Chapter 4
Unexpected Swap

He was tired, dirty, hungry, and sore. That was the short and blunt version of how he felt. The tiny cramped transport could seat twelve but had little in the way of leg-room. It had not been built for comfort or overnight occupation; thus, no shower.

Twenty-seven hours had not seemed like a long time at first, but now that he had been trapped in that same little gray passenger cabin with the only change of scenery being the trip to the lavatory closet - and closet it was since there was not enough room even for his elbows - he was quite cranky. During the trip, he’d had plenty of time to sit and think about his old friends and everything he was leaving behind on Larena, as well as his mother’s imminent death. With him on the verge of adulthood and her now without a mate at all, it was likely only a matter of time. Vathion gave her maybe a year, likely less. ‘Then I’ll be an orphan... with Jathas as the last person that stuck with me from my old life. No matter what Mirith promised...’

There had been three Jumps involved in the trip, and though they had only lasted a minute, they had disoriented him enough that he had been unable to stomach the thought of eating. Zandre, on the other hand, had pigged out and offered Vathion plenty of opportunity to eat along the way. He had mistakenly nibbled some before the first Jump, and seen it again directly after. He had sworn off eating the rest of the trip and had not missed it much. Bigger ships had more room for dampening shields. The transport was lucky to have Jump engines at all.

Around midway through the trip, Jathas had abandoned him to go sit up front with Se’Zandre, asking questions about how the shuttle was piloted. Vathion listened in, only to return to brooding a moment later. Apparently a limited AI actually piloted the ship and Zandre was only there to escort Vathion.

At last the trip was over - they had arrived in the shuttle bay of the flagship Xarian, and Vathion was so eager to get out to a place where he could stretch his legs, he stood impatiently at the door of the shuttle. Finally, the door opened and not waiting for the ramp to fully extend, Vathion leapt out, landing lightly on the decking. Jathas launched after and hit Vathion’s back hard enough to make him stagger forward a few steps. Zandre, on the other hand, waited for the ramp to extend fully before he followed and watched with vague, tired amusement.

“Stinker,” Vathion accused but Jathas, cheerful as ever, grinned as he lifted his ears and snuffled in Vathion’s small triangular ear.

Laughing, the young man dropped his bag and tried to pry the young Hyphokos off. In his efforts, Vathion merely succeeded in getting Jathas latched around his head, covering his eyes, for as he pried one pair of appendages loose, the other pair had moved to new holds.

“Ahem!”

Coming to a stop, the two looked towards the source of the new voice. Well, Jathas lifted his head and Vathion peered between his Bond’s hands. The man was Ma’Gatas, three times Vathion’s age, and perhaps more than twice as grumpy though Jathas would have said that was not possible. He walked towards them a few more paces, his limp obvious and left elbow permanently cocked out to the side.

Ma’Gatas scowled, showing the deep wrinkles that framed his mouth, his thick, heavy eyebrows drawn together over his large nose. “If you two are done fooling around,” he said gravely, “there is a meeting you need to attend. Thank you, Se’Zandre for escorting young Mister Vathion here without permission. You may go.” Those brows were really the only place his hair color could be clearly seen, as the rest of his amber hair was buzzed short, close to his scalp.

Saluting, though not very enthusiastically, Zandre started off towards the lifts. After passing Gatas, Zandre looked back at Vathion and mouthed "I'll see you later."

Jathas released his Gilon and dropped to the floor, landing beside Vathion’s bag. The young man frowned slightly and picked up his bag. As he did so, his gaze swept across the shuttle bay, recognizing his surroundings as eerily familiar. The far wall to the left was shielded to hold air in the bay but allow ships to pass. The doors that normally covered the bay’s opening were shutting even now. The floor was painted with markings that designated landing spots for the thirty fighter ships that were housed here, leaving a wide lane down the center for takeoffs and landings. Along the left and right walls were lines of fighter ships. Oddly enough, there were no mechanics working, no pilots inspecting... no crew in sight. There should have been someone in here at least ready to receive the transport. In fact, there were crates set beside the lift that took cargo between cargo bay four and the shuttle bay.

On the other side of the bay, about twenty feet away, were the doors to the pair of lifts that serviced the ship. Vathion had just rested his eyes upon them when one of those doors opened.

