Chapter 36
“We didn’t expect to be back here so soon to pick you up, Admiral.” Harrington said with a broad smile as Garret strode onto the Adamant’s bridge, having managed to elude the security escort Devin or Davin had probably arranged for the moment he came onboard. The ship was docked at the Atrix docks above Peladon and Garret had boarded through the docking hatch on the starboard side. He was wearing his black uniform coveralls and had Paul in his arms.
His four-month old son was quietly watching all the bright lights of the bridge with a smile on his face.
“The Deliberatorium didn’t want to spend too much time meeting when things are happening at such a rapid pace.” Garret said as he moved to stand near the three command seats in the center of the bridge. “We approved the war time budget and we’ll meet again once things are over.”
“Would you look at him?” Harrington actually cooed as she got out of her chair and leaned in to make funny faces at Paul who looked at her like she was insane before giggling softly.
“So your plan is to proceed?” Darenal asked as he got up from his tactical station and also leaned in over Paul to get the boy’s attention. Paul reached out and tugged on the man’s nose, getting a laugh from both of them. Garret could understand their fascination with his son. Paul was quite the charmer, even at four months of age. Already his pale blond hair was thick on his head, and his green eyes looked at the worlds around him with wonder.
“Yes, although the timing is a bit more than the six months Lumbardon wanted.” Garret said with a shrug. “If we were still on that timetable, the attack of Obduros would be beginning now. Fortunately for everyone involved, they see the need for the fleet components to work together and we’ll be doing work ups over the next two months before we actually begin the attack. He’ll be leading it himself.”
“What of us?” Harrington asked as Paul managed to grasp a strand of her brown hair that was now long enough to reach her shoulders. He had a strong grip and she winced as he pulled on the hair. She carefully pried it out of his grip while he laughed at her expression. “The little tyke manipulates as well as his father.”
“Hush now, Alex.” Darenal said with a smile. “You’ll be as proud of our first child as he is of his.”
“Be nice Ricko, or I’ll make you bear the child.” Harrington shot back with a frown. Garret was still not quite sure if he believed the memory of her coming to him to ask for his blessings on marrying Ricko Darenal. A native of Atrix Prime, where large families were the norm, Darenal was already looking forward to getting her pregnant while she was still trying to adjust to the fact that she had actually married someone.
“You never know what the geneticists will make happen next.” Darenal shrugged off the joke with a smile. “The side trip through the anomaly is still on then?”
“Yes, we’ll summon up the fleet.” Garret said.
“How many ships?” Darenal asked.
“We’ll leave a few destroyers for security patrols around Atrix Prime.” Garret answered his question seriously. “Everything else will leave with us. We have two months to be ready. That’s forty-three ships from Atrix Prime, and we’ll be practicing with the fleet I command from the Republic Navy. Lumbardon authorized us to have both carriers and most of the border fleet to escort us into the Obduros invasion. We’ll spend the last three weeks before the invasion practicing with assault ships from the regular fleet. In the end my task groups will command nearly a hundred ships into the battle. Admiral Jasper will command the carrier battle groups while Commodore Lars commands his fleet in isolating the orbiting space station and other facilities. We’ll be sending over three hundred ships into the battle altogether.”
“That explains the second star on your uniform.” Harrington said with a smile. Garret had been promoted two days ago to the rank of Rear Admiral. He wondered if he’d make Lefhaus Admiral, and his third star, in record time as well, or if he’d remain a two-star Rear Admiral for decades until he got near the normal age for promotion to three-stars.
“Yes, well we’ve got the tricky job.” Garret said. “Are we ready to leave or do we need to wait for supplies?”
“I figured we’d take on supplies at Atrix Prime.” Harrington answered. “We’ve got all the latest entertainment files stored away in Ada’s memory banks, and we’ve got two retired musicians who are looking forward to an interesting final career now that they’ve realized their retirement was too boring.”
“I assume they were cleared for this and understand they’ll probably never return to the Republic?” Garret asked although he was sure he already knew the answer.
“Yes, they understand.” Darenal said. “They lost their son in that recent scuffle where Leonev laid a trap for the blockade. He was on the cruiser that was gutted.”
“I see.” Garret frowned. Leonev had been moving his forces more in recent months as the deadline kept approaching for the promised invasion. Still, nothing he did at this point would really change the outcome. His shipyards had rolled out two hastily built cruisers and three destroyers, but he lacked badly needed supplies like engine components, computers, and citeesium ore for armor to finish the battleship under construction, much less start new ships.
