Only because he was terrified for Sumi. "If this works out, I will be."
Nykyrian clapped him on the back. "They've sealed everything on Andaria. We're the only craft that'll be given flight clearance until Kyr's captured. We will get that bastard. You know that."
Hauk inclined his head to him. "If I forget to say it later, no matter the outcome, thank you all for being my family. For fighting with, and for me."
"Estra, mi dreystin," Nykyrian said, holding out his arm to him.
Smiling grimly, Hauk shook his arm. One by one, they each followed suit, and then they all dressed for battle.
It took almost three hours to reach Tarsa, the Gondarion capital city where both the Overseer of Justice and the main League HQ were located. A bustling major city, it was nowhere the size of Eris, but it would rival it for technology.
Even though she was no longer an active Seax for the Overseer, Shahara used her clearance to get them a landing permit. Hopefully, her code wouldn't be flagged by The League.
Preparing for the worst case any of them could imagine, they landed.
Ryn took a moment to lose his Tavali gear and suit up like the rest of them. All of their planets and allies had declared war on The League, and they couldn't afford to walk off the ship in enemy battlesuits. Only Drake wore his Kimmerian gear. The rest of them dressed in plain black battlesuits.
And since the Kimmerians were the only ones not currently at war with the Gondarion government, they let Drake take the lead. As soon as they reached the bottom of the ramp, they were greeted by Gondarion soldiers.
"Can I help you?" Drake asked the soldiers in a bored tone.
The guards pinned suspicious stares on them. "Why the armor? What's the reason for your visit?"
Drake shrugged. "We're here to plant petunias. Didn't you get the paperwork?"
The guard was less than impressed with Drake's imperious sarcasm. "Petunias don't grow here."
Bastien stepped forward. "We're here to petition the Overseer. You'll have to forgive my bodyguard, he's a little irritable, but I can't blame him. I'd be irritable, too, if I went a month without a bowel movement."
Drake laughed.
The guard, not so much. He eyed Bastien with extreme animosity. "And you are?"
"Bastien Cabarro. Prince and heir to the Kirovarian throne. I'm here to demand justice for my family, and to get sanctions against the bastard who wrongfully usurped my father's throne and slaughtered my entire family. And..." He looked down at the man's nameplate. "Officer Garox, I can either tell the Mistress of Justice that you were helpful to my family's quest or a major pain in my ass. Which I don't think Lady Alia would approve of since she was a close personal friend of my parents."
That totally reoriented the man's attitude. "Forgive me, Your Highness. We didn't mean to detain you. We just have to be careful these days."
"Believe me, I understand caution. My father nurtured the snake that slew him. Now, if you'll excuse me..." He swept past them with an arrogant royal saunter.
One that vanished as soon as Bastien walked outside the bay. He paused at the entrance and stayed at the door to watch the guards while Hauk and the rest filed out as if they were following and protecting Bastien. Once he and Nykyrian were sure they were cleared and not reported, they headed for the street.
Hauk paused by Bastien's side as his words haunted him. "Is that the matter you need to take care of before you join us in The Sentella?"
"Yeah." His eyes turned dark. Deadly. "They killed my brother and sister in front of me. And I want blood."
"I'm sorry, Bastien."
He pressed his lips together, but said nothing more about it. "Let's get that baby of yours home where she belongs."
Hauk understood why Bastien didn't want to talk about his family and their deaths. Some memories were too crippling, and he had his own share of them. But one thing he knew for a fact.
Bastien wouldn't be fighting alone.
After this, the Kirovarian prince had proven himself one of them.
Strong alone. Stronger together.
Nero brought them a commandeered transport so that they could stay off the street, and not attract undue notice. They made their way to a League orphanage near the Overseer's office building, in the center of the city. It was a drab, unremarkable building that was heavily fortified, and manned by League guards.
None of them spoke as Nero drove them to a side alley so that they could unload and prepare. They'd barely cleared the transport before a shadow flickered.
Every one of them leveled their blasters at it.
"Whoa! Good guy. Please, gods, don't shoot me. And if you do, kill my ass. I can't take any more physical therapy. I'm done with it."
Smiling, Hauk holstered his blaster and held his arm out to Safir. "You look like hell, buddy."
"And feel every minsid flame of it, too. I wish I could say I feel better than I look, but I really don't." After shaking Hauk's arm, Saf hugged Maris. "We have two of our own who are guards here. They're the ones who notified us of her location, after Valari put out a call for information on her whereabouts. The problem is, we know the room. But we're not sure which kid she is. They're not tagged with names." He looked at Hauk. "I'm hoping Daddy knows what she looks like."
Hauk shook his head. "They took her from her mother the minute she was born. Sumi was never allowed to see or touch her. She only knows her name because she bribed a nurse for it."
