Starlaw (34 page)

As the crowd roared in fury, Laurel raised her voice to be heard over the terrible clamor.

“With Constellation League ships, crews, and assets continually weakened and spread thin in their attempts to hold Warlord cutthroats at bay, the enemies of this world know they might one day be able to attack and invade Luster itself. And anyone subscribing to the Warlord cause and aiding it might then find himself in a very powerful position indeed. Perhaps Prefect Lon saw himself as more than just a city's governor. Perhaps he actually saw himself as the new ruler of Luster—a reward from the Warlord leaders for his services … inclusive of having employed Goll … to attack cargo, fuel and even medical supply ships in order to eventually bring down the Constellation League once and for all.” In the face of the crowds' growing ire, she drew herself up and continued with confidence. “I strongly maintain that Goll's services to the prefect were integral when speaking of cutting deep into League resources. Lon gave Goll whatever information the vamphiere factions needed. It's no secret to anyone what Goll has done. He has, as the records of this proceeding indicate, admitted his crimes. He simply didn't think he'd be found guilty and expects to be released on a technicality. That's why he won't testify on his own behalf! He realizes his life expectancy is severely shortened once he gives away his employers. One of whom is Prefect Lon,” she boldly claimed.

As she'd spoken the obvious, the crowd's cries for justice were so loud they might have opened the heavens.

Magistrate 'Cur stood when all the other magistrates did.

Goll shouted in rage. “She lies. I have never met Prefect Lon. I never obtained shipping information from him or attacked at his command.”

With every word he uttered, he sealed his fate. His denial of her speculations fired the crowd rather than supported his guiltlessness. He wouldn't have opened his mouth at all if the accusations weren't true.

She stared at Goll once more, but lowered her voice and pushed the microphone away. “Lon or one of his cronies gave you that ship, you son-of-a-bitch! And he's as much as said so already. So you might as well spill your guts about the rest. They'll have no problem hanging your rangy ass out to dry. And anyone you care about, extended family, friends, lovers, or even kids, won't be safe now. The Warlords won't ever believe you didn't talk. So even
if
your attorneys get you off on a technicality, you're gonna wish you were dead a thousand times over.”

Within his cell, Goll went berserk. He grabbed his head, thrashed about madly, and didn't care whether the electronic bars came into contact with his body.

Guards rushed forward to move his cell back, within the confines of the building. The crowd was on its feet, screaming for action.

Only
then
did she turn to look across the stadium, into the eyes of the man with whom she'd fallen in love.

Primitive!

What had he been thinking? Though she'd forgiven him for a few transgressions, he still had a lot of apologizing to do.

Darius stood when the crowd did. Laurel gazed at him across the distance and he could almost read her mind.

But now, he must do his part.

“Father,” he blurted as he put on hand on his sire's shoulder and spoke above the roar, “I need to be reinstated. My crew is detaining, questioning, and even arresting Warlord collaborators as we speak. I need to get to them. I need to coordinate their efforts. So many suspects are admitting to conspiracy that someone needs to be in charge.”

“Darius … what by Kronos's balls is going on?” the king asked.

“I'll explain later. Right now, I need to resume my command.”

For a long moment, Dar stared at him.

Darius saw utter confusion in his family's expressions. The crowds got even louder and he feared for their safety. “Father, there's no time. If there're any Warlord sympathizers here, the family shouldn't be sitting together, making themselves one big target. You'll undoubtedly be asked to speak to the magistrates. Mother, as ambassador to the planets of Ikaena and Chokar, will likely be asked to speak to representatives from those worlds, especially since it appears Prefect Lon might have assisted the very vamphieres who attacked them and destroyed agricultural concerns last year. They'll want reparation and will likely demand some say in Lon's sentencing, assuming it comes to that. And I insist that I need to coordinate my crew's efforts,” he repeated.

“All right, Darius. You may resume duties,” Dar advised. “But someone must see your sisters safely back to the palace.”

