Chapter 16

SIXTEEN

F elix shifted his buttocks and silently cursed the seat of the hover chair for being too damned comfy. It was in fact criminally soft. He didn't want to get used to being hovered everywhere, but the medical deck of Jitendra was fucking huge and he knew he'd never make the walk from his room to the operating theater reserved for his party with the resonance.

Nessa put a hand on his unbandaged shoulder. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine." He shifted in his seat again, seeking a topic of conversation that wasn't him. "And these seats are insanely comfortable. We should get cushions like these on the Chaos ."

"I'll put it on the list, right after ashie-style furniture," Elias said with a grin.

Qek stepped forward and brushed the back of Felix's right hand. "I have been researching appropriate phrases to wish you luck today, but I do not like the idea of telling you to break a leg."

Felix swallowed. "Thank you," he mumbled around the lump in his throat.

Zed, looking way too tired and somewhat distracted, poked at the holographic interface beside the chair. "Do you want to drive, or will I just program the destination?"

"'Course I want to drive."

With a vague smile, Zed flipped the interface over and prodded it toward his lap. "No land-speed records."

"We're not on land."

"Are you trying to be difficult?"

"It's my job, it's what I do."

"Mmm-hmm."

Theo ducked through the door, an aide at his heels. Perspective altered by the events of the past week, Felix studied the ambassador's face and counted about as many lines as Zed currently sported. Stress, fatigue and the weight of the galaxy.

Theo summoned a smile for Elias, Nessa, Qek and Felix. Zed got an efficient nod. "Zed."

"Theo." Zed returned the nod.

Felix ducked his head to hide a grin. Really, Theo and Zed should be best friends—they had everything in common.

"No word yet from the stin—" Theo cleared his throat. "So, ah, if we're going to do this, we should get a move on."

"Why are we waiting for word from the stin?" Felix craned his head back in time to catch Zed trying to wipe his face clean of all expression. "Did they hear about my new arm? Shit, they did, didn't they?" And they were pissed, right?

Looking queasy, Theo muttered, "They have expressed interest in your arm, actually. Sharing a holo-capture of the procedure might be enough to entice them back to the convocation table."

Zed opened and closed his mouth. Imaginary steam puffed from his ears, then he drew in one of those long, meditative breaths.

"They withdrew from the convocation?" And no one had told him. Damn, he was sick of being wrapped in cotton wool and platitudes.

Qek spoke up. "This procedure will be of interest to all the species, the resonance included. It is an auspicious undertaking."

Theo smiled. "Thank you, Qekelough. I couldn't have said it better myself." He unfolded his wallet and tapped a display. "The resonance are waiting for us in OT One."

The main operating theater. The big one. All the galaxy would be watching him today. Felix imagined he could already feel the prickle of all that attention.

"Let's get a move on." Theo spun in place and took off at a brisk walk.

"Why are we in such a hurry?" Zed asked, as they followed Theo into the corridor.

The answer met them just outside: Speaker Tamboli, Zed's liaison Amelia, and a flock of attendants, uniformed and otherwise. Dr. Gazi and her officious white coat stood in the middle of the group.

"Ambassador, Emissary, Mr. Ingesson." Speaker Tamboli swept the rest of them with a quick nod. "It seems I'm nearly too late." She produced a wallet and flapped the secure plastic square toward Theo. "Or did you conveniently forget to inform my office of the correct time for your little show."

Little what now?

Zed turned to look at Theo. "What's going on?"

Tamboli answered. "What's going on is a procedure not sanctioned by Central."

"That's bullshit," Elias said. "This has got nothing to do with Central."

"On the contrary, this has everything to do with humanity as a whole, Mr. Idowu. This is an unprecedented diplomatic opportunity. An exchange of technology between two species. We need time to prepare an appropriate response, discuss what we might offer in return, and select the candidate best suited to receive this gift."

Zed spluttered. "The candidate best suited?"

Felix glanced at Theo. The impression of weariness across his face had deepened. He'd known this would happen, and that was why he'd wanted them to hurry.

"Ambassador, of all people, you should know the procedure."

"I do," Theo said, "and as you've stated, this is a gift. One offered to a very specific person, who is not only a suitable candidate, but to whom this is a gesture of gratitude. Felix Ingesson saved the life of one of the resonance. Not only that, he did so during a situation that might have unwound a lesser man. He's a credit to Central, the AEF and humanity. I can think of no one more deserving."

