Page 37 of Retribution
Once he was out in the corridor, he took a long inhale and fought the urge to brace himself against the wall. The last thing he wanted was for one of his men to witness a moment of weakness. He stood taller and marched to the section of the ship that contained the training rooms. May the ancient gods help the poor soul who volunteered to spar with him tonight.
Chapter 18
Just before hereached the corridor containing the training rooms, Zamek spotted Commander Vavvis rushing down the hallway toward him.
“General Zamek, it is fortunate we ran into one another. I was about to contact you and request your presence on the bridge. I am headed there now myself,” Commander Vavvis said with a gesture in the direction that led to the bridge.
The two males started heading that way before Zamek even opened his mouth to question the commander. Whatever it was that required his attention, he was glad for the distraction. He needed some time away from Layla to think. He also needed to visit the morgue and pray over his wife. It shamed him that he’d gone several days without doing so.
“Report?” Zamek asked.
“A fleet of fifty Bexxanian warbirds were just destroyed in sector 42.”
Shock filled Zamek. Sector 42 was very close to Earth and the Bexxanians had never been spotted there before. “Those fools,” he said, biting back a laugh. “They likely didn’t realize how many Kall vessels still patrol that sector.”
“Early reports indicate it was a good battle, General,” the commander replied. “Few Kall casualties were sustained, and no Kall warships or airships were destroyed.”
“How many Kall vessels in total converged on the Bexxanians?” Zamek asked, wanting to better envision the great battle in his head.
“Over two hundred.” Commander Vavvis sighed with longing. “I wish I had been there. To have participated in a battle that large, I would sell my grandfather’s battle-ax,” he said with a chuckle.
When they arrived on the bridge a short while later, the viewscreen displayed a feed of the High Council’s chambers. Zamek aimed a nod of respect to the council members.
“Good evening, councilors,” he said. “To what do I owe this honor?” It was most unusual for the entire High Council to call upon a Kall warship, particularly via video comm. More frequently, coded messages were transmitted back and forth.
“Good evening, General Zamek,” Councilor Jonall said with a deep nod. “My fellow council members and I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to you and your warriors for the assistance you provided in helping Kall forces defeat the Bexxanians. The technology you stripped from the Bexxanian warbird was extremely useful to our engineers, who were able to use it to better track the fleet of warbirds in sector 42.”
“I will forever be at the service of Kall,” Zamek replied. He’d been hopeful that the technology stripped from the enemy aliens’ vessel would be useful, and he’d ordered it to be analyzed immediately and for all data to be transferred to the central command system.
“Because of your actions, the Bexxanians are no longer a threat. Our intelligence tells us that their entire fleet has now been destroyed. Please convey my thanks to the rest of your warriors, General Zamek,” Councilor Jonall said.
“I will. Thank you, Councilor.”
After the call ended, a triumphant shout went up on the bridge, and Zamek’s warriors slapped one another on the back and offered congratulations on a job well done. Zamek even found himself cracking a smile as he joined in his crew’s celebrations.
Of course, this also meant they could now set course for planet Kall and cease looking for the Bexxanian warbirds that no longer existed. It meant he could take Layla home, where she would be safest. Despite his conflicting feelings and his guilt where Shessema was concerned, he still wished to keep the little human safe.
He departed the bridge, and to his surprise, Commander Vavvis followed him out into the corridor, keeping up with his rapid pace.
“General, there is another matter I would like to discuss with you. It’s rather urgent.”
Zamek gave an internal sigh but paused and turned to face Commander Vavvis. At this late hour, there was no one nearby in the corridor to overhear their conversation. “What is it?”
“Your human prisoner, Layla Remington, is no longer in the brig,” the commander said, and Zamek didn’t like the look of disgust that tugged at Vavvis’s face when he said Layla’s name.
“Yes, I know,” he replied, standing tall to stare down at the shorter male. He wasn’t above using his physical size to intimidate another Kall. “Her location is none of your concern.”
“Many warriors claim to have seen you carrying this human female to your quarters. I’ve tried my best to defend you, but if it is true, General… tell me it is not true. Tell me you have done the right thing and killed this human already and that perhaps you’re just keeping her body parts as a trophy.”
Zamek growled and slammed Vavvis against the wall, then he wrapped his hand around his commander’s neck, squeezing until his face turned a deep purple. “Question me about the human again or offer an unsolicited opinion, and I’ll relieve you of your command. Understood?” He loosened his grip on the commander’s throat, just enough to allow the male to speak.
“Yes, Ge-general. Under-understood,” Commander Vavvis rasped out.
Another growl left Zamek and he released his subordinate with a jerk. Then he marched down the corridor, heading for the morgue. He couldn’t face Layla in good conscience until he’d prayed over Shessema. Until he spoke to his late wife and tried to explain his actions to her. Not that she would be able to respond, but perhaps he would sense her presence. Maybe he would even sense her acceptance, or her sadness or disapproval.
To his relief, he found the morgue empty. He hurried inside and moved to the glass-topped coffin that held her body, which rested in a back room. He stared at her, thinking she appeared so alive that she might open her eyes at any moment. TheTammusha’smortician had embalmed her, preserving her innocence and her beauty.
His heart ached as he gazed down at her.
