Jon greeted Andara when he stepped off the shuttle. As ordered Jon's guards were loosely formed around him and Nefeit. Oojoung led the way for Andara and stopped in from of Jon.
"Oojoung bring Duke as requested," Oojoung said.
"Thanks Oojoung," Jon said. "Did he give you any trouble on the trip here?"
"You make Oojoung laugh," Oojoung said as he grinned. "Duke not big enough to be trouble for Oojoung. Oojoung explain to him, two ways to get here. Awake and calm or a sleep and quiet. Duke person choose Awake and calm."
Jon let out a small laugh.
"He's a despicable Buranis," Andara said. "We heard you were consorting with them and even some Invaru."
Oojoung turns and looked over his shoulder and said, "Sleep and quiet still option, you tired?"
Andara closed his mouth and said nothing, wise choice Jon thought.
"Princess Terri still lost?" Oojoung said.
"Yes, I'm afraid she is still out there somewhere," Jon said. "Don't worry we'll find her and get her back safely."
"She's not a Princess," Andara said.
"Just couldn't help yourself could you," Jon said.
Oojoung spun on Andara as Jon spoke and slammed the edge of his hand into the Duke's leg just below his crotch. The Duke let out a groan of pain and fell to his knees as he grasped his inner thigh. "Terri person is Princess and always will be," Oojoung said. The words came out as more of a growl. "Now you are in right position to greet Prince Hunter and his wife. But Oojoung cautions you speak again before given permission and Oojoung will have you waking up not knowing where you are."
Andara looked up at Jon and Nefeit as he rubbed his leg. The look of disbelief was all over his face as Oojoung mentioned Nefeit was Jon's wife.
"Oojoung that's enough," Jon said. "He's not a prisoner here. He's a guest, for now at least. If there was one person you don't want to piss off here its Oojoung. You see he has a thing for my sister and to be honest she has a thing for him. I don't think she realizes that yet though. Then there's my adopted daughter Sam, who is here by the way, that's the person he's probably most protective over. By far Oojoung is the most deadly person here and I tend to let him go and do what he does best as I trust his judgment. If he told me I should let him kill you now, I would probably let him." Andara's eyes widened as fear set in and Oojoung grinned at him, baring his fangs at the Duke for good measure and fright factor. "I suggest you act like a guest while you're here and you don't attempt to leave the grounds. Take guards with you everywhere you go as there are probably some people who would kill you on sight rather than look at you. You're not very liked by many here but I think you already know that. So, stand up, dust yourself off and follow me."
"Oojoung come too?" Oojoung said.
"Of course Oojoung, he's your current assignment," Jon said. "There's no one I trust more with his safety than you."
Jon turned and with Nefeit next to him led the way back into the main house. Sam met them at the door and grabbed Oojoung hand as they small group entered. Jon glanced back and watched as Oojoung grabbed her as if she weighed nothing and tossed her on his shoulders. She ruffled the fur on his head and giggled.
"How's my big cuddly bear?" Sam said.
"Oojoung is fine, how is little squishy girl?" Oojoung said.
"Fine, missed you though," Sam said.
"Oojoung very busy here," Oojoung said. "Oojoung very sorry, Oojoung try to make some time to spend with little Sam person."
Sam leaned down and whispered in Oojoung's ear and Oojoung nodded in response to the secret question. Jon arched an eye brow in question.
Sam turned to look at the Duke and gave him the what for look as she spoke, "If my Aunt Terri is hurt or killed, I want you to know I'll order Oojoung to snap your neck like he did Vors."
Andara laughed at Sam and said, "Sure you will."
Oojoung stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face Andara. "Sam person is Jon's adopted daughter, which makes her a Princess. If she orders Oojoung to do something Oojoung has to follow the orders."
Sam folded her arms across the top of Oojoung's head and laid her chin on her arms as she grinned at Andara.
Andara paled as he looked at the two of them and said, "He wouldn't follow he orders would he?"
