2. Crux

two

The stale air is filled with the scents and sounds of the busy Orion Space Station as I make my way toward the command center. The vast area is teeming with aliens from a wide variety of species. I watch as they go about their daily lives, unaware of the dangers which lurk among them. That's why I'm here. To serve and protect.

It's been many solar cycles since I was last assigned to guard an Earthling diplomat. The fact that my previous assignment ended with the death of my charge was the catalyst for the aversion. But that isn't why my current position, as personal bodyguard to Ambassador Agnew, is the most challenging and demanding position I've had.

Commander Ru'yn's words echo in my mind as I navigate the crowded corridors. "You will have eyes and ears on her at all times. No matter where she goes, you will be there. Understand? The Folmodian negotiation is priority one." His golden draconian gaze appraised me, seeking assurance.

"Yes, sir," I replied, my voice steady despite the weight of the responsibility.

He continued, his gaze assessing my every reaction, "Agnew is a valuable asset to the STI. See that she stays safe. Now, report to the ambassador's quarters."

"At once, sir." I saluted and turned to leave.

Now, as I make my way through the crowded corridors, my mind drifts to the human ambassador. I've only known her for a short time, but there's something about her that intrigues me. I push the thought aside, reminding myself that she's my assignment, nothing else. I cannot afford a distraction. No matter how alluring.

The memory of losing my last charge weighs heavily on me, a constant reminder of the consequences of my failure. It was supposed to be a routine assignment, protecting a high-ranking official on a diplomatic mission to the Vulpexian homeworld. The Vulpexians are known for their peaceful nature, and the mission was low risk. I felt a gnawing unease from the mission briefing but after a few days I let my guard down for just a moment, lulled into a false sense of security by the tranquil surroundings. That moment was all it took.

The attack was swift and brutal, a blur of motion and the glint of a blade. I reacted instinctively, but I was too slow. My charge, a junior diplomat with a promising future, fell to the ground, blood pooling beneath him. Dead. I didn"t voice my reservations out of some misplaced sense of obedience and a belief that the intelligence couldn"t possibly be flawed. A mistake born of arrogance that proved fatal. I failed in my duty that fateful day, and the shame of that failure has haunted me ever since.

The ambassador's quarters are on the upper levels of the space station, far away from the hustle and bustle of the lower levels. I approach Ambassador Agnew's quarters with a sense of anticipation, my heart beating faster as the door slides open with a deep hiss. I'm greeted by the sight of Annie seated at her desk. She looks up at me, her blue eyes meeting mine, and she smiles, her beautiful face lighting up the room.

"Crux, please, come in," she says, gesturing for me to enter as she stands and begins gathering her datapad and notes. As she moves about the room, I can't help but admire her form. She is tall for a human female, and her curves are accentuated by the elegant suit she is wearing. Her brown-silver hair falls in waves around her shoulders, and her eyes are bright and intelligent but carry a hint of tiredness.

I silently chastise myself for the inappropriate thoughts. I must not get distracted. Never again.

Suddenly, the door opens, and a young woman bursts in as my hand flicks to my sword in a flash. "Mom, I need to talk to you," she says urgently.

I relax as Annie sighs, her shoulders slumping. "Alice, I'm in the middle of something important. Can it wait?"

As I step outside to give them privacy, I overhear their conversation, feeling like an intruder in a family matter. Alice is talking rapidly, her voice rising with each word. Annie is trying to calm her down, her tone soothing and patient. I feel a twinge of sympathy for Annie. She's trying so hard to be everything to everyone, to balance her duties as a mother and a diplomat.

When she emerges from her quarters, her face is drawn and tired, but her eyes hold a mixture of gratitude and apology. As we walk to the council chambers, Annie turns to me.

"I'm sorry about that, Crux," she says softly. "Alice has been struggling with her scholarship application, and she's feeling the pressure."

I nod, my expression neutral despite the twinge of sympathy I feel. But I dare not say anything, as I'm acutely aware of her proximity. The ambassador continues speaking rapidly about the upcoming negotiation. As we walk, her words flow smoothly. She's passionate about her work, and I find myself enraptured by her.

