A Force Of Nature

Acomm connection was made somewhere on Eden II from one of its towering edifices.

‘Your requested holo link is coming through,' Orphic, Duke's AI, intoned.

‘The Khosana?'

‘Naam khani, it's the Queen Mother herself.'

The chiselled jaw and handsome Iccythrian straightened his shirt, ran a hand through his hair and attempted to look presentable.

‘Son, you called?' came a dry, sotto and mildly amused voice over the speakers. ‘Can't imagine any progeny of mine having the balls to contact me without following protocol.'

Duke cursed. ‘Mother, turn on your holo, it's urgent.'

A soft laugh sounded as the visage of a stunningly beautiful, dark-skinned, aloof, and enigmatic beauty shimmered onscreen.

Her face was unlined, her eyebrows elevated and arching, her cheekbones razor-sharp and embedded with jewels per Iccythrian tradition. Her eyes, black as coal, took in everything with one sweep.

She spoke with strength and with a self-assured seriousness. There were no mid-sentence hushed whispers, and none of the high voices endemic among many royal females throughout Iccythria.

KhosanaSonaya DKRT was a formidable woman who'd married the Duke's father, the Khosani Ranim DKRT, after meeting the widower at a diplomatic gathering.

She'd declared him her choice of lifetime mate, and unable to refuse the hand of ALMQ, Ranim had conceded to the union.

They'd been wed seven weeks later, with Ranim besotted with his unlikely bride.

She'd taken over his household and charmed his four-year-old son, Duke, into loving her, too.

She'd tried to win over Hani, the Khosani's heir, but he'd rejected the usurper because he was missing his deceased mother.

Still, the Khosani had never regretted a day of his life with his wife. He'd fallen in love with the indomitable force she was then and now, living in bliss with her until his death over six years ago.

As Khosana of House DKRT, Sonaya has advocated for several seminal causes across Iccythria, from women's and children's rights to education, environmental concerns, and the development of stronger ties bridging the various houses, classes, and clans.

In recognition of her work, she'd accepted many awards throughout Pegasi, across Iccythria, and beyond and was ranked as one of the System's most invincible individuals.

Yet, between running a prominent Ccyth House and supporting Duke's father's role as a member of the Iccythrian Leadership Council and championing her own, she'd still had time to bake, cook, and even clean her home.

She'd been to Duke's every school sporting event, made each academic event and concert, and, as he'd matured, attended graduations, meets, and races.

She'd even lent him his starting capital for his firm and was a part investor in his now very lucrative security business.

She was a supportive, if not a tad meddling, force of nature in his life.

Yet she'd also given him his independence and let him walk his path, living away from Iccythria for over twenty years.

This was why he now gazed at her through the holo with affection and dread.

‘You only call when you've had enough of missing me or when the ash from Mount Xarat has covered the city, which is hardly ever. So what bad news do you have?' she said, narrowing her laser eyes on him.

Duke's lips twisted. ‘It's your uncle, K'Sumi. He's lost the plot.'

‘Fokk. What has he done? Isn't his loss of face from his terrible investments ample? Worse, there's a coup rumoured to be in play. Many houses are rallying against him. He doesn't have the support of the majority to stay on the throne, and I can imagine he's desperate. Also, I'm guessing I'll have to unfix his shit once again, right?'

Duke sighed. ‘Nailed it.'

‘Tell me everything,' his mother demanded.

‘I think he's gone for broke and kidnapped, amongst others, a Sable Rider who's now free but pissed off as all hell about K'Sumi. I'm not sure what Uncle's plan is yet, but it's diabolical. While riling The Sable Group at the same time.'

‘Fokk, like we need their particular brand of heat,' the Khosana snarled.

‘We don't. So we have to help Xion Sable, or else there'll be repercussions from The Sable Group.'

‘What's he after?' the Khosana asked.

‘Air, guns and troop support on LeCythi.'

