Part 15 (1/2)
”No, that won't be necessary.” Besides, the Gold Room held just as many bittersweet memories for her, as that suite had been hers in the beginning.
Following a briefing last night between Ryker and the officers, the Wanderl.u.s.t left orbit around Rigel at dawn and headed for rendezvous with the other stars.h.i.+ps between Saturn and Jupiter. From the transascreen in their borrowed quarters, Jana eyed the vast span of s.p.a.ce before her. Wherever she looked, all she saw was sky that looked like one endless rippling of white waves. They were under way, traveling to her galaxy at starlight speed, their fastest pace. By Earth timing, the voyage would require three weeks; and by Earth's calendar, they would a.s.sault the rogue less than two weeks before Christmas.
Thanksgiving ... Christmas ... New Year's ... Friends, turkey with all the tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs, shopping, decorations, parties, funny hats and noise makers.... Holidays: how she would miss them.
Jana thought about Andrea being on the colony at Anais. If Project Starguard failed, her best friend would lose all of that and her family. She would also be forced to make a new life here in Maffei. But if the mission was successful, Andrea might be sent home. I have to see you at least once before that happens. I need to see you. I need to talk with you. You always teased me about being in full control of my emotions and life. You always said I knew what I wanted. That's no longer true. I have control over nothing-not even the air I breathe or food I eat. How wonderful it would be to make my own decisions again. Please, G.o.d, let this mission succeed. Give Earth another miracle for Christmas.
For three days, Jana didn't leave Varian's quarters. She ate, read, and exercised there to avoid the new crew. She didn't want to make friends with any of them, as she had with the old one. Besides, she would never see these men and women after this trip, so why make any overtures that might be laughed at or ignored?
If she desired to leave the suite, Ryker had told her she had free run of the s.h.i.+p. She turned and let her gaze roam the sitting area. It was roomy, masculine, and comfortable. She could close her eyes and almost picture Varian sitting and working at his desk as he'd done in the past. Several times when Ryker had used it, she had experienced gnawings of irritation at the unnatural sight. As if he'd become a ghost, Varian seemed to haunt this room. His lingering spirit seemed to lurk in here, in the adjoining bedroom, and even in the bathroom. Worst of all, sometimes it was as if .she were suddenly and helplessly yanked into the past when she was the captive but willing mistress of that ebony-haired blue-eyed s.p.a.ce pirate. She expected to glance up to see Varian strolling through the door, but it was always her blond-haired, green-eyed husband. Nearly every area of this s.h.i.+p held special memories of those blissfully ignorant days when she had fallen in love with him, and perhaps that was the real reason why she didn't want to view them again. Yet, she couldn't remain locked in here for six or more weeks.
And that was emphasized the following day when Varian said, ”You can't stay cooped up in here for the entire voyage, Jana. I'm sure everyone is wondering why you haven't made a single appearance since our arrival. Do you want them to think you're afraid or embarra.s.sed to face them or that you're being held captive in here by me? You said you didn't want them gossiping about you or us, but this is a sure way to inspire that. This is a big s.h.i.+p with plenty to do on it. Get out and enjoy yourself. Do something with Martella to stop her from being my shadow.” He chuckled before using one of Tristan's favorite sayings. ”She sticks to me like gracon to a beaker to make sure I don't see or do anything I shouldn't. Come on, woman, get dressed. Let's eat and dance in the Stardust Room. I've seen it, and it's very romantic.”
So had she! She had spent many ”romantic” evenings there with Varian. ”You're right, my intelligent and caring husband. I suppose it's past time for Princess Jana Triloni to grace everyone with her presence*. I'll be ready in thirty minutes.”
Chief Medical Officer Mirren said to Martella and Zade, ”Tris told me wonderful things about Jana and her skills. Nothing would have pleased him more than to have gotten her as his a.s.sistant. From what I heard, everyone aboard thought she and Varian would get together, that they were perfect for each other. I wonder what happened to prevent it.”
”From the way it looks,” Zade replied as his gaze pointed at the dancing and smiling couple, ”Ryker Triloni happened.”
”Whatever it was that split them apart, it's too late now. She looks happy and so does Prince Ryker. I guess if Varian had been in love with her, he wouldn't be marrying that Garthon woman. What a waste of a good man.”
”And waste of a good woman from where I sit,” Jarre added. ”How could any woman leave Varian Saar for a man like that?”
Martella silenced the annoying conversation. ”Some things are meant to be and others aren't. If a mistake is made, one can never tell when fate will step in and correct human error. But I don't think we should be gossiping about them. We wouldn't want to be overheard and cause problems. This task is too important.”
Jana felt as if Varian was standing in the dark corner and watching them with a mocking grin on his handsome face as they made love in his bed. She soon realized she had no choice except to fake pleasure and a climax. She hoped and prayed pretending wouldn't become a necessary habit for her What she needed was an antidote to Varian Saar, something to cure and heal her and make her immune to his continual torment. She had to face the reality that Ryker was not a panacea or subst.i.tute for that daring s.p.a.ce rogue.
Varian comprehended her predicament, but he was given hope at surmising she was still haunted by him and bound in heart to him. He pretended not to notice her deceit.
Two days later, Jana sneaked into the Gold Room to see if anything had changed there since her departure. She found only the monitor for spying on her and for giving her orders had been removed, and she quickly left.
She entered the officers' gym to exercise on the walkometer. For the time being, no one was present, and she was glad. She stepped on the treadmill, set the time, pace, and incline she wanted, and pressed the start b.u.t.ton. She moved slowly at first during her warm-up period.
”h.e.l.lo, Jana. So we finally have time and privacy for a talk.”
