Tiva Boon: Royal Guardian (39 page)

Calbe and his group led the members of the
Tolox
crew to Wargo’s location. On the way, he explained in detail the status of the Speego colony despite the troublemakers’ attempts to sabotage them. The domes provided protection from both the Enviros, as they were known, and the moon’s atmosphere. The majority of the fighting happened outside the domes when the people searched the moon surface for water or minerals. The supplies would help the colony more than the Union realized and ensure the safety of the people.

“What of your military, don’t they protect your domes from the Enviros?” Raife said.

“They do what they can,” he said. “The majority of the army is planet side helping with the revitalization, what troops we have are holding off the threat so far. The Enviros are constantly moving. They haven’t attacked our dome for a while, but we’re sure they know you are here which means they are either waiting or moving in to attack. That is why we wanted to do this quickly…we did not mean to deceive you.”

Captain Maar nodded his head accepting the answer. The entire group knew Calbe spoke the truth. Still, they were now in more danger than previously thought. Tiva did not let her guard down. There were no people hidden in the rocks and hills around this area, yet.

“As soon as we have confirmation we’ll hand over the supplies,” Aliri said

Wargo rushed into the room and again waved frantically for the group to follow him. Calbe led the group. Tiva stayed near the captain and allowed her concentration to divide between searching and protecting.

On a small displayer, a stocky man with the same features as Wargo, Calbe, and others of their species looked full of worry and concern. Captain Maar moved into view and Aliri studied the face on the screen.

“Captain, many thanks for delivering the supplies to Speego, we are indebted to the Union for their continued help,” Kik spoke first.

“We are glad to help…though it seems like you could use some added security in your dome camp,” Maar said.

Kik smiled sadly
. “If the Union is willing to send a force, we’d accept whole heartedly, Captain. But I think the Union has done enough for us recently, we can’t ask for more.”

“I will file a report when I return to the ship, Prime Minister. The safety of your people is a priority to the Union, I have no doubts they will send people to help.” Maar turned to Raife. “Deactivate the field.”

“Many thanks, many thanks!” Wargo said, as Raife tapped on the hover platform. The field sparkled and faded away. The natives began taking the supplies. “We do not wish to keep you, the longer you are here the worse the risk.”

“We understand.” Aliri smiled and handed over a datarecorder. “This will help you dose out the medical supplies. The food is packaged for heat and cold and will stay fresh until you open them.”

“Boon, Nassut, head to the exit and secure the perimeter,” Captain Maar said.

“Yes, sir,” Tiva said, walking back to the dome entrance with the pilot. Her gaze darted around the outer edge of the dome and beyond. She saw no movement or shadows in the area. Raife scanned with a hand held device and shook his head as they neared. “I have not seen any activity since we landed. Do your scans show anything?”

“Nope, nothing. However, this moon isn’t made of the best material to scan through. You have empathic abilities. Can you determine if anyone is in the area?”

“I have not attempted to try, shall I?” she said.

“Might as well, can’t hurt.”

Tiva agreed and lowered her mental shield completely. She filtered through the different emotions that filled her. Separating the crew and natives was easier than expected, but as she tried to search the ground outside the dome, she felt nothing. Frowning, she shook her head, but kept her senses to remain open until the others arrived.

Raife continued his inspection, and before either found anything, Aliri and the captain joined them at the exit.

“Any sign of the Enviros?” Aliri said.

“Nope, nothing,” Raife said. “Tiva’s concentrating on the area, might want to give her some room.”

“I am not locating any others near—” she began then paused abruptly.

“What is it?” Aliri said.

Tiva saw the shadow far beyond the dome, near a crater the size of the
Tolox
. Dust cascaded into the air, and the others focused on it as her gaze moved toward it. Something or someone was out there.

“We have no time to waste, plasma guns set to incapacitate,
we’re not here to kill anyone.”

The group collectively pulled out their weapons and readied them. Tiva moved to the exit before the others and turned to the captain for orders.

“Let’s go.”