Displayed in the opening was a woman of slender build and very nice curves for a forty-year-old. Letting the doors open fully, she stepped out, her cloud of naturally silver hair floating around her face and shoulders. She lifted a hand and flicked it back out of her maroon eyes, her Bondstone lit with a matching color. In her arms, she held an older hyphokos who looked particularly ill.

Vathion did not have much time to take in the woman’s delightful form, for the Hyphokos in her arms looked up, dark blue-violet eyes focusing on him. “He lives on!” the Hyphokos howled in its language. Abruptly, the creature leapt from the woman’s arms, an expression of mad-glee on its features.

“Paymeh!” the woman with silver hair shouted as she stumbled, trying to catch the mad Hyphokos. It slipped from her grasp, though, heading straight towards Vathion at top speed.

Vathion straightened - dropping his bag again as Jathas clutched his Gilon’s shin possessively. Ma’Gatas tried to block the hysterical Hyphokos, but Paymeh easily darted between his feet.

It was almost as if time stopped for a second and Vathion helplessly watched. A second later, the stranger merged, hitting Vathion with enough force to knock him to the ground. Jathas shrieked then, voice echoing in the large area as he desperately tried to make his way towards the open sides of Vathion’s shirt.

All Vath could do was watch as his best friend collapsed and began writhing violently before just as suddenly stopping and remaining in a motionless heap. Life faded from Jathas’s eyes, leaving a frozen expression of horror and panic on the lizard-creature’s face.

Vathion breathed once; his vision immediately went black as pain hit. Shivering, he reached for his best friend, blindly clutching at one of Jathas’s ears, trying desperately to get his voice to work, but the words were gone. He could barely think at all.

Standing in shock for several seconds, the silver-haired woman finally rushed forward the last few feet to kneel beside him, cool hands pressing against his neck, looking for a pulse, and pulling his eyelids back. She was saying something, but for the life of him, Vathion could not understand.

“Jath -” he croaked at last.

Slowly, Vathion became aware of Ma’Gatas griping, “We don’t need this kind of delay! Get up, boy!”

The woman snapped back, “Ma’Gatas, he’s gone into shock. He’s in no condition to attend a meeting of any sort. Ha’Vathion,” she turned towards him, “Focus on my voice,” something cold touched his neck and his vision began to clear as the pain in his head receded.

“...Jathas...” Vathion whimpered looking towards his Bond as the woman pulled his hands away.

The doctor, as was now obvious to him by the pin on the collar of her jacket, pulled him up, “Kiti, take Ha’Vathion’s luggage up to his quarters. Call my assistants to take Ki’Jathas to the morgue.” Carefully, she helped him sit up then pulled him to his feet, struggling to get him in motion. He staggered, having to lean heavily on her, even though she was three inches shorter. “Have you eaten?” she asked him and he shook his head, regretting it immediately.

Things were moving too fast. He could barely see straight and now found himself in the lift with the woman. Beyond, he could see Jathas lying on the floor. #Jathas!# he cried, unable to quite believe it.

Ma’Gatas stuffed himself into the lift with them and hit the button for the officer’s deck before the woman could stop him. “Ma’Gatas!” the woman objected, “He needs to rest! I need to take him to the sickbay! Paymeh may have caused considerable damage!”

Vathion was too tired and in too much pain to object to their destination either way and just stood there, leaning against the woman. His vision fogged in and out of focus, and in his head, he could feel the strange Hyphokos setting up shop - rewiring things he has no right to touch. #That’s Jathas’s space, you jerk!# he managed to scream at the invader. Paymeh - as he recalled the woman calling the insane Hyphokos - ignored him.

The lift doors opened again, and Vathion was taken bodily by Ma’Gatas - while the medic objected. Hauled by his upper arm, he stumbled down a long, curved hall and through a door into a vaguely familiar room. The medic was still striding along behind, “Ma’Gatas! I object to this! You have no right to treat him this way!”

Ma’Gatas completely ignored her, dumping Vathion into a chair, like some tramp caught stealing. Vathion nearly continued on over the other side of the chair, but caught himself with an elbow on the table. Tingling pain shot up his arm, and desperately, he clutched at it, trying to focus on that as a way to find his way past the confusion of thoughts that had invaded his mind.

Dimly, Vathion realized that the furniture in the room was a wood dining table and the seats were garden chairs. People were seated around the table. None of them looked happy.

