Page 19 of Sol Survivor

Something or someone had killed the reigning ots, their uz servants, and many Qaldreth.Drafe gritted his teeth, fighting the shock stinging his eyes.Wrapping his arms around the uz, he halted his fall, trusting his powered boots to carry their combined weight.

“Do you know who did this?”he asked the gaping Ivoyan.“Did you see who planted the explosive?”

The uz shook his head.

Salvage ships swarmed the plummeting carnage; their safety protocols would halt the platform’s impact and minimize further damage.Drafe landed on the extended platform of a sec-ship and lowered the Ivoyan.He stumbled away from Drafe to vomit over the air-balustrade.A pounding in Drafe’s skull reminded him that he had sustained an injury.Regardless, he faced the males jogging toward him.

“What happened, Drafe?”Vaen demanded, his black gaze on the chaos around them.

“Hell if I know.”Drafe ran a hand over his face.“I was outside waiting for Nenn to insert a temp-device, and when I unlocked the door, everything exploded.”

“Yet you saved an uz instead of your ot,” Vaen said, a scowl twisting his features.That didn’t bother Drafe when that was Vaen’s usual disposition.

“I take no insult, Vaen.”Drafe sighed, his shoulders drooping at his failure.It might have been better for him to have died in the burning wreckage.

“I will defend you to your commander.”Vaen faced him and gripped Drafe’s upper arm.“If they have their way, you’ll return to Qaldreth in disgrace.”

“I am a Qaldreth warrior of the tribe Moerri.I face my judgment without fear.”Drafe’s symbiotes bounced in agitation, but he ignored them, allowing Vaen to lead him away.

He would argue his case, perhaps the council would listen and send someone to investigate this new species.They had to be behind this catastrophic event or know someone who was.

Chapter Seven

The Qaldreth Command Council

Planet of Ivoy

Drafe’sarmorunmaskedfromthe waist up, baring his obsidian skin.At his most vulnerable, he stepped onto the platform.He raised his gaze to the dais upon which sat seven Qaldreth commanders, the strength of the tribes combined.All warriors in attendance were bare-chested, for to remain masked was an act of deceit.An exposed Qaldreth had nothing to hide.

Beams of light bathed them in artificial sunlight.The warmth of their suns upon their faces was craved by all.The yellow glow struck a chord, a yearning for home Drafe’s symbiotes echoed.He tamped them down, willing them to calm.

They would have Qaldreth sunlight soon enough.

He winced.As a protector, an arrak, he had brought honor to the tribe.Across so many parsecs, the symbiotes could not communicate, but once he stepped foot on the salt plains, all would know of his failure…for generations to come.

“Meorri aac Drafe Arrak, you have been brought before the council in the direst of circumstances.”Meorri aac Kish Udap paused, rolling his lips inward as if what he had to do was distasteful.

Drafe didn’t doubt that.Exiling a warrior from the commander’s tribe wasn’t a pleasant task.He said nothing, though, for it was disrespectful to interrupt an udap.

“By the grace of Ivoy and Osnir, you were welcomed as a karu, to train under those whoearnedtheir place as protectors.”Kish Udap settled his gaze on Ulvus, and his lip curled further.

Drafe restrained the urge to nod.Despite Ulvus winning the challenge, he had only made the rank of sava, that of security or a foot soldier.Drafe had surpassed him, having earned the honor to protect, to share his symbiotes with an Ot—the highest rank an Ivoyan could be born to.Luharp Vadril Ot was from the most influential family on Ivoy.

Drafe had let him die.Along with the other twenty-three prime ots in attendance and their Qaldreth warriors.Had his language implant not malfunctioned, he would have died alongside them.An honorable death he’d been denied.He’d responded by saving the witness, a lowly servant, an uz.

The planet of Ivoy was in chaos, losing its leadership in one strike.The second rank of zi had to be summoned from their travels and studies.Some came from far-off galaxies Drafe had yet to learn about.This upheaval had toppled the Ivoy hierarchy, with the next generation of ots still in training.

Many fingers pointed at the Qaldreth warriors, charged with the protection of the Ivoyan leaders, and failed to do so.It would take decades to restore the tribes’ combined honor on Ivoy and centuries for the Meorri tribe.

Yes, it would have been better had he died with his ot.

“Worse, instead of rushing to savetheLuharp Vadril Ot or any high-ranking ot, you rescued Vizen Aehort Uz…a servant.”Grumbles rippled through the council and the witnesses behind him.“What say you, Drafe Arrak?”

Drafe opened his mouth to speak.

“Giniiri aac Nenn Maed claims your language implant failed, explaining your presence outside the Senate.”Borven aac Eran Udap gestured to Nenn to step forward.

Drafe tilted his head to acknowledge the male.

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