Page 13 of Captured By the Alien

“Not much time?” Rhyn frowned. “You were on that planet with her for months. Surely you came up with a plan?”

“I… it was difficult. We spent the first few weeks just trying to survive.”

“I see.” Rhyn didn’t sound convinced. “We can discuss it when you get home. As your trusted advisor, I am sure we can come up with a course of action.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“And you should know, while you’ve been missing Baelon has managed to stoke discontent among the people. Some are calling for tougher action against the humans. There’s even talk of using the Vastos Bomb.”

Vahn stiffened.

“My father ruled the Vastos Bomb was off-limits. It would destroy the human planet completely. I forbid it.”

“Of course you do. And all right-minded Vraxians agree with you. But those who’ve lost family members aren’t so troubled by ethical and moral concerns. I’m afraid you’ll find Vraxos far more divided than it used to be.”

“Damn Baelon. If he wasn’tshintu, I’d throw him in jail for subversiveness.”

“Sadly he is, so you need to play nice. But when you’re back you’re going to have some big rifts to heal. We have to bring all sides together. Your first task as Zhaal will be unification.”

Vahn looked up sharply.

“What did you just say?”

“I said unification is the priority. Why, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. You’ve just given me an idea.”

“I have? Excellent. What idea?”

“I’ll discuss it with you when I reach Vraxos. See you soon, my friend.”

Vahn switched off the monitor and leaned back.

Unification.

All sides together.

A wild idea began to take shape. A mad, ludicrous shape but a shape nonetheless.

I couldn’t… could I?

He turned it over in his mind, trying to see it from every angle. All the ways it could go wrong. And all the ways it could go right.

Rhyn would support him because Rhynalwayssupported him. But his father would turn in his grave.

Ela would probably shoot him. Baelon would use it as evidence that he was unfit to rule.

And Kara…

Kara might hate him forever.

Six

She looked at the other people in the throne room. She only recognised the general, Ela Solarun. She examined the others curiously.

To Vahn’s left, an older Vraxian glowered at her. His white hair was closely cropped, unusual among the males. He was maybe half a foot shorter than Vahn and his head ridges were more pronounced.

On Vahn’s right a younger male was leaning insouciantly against the throne. His hair was pulled into a casual top-knot and he wore a shirt that accentuated his muscles. Even his serpetri looked well-built. His expression, as he examined Kara, was one of interest rather than disdain.

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