Jon shrugged and said, "Maybe, you never know what those two will do. What I find surprising is you have a child mad enough at you that she wants to order your death. If that's the case I think you should be confined to the house. You can move freely inside, but aren't allowed outside unless given permission by me or the base commander Captain Anders and then only under heavy guard." Jon knew that Sam wouldn't do anything like that. Even if she did Oojoung would contact him before doing anything that rash. But the scare factor made Jon chuckle as he turned back to lead the way down the hall to the living room.
Oojoung turned back and took a couple skipping sets bouncing Sam who giggled in excitement.
Andara laughed nervously and looked at one of the guard next to him as he spoke, "She wouldn't would she?" The guard shrugged and when Andara looked back towards the small child riding on Oojoung's back she was looking at him half turned.
"Crack!" Sam said as she made a wringing motion with her hands. "Pop!"
Andara gulped and rubbed his neck as he paled even more.
"That's enough Sam," Jon said without turning around. "Duke Andara is a guest here."
"Ok, ok," Sam said as she slowly drew her thumb across her neck before turning around.
"I think that kid is psychotic," Andara muttered.
"Then I don't think I would do anything to get on her bad side," one of the guards said.
"No kidding," Andara said.
Guards took up positions on either side of the doors leading to the living room so that all exits were covered. Oojoung took Sam off to the side and occupied her time while Jon offered Andara a set on the couch. Once Andara was seated Jon and Nefeit sat down opposite of him.
Andara kept watching Nefeit as if he was waiting for her to bite him. Jon sat quietly and watched the non-verbal exchange. Nefeit was clearly not nervous by the scrutiny that Andara had her under.
Jon broke the silence, "Something wrong Duke?"
"Besides being kidnapped?" Andara said.
"I didn't kidnap you," Jon said. "I invited you here to speak to me."
"Which I refused," Andara said.
"You can't refuse a Royal offer," Jon said. "You should know that better than anyone else."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Andara said.
"I just thought being the lapdog for the King you would know a Royal summons couldn't be ignored," Jon said.
"I'm no one's lapdog," Andara said.
"But, I'm right about the Royal summons," Jon said.
"For now you're a Royal, and you're correct I had no right to refuse the summons," Andara said. He hated admitting it by Jon was correct.
"I know the laws, I've studied them for a while before coming here," Jon said. "I like to know what I'm getting myself into. Everything I have done here so far has been in line with the law. I found the documents I was referring too in your transmission files. So, we can dispense with the act as we both know you received them and they're on record."
"So, what, it changes nothing," Andara said.
"It changes the fact that you issued orders to those fighters to cross the border and engage my fighters," Jon said. "That was an unlawful act."
"You have no proof that I gave the orders," Andara said.
"I do, I have the recording of you giving the orders," Jon said.
Andara paused for a second and looked Jon over then said, "False recordings, I never gave those orders."
"Maybe, they're being analyzed now for authenticity," Jon said.
A beep sounded from the table in between Andara and Jon. "Yes?" Jon said.
"Sir, the King is requesting to speak to you," a male voice said.
"I've been waiting for the call, put him through," Jon said.
Andara smirked as he sensed his release close at hand.
"Don't get to happy," Jon said as he touched a flashing button on the small holographic panel that sprung up from the table.
"Captain Hunter," the King said as his face appeared. "It seems you have something I would like back."
"Mr. C'loth," Jon said. He intentionally referred to him that way, if the King was going to be rude he could oblige him. "I can say the same to you. However, I don't know what you're talking about me having."
"Are you always so disrespectful?" the King said.
"Only to those who show me no respect," Jon said.
"I addressed you properly, I expect the same in return," the King said.
"No, you addressed me in a disrespectful manner," Jon said. "I'm still a Prince of Euthara and should be addressed as such. I'm tired of playing mind games with you and your nobles. If you want respect from me you'll show me the same respect."
"Not for long you're not," the King said. "The bond between you and my daughter has been brought into question."
"You think it's false?" Jon said.
"Possible that you forced it on her in some way," the King said. "We're working to discover if that is true or not."
"A forced bond doesn't establish a correct link between the two people," Jon said. "It emulates everything a bond is and nothing else."
"I know this," the King said. "We have ways of discovering false bonds."
