Starlight Gleaming Ch. 19

Sapu met us at the door, and he bid the sisters and the children a tearful goodbye.

Tanti told him, "You should come with us, Sapu."

He shook his head. "Who would take care of your parents? I'm needed here. Goodbye, and good luck!"

Since the driver who'd brought Breena and the children wasn't there, Tanti suggested a taxi service, and after I called, we waited quietly, Mack and Laylindi taking the change in plans without comment.

After the taxi arrived, the sisters, nanny, and the children climbed into the taxi. With Mack driving, the taxi followed us to the base.

As we rode through the city, I took Cholan's hand in mine and squeezed it. "I love you, Island Girl."

Leaning into me, her breathing hitched, and then she began to cry, quickly turning to great racking sobs as she tried to bury her face into me. I ran my hand up and down her back, doing my best to soothe her.

"They treated you cruelly, Cholan, and you deserved so much more from them. You have the right of it. Your family is at High Guard."

"I love you so much, Ranji!" she cried. "I feel so... empty inside."

I just held her, doing my best to help soothe her broken heart.

Both women checked on us via the rearview mirror, but said nothing. By the time we arrived at the war base, Cholan was cried out and dozing.

At the gate, I collected the ID cards from both sisters. I made sure to list Breena's surname as Yakalme. Based on my say-so, the two women were declared part of my House, registered into the military database, and given temporary passes. I made sure to secure any of Breena's previous identification.

The taxi couldn't come onto the war base, so I paid the driver and called up Yalcamara. The second staff vehicle with a pair of troopers arrived within minutes of the paperwork being done.

It was near the dinner hour by the time we were finished at the gate. The children were hungry, so we took them to one of the diners at the Commissary, and I insisted Mack, Laylindi, and the two new troopers eat with us. Cholan visited the latrine to wash up. The sisters didn't eat much, but with encouragement from Cholan and the troopers, the shy boys picked what they wanted and happily ate their dinner and their deserts, too.

Taking Bilan's suggestion was tempting. Cholan was mine, and thus I resisted the idea of packing Breena and her kids off with the rescued slaves for my brother and Mother to handle. Cholan had expressed a real interest in the welfare of her niece and nephews, and I thought she would like a hand in ensuring they were properly settled, and perhaps see if her relationships with her sisters were worth repairing. Breena was a mess, and from what I'd heard thus far, much of it was her own doing.

Both sisters were presumably well educated, so there was a chance they could find some civilian work on the war base. But that was something for later. For Cholan's sake, the rest of the family needed to know the dirty details once we returned to High Guard.

Pulling out my laptop, I sent an email to Sergeant Chita, telling her I'd need a cottage for the two sisters and children to share, and to charge it to my account. Querying Breena, I sent a notice to her husband's lord, giving him notice that Arvine Xochatsm's wife and children had fled and sought refuge and protection with me, and that if he had any issues with that, to let me know, and that prior to leaving Copán, I would notify the husband directly. Then I wrote and sent an email to Bilan, giving him the details I'd promised.

After the meal, I explained we needed to find jackets and blankets for the children, for sleeping that night, and for the flight the next morning. I also suggested Breena find some comfortable sleepwear for herself, her nanny, and her children. I presumed Tanti had a ready supply with all her luggage. I told her other shopping opportunities would be available once we reached High Guard. Laylindi and the nanny helped Breena with the shopping and keeping watch over the boys while I finished up my messages.

At Cholan's request, Mack drove her back to the hangar where we were staying to get changed, and was tasked with finding out if Sowitwee's father and two sisters had sleeping gear and jackets for the flight. While the were doing that, I realized I needed at least six more cots and sleeping bags. At the customer service counter, I ordered them and had then delivered to the hangar.

While Breena breast-fed her daughter, I asked Tanti and Laylandi to take the boys to look at an age-appropriate child tablet for the younger boy, and to select carrying bags, headphones, and selection of add-on learning modules, games, and music for both of them. "Add some building blocks for Sachi, too."

Just as they headed off, I received a phone call. "This is Kandikan."

There was a giggle. "Hi, Tenant! Do you need a magic hug?"

