"I meant to ask you about that, General," the Palian said, to Corden's surprise.
"What about them?" he asked.
"It doesn't feel right," Yarel offered, clearly aware he was treading on dangerous topics. "May I speak honestly?"
"Yes."
"I know the bindings are sacred to you. If it was anyone else, I would not doubt the bond for a second. For example, when you claimed Captain Cormac was your fated, I knew you were telling the truth."
"I remember."
"But a man like that... I feel like something's wrong."
"Like what?" Corden asked.
"It's too convenient," said the Palian. "He needs a gesha and can't find her. The whole danger idea was valid, but the fact he does indeed find her is too—"
"Unbelievable," Corden finished, deep in thought.
Perhaps the Palian was right. For Brions, it was unimaginable that a man would lie about the bond. Corden had been shocked to see the recognizing moment happen, but even he had not questioned it. But Yarel was not a Brion and he was far from stupid, so the general had to consider his words. Did the Palian see something he hadn't? What he was saying was true. It was awfully convenient for a gesha to present herself like that, in a made-up situation. Not unheard of, but highly unlikely.
"It's almost impossible to know for sure," Corden said after a moment of consideration, "but I don't think what you're suggesting is out of the realm of possibility."
He could practically see the weight lifting from Yarel's shoulders. The Palians were not a species that sought conflict. The commander took a great risk, suggesting something that contradicted Brion core values. Corden appreciated courage in all its forms, including speaking up even if it meant angering a dangerous ally.
"I thought you should know," Yarel concluded. "As for the ship, yes, I will take control of it. Captain Cormac has a lot on her mind to deal with insignificant matters. It is better that she handles General Worgen and this course change. I only fear for the Torons. What Worgen did to them..."
The Palian couldn't go on. For Brions, the Toron history was a nasty event, but the Palians found it physically repulsive. It stood against everything they believed in.
"I will handle the Torons."
The Palian nodded. "That's good, General, but I can't imagine how even you could calm them down after something like this."
"I have no intention of calming them down. I just need to aim their need for revenge. Which brings me to the other matter."#p#分页标题#e#
Yarel straightened up, like an officer listening to his superior. Corden noticed it, but didn't feel the need to point it out.
"The fake program needs to continue," he said. "You and Captain Cormac must keep it going. Let her handle it while you deal with restoring peace."
"Wouldn't Worgen want it to happen anyway? It was his wish, after all."
"We can't be sure," Corden said. "He definitely can't keep it up if he means to jump to Briolina's doorstep. Perhaps he thinks he has enough men or that the Abysmal is enough. Or he will jump the fleet and transport the lab to the flagship so he can continue the work there."
"That is... true," the Palian admitted. "But why should we want to keep this up?"
Something in his words brought the image of Lana before Corden's eyes again. She would still be on the front lines of that lie if they meant to continue. Yet that didn't change the facts.
"The less originals he has, the better," Corden said. "And they will be the key to getting me aboard the flagship. Not to mention Worgen has to slow down his approach to let the originals travel between the ships."
"You mean to take their place," Yarel said, his eyes shining with hope.
"Something like that," Corden admitted. "Keep that in mind. If we get to Briolina, we're as good as dead."
The smile fell from Yarel's face.
"What makes you say that?" he asked.
"The fleet," Corden said. "He no longer needs it. We have already seen he doesn't keep anyone alive because of sentiment. There is another reason and it can't be good."
"Can you guess why, General?"
Corden frowned.
"I have many guesses and none of them are pleasant. Most likely, I think the Levi gave him an idea of how to get some value out of the fleet."
A long silence followed while Yarel seemed to search for words and Corden waited.
"I will make it happen, everything you ordered," Yarel finally said, that grimness clinging to him like a shroud.
"Good," Corden replied, "then we are on the path to victory."
***
"Her name is Helia," Lana said back in her captain's quarters.
