Page 78 of Star Champion

“Yes, she is. Before you ask the question, yes, I’ve fallen in love with her, and that’s why I’m going back to Barésh.”

“Oh, Klark.” Katjian let out the deepest sigh.

“But she doesn’t know yet.”

“Why ever not?”

“Ask Uncle Yul.” Klark felt enough optimism about the plans that were in motion to let out a quiet laugh at his sister’s baffled expression. His team was growing, and so was his hope that they could turn this around. “He gave me some good advice, bachelor to bachelor.” Second son to second son. “Come, we’ll tell him what you’ve found. You’re a part of this now. You and Jemm are alike in many ways. Now, both of you have the chance to make history. Just as Queen Keera did when she saved our bloodlines.”

Then he would go find Jemm to save his chance at love. If his luck held out, she would love him back.

CHAPTER24

At the frontier border,finally inside the transfer station after a grueling voyage, Klark carried his belongings from a chartered deep space vessel to the starspeeder he would pilot solo to Barésh. A Trade Federation official wearing a tag that readDepartment of Earth System and Frontier Security (DESFS)checked his IDs. “The procedures have changed recently, Your Highness—for everyone, includingVash Nadah. You’ll have to process through Bezos Station before they’ll let you through.”

“What in the name of heaven is Bezos Station?”

“It’s the Earth-dwellers, sir. Our government has given them a refurbished space station with which to exert their authority in the frontier. That’s what they have named it.”

Earth had been granted sovereignty over the frontier, yes, but giving the ruffians the hardware with which to do it? Well, he supposed that without the technological know-how to build an immense space station, they would have to accept spare parts and Trade Federation charity for some time to come.

“They are the gatekeepers of Barésh now?” Klark demanded.

“For Barésh and other worlds in close proximity. I apologize for the inconvenience. It should be a routine process for you, and nothing more,” the official assured him, and wished him a pleasant journey onward.

But at Bezos Station the Earth-dwellers detained Klark, requesting that he board their station for “further processing”. No surprise that his presence set off red flags, he thought gloomily. He was not a fan favorite of Earth’s. Certainly not after all that had transpired leading up to his arrest. He knew enough of the English tongue to carry on a conversation, and the personnel on board had a reasonable command of Basic—far better than the Doctors Without Borders who had set up their hasty shop on Barésh.

A pleasant fellow who introduced himself as Mark Vinson escorted him to the commander’s office. “I’m sorry about the inconvenience, Your Highness,” the officer said in a thick Earth accent. “But every craft except mining and cargo vessels will have to process though Bezos the first time through. No exceptions.”

“Does everyone have to make an appearance before the commander?”

“Ah. No.” Vinson’s uneasy sideways glance told Klark that his earlier suspicions were valid. It may not go well for him with the Earth-dwellers.

Vinson paused outside the open door to the office. “Commander, Prince Klark is here.”

“Ah. Good.” The commander stood to greet him. He was a tall, good-looking, very fit brown-skinned Earth-dweller. His uniform was identical to Vinson’s, an olive-green jumpsuit with many colorful patches, but this man displayed dark blue birds of prey on his shoulders, not brown leaves like Vinson. Klark made a mental note to learn Earthdweller military rank.

The officer did not round the desk to shake his hand as Earth-dwellers were often wont to do. It forced Klark to walk forward to grasp his offered hand across the desk. But there seemed to be no insult attached to the act. The man wore a smile that appeared warm and genuine. “Denzel Duarte,” he said. “Welcome to Bezos Station, Your Highness.”

Klark shook his hand. “Klark is sufficient.” The Earth-dwellers were famously informal. It would do him no favors to adhere too strictly to protocol. He needed to process through this roadblock to get to Barésh without delay.

“Call me Denny. Please. Be seated.” Duarte’s accent was not as thick as his second-in-command’s. “As my executive officer may have already briefed you, we’ve been here only one standard week. We’re all still adjusting. Earth uses approximately twenty-four standard hour days, and Federation standard is closer to twenty-eight. It makes for longer days than what we’re used to. Would you like some coffee?”

Klark almost made a face. The bitter Earth beverage tasted like burnt wood. “No, thank you.”

“Tock then? The galley stocks it.”

“I very much appreciate your hospitality, but I need no refreshment. I would like to resume my journey as soon as possible.”

Duarte lowered himself in a stiff manner into his chair and leaned back, his hands tented on his stomach. “What brings you to Barésh?”

“Bajha.”

“Ah. Your ancient form of martial arts is gaining more and more enthusiasts on Earth. Some describe it as a cross between yoga and cage fighting,” he said with a smile. “You play as well as own a pro team, as I understand it.”

“I do.”

“Basketball is my passion. I played college ball. You’re tall, athletic. You’d do well, I think. But it hasn’t gained the fans in the rest of the galaxy as we had hoped.”

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