“What is going on?”
I spun on my heel and faced my father. “Bertok killed Zara’s mate and traded her to Cerberus. In exchange, Cerberus legion is on their way here to blow up the entire city of Bakkarholt.”
Mother gasped, and Father’s jaw clenched at the words.
“Cerberus doesn’t care if the blame falls on him. He’s known for worse crimes. Cerberus wants an Earth female. Bertok wants control of another region. Bertok heard of Naron’s match and found exactly what Cerberus wanted, took her. Sold her. Cerberus staging the attack will only make him more ruthless and infamous across the galaxy.”
Father blinked, processed my words. Realized the implications. With Trion being so remote, the planet didn’t have much interaction with others. The fact that Cerberus from distant Rogue 5 wanted to destroy an entire city was difficult to comprehend. It was solely because of Zara, really. If she’d been matched to a different planet, perhaps Viken, then it was possible she’d have been sold to Cerberus just the same, but there would have been no bargain to wreak devastation on Trion. Even so, she was innocent. Father had to see that it was Bertok who was the true villain in this.
“Do you have a stealth ship I can borrow?” I asked. “I can’t keep trying to get you to believe me. I don’t even care if you don’t. I’m not going to let Bakkarholt be destroyed and tens of thousands of Trion people die.”
He shook his head. “No. Your ship is where you left it, as is your brother’s. Captain Erick?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Get your men on Malik’s ship,” Father ordered. “Isaak and I will take the other fighter. We will send you coordinates as soon as we are on board.”
My mother placed her hand on Father’s shoulder. “I will take the remaining guards and go to Outpost None. I will hold your seat at the council meeting until you arrive. Hopefully, you will return with the proof we need to prosecute Bertok and eliminate the threat to our people.”
My mother believed me. Fark.
I turned to Zara. “You will go with my mother, Zara. Remain out of sight, gara, and stay with the guards until I arrive.” It was a command, nothing less. I knew what she was capable of. The Omega Dome was one thing, but Trion another entirely. Women were revered and cherished, but they also didn’t behave as Zara would in a dangerous situation. But at least Outpost Nine should be safe. The tent city moved around the planet to host meetings among the High Councilors of the various Trion regions. The Outpost was always heavily guarded and rarely in the same place twice.
Zara tilted her head, and I had no idea if she would obey me or not. I was not her master. She had made that very clear. “Fine. But I’m keeping the cattle prod.”
I nodded. It was a wise idea. She was skilled with the titan stick, and I would feel better knowing she was armed.
“Good luck, friends,” Zenos said from the screen. “I look forward to seeing Cerberus’ plans defeated and a traitor on your planet brought to justice.”
“Tell Astra I’m taking down this Cerberus ship for her. Tell her she owes me one.”
Zenos chuckled, the deep rumble easing a mood that had begun to feel suffocating. “I like the way you bargain, pirate. Consider it done.”
A few quick commands on the comm system, and I transferred the data Zenos and Ivy had sent me to my old ship, relieved to discover that my father had told the truth. My ship and its command codes were intact, exactly as I had left it. We just had to go to the landing bay to climb aboard.
“Let’s go, Father.”
“You have allies on Rogue 5?”
“Yes.” I was already moving, grabbing gear.
“What else have you been doing out there?” My father’s tone made me pause, as I heard a bit of mirth behind the question. And perhaps...approval?
No. Now was not the time to indulge in wishful thinking. “Priorities, father. Bakkarholt. Bertok.” I glanced at Zara, who stood stoically, waiting to leave with my mother. “Then we’ll talk about the rest.”
“Agreed.” My father waved Erick ahead. “Go, Captain. Now. We’re right behind you.” While he knew how to fly a craft, I’d rarely known him to do it. He fought battles diplomatically not in space with weapons. We had to intercept Cerberus’ ship, had to keep him from destroying Bakkarholt. We couldn't do it from the ground. He was a wise man and knew what needed to be done. He just had to believe it was actually happening.
Father and Mother embraced briefly, and I touched Zara on the cheek. “Behave, gara. Do not place yourself in danger. I will return.”
The guards left with Erick until it was just the four of us, my parents, Zara and me. “I will not leave Zara unprotected like this father.”
“Don’t worry, Isaak. You should know your father better than that.” My mother was smiling as she moved to the door. Opened it.
Half a dozen guards stood outside. My mother’s personal guards. They fought for the right to protect her every year in a tournament. It was the most exalted position in my father’s army, and he paid them very, very well.
I traced the line of Zara’s cheek and pretended her smile was real. She would be safe.
It wasn't much, but it was all I could give her.
14
Isaak
Sitting in the pilot’s seat of my favorite fighter, Malik’s identical ship visible on my flight screen, I finally felt like I had come home.
My father’s silence from the seat next to me was all too familiar as well, so I chose to ignore it and addressed Erick through the comms rather than fumble my way through awkward conversation with a male who clearly did not wish to speak to me. I’d never once flown with him, learning from instructors or by pure seat-of-the-pants instinct.
“Coordinates transmitted, Erick. Verify,” I said.
“Verified. What’s the plan,