Jana was surprised to see Martella coming toward her, as Ryker had alleged the woman stuck to him like glue. Perhaps he had told the new security chief that she would be coming here, as she had told him her plans earlier. ”Did you finally manage time away from Ryker's demands to get in some fun and exercise?” she jested as the machine's pace increased. Martella began her warm-up. ”I must admit he's doing a superb job.”
”Did you expect otherwise?” Jana asked. ”Ryker does everything superbly. He's a perfectionist, or didn't the Alliance know that?”
”You've also done well for yourself, Jana. You look wonderful and radiant. I'm glad to see you so happy, and I'm delighted you're free.”
Happy and free? Jana caught her breath before replying, ”You and your training team taught me well, as did my ensuing experiences.”
”But not to become Ryker's wife. I had hoped ...” Martella halted and looked embarra.s.sed by what she wanted to appear a slip..
The treadmill's speed increased again and Jana's legs moved faster. ”So had I, Martella, but it didn't work out like that. I'm really fortunate he gave me to Ryker instead of someone else who might not have felt about me the way that my husband does. Our life together is perfect because we have similar interests and skills. I'm lucky, and happy.”
”I'm glad, Jana, because I want what's best for you.”
Jana believed that was a true and sincere sentiment. She had always been able to speak openly and candidly with this woman. ”I'm unsure anyone knows what that is, including me ... How's Tristan? I've missed him. I'm sorry we never had the chance to really work together.”
Martella beamed with love. ”He's doing fine. He's on one of the other s.h.i.+ps. Upon our return, we will be getting married.”
”That doesn't surprise me. You two were made for each other. I caught hints of that when I was here. Congratulations. Give him my best wishes.”
”Why don't you do that yourself by attending our wedding?”
”I don't think that would be wise. I'm sure your friend Varian will be there. Frankly, I don't care to ever see him again.” Jana changed the topic from that of her lost love. ”We've never minced words, so I want to ask you a question and I hope you'll answer with the truth. Would you mind telling me why there's a new crew on the s.h.i.+p? It strikes me as odd.”
Martella began working out with weights. ”It was Varian's orders. They were a.s.signed to other s.h.i.+ps for this mission because Varian thought it would be better for you and for them not to be placed in an uncomfortable position of being thrown together for weeks under such ... different circ.u.mstances. He didn't want anyone, especially you, Jana, to be uneasy and embarra.s.sed.”
”How nice of him. Why are you here?”
Martella noted the coldness in the tawny-haired Earthling's voice during her first response. She wished she could say something to ease it. She experienced pain for her two friends. ”Varian and the Council wanted someone aboard they could trust implicitly as head of security.”
The treadmill speeded up again, causing Jana to go into a run. ”You mean, someone of your special rank to watch Ryker with an eagle eye?”
Martella looked surprised. ”You say that like you know-”
”I do, but I wouldn't tell anyone else.”
”Anyone?” It didn't matter if it were ”Ryker,” but a slip to Maal ...
”Ryker knows, too, but I didn't tell him. In fact ...” Whatever, Jana asked herself, was she doing? Was she getting light-headed and witless from lack of oxygen to the brain? She couldn't tell this Maffeian that Ryker knew the names of all Elite Squad members! Yet she wished she could because it placed their lives and a.s.signments in jeopardy, from Maal.
Martella changed weights. ”In fact what, Jana?”
”Nothing. I heard you're working hard to have charl laws abolished. Is that true? Will you succeed?”
”I think so. I hope so. The practice is outdated. I have plenty of influential and powerful people a.s.sisting my cause: Draco, Tirol, Varian, Tristan, and many of the avatars and zartiffs and elite citizens. Naturally some of the charl owners will back my issue. Needless to say, many of them are discontented since you won your freedom and married your ex-owner.”
”I thought that might happen. And I'm glad. We abolished slavery on Earth long ago. I'm surprised a society as advanced or 'superior' as yours would have continued it this long. If your males can't romance and woo a female into marriage, they don't deserve a mate or a wife.”
”That's a logical and accurate a.s.sumption.”
”It wasn't mine; it was Kadim Maal's, my new father-inlaw. We've just returned from a visit with him in Androas. It seems I've become quite the intergalactic traveler since I was stolen from Earth. How long do you think it will take to push through your change in the law?”
”Why are you so interested? It won't affect you, not anymore.”
Jana had to catch her breath again before answering. ”I'd like to see Kathy Anderson and Ferris Laus married before their first child arrives. I'd also like to see Heather Langdon become the wife of Spala Rilke. And all the others from our voyage and the ones before and since it.” The treadmill began to slow its pace with gradual decreases every few minutes. ”Speaking of Rilke, how is my old laius partner doing? I had hoped Tesla or Nigel would be aboard so we could continue our quest for a champions.h.i.+p.”
Martella wondered why Jana asked about Tesla. If Varian had her convinced her rescue and his death were delusions ... ”Tesla is fine. He's on Commander Jaekle's s.h.i.+p, the Maffeian Wind. Nigel was given the command of the Kiunterri. Of course, Varian stayed where he was.”
”I'm glad. I'm sure he has lots of plans to make since his wedding to Canissia is so close.”
The bitterness in the Earthling was blatantly obvious. Martella wished she could say something to ease Jana's anguish and to give her hope, but she couldn't. The officer didn't like this feeling of helplessness and seeing two close friends in such torment. She disagreed with Varian and Tirol about keeping Jana excluded from the ruse, but she had no authority to disobey orders. What she was witnessing and hearing worried her because it appeared as if Varian was pus.h.i.+ng Jana away from him and toward Ryker. Even when the Earthling learned the truth, it might be too late to make a difference since their relations.h.i.+p might already be damaged. Obviously Varian was also aware of that risk and that was why she sensed such panic in him to have the affair finished.