The three of them stood shoulder to shoulder according to rank as Angelo Walker approached with his wife at his left.

  Ash stepped forward and let his father embrace his forearms. He dropped a kiss on his mother’s cheek and moved back to them again.

  “Why have you brought that disgraceful woman in my home? Wearing the uniform of our Federation no less. You insult me and our Family.” Ash’s mother’s voice was babyish, breathless and Sera had to fight a sneer.

  “May I present Sub-Commander Sera Ayers-Pela?” Ash spoke without acknowledging his mother’s theatrics.

  “What?” She looked confused.

  “Shall we go into the Family meeting? We can explain it all there.” Ash indicated they should precede them but his father stood unmoving.

  “You’re going to tell us why you’re brought a concubine into our home and you’ll tell us now.”

  Sera saw the resemblance between father and son. The set of the jaw, the ferocity in the eyes. Angelo Walker wasn’t simply a figurehead, that much was clear.

  “Sera is not a concubine. She is a member of a military covert operations team. A team Brandt and I have lead for six years now. She posed as a concubine, as I posed as a boy with more credits than responsibility. I have more to say but I need to say it in the presence of the others. I also need your silence on what I’ve just told you until I reveal it myself. This is a matter of urgency and great import to the Federation. I need your trust on this.”

  Angelo sighed and nodded his eyes flicking over Sera dismissively. “Let’s go then.”

  Sera followed them all down the hallway, a space wider than most of the avenues in Mirum. She knew the affect was supposed to be impressive but admittedly she thought it wasteful. Boastful even.

  “I’m sorry about that,” Ash said through the link she’d nearly forgotten about.

  “Nothing to be sorry for. We knew it would be difficult.” At that point Sera felt worse for him than herself.

  “Hold on. The hard part is to come.”

  “I’ve already lived through the hardest part, Ash. I’m fine now with you and Brandt at my side.”

  Through another set of enormous archways and they finally reached an auditorium of sorts where dozens of people already sat, waiting for them.

  Kira spied her and gasped. Several others did as well and the chatter rose to deafening levels.

  “Can I shoot her?”

  Brandt’s serious soldier look softened when his lips visibly trembled to hold back a smile. “Try to hold off on that.”

  “Bet she can’t wait to hear I’m family now. Oh can I be the one to tell her? Please?”

  “Stop that. You’re going to make me laugh,” Brandt warned through the link.

  They approached a front table on a raised dais. At least twenty people sat around it and watched their approach. Ash sat and looked at the gathered group.

  Sera wasn’t an idiot living under a rock. She knew who Ash’s uncle was. Costas Walker sat glaring at her before he moved his gaze to Ash. Perry sat next to him, smirking.

  “Ash, before we get started, I thought you should say hello to Pelli and Morga, they’ve come by just to see you.” Agni Walker didn’t waste time parading marriageable women in front of Ash, that was for sure.

  “Mother, this is hardly the time or the place to do this. This is official Family business and to add to that, I’m not looking for a wife.”

  “Of course you are! You can’t remain unattached forever. You need to give the Family more children. It’s your duty. You may think it fine to waste your time and frolic with unranked women,” she actually jerked her chin at Sera, “but I’m here to remind you of your duty and it’s not to shame us.”

  “You would do well, Agni, to respect my wife when you speak.” Brandt hadn’t moved or raised his voice, but the threat was there nonetheless.

  Kira actually wailed and began to yell at him, “How dare you do this? How dare you marry a whore? Brandt, this will shame us all.”

  Brandt narrowed his eyes. “If you know what’s best for yourself, Kira, you will sit down and cease this incoherent babble immediately. Sera is my wife. She holds my rank, which by the way, tops yours.”

  Really now? Excellent. Sera barely held back a snicker.

  “There are many things to discuss. First of all, Sera is not only Brandt’s wife but I’ve made her my mistress as well. I would marry her if I could but we know you’ll never give me permission. Only one of us can marry her anyway. There will be no other women for me. It has always been Sera, even when I was forced to give her up to marry Kira.” Ash paused to let that one sink in and after a moment of silence, the uproar began anew as they realized who she was.

