The Lost Stars: Tarnished Knight

“That’s enough enigma warships to wipe out the human presence in this star system,” Drakon agreed. “At least we can see them now that we’ve eliminated the alien worms in our sensor systems, but where the hell is Black Jack? What did he do? Stir them up and move on, leaving us to catch it when the enigmas retaliated for having their space invaded?”

A sensation of cold emptiness filled Iceni as she gazed at the display. “Or perhaps the enigmas proved to be more than even Black Jack could deal with. If the enigmas wiped out Black Jack’s fleet, what chance do we have?”

Drakon surprised her by smiling, then she realized the expression was more the snarl of a wolf at bay than anything to do with humor. “Let’s call Boyens and tell him he’d better ally himself with us if he wants to be a hero.”

“And if he doesn’t want to be a hero? If he’d rather run and live?”

“We die at the hands of the enigmas. If they’ve got hands.” Drakon paused, then shrugged. “Of course, with the odds we’re facing, we’ll all die regardless of whatever Boyens does. But he might help us buy a little more time.”

“For what?” Iceni asked. “Do you expect help? From where?”

“I don’t know,” Drakon admitted. “Maybe your knight in shining armor will show up.”

“I don’t have any knights, General Drakon. A wise woman doesn’t depend on someone’s showing up to rescue her.”

“What does she depend on?” Drakon asked, his eyes back on the display as if he were already thinking through their limited options.

Iceni also looked at the depictions of the attacking enigmas, the strong Syndicate flotilla, and their own badly outmatched defensive forces. “She depends on her judgment of whom she can trust, General Drakon.”

Drakon gave out a short, sardonic laugh. “Then why are you here with me?”

“Why haven’t you already pulled a weapon on me?”

He grinned with real humor this time though a dark defiance of fate stayed in his eyes. “Because I never made a very good CEO. Go ahead and call Boyens while I get the ground forces fully activated.”

Perhaps I do have one knight, Iceni thought. A knight of darkness and shadow. But maybe it’s just his armor that is tarnished. Maybe inside that armor is someone who is still capable of doing something that doesn’t bring personal gain, who, as he told me, really does want something worth dying for. Or is he blemished inside as well and just recognizes that our very slim chances will become none at all if we turn on each other now?

She said nothing more to Drakon before she called the Syndicate flotilla with an offer she hoped it would not refuse.