The woman before him took a breath. ‘We'll be recompensed for the mission costs?'

Duke nodded. ‘Absolutely. As far as I know, the Riders always keep their promises, and they've never reneged on any deal. But of more importance, we'll require your palace as a safe harbour.'

‘For what or who?'

When he told her, her eyes widened initially, then she threw her head back and laughed long and loud. ‘Damn, make it happen. It'll liven up the place for sure.'

His mother sobered up. ‘As for K'Sumi burning his house down, let it blaze.' She leaned in, ‘Trust me, we're about to go into a series of succession wars like you've never seen, son. Buckle up. The unrest has begun, and you may be needed back here to fight for our cause.'

‘Khosana,' Duke growled in warning.

It was to no avail. His mother nailed him with a glare. ‘You've dabbled in pleasure-seeking and money-making mode for too long. It's time to come home.'

Duke called Xion back.

The Rider took the call, smirking at his friend's forlorn and foregone expression.

‘She gave you a reaming, brother?' He murmured.

‘Worse, she wants me to be on Iccythria in person. For good.'

‘When?'

‘As soon as possible. It's not your problem, though; it's all mine. Speaking of yours, I've got a squadron of House DKRT armed flyers headed your way.'

‘Well equipped?'

‘Of course, but if any House ALMQ sentinels are at the location, they'll hesitate to cause major harm; you may receive some resistance but not much.'

‘Why?'

‘Because my mother is a daughter of House ALMQ. My guardsmen will tell House ALMQ that they're picking up friends of Khosana DKRT. Her royal seal alone should secure passage and deliver the kids and their carers into our hands. Per my mother's orders, you're to stay and escort the cordon back to the DKRT palace once all is safe and sound.'

Xion grimaced. ‘It's not how I roll, brother, letting others take the heat for me. Can I at least jump in the lead-armed ship and provide support in case it goes south at the other end?'

Duke took a ragged breath. ‘Fokk, always a Rider at heart. Fine, I'll send you the comm link for our principal guard and the rendezvous point with their ships. Gotta say, tis a whole load of trouble you're going into for our citizens.'

Xion jerked his chin.

He had his reasons, and they involved the beguiling woman standing silent at his shoulder.

Duke's gleaming gaze flicked to her, his mouth twitching.

Xion narrowed his flaming meta eyes at his friend, bit his lip in caution and let the non-verbal warning linger.

Still, in his mind, he was aware he was flouting his own rules.

His self-serving and walls-up nature in the past meant he was a tad selfish regarding women and giving his heart. He'd ordinarily never lend his energy or resources to anything that didn't tickle his fancy.

Now, here he was, risking life and limb for a woman based on two freakin' amazing nights spent with her.

Despite the scowling countenance he served her, it was no hardship for him and not irking in the least, not even after her coerced betrayal.

The fact was, he was in deep with Katya. Their physical attraction was blazing, and he enjoyed her company a hella lot.

Fokk, he was softening in his not-so-old age.

Not just for anyone, though. Only for her.

He was well apprised that Katya had slid into his one-name list under the heading ‘wouldn't mind dropping everything he was doing when she called.'

Dangerous and murky waters indeed.

He could tell Duke was thinking the same if the sly grin on his face was anything to go by.

Fokker.

Duke stuck a tongue in his cheek and lifted his hands. ‘It's your party now or funeral. Take your pick.'

Xion grasped the freakin' kinai didn't just mean the rescue op, and he lifted a subtle middle finger salute to his mate before the screen winked out.

‘May I come too?' Katya breathed.

He turned and tagged her soft eyes on him.

Xion groaned. ‘Woman, you are going to be the death of me.'

When she tilted her head, exposed her delicate nape and gave him the most pleading expression, he melted and assented with a sharp nod.

‘Fine, but only if you do as I say. Mirage, plot a course to the rendezvous; shields up, please.'

‘Done,' the AI replied.