“How did you pry him away from Neal and Masako?” Harrington asked, referring to Paul who had returned to his staring at the various bridge stations, and the crew who were making faces at him.
“I got lucky.” Garret said with a nonchalant shrug. Poor Paul must feel like a rope in a tug-of-war game at times as Garret rivaled with both Neal and Masako to spend time with Paul in his arms.
“I should have known you’d have him up here.” Neal’s voice from behind him caused Garret to sigh while Harrington and Darenal chuckled. “I don’t know what poor Paul’s values are going to be like with his father carrying him around the bridges of warships and sneaking him into top secret planning sessions with the most senior officers of the Republic!”
“Oh fine, take him.” Garret said sourly, ignoring the smile on Neal’s face while he pretended to be offended. Paul gurgled happily as he was transferred to Neal’s arms. The child was going to grow up thinking he had three parents at this rate.
“He’ll have plenty of time in his life to play starship captain.” Neal said in a chiding tone, although he had a bright smile. “Now though, it’s time for him to eat.”
“I don’t think I’ve heard that kid cry once, even after his first jump.” Harrington said as Neal strode off the bridge with Paul in his arms.
“You weren’t there in the residence wing of the Manor for the first month.” Garret said with a frown at the memory. Even in his own room, Garret still heard Paul’s cries when he woke up several times every night. Poor Neal had been exhausted until Masako forced him to get some rest in a room other than the one Paul was in at the same time. She’d spent two nights sleeping in the room with Paul. After that, all three of them rotated, two nights with Paul, two nights in their own beds. That ended up working the best; right up until Imaline had her child. Fortunately they’d left shortly after that happened, and Garret got to say hello to his new nephew, Frederick, before leaving on Adamant for the short session of the Deliberatorium and high-level planning meetings with the senior military officers of the Republic.
“Yeah, well, I try to stay out of your family politics.” Harrington said acerbically. “I can never figure out who is on the okay list or who is in the dog house.”
“Or who is doing who.” Darenal said and Garret glared at the two of them while they chuckled at each other’s jokes. At least they had spoken softly enough it was unlikely anyone heard them, although given how his crew gossiped, that wouldn’t mean much.
“I’m glad to see my personal life is such good fodder for your amusement.” Garret said in a tight voice that only set them off to laughing harder. “I’m sure all of Calos will appreciate hearing your comments.”
“Oh calm down, Admiral.” Harrington said with a shake of her head. “We all feel like we’re part of your family so we’re laughing at ourselves as much as at you, and you won’t find a soul in uniform on this ship that will talk to anyone who doesn’t belong here about anything to do with your family that the public doesn’t already know.”
“Most of the time they won’t even talk about that much.” Darenal snorted with a serious look at Garret who relaxed slightly.
“Sorry, I’m edgy with everything going on right now.” Garret apologized. They both nodded and returned to their seats, leaving the center seat for Garret. Two hours later they were sixteen light-years away, well off the beaten path, and accelerating at eighty-percent of maximum thrust for their next jump. As he left the bridge with Harrington in charge, he allowed himself to be amazed at just how natural it had felt to order the ship away from dock and through the accelerator. It was almost like he hadn’t been gone from the ship for months, and the crew reacted to his commands as if he’d been there every day. A large part of that was due to Harrington, and he had an old debate in his head over whether he should get her a command of her own, or hold on to her more tightly for the way she effortlessly moved back and forth between being Adamant’s commander or executive officer.
You try to transfer her and I’ll give you a feedback headache for a week. Ada growled in his head and he laughed while passing a group of 02 Model Marines. They nodded at him as he passed them and he kept laughing at his ship until the skin on the back of his neck stood up straight. Ada felt his alarm and the source of it and reacted just as quickly. They are not mine!
Garret ducked into a ball and rolled along the deck just as the first low-power blaster shot arced through where he’d been standing. Three more shots hit the deck just behind him before he stopped rolling and came up with the small hold-out blaster he’d had in a shoulder holster. The first shot out of the blaster hit the deck in front of the four crouching clones, causing them to miss their shots at him. He rolled again just in time to dodge their next shots as Ada screamed and alarms went off all around him. Two of his attackers turned to face boots rushing up the hallway, but not in time as several blaster shots tore through them. Garret felled one of his remaining attackers and twisted sideway in time so that the blast from the last one didn’t hit his chest. Instead it hit his arm and he flew backwards from the kinetic force of the shot. The smells of burnt cloth filled the hallway, and burning meat as Devin and Davin led a team of three Marines in gunning down the last attacker. Garret felt himself sliding into unconsciousness, almost wishing he wouldn’t wake up because he knew the lecture he was going to get from those two.
