The Marine's Queen (38 page)

The judge took a moment and then gave Edow permission to keep Joe on his ship rather than the civilian jail.

Callie caught up to Joe and Edow in the hall.

Edow greeted her. “I thought you would stay on Giroux.”

“
And I thought you needed me to testify for Joe.”

“
I told you there was no need for you to come, but you’re here now. Would you care to join us for dinner on my ship?”

“
Thank you.”

“
And you, Captain Sontu?”

Jak shook his head. “I’ll entrust my queen to your care, captain. I have a number of things I should attend to while here.”

Sontu bowed to Callie and nodded to the two men before taking his leave. The things he needed to attend to was the security of the other women. Callie didn’t want Joe and Edow to know all of them had followed their marines to Banok.

Callie walked between Joe and Edow, aware of Joe’s presence like a flame at her side. How long since she’d laid in peaceful, untroubled sleep in his arms? Would she ever do so again? Would he ever have the chance to understand the finer points of the strange society of humans?

Edow’s crew expected him. They went directly to a small dining area. Joe hadn’t looked at Callie or spoken at all. But he broke his silence when they sat down.

“
Thank you, Captain Edow.”

“
You’re welcome, Joe. It’s simple to defend an innocent man.” The captain’s communication unit beeped. He spoke into a mike on his collar and then rose. “Excuse me for a moment. I need to answer a special alert coming in.”

After the captain left, Joe started eating.

“
Are you angry at me, Joe?”

He looked up, taking his time before answering. “No. Why would you think so?”

“
I thought you would be happy to see me.” Callie could have kicked herself for admitting that, but she couldn’t call it back.

Joe looked astonished. “I am.”

Callie laughed. Had she expected Joe to pick her up and spin circles? Her worry melted away. “Joe, you’ve barely looked at me. Even smile.”

He frowned. “I’m not sure of my place with you, Callie.”

No ready answer for his confusion existed. “You’re my marine, my friend, my lover.”

“
Which is first? I don’t even know how to greet you when others are about. The captain might think I’m being disrespectful if I call you by your given name.”

Callie didn’t want to discuss this now. She wanted Joe to hold her. She wanted to run her hands over his strong shoulders and back to assure herself he was fine.

Joe set his fork and knife by his plate as if someone might judge the precise alignment of the utensils. “I’m not even sure I can be any of those things you name. I must face the military charges against me. I won’t be a free man no matter the outcome. I’ll either be sent to prison or returned to duty. I can’t be your marine or … anything else.”

Callie’s jubilation burst. She reached across the table toward him. Her fingertips touched his for only a moment before he jerked his away. The door hissed open and Edow stepped inside.

“
I’m afraid we’ll have to cut our evening short. General Drant sent word I’m to bring Joe and the others with all haste to Galactic Central Station. I contacted the court and told them we had to leave. I hope I didn’t overstep myself, your highness, but I ask if you could give a statement against Hadrason to seal his guilt.”

Callie agreed, falling on years of training to respond in a regal fashion while her true emotions went numb.

“
Joe, we’ll lift off as soon as I arrange proper escort for the queen back to her rooms.”

“
May I have a word with her in private, captain?”

“
Of course. I must see to the escort.” Edow left again.

“
Callie, be careful. I don’t trust that this thing with Hadrason is over. He has influence in too many places.”

“
What about you?”

Joe stood, staring down at her with fierce intensity. “It would be best if no one ever finds out I shared your bed. It would lessen you in the eyes of some. I thank you for my time with you. I can die now, knowing what I fight for and with the memory that for a short time I was able to live it.”

He strode out the door before she could answer. He had a way of making exits that left her speechless.

Chapter Nineteen

“
The tears Callie had held at bay since Joe walked from the room broke free as she gave her friends the details.

“
We must go after them. Perhaps we can speak for them.” Riba sounded determined.

“
No. They want us to stay away.” A rough sob bubbled up Callie’s throat.

“
We can go to the Galactic High Court and ask them to intervene in the military decision.” Grace rubbed her hand in a gentle circle across Callie’s shoulders.

“
They’ll never do it.” Jak slapped his open hand against the wall. “They’re property. They don’t have rights like you do. They would destroy them before letting them out into the civilian population.”

“
Destroy?” Callie asked.

“
Kill them like a game animal.”

A message alert beeped on Jak’s unit. His lined face flushed as he listened. Fury roughed his voice when he passed the news to them. “Hadrason has fled. They’re asking the military for help in locating him.”

“
The coward knew things were turning against him,” Callie said.

“
I’ll ask the court if they need us for any reason.” Sontu looked from face to face. “Everyone must be careful.”

Callie shivered. “Joe warned me to watch out for more trouble from Hadrason.”

“
Maybe now we can convince the military to let the marines protect us,” Riba said. “We can catch up to them….”

“
No.” Callie took a deep breath. “We’re going home.”

Jak nodded his agreement though he looked sad.