"I assure you I have no mental powers, my people haven't developed that far yet," Jon said.
"That remains to be seen," the King said.
"I warn you, if you hurt her there's nothing on the planet that will stop me from coming for you," Jon said.
"Threats don't become you," the King said. "Now about the Duke, I assume he is in good health."
"You can ask him yourself, he's right here," Jon said.
"I'm fine your highness," Andara said.
"Good, you're to report to me immediately," the King said.
"As you wish," Andara said as he stood up. "Thank you for your hospitality Prince Hunter. I really enjoyed the time we had to talk."
"Oh, I don't think that will be possible your highness," Jon said. "The air space and surrounding is very hostile right now. I wouldn't want another incident like with what happened to my patrol group happening again."
"Excuse me," the King said.
"Oh, it seems one of your flight groups engaged my flight group over embassy grounds," Jon said. "The Duke was just explaining how it was all a misunderstanding."
"Then it is as he said," the King said. "Was everyone ok?"
"All pilots were recovered except one," Jon said. "We're currently searching for her."
"I hope she is ok," the King said.
"Oh, I'm sure my sister is," Jon said. "Though the troops you have searching for her is impeding our search efforts."
"Training missions, nothing more," Andara said. "They have orders to not engage your people."
"That's what I thought. That's why I haven't opened fire on them even though they're on our grounds," Jon said. "Consider it an act of cooperation."
"Of course," the King said.
"That is as long as they don't wander too far in as my men have orders to shoot trespassers after they cross a certain distance over the border," Jon said.
"That would be an unfortunate event," the King said. "Though, none of these events change my need for the Duke back at the Palace."
"All this military activity and the Duke might get shot down by accident," Jon said. "You understand how I couldn't have that happening. It would be a terrible thing to have a stray shot kill him or even the shuttle he was on getting shot down by accident. I think he's safer here until all these military exercises and my sister is found. I understand the Princess Deatra wanted to speak to him."
"That's correct she's been asking to see him," the King said.
"Then I guess he can wait here for her return from the palace," Jon said. "She expressed to me how she wanted to meet him in a relaxed environment so they could catch up. The palace is so formal and stuffy she said when she asked me to invite the Duke."
The King's eyes narrowed as he spoke, "You're playing a dangerous game. First my ships and you trying to get the Ga'sahde Treaty restored. Now the Duke Andara is your prisoner at your so called embassy. I see no paper work on that so even that's questionable to say the least."
"I'm not playing any games and the Duke isn't a prisoner here he's my guest and on a state visit," Jon said. Jon reached down and tapped a few buttons on the holo screen in front of him. "Here's a copy of the filed paper work from the Duke's own transmission archives. So, I guess now you're officially notified."
The King's eyes widened as he looked at the Duke who just gave a small shrug. "I see that everything appears in order," the King said as he tried to recover. "However, if the Duke is a guest as you say then he's free to leave."
"Certainly if he must leave then he can do so," Jon said. "I was just worried about his safety. However, since you're willing to take that into consideration and responsibility if anything happens to him he can leave right now."
The Duke smiled and stood up then sat right back down as he spotted Oojoung across the room. Oojoung had stopped playing with Sam and was now looking over a large rifle with a decent sized scope on it. Oojoung was adjusting the sights on the scope and he had his head tilted down as if examining the rifle. His eyes however were watching the Duke as he fiddled with the rifle.
"Your Highness," Andara said softly. "With your permission I would like to stay here for a while to get to know Prince Hunter. It would be unfortunate if something happened because we were careless and didn't heed the Prince's warnings. I'm sure he's only watching out for my best interests."
"Certainly," Jon said. "With the Princess returning soon there's no need for you to go anywhere until she arrives and gets to catch up with you."
"As you wish Duke Andara," the King said. Jon could see the dislike and pain in his face as he continued. "Thank you Prince Hunter, I wouldn't want anything to happen to my most trusted advisor."
"Of course not, no one does," Jon said.
"As far as my daughter," The King said. "She'll return when she's ready to leave. She has been away for so long we're all still catching up."
