades. With Rathmar's own belt knife, he had sliced Rathmar's cheek open three times, giving him the mark of dishonor. Monkey or no, Rathmar carried his scars so that he would remember House Vondorian would never be too weak enough to be overcome.

Mestor's smile was anything but nice. "He attempted to claim an accident when he came back to court, and not the black mark on his character people suspected it to be. He never remarked on your sudden absence, which only added to people's suspicion. All knew you two were the best of friends, even though many were unaware you were lovers. His silence damned him as much as the scars did, and the young males of the Houses began to distance themselves from him. Within a short time, he found himself ostracized and alone."

Zeus extracted himself from Mestor's iron embrace. Dargon and Alpha knew the abbreviated version of what happened, but Azaes had not previously shared details of what happened after he had left Atlainticia. Mestor's accounting caused Alpha to growl with fury.

Azaes interrupted Mestor before Zeus could continue. "That is the past. Zeus now has worthy companions who have blessed the Vondorian house with our first younglings."

Dargon claimed his hand as he took his place next to him and Alpha. "If House Cordyl is so reviled by your family, why is your mother traveling with them?"

"It appears Canry has been busy. Meme received a message her family would need her at Haven. When she contacted father, he alerted her to the problems over Valespia. When Ariafella overheard Timsah's plans to travel to Haven, they used that, along with the news of the trouble erupting when we left space station Basquer'Qa, as an excuse to travel within the armada."

Azaes moved to the table and typed the security code. The tabletop veneer drew back to reveal an electronic navchart. "She is negotiating with several of our allies, arranging for additional support, and has dispatched scout ships with messages to the homeworlds of the members of the Council of Neighn. If the Galactic Patrol is not answering communication, then something or someone is intercepting the transmissions.”