Ma’Gatas, still standing beside him with a hand on his shoulder, grip pinching a nerve, started speaking, “As you can see, once again, Ha’Natan has left us in a very bad position - and he isn’t even here to get us out of it.”

Vathion remained silent, hands to his head as he tried not to moan in pain. Bonds weren’t supposed to hurt that much! Then again, Hyphokos usually did not claim a Gilon that was already Bonded.

#Jathas!# he called again. There still was no answer.

Vathion hid his choked sob by pretending it was a cough as he became aware of what Ma’Gatas was saying, “So, as second in command, I will be taking over.”

“Hold on...” Vathion grated from behind his hands as he massaged his head. Ma’Gatas thankfully shut his mouth as the teen slowly pulled his wits together, “Dad’s will said specifically - the Fleet is mine. Also said I am to inherit the title of Admiral.”

Finally lowering his hands, Vathion pushed Ma’Gatas’s pinching grip aside and turned to face the people who sat at the table with him. “By law, it is my decision who runs this outfit.”

Those people were none other than the first shift bridge crew of the Xarian. It struck him as wrong, but he couldn’t put his finger on why. His first shift-bridge crew stared at him in silence. Many of them frowning with closed postures, arms folded across their chests.

Lifting his dark green eyes, Vathion shoved his short violet bangs back from his forehead, his Bondstone showing a deep sea blue with purple edges.

Glad that his vision had finally cleared enough for him to focus on who he was facing from the head of the table, Vathion said slowly, “Let’s get this straight... I don’t know why Dad did this,” the room swayed, or perhaps he did, and Vathion clutched the table, “I’ve only had maybe four meaningful conversations with him in the last year; they were over the vid, and all started with ‘so tell me why your grades have dropped?’ I think, in total, they add up to ten minutes and that’s counting the awkward pauses.” Vathion admitted that he was exaggerating slightly, but he was not in a good mood. At least things were starting to resurface - things he should have known right off... such as the fact that Paymeh was Natan’s Bond.

#Idiot! How could you mistake ME for Him?# Vathion demanded of the Hyphokos - who was not listening.

Taking a breath, Vathion’s eyes flicked around the room, it - of course - was not like any ship’s conference room Vathion had ever seen in Vids, other than the one depicted in the Natan Fleet Show. This one was painted white with murals of pretty flower gardens within boarders that looked like large windows - hand painted. The table in the center of the room was real wood; as were the porch lounge chairs they sat in. “So there it is,” he concluded, “My father was a complete and total nutcase. And I admit that completely."

Beside him, Ma’Gatas had folded his arms and was nodding. Vathion highly disliked the overly pleased expression the man was wearing.

Ca’Bibbole, a Hyphokos, and the head Communications officer frowned, “Ha’Natan was brilliant,” he defended, “He’s always had reasons for doing the things that he did.” Bibbole’s coloring was mostly crimson except for a thin stripe of pale yellow down the center of his back. His body was small and light with three dexterous fingers and a thumb on each hand and foot. His eyes were bright red - the same red that showed on Li’Codas’s Bondstone, the man who was head of ship ops and seated next to his Bond.

The ship’s doctor had her arms folded as well, expression displeased. Her name, Vathion recalled finally, was Savon. She was head of the entire fleet’s doctors. “Ha’Vathion,” she said, “I know things are probably a bit confusing to you right now, but that’s really no way to talk about him.”

In the back of his mind, Vathion felt his new Bond, Paymeh, stir as if shifting uncomfortably. Firmly, Vathion closed connections with the irate semi-symbiotic lizard. This seemed to help his headache. It wasn’t something Vathion had ever done to Jathas, and it was generally considered juvenile. However, it seemed only fair, considering that Paymeh had done. Jathas being the last friend Vathion had, one he’d had since he was five, and his Bond since he was seven. It was official now, Vathion realized. He had lost everything - his name, his home, his family, his life, his freedom, his few other friends, and lastly, his Bond.

Fury filled him, and he was sure his expression mirrored his inner feelings. He was not on balance enough to hide them behind a blank mask or smile. He was mad and there was nothing anyone could do to make him feel better.

