He stopped, meeting her amber eyes. “Yes?”
“Councilor Naran is well-connected. He has allies throughout the Council and beyond. His complaint is already generating attention in certain circles—circles that would prefer the details of this situation remain… obscure.”
“Obscure.”
“Hidden. Buried. Forgotten.” Her grip tightened fractionally. “There are those who believe the survival of the Cire species justifies any action, any cost. They will not thank you for exposing what was done in that facility. And they will not hesitate to silence those who might threaten their goals.”
“I am aware of the dangers.”
“Are you?” She released his arm. “Because this is not a military engagement, Captain. This is politics. And politics has a way of destroying even the most righteous warriors.”
She turned and walked away, leaving him standing in the doorway with the weight of her warning settling onto his shoulders.
Politics, he thought grimly. I have never been skilled at politics.
But for Melissa, for Robbie, for the family he had found against all odds—he would learn.
He would learn, or he would die trying.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The communications suite on Korinth-7 was cold and sterile—all sharp angles and muted grey surfaces designed to strip emotion from whatever conversations took place within. Melissa stood beside Becsul, Robbie a warm weight against her shoulder, and watched the holoscreen flicker to life.
Naran’s face materialized in pale blue light, his elegant features composed into an expression of benevolent concern that made her stomach turn.
“Dr. Desai.” His voice carried the smooth, measured cadence of a practiced politician. “I am relieved to see you are unharmed. When Captain Becsul absconded with you and the others, I feared the worst.”
“Did you.” She kept her voice flat, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an emotional response. “How thoughtful of you to worry about your subjects.”
Something flickered in his eyes—irritation, perhaps, quickly suppressed—but his expression remained placid. “I understand you are upset. The circumstances of your arrival at the facilitywere… regrettable. But surely you can appreciate that we were acting in the best interests of all involved.”
“All involved.” Melissa adjusted Robbie on her hip, drawing strength from the solid reality of her son. “You kidnapped women from their homes. You imprisoned us. You subjected us to invasive medical procedures without consent. And you were planning to forcibly impregnate us.” Her voice hardened. “Exactly whose best interests were you serving?”
“The interests of an entire species facing extinction.” Naran’s tone took on a thread of steel beneath the silk. “Do you understand what the Red Death has done to my people, Dr. Desai? Can you comprehend watching your entire civilization die, generation by generation, because there is no way to reproduce? We were desperate. We are desperate. And desperate circumstances sometimes require difficult choices.”
“Difficult choices.” She laughed, the sound sharp and bitter. “Is that what we’re calling it now? Slavery is a difficult choice? Child endangerment is a difficult choice?”
Beside her, Becsul stood rigid, his tail pressed flat against his leg in a posture she had learned to recognize as barely controlled anger. Captain Veyros watched from the far corner of the room, her expression unreadable.
“I did not contact you to argue semantics.” Naran’s composure slipped fractionally before reasserting itself. “I contacted you to offer a resolution. A way forward that benefits everyone.”
“I’m listening.”
“The charges against Captain Becsul are serious. Treason carries severe penalties under Cire law—penalties that would be… unpleasant for him and distressing for you to witness.” Naran’sgaze shifted to Becsul. “But I am not an unreasonable man. If you return to Ciresia willingly, I will drop all charges. You will be treated well. Your son will be cared for. And when our work is complete, you will be free to leave.”
“When your work is complete.” Melissa’s grip tightened on Robbie. “You mean when I’ve produced however many hybrid children you require.”
“I mean when we have gathered enough data to ensure the survival of my species.” Naran spread his hands in a gesture of magnanimity. “Is that truly so much to ask? A few years of your life in exchange for the continuation of an entire civilization?”
“A few years. In a cell. As a broodmare.” She shook her head slowly. “No.”
“Think carefully, Dr. Desai?—”
“I said no.” The word came out louder than she intended, echoing off the sterile walls. Robbie stirred against her shoulder, making a small sound of protest, and she forced herself to lower her voice. “And not only no, but absolutely not. Never. Under no circumstances. Are we clear?”
Naran’s expression hardened. “You are being foolish. The charges against Becsul?—”
“Can stand right alongside the charges I’m filing against you.” Melissa stepped forward, placing herself directly in front of the holoscreen. “Trafficking in sentient beings. Child endangerment. Illegal experimentation on non-consenting subjects. Kidnapping from a pre-spaceflight planet—I understand that’s a particularly serious offense under galactic law.”