  “We need to deal with this insanity of you dallying with a woman who is not of your rank. After the fuss she made before, now she’s willing to be your mistress. Have you asked yourself why, Ash? What is in it for her?” Angelo demanded.

  Sera stiffened. She wanted to defend herself, but more than that she wanted Ash to defend her.

  “Ten years ago I did my duty to this Family. I lost a woman I adored. I hurt her deeply and she left with her head held high. She comes back into my life by my interference. She did not ask to be my mistress. All my life I’ve been led to believe certain things. Chiefly that no one who isn’t ranked is worthy of me. That everyone without rank seeks to gain something from us else why would they bother with us? Such a mistaken way to believe. I realize that now in ways I did not before.” Ash took her hand and kissed it.

  “I hate the way you think of Sera. You don’t know her, or frankly anyone like her. She’s a genuine person. Hardworking. Achieved her rank in the military corps through hard work and dedication. That she played a concubine was the height of ridiculous because she’s no more a concubine than I am a lazy child of privilege. No more than Brandt is a disappointment to his war hero father. As it happens the three of us are part of a covert military team and our presence in Nondal was necessary to follow up on the recent attacks on Federation outposts and relay stations at the hands of Imperialists. Imperialists who were given information by Federation citizens. Family members.”

  All eyes turned to Ash then as the room held a collective breath. Sera pulled out the file folders and began to spread out the evidence.

  “Before we begin I want to reiterate a few things. First, Sera and I are together. I will not marry another woman so I suggest you save the effort and embarrassment of these lovely ladies and stop parading them before me. She may be married to Brandt but she is mine as well and I am hers. If we have children they will be Family and ranked. Do not seek to harm her in any way.” Ash looked around the table and Sera was suffused with warmth. He’d defended her, he’d stood up for them and hadn’t backed down. It was real, their future was real and he wanted it as much as she did.

  Brandt sat forward. “As Ash has indicated, our team has uncovered information that indicates involvement between some high ranked members of the Walker Family and the Imperialists. Should any of you wish to confess your involvement at this point, it will be recorded and applied favorably when it comes time for sentencing.”

  “Such treachery is an executable offense, is it not?” Perry’s voice cracked and Sera wanted to slap his face.

  “There’s execution and execution.” Brandt lifted his shoulders slightly.

  “This is madness!” Ash’s uncle shot out of his seat. “You come in here with your unranked lover and your boyfriend and accuse your own family of treachery. It’s unconscionable. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

  “I’m not accusing you of treachery, specifically. I’m charging you with treason and violation of the Federation Intra-Universe Credit Act.” Ash wanted to throttle his uncle, but he wanted to see where his father and brother ended up.

  Sera shuffled through her papers and began to speak in an even voice, totally unaffected by the fact these people had just called her a worthless whore. “Perry Walker, on nineteen occasions, you’ve taken credits from Imperialists in exchange for information on the location and security coverage of Federal outposts.” She looked up at him, waiting for a reply.

  “Brandt, why do you allow this?” Kira yelled. “She’s accusing my husband of treason. How can you sit there and let this happen? She’s jealous and wants what she’s not good enough to have. Can’t you see?”

  Brandt sighed. “I should add, Kira Walker, several incriminating communications were made through your Network Comm. account to Imperialist-connected parties.”

  “You’re out of your mind, Brandt! Why would I care enough to do something so stupid?”

  Sera nodded. “Sit down and cease your wailing. As it happens, despite not being good enough, I agree. Not that you’re not stupid. I think you are. And ridiculously shallow, selfish, petty and ignorant. Credit hungry as well. But frankly, as I look over all the information and as I read your communications on a day-to-day basis, you’re just not smart enough or bloodthirsty enough to engineer this sort of thing. You can get your credits in other ways, I think you’re too lazy for this. I do think you’re guilty on some level, just not smart enough to attempt to bring down the Federation. Just greedy. Oh, and silly.”