Gemma spoke up. “Majesty … I'll do that, and take Laurel back as well. If anyone requests further testimony from her, I'll let the court officers know where she is.”

Darius immediately took control of the situation.

“Barst, we need to get to the north end of the building. The crew will be bringing any detained or arrested suspects to that location,” he brusquely ordered. “We need to have all defendants taken to HQ for questioning, especially those wishing to admit conspiracy. Keep them separate from one another.”

Barst glanced at his wrist communicator. “The information is coming in fast, but it looks as though many of the bastards were, indeed, fooled by the rumor. They want to spill their guts while they still have information that can be used to bargain down a possible death sentence.”

Darius nodded then grinned. “Yes. Cowards always turn on one another. I've counted over thirty dignitaries who suddenly found Luster a bit too crowded. “Come on, we've got work to do.”

As Barst left the viewing box reserved for royalty, Darius made one loud request. Gemma's attention was fixated on gathering his youngest sisters, who were confused and almost terrified by the shouting and angry commentary of the people around them. He shouted one last instruction to the eldest of them, the one who was closest to where he stood and who could hear his words clearest.

“Nyssa … when you get back to the palace with the girls, tell Laurel I'll want to speak to her later. I don't know when I'll return, but make sure the guards are informed of the situation. No one is to leave the palace for any reason, and reinforce the perimeter with all the Household Elite Guard you can muster. As soon as Gemma safely can, have her join Father, Mother and me at HQ. Understand?”

“Yes, Darius!” Nyssa shouted. “Don't worry about us. We'll be all right. Just check on Mother and Father as soon as you're done with your crew. I'll send palace guards to escort Mother and Father wherever they need to go later. That way your crew won't need to assume the extra duty. Seems like your people will all be needed elsewhere …like near the airfields … arresting escaping traitors,” she finished with a firm nod.

He beamed, then set off to join Barst and his crew.

• • •

Almost seven hours later, Darius, his entire crew, his parents, and the magistrates were cloistered in a secure room at League Headquarters. Gemma confirmed that his sisters and Laurel were safely within palace walls, with extra guards and hover cameras patrolling the grounds.

More than seventy arrests had been made. Most of those were clandestine Warlord extremists, wishing to come clean about their activities before they were discovered and formally charged.

As he'd suspected, those who conspired with—or in any way provided a means of escape for—Warlord spies, almost fought each other to see who could hand over the most damning information. Anyone without a bargaining platform knew they'd receive the most serious sentencing the law allowed, which was death. They were all trying to save their skins, possibly their family's lives from Warlord retribution. The traitors knew their former extremist benefactors wouldn't care who started a rumor, or why. Warlord leaders would want immediate, serious reprisals for anyone having spoken up, and for breaking their secretive foothold on Luster. They didn't tolerate traitors to their cause any more than they endured peaceful coexistence with planets siding with the Constellation League.

All the uproar originated from one lie concerning Goll's non-existent plea bargain—a lie broadly circulated where the most powerful entities within Lusterian society might know of it. The entire plan was utterly simplistic. It'd taken Goll's capture for the plot to work. Within only just a few days of landing on Luster, the heavens had opened and sent that part of the galaxy a blessing. Laurel's idea depended on the lack of trust one traitor had for another. It'd worked shockingly well.

Tired as he was, elation filled him. If there were any more defectors on the planet's surface, they'd hide from Lusterian enforcers
and
their Warlord benefactors. None trusted any of the rest. Their powers had been severely crippled, possibly for good.

He dragged one hand over his face and the back of his neck before addressing Barst with his latest command. “Have the crew stand down and continue their leave. I'll thank them personally for their loyalty. I don't know how … but I'll find some way to do it.”

Barst grinned broadly and waved away Darius's concern with one hand. “They loved it. Of course, there are a few commanding officers who'd have liked to be included in the arrests … and who may have had their noses tweaked because they weren't … but they'll eventually understand the need for secrecy and quick action. The crew of the
Titan
chased Goll the longest. They were separated from home and family most frequently. They deserved the chance to arrest the people who helped him escape.”