His right arm hurt, as did the back of his head, but the adrenaline was flowing through Garret still and he shook his head to clear it as he opened his eyes. His vision was blurry at first but cleared quickly as he realized Devin and Davin were both leaning over him as he lay sprawled on the deck, his back up against the bulkhead. Everything was just noise to his ears as they tried to talk to him while Ada kept on shouting things in his head that didn’t quite make sense.
“Shut up, all of you.” Garret half-shouted and for a moment things were quiet. He moved to stand up, but a shock of pain from his arm kept him in place. He looked at his right arm and was surprised to see the hole where the blaster had punched through his uniform, but only a singe mark on the dark blue undershirt. “What the hell?”
“The underclothes are made from the fibers of a plant native to Atrix Prime, my lord.” Davin said in a hushed voice as Ada moaned in Garret’s head. “It’s similar to artificial fibers that lomex is based on, but it’s natural and it has certain natural properties that protect from flash energy like that in a hand blaster. More powerful blasters will penetrate it, but it does provide some protection, which is why I had Neal make sure you started wearing them a few months ago.”
“You didn’t see fit to tell me?” Garret said angrily.
“We thought you knew.” Devin said defensively. “Your arm’s probably bruised, maybe broken from the kinetic energy of the blast. A stretcher is on its way, my lord. Just stay still until it arrives.”
“I’ll not be carried to sickbay on a stretcher.” Garret snapped. “Help me up, I’ll walk there.”
“As you command, my lord.” Devin said in a grating tone as the two helped Garret to his feet. Once upright, he got a good look at the bodies of the four clones. Devin saw his gaze on them and his voice shook as he spoke again. “They’re wearing Adamant uniforms, but no blue underclothes. They must have overpowered one of our teams on shore leave and taken their uniforms. We’ll have to find out how they passed the guards at the boarding hatch.”
“Don’t forget to find out what happened to the crewmen whose uniforms they’re wearing.” Garret ordered and both of them nodded. The passageway was filled with marines, all wearing blue underclothes, and they’d gone so far as to open up the front of their uniform coveralls so the blue was easily visible. It had been the absence of the blue clothing that had given Garret the slightest bit of warning before they had attacked. Alarms still rang in the ship, and he realized something else was wrong. “What else is wrong? Were there more than these four?”
“Yes, sir, there were at least two more teams of four.” Devin said softly.
“Where did they attack?” Garret asked with a queasy feeling in his gut.
“One team attacked your quarters, my lord.” Davin’s voice was soft, and Garret closed his eyes as he prepared to hear the worst. “They overpowered the guards outside and forced their way in, but the sounds of the fight outside gave the Lady Atrix and your companion Neal time to prepare.”
“What happened?” Garret asked.
“The Lady shot two of the attackers as they stormed into the cabin.” Davin said with a hint of pride showing in his voice. “Neal took the other two on in unarmed combat. When the security detail arrived, they had to pry him off the bodies. He was trying to turn them into mashed pulp and doing a good job of it.”
“What about the other team?” Garret asked after taking a deep breath and exhaling it slowly. He’d never been as grateful for Neal choosing to bond with him as he was at that moment.
“They attacked Speaker Lars and her husband.” Devin answered and Garret stiffened at the tone of his voice. “I’m sorry my lord, we’ve failed you. Speaker Lars is on her way to sickbay. She managed to fell one of her attackers before she was shot. Her husband felled two more before he was overpowered. Our security teams arrived before the intruders could finish the job and kill them.”
“Where’s Timat now?” Garret asked.
“He is on his way to sickbay as well.” Davin answered. “Sir, you will have our resignations as soon as…”
“Stuff it.” Garret said harshly, to them as well as to the wailing Ada who was claiming it was all her fault. “Figure out how they did this and make improvements so our enemies will have to work harder to achieve something like this next time. I knew you two had a security team waiting for me when I boarded and I dodged them of my own free will. I’m as much to blame in this as you are. We’re at war, and I should have been much more security conscious, but I wasn’t. Now, help me to sickbay and begin your investigation!”
“Yes, my lord.” Both of them said at once and supported him as he walked down the passageway, past the bodies and towards the lift. The ship was spinning still, and he was glad when they’d finally entered the sickbay and he could sit down on one of the beds. An orderly saw him and paled before rushing over.