  Ash stifled a laugh. Gods knew Sera deserved to say it after the way she’d been treated.

  Dismissing Kira, Sera turned her gaze to Perry. “But you, Perry, you’re guilty. Craven. Without many redeeming qualities really.” Sera tapped the stack of paper with her fingertip. “Page after page of truly incriminating communication with Owen Alder and Giles Stander. I would like to compliment your record-keeping skills. Thank you for that.”

  Perry stood and made to leave the room but the soldiers Brandt had signaled stood in the doorway, barring his exit.

  “I think you should sit back down, cousin.” Ash narrowed his eyes.

  “Angelo, how dare you force us to sit here and be insulted and accused of such terrible crimes. You called us here to discuss financials.” His uncle puffed his chest.

  “Do you have proof, Ash?” his father asked.

  “Yes. It’s been entered and sent to the Comandante. It’s enough to have warrants for arrest and extradition to Ravena issued. Are you involved in this? I can’t protect you if you are.”

  “We’re supposed to trust you? You’re nothing but a lazy drain on the Family while Perry deepens our coffers. Even Kendal works harder than you,” his uncle sneered.

  Anger sparked deep. “Kendal. Ah yes, my little brother. We’ve also got evidence Kendal is involved in this scheme.” Ash pushed the papers to his father who looked at them, growing more and more pale as he read. The soldiers had moved closer to the table to keep order but Perry had shut up when Ash told him it was either shut up or get shot in the head.

  “What authority do you have? Mother, don’t you see, he’s…”

  Ash interrupted his youngest brother. “By the authority of the Comandante of the Federation Military Corps as a Commander of said Military Corps. And I’m what, Kendal? Jealous?” He stood and began to pace. “You see, I’ve been trying to understand why this was going on. We don’t need the credits. Family businesses are doing extraordinarily well. We’ve always been solidly aligned behind the Federation. Ours was the second Family to proclaim allegiance to the Federation generations ago. So why are we suddenly aiding Imperialists?”

  “Control. They want their line in control,” his father spoke quietly. “Costas has been working to undermine me for years now. It’s normal you know, political infighting in Families. I expected it. But not this. Selling out our own people. Using my son to harm me. This will lay the Family low when it gets out.”

  “Angelo, do you believe I’d sell our Universe out for credits and control of the Family? I can take over without that.” Costas smirked.

  Sera tossed a sheaf of papers down the table to his uncle. “Would you like to tell us why you’ve had such a lively communication with several members of this conspiracy then? If you didn’t do it for credits and control, why did you do it? Are you a true believer in ‘Verse wide fascism and enforced order? Do you think the Walkers will retain their holdings if the Imperialists edge into this part of the Universes?”

  He wouldn’t even look at the papers. “I’ve known Giles Stander and through him Owen Alder for some time. It’s not a crime to have friends is it?”

  “Did I say the communication was to Alder or Stander?”

  Costas swallowed hard. “No. But you named them earlier. I assumed you meant them.”

  “Father, why do you just sit there and believe Ash’s lies? Have I not been right where you needed me always? Where has Ash been? Off traveling, collecting women, spending credits all while I stayed here and did my part to help you.” Kendall looked to Angelo but his father just sighed.

  “I don’t want to believe any of it but the facts here,” he motioned to the papers, “are inescapable. My heart breaks to know my own son has not only betrayed me but his Family and government.”

  “Get ready to transport them to the docks to get them to Ravena.” Brandt turned to speak to one of the soldiers near the door and they dispersed, leaving the room to follow orders.

  Costas leaned forward on his hands, still standing at the table. “Let us be reasonable here. Whatever you think you know, Ash, you’re mistaken. This is all just a misunderstanding.”

  Perry nodded his head. Kira simply looked dumbfounded and Ash nearly felt sorry for her.

  “Why, Perry? Why did you do it?” Ash wanted to know.

  “Were the credits worth dying for?” Sera added.

