Crave - 26. Chapter 26

Chapter 26

The flight to Alectera felt like the longest Jenson had ever taken. Every minute he was on the shuttle was a minute he wasn’t with Merrick. He needed to see for himself that Merrick was alive. Audra was upset when she was told about the shooting. She’d tried to insist on coming with him, but Jenson refused. There was no point in inciting the Alecterans further with the presence of a strong-willed female. The trip was going to be stressful enough without worrying if his sister would be arrested when someone inevitably said something to make her angry. She wasn’t happy with his decision, but she reluctantly agreed.

The Maser’s personal shuttle was waiting for him at the landing bay. With a cursory greeting to the guards, he hurried into the vehicle, barely aware of the harness strapping him in. The flight to the fortress was a blur of worry. On arrival he was greeted by an aide who escorted him to the throne room. He wanted to see Merrick… NOW, but he bit back a growl of impatience. Planetary customs weren’t going to be changed just for him.

Jenson thanked the young male and entered the room. The Maser stood near the head of the conference table, staring at the portraits of the current counseury. Beside his own likeness, Senator Elson’s image stared outward. Jenson cleared his throat, not sure if the male registered his presence.

“Envoy Shey….” The leader didn’t turn. “I wanted to speak to you before you were taken to Commander Weir.”

“How is Merrick?”

“He’s stable, but still unconscious.” The Maser finally turned to look at him. “The doctors believe he’ll awaken in a few hours.”

Jenson felt some of his tension ease. “What did you wish to discuss?”

Luda gestured for him to sit. “I wanted to talk to you about the incident with Commander Weir. His injuries were… unusual.”

“Unusual?” Jenson felt his anxiety peaking again. “Unusual how?”

“My medical examiner tells me, based on the blood pooling and the state of the body, my guard was likely shot first. Although he was hit with a pulse strong enough to kill almost instantly, Commander Weir’s injury was caused by a non-fatal, elecro-pulse. The wounds appear to have come from the same model weapon.”

“So, whoever shot them may have taken the time to reset their pistol to a lower setting?” Jenson knew he sounded as confused as he felt. “Why would someone do that?”

“It would appear that way, yes.” The leader sounded tired. “It wouldn’t take much time to reset. The power control just needs to be lowered, but I had the same thought… Why would someone do it?”

“Could it be a trap?” Jenson asked, his mind racing with possibilities. “It’s been brought to light that someone from my past is involved in the plot to bring the flauros to Alect-3. I could be the target.”

“That’s a possibility,” the Alecteran agreed, nodding. “I’m assigning guards to you, Sergeant Varallo, and Officer Moltaran for the duration of your stay, for your safety. Two have also been posted at Commander Weir’s door.”

Jenson was grateful for the extra security precautions. “Thank you.” The vampire stood. “We should discuss this more later. I’d like to see Merrick now.”

“Of course.” The Maser touched a glass panel embedded into the table. Seconds later, two guards stepped into the room. “Please take Envoy Shey to the medical wing.”

The males bowed to their leader, and, with one in front and the other behind, they led Jenson outside. The area around the fortress was empty of civilian traffic, and there were more guards patrolling the surrounding buildings than the vampire remembered seeing during his last visit. He assumed security had been increased after Senator Elsan’s disappearance. If the man was a part of the plot, he would have access to some very sensitive information, including entry to all of the government buildings on the planet. Elsan would be a formidable ally for the Maser’s enemies.

The medical building was for the use of government officials and their families, and was swarming with armed security. Jenson was led through several locked doors before his escort stopped to speak with a male sitting behind a see-through partition. After a quick, whispered conversation, the male pointed to a door across the hall. He typed on a keypad, and the door swung open.

As soon as Jenson crossed the threshold, his eyes found Merrick. The younger man was comatose and pale, but otherwise looked unharmed. As if drawn by a magnet, his feet propelled him to the side of Merrick’s bed. He took a pale hand in his, and reached up to stroke his fingers along the stubbled jaw. Seeing his love alive and breathing helped to settle his nagging unease.

