Chapter Five
His shoulders were strung taut as a bow, and Orix shifted surreptitiously in his chair in an attempt to ease the tension. It was an impossible task, because he grew tenser by the minute. In the past three days, they had made little headway in determining the identity of the traitor, or what his plans were that would allow Aryk’s armada to invade. The only person who seemed to have made any progress at all was Dr. Wy, and Orix forced himself to stop stewing over what was coming to focus on the doctor’s debriefing.
Dr. Wy stood at the head of the conference table, and he looked fairly tense himself. “I’ve determined the retrovirus has mutated to become airborne. This has bolstered the retroviruses population, and the parts per billion in Earth’s atmosphere are increasing once more. More than that, it also appears to be infecting human males now too.”
The commander frowned at him. “Are you certain? There’ve been no reports of human men falling ill.”
Dr. Wy nodded. “Yes, I’m certain. If you recall from the information you’ve read about Kaiser’s Syndrome, men are only carriers and aren’t affected by the symptoms of the disease. It appears to follow the same path with the ROMKS version too. I’m not certain if Dr. Ha intended for this result, or if it was an unpredictable side effect of the retrovirus, but it’s quite ingenious really. It ensures that any future humans born will likely have the necessary genetic anomaly that makes them compatible breeding partners for Dazons.” He looked faintly nauseated at the thought.
“If the retrovirus is mutating this rapidly, is it possible it will change into something dangerous … even more dangerous, I mean? Something perhaps Ha didn’t envision?” asked Jordan Saunders. She seemed to have completely recovered from her exposure to the retrovirus and subsequent dosing of nanotechnology.
“It’s certainly possible, Ms. Saunders. I think we should increase production of nanotechnology. Realistically, we should plan to have a dose for every human on the planet Earth.”
“That’s more than seven billion doses,” said Orix. “How many do you produce per day?”
“We can produce five hundred thousand doses per day with a twenty-four-hour production schedule.” The doctor frowned, a hint of sorrow in his eyes. “It’s really closer to six billion doses now, between the Earthlings who’ve received the treatment and subtracting the population who have already died. Estimates are somewhere between ten and fifteen percent for that number.”
“Still, at five hundred thousand doses per day, it’s going to take far too long to replicate the nanotechnology.” The commander looked angry as he made the observation.
Dr. Wy nodded. “Yes, it will. We’re already at full production, and there’s no way to generate more nanotechnology with the equipment we have.”
“What do you need, Doctor?” asked Orix.
“At minimum, I need enough to set up another production facility. A replica of the lab I had back on the home world would be even better. It would still take two or three months to produce everything necessary, but it would shorten the production schedule drastically.”
The commander shook his head, looking regretful. “I’m afraid both scenarios are unlikely, Dr. Wy. We don’t have enough equipment to make another lab for you here, and returning to Dazonia Major would likely result in your death. You’re just going to have to make do with what you have. Perhaps you can find a way to modify it to produce more quickly?”
With a long sigh, Dr. Wy sat down in the chair behind him, scrubbing a hand down his face. “There’s no way to do that. We’ll continue experimenting with ways to increase production, but I’m not optimistic that we’ll push beyond the five hundred thousand doses we produce each day now. Not without more equipment, or a functioning lab that does everything I need. Unfortunately, the human technology available to me offers little assistance.”
The meeting ended a few minutes later with no clear solutions. Taking advantage of a break in his schedule, Orix left the conference room and made his way to the nursery. He hadn’t seen much of Mac in the last three days, and he missed her deeply.
He ached for her on a soul-deep level, one that was beyond a physical need, though he certainly wanted her again. He just wanted to be in her presence even more. He craved her sent and the feel of her skin, and the sound of her laugh. Just the sight of her as he entered the baby room was enough to release some of the tension in his shoulders. Instantly, he felt lighter and more optimistic. She was a reminder that not everything was bad in his world, and a symbol of what they were fighting for.
As he drew near her, he was unsurprised to see Jake on her hip and Carmen in her other arm. He looked around for Lily, spotting her crawling a few feet away. He intercepted her as he approached Mac and the other two babies, settling Lily against his chest with easy familiarity, though this was only the third time he’d actually held her.
