Part 34 (1/2)
”Ferris,” Jana coaxed, ”help me get through to him.”
”I agree with Nigel; you two were made for each other, just like Kathy and I were, just like Nigel and Andrea, just like Tris and Martella.”
Jana looked at another officer she remembered from her last time on the s.h.i.+p. ”Braq?”
The engineering officer grinned and shook his head in playful refusal.
”Vaiden, it's up to you. Talk sense into your friend and commander.”
”It's the most sense he's made since you two parted.”
”Am I in the midst of a conspiracy, you guys?” she jested.
Varian was delighted when the four men chuckled and nodded. ”Don't worry, Jana; I'll try to behave myself, but it's hard around you. I had to let you know how I felt before other men come calling on you.”
Jana glanced around the room to find everyone smiling and nodding agreement with Varian. She looked at him and teased, ”You always were persistent and bold, Varian Saar.”
”So, you haven't forgotten,” he replied and chuckled.
”How could any woman forget anything about you?”
”Or any man forget anything about you.” His smoldering gaze engulfed her for a moment, then he reminded everyone he had to focus on the task ahead.
”Why don't you two women go to my quarters and relax?” Nigel suggested.
”They're welcome to use mine, Nigel,” Varian said.
That sounds like what we need after our frightening experience,” Jana said gratefully. ”But if my old quarters aren't being used, I'd prefer we stay there and not intrude on you two, if you don't mind.”
”Certainly not. You know the way to the Gold Room.”
”Yes, I remember it well. Come along, Andrea; you can see Nigel later. The crew has work to do. Thanks again to everyone for saving our lives.” Jana halted and turned. ”Oh, yes, Varian, Canissia's s.h.i.+p has phony Trilabs markings in case the patrol didn't tell you. It's a Pyropean s.h.i.+p, if that information will help anyone.” She related how Canissia had stolen and altered the vessel.
As the elevator whisked the two women from the bridge down the right side of the top deck of the U-shaped vessel, Jana expressed her surprise at Varian's behavior. ”I've never known him to use such a lack of caution. He'll have everyone gossiping about us.”
”Nigel whispered to me that he was setting his plan into motion to set you up for falling for the hero who rescued you twice. He said that was why Commander Sard issued that full alert for us,' to let people know you were kidnapped and that he rescued you. I thought it was very cunning and romantic. The men loved it, and they like you a lot, Jana. The crew that rescued me from Earth was nice, too. I met a few of Varian's men when they came to Anais during our troubles, but Nigel fetched me in another s.h.i.+p to take me to Darkar; I guess to conceal my presence there. You should be happy Varian's crew likes you so much.”
”Except for three of the men, I've known everyone aboard for a long time. We were together a lot during my months on the s.h.i.+p. I wish Kara Curri, Tesla Rilke, and Lieutenant Dykstra were still aboard; you'd like them, too. Tesla was the one killed during my rescue from Darkar after Shara tried to kill me. Kara was our recreational and physical training coach. She and I became good friends. She left to get married. Lieutenant Dykstra was in charge of security for the captives; the man I called Mon Spectre was the one who pa.s.sed along Varian's orders. He was transferred to another s.h.i.+p after that mission ended and promoted to head of security. I'm sure he'll work his way up to a commander one day.”
Inside the guest quarters she had occupied long ago, Jana looked at Andrea. ”This is where it all began, my friend,” she said. ”I woke up in here after I was taken from Earth that night. This was my home for months.”
They eyed the furniture that was of an alien material, neither wood nor metal nor plastic. There was an etagere with expensive books, statues, figurines, and a model of the Wanderl.u.s.t. On one wall was the servo and eating bar. On another was a sitting area with a phantasmagorial painting above a sofa, a picture that concealed a telecom system. A bed with nightstand and hanging lamp was in another corner. The floor was carpeted in thick material that curled around the feet. Everything was in shades of gold and ivory, except for the painting with its magical hints of blue and black. It was a suite that exuded an aura of wealth, serenity, and excellent taste.
”It was designed to soothe the eye, body, and mind-of a real guest, not a frightened captive. The bath and dressing room with closets are in there,” Jana said, pointing to a closed door that worked by floor pressure.
Andrea gazed at the setting. ”It's beautiful, Jana.”