"I'll concede you have a point, and Mr. Ingesson will certainly get due consideration. However?—"

Due consideration. Yeah, that meant no. Felix looked for the back button on the hover chair interface. He tried not to feel the disappointment trickling through his veins. He'd go with the Whatever-360. It was a good arm. Spare, functional and probably hackable.

"You're not taking this from him." Zed stepped forward to loom over the Speaker. Amelia O'Day and Theo flanked him and dithered, as if unsure if they should or could restrain him. Zed's posture remained loose, however. "There will be no selection committee. If you feel further exchange is necessary, think about what you can offer our new allies instead."

"You are not in a position to make these arrangements, Mr. Anatolius. You have no affiliation with this government whatsoever. A fact you seem to constantly and conveniently forget," Tamboli said.

"The resonance are waiting for us. Is this what we want to show them? Humanity arguing over how best to use their kindness?"

"If proper procedure had been followed, this would not be necessary."

"I didn't think this fell within the bounds of proper procedure," Theo interjected.

Felix couldn't back up without running over Qek. He jerked his chin at her, hoping she'd move aside, and she cocked her head in fair imitation of inquisitiveness.

"Theo…" Tamboli exhaled sharply. "You were chosen to represent humanity based on a long record of exemplary service. Now is not the time?—"

"Now is not the time to issue threats. You know as well as I do that this is an opportunity for humanity. One we shouldn't allow to get buried beneath the weight of committees and public opinion." Theo gestured around him. "We're at the Hub, in the Guardians' playground. One of the kids has offered to show us his toys. For the love of all the stars, can't we just—for once—say ‘sure,' and leave it at that?"

"Your little analogy is missing something."

"What's that?"

"The other kids. The stin and the ashushk. Especially the stin. Do you think they're going to sit idly by while you go play with the new kids?"

"We've promised to share all we learn from the procedure," Theo pointed out.

Felix hadn't been enjoying listening to his betters argue over whether he got a new arm or not. Hell, who in their right mind wanted to listen to a discussion on their own merits and worthiness? Not this former soldier. But when Tamboli mentioned the other kids, he had to concede she had a point, one even an unsubtle man like him could understand. Galactic peace, even among allies, required a truly delicate balance, and relations with the stin were already teetering toward catastrophe. Maybe this technology should be given to someone more important. He was just a mechanic with one arm.

"She's right." All eyes turned on him. Felix poked the interface so his chair lurched backward. A clicking Qek jumped aside. "This is a pretty big deal and it'd be selfish of me to claim it for myself. Maybe y'all should discuss it. Find someone more suitable."

I am clear. I am calm.

Zed's mantra did little to quell the anger roiling in his gut, his chest. He wanted to shout at Tamboli, vent his outrage that she would try to take this from Flick. He wanted to pull out every trick he knew to intimidate, to threaten. But, from the tense line of the Speaker's shoulders, that was what she expected. Maybe not a physical fight—but definitely a verbal one.

He couldn't give it to her.

I am clear. I am calm.

Zed put a hand on Flick's chair, signaling for him to stop. In a quiet, even voice, he asked, "Do you have children, Speaker?"

"I don't see what—" Her eyes widened. "Are you threatening?—"

"No! God, no." Zed let the horror of that thought appear in his expression. "Never."

Tamboli regarded him for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I do. My daughter is eight."

"So Yule is still a big deal for her?" Christmas, Yule—the winter festival had ceased to have much religious meaning, but was still a gathering for family and friends. With gifts.

"Yes," Tamboli answered reluctantly, clearly confused about the purpose of Zed's questions.

"My parents always told me that the best thing about Yule was watching me and my brothers and our reactions to the gifts they picked out for us." Zed smiled—he couldn't help it, thinking of past Yules and the excitement of the tree, the lights and the gifts, of course. "They never handed over the task of choosing gifts to their assistants, not like a lot of my friends at the Academy—they chose each gift themselves."

"Emissary, I don't under?—"

"What if a stranger approached you the night before Yule and took away the main gift you'd chosen for your daughter?"