My heart melted. "I always need your magic hugs, Sisi. How's my big girl? I've missed you. Are you and Mina behaving for your mothers?"

I heard others speaking in the background.

"We're behaving, Tenant. Did you know that Calia got us books to put the pictures we draw at school into? It's big so there's room for a lot of pictures. Here's a hug for you. We miss your stories. Are you coming home tomorrow?"

"Yes, I am. When I get home, I am going to need more magic hugs from you and from Mina. Can I please speak to the captain?"

"Okay." Then her voice, sounding further away said, "Tenant wants the captain."

We heard people talking, then Janetta came on. "Are you coming home tomorrow?"

"Hopefully. Things were a lot more complicated than I anticipated, Janetta -- both with Sowitwee and Cholan's family. There's a lot to be sorted out, but I'm pretty sure it can be done from High Guard."

"Why am I not surprised. Ranji? You are a shitload of complications, and your middle name is Trouble."

"It ran over forty thousand credits to free Sowitwee's father."

"What? Forty thousand credits! That's a fucking fortune!"

I heard Nariya's voice in the background exclaim, "By the gods!"

"There's a lot more, but it can wait until I return. The important point is his father is a free man and he's coming back with us. We also managed to locate both his sisters, and it isn't pretty. Nonetheless they are coming back, too. I'm going to arrange a cottage for them to stay at, so they're not underfoot."

"I can tell from your voice, there's a lot more, isn't there. When you get back, I expect to hear everything, Ranji."

"We'll have a family meeting. Two sisters and three children are also coming back with us. That, too, will be discussed when we return."

"Gods of North and South, Kandikan. I knew it!" she grumbled. "You always get into worse trouble when I'm not around to look out for you."

"Yeah, well, you aren't missing much. The Quarter Master with the Ground Service put us into three empty hangars, with no bedding or supplies because Air Service personnel need to sleep in hangars. We had to chase out a four-foot boa this morning. And I swear, the mosquitos at Copán are as big as those at Tikún."

She laughed. "Kill five of them, and take photos of the dead bodies, Ranji, and I'll put in a good word. See if we can't get you credited as an ace pilot. Or at least, certified as an anti-aircraft gunner."

"Very funny, Captain." Still, I had to grin. "I love you so much, Janetta Tlacotli."

Her voice softened. "All of your women and your daughters miss you. Myself included. Hurry home, will you? Tomorrow night, I want you sleeping in my bed."

"I can't wait to get home to you. Hugs and kisses to everyone. You, too."

"Safe flight and safe return, Kandikan." Then she hung up.

Using the laptop, I looked into examples of no-fault divorce decrees. Selecting one, I began filling it out. A simple declaration that Breena's marriage was null and void. Next, I set about modifying a couple of the clauses.

First, that all children born of the union would revert to the mother's House name, giving up all claims to the father's properties and wealth, and in return the father severed all property and visitation claims on the wife and children. With Breena's assistance, I filled in the dates of birth, ages, and names of the children -- Aarpo, age six; Sachi, age four; and infant Siénte.

The second clause held that no reprisals -- punitive, financial, or otherwise -- would be taken against either House for the failure of the marriage. After the experiences of the day, I had little respect for either of Cholan's parents, especially in their treatment of Cholan, but I expected that the older sisters would not want anything to happen to their selfish and shallow parents.

For the third clause, it was written that any family jewelry brought into the marriage by Breena did not count toward her dowry; that such items and any personal gifts to her over the years would be hers to keep as her personal property, free and clear.

Cholan returned with Mack, dressed in a clean class B uniform. The look from both of the older sisters seeing her in uniform was instructive.

Mack informed me that there were no clothes for Sowitwee's siblings, and that changes of clothing were needed. Mack had obtained their sizes, and with my okay, she went on a short shopping spree. I paid the extra credits to have the items delivered right away. Laylindi would escort Breena, Tanti, the children and the nanny to the hangar.

As I finished up the document, Breena asked if she could come along with us to confront her husband.

I scowled. "No. Absolutely not! You asked me to Intercede for you. That means you placed yourself completely into my hands. The matter is not open for discussion. You are going to the hangar with your children, and you will stay there with them. You will help take care of them and keep them reassured. Am I clear?"

