Page 24 of Desperate Measures

“She will be,” Uncle George promised, his gaze on her narrow. Apparently, her hijinks had depleted even his copious patience, though his remonstrances had been mild.

Oses simply bowed and went wherever terrifying musclebound behemoths were stored when they weren’t intimidating Earther women. His attitude couldn’t have screamed louder that Charity was no longer his problem.

Betra also bowed, then swept his hand toward the open hatch for Charity, Uncle George, and Aunt Ruth to disembark. “Watch your step. Take care.”

“Thank you for all you did for us, Liaison.” Ruth smiled. She’d developed a bit of a crush on Betra, Charity had noted in amusement. His supplications to keep Charity in check had been the reason her usually sweet aunt had turned into such a nag during the trip.

It required every inch of her composure to not race from the shuttle as fast as she could run. She managed to walk past Betra at a dignified pace, ignoring the chuckle she thought she heard. A few steps, and she was out from under his smothering attention. Free at last.

Triumph gave way to wide-eyed surprise as she got her first look at Alpha Space Station’s arrivals dock. She stared at the view of wall-to-wall Kalquorians, most hurrying to and fro on whatever business they were involved in.

A large number appeared to be slightly older than her. Kalquorians aged differently from Earthers, so the men in her view could have been in their forties.

Charity preferred her own peers. Youth called to youth, and the idea of romancing anyone beyond his twenties gave her the heebie-jeebies. Could she dare dream those of her own age might be present?

“Busy, isn’t it?” Uncle George observed.

Charity felt none of the unease she heard in his tone. Maybe this unforeseen holiday from school wouldn’t be so bad, if she were given the freedom she lusted for. It was a veritable horde of possibilities galloping past her vision in the guise of strapping black-haired men, some of whom noticed her too and slowed to take a better look.

Despite orbiting Earth II and being a source of support, Alpha was a Kalquorian station. Carefully vetted humans visited it, but they were far and few between on board, making the installation safe for Charity to hide on while she waited for the dust to settle. She, her aunt, and uncle would be the only Earthers living on board. If she were to have fun…and she was determined to do so…it would be in the company of Kalquorians.

Charity had exclusively dated human men, except for a couple of months when she’d given a set of silver-skinned Beonid twins a whirl. There had been Kalquorians, students and professors, at the university she’d attended in Galactic Council space, but she’d given such potential suitors a wide berth. It wasn’t because she had anything against the species; quite the opposite. Clan Piras, before her sister had joined them, had dared their own lives to save her from being raped by Holy Leader Browning Copeland. She adored the Kalquorian race, particularly her heroic in-laws.

For all her brash behavior and recklessness, Charity was smart and brutally self-aware. Her issues stemmed from having been pawned off on Uncle George and Aunt Ruth, much as she loved them. She was hurt to have been left behind by her father and sister.

The loss of her mother Faith inhibited Charity from taking out her angst on Borey. Her father was in charge of keeping Copeland under lock and key so he couldn’t rally Earthtiques to his sick cause. Her father was too precious after the death of her mother to vent feelings of betrayal upon. Hope, however…

Her older sister had gone off in the company of her new clan five years before. She’d found her destiny, and it wasn’t to remain behind to babysit her younger sibling. Charity was aware Hope had her own life to lead, and the youngest Nath moving in with their aunt and uncle was a perfect solution until Charity reached adulthood. It made sense, and she hadn’t really been abandoned. Borey and Hope had stayed in contact, though their visits were sporadic from necessity.

It didn’t keep her from feeling she’d been abandoned, a nuisance to be kept distant. Charity knew the misplaced pain was why she acted out and why she resented Hope. She wallowed in it anyway. Part of that wallowing included rejecting Kalquorian love interests because Hope hadn’t only joined a Kalquorian clan but also worked for the empire’s fleet.

For the last five years, if it was good enough for Hope, it wasn’t worth Charity’s attention.

As she viewed the mob of men passing her and taking more and more notice of her, Charity thought perhaps it was time she got off her high horse. If she could find someone close to her own age, she might let him teach her the error of her bias.

Why not? It could be a long while before she left the station. She might as well make the best of the situation, which looked pretty hot and tasty from where she was standing.

* * * *

Open Arms Orphanage

Having been a nun in a convent that had included adolescent aspirants, then an administrator in charge of an orphanage, Cheryl had long ago perfected wearing a mask of equanimity when she was angriest. However, the sleazeball Encan representing the mixed-species force comprising the Galactic Council’s battle fleet was challenging her ability to maintain control.

He spoke in a doubled voice, the hallmark of someone who’d been bent to the will of a Dark.

“You don’t deny you contacted the Kalquorian Empire?” The Encan, identified as Admiral Ydru-Ganorbin-Filop, wrinkled black lips from a canine-like muzzle.

“Why would I? You said you detected the signal emitting from the orphanage to Kalquor, so obviously, a message was sent.”

“For what purpose? Are we to assume the Kalquorians stationed on your facility refused to leave despite the Galactic Council’s directive ordering their species to vacate our space? We issued the order, as well as the dire consequences if it should be ignored.”

Cheryl’s gaze narrowed on the vid’s image. Kalquorians stationed on your facility made it sound as if the orphanage was a military or official installation, rather than a refuge the Galactic Council itself had set up. She wondered if the Encan was searching for grounds to attack. “Indeed, the council did so. Unfortunately, they failed to take into account how far in the GC’s territory the orphanage is located. The short timeframe failed to allow for the number of days it would require for a transport to reach us. We’re attempting to evaluate the need to evacuate those members of my staff it’s so determined to evict.”

“Evaluate?”

She ignored his outraged exclamation. “Members of my staff, whom according to the charter the Galactic Council drew up of its own accord, are permitted to remain at the orphanage to help the children of Armageddon until the last has reach adulthood.”

“They’re Kalquorians!”

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