“We are alive, are we not?”
“And you have seen it?”
“Several times now.”
“It is difficult to believe,” he said as they started up the ramp to the command deck.
They walked in silence for several moments before Tug spoke again. “Is this why you brought them to me?”
“I don’t understand your meaning,” Jalea lied.
“You forget, I know you only too well, Jalea. You have tried on more than one occasion to convince me to return to your cause.”
Jalea stopped walking and turned to him, angered by his comments. “It isn’t my cause-it’s our cause,” she said, trying to control her temper, glancing back and forth to make sure nobody could hear them. “And it once was your cause, or have you already forgotten.”
“I have forgotten nothing,” he snapped back, his own anger at her insolence bubbling to the surface. “I was fighting the Ta’Akar while you were still suckling at your mother’s bosom!” he reminded her under his breath. “Do not behave as if you are the only one of us that has suffered great loss. I too have suffered, more than you can possibly imagine. Tug stopped and calmed himself before continuing. “Do not try and manipulate me as you do others, Jalea. You may not care for my reaction,” he added as he continued toward the bridge.
Tug took a few steps before he realized Jalea had not moved. He turned back to face her, knowing that she had more to say.
“Thousands have died,” Jalea began. “Two generations have suffered. And now, when we are scattered to the winds and all but defeated, the instrument of our salvation is delivered unto us, and you say you have had enough?” Jalea moved closer to Tug as she continued. “If we give up now, when victory is finally within our grasp, those that have fallen will have done so in vain. You would steal the meaning from their sacrifice? If we do this, how will we be judged by our maker?”
“I am certain we will all be judged harshly for our transgressions, dear Jalea. Of this I have no doubt.”
Jalea moved even closer to Tug, placing her hands on his chest in a more intimate fashion as she gazed into his eyes. “And what of your daughters? What kind of life will they have under complete and utter domination by the Ta’Akar?”
Tug looked into Jalea’s exotic green eyes, remembering all that they had once been to each other. But that had been another life, another time. He placed his hands on top of hers. “You can turn off your charms, Jalea,” he told her as he pulled her hands off his chest and dropped them at her sides. “I will not allow my daughters to be crushed under the heel of Caius.”
Tug turned and resumed his journey to the bridge. Jalea smiled wryly and followed. He might no longer take her to his bed, but he was still susceptible to her ways.
“Thank you for coming,” Nathan said as Jalea and Tug entered the room. “I trust your daughters are okay?”
“Their injuries are minor, thank you.”
“I am truly sorry about your wife.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Tug responded.
“Tug, this is my Executive Officer, Commander Taylor,” Nathan introduced. “Commander, this is Redmon Tugwell.”
Cameron stepped forward and shook Tug’s hand. “A pleasure, sir. Thank you for aiding in the rescue of our people. And may I also express my condolences for your loss.”
“Thank you, Commander.” Tug turned back to Nathan. “You wished to speak with us?”
“Yes. Please, have a seat.”
Tug and Jalea took the seats across the desk from Nathan, while Cameron and Jessica took seats on the couch.
“We seem to be at a crossroads of sorts,” Nathan began as he retook his seat. “And before we can decide which path to take, we need to clear up a few things. I was hoping that you might be able to help us in this regard.”
“I will do what I can, Captain.”
Nathan looked at Jalea. As usual, she showed no indication of her emotional state. Tug, on the other hand, showed far more in his expressions and mannerisms. The question was whether or not they were genuine.
“Last night, I was quite forthcoming in my detailing of our current situation as well as our immediate goals. And I felt, at the time, that you had been just as forthcoming.”
Tug got the hidden meaning in Nathan’s carefully chosen words. “And now you have reason to suspect otherwise?”
Nathan wasn’t sure how the next step was going to play out. He had an advantage at the moment that he felt compelled to press. Tug, and his daughters, were literally at his mercy. As distasteful as playing that advantage was to him, he felt he had little choice. Under different circumstances, he would probably not choose this course of action. Now, however, the stakes were too high.
“Yes, I’m afraid I do,” Nathan admitted. “While my security chief was covertly preparing to rescue you, she overheard conversation between your captors. They were anticipating considerable favor for your capture. Possibly even decoration by some of your highest leaders.” Nathan let that hang for a moment, looking for a reaction in either of their faces. As suspected, none were of use.
“The over-excitement of inexperienced soldiers,” Tug offered. “Perhaps combined with a case of mistaken identity.”
“Uh-huh.” Nathan glanced over at Jessica. She wasn’t buying it any more than he was. “I don’t think so,” he disagreed. “You see, I noticed a few other things as well. Like, why our attackers seemed unconcerned with our capture, choosing instead to attack everyone with deadly force.” Nathan noticed a brief, side-long glance from Tug to Jalea, one to which Jalea offered no reaction. “Or why that warship didn’t blast us to pieces with nukes. Now why is that?”
“I cannot speak of the motivations of others, Captain. But I see no value in the capture of a farmer to the Ta’Akar.”
Nathan was surprised that Tug was still trying to hide the truth from him. It angered him that either one or both of them were trying to play him for a fool, at the risk of his life, the well being of his ship and crew, and quite possibly of his entire world.
Nathan leaned back in his chair, letting out a long, slow breath as he did so. He looked over at Jessica, and then Cameron. Neither of them gave any indication of what they were thinking.
Nathan nodded at Jessica, who pressed a button on her data pad. Tug’s recorded voice came from the device. “I have shed as much blood as any man could and still live to tell. This last battle was nearly my undoing. My wounds are still not yet fully healed.” Jessica pressed another button to fast-forward to the next clip. “My days as a Karuzari are over, Jalea. It is time for another to pick up the flag in my place.”
Tug stared at Nathan for a moment, anger and betrayal in his eyes. “You are more resourceful than I gave you credit for, Captain.”
Nathan was tired. He was tired of the stress. He was tired of the responsibility, and more importantly, he was tired of the games. But he was also tired of looking to others to make decisions for him. He had done that his entire life, not really caring enough to make up his own mind. That had started to change when he joined the Fleet. That had been the beginning of a real change in his life. And what had started out as a way to get away from everything for a few years and start over had somehow turned into a test of fate-his own, his crew’s, and even his world’s.
Nathan looked at Cameron and Jessica again, as he said, “Let’s cut the bullshit, shall we?” Cameron’s eyes widened. Jessica smiled slightly, waiting to see where Nathan was going. “You want to know what I think? I think one or both of you cooked all this up to suck us into your little rebellion.” Nathan suddenly leaned forward again. “At first, I thought you were looking for a way to hijack my ship,” he said to Jalea. “Then you started in with all that ‘gift from God’ crap the other day. Now I think you’re trying to make us an ally.”
“Is it working?” There was no emotion in Jalea’s question, and no expression on her face when the question was asked.
