Unwrapping Miss Milky Way Read online

  Datron watched the king’s face closely. The monarch paced a few steps, glanced toward the throne once more as if reminding himself of his obligations and then began again. It was as if the man searched for the proper words to say after such a shocking revelation of top secret events. Datron waited patiently, knowing the rest of the story would come soon. Kryllian turned, cleared his throat, and straightened his shoulders, a sign he would speak more about their presence this morning. He was sure he wasn’t going to like the news. There was an urgent look in Kryllian’s steady gaze indicating the seriousness of the subject matter.

  “As to how I know about Ms. Galaxy’s connection to Earth Protectorate…” The king paused for a long moment before continuing. “Unfortunately some of the Ussarian warriors arrested on Earth and taken back to the planet of Lucent revealed that information. Though they knew that doing so would cost them their lives, they spilled their guts to family members who were allowed to visit them during their incarceration.”

  “Sir…why were they allowed visitation privileges?” Datron quickly asked. “We were told by Lucent Constabulary the smugglers would be kept isolated so this information you just shared would remain secret.”

  “We believe someone, a high-ranking official on Lucent, allowed the prisoners’ family members to visit,” the king replied. Then he waved his hand and began to slowly pace again. “The damage is done. As a result, Ms. Galaxy’s cover is blown in certain segments of the Ussarian population. I informed Electra earlier this morning.”

  Electra bowed her head slightly. “It is my pleasure to make myself available to you, Majesty. I thank you for letting me know about the situation before the Ussarians sent assassins. Their families will seek…retaliation. Especially since several Ussarian pirates died during the operation. One of them was killed during an escape attempt after arrest. They will call for a blood hunt.”

  “Indeed,” the king replied with a solemn nod. He turned to the three enforcers. “The rest of you, under my authority, will covertly follow directives I give to the exclusion of any other orders. Is that clear?”

  Datron nodded when the others did. They were about to be sent somewhere to face Ussarians…again.

  A sinking feeling promised to ruin his day. The Ussarians were the most treacherous creatures in the known galaxy. Thwarted at every turn by law enforcement agents on many worlds, their people had taken to calling blood hunts on anyone even perceived as a threat. Or anyone assumed to have caused insult. Collateral damage always resulted. Thousands of innocents had died in the past two years alone, having gotten in the way when one Ussarian or another claimed revenge. No amount of diplomacy ever worked. And misgivings on their part notwithstanding, he had to say something about Electra’s safety.

  “Sire, speaking on behalf of myself and my crewmen, our days as undercover operatives are long over. Whether our covers are blown is of little consequence. We knew this could happen when we made ourselves noticeable as contestants in Electra’s pageant. We were certain of it after having placed highly in the contest. Furthermore, there are many on this world who know our occupations as well as our connection to Ms. Galaxy’s contest. It’s obvious the Ussarians know us as enforcers. This is not a fact we hide,” he said as he glanced down at his uniform. “As such, we have the right to defend ourselves. Ms. Galaxy however is not able to legally bear arms. Not while on our world. She should be offered safe passage back to Earth.”

  “And I’ll certainly request it,” Electra blurted, “but not until I hear exactly what’s happened. It’s obvious the Ussarians are up to more than just blowing our collective covers.”

  “Precisely,” Kryllian announced. “The damned, savaging bastards have gotten their filthy hands on more Lucent Stones. They’ve stolen two entire crates of the gems.”

  While Electra, Clitus, and Gilla gasped in shock, Datron stepped forward and stated what they all were thinking. “That’s enough dust to control bureaucrats on almost every sentient world in the galaxy!”

  “We do have some good news concerning this matter,” Kryllian continued. “Lucent authorities we still trust have run the thieves to ground, and have them pinned up on their planet’s moon. As to how the scoundrels actually got their hands on the gems, we believe miners were offered bribes—selling knowledge of any new stones they extracted. These same workers wouldn’t dare get caught using the stones for their own purposes. As I’m sure you’re all aware, the penalty for doing so on their home world is death.”

  “I don’t believe this,” Datron muttered. “The authorities swore to us this could never happen again. They assured us the smugglers we arrested two years ago wouldn’t pass on information concerning the stones’ existence or their powers. We should never have trusted them. It was their fuck-up that started this whole thing back then! Begging your pardon for the language, sire.”

  “No pardon is necessary,” Kryllian assured him. “I agree with your summation. Lucent authorities gave their word they had the mining situation closely monitored and that they would destroy any veins where more stones could be found.”

  “That entire damned planet has become a source of unspeakable power,” Electra advised. “It must be riddled with undiscovered stones lying in any one of hundreds of caves.”

  Kryllian raised his hands to stop the resulting murmurs of anger and blame. “Let me be specific about the finer points. No one on Oceanus’ High Council ever knew about those stones and neither do authorities on Earth save those connected with Ms. Galaxy. When they were originally found, Lucent’s authorities notified me personally. I kept that communication to myself. This is the main reason I sent my grandson, Keir, to make sure the gems were destroyed for good. I couldn’t take the slightest chance such uncontrollable power might get into the wrong hands. I told my fellow council members only about the theft of illegal neurological weapons and that Kier was going to Earth to retrieve those…nothing more! Electra seems to have followed these same tactics back on Earth even when I knew nothing about her except that she was a beauty pageant promoter. If we’d not taken simultaneous precautions…no matter how we all came to know about these damned stones, politicians and scientists on every known world would be after them. Who knows what they’ll be used for or by whom!”