"I understand," Jon said. "One more thing, have you made a choice about the Titan?"
"I'm not going to restore the Ga'sahde Treaty if that's what you're asking," the King said. "I have no need for them and neither do my people. I refuse to even speak to them about the matter."
"That's unfortunate, because even if you don't realize it your people need them," Jon said.
"That's your opinion," the King said.
"So, you would rather sacrifice a ship than to see reason?" Jon said. "Last count I took you didn't have very many ships."
"I know that," the King said. "But, it's not negotiable. Though I see you have plenty."
"All the more reason to listen to what I have to say," Jon said.
"Is that a threat?" the King said. "Because, it sounded like one to me."
"No, not a threat," Jon said. "I'm just stating the simple fact your people need protection and I have the fleet capable of doing that. I'm even working on the problem of your dwindling population."
"Good luck on the population problem," the King said. "Our scientists and biologists have been working on the problem for a very long time and found no solution. I don't know what you think you're going to accomplish."
"I have an idea or two about what's causing it," Jon said. "Did Deatra tell you we left one of her bonded hand maidens behind at the station?"
"Yes," the King said.
"Did she tell you why?" Jon said.
"Not really, something about her bond mate," the King said.
"Yeah, she pregnant and the baby is health," Jon said. "I was afraid bring her back here would cause her trouble."
"Impossible!" the King said. "There hasn't been a birth on Euthara for the past five years."
"I know there's something going on and I plan on finding out what it is," Jon said. "I'm going to fix the problem for the people. No matter how much we don't see eye to eye it's not going to change that. You can play your little games and try to hinder me at every corner I turn. But, I want you to know you could just be hurting your people in the process of trying to hurt me. The choice is yours to make."
"I don't believe you, you're a pirate and a liar," the King said. "I will get to the bottom of what's going on and then you'll pay."
"Not if I expose you first," Jon said. "Anyway, this conversation is over now that you have stooped to name calling. By the way, I'm Ga'sahde, so until you're ready to restore the treaty don't call me since you don't want to talk to the Ga'sahde. I won't be accepting any calls from you until I see a mass broadcast about the treaty. Good bye."
The King started to say something as Jon disconnected the communication. The screen faded and disappeared as Jon stood up and walked to one of the windows. He was thinking about the events of the past few weeks. He understood why the King was fighting so hard to keep the Ga'sahde out of the equation. What he didn't understand was what the King hoped to achieve by fighting his every move. It was almost as if the King didn't care that his people were suffering. Jon feared there was more than what he had found so far.
"You're serious," Andara said.
"Hrm?" Jon said. He turned around to face the Duke.
"About the pregnant hand maiden," Andara said.
"Oh, yes very serious," Jon said. "It leads me to believe that there's some type of contagion here on Euthara."
"You're not afraid of being contaminated?" Andara said.
"Not really," Jon said. "It looks like it wears off and isn't really harmful. Andy our Chief Medical Officer thinks the nanites will protect us anyway."
"Our nanites don't," Andara said.
Jon blinked and stared at Andara. "What did you say?"
"I said our nanites don't protect us," Andara said. "Why would you think your nanites will?"
"That was something I never took into consideration," Jon said.
"What?" Andara said.
"Never mind," Jon said. "You're free to roam in the house. Help yourself to food or whatever you need. All calls will have to be authorized and monitored of course. If you'll excuse me, we'll pick this back up later." Jon motioned to Nefeit and took her hand as she got up. They left the room together leaving Sam and Oojoung, who had returned to playing, behind.
Once they were outside Jon said, "What do you think about that?"
"About what?" Nefeit said.
"I think the nanites might be the problem," Jon said. "Every nanite we have is controlled by either the station or our ships. The same would go for the Eutharan people except it would be the planet and ships."
"You think someone tampered with the program for the nanites?" Nefeit said.
"Possible," Jon said. "When our ships return to the station the software that run the ships, including the nanites, are all updated when the ship docks. I'm willing to bet that the programs by the main core here on the planet update the ship's software is updated when in range."
"Then that makes no sense," Nefeit said. "The hand maiden was close to her people's ships so her program wouldn't have changed."