Shahara crossed her arms over her chest. "If I can get a cheek swab, I can run her DNA with Sumi's and verify it."
They all stared at her.
"What?" she asked defensively. "I'm married to a mad scientist doctor. You think I haven't picked up a few things from him after all these years?"
Caillen grinned. "Sister Shay for the win."
While they planned the extraction with Safir, Shahara called Syn to get Sumi's DNA downloaded to run against Kalea's.
Hauk thought over their ideas. "You know, Saf, it might be easier if Shahara and I can go in with your guys, and say that we were sent in to do a routine med check on the kids. That way we could run the DNA and they wouldn't know what we were about." It was also the best way to keep any innocents from being harmed.
Saf looked at the others. "Anyone got a better idea?"
They shook their heads.
"I like it," Nyk said. "Simple. Straightforward."
"Suicidal," Caillen mumbled.
Darling snorted. "All right. Suicide it is. Let's do this."
When Hauk took a step, Fain stopped him. "I'm going, too. Just in case."
He wanted to argue, but knew that tone of voice. It wouldn't be worth wasting time. And it was why he'd always adored his older brother.
So long as he lived, Fain would always be there for him.
Nyk signaled for everyone to dissipate and prepare for a hot evac.
Once Shahara was fully downloaded and had double-checked her medical kit, she gave a nod to Saf to lead them to the Phrixians who were guarding the facility as League soldiers.
Saf radioed them to meet by the back gate, away from cameras and other guards.
As soon as the Phrixian spies arrived, they saluted their prince, and explained the layout of the building.
Saf and Maris stayed at the gate to cover it while the two Phrixians led Shahara, Fain, and Hauk to the room where a dozen kids, ranging from ages three to six, were playing a game of chase and freeze. All in all, they appeared rather happy and normal. The only way to know they were League owned was the matching white uniforms they wore.
The Phrixians went in first to tell the instructor that they were there for a routine health screening. Either she didn't care or it wasn't unusual. Without looking up from her electronic reader, she told the kids to line up.
From the hallway, Hauk scanned the children as they fell into formation. His heart pounded as his gaze went to the girls. One of them was Sumi's beloved daughter.
No.
One of them was their belo
ved daughter.
I'm a father now. That reality hit him hard. It was something he'd never thought to have. A dream he'd given up on a long time ago. Because of Dariana's cruelty, he'd relegated himself to the role of uncle.
But one of those little faces would soon belong to him...
I will never let any harm come to you.
Swallowing hard, he tried to figure out which one they should test first. There were only three girls - two blonds and one with dark hair and enormous silvery blue eyes. He leaned toward the fairer haired girls, but something about the brunette was familiar to him. He didn't know what, until they entered the room and the children screamed in terror, running for cover.
Except for the brunette. She folded her arms over her tiny chest and held herself with a defiance that sent a chill up his spine. He knew that tilt of chin and that fiery look that dared them to do their worst.
"Kalea?"
Staring up at him without fear, she narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. "Who are you?"
It was so adorable, he smiled as Shahara stepped past him and knelt in front of the girl. "I'm here to do a little screening test on you, is that okay?"
With a suspicious glint in her eyes, she tilted her head. "What kind of test?"
Oh yeah, she had to be Sumi's blood. She was just like her mother and he was in love with her already.
Shahara held a swab in a gloved hand and showed her on her own cheek. "See. Doesn't hurt. And I have a big surprise for you afterwards."
"Is it a good surprise?"
"Better than good."
"It better be." The girl opened her mouth wide.
Shahara quickly pulled out a new swab and scraped it against Kalea's cheek. Rising to her feet, she placed it in a gold solution before she checked her chronometer. "Thirty seconds."
They were the longest of his life.
Kalea tugged at Shahara's leg. "What's my surprise?"
Suddenly, there were running feet in the hallway outside. Fain moved to check while Hauk looked around for an alternate exit.
"It's her," Shahara answered finally. "It's a complete match, and Sumi has a very unique signature. There's no doubt whatsoever."
Hauk wasn't prepared for the swell of protective love that filled him at that confirmation. For a moment, he couldn't breathe at all.
His throat tight, he fell to his knees in front of the tiny girl. His daughter. He wanted to grab her into a tight hug, but that might scare her, and that was the last thing he desired. "Are you afraid of me, Kalea?"
Arms akimbo, she widened her stance to eye him like a tough little mouse. "Am I supposed to be?"
"No. Are you?"
She twisted up her mouth and studied him carefully. "You look very strange. Are your eyes supposed to glow red like that?"
"They are."
"And your teeth? Are they supposed to be so long and sharp?"
"I'm Andarion. We all have those teeth."
"Dancer..." Fain said in warning. "We've got company. We need to go. Fast."
He held his hand up to his brother before he turned back to the girl. "I'm your father, Kalea, and I've come to take you home."