  “Sire…it won’t take long before that very thing happens,” Datron advised. “No matter how we try to keep a lid on this, we can no longer trust Lucent’s authorities.”

  The king sighed heavily and nodded. “The entire scenario could become a diplomatic nightmare. We’re living in times dangerous to all concerned,” he gruffly informed them. “Lucent has contacted me privately…again. Their constabulary is still ineffective as already confirmed, but they do have the Ussarians cornered on their moon. The information is reliable.” He shook his head and moved closer to the group. “Knowing what could happen and waiving all responsibility, they’re asking for help from Oceanus operatives—just as they did two years ago. In short, we’re to rout those Ussarians and safely retrieve and destroy the crates of stones they stole.”

  “If we’re caught, will we refute knowledge of this mission?” Datron asked.

  “Yes,” the king asserted. “According to our political agreements, I must yield to Lucent’s requests for help. But I must obviously do so without revealing what you’re after. As it was two years ago, I don’t have to tell you about the need for secrecy. As far as I can determine, only the miners on Lucent, their officials, the Ussarians, and those of us in this room know about the discovery of these new stones. The Ussarians now cornered on Lucent’s moon might have a buyer as they did on Earth two years ago, or they’ve hatched some insidious plot to use them on an unsuspecting population.” He lifted one hand in an urgent gesture. “As long as the stones are kept on that moon and destroyed there, it doesn’t matter who the buyer is. Deal with the thieves as you must.”

  Gilla finally cleared his throat and stepped forward. “If I may, sire, exactly how many gems are in these crates?”

  �
��According to my information, two Earth tons. That’s more than enough to place diplomats in the entire galaxy under Ussarian control, just as Captain Mann stated.”

  For the first time in his life—judging a female beauty pageant included—Datron actually wished he could be somewhere else, and doing anything but what he did for a living. He now understood why the courier of the message had spoken Valkyrian. The king had probably located a subordinate who spoke that language on purpose. Anyone on the Valiant who overheard and wasn’t fluent in it wouldn’t understand what was being said. The king had no idea where he’d be when the message was delivered. Anyone might have been standing near.

  He’d be willing to bet Gilla had been approached by some courier speaking Silkan; Clitus had been contacted by someone only speaking Arborean.

  With his patience gone as far as Lucent’s lack of control over a dangerous substance, Datron said what he knew was expected. Sadly, he and his friends would be asked to risk their lives on the say-so of those very same unprofessional authorities. But his duty was clear.

  “Sire, we’ll keep your secrets. Order us as you will.”

  The king nodded. “The standoff involving these Ussarian savages endured for days before I was informed. My Lucent contact, Radnor Caul, holds the rank of High Ambassador. It was his fervent wish to contain the situation without our help, but he could not. He needs better firepower and strategic implementation. The man swears the thieves can’t be routed from their hole on Lucent’s moon. Not without us. Furthermore, he claims more of the same thugs are on the way. A message may have been sent for Ussarian backup.”

  “Why is it every time Lucent’s people screw up, we have to baby-sit them?” Clitus grumbled beneath his breath.

  Datron shot his friend a severe look. He didn’t like the situation either. But saying so in front of the king wasn’t a wise career move. He quickly covered for Clitus’ tactless, if honest remark.

  “Sire…bringing Electra here may have caused questions. She’s a celebrity. Someone will surely have noticed her leaving her hotel,” Datron advised and glanced at Electra.

  She, in turn, nodded in agreement.

  “I’ve covered that contingency,” the king said. “To avoid gossip concerning her absence from the Miss Milky Way consortium, I waited until the pageant was over to even inform you of these events. For anyone asking questions, Electra is supposedly touring the royal art exhibit before the doors open to the public this morning.” Kryllian put his full attention on Electra. “Obviously, I can only request you to join Captain Mann and his two crewmen, Electra. I cannot order it. Ambassador Caul strongly suggested the original team from two years ago be assembled for this mission. By asking this, he’s apparently trying to make up for information leaks that caused this new mess! Sadly, fulfilling his request is impossible since Keir and Sagan are awaiting the birth of their child as I’m sure you are aware. But I’ve done the best I can under the circumstances.”

  Datron raised one brow in concern. The knowledge that both Keir and Sagan had been asked to join the mission—as well as Gilla, Clitus, Electra, and himself—didn’t sit well.

  Part of his brain sent out warnings concerning this collaboration. It had been craftily formed by an unknown party on Lucent—someone the king knew as Radnor Caul. High Ambassador or not, no one on that world could be trusted now. Not with so many mistakes having been made. Resentment burned deep inside him. His life was being upturned over a situation that should have never occurred.

  Now, he as well as his friends, were supposed to stake their lives on a stranger’s information.