"Yes, my lord," she replied meekly.

Mack brought three troopers to accompany us to Breena's soon to be ex-husband. Along with Corporal Haytam, whom I'd met earlier that morning, there were two male troopers, Field Corporals Cawbos and Mentap.

After paying for all the goods and a printout of the divorce papers, we parted company with Laylandi, the sisters, nanny, and three tired children.

* * * * *

Part 26 -- Knocking Over Another Hornet's Nest

* * * * *

Mack and Cawbos sat in front, and Cholan sat in the back with me in the first vehicle. Haytam and Cawbos followed us in the second ChoCac.

As we drove to the gate, I received a call from Captain Korreem. He asked my whereabouts. When I explained we were headed out, he inquired whether it had anything to do with the Ground Service men arrested earlier that morning.

"Yes, actually, it is related," I confirmed. "Arvine Xochatsm's wife has asked me to Intercede on her behalf."

"I was going to visit him tomorrow. We'll bump up the timetable and accompany you. We should be at the gate in five minutes." Korreem hung up.

When you going to force someone to do what you want, it never hurts to have Imperial Security there to help put some extra pressure.

Korreem and his support vehicle arrived at the gate at nearly the same time we did. He and I got out to confer.

After a quick shake of the hands, the Imperial Security captain explained they were interested in the matter of the Ground Service men in the stockade and Arvine's arrangements with the men and Breena.

If sex was the only inducement to sign off on the quality control reports, it wouldn't be seen as something they could prosecute him for. Korreem did say he would have the reports invalidated, which would force all the munitions testing to be redone. However, if any other inducements had been offered and accepted between Arvine and the Ground Service armory officers, both Arvine and the officers in question would be in a serious trouble. There aren't a lot of prisons within the Empire. What isn't covered by indenture or slavery was resolved by capital punishment.

"I've already interviewed Lieutenant Sovansi on this matter," Korreem told me. "After we deal with the husband, I'll come back with you afterward, just to confirm with the wife."

"She stated that he controlled everything, including the household funds, and that for the past several months she's been forced to sleep with her children to make way for the husband and his new mistress. I'm inclined to believe her, Captain. She acted stupidly, but I'm convinced the only thing she did was follow her husband's orders to provide sex for those idiots in the stockade. If there's more going on, she wasn't involved."

He nodded, satisfied. "I'll still want to interview her, but your opinion carries weight, Commander. I have someone going through Group Captain Hentoxi's financials and communication records right now. And I have one of my people attending the JAG review of those Ground Service officers."

I grinned. "Now that's good news."

With that, we returned to our separate vehicles and headed back to the northeast part of town, near where Cholan's parents lived. Soon, however, we shifted easterly and entered a much richer neighborhood where the houses were more properly considered estates.

"Commander?"

"Yes, Cholan?"

"Breena said that meeting her husband in the library would be most productive."

"Anything else I should know?"

"Maybe. She said I'd figure it out once we were there."

"Have you ever been there before?"

She shook her head.

"All right. Library it is."

Mack pulled up to the intercom before the large iron gate. Rolling down the window, a voice through a speaker demanded, "What is your business here?"

"Imperial Air Security to see Master Xotochasm. Open the gate."

"The Master is not available for visitors at this time."

Turning her head, Mack asked, "What do do, Commander?"

"Tell them they'd best open the gate. Imperial Security is right behind us."

Mack dutifully conveyed the message.

There was a click, and the gate began to grind as it retracted along it's chain track. Entering the long driveway driving through the lane of tall trees, I noticed the security cameras and armed guards standing watch on the roof and by the front door. The place was a two-storey mansion with probably a score of rooms, pool, exercise court, and gardens. The roof was flattened with a wind sock. Probably for a heli-pad.

Mack looked at me in the rearview mirror. "When we stop, Commander, I have vests for you and Cholan in the boot. Please let me retrieve them and I want you to put them on."

"Good idea, Mack."

Cholan gave me a worried look.

"It's just a precaution," I assured her.

"He's really rich, isn't he?" she said.

"Apparently so."

