Pax's Emperor Read online

  Pax’s Emperor

  Intergalactic Officers

  Mara Jaye

  Copyright © 2019 Stapleton Enterprises

  Cover by Cheeky Covers

  All Rights Reserved.

  No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author or publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Author’s Note

  Chapter One

  Eldan

  “I can’t go to Earth. Why would you even suggest such a thing?”

  “Because it’s the only way you’ll be safe.”

  “And the Earthers? What happens when they draw my blood and weaponized it?”

  “Your life is more important than anything else.”

  “Are you sure? Nearly nine billion beings live there.”

  “I’m positive.”

  “Very well. Find a way to neutralize my threat to Earth and I’ll go.”

  I shake my head to stop the replay of our conversation on my home world with my top advisor along with only bodyguard, G’nar, before we left home. It’s been three years since him, my son, and I landed here on this little bit of paradise called Earth. Another one of my Enforcers, KirKrell Turkh bonded with an Earther, Lin, who talked about her home as if the planet were a small jewel in a vast ocean of stars.

  She’s a good person but also very delusional.

  I don’t hate living here as much as tolerate it. Communications from my empire, and make no mistake, it is still my empire, are sporadic. I’m used to instant everything, not this hurry up and wait. Of course, the tech is primitive. Earth is a sixth world. Their populace couldn’t speak as one voice unless only one Earther existed. Their land masses are divided up by arbitrary lines defined by bodies of water at best, crudely enforced walls at worst. At least rivers and oceans often physically limit their tribes, or countries, as they’re called. Their efforts at building are flimsy as well. The least of my defenses could eliminate most of the constructs created by Earthers. I would feel bad for the creatures if they weren’t already so cruel to each other.

  I stand and begin pacing to dispel the negative energy. Thinking about my home world depresses me and I’m not a gloomy person. This office I rent for Officer MacKrell and me cheers me up a little. The walls and framed prints colors remind me of Ghar at sunrise with their glittery blues and brilliant oranges. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t care about the surroundings but homesickness has taken a toll on me. Since Jeul’s death, I’ve struggled with losing her and almost losing our son, too.

  There was no way I could let Daneul live on earth with just Officer MacKrell’s protection. I stare at the whirls of paints on a decoration without focusing. If Jeul had survived the attack, my leaving Ghar wouldn’t have been an option. She and our son would have been placed somewhere safe while I ruled from my world. I walk over to where Daneul’s image is up on the wall from his last photo day at the care center. His eyes are so much like my wife’s, golden and full of happiness. He made the frame and backing for me out of pulped plant material, a dried grain paste formed into curled shapes, and affixed the dried paste to the material with a plastic adhesive. Or, as I’m supposed to say while here, he glued his photo to a thick piece of construction paper and surrounded it with macaroni.

  I don’t cook and after Officer MacKrell, or G’nar as Daneul calls him, burned a different batch of macaroni into the coating of a cooking pan, I don’t eat pasta, either. I’m convinced the stench still lingers in our clothing’s fibers three years later. Daneul loves the stuff, though, and even learned how to cook his own. He’s also very understanding when I refuse the dish even from him. I tell him it’s not you, buddy, but totally me.

  Daneul’s not talked to me since early this morning. Odd, for a chatterbox like him. A nagging bit of worry tugs at me so I use my biologically based nanites to reach out to my son via our internal communication system. Innercoms for short. I can check his vitals, communicate with him, and located him anywhere within this solar system. He’s unconscious, sleeping on the floor in a period known as naptime at the center. I mentally struggled with him being placed at the same level as the other children. He’s their future ruler, even if none of them knows it. Still, what better way to hide a child from assassins than by blending him in with others?

  The idea to let Daneul go to the center on a daily basis was G’nar’s idea. I refused at first. After losing Jeul, I couldn’t bear to let Daneul out of my sight for a second. But, as grief stricken as I was, I had to agree with the officer. My son needed to be near other children his age or he’d never be able to rule the Intergalactic Alliance as a socially empathetic person.

  I sit at the larger desk, mine, as I was ordered to by the irritatingly bossy G’nar. Desk size didn’t matter because I know who I am, but my officer wanted to keep up the status even while here. Just as I wave the computer mouse to begin working, the door opens.

  G’nar strolls in. He hasn’t changed much since we left Ghar. Earth’s gravity is lighter, something he enjoys at the gym. I go there as well but would rather zone out on the running track. He prefers to show off by lifting the fifty-pound weights like they’re nothing. He’s thumbing through paper mail as he approaches. Why, I don’t know, since we end up recycling everything anyway. After the stack lands in a blue bin with a thud, he says, “Hey, you remember what’s going on tonight, don’t you?”

  I scan my internal calendar and I realize Daneul and I are on our own this evening. G’nar has made research trips with the Earth based humanoids, as he calls them. I would call his outings a little more salaciously motivated, but he insists he’s in it for increasing general knowledge about the planet. Every time he goes out with a new woman, I fret about him growing too close to them. Our exile won’t last forever. I’d recommend G’nar avoid her, too, but we’ve had this talk before now. Mainly, I don’t want her or any other woman’s expectations raised then smashed when we return home. “I checked and do now. Have you modified your information on what Earthers expect during a date?”

