Tiva Boon: Royal Guardian (40 page)

“Hill to Boon, please report to the command center.” The wrist-comm echoed through her mind. Opening her eyes, she glanced around the Arboretum and released an annoyed breath.

“I will be there momentarily, sir.” She rose to her feet and cleaned off her uniform. Attaching the weapons into place, she walked to the exit and unlocked the door. Being security had its advantages. She found privacy even in public places, whenever she wanted. Though Tiva never abused her status, she often locked herself in the garden. It was her favorite place on the ship.

Striding down the corridor, she acknowledged a few crew as she passed. Surprisingly, a couple of them smiled back at her. After tapping for the floor, Tiva leaned against the rail wondering why they needed her. The past few days had been quiet. Many of the crew on the
Tolox
still felt full of pride after helping the Iarashin vessel a few months before. This crew seemed to thrive on helping people. She wasn’t much different. Her entire life was to serve and help people, but somehow it didn’t feel the same here.

Tiva exited the lift and approached Hill. He was typing something, so she glanced around. B’abot caught her gaze, smirked at her, and playfully tapped his lap. She raised an eyebrow and he
shrugged.

“Ah, Ms. Boon, I have a project for you,” Hill said, gaining her attention. A grin formed on his lips. “First, the great news. We found you a team member.”

“Very good, sir,” she said.

“Well, two actually. One you may know, Leo Ranndom, from operations, and the other is from the Iarashin ship we helped, Hemko. I know you haven’t worked with any Iarashin’s before, one thing you need to know about them, Ms. Boon…”

“Yes, sir?”

“They are very stubborn and proud, and if you see their ears twitch, it usually means they are very, very angry.” He smiled.

“I understand, sir.”

“Another thing, I want you to begin flight training with Raife, I know you have some experience, but I prefer to have the command center staff fully capable.”

“Very well,” she said with a dip of her head.

“Good, good.” He stroked his chin, still looking at her. “The two new security personnel will start in the morning. Now, this project I have for you…The captain of the Iarashin ship was tracking a vessel through this sector of space. We believe it is a mercenary salvage ship. Normally they roam the galaxy looking for abandoned ships and bases and strip them for parts. This group of bandits however, has been attacking merchant ships and taking what they need or want, by force. I want you and Emerala to work together to try to track this ship. The Iarashin’s added their database to ours for easier access. Use the information they gathered from the mercenary ship and see if our computer can match the ships output frequencies, communications, engines, weapons, anything. If we are lucky we might be able to identify who they are before we catch them.”

“I will begin immediately.”

“You are doing a fine job, Ms. Boon.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“My pleasure,” he said, and then sat back in the captain’s chair.

Tiva sifted through the various reports, opened up a smaller screen, and retrieved the records for Ranndom and Hemko. Each had combat experience and military backgrounds that would be helpful. They would know their place, she knew, but she’d have to earn their respect.

She had a long day ahead of her, so she changed the security codes around the ship, and ran sweeps first. Once they were set into motion, she sent messages to Raife and Aliri’s consoles asking for time after shift, one for obvious reasons, the other was personal. Both responded, and she felt better having part of her evening planned. She linked her computer to Emerala’s and searched the database of the Iarashin computer for the information she needed.

Popping up on the console, Tiva studied the displayer feed of the salvage ship. Emerala glanced over and smiled, then motioned down to her displayer. Tiva saw a grid cover the ship, marking all the sections of the vessel.

“Take those parameters and search the Union’s database of ships. I’ll do the science stuff if you want.”

“Thank you,” she said and accessed each ship in the database one by one to compare them. Her hands went cold. If the Union had images of all the ships they encountered, maybe they had one of the
ship that killed her family. Tiva’s heart raced as she scrolled through the images.

Gigs appeared next to her. “You know that really is a waste of your time.”

“I have my orders.”

“All I’m saying is that I can do the search for you in half the time. Just give me access to your console.”

“I was told by Hill to do this task.”

“Hilly,” Gigs huffed, “Boony’s being all mean. I’m trying to help.”

Jay Hill turned and looked between the two. He seemed unsure what to say, but smiled at them. “Ms. Boon, feel free to use Gigs, she is, after all, part of the computer.”

“Understood, sir,” she said and tapped quickly on her console to allow the AI to interact with her station.

The captain entered and took his seat from Hill. “Status?”

“We’re on course to the last known location of the salvage ship sir, cruising speed with navigation on auto correct.” Raife said from the hub.

“Weapons on standby, protective shielding intact and at full capacity,” Jimmi B’abot said cheerfully.

Tiva watched the display on her screen move faster. It was hard to keep up with the quick flashes of images. She filtered the information to Emerala to keep her abreast.

“Science is sweeping the area sir, nothing within range that is notable,” Aliri’s voice echoed through the room.

Emerala chimed in with her report
, “Twenty percent of the database has been examined, sir. No match sighted yet. Communications are clean and the ship has full power in all sections.”

“Good, good,” Hill mumbled.

Tiva looked over and met his eyes. For a moment, she forgot the captain’s call for reports.

“Boon,” Maar said, and she whipped her head around.

“Security codes have been changed for the week, internal sweeps on a running cycle, sir.”

“Keep your attention on all sensor readings during shift. Inform me of anything out of the ordinary,” Captain Maar announced to the crew. Everyone acknowledged him, and continued their duty.

Nothing strange presented itself during the entire day. When the night shift took over from the senior crew, Emerala invited Tiva to her room for dinner. Having some time before she was to meet with Raife and Aliri, she agreed and retired to her room to change.