“I’ll get one of the doctors.” He said in a rush. “They’re both prepping for surgery but I’ll…”
“Not bother them until they’ve tended to my parents and saved their lives.” Garret snapped at the orderly who stopped dead in his tracks. “Get me the senior nurse who isn’t helping to save the lives of two people who are very important to me.”
“Yes, my lord.” The orderly said weakly before racing across the room to gather a nurse who had just entered from another room. He herded her over to Garret.
“You were injured to, my lord?” She said with surprise while Davin began to fill her in on what had happened to Garret. She clucked her tongue and began to issue orders to the orderly. Three hours later, Garret knew his arm was bruised badly, but not broken, and he had a mild concussion. The nurse refused to let him out of sickbay, and since Harrington had shown up minutes after Garret, the nurse’s orders were affirmed by her. Garret wasn’t about to piss Harrington off from that look on her face.
“My lord, we’ve finished operating on your father.” The first of the doctors, a middle-aged man raised and trained on Atrix Prime said four hours after the surgery had begun. He looked tired, but he also looked nervous as he talked with Garret. “He’s going to be fine, but it’s going to take weeks for him to fully recover. It is my understanding we’re heading to Atrix Prime. The medical facilities there will be able to help him recover, and they have the physical therapy technicians who will help him recover full use of his right leg.”
“He was hit in the leg?” Garret asked.
“A blaster wound to the right leg, a knife wound to his abdomen, and another blaster wound to his left shoulder were his primary injuries.” The doctor replied.
“Thank you for your hard work.” Garret said and the doctor bowed his head before leaving. It took two more hours for the other surgery to finish, and Garret steeled himself for the bad news as the older doctor approached. This doctor was trained and raised on Peladon, and like the first Adamant’s doctor had been in the Republic Military for a very long time.
“Speaker Atrix, I’ve got good and bad news.” The doctor said tiredly. “Speaker Lars is going to live, but I can’t guarantee she’ll ever walk again. Her spinal cord was severely damaged, and a good portion of her intestinal tract is severely damaged. If we can get cloned intestines grown in time, we’ll be able to replace them, but as you know replacing damaged neural cording is more difficult. The parts can be grown rapidly in a cloning chamber, but melding them with existing tissue is difficult. At the least, she’s going to need a series of extensive surgeries. My colleague tells me the facilities on Atrix Prime are capable of this work, but we need to get there fast, or return to Peladon.”
“What do you recommend, Doctor?” Garret asked him quietly while trying to push down the horror inside him. He wanted Masako, Neal, and Paul around him, but Davin wasn’t letting them out of the cabin just yet. He’d put two full squads on guard detail around them.
“I’ve only been to Atrix Prime once, and that was just for two days.” The doctor answered with a heavy exhalation. “Still, their medical facilities that I saw are first-rate, on a par with the best on Peladon. I’ve also examined and been given the full psychological profiles on that 05 Model clone you’ve got with you, and I’d have to say their cloning techniques are first rate. If they’re as good as I think, your mother might very well walk again. Still, that’s only if we can get there fast.”
“We’ll be going to Atrix Prime.” Garret told him and he nodded before walking off. Garret closed his eyes and thought to Ada. Dear, will you pass a message to Alexandra for me?
Only if you forgive me for failing you… Ada bawled and Garret sighed.
Ada, if you keep doing this, I will be mad Garret told her. You were forgiven before you asked, so long as you do your part to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
I will, I will! Ada said in a moan.
Good, now tell Alexandra that I want us to accelerate at maximum speed and jump as soon as we reach the minimum speed. Garret ordered. Also, have her stretch the reactors to as much extra energy as we can get for the jump. If we push it, we’ll be able to make it in one last big jump instead of two smaller ones. That’ll put us close enough that a maximum acceleration will get us through the anomaly twelve hours quicker. Time’s important, dear, we need to get to Atrix Prime as fast as possible.
I am telling her now. Ada assured him and Garret sighed as he laid back and closed his eyes, not wanting to think about anything. The nurse approached with a sympathetic look on her face and held out a little cup for him. He knew it was one of the most powerful painkillers ever made, and it would work on him like a very strong aspirin to an unmodified human. When he’d gratefully drunk it down, he realized it was laced with some type of sleeping medication, probably very powerful but just enough to still his racing thoughts and allow him a few hours of light sleep.
“Is the prognosis good?” Helga Holden said two days later as Garret sat with her in the office that had lately belonged to her father. The old Governor still helped her several days a week, but he’d taken up permanent residence on the planet below them, along with his wife.
