Solarian Down

They were finishing their reports when word came that John had escaped. They knew it when it happened because the Bridge was not that far from their room. They could hear the Captain as he stormed out of it cursing like a Solarian soldier.

The “real” Seekers of Truth did come to the ship. To interrogate everyone there. The three Wardens waited in their room. An Arm of the Seekers came by to see if they needed anything and to let them know they should get some sleep. It would be awhile before the interrogators questioned them.

Lenaga stated it was time for sleep anyway and turned off the lights.

“I titled my report “The never ending patrol.” Daroon commented in the dark.

Lenaga smiled.

She wasn’t sure what time it was when the lights came on. Cailhem and Daroon were gone. On the bunk across from her sat a Luthiel in the Blue armor of the Seekers with a red collar and long gray hair. The red collar told her he was an actual interrogator.

“Where are my men?”

“Cailhem Vun is in the room behind you with one of my men while Daroon Faass...”

+I don’t give a shit -what- you believe, Korvan’s balls!!+ Came through the walls.

The interrogator smiled. “...is right there.” He said as he jerked his thumb to the room behind him.

Lenaga rubbed her eyes and sat up. “Can I get a shower?”

“No.”

“Tea?”

“No.”

“Can I get breakfast?!”

“The kitchen is not ready to serve yet. Now, How did you fill your time on…” He looked at a small screen attached to the bottom of his left forearm. “Ice Hole?”

She rolled her neck. “Food, conversation and fucking.”

“Do you love him?”

“Yes.”

“Do you miss him?”

“Yes.”

“Did you help him escape?”

“No.”

“And yet, you were happy when you found out he -had- escaped.”

“You mean the man that saved my life and the lives of my men? The man that helped us free those slaves? Couldn’t imagine why I’d feel like that.”

Her interrogation went on for another two hours.

“Tell me about the fold weapon the pirates used.”

She shrugged. “We had heard rumors about it so when I felt the ship shudder and the Fold drive did not engage. I knew we lost the drive.”

“Yet you tried it again. Why?”

She shook her head. “I am not sure. Instinct maybe?”

“Any chance the damaged drive survived?”

“I do not know... One minute I am diving us toward the planet. The next, I am waking up to a big gaping hole where the back of our Quindi used to be.”

The Interrogator nodded, apologized for the treatment and left. Her men came in a few moments later. After an hour of talking the anger had subsided and they went back to sleep. It was still a few hours till morning.

In the morning they were woken by a team of Warden’s. “We are to escort you to the High Warden in Melloreth.”

The grumpy moan that erupted was unanimous.

“So, no shower! No breakfast!” Yelled Daroon.

“I.. It is almost lunch, Left.” The Senior Warden stated.

Lenaga swung her feet out of the bunk. “Shut the door. We’ll be out in a moment.”

“Yes, Low Warden.” The man said before he closed the door.

They dressed and grumbled but were soon walking to a shuttle. Daroon fell asleep with his head on Cailhem’s shoulder as the shuttle took them to the port. He fell asleep against the door when they were in the transport. But he woke up when Lenaga hit him in the chest and handed him a venison wrap and a tea.

The transport brought them to the parking garage of the Warden’s Tower. They were escorted to the office of the High Warden on the top floor of the 90 story building. Her men were asked to wait outside while Lenaga was escorted in to wait.

She ran her fingers through her hair before walking to the windows and looking out on the city.

“It is beautiful is it not?” She heard from across the room.

“It is.” She nodded without taking her eyes off the view.

“Good to be home?”

She laughed as she turned to face the High Warden. His eyebrows went up. “My Left titled his report, “The never ending patrol.” It was obvious the High Warden was trying hard not to smile. Lenaga continued. “Perhaps once this patrol is finally over, it will feel good to be home.”

“What do you have left to finnish?”

“Both of my men were badly hurt in the initial pirate attack. Cailhem needs his spine monitored until the healing is complete. As well as an arm wound from the pirates needs to be looked at. And Daroon needs to have a new eye grown to replace the one he lost.”

“Were you hurt?”

She shook her head. “Only my heart.” She smiled.

He gave a big nod. “You spent too much time with that Solarian, Mid Warden.”

She laughed and nodded a moment before she realized. “Mid Warden? High Warden I do not deserve…”

He was holding his hand up to stop her. “I have already spoken to Captain Fiel and Interrogator Reissole. Anyone would have been fooled by Blackwell’s men. Even the Seekers. That was Reissole’s opinion anyway.”

She shook her head. “I am not upset by Blackwell’s escape.”

“I know.” He nodded as her eyebrows rose. “I was trying to be diplomatic, or polite, or... something delicate…” He shrugged. “But it obviously went over your head.” Lenaga was confused. “You are getting the promotion because of your work with the slaves.”

She sighed and rubbed her eye with her right hand. “I don’t deserve a promotion for that.”

“Because Blackwell did all of the work?”

“I did not say that.”

“No. But your report certainly -implies- it. Lenaga, If he had been the only one trying to stop those men, there is no telling how many of the victims would have died. The pirates could have ejected them or stopped to realize they could use them as shields. There are any number of ways it could have gone badly if your team had not been there. And YES, you DO deserve this promotion.” She sighed and nodded. “Nothing more?”