“Whether he was insane or not,” said another of the officers - En’Lere, the senior engineer of the Fleet, “doesn’t matter so much at the moment. We’re still in a war zone, and ready or not, we can’t just sit out of the battles. The Empire needs us to restore order.” The man was slightly overweight, bald, and in his fifties, but a man that was not to be taken lightly. “So, what’s your decision?”

Unfortunately, the man had a point, and Vathion winced. He was not sure about commanding one ship, let alone twelve, and in a battle situation...

I’Savon shook her head, “You have Paymeh, and us,” she pointed out evenly, reading his expression, “I trust Ha’Natan’s decision on this.” Though Vathion detected a hint of a quaver in the doctor’s voice, “There is little else we can do, since he willed his title and fleet to you.” Savon shot a pointed look at Gatas.

Shifting, the second-in-command scowled around the table, “I think this should go to vote,” he said. “It’s obvious that ...Mister Vathion is young and certainly doesn’t have any experience commanding.” Gatas lowered his hands to his sides and lifted his chin as he looked down at Vathion, “Turning over command to me would be the most intelligent thing to do. You can return home and not worry about any of this.” Turning away before he saw the spark of fury rising in Vathion’s eyes, Gatas faced the others at the table, “Your votes in favor of my plan?”

Out of the nine in the room, four raised their hands. Vathion eyed the four: Gatas, one of the orange-haired weapons officers, Lere, and Codas. However, Codas’s hand was only raised a little and lowered further as he caught Vathion’s look.

“So, is it agreed that we’re going to follow... Mister Vathion?” he asked and watched the indecisive looks around the table. Ma’Gatas spoke again, “Vathion,” he said in a condescending voice, “As your second in command, I urge you strongly to leave the fleet and return to your home where you will be safe.” He paused and glanced around with a slight smile, “We are far more experienced than you, and as this is a war zone, it would be best if we had an experienced hand on the wheel.”

Vathion burst out laughing at the very idea. “Home? I haven’t got one! Since Paymeh so kindly killed my Bond, and with Dad dead, it’s probably only a year before Mom dies! I was seen leaving Ika Station, and I will be found again. I certainly can’t go back to Larena - I’d be mobbed!” Rage and pride finally reaching the boiling point, he slammed his hand down on the table, “No! Over my dead body, Gatas!”

Jathas had been so excited about the idea of being famous...

The senior officers recoiled, staring at him in shock.

“But surely-” Gatas started to object.

“No!” Vathion slapped the table again as he rose to his feet, looming over Ma’Gatas, his voice dropping to a lower tone as he found that shouting was only making his head hurt worse. This had the added effect of making the others in the room pay closer attention. “Absolutely not! The Fleet was Natan's property to give and run as he pleased and that he has left it to me is a matter of law that you will not violate. This fleet belongs to me. My money supports it. My money pays your salary!” He stabbed a finger at Gatas’s soft chest.

Vathion felt very cold inside, and after a few more insistent shoves from Paymeh, he opened the link. #Finally! You insolent little twerp!# the Hyphokos snapped, irritation shading more purple into the faceted gem-like organ on Vathion’s forehead. Though the others could not hear what the Hyphokos said, they could definitely see that there was an argument occurring between the two newly Bonded. #Natan’s got his reasons alright, so just shut up and do what I tell you.#

#Piss off, stupid parasite!# Vathion snapped in return. #I will never trust you and I will make your life hell. Just as you and Dad conspired to make MINE hell!#

The Bondstone turned darker purple, matching Vathion’s hair as Paymeh disengaged and leapt atop the table. “The battle will continue. Natan wants victory, and his killer found.”

The doctor leaned forward again, “So he was murdered!” This had come as a surprise to Vathion too since the autopsy report said it was an accident as there had been no proof of poisons in his blood and the Xarian surveillance files just showed Natan walking to the bay by himself on his own power. However, the expressions on the faces of the other officers were grim. They had suspected, apparently.

Paymeh huffed, “Yes. Killer is on ship still. Been here a long time, but hidden. Natan nearly got hit four times before giving his will to Ma’Gatas,” the Hyphokos nodded towards the second in command and Gatas paled. “Natan knows the fleet is in good hands, Vathion has his confidence.”

Shoving away from the table and straightening, the young man pressed his lips together, looking over the group, “By my father’s will, I am the Admiral of this fleet,” he told them coldly, “and I will not step down. But right now I’m tired and time-lagged from the Jump in. I’m going to bed.” He was too numb in the head for what Paymeh had said to make much of an impact on him. He would think about it tomorrow.