The
Tolox
had yet to stop anywhere, so her place was still barren save the few personal items she’d brought from Uucor. She missed her friend, Harai. Changing into a soft pink dress robe, Tiva sat down at her desk and activated the computer console.

“Begin recording: Harai and Major Raku. I have settled in with the crew of the
Tolox
, an expedition cruiser of the Vexillum. I am doing well, but miss Uucor and your company. I hope you are both fine. I do not wish to risk much contact for fear this transmission may be traced back to me, however if you wish to respond, send the message to Ovvella Base and they will relay it to the
Tolox
. Keep safe and well, my friends.” Tiva finished the recording. “Gigs…”

“Yes, Boon?” the AI’s voice asked.

“Can you relay this message to Ovvella Base with instructions to send it to Major Raku on Uucor?”

“Why don’t you just send it from here, there are enough relay buoys in the area to get there.”

“I need to take precautions, Gigs. I assume you’ve accessed my record…”

“I have,” the voice said.

“So you know the danger I am presently in.”

“Well, not really…I mean I’m sorry about your family, but I don’t think those aliens are looking for you. It’s a big universe. You’re acting a bit paranoid.”

Tiva paused. Dival didn’t add the bounty hunter information to her record. “Gigs, may I see my file?”

“Sure.”

The computer blinked and her profile jumped onto the screen. Tiva scrolled through the entire entry, and sighed.

“Something wrong?”

“Yes, but I will handle it. Can you please ensure the message is sent as per my wishes, Gigs?”

“No problem. Oh, and you haven’t checked your inbox, you have a message sitting there, still.”

“I do? From where?”

“Origin unknown, it was relayed through the base though.”

“Thank you, Gigs, I will need to take this in full privacy.” Blood rushed through her heart as it beat faster. The AI said nothing further, and despite her shaking hands, Tiva accessed the message and played it. A familiar voice rang in her ears.

“Lady Boon: I’ve attempted contact with the king’s vessel, but to no avail. The only other thought I had was to communicate through the PCD. I have tried every guardian’s device, I hope this message finds you.” There was a short pause, and then she continued. “I bring you what news I can from my position. Those loyal to the king and queen have banded together in anticipation of the guardians’ return. The Rebels have spread lies across the lands, telling the people their leader has abandoned them. We know you are only doing what is best for the Royal Family. The fight continues every day, but our Loyalists are growing stronger after seeing the tyrannical hand of the Rebels and their leaders. Tiva, please tell your family I pray for them and the king...we await his return. Your friend, Vicar Neola Riin.”

Tiva bit her lower lip holding back everything that flowed through her. The message must have reached Uucor, which may be how the bounty hunters found her. The PCD. She jumped up from the chair and found the broken device. Pulling it apart, she ripped out the wiring. She could not chance discovery.

Neola.

The Rebels killed Neola’s husband Jex on the path to Kinchar. Tiva still held his dying words in her mind.
My love, Neola, she must know, I will always be with her. Promise me you will tell her, Tiva.

“I will…” she said softly to the memory. Tiva sat at her desk replaying Neola’s message over and over. Just hearing her friend’s voice stirred up more emotions than she was prepared for, but she continued to listen. “Gigs…”

“Yes, Boony?” The hologram appeared this time, hands on her hips smiling.

“Do you know when this message was sent?”

“I cannot pinpoint a specific date, but approximately ten months ago.”

“They might not know…” Tiva thought aloud.

“Know what?”

“That the Royal Family is dead.”

“Oh, bummer. Can I help?”

“Perhaps, first I must speak with the captain can you locate him for me?”

“Trevo is in the mess hall.”

“Thank you, Gigs.”

“Any time, Boon.”

Captain Maar, Raife, and Aliri were sitting at the bar talking with Vinni Venno, the Joran barkeeper. They seemed happy by their expressions, but Tiva kept her shield up, she needed her full concentration for the next several hours. As she approached the group, Aliri noticed her and smiled.

“Evening, Tiva, won’t you join us?” she said.

“Perhaps another time. If it is not an inconvenience, Captain, I wish to speak with you.”

“Is everything all right?” he asked.

“Possibly, it is…a personal matter, sir.”

Maar rose from his chair taking his drink in hand and motioned to another table. Tiva shook her head.

“We need a secure location sir, completely private.” She kept the serious look on her face and met his eyes.

“We’ll go to your office and ask Gigs to cut off monitors.”

“Tell me, what’s on your mind?” Captain Maar said as he sat back on her desk.

She sat before him, carefully choosing her words before speaking, “Sir, I know you have read my personal file…but there is something missing. I was sure Dival would have mentioned it to—”

“He did.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m aware that you were attacked the day before you departed. It’s not something that needs to be in your file, however Dival thought it would be best I knew.”

“I had hoped as much, sir. Though, I was going to divulge that information to you when I felt comfortable.”

“I have no doubts, Boon. What can I help you with?”

“Captain, I wish to contact someone at home. I have been gone for almost a year now, and I know not what the situation is on my planet. I recently received an old message from a friend, Gigs said it was sent around the same time we fled Abennelp. My friend is part of a resistance group holding their ground against the Rebel faction. I need to let her know that I am alive, but I cannot risk those who are still searching for me to find out. I am still a Royal Guardian, and if there is something happening on my planet that I can help with, I must know.”

“A complicated issue, indeed. Is that all you want, just to send a message?”

“For now, sir, yes.”