“He doesn’t even look injured,” the vampire whispered quietly to himself.

“The doctor said he had a bad phaser burn to his chest, but they were able to heal that quickly.” Jenson was surprised to hear a voice close beside him. He turned his head and noticed Merrick’s second in command, Kalen, standing there. He then saw that the Anphilian, Landin, sat in a chair on the other side of the bed. They both looked haggard, as if they hadn’t slept in days. Being so focused on the man in the bed, Jenson hadn’t even registered their presence when he entered the room.

“How long has he been out?” Jenson didn’t relinquish the hand he held, but turned his attention more fully on the two officers.

“According to Luda, Merrick left the Maser’s residence several hours before he was found. That was over four hours ago.”

“Are we secure here?” Jenson asked, glancing at the guards standing by the door.

“I swept the area for listening devices when we arrived,” Kalen answered with a nod. “The room isn’t one hundred percent secure, because of all of the medical equipment, but I didn’t find anything unusual.”

Jenson felt marginally better, and silently thanked Merrick for having such a well-trained team. “Why was he in the Maser’s residence?” He pitched his voice low to prevent the guards from hearing their conversation.

“We’re not sure.” Landin followed the vampire’s lead and spoke quietly. “But a shuttle crashed on the grounds and everyone was being evacuated. Senator Elsan stopped us before we left the building and asked the Commander to follow him. We were never told why.”

“Merrick was escorted back to the fortress by one of the Maser’s guards, and was found in the office we’d been using for the interrogations,” Kalen added. “Maybe this had something to do with whatever happened after Merrick left us?”

Jenson made a mental note to find out why Merrick was taken to the Maser’s home. It was unusual enough to be noteworthy. “And the guard was found dead in the room with him?”

Both males nodded. “Apparently,” Landin responded.

“Why would anyone kill the guard, and then turn down the phaser before shooting Merrick?” Jenson contemplated out loud. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely grateful Merrick’s alive, but why is he?”

“We wondered the same thing.” Kalen crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the side of the bed. “There had to be a reason. Otherwise, why risk leaving a witness?”

The three men discussed possibilities while Jenson continued to touch Merrick… running his fingers over his shorn blonde hair and rubbing circles over the back of a pale hand with his thumb. The vampire didn’t want to break contact.

Jenson filled them in on Jorrah Varro’s impending incarceration and deportation, and his intention to move Merrick as soon as the younger man was well enough to travel. “I’m going to bring Merrick to the ship, but I plan on coming back. Whoever did this to him needs to be found.” In his periphery he saw both men nod.

“With your permission, sir, I’d like to stay here with you.” Sergeant Verallo’s voice was quiet but determined. “We’re close to an answer, and I want to ensure whoever did this is brought to justice.”

Landin nodded vigorously. “I request permission to stay as well.”

Jenson smiled at both men. “I would appreciate that. The information you’ve gathered so far will be very useful.” The vampire paused for a moment before lowering his voice even more. “The Maser told me Senator Elsan is missing. Was there anything in your investigation pointing to him as a possible suspect?”

“No,” Landin responded just as quietly. “In fact, he wasn’t even on Alectera when the suspicious transmission was made. He’d been on Kophtal for several weeks conducting trade talks, and didn’t return until the day your party arrived. The logs indicate he joined the welcome committee while they were in orbit over Alect-3.”

Jenson’s brow furrowed. “He still could have been involved in a coup, even if he wasn’t here.” He continued to whisper, not wanting the guards to overhear. They were, after all, discussing the potential treason of a high-ranking government official.

“It’s possible,” Kalen answered. “But why bother to make transmissions from Alectera to Ultec, and then try to cover it up? If Elsan was involved, he could have made contact from Kophtal with very little chance of detection.”

“There were recent transmissions to Ultec?”

Landin nodded, leaning forward in his seat. “Contact was made the day the flauros were dropped on the planet. There was an attempt made to overwrite the codes to implicate someone else, but it was a shoddy job.”

“Could the Senator have made it look like a cover-up to point you in another direction?”