“No, High Warden/”

“Even when I tell you that you are the Mid Warden for Melloreth?”

Melloreth was a major trade city. A prestigious posting to say the least. Lenaga wanted to argue. He could see that and she could see that it would get her nothing. So, she nodded again.

“Good.” He smiled. “See to your men. Your team is released for the next month. Go see your families.”

“Thank you, High Warden. That is very kind of you.” She said as she inclined her head to the right. When he returned it she turned to leave.

Just before she got to the door he said, “And Mid Warden?” She turned to look at him. “Call your father. You may be intimidating when you are working, but you are still his baby girl.”

She smiled. “Yes, High Warden.”

She could hear him say ‘almost’ under his breath, “Maybe that will stop the incessant calls.”

She tried very hard not to laugh as she closed the door. Once she had collected her men they took a ride to the hospital. When her physical was done she -did- call her father. When he discovered she was at the hospital, he and her mother were on the next rail to the city. Cailhem was still being examined when Lenaga’s parents arrived. Daroon was from Melloreth so his family had been there for some time already.

This turned out to be bad as Daroon’s sister looked to have a promising career as a Left. She filmed the arrival of Lenaga’s family. The hugging and kissing and general babying her father was doing. Her mother was a -little- better. Lenaga tried to get the camera from the twelve year old girl. But the nimble little nymph stepped away too quickly. Claiming her brother may need the blackmail material some day.

Daroon’s eye would be another month before it finished growing. Then it should be a simple 1 hour procedure to attach it to his socket. Cailhem’s spine was suffering from some inflammation due to the braces. But healing well. They wanted to wait to remove the braces for now. The wounded arm appeared fine. The Navy doctors had done a good job there.

Lenaga’s blood work and scans all came back good.

Then, finally, the family’s took their loved ones home. Lenaga’s parents ran her by the rooms she rented and picked up several things for her before heading back home. Lenaga hadn’t been home in almost a year. After stepping inside she looked around and breathed a big sigh of relief.

“What was that for?” Her father asked as he set some of her bags down.

She smiled at him. “It finally feels like it’s over.”

“Yeah.” He said with relief as he stared at the floor.

“You alright?”

“Well,” He shrugged. “I am now but the last month has been… We did not know if you were alive or dead. Hurt or happy. And -then- when I found out you were playing seduce the Solarian the whole time…”

“Hey!” She smiled. “-He- was the one doing the seducing.”

“Yes. I am sure.” He nodded as he headed into the kitchen.

She followed. “I was an innocent young woman lost in the wilderness and he, HE took advantage of me.” She saw her mother preparing dinner and walked up next to her. “Did you need a hand with anything?”

“No, I am just reheating some plains pheasant.”

“Ah. Now where was I?”

“An innocent babe. Who is ashamed she sought solace in the arms of a dirty philandering semen filled Solarian.” Her mother said sweetly.

Lenaga was stunned for a moment. “...RIGHT!”

She could see her father give a small laugh. Lenaga stepped over to the cooling unit and retrieved drinks for the three of them. Before joining her father at the kitchen table. He thanked her for the tea and took a sip.

“In all seriousness, how bad was it?” He asked.

She shook her head a few times and watched as her mother came to the table with dinner. “That is just it. It never became -bad-. Stressful? Yes. Scary? Yes. But bad?” She shook her head again before slowly going in to what happened. Her parents sat quietly as she re-lived all that had occured.

“Why did he want to keep your Right and Left asleep?” Her mother asked.

Lenaga shrugged. “I never thought to ask him. So much happened so quickly… My best guess is it was easier to convince one Luthiel he was a harmless stutterer than three.”

Her father laughed. “I am sure the thought of having you all to himself was not -too- far behind that.”

She frowned at her father as they began their dinner.

The month she spent with her parents went much too quickly. They and Cailhem’s family did take time to visit with Daroon just after his procedure. Everyone agreed he looked much better with two eyes. The large group had a pleasant meal before going back to their own homes to finish their vacation,

Blackwell’s capture and escape never made the news. His suspected involvement with the Morindi theft of military supplies near Harn? Most certainly did. Especially since those supplies consisted mainly of arms and armor.

The Morindi were an ethnic group of people. Their treatment from the Luthiel Kinship had been poor for centuries. The Solarians had been suspected of inciting them against the Caladi rulers. Blackwell specifically was suspected as the Solarian agent managing this rebellion.

This theft was the first Lenaga had heard of him and she could not stop herself from making inquiries. Which garnered her a chewing out by the High Warden when he found out. He called her at home and was very clear that she was on vacation and she had better stay that way for another two weeks.

Her parents found it amusing.

She did not like letting it sit but she realized it was mostly just her missing John that prompted her interest. That is until Daroon called the next day. He asked if she wanted to get together with Cailhem for lunch. It had been a while since it was just the three of them and he ‘missed’ her. Something about his tone was odd so she quickly agreed. She told her parents she was meeting her friends for lunch. Then took one of their personal transports to the city.