"And so, I really need to ensure that the Folmodians are satisfied with our deal, otherwise the whole Orion Quadrant could be threatened."

As the ambassador speaks, my eyes continue looking for threats. But the truth is, her voice, the way she moves, and her scent are making it impossible for me to focus on my duty. My training is telling me that my interest in her is a distraction. If I was a better knight I would ask for reassignment. Focus, Crux!

My eyes sweep over the oncoming crowd, alert for any sign of trouble. But after a cursory glance, my attention wanders back to the ambassador, and I try to push the scent of her skin, the sound of her soft voice, and the lushness of her curves from my mind.

I've always been able to separate my professional and personal lives, but with Annie, it's proving difficult. As I follow her, I notice the sway of her hips, the light catching in her hair, and the movement of her lips as she speaks.

"Are you even listening to me, Crux?"

"Of course," I reply, startled by the accusation.

She arches an eyebrow. "So what did I just say?"

"You were saying the Folmodian negotiation is key."

A smile tugs at her lips but she says nothing more, so I continue my surveillance.

We continue our walk in silence, the air heavy with tension. I force my thoughts away from the ambassador as we move out of the security-heavy upper levels and into the bustling administrative corridors of the Orion Space Station. This is a dangerous level, too many rooms and dark places, so I'm hyper-aware of our surroundings.

Humans, still relatively new to the Stellar Togetherness Initiative, are viewed with suspicion and distrust by many other species. Recent events have only heightened the tension, with two human females linked to plots against high-ranking STI members, including the recent attempted assassination of the Morcrestian High Chieftain. Rumors of a rebel group opposing human presence on Orion are spreading like wildfire.

We pass a group of Exoscarabs in yellow engineering jumpsuits, their chitinous exoskeletons glinting under the artificial light. They eye us warily, their antennae twitching as they communicate in their native language. I catch snippets of their conversation, my universal translator picking up words like "humans" and "trouble."

"We need to get to the council chamber," the ambassador says, her voice tense. "We're already late."

"Stay close to me," I say, placing a protective hand on her back.

She nods, her eyes wide with concern. As we navigate the crowded corridor, I can't help but think how vulnerable she is, despite the layers of protection provided by the Alliance. I'm trained to protect her, to fight off any potential threats, but I'm all too aware of the many dangers she faces.

As we approach the council chambers, I notice a hooded figure lurking in a shadowed alcove. My instincts scream danger, and I quickly position myself between the figure and Annie.

"Ambassador, get behind me," I command, my voice stern.

Annie complies without hesitation, her eyes wide with alarm. "What's happening, Crux?"

I don't answer, my focus entirely on the potential threat. The figure steps out of the shadows, a glint of metal catching my eye. Time seems to slow as I realize it's a plasma gun aimed directly at Annie.

Without a second thought, I push her aside as the assailant fires, a searing bolt of energy scorching the air where Annie had stood just seconds before. The plasma projectile pierces my shoulder. I grunt in pain, the searing agony nearly overwhelming. But I ignore my burning flesh as I lunge forward, knocking the gun from the assailant's hand.

"Crux!" Annie's voice is distant, muted by the rush of blood in my ears.

Around us, the station erupts into chaos. Alarms blare and panicked shouts echo through the corridors. I hear Annie calling for backup through her comm unit, her voice steady despite the danger.

I force myself to remain conscious, using the pain to sharpen my focus. The attacker, a Huxarian judging by his lithe frame and pointed ears, hisses in frustration. He charges at me, a wicked dagger in hand. My plasma sword springs to life, its blue glow illuminating the space between us.

I focus on my opponent, my movements lethal, fluid, and precise. The Huxarian is skilled, but I am a seasoned warrior. I study him, watching for openings.

He lunges forward, aiming for my heart. I sidestep the attack and retaliate swiftly. The Huxarian twists away, narrowly avoiding the searing plasma blade.