They were on course to Briolina, approaching the Brion home world slowly but surely. Corden regretted that the galaxy wasn't a bigger place. If nothing happened, they would arrive within a week.
Lana and Yarel had done well. The Palian commander had apparently explained in as few words as he could what they needed to do, judging by her words. Together, Lana said, they'd convinced Worgen that he couldn't jump to Briolina without halting the process of creating his army. Naturally they hadn't phrased it quite that way. Through some creative lies and emphasizing that they would like to save the fleet, Lana had fed the idea to Worgen.
The general had ordered the fleet into faster flight without jumps. He'd done that after Yarel had mentioned almost in passing that he might lose the fleet in the course of unpredictable jumps, that some of them might attempt to escape. Of course that was also phrased as precaution, a way to protect the fleet from its future mistakes. Corden doubted Worgen cared about the smaller ships anymore, even if he did plan to use them as ammo against Briolina. But the thought of losing the Flora was a much bigger concern, so that bought them some time.
"I don't know much else," Lana went on. "I didn't get to talk to her. But she looked so frightened when he took her away. I wish I could talk to her, say it's going to get better. What?"
Corden was lounging on the couch, watching her undress with a lust that never died, never eased up. He liked the feeling, a constant ache for her, even when she wasn't near him. And the fact she got more beautiful to him every second they were together was even better.
At first he'd been drawn to her by the bond, noticing only the overall picture. Lana was a beauty, with her big blue eyes and the cascading curls, with her divine body and the curves that he could barely keep his hands away from.
But the more he looked at her, the more the general began to notice the little things. The way a strand of her hair kept falling over her eyes, mirroring his braid. The small birthmark on her lower back, visible every time she lifted her hands up and the blouse she wore rolled up too. She had a habit of playing with the neckline, exposing her soft breasts every time she did.
"Would you say that from experience?" Corden asked, a deep hunger in his voice.#p#分页标题#e#
"Yes," Lana said, glaring, but he could see the joy in her eyes. "I want her to know that. I was scared too, but now—now I am happy, I think."
"You think," Corden repeated.
Lana smiled and it brightened up her whole face. It was the smile of someone who truly was happy and Corden couldn't have ripped his eyes from her if he'd tried.
"I am," she corrected, a hint of reprimand in her voice. "Only I wish I could enjoy it. In case you didn't notice, we're living on a spaceship that could be destroyed at any moment by the lunatic with the indestructible ship traveling before us."
Corden laughed, his deep and sonorous voice echoing through the room.
"Why are you laughing at me?" Lana asked, a sudden challenge in her eyes.
"I am not," Corden said, serious again. "He is not going to blow up the Flora until the lab is here, the Palians are here, and the most valuable warriors of his crew are here as well. We are safe for a while, as safe as we can be."
"What about the rest of the fleet?"
"They would be better off if he just forgot about them."
"Is he going to?"
"I don't think so."
"So they are in danger," Lana concluded.
Corden stood up and walked over to her, wrapping his hands around her warm, amazing body. The lust was still burning in him, but he kept it in check. As much as he wanted to experience the pleasure of fucking her again, there was something even more important. He wanted Lana by his side all the time and right now she needed his comfort more than his body.
Not that he couldn't sense her body responding to his.
"We all are," he admitted. "But it's far from hopeless. Worgen is not going to throw away his one chance at making Briolina his. You might not believe this, but he has a plan. His actions seem insane to you, but he has victory in his sights."
Lana nodded quietly, her head pressed against his chest. Corden could smell the sweet scent of her hair, and hugged her even closer.
"I don't want to upset you," he said, "but I don't think there is anything you can do for that girl right now."
Lana looked up, a frown on her beautiful face.
"Don't say that," she said, defiant, pulling away from him.
"I'm not saying we should abandon her, but the Palian was right," Corden told her. "I did not believe it at first, but Worgen is defying everything that is sacred to the Brions. To lie about the bond... it is unthinkable."