”Yes, it is. I remember the first time I saw this room. I was scared witless, Andrea. When I checked out that bathroom, everything in there-clothes, cosmetics, and lingerie-was in my sizes and my favorite colors. There were even drawers of expensive jewelry fit for a queen. We had schedules, lessons, and cla.s.ses. We even had parties to relax us and train us. That's how I got to know the crew so well. I must admit it was a strange sort of imprisonment and slavery. They did try to relax us and teach us to fit in.”
”My best friend was their elite captive, their mission cover; that's so exciting!” Andrea collapsed onto the bed. ”We're safe, Jana.”
”I told you not to worry,” Jana said with a smile.
”You were also worried; you won't convince me otherwise.”
”Terrified is the right word to describe what I was feeling. But I knew, if it was at all possible, Varian would find us and save us.”
”Will everything be all right between you two now?”
”Thanks to you who helped me see the light, I think so. I know so. We're back where we belong, Andrea, with the men we love. The more I thought about those weeks during my training, those few days on Eire and those here after Ryker's real death, the more I realized he really does love me and want me. He wouldn't have suffered so much when I disappeared if that weren't true. I see it in the way he looks at me, like he did today when he rescued us. I hear it in his voice. I feel it in his touch and kiss. Because he did his duty, what he truly believed was right, doesn't mean I'm not just as important to him. If he had done any less, he wouldn't be Varian Saar, the man I came to love. What he did to save his world and ours was unselfish. My mind is no longer dazed by stardust and I'm no longer walking in shadows. I know who and what I want: Varian Saar and our child, and a bright future together on Altair.”
Andrea sat up and embraced Jana. ”You're as smart as ever. No, smarter. I'm proud of you, Jana. Just think, we'll be married soon.”
Jana made a comical face and wriggled her fingers as she hummed part of the Twilight Zone theme. ”To aliens,” she whispered. ”But such handsome and virile and nice aliens.”
Andrea giggled. ”You're right about that, Doc.”
Jana fell to the bed on her back and laughed. ”I haven't heard that quip in a long time. It's music to my ears, Andrea McKay, music to my ears. Mercy, I'm glad you're here with me. We never imagined we would ever share a wild and wonderful adventure like this one.”
Andrea held out her hand and used their youthful phrase: ”Like sisters now, like sisters forever. I love you, Jana, my best friend.”
Jana grasped it and repeated the words with a glowing smile.
The communications blackout and persistent pursuit in the cloaked s.h.i.+p continued for hours as the Wanderl.u.s.t steadily caught up with Canissia's stolen vessel. They hadn't moved fast enough to create waverings in the nebulous clouds in their path that might be seen and suspected by her. Jana and Andrea came to the bridge to observe the climax of the episode that had begun many days ago on Darkar.
Varian smiled at Jana before he ordered Jarre to bring them up beside her. ”Nigel, you handle weapons. I want to fire a blast across her belly and take out the engineering section to disable her. As soon as we get off that shot, Jarre, put us in position to take out her shuttle bay to prevent an escape attempt. Ferris, you be ready to take charge of our prisoner. If I get near that flaming-haired vixen, I might wring her treacherous throat.”
”We have a s.p.a.cer ready to pursue if she tries to use an escape pod.”
”Thanks, Jarre. Steady as she goes and stay alert, men. That woman is a tricky and unpredictable b.i.t.c.h.”
”If she fires on us when we drop our s.h.i.+eld, how do I respond?”
”She'll get a warning to surrender after I take out the engineering section. If she battles us, Nigel, follow standard defense procedure.”
”Yes, sir.”
Jana leaned over to ask Braq the meaning of those words.
The officer met her gaze and replied, ”If surrender is refused and an attack is launched, we defend first, then destroy if endangered.”
Jana glanced at the large s.h.i.+p on the screen where she and Andrea had been held captive. She read the markings and symbols to realize Canissia had told the truth about them. She recalled the woman's words and actions during their time together. ”I don't think Canissia Garthon will surrender,” she told Braq. ”She was like a madwoman. If she can't escape punishment, she'll turn and fight, to the death.”
”We think so, too, but it's her choice. We can't let her damage us.”
Jana and Andrea watched the drama unfold. Ferris Laus joined the two women.
”Steady at the helm, slow and easy,” Varian murmured as if to himself. ”Jarre, let Nigel know when we're in position for him to fire. Do it in one shot, old friend, then take out her weapons bank,” he related the change in orders. ”Afterward, we'll swing around fast and get the shuttle bay before she can reach it. Jarre, line up for weapons bank second.”
”If the bay is disabled, how will you get her off?” Jana asked Ferris.