“They expect to have the parts cloned in time, and they expect to be able to repair the damage to her spinal cord and her intestinal tract.” Garret said with another sigh of relief. They’d gotten here quickly, and the doctors were quite certain they’d be able to help his mother. Timat was still in the hospital, but was recovering satisfactorily as well, and Garret had been amused that his father had already summoned several geneticists to his hospital bed for ‘talks’. Neal had been very edgy since the attack, almost paranoid every time someone came near them, and obviously torn between wanting to accompany Garret anywhere he went and staying with Masako and Paul. As soon as they’d docked and Garret had met with Helga and Sven, they’d summoned two psychologists who specialized in the 05 Models and whisked Neal off for some mental care.
“I’m glad to hear that.” Helga said with a genuine smile. “The tales of your parents and your wife’s defense against the attackers is already spreading across Atrix Prime. Your families are heroes, and we look forward to the honor of caring for them as they recover.”
“They’ll be here a lot longer than they intended, that’s for sure.” Garret said grimly. “We’ll have to tell the Chief Speaker as soon as we’re back in Republic space and up to speed for wave-fold communications. I believe we’ll declare they are recovering in a safe, undisclosed location for now. Their factors back on Peladon can handle House affairs until they are recovered, or Billy can if he can be spared. He’ll have to be, I guess.”
“We were all lucky the attacks failed, for the most part.” Helga said.
“They did enough damage as it was.” Garret groused. “I hate to think what might have happened if they’d succeeded.”
“It would have been truly horrible.” Helga said sourly. “We had just begun to realize that we really do have an Atrix to lead us again. To lose you, and your son would have been beyond belief.”
“Yes, well, let’s continue on with our business.” Garret said. “The war won’t wait for us to come to terms with what nearly happened. What is the word on my requests?”
“You orders are being fulfilled even now, Lord Atrix.” She said in a tone that let him know what he politely referred to as ‘requests’ bore the weight of orders with her. “We shall have forty-three ships ready in two weeks’ time. Every planet assault and troop carrier ship we have will be ready to meet your needs. On board those ships and their escorts will be seventy-six thousand, eight hundred troops. We’re only keeping a handful of ships here; the rest will go with you. We’ve also made good progress on those special cargo pods for the heavy lifters we have used to ferry supplies to the Republic. They will be ready in two weeks as well. Four of the troop transports and assault ships are ready to leave now, along with two cruiser and fifteen destroyers.”
“Pass the word, we leave in the morning.” Garret said grimly. “Has there been any word on Neal?”
“He is much better, but the Chief Psychologist of the 05 team wishes to speak with you before they return him to you tonight.” Helga answered and Garret nodded. “If you are ready, you can meet him right after we are done. He is on the station.
“I’ll do that.” Garret said. “Neal’s been missed by both me and Masako these last few days.”
“It’s always like that.” Helga said.
They continued talking, getting into the details and specifics of the fleet preparation and making arrangements for the supply ships to come through along with the rest of the fleet in two weeks. The ships he was taking with him would form the core of his assault fleet, and would begin practice operations immediately. Then he’d have a few weeks to work with the rest of the ships when they came through and made the trip to Calos. After they were done, he headed down to the level where the psychologist was staying.
“Lord Atrix, thank you for seeing me.” The tall, well-built man said with an affable smile. Garret had expected a thin, or maybe a fat old man with white hair and a tweed jacket. This man looked to be in his late thirties and so physically fit he could run a marathon.
“How is Neal, Doctor?” Garret asked with some concern.
“Considering the experience he went through, quite well.” The man answered. “He’s progressed near the top of the bench marks for his model and most of that I believe is to the wonderful care given by you and your family. He’s a natural fit with you, as is usually the case with the 05 Model. Still, the recent event had him shook up. Normally they don’t have to experience things like this until they are older. Still, he’s made good progress. We do still have some concerns, though, and hope you will be able to address them.”
“If he stays with me, he’ll see combat again, and it might be as personal as this again.” Garret said calmly. “I know he can’t stay here, he’s bonded with us. Maybe I should just make sure he stays with Masako when I go off to war.”
“That would be the worst thing you could do, Lord Atrix.” The doctor said with a grave frown.
“Why?” Garret asked confused.
“He has bonded well with all of your family, but his bond to you is especially tight.” The psychologist explained patiently. “What has him so off-balance right now is the fear that you might go away to war and never come back, or might be attacked again. He needs to be assured by your presence, so we are recommending that wherever you go you keep him with you for at least the next three months.”
“I see.” Garret said, mulling it over. “Okay, I’ll make sure he stays with me on the ship, and when we go into battle, he will be there on the bridge with me.”