“
Hadrason is loose,” Callie said. “Who do you think he’ll blame for his downfall? I have to make sure my people are safe. They come first, before me and before Joe.”

* * * *

Joe watched the stars zipping by as they cruised toward the space station. He didn’t think about what lay ahead, only what he’d left behind. He hadn’t slept much on the long trip, spending his resting hours daydreaming about his queen.

The stars reminded him of the gleam in her eyes when she struggled not to laugh at something he’d not understood or been confused about. The dark nothingness beyond those points of light reminded him of what the rest of his life would be like. Either the darkness of the Nye Moon mines or the bleakness of eternity as a front line soldier. Would he watch his men die one by one at his side? Unless he died first.

* * * *

“
It’s over?” Joe didn’t understand.

“
You’re cleared.” General Drant motioned for Joe to sit in one of the seats facing his spacious desk. Edow took the other chair. “Once Smeltz was killed, all kinds of witnesses come forward to testify to the atrocities the minister did at Hadrason’s bidding, including the killing of civilians Smeltz laid at your feet.”

“
What now, sir?”

Drant fiddled with some papers on his desk. “Nothing has been decided.”

The silent regard of the two men discomforted Joe. His entire life had been ordered, decisions made for him and now he had to deal with reality by himself. He struggled to form a question, to ask for what he wanted at this moment when he sensed his future would be decided.

“
Might I make a suggestion, sir?” Edow asked

“
Go ahead, Captain.”

“
I command a forward unit. A soldier of Joe’s experience would be invaluable to me. I often have to send in a scout team, and Joe and the others could lead them.”

A call came into Drant’s private unit. “Yes?”

“
Sorry to interrupt, sir,” the disembodied voice said, “but we’ve received a request to help capture a fugitive. I knew you might be interested.”

“
A civilian?”

“
Geoff Hadrason, sir.”

Adrenaline surged through Joe’s body, and he half-rose from his chair.

Drant waved him down. “Do they have any leads on him?”

“
Not yet, sir”

“
Thank you, corporal.” Drant’s sharp gaze turned to Joe. “At ease, colonel.”

Hearing his rank designation surprised Joe. Few people knew it.

“
You’re a colonel?” Edow asked.

“
He is.” Drant rose and paced for a moment before speaking again. “What do think this Hadrason will do, Joe? Will he run and hide? His company owns so much territory it would take years to search. He likely has paid informants within our military and ministry. He has the money and connections to stay one step ahead of us.”

“
Sir.” Joe wasn’t used to superior officers asking his opinion. “This man is a vicious, arrogant bastard. He’ll want to revenge on those who brought about his downfall.”

“
On you?” Edow asked.

“
Maybe, but I’m hard to get at.”

“
The Queen of Giroux?” Drant smiled, but Joe detected no amusement in it. “I suppose you want to go back to Giroux and protect her?”

Joe hesitated. Of course he wanted to do just that, but he sensed the question contained a trap. Damn his difficulty catching the nuances of conversation. “I do, sir.”

Drant sighed and sat down again. He looked at Joe with a stern expression, but some softer emotion in his eyes. “Joe, do you understand the queen will be condemned by her peers if they connect her with you in any personal way.”

Joe dropped his gaze. “I need to keep her safe.”

“
Sir, why don’t I cruise by Giroux on my way back to my station? We’re scheduled for a year’s deployment beyond the Gordon cluster. We’ll make sure the queen is secure and do a quick search for Hadrason.”

Joe recognized doubt on Drant’s face. “Sir, I would never bring embarrassment to the queen.”

“
I don’t know if you understand how you and your men are perceived.”

“
I understand, sir. I’m not a real man to many. They think me a lab creation who may have outlived its usefulness.”

“
Not just that.” Drant stared hard at Joe. “If there was even the most infinitesimal chance you might breed and reproduce, introducing your genes into the population, you and your offspring would be destroyed. And the female you impregnated along with you.”

Joe’s heart stuttered in his chest. The nights he’d spent in Callie’s arms flooded his thoughts. Had he condemned her to death with his … love?

“
Such a woman would at best be shamed beyond repair the same as if she’d mated with an animal.” Drant continued without mercy. “There’s only speculation about the two of you so far. It will dissipate over time when you disappear into deep space.”

“
So I’m not to live as a man? I’m to give my life and blood to protect mankind yet never know the love of a woman or the wonder of a child?”

“
You were created to give your life, soldier.” Drant’s voice softened, and now he was the one to drop his gaze. “Captain Edow, take these men as your scouts. Check on Giroux as you suggested and then continue to your new assignment.”

Joe stood when Edow did, a numbness settling over him. Years of fighting on alien worlds stretched before him.

“
Joe.” Drant spoke as Edow opened the door. “Sometimes loving a person means sacrificing everything for them. You would give your life for her if pirates tried to take her. This is the same thing. By leaving her, you’ll be saving her.”