Darius glanced at his wrist communicator and noted the lateness of the hour. All he could think about now was getting back to the palace and to a woman who'd caused more trouble in the time he'd known her than all the spoiled debutantes to whom he'd ever been introduced.

After Astral's and Kyrie's deaths, he'd shunned sexual encounters entirely, until over two years had passed and physical need eventually drove him to frequent a few of the better brothels in the city. But that was carnal release. He craved more in life than hopping in and out of strangers' beds.

Now, everything was different. He hadn't imagined the look in her eyes the last time he and Laurel had spoken. Even after angry exchanges, he felt closer to her than to any woman he'd ever known, poor Astral included. He was a much older man now, not a boy. Thoughts of career and grandeur were replaced with need of family and for one soul to share his dreams. Where he hadn't been ready to assume responsibilities of family life then, he was now. Astral hadn't been wrong. They'd just been wrong for each
other
.

But he could live now and remember the past with less pain. Yes. Everything had changed indeed.

“Darius … are you listening?” Maelle loudly asked as she snapped her fingers in front of his face.

Darius turned to her with a start, not having realized his mother was speaking to him. Gemma, Barst, and his father were staring at him, smirking as if they knew where his mind wandered.

“I-I'm sorry, Mother. Please go on.”

“You're drifting, dear,” Maelle gently criticized. “I was asking what you're going to say to the magistrates.” She gazed across the room, where an intense conversation took place between Chief Magistrate Orat 'Cur and the other lesser court justices. “Now that certain vermin have been swept from the shadows, the justices will likely question you about Laurel's testimony.”

“Indeed,” Dar affirmed. “I haven't commented because it seems to be a personal matter between you. All this business about spreading a false rumor is a bit alarming. Gemma and Barst's part in it is obvious. The Earther's part … not so much. But you seem to trust her implicitly, son. This being the case … curiosity regarding her place in your life now bids me speak.”

“I don't understand, Father.”

“Let me put it this way … what's up between you and the Earth woman?” he succinctly asked, with a saucy wag of his right brow.

Everyone else in the group chuckled.

Darius glanced at the faces of those he cared about and was, for once in his life, speechless. How could he answer when he hadn't had time to consult the other party first—alone, where they could work out what indeed
was up
?

Darius opened his mouth, intending to say something tactful and off-putting, but a loud summons from the chief magistrate saved him.

“Commander Starlaw,” Magistrate Orat 'Cur announced as he and his official group approached. “There are a few questions I'd like to ask. But doing so in any legal capacity will require you being sworn in before the citizens of Luster, as law requires.”

“As a Constellation League officer, sir … I'm always bound by honor and my oath to provide truth in any legal proceeding. You may ask what you will. Now or in public will make no difference. My answers will be the same,” Darius humbly offered.

“Very well.” 'Cur cleared his throat, glanced as his compatriots and began. “How is it that this Earth woman found what you and your crew obviously overlooked?”

“If you're referring to Goll's ship, sir, I have no excuse. As she testified, Laurel Blake was an enforcer in her own right. Her training allowed her to detect that which went unnoticed by me.”

“If I may speak,” Barst broke in.

“You may,” ‘Cur confirmed with a slight nod.

“In all fairness, Magistrate, Luster's best prosecution team did not detect that fact, either. Commander Starlaw never actually saw Goll's vessel on the surface of Earth. As his report states, I was the one ordered to destroy it.
I
did so and later reported the specifications concerning the type and model of craft Goll used. The Commander entered that data into his own report, as procedure allows. We
all
overlooked the significance of the craft. And as the Earther truthfully testified, circumstances were exigent. We needed to get off the surface of her world, get her to medical help since Goll left her close to death, and get our own light transport back to the
Titan
before any Earthers arrived at our location. Since we had Goll in custody and since everyone presumed his guilt would be easily proven, what kind of craft he operated was a minor detail. Besides, we no longer had it, or any part of it, as evidence.”