‘Sante for that,' Katya blurted out.

He ignored her for a few minutes as he conversed with the AI via their neural link.

When Xion turned to look at her, his gaze pierced her with such intensity that she shivered.

After a beat, he spoke up. ‘After we rescue your kids and situate them, you won't get to walk scott-free.'

She bit her lip.

‘You owe me,' he growled. ‘You'll need to return with me to Eden II. To help me unravel this clusterfokk and work out why the hell some Iccythrian ruler needs our data, the Serpent's Iris and my noids.'

‘Of course,' she whispered.

‘Until then, let's focus on the mission at hand.'

‘I can't think of anything else,' she murmured, and Xion caught the flash of pain in her eyes.

An irrational urge to fold her in his arms overwhelmed him.

He gave in, reaching for her.

She gasped, surprised, when his fingers wrapped around her wrist and waist, lifting her to his lap and encircling her in his clasp.

She stiffened.

‘Relax khaliya. Just calming your nerves.'

She conceded and let herself slump into him, sighing against his chest.

Their connection, which had been sorely tested, flickered to life once more.

‘They'll be OK; you'll be OK,' he rasped, stroking a hand over her back.

‘I just want to dilate time and hasten the children's rescue,' she whispered into his torso.

‘It will happen, woman; have faith,' he growled, overcome with feeling, shaken to the core by how much she was affecting him, wanting to take all her troubles away.

After a minute, she pulled away, her eyes misting over.

She gave him a nod of thanks and tracked to the other side of the bridge, where her bag lay.

Pulling out a handkerchief, she wiped her face and blew her nose.

He turned away with an ache in his heart and his nether regions.

Cursing, he played with the control panels, verifying the rendezvous location.

‘We're a few minutes away from meeting our new friends. We'll leave Mirage on Tachy stealthed overhead tracking us and head in on their ship. I suggest we suit up and equip you with power armour. Are you OK to fire a laser gun? Your last attempt was jacked.'

When Katya gave him a withering look, he lifted his hands in surrender. ‘Just checking. Good aim?'

She rolled her eyes, and he chuckled.

‘Naam, I've got good aim. I was too tired and over lugging a giant man through the wilds of Iccythria to make it stick,' Katya sniped, matching his sarcastic tone. ‘So, what's the plan?'

‘We rendezvous with our allies to rain hell on House ALMQ.'

Xion guided the Tachy towards a rocky ravine that was a hop and skip away from the edge of a deserted town a few thousand klicks west of LeCythi.

He set the ship down on a flat surface, and they both moved to the rear deck to suit up in the power armour.

Katya marvelled at the suit's intricate Sable design, the seamless technology integration, and sheer potency. She holstered her laser pistol and followed Xion to the outer airlock.

‘Ready?' Xion rumbled, his voice timbred and steady.

Katya nodded, her heart racing.

‘HUD on,' he rasped.

She tapped a button on her suit, and the semi-liquid helmet slid on.

It was a snug fit, but being lightweight, she barely realised it was on her head.

Xion suited up too, then, with a chin jerk, pressed a panel to lift the rear deck airlock.

Their boot and rear thrusters propelled them forward at his command as they navigated through the volcanic shower of rocks and heated dust.

Xion steered through sheets of falling black soot, his advanced sensors guiding the way.

Katya followed close behind, her weapon at the ready.

The ravine stretched before them, punctuated by the occasional glimmer of reflected light.

As they approached the rendezvous point, a massive freighter emerged from the shadows, its lights reflecting off the rocky surfaces of the jagged hills around them.

Xion signalled for her to take up a position in a hover next to him as he input a series of commands on his wrist comm, establishing communication with the ship.

Xion jerked his chin. ‘After me,' his sonorous voice murmured into her HUD.

Katya hesitated, overwhelmed with the enormity of the experience and how much lay in the balance.

With a deep breath, she let him tag her hand and lead her forward.