Page 19 of Touch the Stars
“Well, I’ve got news for you and your old stooges—”
“Ancient Ones.”
“I want children some day!”
So do I.
Some day.
“Once we arrive on Ghara and your formal training begins, you will see that all of us will be your children.Your destiny will be fulfilling and rewarding in many ways.”
And after this mission ended, he would take a much-needed rest while basking in his family’s love.He would certainly have earned some leisure time after so many days with her.The empress’s attitude was difficult at best.She seemed determined to presume the worst of him.The accusation that he was a flesh pirate still stung.Were all her people so…unreasonable?
The image of the uniformed, inconsequential human male came to the front of his thoughts.Guilt poked at his gut.He might not be a flesh pirate, but he had changed that male’s life.For good or for ill, but certainly forever.
He gave himself a mental shake.There was nothing he could do about that situation, other than pray one day he might have the chance to make amends.For now, he would focus his attention on filling out the forms required for requesting his upcoming family leave.Hopefully, General Tuuli’s approval would come through by the time he reached Ghara.
“Cruiser, present Undet grant of warrior’s temporary leave request on the read-screen.”
The small viewer attached to the arm of the command chair lit up.“Form displayed.”
“What’re you doing?”Kaitlyn appeared next to him.
He tapped his finger against the viewer’s screen.“Name: Warrior Baatar.Position: Captain of Defense Unit Three.”
His words appeared on the screen in the appropriate boxes.
Kaitlyn made an exasperated sound and leaned over the other arm, the soft curve of her breast brushing over his forearm.“What.Are.You.Doing.Butt-tar?”
That was an odd way for her to pronounce his name.She must have an underlying accent that only came out with strong emotions, like frustration or anger.
“Filling out a time off request to visit my family after I deliver you to Ghara.”He clenched his teeth harder as her delicate, feminine scent assailed him.
“Lucky you.You’llget to see your family again.”The bitterness in her tone was understandable, but she would see that what she was about to gain was priceless.
A new set of words materialized on the screen, requesting his next entries.“Status: Currently on active, class one mission in the name of the grand emperor.Request: Ten Undetan days of leave to attend to familial concerns, to commence upon my arrival on Ghara.”
That should be good enough for General Tuuli.As his superior, it was she who had relayed the grand emperor’s summons to him.She also understood better than most the stress the summons had brought.It was highly unlikely she would not approve his request.
He gave the screen a heavy finger tap to save and close the document.“Cruiser, send leave request to General Tuuli on planet Undet.”
“Complying.”
Thank the stars.He leaned back in his chair and Kaitlyn made a sound of disgust.Must she stand so close that her sweet scent all but clung to him?
“Communication transmission denied,” the cruiser reported.
What?
He pushed himself upright with an abrupt motion.“Explain.”
Kaitlyn gasped, tottered forward as if his movement had unbalanced her, then caught herself with one hand against his thigh.He reached out to steady her, but she shot him an annoyed look, then pulled away and took a step backward.Strange.Could she need more to eat already?
“The sending of unauthorized transmissions is forbidden,” the cruiser replied.
That made no sense.He transmitted updates to the emperor daily without incident, and had even spoken directly to the great one twice.“Define authorized transmissions.”
“Only transmissions to the grand emperor are authorized.”