Tamboli's expression crumpled, her lips twisting. "She would be disappointed, of course, and yes, I understand that this is not ideal for Mr. Ingesson, but?—"

"No, Speaker. How would you feel? If someone told you that there was another child who deserved that gift more than your daughter?" Zed arched a brow as Tamboli said nothing. "Ma'am?"

Tamboli shifted, obviously uncomfortable. "I would be resentful."

"Just because the resonance have been amenable and friendly, don't mistake that for simplicity or worse, stupidity. If they meant this gift to be for humanity as a whole, they would have approached you or Theo."

"We cannot consider this in isolation, though. I'm sure they understand how much of an impact such a gift could have in the galactic community. How important it is." Her eyes narrowed. "And the situation with the stin is delicate enough without preferential exchanges of technology."

That was not something he could argue, but it could be spun—if Central wanted to spin it. What it came down to was that Central wanted to handpick their so-called candidate. They didn't think Flick was worthy.

Well, fuck them.

"The resonance have chosen to give this gift to Felix . Not to humanity. For you to presume otherwise is an insult."

Tamboli's brows jerked upward. "Emissary?—"

"You're right, ma'am. I no longer have any affiliation with Central or the AEF. Hell, Central has recognized that I am no longer fully human." Zed ignored Flick's indignant huff at that. "But I will not stand by and let your greed and short-sightedness result in a conflict with a peaceful race who are simply trying to repay a personal debt. Speaker, I suggest you find a change of heart and a new way of thinking, or you can find another means by which to communicate with the resonance."

Tamboli eyed him, obviously trying to determine if Zed was bluffing. Call me on it and find out. He said nothing more, waiting for her pronouncement.

Finally, she huffed out a breath. "The Jitendra 's facilities are not available for unapproved procedures."

You've got to be fucking kidding me. Bluff called. Fatigue pushed Zed's eyes closed and he understood, thoroughly, the term sick and tired . After a moment of calming breaths, Zed turned to Elias. "Mind if we borrow Cargo One?"

Elias's brows lifted. "What are you thinking?"

"Ness, you still have the emergency med-camp kit?"

"Yes…" Her eyes widened as she followed his train of thought. "You want to set up an OR in Cargo One? That's not really?—"

"Not really what the med-camp kit is meant for, I know." It was intended to provide a sterile medical environment on a planet, in case of a crash and compromise of the ship. It would work, though. And it looked like it was their only option, since the med bay aboard the Chaos was too small to accommodate the resonance—other than maybe venturing over to a resonance ship, but he had no idea if they even had medical facilities that would accommodate a human. "You up for this, Dr. O'Brien?"

Ness glanced at Flick, then back to Zed and nodded, uncertainty melting away from her expression, replaced by a gleam of excitement. "Qek and Elias, come help me get it set up."

As Elias, Ness and Qek turned, heading toward the docks and the Chaos , Zed inclined his head to the Speaker. "Thank you for your hospitality, Ms. Tamboli, but I believe we'll be taking our leave from your ship."

Tamboli's mouth gaped as it sunk in that she wasn't going to prevent the surgery from happening—she was merely preventing Central from having a role in it. "Now, wait?—"

Zed tapped a few buttons on Flick's chair and turned the beast around. Flick slapped at Zed's fingers. "I've got it, I've got it," he muttered.

"Good. I need us to be gone ."

Flick craned his head around Zed's bulk. "Theo, you in or out?"

Zed paused, watching Theo face off with the Speaker. "I don't know. Ms. Tamboli?"

Tamboli gritted her teeth and Zed fought a smile. She'd dug quite the hole for herself—if she denied Theo's request to attend the procedure, she would be voluntarily cutting off all Central involvement. Finally, she huffed out a defeated breath. "I expect a full report, Ambassador."

Zed stepped away from Flick's chair, waving for Theo to replace him. "I've got to go escort the resonance. Meet you aboard."

Flick grabbed Zed's hand before he could move too far away. "Don't get lost."

So many corny phrases popped into Zed's mind. You'll never lose me was one, quickly followed by I'll always find my way back to you . Both felt too heavy for this moment, despite the fact that Zed had already been at the mercy of the AEF once for disobeying orders. It crossed his mind that he had just told humanity to fuck off—but arresting him for that would be pushing it, right?

"Never," he said, his voice quiet. He squeezed Flick's fingers before turning toward the operating theater where the resonance waited.

Hopefully they wouldn't mind a change of scenery.