  “I did it for my father! He wanted the connections, wanted the power. Your father has held onto control all this time and what about our line?” Perry wilted right there in his chair and Ash sat, dumbfounded by the confession.

  Before Ash could comment, his uncle jumped at him, landing on him, sending his chair backward. He struck his head on the floor, losing focus momentarily but it was Sera who flew across his body and shoved his father down.

  * * *

  Brant watched in horror, frozen with shock as Costas jumped at Ash. He’d been reaching for his blade when he caught sight of Costas doing the same thing, turning toward Angelo.

  Sera had been a blur as she leapt at Angelo, knocking him down as Costas’ weapon discharged, filling the space with the loud crack and the acrid stench of the powder.

  Ash shoved up, knocking Costas down while Brandt’s blade landed true in Costas’ chest. With his other hand, he pulled his blaster, holding it on Perry and Kendal. Soldiers had rushed toward the knot of activity a shower of metal clearing leather and clicks as weapons were pulled and safeties thumbed off.

  It wasn’t until Angelo yelled out that Brandt truly saw Sera. She looked fine until he noticed the steady stream of scarlet dripping down her left wrist and hand.

  “Arrest Perry and Kendal Walker. Confiscate their comm units and cordon off their personal residences. Take Kira Walker in for questioning and hold her for possible involvement in the conspiracy. Check Costas and see if he’s still alive. If so, take him into custody, if not, toss him in an incinerator.” Brandt said this all as he rushed to Sera.

  “You saved my life, I’m in your debt,” Angelo told her as he helped ease her to the ground.

  Brandt swayed on his feet when he saw the smear of red on the wall where she’d slid down to sit.

  “Were you shot? Sera, focus on me,” Brandt ordered.

  Ash made his way over, shoving others from his path.

  “Yes, I think I was. If the burning throb and loss of blood means anything,” she slurred a bit.

  “Medic! We’ve got a soldier down here.” Ash stood to look and direct the medic over to Sera.

  The medic opened her uniform jacket and the snowy white shirt beneath bloomed a flower of blood over the left side of her chest and shoulder.

  Brandt tried to keep it together. Tried to keep in mind he and Ash had been wounded before and chances were one of them would be again in the future. But she was his wife, his woman and the idea of her being killed suddenly became so real to him he saw little white lights in his vision.

  Ash squeezed his shoulder, both of them wincing when the medic ripped the shirt off and began working on her.

  “The bullet went straight through. Looks like some muscles were damaged. There’s a helicopter landing on the grounds right now and we’ll get you to the military hospital right away.” The medic spoke to her calmly and she nodded.

  “You two go on. Make sure they all get into custody and on their way,” she managed to say.

  Brandt looked at her like she’d gone insane and Ash tsked. “I’m the one who hit his head but you’re the one talking crazy. We’re not leaving you. When you’re finished we have a press conference to do.”

  “This is stupid. If I wasn’t your wife you’d both go.” She made a soft noise of pain when the medic carefully laid her on a stretcher. Nausea swamped Brandt.

  “I don’t give a fuck what you think. Frankly, I don’t care what we’d do if it weren’t you sporting a hole in your chest. The fact is, you do.” Brant followed the stretcher. “You can fight with me later. For now, I’m saying what goes because you’re too weak to stop me.”

  * * *

  Ash stopped at the doorway for a moment and gave orders to the investigative team.

  “I’ll be sure nothing gets removed,” his father assured him. “This will be difficult to weather. Tough times ahead for the Family. If you married, came back and took a more active part in Family Governance things might be easier.”

  “I really can’t believe you’re bringing that up right now. She just saved your life! You still think she’s unworthy of me?” Ash felt the last bit of love and respect he had for his father drain away.

  “She’s clearly a courageous young woman who did her job. Her job of serving and protecting. I think she’s unfit for marriage to anyone of your rank. But that fool Pela solved the problem. You can have her and a wife. She’s got a husband. Are you telling me you’re accepting of sharing her with another man? You have a duty. Especially now.” His father crossed his arms over his chest.