Page 64 of Star Prince

“Kip’s from a wealthy family,” Randall insisted. “But he’s an avenger of sorts. He does what he can to help the downtrodden peoples of the galaxy.”

“The only thing he’s avenging is Rom B’kah’s choice in heirs,” Ian argued. “He showed you the worst conditions in the galaxy not because he cares about its victims, but because he recognizes your sense of honor and your ability as a leader and he’s using them to further his own interests.”

“Which are?”

“Making sure his eldest brother succeeds Rom B’kah and not me.” As Ian explained Randall’s unwitting role in Klark’s plan to destabilize thefrontier, the senator listened first with irritation, then denial, and finally dismay. “If he succeeds,” Ian said, “I won’t be confirmed as Rom’s heir, and Earth will lose out. You speak highly of the home team. I was born in Arizona, senator. If that’s not the ‘home team,’ I don’t know what is. Earth stands to benefit hugely if I take the throne.”

Gruber, the commerce secretary spoke up. “Benefit? I don’t see how. If you’d just once publicly offered assurance that Earth would gain influence with such a move up, maybe I’d feel differently. But you haven’t been home—that I know of—in five years.Five years.”

“I have to agree with Mike,” Randall said. “By all appearances, you’re more like them than you are like us.”

Ian let out a breath. “No, sir,” he said firmly. He turned his eyes to Gruber. “I’ve made several trips home, low-key, private trips, to see family and friends. I didn’t think to schedule public appearances or speaking engagements. All my energy was devoted to gaining the trust of theVash Nadah.I assumed Earth’s trust would be automatic. Now I know that was a serious mistake. I focused on wooing theVashat the expense of my homeworld.” Ian lifted his hands. “I stumbled badly, senator.”

The three men appeared taken aback, as if they had expected a different response, perhaps aggressive denial or an angry offensive.

“I immersed myself in theVashculture out ofrespect and love for my stepfather,” Ian acknowledged. “I didn’t expect him to name me as his successor, and it’s made for some intense years at the palace. Still, some members of the Great Council don’t think an Earth guy can do the job. I think they’re wrong.”

Randall rubbed his chin. “I didn’t know what kind of man you’d be,” he said as if thinking aloud. “But I imagine you must be a fish out of water among all thoseVash.”

Ian responded with a self-deprecating smile. “Yeah. I’m sometimes out of my league. But I’ve always liked being the underdog.”

“So have I,” the senator said in a quiet voice.

Tee’ah didn’t have to consult her translator to understand that the dynamics of the interaction had shifted. As the two men sized each other up, shivery bumps prickled her skin. Charlie Randall and Ian Hamilton held the power to change the course of history. And she, a once hidden-in-the-shadows princess, had been instrumental in bringing them together on this tiny, far-flung world, with the hope that they might solve their differences with words, not weapons. Her role as a royalVashwoman hadn’t made a direct role in politics a possibility, but now that she was free, someday, somewhere like Earth, she could go after that dream.

“Work with me,” Ian said. “Let’s bring Earth the future it deserves.”

Regret shadowed Randall’s sharp features, andthat made Tee’ah’s pulse race. “In my absence, the Earth-First movement has taken on a life of its own. They’re protesting in all the major cities of the world. The United Nations is overwhelmed. They’re considering a move to immediately rescind the decision to join the Federation.”

“Can you keep the footage of those fringe worlds from them until I get there?”

“I…don’t know.”

Ian glanced at her, and Tee’ah caught the frustration in his eyes. “Sweet heaven,” she whispered. He had to, or Klark would succeed in his efforts and Ian’s entire mission would be for naught.

“Son, I sent what I recorded on ahead a few minutes before you showed up. At Kip’s urging,” Randall added with an uneasy expression. “For safekeeping, in case something happened to my ship. It’s in the president’s hands now. I can ask him to wait until we arrive before he shows it to anyone else, maybe.”

Ian swore. “Do it. I want to speak to him first.”

“All right. Meet me in Washington. I’ll arrange everything.”

Randall gave him his contact information and instructions. “But don’t delay. After meeting the president, go to the world leaders next. Whether or not you wanted the job, you’re heir to an empire. It’s time to act the part.”

Ian extended his arm, and the two men clasped hands, first in the manner of Earth-dwellers, then inthe hearty, forearm-gripping fashion of theVash Nadah.

“Muffin to Hamilton.” A familiar deep voice blasted out of Tee’ah’s trouser pocket. She grabbed her comm at the same time Ian snatched his.

Ian answered. “Go ahead.”

“We have a problem, Captain,” Muffin said. “I’m in jail.”

The main officeof Grüma’s detention center was a small room filled with viewscreens and the smell of stale tock.An open door let in cold, fresh air, reminding Ian that Randall was about to launch, if he hadn’t already.

He paced in front of a pursed-lipped police officer. “Let me see if I heard you right. My crew is charged withdisrupting the flow of trade?’”He had expected something more colorful, like beating the crap out of an asshole.

The woman touched her fingertip to the row of golden triangles she wore vertically down the bridge of her nose. “Yes, that is the charge. The café owner and several witnesses said the hovercar and resulting disturbance blocked the entrance to his establishment. Thus the more serious charge of disrupting the flow of trade applies.”

Ian worked to calm himself. “Why didn’t you arrest the driver too?”

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