“I don’t think you understand, my lord.” The man said with a shake of his head. “Once we return him to you, he’s going to cling to you like a second skin. He will need to be with you wherever you go, even if it is into the refresher to urinate, or to shower. In fact, the shower should be something you do with him every day, and let him clean you before or after you clean him. The tactile contact with you in such an intimate environment will help him readjust very well. Also, you will have to curtail any amorous activities for the next few months with people other than Neal.”
“What do you mean ‘other than Neal’?” Garret asked sharply. “Neal’s not sixteen yet, he doesn’t turn fifteen for another week.”
“He needs all the personal intimacy he can get with you, my lord.” The man said with a slight blush. “I know under Republic law such relations between a man your age and a boy of fourteen are legal, but we don’t usually encourage it until age sixteen or preferably eighteen on Atrix Prime. Still, Neal needs as much assurance as he can get. The trauma of facing down attackers, with the rage it created in him is bad enough. The true damage though came when he realized that he still almost lost you, and you were away from him when it happened. He now has deep doubts about your desire for him as part of your family, and even deeper fears that he will lose you if you ever leave his sight. He has been heavily sedated while in our care, but his fears have kept him almost frantic. If you can bring yourself to do it, initiating a physical relationship with him now will hasten his acceptance of the fact that you still want him and that he is a permanent part of your life.”
“I see.” Garret said softly. It had been months since he’d thought of Neal in a sexual way, and he wondered if he could do that again. Neal was almost as precious to him as Paul was, and Garret rarely lacked for bed partners. “When can I see him?”
“The sooner the better, but you should be prepared for him to not leave your side from the moment he sees you.” The doctor warned him.
“Where is he?” Garret asked.
“We brought him up in the shuttle and he’s in the station’s medical ward, isolation area.”
“Thank you for your assistance.” Garret said as he turned to leave.
“It was our honor, my lord.” The man said with a little bow as Garret left the small room and headed to the medical ward. He found Neal soon enough. The red-haired boy was sitting on a bed in the isolation room as Garret entered, crying into his cupped hands.
“Neal?” Garret’s voice was soft. Neal’s head jerked up at the sound of Garret’s voice, and hope warred with dejection on his face. He looked so miserable, the freckled face was wet with tears while the teen’s green eyes were puffy, that Garret’s heart flip-flopped in his chest and he crossed over to take Neal into his arms.
“No.” Neal muttered while at the same time his arms wrapped around Garret’s torso and pulled him in tight. A small part of Garret’s mind noted how their groins were pushed together even as Neal’s legs lifted to wrap around Garret’s thighs. Neal was wearing just his blue underclothes, tight shirt and ankle-length leggings. “You’re here, you don’t want me anymore.”
“I’m here because I do want you.” Garret said in a smooth voice, kissing Neal’s red hair gently. Neal lifted his face so that his lips met Garret’s. The fierce passion of the kiss and the tightness of his body against Garret’s caused the expected reaction. What wasn’t quite expected was the feeling welling up in Garret.
“No.” Garret said softly, breaking the kiss and Neal started sobbing. “I can’t do this.”
“You don’t want me.” Neal wailed.
“I do want you, my son.” Garret said softly, all too aware of Neal’s hard flesh against his black uniform coveralls. “But that’s the thing; you’re my son, not one of my lovers.”
“I don’t want to be one of your sons.” Neal said belligerently. “I want you to make love to me.”
“No, you don’t.” Garret said softly as he kissed Neal’s head. “I’m proud of you, you saved Masako and Paul.”
“But you almost died.” Neal wailed. “I won’t let you leave me again.”
“That’s fine, you’ll be by my side from now on.” Garret assured him.
“No I won’t.” Neal said petulantly. “I’ll be in the next room over and you’ll have Billy or Lukas, or one of your other men in your bed and I’ll be in another room, away from you.”
“No, you won’t.” Garret assured him softly, hoping he wasn’t going to regret this. “You’ll be in my bed with me for as long as you need, and it’ll be just us.”
“So you are going to finally take me?” Neal asked with hope beaming in his face. Garret kissed his cheek gently, but pulled back when Neal tried to make it a mouth-on-mouth kiss.
“You’ll be in my bed, but we won’t have sex.” Garret said. “You’re my son, that’s how I think of you, and I’m very proud of you. I’ll not have our relationship changed by sex.”
“But you can’t do that.” Neal said softly. “You go crazy if you don’t have sex at least every other day.”