"True, however we updated those ships and installed up to date software on them," Jon said. "Since the hand maidens were Deatra's and technically they were in the ADF we switched their frequency and command routines to use our database."
"If the ships left here would the nanites switch to the local system?" Nefeit said.
"They could be opened up to accept the connection," Jon said. "It's a built in system that the user can control if they have access to a com station. Every person has their own access code for their nanites and has limited control over them through that. If they decide to not switch the system or are somewhere there is no system the nanites operate in a limited capacity. Why do you ask?"
"Switch someone to the local computer and wait for it to update and then compare codes between yours and theirs," Nefeit said. "It might show you what you're looking for."
"Brilliant," Jon said. He grabbed Nefeit and gave her a kiss as he hugged her.
When Jon broke the kiss and let her go she swayed a bit and Jon had to steady her for a couple seconds, "Sorry, I'm a bit light headed," Nefeit said.
"No, I'm sorry I didn't mean to surprise you like that," Jon said. Jon was watching Nefeit as her cheeks became darker. He realized she was blushing but instead of turning red her skin got darker.
"You have nothing to be sorry about," Nefeit said.
It was Jon's turn to blush as he said, "Come on, I want to run this by Andy and Mike."
Jon was standing at the planning table that had holograms of Andy and Mike displayed above it. Mark was standing off to the side listening quietly to the conversation. Nefeit was seated and holding a conversation with one of her troops.
"What do you think?" Jon said.
"I don't know, it sounds a bit risky," Andy said. "What if the program they're using does something else to your system? Remember we had to tailor the program we used to suit them. While they're similar to us they have different positions for some of their organs and even have some the human body doesn't and vice versa. As a species we're very compatible, almost the same but there's slight differences."
"I don't think we need to go so far as to switch you over Jon," Mike said. "There's plenty of Eutharan's to get samples from. Any amount of blood would contain enough nanites to serve our purpose."
"All the Eutharan's I know have been switched over to our code," Jon said.
"You have a whole planet to choose from," Mike said.
"Oh, since you said that," Andy said. "I've noticed an improvement among the Eutharan in our crew. Something to note is there are two more pregnancies."
"Really, that's great," Jon said.
"Strange thing is the two crew members are the bond mates of the females on the surface," Andy said.
"So, what you're saying is the females are able to get pregnant and whatever is going on is effecting only the male population," Jon said. "That's very interesting."
"I'm a bit surprised Deatra isn't pregnant yet," Andy said. "As you know I ran all the tests and as far as that goes Humans and Eutharans are ninety percent compatible and should be able to cross breed."
"Um," Jon said as he glanced back at Nefeit. "That's because I refuse to have sex with her before we get married. Not that any of that is your business. We goof around and threaten each other but that's the extent of it."
"Care to explain 'goof around'?" Mike said. "Wait let me a second to get some popcorn before you start. This should be good." Mike made like he was looking for something.
"Pervert," Jon said. "That's not what I meant by goofing around. I meant we might say things to each other but that's as far as it goes."
"Pity," Mike said. He gave the saddest look he could muster. "I was hoping for some exciting details."
"I think it's cute for you to do that," Andy said. She was chuckling at Mike's comments and had to catch her breath. "Such a soft hearted and old fashioned guy, you know those are a dying breed."
Jon moaned as Mark chuckled behind him. "Oh, stuff it all of you," Jon said.
"Look, we only need a blood sample," Mike said as he got serious again. "Any Eutharan no connected to the ADF should do."
"Preferably male," Andy said.
"I don't think it matters," Mike said. "The nanites could be programmed to look for markers before doing whatever it's doing to the males. So, even the female nanites will contain the same code."
"Makes sense," Jon said.
"The easy part will be getting the nanites," Mike said. "The hard part will be gaining access to their core to download the programs ran by the nanites. Then we can start searching the code for anything out of the ordinary. That will be kind of like looking for a needle in a haystack but not impossible."
"You going to need more help?" Jon asked.
"I would like to pull an engineering team from the station with equipment to replace this older stuff," Mike said. "While they're here we can start overhauling the ship yard too."