  “A little.” He turns his chair around to face him and does that annoying sits backwards thing we’d seen on television one time. “I figured as much as I’ve learned while here, I could wing it. Let her decide where we go and what we do.” Before I can open my mouth, he adds, “And yeah, relationships with Earthers are off limits, but really, Pax is cute and seems to adore Daneul. Who could resist a woman who already admires our future leader?”

  What the pless? Paxton? “Wait. Do you mean the dark haired woman with the bright blue eyes?” He nods and I lean back and stare at my computer. I don’t care for him seeing this one particular woman. She’s Daneul’s favorite at his care center. Anyone who liked my son was already on my good side and if she liked me? I didn’t want to dwell on her attractiveness with G’nar staring at me.

  “Yep, and she wants to have dinner at a hole in the wall.” He frowned. “I hope not literally.”

  “I could look it up. Do you know the name?” I remark and hold up the mouse.

  “Pless, no.” He rests his chin on the chair’s back. “Doing anything on those relics hurts.”

  He’s right. Computers are painful. Now
that both of us understand English, we can hunt and peck commands or drag a little arrow everywhere. Better than in the first few days here when we had to translate first, and type letters second, but still awful. Neither one of us could link to the Earth’s internet with our internal systems without fear of infection or worse. Earthers are sneaky little fleegans. If I want something done, all I need to do is tell one of them it’s impossible. We’ve run into races I thought were stubborn and resilient but Earthers make every other type of people seem like pushovers. Except, some of the females and a few of the males are insistent either G’nar or I take physical advantage.

  G’nar doesn’t mind the suggestions, but I do. I feel they dishonor the bond I shared with Jeul. Paxton has never pushed for socialization outside of our usual times, but several other women at the care center have. “So? Are you merely sharing a meal with Pax tonight? Or have you planned something else more personal afterward?”

  “I know what you’re asking and no, it’s not serious. Can’t be anything until we go back home and I bond with a nice girl my mother’s picked out for me.”

  His answer eases the tension between my shoulders but not entire for the reasons he thinks. “Good.” G’nar knows we’re here just until my brother, Nial, can find Jeul’s assassin. “I appreciate your distance despite how attractive some of the natives here can be.” I glance at G’nar as he frowns. His eyes are glazed, telling me he’s processing something internally.

  He heard me but won’t interrupt the procedure until he’s done, which is a reminder about my own work to do. Weekly reports from my empire came in this morning and need my review or approval. The work doesn’t take long. Nial is a good leader, even if he was reluctant to take over during my absence. I relax and glance over to find G’nar with an impatient expression on his face, waiting for me to finish so I ask, “What?”

  “Should I bring Daneul home when I pick up Pax?”

  No, I want to say because of my attraction to her I desperately need to avoid. “Sure. It would save time.”

  “Great, I’ll get started.” He stands, gives me a careless salute before heading for the door. “I have errands and want to change clothes before the date.”

  I refrain from saying anything snidely joking about his appearance and give a dismissing nod. As soon as he’s out of the office, it’s when I remember something we need from the store and I think to him, Extra hummus?

  Duh, sir.

  I can’t help but chuckle at his using slang from Daneul. My officer and I are addicted and I’m working on a way to bring chickpeas to my gardens on Ghar. Maybe I could have them grown on a terraformed moon instead of introducing the plant to my world? I rest my chin on my hand before scanning my internal systems for the various habitable planets without invasive species restrictions. There aren’t many. Still, I rule the entire galaxy. If I want hummus on Ghar, I should be able to get it.

  One of the internal timers in my system begins and I stand while shutting it off. I want to beat Daneul home.

  Dad?

  I finish locking my office door and can’t help but smile. His innercoms brighten my day. Yes? How was school today?

  Pretty good. I’m waiting in line for Uncle Gunnar. He and Ms. Paxton are going out tonight.

  I know. I go on into the stairwell. Do you know what you want for dinner?

  Whatever they’re having.

  He means my guard and his teacher. Sorry, they’re going out on their own this evening. It’s just us.

  Oh. His communications pauses for a moment before he adds, Uncle Gunnar is here. See ya later.

  Bye.

  My car waits for me in the parking garage. I both wanted and feared the self-driving models. We have vehicles at home keyed into our internal systems. They know where we’re going as soon as we open the door. And, they’re something else I miss about home. While here, I have to spend so much time thinking about the mundane. No wonder Earthers haven’t made it out of their solar system yet. They’re too distracted by minutia to find their greatness.

  I pull out onto I-40 and push the car’s engine a little more than necessary. All right, maybe a lot more than necessary since driving is a bright spot in doing everything myself. Our apartment is a short distance so I don’t get to push the speed much further than the limit. The office I rent in my rear view mirror is a luxury for us as are my and G’nar’s cars. Since we can work anywhere our bodies take us, I insist we go to a set location each weekday as a reminder to stay disciplined on this primitive world. Neither Enforcer MacKrell or I can be lax while here.