  The situation was serious, and Kryllian had kept this secret from his own people for two years. But how much longer could they keep the stones secret? Too many knew too much. What if one Ussarian used them on Kryllian himself?

  “Sire,” Datron began as he respectfully faced the king, “if we show up anywhere near Lucent’s moon, in a fully armed starfighter like the Valiant, our High Council will certainly ask why we were sent. Ground crews will be alerted to ready the vessel. News of an unplanned flight into Lucent’s jurisdiction will get out. If those stones should get by us, the men and women aboard the Valiant will be blamed for the ensuing havoc. I don’t want my crew going down in history as the enforcers who let a mind-controlling agent loose in the galaxy. I assume this is why you only sent for the four of us.”

  “Quite true,” the king confirmed. “But I’d rather you not think in terms of failure. What do you propose as an alternate to a starfighter?”

  “I’ll find another ship. One less noticeable and whose flight plan can be logged for entertainment purposes. I’ll only need some kind of cover story as to our absence.”

  “Done. But there is one more thing.”

  “Sire?” Datron asked as he held his breath.

  “Radnor Caul informs me he’s ordered all mining operations on Lucent to cease. The reason he gave is that dangerous emissions of Xeron gasses are being found everywhere.”

  Datron shook his head in confusion. “I don’t understand, sire.”

  “If this mission is a success, Lucent authorities will order a planetary evacuation for the general population. They’ll cite some trumped up threat having to do with harmful, explosive gasses that have been brought to the surface due to deep drilling. After the evacuation is complete, Lucent’s authorities will ask Oceanus for a quick battery of trungeon bombs to be delivered to their planet’s core. Not the moon but the planet!” the king informed them.

  A collective round of gasps prompted Kryllian to continue with his news.

  “It’s hoped that no more stones will ever be located,” Kryllian explained. “The planet won’t exist any longer. That’s why it’s imperative those stolen crates be destroyed. If there’s no longer a source for Lucent Stones, the value of those already mined and currently in the custody of thieves will increase exponentially. Many will murder to get them.”

  “Exploding an entire world is a drastic solution,” Clitus muttered, “but certainly effective. Lucent only has a population of a few thousand miners and no life forms that don’t exist elsewhere. The citizens can be transported to other mining colonies to take up their occupations. Contrarily, we can’t afford to have more of those stones resurface, causing us to repeat this mission time and time again. At some point, anyone who doesn’t have a right to know about their mind controlling powers most certainly will.”

  Kryllian nodded. “This will be the last time I ever ask such secrecy of you, my friends. We can waste no more time. Ussar does have its fleet en route to that sector of space. They mean to help their brethren who are being cornered by Lucent’s constabulary. The brigands who stole the gems are no longer our main concern. As I’ve told you, deal with them as you must. I want those stones destroyed.”

  “We won’t fail, Majesty. I give you my word,” Datron promised.

  Chapter Seven

  Datron led the small band of intrepid, covert operatives from Oceanus’ High Council Headquarters, out into the street and toward a provided, private transport. He no longer cared about who knew what concerning events of two years ago, or how so much information had been leaked. His only concern was getting to those stones and destroying them as ordered. If anyone found out about their existence at some future point and made a public issue, the king would have to handle the issue. No more stones meant no more threat.

  “Fly to these coordinates,” he ordered the pilot while gently pushing the man aside and tapping in the destination into the console flight computer.

  The startled shuttle operator did as commanded, dropping his passengers off in the middle of nowhere.

  “Uh…would you like me to wait?” the pilot asked as he gazed at the forest around him.

  “No. We have communicators,” Datron told the stranger as he lifted his arm to display his wristband. “We’ll call another transport when we need one.”

  Clitus was the first to speak after the shuttle craft cruised out of view. “I assume we’
re in the middle of this woodland to speak freely?”

  “We are,” Datron announced. “I don’t want to take any chances.”

  Electra sighed and clasped her hands in front of her. “Well…since we’re here to canoodle about this mission, let me be quite candid and say that I’m in. I figure I owe the Ussarians my full attention after they showed up on Earth two years ago trying to peddle their dangerous wares to one of my own agency’s supervisors. I feel obliged to make up for that man’s betrayal.”

  Datron began to pace. “I don’t like this. Something’s wrong.”

  “It seems like a simple land-and-destroy operation,” Gilla offered. “But, as you say, I have my misgivings. Indubitably, we may not know the entire truth as it exists on Lucent’s moon. The king only knows what this Radnor Caul is telling him. We should run a covert background check on this Caul person, though I know we’re limited on time.”

  “I agree,” Datron said. “He may have the king’s trust, but where those stones are concerned we can’t take chances.” He stopped pacing as an idea struck him. It was initially absurd, but it was in their best interests to avoid having any gossip of their actions among the ground crews. “I’ve got a vessel in mind, but the mechanic servicing it for our purposes needs to be checked out as well.”

  Clitus shrugged. “Where will we find one who isn’t already assigned to another vessel or who might keep his or her mouth closed? Despite the story we’ve contrived, gossip on the airfield runs rampant as you well know.”