“I suppose. I was listening to the children.” Preston smiled at the woman. She’d taken the situation with more grace than any of the others. This was nearly as surprising as the kindness the Velibar had shown them.
He instantly regretted speaking of children. Her eyes misted.
Preston crossed the room and pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry, Cat. I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s fine. I made a mistake. I didn’t even know my son, and I left. For what? A trip to Proxima? What was I thinking? What kind of mother does that to her child?”
“One that cares about the future of her people.” Preston let her go, and they sat on the couches, facing one another.
“Bryson must be so upset,” she murmured. “He hated my decision.”
“But he understood it,” Preston said. He’d spoken to the young CEO about it in detail, and promised he’d bring her home safely. Despite the odds, he was still planning on following through. Someday.
“Holland is five. I think I missed his birthday, Preston. Since we left Obelisk, I can’t keep track of Earth days. I feel so…”
“Disconnected?” Preston finished.
“Yes. That’s the word.”
“Have you seen Garret recently?”
She frowned. “Not for a week or so. I think he went with the First Regal of Tarre to their outpost.”
Garret had changed of late. He distanced himself from the other humans, choosing to spend his time learning about the Velibar: their history, culture, rituals, and more than anything, their military. Preston was working on the same thing, but going about it differently. He wanted to convince the Velibar that humans would make a better ally than opponent.
Oleth Con, the First Regal of Biks, had seemed agreeable so far, but only on the surface. Preston could tell that while Oleth was the leader of Biks, he still answered to the First Ruler, a man Preston had only heard rumors of. The head of the Velibar, on their home planet of Dutis, was said to be a tough leader. Preston hoped to meet him one day.
“How about Rufus?” Preston asked Cat. She kept far better tabs on the team than he did.
“Rufus is with the others in the city,” Cat told him.
Obelisk had started with twenty crew members. Hunt had been killed in their initial encounter. A woman, Penny Bishop, had drowned in a pool a few months after they’d arrived on Biks. Preston didn’t think it was an accident. She’d been in a deep state of depression since they’d been boarded by the Velibar, and he presumed she couldn’t take it any longer. He wished he’d noticed the signs sooner. Some captain he’d been.
“Would you like to come into town with me? I should spend more time with our people.” Preston’s mind was made up.
Catarina brightened at his suggestion. “That’s a great idea. I’d love to.”
“Let me tell Oleth.” Preston left her in the room, exploring the hallways, taking the stairs to the basement. The walls were damp here, moisture seeping from the stone blocks. This floor led into a pool of water.
“Oleth!” Preston called. He turned a light on, the Velibar version of a doorbell.
A shadow emerged from the water, and out stepped Oleth. He dripped a puddle on the floor and toweled himself off. “Preston. What can I do for you?”
“We’re going into the city. I wanted to advise you,” Preston said.
“No you’re not.” Oleth dressed in a robe, his tentacles waving over his mouth.
“I thought…”
Oleth stepped closer, backing Preston into a corner. “You are my property, human. Whatever you thought was wrong. You are a tool. A captive for my people. We want Earth, and you will give her to us. Once you fulfill your end of the bargain, we will consider your freedom. Not a moment sooner.”
Preston glanced around the room. It was just the two of them. A fireplace crackled near the stairs, and he noted the heavy poker. A plan coursed through his mind. Preston could lunge for the makeshift weapon and kill Oleth in a few quick movements. He knew where Obelisk was held. He could escape with Cat to the city.
“Are we good?” Oleth asked. “Do we have a mutual understanding?”
Preston nodded, not trusting his voice.
“Then head upstairs. I can tell you’re bored. I will send tutors up. You will study our ways. Maybe you should take a page from your commander’s book,” Oleth said.
“What do you mean?”
Oleth paused near the steps, staring at Preston. “Breaker informed the First Regal of Tarre that his people were discussing an escape plan.”
His blood turned to ice. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t worry. We’ve taken care of them.” Oleth started up the stairs, and Preston peered at the poker near the fireplace.
“Taken care of them?”
“We will not permit any malfeasances. I discussed that with you earlier. He also mentioned that you and the female had planned to kill me in my sleep, though I do not comprehend how,” Oleth said.
Breaker had sold him out. The crew was dead because of the rogue commander, and now Preston and Cat were under watch. If Preston ever had the chance, he’d kill him.
“It’s not true,” Preston called after Oleth, but even he didn’t believe his words.
“See that it isn’t.” Oleth was nearly gone. “I still require you. Breaker told me you were not a CEO of this Luna Corp.”
Preston heard the door close, and he slunk to a chair. Garret Breaker had ruined everything.
He sat in the quiet of Oleth’s water chamber entrance, listening to the crackling of the fire. This wasn’t going to end well. Preston resigned to bury his rage for the time being, or he’d be dead before he could help get word to Earth. Catarina needed him now more than ever. He couldn’t betray the promise he’d made to her husband.
In that moment, Preston became someone else. When he exited the room, he donned a mask and found Oleth.
“Breaker wasn’t lying about my title. I worked for the CEO. I wanted to convey strength and value.” Preston