  I pull into the driveway and open the garage door. It’s been tempting to create a home office before doing what Earthers call “hibernate.” Easy, but not a good idea to let either of us become so comfortable here. Just because an assassin shouldn’t land on Earth to kill me or Daneul doesn’t mean they won’t.

  Nowhere in the galaxy is safe until Jeul’s killer is eliminated.

  Chapter Two

  Pax

  I think I’m gonna puke from nerves.

  Maybe I should move closer to the bathroom. The trash has been taken out and I don’t want to ralph in a clean bin only to have to clean it up or leave it overnight. Don’t get me wrong. Gunner Mackerel is very attractive. I like his easygoing smile, light brown hair, gray eyes, and oddly tanned skin. He has an intense yet casual way about him that’s hard to pin down. I’m glad he asked me out for this evening.

  But? Oh, my God, he’s not his boss, Eldan Luke.

  With just a glance and a slight smile, the man does things to my body I didn’t know were possible. He might have similar gray eyes and skin color as Gunner, but not the same hair. Eldan has a surfer slash northeast prep school look with lighter eyes and blonder hair. His self-confidence is so strong, it’s almost a force field around him. If he were any other man, I’d give him a polite smile and maybe the time of day, too. Then, I’d feel brave that I’d managed to squeak anything to the guy.

  Except, I can’t be too intimidated by his looks or demeanor while he has a sadness in his eyes I want to hug out of him. And speaking of hugs, the way he looks at his son during the pick up triggers all of those attracted to a good father instincts I have. My own father is a deadbeat I’ve met once. So a hot man who loves his child? I’m all over him.

  I’m at our front desk and the building is empty except for Daneul and me. Usually, neither one of the boy’s caregivers is this late but tonight is an exception. Gunnar and I planned on driving Daneul home before going out somewhere new for dinner. At least, I hope he wants food now because I’m starving. I took too long this morning while getting ready and forgot to pack a lunch. Animal crackers only go so far.

  Daneul zips up his small backpack at the wall of cubby shelves and ambles over to me. “Ms. Pax, what are you and Uncle Gunner going to do on your date? Dad wants to know.”

  He does? My stomach jumps around again and I try to smile. “I’m not sure Mr. Luke needs to know about my private life, but okay.” The boy comes around to the back of the front desk to lean against me. I put an arm around him before adding, “We’re wanting to grab something to eat before going to a movie or museum. Whatever it is, we’ll do something we both like.” Seeing a good time for a teachable moment, I say, “We’re going to compromise and find an activity we can agree on instead of forcing one person to go along to get along.”

  The pre-schooler rolls his eyes and I try not to smile at how cute he is. “C’mon, I know what compromise is. I think Dad was just curious while I want to know because I want to go with you.”

  If Gunner and I were on anything but a first date, I’d be inclined to let him tag along. I’m also going to ignore how much I want to ask more about Eldan’s feelings about my seeing Gunnar. Both men are friendly at times but stand offish for the most part. Our plans tonight still surprise me. I’ve known both men for a year, since I started working here, and neither have been more than polite to any of us. “Since this is something called a date, we’ll focus on conv
ersation with each other. It’s a chance to learn more while doing various activities.”

  “Oh, like kissing and other stuff I can’t know about because it’s not age appropriate?”

  I shake my head at his precociousness and smile. “Little dude, how are you even near understanding you’re too young for some things? I was thinking more like a walk in the park and not the grownups only events.”

  Daneul squints at me for a moment before his eyes become slightly glassy. He has the expression every time he’s puzzled. I’ve noticed his father and uncle have the same quirk. His eyes clear and he smiles. “Dad and Uncle Gunnar always use the phrase age appropriate at home, I guess.”

  “That must be it,” I begin as the front door opens before G’nar hurries in. “Hello.”

  “Hello.” He rushes to the check in screen while Daneul runs around the desk to him. He puts one hand on the boy’s head while hunt and pecking with the other. “Sorry I’m late. There was an accident and it took forever to get through it.”

  “Anything bad?” I stand, waiting for the check out by Gunnar to process before starting the computer shutdown. As the process begins, I grab my purse from the counter, following them to the front.

  “No, nothing too terrible. A standard fender bender.” He’s holding the door for me with an eye on Daneul who is already outside. That’s one thing interesting about both men. They keep a close watch over the boy once he leaves the day care. I’d consider them a bit overprotective except our parking lot is small. It’d take no time for a child to run into the street. While Daneul seems too smart to dart into traffic, I wouldn’t rule out anything being possible by a kid.

  I’ve never paid attention to the cars parents drive, but Gunnar’s vehicle is luxury. He and Daneul are chatting while I buckle up. The interior smells new and the emblem on the steering wheel is easy to recognize. I feel a little unworthy of the ride as we drive past my beat up car at the end of the parking lot.