All the defiant fire went out of her as her jaw dropped. Her lips quivered. "I really have a daddy?"
He nodded.
Tears filled her eyes, making them glisten.
"You definitely have a father. And both your mother and I love you very much."
"I have a mommy, too?" she breathed in disbelief.
"Yes."
Tears rolled down her cheeks. "I hate this place, Daddy. Please take me home." She threw herself into his arms.
Closing his eyes, Hauk held her close to his chest. While he loved and adored every child his friends had, it was nothing compared to what went through him as those little arms encircled his neck and she placed her head on his shoulder. Not even what he felt for Darice compared to this.
She's my little girl. All he wanted was to hold on to her forever.
But he couldn't. They had to get her to safety first.
Kissing her cheek, he stood up with her. "Kalea, I'm going to hand you to the nice lady and she's going to take you to some men and get you to safety, okay?"
"What about you, Daddy?"
"Daddy's going to make sure you stay safe. Aunt Shahara is going to hold you for just a little bit. Okay?"
"Okay."
He handed her off to Shahara. "Fain, cover them out the back. I'll draw these bastards off you."
"You got it. Stay safe."
"You stay safer."
Fain inclined his head to him.
Hauk waited until they were clear before he opened the door where the instructor was gesturing to the Phrixian guards. As soon as the new arrivals saw him, they drew weapons. The Andarion in him wanted to start a war in the hallway, but there were too many children here. He wouldn't risk one of them getting hit in the cross fire.
So instead, he fell into the role of arrogant League officer. "Is there a problem?" he snarled at the approaching soldiers.
"By whose authority are you here?"
"The prime commander's," Hauk answered boldly. Technically, it wasn't a lie. He wouldn't be here if not for the rank smelly dog. "Would you like to call him and tell him that you're interfering? I've heard he's real forgiving of being questioned by lesser-ranking soldiers."
They started to accept that until one of them, unfortunately, used his brain to have a thought. "Why would he send an Andarion when we're at war with them?"
That was a good question. Luckily, Hauk was used to thinking on his feet. "Some of us are still Leaguers." He didn't know of any offhand, but it was always a good bet that someone was stupid.
The soldier hesitated. "I don't know..."
"You three stay here and let us check this out." The soldier left the two Phrixians and one other guard.
Poor guy.
Hauk waited until the other guards were gone before he knocked the one unfortunate guard who'd been left behind unconscious. When the instructor started to sound an alarm, he drew on her. "Don't." He switched the setting from stun to kill to let her know he wasn't playing.
The Phrixians held their hands up as if they were afraid, too, and moved to shield her. Hauk ran backwards through the hallway, toward the exit. He was almost to the door when someone opened fire on him in the stairwell. He fired up at them and hit the door running.
Ah, great... There was a group of League soldiers in the yard who turned immediately toward him.
Shit. Why couldn't he ever catch a break during an escape? Just once?
They opened fire. And the moment they did, his friends came out to play and returned it with everything they had.
Grateful beyond belief, Hauk dodged the blasts that narrowly missed him and headed for the transport that was backed up to the gate. At a full run, he dove in headfirst and landed on top of Darling.
"Ah gah, Hauk! Lose some weight. You're crushing me, you fat bastard! I don't know how Sumi stands it."
Laughing at Darling's humor, he pinched his cheek. "Suck it up. You make a sweet cushion." He rolled to his feet, then frowned. "Where are the others?"
"We sent them on ahead with Kalea to get her out of the line of fire."
He sighed in relief as he saw Nyk, Maris, Fain, Darling, Nero, and Drake, who'd stayed behind to cover him. They were the best and he'd never appreciated them more.
Nero drove them out at full throttle, under heavy pursuit. The transport went careening down the street, sending pedestrians and other vehicles in all directions.
"Nero!" Darling shouted. "Some of us aren't suicidal back here."
"Then strap your ass down. Or lose it." Nero jerked to the right.
This time, Darling landed on Hauk.
Hauk put him back on his feet. "Nuh-uh. You have to buy me dinner before you crawl on top of me, baby. No one gets a free ride on the Hauk train."
Maris laughed. "I'm learning all kinds of fun things about you today, Hauk."
Suddenly, the ride leveled out and slowed.
Darling blanched as they were hammered by League fire. "What are you doing, Nero?"
"Shh! I'm being stupid and I have to concentrate for it."
Hauk winced over what that really meant. "Is he giving himself brain damage?"
Darling cursed under his breath. "With all of us inside? Yeah."
Hauk clenched his teeth at the sacrifice Nero was making. "I can carry him out."
"I'll cover you both," Nyk offered.
The transport picked up speed again. Within five minutes, they were back at the port. Nero parked and opened the hatch. He got up and pressed his hand to his nose, which was pouring blood all over him.