Tiva exited first, gun at her side, eye focused and searching. Aliri followed next, the rear taken by the captain and Raife. They jogged toward the vessel. Side to side she surveyed the moon’s surface, but the shadowy figure had yet to move again. In her line of vision, the transport, now covered in a thick dust, grew larger.

Streaks of red fire filled the air without warning. Tiva jumped as a blast headed straight for the captain. Struck in the arm, she grunted, but rolled on the ground before leaping back to her feet.

“Run!” Aliri said and fired her gun in the direction of the attack. Tiva grabbed the captain’s tunic and ran with him as they both fired opposite one another. The craft came into full view through the clouds of dirt and dust rising around them. Raife tapped on his device to open the hatch doors. Aliri ran in first, followed by Raife. Tiva pushed the captain inside and turned around firing a few more rounds at the crater as the doors began to close.

“Get in!” Aliri said.

“Start the vessel!” Tiva said. Raife’s footsteps vanished from the cargo hold, and she felt an arm on her shoulder. She fired three shots from her gun before the captain forced her inside.

“You’re injured…Caedm get a medkit.” Maar released Tiva, but gently took her forearm in his hand inspecting the wound.

“It is superficial—we must get off this moon
, sir. More are coming.”

“Don’t worry, we’re fine inside this bucket of bolts,” Aliri said, as they lifted off the ground. “Sit and let me look at your wound.”

“I am fine,” Tiva said, pulling away from captain.

“Let her take a look, captain’s orders.” He grinned. “Well done, Ms. Boon, glad to have you on our team.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said to his back, and watched him head out. Turning, she winced as Aliri grabbed her arm and spun her around.

“I thought you said it was superficial.”

“It is.”

“It doesn’t seem that way,” Aliri opened the med kit. “Take off your top.”

Tiva took the tunic off, the sleeveless undershirt was torn and bloody, but allowed Aliri access to the wound.

“You were hit more than once…” She frowned and silently tended to the gun burn on her arm. Aliri swabbed it with a cooling gel and wrapped it in a thin clear material. Looking at the undershirt, she motioned for Tiva to lift it. Aliri gasped and took a step back. “You’re covered in scars, Tiva…what the hell happened to you?”

“This was from a spar with my cousin; this one is a gift from my friend Tespor.” Tiva twisted her torso around showing another few marks on her side and back. “This gash is from an encounter with a wild animal from Abennelp, and these three marks are from my journey in the escape module. I do not remember how I got them.”

“You’ve had it pretty rough, huh?”

“My worst scars are the ones you cannot see, Aliri.” After that, Tiva said no more.

Crew commander, Jay Hill, and his negotiation team returned to the
Tolox
two days after the trip to Speego. The captain informed Hill of their altercation on the moon, and he was extremely unhappy. Tiva caught a sense of responsibility coming from him. It was not a feeling of mistrust toward her, rather appreciation that she was present. Yet, he seemed angry with himself for not being there for Maar. She understood, but kept it to herself. The captain ordered the
Tolox
to another region of space to await word from Base, and the crew was excited for another assignment.

Her wounds healed without problem, quicker then Aliri liked, but Tiva explained rapid healing was common for her people.

While waiting for the next assignment, she studied the ship in detail and familiarized herself with the entire layout. Happy to find vegetation on the space vehicle, Tiva spent many hours in the Arboretum on the recreation level with the flowers and trees inside. The exotic plants from around the galaxy created the sweetest aroma, the perfect setting for meditating. She had last Calmed long before leaving Abennelp. The small man-made pond in the middle of the green, gold, and orange foliage was not large enough to help her situation. Perhaps they would find time to visit planet side in the future.

Tiva kept her distance from the crew during her off duty hours. It allowed her the chance to sort out her feelings. Already, she heard the whispers and thoughts of the crew. ‘The strange girl with the changing moons is dangerous.’ Or ‘She took a hit for the captain her first time out to show off her superior skills.’ Even ‘Rumor has it she’s killed thousands of people, including children.’

She knew deep down she’d have a problem fitting in and hoped her lack of emotional displays helped her integrate more easily with the group.

