“Really?” Zia’s tone softened. “That’s sosweet.”
“I can be very sweet,” Logan assured her.“The real question is, is it reasonable for you to go to Malara,with or without a bodyguard? When we objectively weigh the risksagainst the benefits, does it make any sense?”
Zia took a sip of her chocolate blend, asthough thinking it through. Finally, she murmured, “They saved ourplanet. Now theirs is in danger. If they think the Quitocolossus can make a difference—maybe even save them—do we dare sayno?”
“And risk your life?” Logan shook his head.“If you were a pilot, I could almost see it. But it’s illogical tothink you could prevail in a battle against an Alluvan giantpiloted by an experienced soldier.”
Rem cleared his throat. “Ambassador Humber isconvinced it would never go that far, sir. What he wants fromZia—the beauty of her participation—is to give them a psychologicaladvantage.”
Logan glared. “What?”
“He claims that the mystique of Daniel Quitois so strong, the Alluvans will lose confidence just knowing Zee isthere.”
“She’s not going to Malara!” Logan roared,slamming his fist on the table. “The Vekzori would murder herbefore she had a chance to take a breath of their foul air. Whatkind of advantage would that give Malara? I’m surprisedyou’re even considering it, Stone. And I’m shocked AmbassadorHumber could be naïve enough to think she’d survive long enough todo any good.”
“The Vekzori.” Rem’s stomach knotted indisgust. “I forgot all about those bastards.” Facing Zia, headmitted, “Logan’s right. You can’t go. I must have been an idiotto even consider it.”
His mind reeled at the thought of the Vekzorigetting their hands on Quito’s granddaughter. It had been so manyyears—fifteen, at least—since they had caused havoc on Earth, itwas easy to forget about them.
Easy—and deadly.
“Wait a minute.” Zia’s expression showedconfusion rather than fear. “You’re talking about the guys whoassassinated my father? That was eighteen years ago! Are you sayingthey still exist? And you think that’s a reason for me notto go to Malara?” Her golden eyes flashed. “I think it sweetens thetea. I’d love to kick their cowardly asses!”
“Zee . . .” Logan shook his head. “Didn’tthose fancy schools teach you anything? The Vekzor faction isbased in Malara. The men who killed your father were humanswho sympathized with their cause, but they weren’t at the core ofthe group—a group that is as active as ever. More so even, I’llbet, since Alluva attacked Malara. The Vekzori will blame Earth forthat.”
“Wait.” Zia bit her lip. “I may not be thebest student in the world, but that makes no sense. Ithought the reason the Vekzori hated Earth was because they loveMalara so much. They didn’t think Malara should have helped us wayback when. They even think it made Malara weaker. So . . .” Sheleaned forward, clearly confused. “Won’t this redeem us in theireyes? If we help Malara, that proves that the alliance works bothways. Right? And even if they still hate us, they should hateAlluva more, because Alluva has declared war onMalara.”
It seemed like Logan was about to answer,then he surprised Rem by saying, “Lieutenant? How’s yourinterplanetary history?”
Rem didn’t hesitate before turning to Zia.“Think of it this way. The Vekzori are proud of their culture.Their warrior challenges. Their robot technology. Even their—howwould you say it?—their anatomy. They believe Earth and Earthlingsare inferior. Not just compared to them, but compared to theAlluvans too. It bothered them that Malara sided with Earth againstAlluva—a race so much more similar to Malara’s than ours.”
“They’d rather see Alluva win than have ushelp Malara? Do they really hate us that much?”
“They hate Daniel Quito that much,” Loganassured her. “To them, he embodies everything they despise—the linkbetween Malara and Earth. You know, don’t you,” he added, hisexpression wary, “your father wasn’t the target of thatassassination attempt?”
She nodded. “They were aiming for Mom, butgot him instead. But I thought they wanted to kill her because shewas our president. You’re saying it was because she was DanielQuito’s daughter?”
Logan glanced from Rem to Zia, then explainedbluntly, “They wanted to kill Elena because she was yourmother.”
“What?”
“You were the target.” Logan wrappedhis arm around Zia’s shoulder. “The history books call it apresidential assassination attempt, but a few of us know the truth.It was always about you.”
* * * *
The next half hour was a blur for Zia asCommander Logan provided the lurid details. Not that any of itreally surprised her. She knew as well as anyone that her motherhad been pregnant with her on the day of the assassination attempt.The bullet had hit Elena Quito’s fiancé—Zia’s father—and he haddied in surgery within hours. The couple had never made it to theirwedding day, which had been less than a week away. And Elena hadnever dared to love a man again, or to conceive any otherchildren.
Instead, she had devoted herself to herjob—her duty—as president of the United States. And her duty as thedirect descendant of Daniel Quito.
And while she had seemed profoundlydisappointed in the antics of her only child, Zia, she had neverreally sought to control her. Now Commander Logan was explaining toZia and Rem the reason for that apparent indulgence.
The Vekzori.
Elena had known they were watching. Waiting.Hoping for another chance to murder Quito’s grandchild. Thenslowly, over time, the threat had diminished.
Why?
Because little Zia Quito had proven to be anon-threat. Silly, thoughtless, undisciplined—as time went on, itbecame more and more clear that she wasn’t going to join themilitary, or campaign for office, or amount to anythingother than a fogheaded playgirl.
Eventually, it became dogma. Quito’sgranddaughter would not be assassinated. She simply wasn’t worththe trouble.
And since Elena never had any other children,and eventually died in a shuttle accident, the Vekzori abandonedany presence on Earth, retreating to Malara, where they continuedtheir campaign to undermine the alliance with Earth.
“I’m sorry, Zia,” the commander told her.“But you need to know this. At least now you’ll understand why wedon’t want you to go to Malara. Isn’t that correct, LieutenantStone?”
“Yeah.” Rem seemed almost in shock. “I neverrealized their hatred was so—well, so pinpointed against Quito andhis descendants. I thought they hated all Earthlings equally. It’sstrange,” he added to Zia with an apologetic