Mac’s eyes darkened with concern when she saw him. “You look tired. Have you had any rest at all?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Bits and pieces here and there.” There was always something to do or focus on that seemed more important than an uninterrupted stretch of sleep. The last rest period he’d had available, he’d spent with her, though it had been here in the nursery, because she was on duty.
She clicked her tongue at him. “You need to take better care of yourself, General. A lot of people are depending on you.”
He let out a sigh. “It’s because so many people are depending on me that I can’t take time to sleep just yet, Mac.”
She seemed to want to disagree with him, but different words emerged from her mouth when she spoke a moment later. “How was your meeting?”
He quickly relayed what Dr. Wy had shared, watching her expression darken and take on an edge of fear he hated to see there. He put his arm around her waist, drawing her and the babies into his embrace. “We’ll find a solution to the production problem.”
She nodded, though she didn’t seem entirely optimistic. “I think a more pressing problem is what is the traitor planning to do to allow the armada to invade us?”
He inclined his head to indicate his agreement. “It’s a troubling prospect, and we’re no closer to discerning the identity of the traitor just yet.”
She snuggled closer. “And I know you’ll take care of all of us.”
She likely meant either everyone on the consulate, or perhaps even everyone on the planet below them, but for him, his focus was much narrower, restricted to the woman and children he held in his arms. “What’s going to happen to the babies—I mean long-term?”
Mac stiffened, but she didn’t pull away. “No one really knows. I’ve spoken with Commander Darvig about the topic, and adoption would be the preferable option, but there’s some legal ambiguity. It’s not just a matter of the parents belonging to separate countries. We’re talking about entirely different species and planets. Who has jurisdiction to determine the adoptability? Who adopts? Humans or Dazons? It’s a tangled mess, and while searching for a solution, all I can do is focus on the here and now.”
“You anticipate they’ll be opening adoptions in the future?”
She looked up at him. “I don’t know. I hope so.”
He nodded his head, giving into an impulse that compelled him to say, “When they do, I suggest we adopt these three.”
Her eyes widened with surprise before softening, taking on that shiny look they got whenever she hovered on the verge of crying. She blinked a few times, and the glassiness disappeared. “Do you mean that?”
He frowned her. “I never say things I don’t mean, Earth woman.”
She rolled her eyes, but the delighted laugh that escaped her gave away her true feelings. “I think it’s a wonderful idea.” She looked faintly apprehensive though.
“But?” He prompted.
Mac blinked. “No buts. You’ve just answered a question I haven’t had time to ask you yet.”
“What question is that?”
“I was going to ask you what kind of future we have, because I wasn’t entirely certain what you were expecting or wanted.”
He tightened the arm that was around her, pulling her close enough to make Lily squeak in protest. He lightened his hold just slightly. “You’re my mate. You are my future.”
She licked her lips, an enticing sight, though he was certain she wasn’t trying to provoke his libido. “I was hoping for that outcome, but to be realistic, we barely know each other. It’s so soon to be thinking about a future together.”
He couldn’t help a fierce frown. “Are you having doubts or second thoughts? Have you decided you don’t want to be my mate?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m just trying to be pragmatic. I don’t want to get my heart broken.”
“I would never deliberately hurt you.”
She nodded. “I know, but things happen when you least expect them.”
He could appreciate her perspective, knowing her history. Kaiser’s Syndrome had robbed her of her future for far too long, so he understood her cautious pessimism, but that didn’t mean he shared it or had to encourage it. Speaking sternly, he said, “I want to be with you for as long as I live. I’m not leaving you, unless death parts us. If you want the same thing, there’s nothing to debate or question. We’re going to be together.”
“General?”
“Yes?”
“Kiss me.”
Orix happily followed that order as he bent his head and brushed his mouth against hers, careful to ensure he didn’t squash any of the babies between them in the process. It was a simple, light kiss, and though he craved more, he’d have to wait for a more appropriate time.
With a small sigh of regret, he pulled away from her lips and lifted his head. A wave of warmth washed over him as he embraced his family. For the first time in days, he felt content and calm, releasing all the tension he’d carried. It was impossible, but he wished they could stay just like that forever.
Late the next night, the chime of his communication device woke him from his first deep sleep in days. The deep sleep was thanks to having some time to spend with Mac, including holding her in his arms as they had drifted off to sleep. Despite how deeply he’d been sleeping, he was instantly awake and alert. He lifted the device closer to his face to see the screen. He immediately identified the caller as Commander Darvig. “This is Orix.”