With that, he turned and headed for the door.

He was still wearing the clothes he had left home in, which were definitely not the ship’s uniform and needed cleaning. He felt grimy and wanted a long hot shower before getting some sleep.

Maybe this was all just a nightmare, and he would wake up and his father would call and demand to know why he had gotten a B on his language exam.

Keeping his head high, Vathion stalked out of the room that was as hauntingly familiar as the shuttle bay had been and out into the hall. He headed one door to the right - to the room across from the door to the bridge, where the captain’s quarters were usually located.

The first room he entered as a sitting area with walls covered by wallscreens. There were three doors that led out of this room - not counting the door he had just entered. The first was to the left, leading into the kitchen. The next was on the opposite side of the room of his current position, giving access to the bedroom and likely the bathroom too, and the door on the right led to the combined library, private sitting room, and study. The room also had a distinct scent lingering in the air. It was a scent Vathion couldn’t immediately place but knew on some level.

All of these rooms had furnishings in a color scheme that Vathion was surprised to find that he actually liked. His father had been eccentric, and as a result, Vathion had been expecting to find a set of rooms that looked like a Wilsaer had puked in them. Instead, the carpet was a dusty gray, a nice restful color that was not industrial or metallic, and the wall-sized wallscreens showed peaceful garden scenes. The furniture was upholstered in a darker gray fabric.

Taking a breath, Vathion headed between the couches, chairs, and low tables to the bedroom. Stepping in, the light came on and Vathion stopped, leaning heavily against the doorframe, suddenly weak in the knees. That half-recognized scent was stronger here, attacking his sinuses with a vengeance, bringing tears to his eyes.

Pushing off the doorframe, Vathion stumbled into the bedroom, found the door to the bathroom by accident, and somehow made it in. He glanced briefly towards the mirror over the sink, noticing the dark violet color of his Bondstone. Paymeh’s eyes were blue... Shaking his head and unable to understand fully, he gave up trying to figure it out and shed his clothes to take a shower.

It was not until he was curled up in his father’s bed, surrounded by the lingering scent of Natan that clung to the bedding that it suddenly struck him.

Natan was dead and probably murdered and now Vathion had just taken his place; his worst nightmares come true. Jathas was dead and definitely murdered, though no Hyphokos was going to see it that way and he would never have as true a friend ever again. The remainder of his friends were back on Larena, having graduation and end-of-term parties, and Mirith was probably wondering where the hell he had gone without telling her goodbye like he had promised to.

‘She’ll find out soon enough.’

Clutching the pillow, Vathion curled around it and silently cried. ‘Probably biology - and fatigue,’ he reasoned, trying to deny the loneliness that ached in his heart.

Only by virtue of his extreme fatigue did he finally fall asleep.

* * *

He sat staring at the wallscreen as his son stared at him; lips turned downwards at the corners, a sorrowful but angry pinch to his dark green eyes.

“Did it ever occur to you that I’d like to make my own way instead of hanging off your coat tails for everything?”

Curling his toes under, he sat back in his chair and folded his arms, feeling hurt that his son would be that resentful. He had done everything he could to let the boy have a normal life and get him the education he wished he’d gotten. It hurt so much to see that look on his son’s face all the time. He just did not know what to do anymore. He was lost and lonely and in danger, and in the end, he had promised them... Hasabi... Vathion...

“A week...”

“Damn you for making a liar out of me!”

Vathion jerked awake, startled by his own shouting. Sitting up, he stared at the far wall in the strange room he found himself in. Only the strip of dim lights glowing around the ceiling gave him anything to see by. Finally recognizing his surroundings, Vathion swallowed and rolled over onto his back, hearing Paymeh’s call from the other side of the locked bedroom door.

“Vathion?”

Vathion did not want to see that blasted lizard; the one that had killed his best friend. He would never forgive Paymeh.

Rolling over again, Vathion pulled the pillow over his head and tried to go back to sleep.

He saw himself again, on the other side of the wallscreen, dressed in the Natan Fleet uniform, fiddling with his tassel as he shyly said, “I love you too, Dad.”

“I love you, dad,” Vathion sobbed in his sleep.

“Damn you.”

Chapter 3 ..... Chapter 5