When we parked, Captain Korreem and his people waited until our vests were on. Mack and the others put on their helmets, to go along with their usual tactical gear. I instructed Cawbos and Mentap to remain and keep watch on the vehicles. If anything went wrong, they were to call for help from Ground Security at Copán War Base.

Realistically, if it got to that point, we would be in deep trouble if not already dead. Hopefully, Arvine and his men didn't want that kind of heat. Even so, it nagged at me that maybe Arvine was also in bed with Minister Supay.

We climbed the steps to the front landing, and Mack rapped loudly on the door.

A servant opened the door and bowed. Inside, a security guard nodded, saying, "Follow me, please."

Through the spacious front room, we were taken to an open drawing room with high windows; they were open to the gardens, letting in the lush floral scents, and the various flowers and bushes were still visible in the fading sunlight. The room itself contained light- and dark-colored wood with a lot of gold. Marble-top coffee table. Fur rugs on the floor. It was ostentatious bordering on gaudy.

I noticed other guards quietly entering the area. Two along the mezzanine above the entryway. Another coming in via the front door, keeping around the corner and out of direct line of sight.

Hopefully, all Arvine wanted to do was show he wasn't to be trifled with. Beside Mack, Haytam, Cholan, and myself, there was Captain Korreem and his three assistants from Imperial Security, and all of us except Cholan were openly armed.

I hoped Master Xochatsm had sense enough to not push things. However, I decided that if he didn't want to cooperate with the divorce, I wasn't going to push him. I'd deal with him later, from the safety of High Guard.

Then he kept us waiting.

The enlisted remained at attention, though Cholan joined me at looking at the various knick-knacks behind glass panels and books on the shelves. Korreem waited in an overstuffed chair, working on a tablet.

After ten minutes, I went to the first guard. "Have you notified your master we're here?"

"We have." His look was stony.

"Is he normally in the habit of ignoring security forces?"

"That is not for me to say." No honorifics either.

"Five minutes more and no longer. After that, I take my matter to your master's lord. And then my troopers and I will remain to assist Imperial Security."

He just stared calmly, a haughty confidence in his demeanor. He clearly wasn't worried.

All the guards were well-dressed, and openly carried belt knives and projectile weapons. The one I had been speaking to had a shoulder holster plainly visible under his dress jacket. The others carried submachine guns. Four of us had vests, but that didn't offer a lot of protection.

I turned and looked out the windows. I realized only our uniforms and the threat of Imperial repercussions had thus far kept us alive. If things got ugly, the garden was our exit, and I wondered how I was going to get Cholan out in one piece.

My phone rang. "Kandikan here."

"Gods of North and South, Ranji. You're at Xochatsm's house, aren't you."

"Yes, I am. Why?" Bilan! And I heard the sound of a tank tread in the background.

"Gods above, I knew it! What in the Seven Hells am I going to do with you? You're a good man, Ranji, doing good things, but you are out of your element here. Criminals don't operate by rules of honor. Copán is a very dangerous place. Lock your phone on and leave it in your pocket. Be careful. I'll be there as soon as I can. Later, you and I are going to have a long and serious talk, Little Brother, and if you grovel, I won't tell your girlfriend what you've been up to."

"Sounds good."

Once again I was grateful Bilan was my brother.

I had let Breena's wounds get to me. I hadn't even bothered to interview her about her husband, the estate, his guards, nothing. I'd come in blind without intel or a plan, and no back up. Now I found myself in the bear's den, and I'd not only endangered myself, but Cholan and all the troopers with me.

After locking my phone, I put it into my breast pocket as instructed, with the flap pushed in so the speaker was exposed for cleaner reception.

The master of the house chose that time to arrive. Dressed in a bathrobe and flip-flops, his wet hair slicked back and tied off, Arvine Xochatsm stood at the entrance. A tall, clean-shaven man with a sharp nose and what appeared to be a perpetual frown, he casually asked, "To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit from our armed forces?"

From where I was, I smelled alcohol on his breath. I glanced at Korreem, but he nodded at me. "You first, Commander."

"Fair enough." Reaching into my other breast pocket, I retrieved the divorce papers and handed to him. "It would make things a lot easier for everyone if you signed them right now."