“She’s your Queen now, Admiral.”
Weapons returned to their holsters, and Korban’s shoulders sagged. He fell back into his seat with his eyes closed. Val sensed that a terrible burden had been removed from his shoulders.
“At last,” Korban mumbled. He looked deeply into Val’s eyes. “She foretold your arrival. She told me to hold, and she told me that my burden would be heavy. She was right.”
Val’s lips compressed into a thin smile. “She usually is. She is my sister.”
Mike
Chapter Eight
Reba was bouncing off the walls, as always. Captain Palmetier encouraged her to spend as much time in the net with George as she could, thereby improving already good skills, but keeping her out of mischief as well.
George had all the latest refinements Shipyard could provide. Besides the updates to himself, his beacon was adjustable, he was capable of micro jumps, and he now carried four batteries of lasers, two lasers in each battery and each more powerful than before.
Resolve fast-shipped to the outskirts of Earth’s system, then reverted to normal speed, taking three weeks to reach orbit. During those three weeks, George kept his sensors busy searching for signs of Chessori or Rebel ships. He found no traces of them.
Mike waited until full twilight at the ranch in Wyoming before landing. Resolve settled down about a mile from the main house so as not to scare the livestock or any people who might be about.
Jessie prowled the grounds out of sight as Mike and Reba approached his home. Some eighteen months had gone by since Ellie had shanghaied Mike, a time during which his family had heard nothing from him. Two dogs gave the first warning, barking as they raced up to Mike, their tails wagging vigorously. The front door opened, and his father stepped out and stared, then closed the door behind him and waited. Mike walked up the three steps to the wide veranda with a hesitant smile. His father took him in a bear hug.
“You look fit, son.”
“I am fit. You look well, too, Dad.”
“The aging process is taking its toll, but I still carry my load. Introduce me to your lady if you would.”
“Sorry, Dad. It’s not like that. She’s got someone else in her sights. Her name is Rebecca Morrison, daughter of Senator Morrison of Virginia.”
“Pleased to meet you, Ms. Morrison,” he said, reaching out to shake her hand. “Admiral Trexler told me you two were together. I want to hear all about it, but first I have to prepare your mother for this. Give me a few minutes. You don’t just want to appear in front of her. Wouldn’t be good for her.”
›So this is where you grew up?‹ Jake asked.
›It is. I rebuilt my car in the barn over there. Out beyond it is the stables where we kept our horses. Right beside it is the corral where we practiced roping steers.‹
›Want to give a demonstration?‹
›I’m pretty rusty. Are you ready to make repairs?‹
›Maybe another time.‹ Jake chuckled.›I think we have bigger fish to fry at the moment.‹
›We do. I hope you don’t mind if I don’t tell them about you right away.‹
›Not a problem, Mike. I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t ever tell them. It’s not necessary that they know, and they wouldn’t exactly be meeting me.‹
›Not without going into the net they wouldn’t. We’ll see.‹
›Are you going to tell them you’re married?‹
›I don’t know. We’ll have to see how things go. I’m barely used to the idea myself.‹
Mike sensed another grin from Jake. He, too, appreciated the incongruity of a man from Earth marrying the Queen of All Space. His head shook as he once more considered how lucky he was.
And he missed Ellie. Had there been any other way to deal with Earth, he would have stayed with her. Though she had a full complement of Protectors, she had no one from Earth to protect her from the Chessori. The Great Cats were good, and Ellie was on Shipyard, a world the Rebels did not know about, but he still worried.
Getting reunited with his parents was as wonderful as Mike had hoped it would be. He and Reba filled them in on their adventures, though they painted with a wide brush, giving only the barest details. Reba called her father’s cell phone, dragging him from his bed at home in Annapolis and informing him that she was back and in need of a meeting. She needed Admiral Trexler, as well.
They got little sleep that night: Jessie was introducing herself to the dogs, a critical step that might not succeed. Mike stepped out into the night with the dogs on leashes as Jessie approached and was surprised to see the confusion in the dogs’ minds. Clearly, Jessie looked threatening to them, but they had no memories of her smell, and she talked, ordering them as their master did, using all the right commands. And she had treats! It was touch and go, with growling, prowling, and whining all night. By the next morning, it looked as if an unhappy truce had been reached, though the dogs remained very uncertain.
Mike introduced Jessie to his parents the next morning. They remained almost as uncertain as the dogs.
He took them to the ship where they met Alexis and her four Protectors, Mildred the nanny, Captain Palmetier, and the rest of the crew. Expecting eagerness, Mike was disappointed at the forced cheerfulness of his parents. He quickly sensed they were utterly overwhelmed by the ship and the alien creatures that inhabited it. It was too far removed from their lifetime of focus on farm and family. He cut the visit short, never even mentioning George or Jake.
Mike had his doubts about their apparent willingness to take in Alexis and Mildred, but he had no ready alternative. His sister, Mary, lived nearby. When brought into the picture, she jumped at the opportunity until she realized the size of the group accompanying Alexis. Her home simply had no room for Mildred, the four Protectors, and her own family.
They took a time out. Mike and his father saddled up three horses while his mother prepared a picnic lunch, and the three of them rode out toward the foothills. Mike didn’t see Jessie, but he knew she was nearby. They didn’t have to go far, setting up lunch in a meadow beside a small stream where they had spent many happy times together fishing for trout.
›It’s a nice world you grew up on,‹ Jake said to Mike.
›It is, but I didn’t really appreciate it until I left, and that wasn’t completely voluntary.‹
›But it is now. There’s nothing to stop you from staying.‹
›You’re right. Just the small matter of my wife light years away and the minor uprising we’re trying to put down.‹
›Well, I for one am glad she kidnapped you. We wouldn’t have met if she hadn’t.‹
›I’m glad too, Jake. You’re home to stay for as long as you want.‹
›You have a few hundred more years ahead of you with me aboard. I guess I’ll stick around. It’s not worth the trouble trying to fix up someone else.‹
›Someday I hope to show my home to Ellie,‹ Mike said.›I don’t suppose we’ll ever have the opportunity to settle down here though.‹
›Not likely. The Empire will never accept its King and Queen living anywhere but the Palace.‹
›Well, maybe we’ll lose this war. Maybe then.‹
›Don’t even think it, Mike. You know they’d find you.‹
His lips pursed, but he did not respond. Instead, he asked a question of his parents, something he hadn’t really delved into since his arrival. “How’s the ranch doing?”
His dad smiled. “Doing well. Mary and John do all the running of it now. They manage the staff, the books, and most of the problems. I’m just a ranch hand most of the time, filling in where needed. And I’m happy with the arrangement. Your mother and I, for the first time in our lives, have freedom to travel, read, and do all the things retired people get to do. Since you kids moved out, we’ve gotten to know each other all over again. Guess what? We’ve discovered we love each other more than ever.”
His mother smiled. “We’ve missed you, Mike. I wish you could stay.”