The
Tolox
’s new orders were to escort one of the Union’s Ambassadors back to the Arillo galaxy to complete the final negotiations that Hill began. They had rendezvoused with Captain Locke’s ship, the
Enigma
, at the edge of the sector and picked up the Ambassador. It was not Dival, as Tiva had hoped. Regardless, she did her duty and became his shadow while on board.

During the mission, the captain, Hill, and Tiva were escorting the Ambassador to the town hall on the planet when locals attacked them. Hill and Tiva thwarted several of the enemy while Maar ensured the Ambassador’s safety.

Surprised at yet another assault, Tiva wondered if the entire universe was one fight, one struggle, one hardship after another.

Their next assignment sent them near the Cobee galaxy to study a newly formed gaseous nebula. This brought her closer to Abennelp than she was comfortable with, but she kept her fears to herself. The project was mostly scientific in nature, so Tiva trained and meditated on a daily basis to keep from thinking about home.

B’abot’s flirting remained constant, especially during times in the mess hall. Tiva was not his only target. He seemed interested in any female that crossed his path. It mattered very little to her; she was not interested in Jimmi.

After the nebula, the
Tolox
responded to a distress call from an Iarashin trade ship on the far end of the Arillo galaxy. According to the captain of the vessel, a strange astro-energy wave dissolved their protective shields, and crippled their engines. Maar offered assistance, and they spent another month repairing the damaged ship.

Eight months.

To her it seemed like a lifetime. Everything she’d ever known was far beyond her reach now. She felt empty again. The faded edges of her Yantar and family painting no longer satisfied her loneliness. She forced herself to interact with the crew. Aliri continued her training of telepathy and empathy. Emerala was a fantastic listener and often sparred with Tiva in the virtual recreation room, and despite Gigs’ frustrating attempts to coach her in social interactions with alien species, she was the first to make Tiva smile.

“You know you’ll never attract any guy if you don’t act the part.” Gigs appeared in the security office after shift, mumbling. “A bit of make-up would help too.”

“I am doing my report for Mr. Hill.”

“Relax, take a break, we’re going to be here another day or two. The warp thingy isn’t calibrated correctly on that other ship.”

“Thingy? Do you not know the proper term?”

“Of course I do, I’m just being funny.” Her form changed and she was suddenly sitting on Tiva’s desk.

“I see.”

“I’m not sure you do, but…whatever.” She shrugged and paced the length of the desk. “You know, if you can at least act like you are interested in a guy there’s a good chance he’d be putty in your hands.”

“Why would I want to have a man be putty in my hands?” Tiva glanced at her fingers.

Gigs smiled. “It’s a figure of speech...it just means you’ve got him captivated enough to make your next move.”

“Is that why B’abot is ‘flirting’ with me? To make me putty so he can make the next move? He is sorely mistaken if that is the case.”

The hologram laughed and jumped off the desk changing back to normal form. “Men are clueless about flirting, Tiva, sorta like you. They don’t know the first bit about it...they want to make the girls melt for them, but usually they just end up laughing a lot.”

“I know how to flirt,” she grumbled.

“Yeah, with Abennelpian boys. You can sense your people a hell of a lot better than human men, and besides your people seem like the upfront kind. Most males I’ve met have strange dating rituals. Just follow your feelings and you’ll figure it out.”

Tiva’s lip curled slightly. “I will endeavor to do so, Gigs.”

“Holy shit!”

“Holy what?”

“Did you just smile?”

“Slightly,” Tiva said and immediately frowned.

“No, no, no, no. Smile again, damn it!” Gigs changed form into a Tiva lookalike with a huge comic smile on her face. The real Tiva grinned before quickly covering her mouth. “Wow, twice in a row. I can’t wait to tell Aliri!”

“Gigs, wait…” Tiva’s words settled into the empty room.

The hologram was gone. Tiva shook her head and sighed before turning back to her reports. It would prove to be an interesting week if the AI told the entire ship that Tiva Boon did in fact have feelings, and she wasn’t looking forward to it.