“I’ll be fine.” Garret assured him gently. “You’re more important to me than sex.”
“I am?” Neal asked as if he didn’t believe that.
“Yes, you are.” Garret said, knowing full well how true the words were, and he was surprised by them. Just saying it opened a door inside his mind, and he realized just how much he had changed since his son was born. Always before there had been a self-centered focus to him, but now he had more important things to live for. “Now, let’s get you some clothes so we can head out of this place. We have work to get done.”
“Okay.” Neal said with a slight smile, and he got up from the bed he’d been sitting on and pulled Garret over to a nearby closet where he pulled out a pair of white docking crew coveralls he’d been wearing recently. Somehow he got dressed while not losing his grip on Garret’s hand, although Garret had to help him with his boots. The entire time, he kept at least one hand on Garret, and when they left the room, his hand was in Garrets, their fingers intertwined.
When he visited his mother, who still had the full use of her hands, she had some final words and gave him a pad full of orders to be transmitted to her factors on Peladon. She didn’t like the confinement or long term stay on Atrix Prime, but knew it was her best chance for a full recovery. Garret finished his farewells to her, kissing her on the forehead before going over to his father’s bed and repeating the process. The entire time, Neal was beside him, actually more curled against Garret than next to him. When they left, Garret headed for the Adamant where Masako should be waiting. They’d leave the next morning, but Garret wanted to spend some time with his wife and son.
That evening Garret helped Neal move his things into Garret’s private bedroom. Masako watched with a worried frown until Garret managed to get Neal to go pick up Paul. Neal kept an eye on Paul and an eye on Garret as Garret sat on a couch in the main room of the cabin, whispering the story of Neal’s issues into Masako’s ears. She giggled when Garret got to the part about his not wanting to have sex with Neal, and why, and his commitment to having Neal in his bed without sex.
“I give you two days before you break that promise.” Masako whispered back as she giggled some more while standing up and taking Paul from Neal, who practically bolted back to Garret’s side. It was the longest time he’d spent out of touch with Garret all day. The next morning they pulled out from the Helix Space Station and set course for the anomaly with over thirty ships in formation with them. As soon as they passed through the anomaly, the fleet began a rapid acceleration.
The night before had left Garret with little sleep. He and Neal had crawled into bed, wearing nothing but their blue underclothes, and Neal had melted into Garret so that every part of his body was touching Garret’s. Neal had fallen asleep immediately, but Garret had lain awake with the soft body touching him, and he’d grown painfully erect. When he finally did fall asleep, he woke barely an hour later to the feeling of Neal humping him. The boy’s erection was quite thick, and grinding into Garret’s with a great deal of force. Neal was asleep though, and before Garret could wake him he let out a moan and his body shook for a few moments before he fell into a deep, dreamless slumber. Garret was mortally embarrassed, and very, very erect. He’d still been erect when he showered with the boy later that morning, but he’d still managed to gently slap away Neal’s hands every time they gripped Garret’s erection.
“You okay, sir?” Harrington asked as he shifted in his command seat. Neal was sitting in his lap, to the amusement of everyone on the bridge, and Garret was hard again with Neal’s butt in his lap. The boy knew it too, from the way he’d grind his butt and then giggle a bit. Now he was playing with Garret’s command panel, trying to see what he could get it to do. Fortunately, Ada had disabled the inputs for any weapons fire or course changes. They were nearing jump speed, and Garret was wishing they could go just a bit faster.
“I’m fine.” Garret finally answered Harrington, who giggled for some reason. Garret met her eyes and he knew that she knew. Masako had eaten with her this morning, so he assumed Masako had told her everything.
“What if you tried to switch the gravitic drives to full slow at this speed?” Neal asked Garret, drawing his attention away from Harrington for a moment.
“If you’re not careful, we’ll all splatter against the wall.” Garret joked but instantly regretted it from the way Neal pulled his hand back from the control panel and got a look of horror on his face. “Sorry, it was a joke.”
“Oh, okay.” Neal said and moved to push the button. Garret stopped him with a hand, and Neal took the hand in his twining their fingers again before leaning back against his chest and falling asleep with his head on Garret’s shoulder.
“He is in love with you, beyond the normal bonding.” Darenal said softly from his seat behind and to Garret’s left. “I think he’s confused between wanting you as a father figure and wanting you as a lover, but he does love you in both ways.”
“I’ll be a father first.” Garret said softly, taking a deep breath of the wonderful scent of Neal’s hair. “If I want a lover I’ve got plenty of options there. Sons, now those are more precious.”
