"I must report for duty, Mackenzie," he informed her regretfully. "I want you to remain here until I return."
"Is there something wrong?"
"I do not know," he told her honestly.
"I'll stay here, Nikhil," she immediately reassured him. "It's going to take a while for the guys to shave and for Paul to cut their hair. Thank you for letting me borrow a few of your knives."
"You are sure he knows how to use them?" He looked at Paul, who was inspecting one of the smaller blades Mackenzie had convinced him to allow them to use.
"Yes, Paul just told me he could when I showed them to him."
"I will be back as soon as I can, Mackenzie," he told her pulling his gaze back to her.
"I know." She rose up on her toes and gave him a gentle kiss when he leaned down. "Go, Nikhil. I'll be fine."
Giving her a stiff nod, he turned on his heel and left pausing only long enough to speak to Onp.
"With your life, Onp," he growled.
"With my life, Nikhil," Onp vowed.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"Is everything okay, Mackenzie?" Paul asked as she returned.
"I'm sure it is," she told him. "Nikhil just has to report for duty. He had planned on staying to make sure you didn't kill yourself with those," she joked, gesturing to the blades in his hands. "So can you really shave with those?"
"I'd prefer a straight razor, but these will do." He ran his hand over his own scruffy face. "I'll start with me, get a feel for the weight and balance of the blade then see who trusts me enough to shave them."
Mac smiled as he walked toward the cleansing room because she knew everyone there would trust him. Turning she went to find Jen.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Nikhil and his squad assumed their seats on the shuttle as it took off, then silently looked to General Treyvon waiting for him to inform them what was going on.
"We have intercepted a Zaludian transmission emanating from the last mine we searched," Treyvon informed them.
"We missed someone?" Nikhil questioned, and couldn't help but wonder if it was because he hadn't been there.
"Unknown as of yet," Treyvon told them. "It seems only to be transmitting mining data and could be an automated signal sent at a predesignated time. We will search every inch of that mine until we find the source of the transmission, and what, or who triggered it."
"Yes, General," they all responded.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Parlan couldn't help but smile as he watched the transports lift off and disappear over the horizon heading for the mine and the transmission he'd been able to activate remotely, thanks to the help of his friend. The plan was working perfectly and soon all those that had disparaged him would suffer. He couldn't wait to see how the strong and mighty Nikhil handled the loss of his Ashe and True Mate, and couldn't wait to see how Rayner explained how the first base reestablished on Pontus was attacked while he was in command of it. Everyone would assume it was the will of the Goddess who still hadn't forgiven Rayner for what his ancestor had done.
Humming happily to himself, he finished his last tour on the wall. Soon the Zaludians would arrive under the guise that they were the resupply ship. They would use the codes and passwords he had supplied to fool the Defender that was patrolling the space above them. They would then attack the survivors’ area killing all beings there before anyone could stop them.
When tomorrow dawned, the Kaliszian Empire would be entering a new era. A stronger, brighter one where those that should be ruling were. And he, Parlan Spada, would be one of them.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"So are you finally going to tell me?" Jen asked.
"Tell you what?" Mac turned on the cot, so she sat facing Jen.
"What this is all about." Jen reached up freeing the braid Mac had tucked behind her ear and the beads that were on it.
"They’re called Suja beads," Mac told her quietly.
"Suja beads." Jen frowned at the word. "These are what the Kaliszians wear in their hair."
"Yes. They designate a Kaliszian’s place in their society, their ancestry, and reveal their achievements," Mac told her knowing that since Jen hadn't used the educator, she wouldn't know any of this.
"They tell all that? They aren't just for decoration?"
"No. This one," she touched the bottom bead, "this one is called an Ashe bead. Ashe means Lady in Kaliszian. Nikhil offered it to me a few days ago, and I accepted it." She gave Jen an uncertain look as she continued. "It makes me his wife."
"What?!!" Jen screeched, then dipped her head as everyone looked their way. Lowering her voice she repeated. "What?"