Seizing the moment, I feint to the left and strike to the right, my blade hitting the hilt of his dagger. The weapon tears from his grip, skittering across the floor, leaving him defenseless. I close the distance, pinning him to the ground with my plasma sword hovering inches from his throat. The fight is brief; despite the injury, my training and experience easily outmatched my opponent.

"Who sent you?" I demand, my voice cold.

The Huxarian sneers, his eyes filled with hatred. "No one that concerns you, Knight," he spits out.

"Tell me who hired you, or I'll kill you," I growl.

He remains silent, his eyes defiant, his fur puffed, and his brush-like tail swishing violently until I put my foot on it. I press my plasma blade harder against his skin, the high-energy beam searing through the top layers with a hiss of vaporized flesh. A thin line of charred, cauterized tissue forms where the superheated blade meets his body, the stench of burnt flesh fills the air. "The ambassador is under my protection. You've made a grave mistake."

I stare down at the Huxarian, my emotions warring within me. On one hand, I want to extract the information by any means necessary, to avenge the attack on Annie. But I know the rules of the STI, and Orion Station... and my fellow knights already judge me harshly.

As security personnel flood the area, I step back and reluctantly holster my sword, allowing the security forces to take the Huxarian into custody. But I need to ensure Annie's safety, in case this is not an isolated incident.

"Are you alright, Ambassador?" I ask, my eyes searching her for any signs of injury.

She's shaken, her face pale and her hands trembling slightly. "I'm fine, thanks to you, Crux. But never mind me. You're hurt."

I glance down at my shoulder, noting the bloodstained uniform. "It's just a flesh wound, nothing serious."

I catch a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye and I whirl around, ready to protect the ambassador. But it's only the arrival of Commander Ru'yn, his face a mask of fury, making his bulk even more intimidating.

"What happened?" he demands, his eyes darting between us.

Annie quickly fills him in on the details of the attack, her voice steady.

Commander Ru'yn's anger only intensifies, his voice booming through the corridor. "This is unacceptable. The attack on the High Chieftain was bad enough, but now a new attempt to assassinate another member of the STI? It cannot be tolerated. We will find out who is behind this, and they will be dealt with accordingly."

His words are harsh, and I feel a sense of responsibility. If I had been more attentive, if I had seen the attack coming sooner, perhaps the damage could have been prevented.

As Commander Ru'yn orders a full-scale investigation with the Planetary Police, I stand beside the ambassador, my mind racing. This attack, though unsuccessful, has only strengthened my resolve to protect her.

"Ambassador, you will be moved to an Avenian Order safe haven off station," Commander Ru'yn says.

Her face pales. "But the Folmodian negotiation—"

"Will be postponed," he finishes, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I understand his logic, moving her to a safer location will make it more difficult for any future threats, but I'm well aware of her responsibilities. Both personal and professional.

"Commander, my children—" she protests.

"Are adults and not believed to be at risk. If that changes, they will be given sanctuary, but we can't allow them to jeopardize the STI." His expression softens. "I'll give you some time to gather your belongings. Leave for Avenia within the hour. Crux will remain on Orion until the investigation is complete."

"No. If you want me to go to a safe house, I want Crux there with me," Annie insists, her jaw set with determination.

"Ambassador," the commander's tone is clipped. "The decision has been made."

She turns to me, her eyes pleading. "Crux, please. Don't make me do this alone. I can't trust anyone but you."

I nod slowly. "Commander Ru'yn, with all due respect, the ambassador has made her wishes clear. I will accompany her to Avenia."

He considers my words, his face unreadable. "Very well," he says finally. "You are both dismissed. Pack what you need and meet me at the hangar bay in an hour."

I turn to the ambassador. "I'll escort you back to your quarters. The security detail will keep watch until we're ready to depart."

"Thank you, Crux," she murmurs, her voice filled with relief.

As we make our way back through the corridors, I feel the weight of her gaze on me. I know she has questions, and I'm not sure I have the answers. The zone is eerily quiet after the chaos of the attack. Annie's gaze darts around, her body tense. But I can't let my focus waiver, not even for a moment. She's my priority, my responsibility. And I won't make the same mistake twice. I vow to do everything in my power to keep Annie safe. No matter the cost.