“Anything is possible.” Kalen shrugged. “But again… why would he bother? It’s an awful lot of work to make it look like a decoy, even if he has accomplices. He also knew we would be given access to the communications grid, and had the time to properly cover his tracks.”

“Who actually sent the communiqué?” Jenson was beginning to wonder if the Senator was involved at all.

“Counseur Keeghan.”

The vampire was surprised. Keeghan had seemed pretty friendly the last time he’d been on the planet. “Have you questioned him?”

“No,” Kalen answered, pulling out his comm pad. “We didn’t get the chance. He was scheduled to meet with us right after the noon meal. Landin did some digging after we were evacuated. It looks like one of Keeghan’s territories borders on Counseur Rossud’s. Apparently, there was a dispute between the two families over who owned a stelite mine. Things started small, with verbal barbs, but eventually the fight became bloody, and several males were injured. Luda’s father ordered both families to submit their claims to him for arbitration, and ended up ruling in favour of the Rossud’s. The report says Keeghan’s older brother was killed when part of the mine caved in during a skirmish shortly before the ruling.” The human looked up at the vampire. “Loyalties have been fractured for less.”

Landin cleared his throat, drawing both men’s attention back to him. “The Keeghan family has also been extremely vocal against expansion and opening the planet’s borders. One of the uncles was implicated in a shuttle accident that killed a visiting dignitary several years ago, although he was never convicted.”

“We need to bring Keeghan in.” Jenson fought his desire to go out and find the male himself. “Have you told any of this to Maser Luda?”

“No,” Kalen said with a sigh. “We were too concerned about the Commander at the time.”

Jenson hailed one of the guards. “Could you ask Maser Luda if he has time to see me? It’s very important.” The male nodded briskly before leaving the room. “You both know more about the investigation than I do. I’d like one of you to come with me.”

“Landin should go,” Kalen answered for both of them. “He’s the one who discovered the attempted cover-up. I can wait here and… keep an eye on things.”

Jenson agreed. “Thank you.” He pitched his voice to a hushed whisper again. “I feel more comfortable knowing Merrick won’t be alone.”

Less than an hour later, Jenson and Landin were standing in the throne room with the Alecteran leader.

“So you’re saying Aehvan might not have been involved in any of this?” The male looked hopeful as he stared at Jenson.

“Yes, Sir.” The Anphilian cleared his throat, obviously nervous.

“Then where is he?” The Maser growled and spun away, gazing up at the Senator’s portrait. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides.

“We’re not certain, but….” Jenson looked up at the portrait wall. “Officer Maltoran’s research implicates Counsuer Keeghan as a suspect in the investigation.”

“What?” The leader turned back. His eyes appeared cold and angry. “Keeghan might be involved in this? That ungrateful….” He stopped to take a deep breath, visibly calming himself. “What have you discovered?”

Jenson nodded subtly at Landin, encouraging the young officer to divulge what he’d uncovered. As the young male spoke, Luda’s posture stiffened. Jenson could almost feel the rage rolling off of him, like pulses of energy.

“He needs to be brought in for questioning.” The Maser touched the monitor set into the table. Seconds later a guard stepped inside. “I want Counseur Keeghan detained and brought in immediately.” The male bowed and left quickly.

“I’d like to be there when he’s questioned.” Jenson knew being near the male likely responsible for Merrick’s shooting was going to be a test of his self-control, but he had some questions of his own.

“Of course, I….” A chime sounded from the Alecteran’s communicator, which was clipped to his robes. He held up his hand, silently requesting a moment. “I thought I said I was not to be disturbed?” he spoke into the device, obviously irritated.

“I’m very sorry to bother you, Maser Luda,” a contrite voice answered. “But you asked to be contacted immediately if there was a change in Commander Weir’s condition.”

Jenson felt his chest constrict with worry.

“Yes, of course,” the leader said, meeting Jenson’s gaze. “How is he?”

“He’s waking up, Sir.”

Thank you, Gary, for being an amazing editor and friend.    Thank you to all of you who read and support the story.