“Our sensors have detected several ships folding into the solar system, near Mars.”
“Understood.” He tried to carefully disengage from Mac without waking her, but she was already awake. He could see the fear in her eyes, and he took a moment he didn’t really have to give her a long kiss. “I’ll find you when this is over. Stay in your quarters and stay safe, love.”
She shook her head. “I can’t do that. I have to get to the nursery.”
He wanted to argue with her, but he understood she had her duty, just as he had his. Besides, he didn’t like the idea of Lily, Carmen, and Jake being alone any more than he wanted the rest of the babies to feel frightened. There were always attendants on duty, but Mac had a special bond with each of the children, and he couldn’t fault her maternal instinct that led her to be with them during the crisis. “Of course. Stay safe and take care of yourself and the children.”
The sight of her naked body was still enough to distract him, but he couldn’t afford to let his attention waver as she got out of bed and came around to join him. He embraced her tightly for a moment and shared another kiss with her before breaking away.
“You be safe too, Orix.”
He could delay their parting no longer and left her quarters, though it was difficult to tear himself away from her. He was inclined to glue her to his side, but the idea of having her engaged in open battle with him was even more frightening than the idea of her not being beside him. She would be safer in the nursery with the babies, and he would be on the Nembria, in the heat of battle.
He forced himself not to look back as he strode to the command center, where Commander Darvig waited for him.
He looked at the monitors as soon as he entered the room, watching the ships approach as they entered visual range. He frowned as he counted what he saw, confirmed by other equipment. “Ten battleships, plus two Exodus-class transporters? It’s almost an insult.”
Sash nodded his head. “It’s strange, but perhaps it’s just the first wave.”
“Why would he send only a fraction of the armada still at his disposal?” He was musing out loud, because he was certain Sash didn’t know the answer either. It was a strange move, and he couldn’t help feeling like it was a deliberate insult on the Emperor’s part, perhaps a way to indicate he regarded the armada that had broken away as no real threat. That would’ve been a careless and stupid stance to take, but it seemed to fit in with the arrogant Emperor Aryk.
“I’m surprised to see only two Exodus-class ships though,” said Sash.
“What’s an Exodus-class?” asked Jordan.
“It’s like a multigenerational ship that allows exploration. They’re roughly the size of a small city and completely self-contained. Assuming they’re staffed by only the minimum necessary to keep the ship running, an Exodus-class can hold a hundred thousand people.”
The president’s daughter paled slightly. “And he has two of those? You think he brought them to transport Earth women?”
Sash nodded grimly. “Undoubtedly.”
“We’ll do our best to prevent that, Ms. Saunders,” said Orix, feeling confident in the forthcoming battle. If this was all Aryk had sent, he was certain they would be able to repel the force without any Earth women being harvested in the process. There would be heavy casualties on both sides, but they were roughly evenly matched.
As the armada drew closer, Orix spoke to his troops, telling them to prepare to engage. He was about to fold to his own ship to coordinate the battle from the frontlines when all the ships orbiting the station disappeared off the sensors. He turned to a communications officer. “What’s happening?”
The young man frantically pressed buttons before looking up at Orix and the commander. He seemed to be on the verge of vomiting. “Our ships have folded to the edge of the solar system.”
Orix shook his head. “That makes no sense. Who gave that order?”
“No one gave the order, General. The main navigational computer folded them there.”
He scowled, feeling confused. Upon arriving at the consulate, they had all connected with the consulate’s navigational computer. It was the system that kept the ships locked in orbit around the moon and prevented them from crashing into each other. “Was it a malfunction?”
The communications officer continued pressing buttons, his alarm growing. “No, it was a manual order inputted at the navigational computer itself, General.”
“Our traitor,” said Sash.
Orix nodded. “Fold them back here as quickly as possible, Ensign.”
The young man tried to comply, and sweat beaded his upper lip when he looked up. “I can’t, General. There’s now a dampening field in effect. Until we disable that, our ships won’t be able to fold back. Aryk’s armada won’t be able to fold out either, but they’ll have unfettered access to the Earth unless we can get our ships back before they release the dampening field to leave and return to Dazonia Major.”