“Yes, they are.” Darenal said while Harrington harrumphed.
“How long until we reach speed?” Garret asked.
“Another few hours.” Harrington answered.
Neal was standing next to Garret’s chair when they’d finally reached the required speed. His hand was on Garret’s shoulder though, and his eyes were locked on Garret’s face. Somehow Garret was growing accustomed to the contact, and did not mind it all that much.
“Priority message coming in over wave-fold!” Markal shouted right after they’d just reached the necessary speed. “Fleet HQ is demanding by automated message we report in before making any jump!”
“Respond to the call.” Garret ordered calmly, although he felt a sense of doom approaching. Had the attack just been confined to them or had there been other targets?
“Sir, Supreme Commander Lumbardon for you!” Markal said excitedly as he switched the message to the holoprojector in front of the helm station. Lumbardon had rings under his eyes, and a grim look on his face.
“We thought you might be dead.” Lumbardon’s voice was gravelly.
“Almost.” Garret said sourly. “I take it there were more assassination teams than those on my ship?”
“How many did you have?” Lumbardon asked. “Are there any casualties?”
“There were three teams of four, and they are all dead.” Garret answered. “Speaker Lars and my father were severely injured but are recovering for now in an undisclosed location. We’re transmitting orders to her estate for them to follow during her absence. It will be a few months before she’s able to walk again. Timat’s injuries are less severe, but he will stay with her until she is recovered. You have my word they are in a safe place, a very safe place.”
“Well, we are all grateful that everyone made it through okay.” Lumbardon said. “Speaker Tremere wasn’t so lucky. He’s dead. We’ve contacted his daughter-in-law on Calos and she has ordered his body shipped back there and is preparing to act as Regent for the House until her oldest son is ready to take charge. I am given to understand he’s been training in your House with your Chief of Staff?”
“Yes, he has.” Garret said with a bow of his head out of respect for Tremere. He’d never brought himself to really like the man, but Tremere had more than made up for what he’d done to Garret at the end of the Great War. “I will discuss with her how Atrix can help her and her House.”
“Several others had close calls, but that was the only death.” Lumbardon said. “They had nearly three hundred commandos disguised as Republic clones. I believe you can figure out where they came from?”
“Yes.” Garret said. Leonev’s people had probably hidden bolt-hole produced clones in captured cargo ships and then dispersed them to key locations.
“They caused a lot of damage, but they were a distraction.” Lumbardon continued grimly. “I have immediate orders for you. We were trying to figure out how to do this without you and your forces, but now we don’t have to worry about that.”
“What’s happened?” Garret asked with alarm.
“Leonev’s forces broke through the blockade.” Lumbardon answered. “They’ve been fooling us as far as their ship production capabilities. Leonev’s produced a large number of small laser torpedo boats in shipyards on the planets he controls. We never discovered them. They appear to be armed with two Type VI lasers and have four torpedoes on external wing pods. These ships are just a little bigger than courier ships and are jump capable.
“Leonev had his fleet carriers begin building up speed to jump out, and when we jumped in on them, Leonev launched these torpedo boats from the surface of his planets. Our blockade forces took heavy damage when they jumped in, and Leonev’s main battle carrier fleets managed to escape before our fleet destroyed most of the torpedo boats. Lexington took heavy damage and will be under repair for weeks, if not longer.”
“Where did their ships go?” Garret asked.
“One battle group went to Androsia, and is attacking it now.” Lumbardon answered. “I am preparing to leave with a fleet to go after them before they can get the resources they need from that planet, mostly electronics and the components of weapon systems not available on their three planets.”
“The other battle group?” Garret asked.
“It’s in orbit over Lemos.” Lumbardon said gravely. “We just received reports the defenses there surrendered to overwhelming forces. I don’t need to tell you how bad things will be if they get away with that much ore for armor and more ore for fuel. Several hours ago I ordered your two escort carriers and their protective ships to build up speed and head to Lemos. Commodore Lars is supposed to be leading them, developing a plan to deny any bounty for Leonev from Lemos. You will meet him at the rendezvous point I’ll have sent to your ship’s computer and take command of your combined forces there. I assume you have enough ships to take care of the job, based on our conversations a few days ago?”
“I do, Supreme Commander.” Garret said in a tight voice as Neal’s hand gripped his shoulder tightly.
“Then get to it, Admiral, and good hunting.” Lumbardon said as his image winked out.
“Good hunting to all of us.” Garret said softly.
As with all my stories, E provides immeasurable input, grammar checking, and all those other lovely editing thingies that make the story so much better!
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