"So things are going well there?" Jon said. He hadn't bothered to get an update as he knew Brad and Mike capable enough.
"Oh yeah, better than ok," Mike said. "Brad, with the help of the Ga'sahde we have the shields and defensive weapons back online. Nefeit set over some of her own security crew and we have control manned at all times now. I was just about to call Andy and invite her over so she could start requesting what she needed to refit the hospital. Sa'oliq is here and has been requesting some of the parts we need. We gave them an entire level to themselves and set the life support there to emulate their own."
"Sa'oliq has been requesting parts and supplies?" Jon said.
"Yes, thanks for that," Mike said. "Those three Dreadnaughts brought more personnel and tons of supplies, including food and stuff from several different planets. Like plants and materials to get the repairs started."
"Hey," Jon said as he raised his hands. "I didn't know anything about that part of it."
"Oh," Mike said. "I'll make sure to thank her twice next time I see her."
"Are you two done with me?" Andy said.
"Sorry Andy," Jon said. "I'm still trying to figure this out. I want it to be as low key as possible."
"I could come down to check on the troops and a certain Duke," Andy said.
"I think everyone is fine here," Jon said.
Andy raised her eyebrows and tilted her head as she spoke, "Sometimes you're so dense."
"Oh?" Jon said as he raised an eyebrow. Then it dawned on him what she was talking about. "Oh!"
"Yeah," Andy said.
"I see your point a checkup would probably be good," Jon said. "Then you can leave here and station yourself on the ship yard for the time being."
"Ok, I'm going to get ready for my visit," Andy said. "You two play nice."
"Yes mom," Mike said.
The hologram of Andy faded from view when Jon got an idea. "Mike, I'm pretty sure this is the cause of the problems here with pregnancies," Jon said.
Mike interrupted him, "I'm not."
"Huh?" Jon said.
"I'm not sure this is the cause of the problem," Mike said. "But, I'm willing to check into it."
"Care to explain?" Jon said.
"The animals," Mike said. "They're suffering the same problem."
"Maybe they have nanites too," Jon said.
"Do you realize how large that data base would have to be?" Mike said. "That would be almost impossible."
"Never thought about that," Jon said. He was a bit disappointed, he was sure he had found the problem.
"Let me look at it and see what I find ok," Mike said. "Anything is possible so let's take it one step at a time. The nanites are part of the problem or they would be fixing whatever is wrong. The fact that they're not doing that tells me something isn't right."
"Ok, keep me posted," Jon said. "I'll let you get back to work."
"Stay safe," Mike said as the communication was shut down.
"You don't really think Andara will submit to medical examination willingly do you?" Mark said.
"Oh, I have my ways," Jon said. "When I'm done he'll be begging to have one."
Mark laughed and then said, "I bet he will, knowing you."
Jon winked as he smiled.
"Sir," an officer said. "A Eutharan patrol has found it."
Mark jumped quickly steeped up to the small table as he spoke, "Bring it up."
The table came to life as a map blinked into existence. "This is her fighter," the officer said. "Out two man teams say there's no sign of her though."
"You tell our teams to converge on that location and secure the fighter," Mark said. "Have patrols start a search pattern out from that location."
"Echo Leader," the officer said. "You're to secure the fighter. Back up is in route to your location. No one is to approach the wreckage."
'Roger that, ' Echo Leader said. 'However, the ship is intact with visible signs of damage to the engines.'
"That's good news," Jon said.
"Very good news," Mark said.
'Command, we're under fire from the Eutharan patrol, ' Echo Leader said over the sounds of gun fire. 'What are your orders?'
"Tell them to return fire and hold out until back up arrives," Mark said. Mark turned to another officer as he continued. "Get the other teams moving double time and get support fighters in the air and moving to that location. Issue a general weapons free to all groups."
Jon shook his head in disbelief as the orders were passed along. He didn't see Nefeit stand up and move to the back of the room. Mark was watching her out of the corner of his eye as she spoke to someone through her com unit. Mark spun and grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him Nefeit startled look greeted him.
"Just who do you think you're talking too?" Mark said.