Forced Handfasting (12 page)

“What makes you think I am unfit to continue on the rule that my family had established decades ago.” He struggled to maintain his anger. He wanted to get as much information out of the traitor as he could before Rahman broke the connection.

“You don’t seem to want to follow the laws established by us. You see fit to go about things your way, without bothering to inform the Council. Your father knew you would be a weak ruler! He was correct in wanting to establish the council. He feared that you would screw things up, just like you have done!”
 

“What the fuck are you talking about? My father set up the Council to help him in his dying days, not for you to think you had all the say so in the everyday ruling of Uxslore. I told you once, and I will tell you again, my father was a fool for employing the committee and even more of a fool for appointing you! You are nothing more than a traitor to Uxslore, and you will pay the price for the war you have started against your people!”

Rahman cackled like an old woman. His face turned red as he laughed uncontrollably. “Oh, you stupid, stupid boy! Half of your people are on my side! Just for fun I am going to let this play out, but we all know who the better ruler will be.”

With that, the screen went black. Everyone in the room was quiet as the scene that just unfolded in front of them sank in. Rahman was a traitor to his own people, and Jahan didn’t believe for one moment that half the population of his people had turned against him.

“What are we going to do now?” Niko walked up beside him.

“I am going to kill that son of a bitch!” He faced Niko as his anger built up. He punched the console in front of him.

“That’s not going to solve anything,” Niko said with a smirk.

Jahan shook his hand then said, “I know. I just left like punching something.”

Shortly after the transmission ended there was a commotion at the main entrance of the command center that drew everyone’s attention. A large group of people walked in from the tunnel that led to the outside, with his brother, Marco, leading the pack.

He let out an audible sigh of relief when he saw his brothers walk into the heart of the mountain. The sound of children’s voices told him that his brothers’ families had all made it safely to the mountain.

Jahan walked towards the group as it meandered its way to where he met them. Without any words, he clasped his middle, Marco, in a tight bear hug. When his eyes landed on his youngest brother, Vito, who was twenty minutes younger than Marco, he reached out to include him in an embrace.

“I am relieved you made it. How is everyone?” Jahan looked around to the group filing in around the hugging brothers.

“Some bumps, and bruises on most. Maya suffered a laceration on the head when part of the window hit her when it shattered.” Vito nodded at his young daughter who was currently in the arms of her mother.

“Have the healer check her out.”

The noise level in the command center grew until it became too loud for anyone to work efficiently.

“Let’s get the family rooms open, and put the children back to bed. There is no need for them to see what is going on in here at the moment,” Marco said as he directed his family in the direction of the hallway that branched off the main room.

“That’s an excellent idea. There isn’t much we can do at this point until we receive the reports from Tully’s scouts.” Jahan walked over to Sam and took her by the hand. Behind him, Marco, and Vito moved up behind him. “Brothers, I would like to introduce you to my wife, Samantha.”

Marco and Vito smiled warmly at Samantha then nodded. “It is a pleasure to finally meet our new sister even if it is under such horrible conditions.” Marco waved a young woman forward who was holding an infant in her arms. “This is my wife, Keena, and our son, Daneel.”

Vito guided his wife, and daughter to stand near Sam as the introductions were made. “Sister, this is my wife, Beatha, and this little lady is Maya.”

Jahan watched how Sam reacted to his brothers. He hoped she would accept them as simply as she accepted him but considering the situation he wouldn’t be surprised if she shied away. He was relieved though when she forced a smile through the tears that still ran down her face. Thankfully, she wasn’t the only one who was still in shock, and had tears freely falling.

“It is a pleasure to meet you all.” Sam nodded at them. Jahan felt her hand clench his tightly as she forced the words from her mouth.

Beatha, and Keena both smiled back at her while watching her with interest. Jahan knew that both of his sisters-in-law were eager to meet to Sam, and learn about Earth, so he didn’t have any worries about them getting along.

The group moved its way down the passage that contained numerous closed doors. Marco and Vito each stopped in front of the door and entered a code into an access panel located to the right of each door. Jahan and Sam continued down the hall until they reached the very end. Their quarters were at the end of a long hallway, and was recognizable by the green door that indicated it was the living quarters of the ruling lord. Jahan entered the access code to open the door then stepped into their new home.

The much smaller room was very basic compared to the bedroom they had vacated a short time ago. There were no windows in the spacious area that consisted of an enormous bed off to one side, a brown sofa similar to the ones they had in their living room upstairs, and a small kitchenette that was fully stocked with non-perishable foods. Several boxes were stacked up in a corner of the kitchen, and on top of the table where they would eat their meals. Fortunately, the replicators he had ordered for the shelter had arrived a long time ago and stood in another corner of the room. He would give Sam the pleasure of making whatever she needed in order to take her mind off what was happening outside.

Sam was still standing near the door when he turned to see where she was. She was frozen in place and look petrified to move. He immediately went to her, and asked, “What’s wrong, little one?”

She looked up at him, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong you ask?” She paused as she thought about what she wanted to say. “Do your people hate me that much, that they would cause a war to see you overthrown?”

He wasn’t expecting that for an answer. “What do you mean? This war wasn’t started because of you. It started by a man who thinks he is the better one fit to rule Uxslore.”

“I heard what he said, Jahan, and I’m not stupid. The soldiers in the restaurant were right. You didn’t follow what the council wanted you to do. You were supposed to marry Kioto, not me! You should have listened!” She sobbed with her final words.

“I never agreed to the council’s demand that I marry Kioto!”

“But your people wouldn’t be suffering right now if it hadn’t been for me! You should have left me on that slave block!”

She was talking nonsense. She believed she was the chief cause of a war that was only hours old. “I will not have my wife think such foolish things. Rahman is a madman and has wanted the power over Uxslore for a long time now. I should have seen it coming, but I was distracted with my ignorance. My father never intended for the council to have as power as they think they have. This war will come to an end soon, and I will make sure that the council is disbanded forever! As for leaving you on the slave block, I never want to hear you say that again! I told you once that the goddess lead you to me. I was meant to find you there, and we are meant to be together.” He pulled her to him and crushed her against his chest. “I want you to rest. Try to get some sleep while I go back out there, and figure things out. It might take us some time, but we will win this war, and have things restored back to order.”

“Sleep? I couldn’t possibly go to sleep right now. I’m too scared!” She clung to him as if her life depended upon it.

“I can give you something that will help you sleep, if you would like. I would feel better.” He felt her nod against his chest. “Good. Go slip into the bed while I get it.” He kissed the top of her head then turned her to face their new bed.

He went into the small relief room and rummaged through the drawers until he found the sleeping injector in its sterile wrapping. He found Sam sitting on the side of the bed waiting for him as he left the relief room. He unwrapped the injector and held it out to show her.

“This won’t hurt,” he said as he showed her the silver device. With her nod, he brushed her golden hair back away from the side of her neck then placed the tip of the injector against the pale skin. He pressed a button on top and heard a small click as the drug was injected directly into his wife’s system. “It doesn’t take long for it to take effect.” He helped her to lie back on the bed then brought the blankets up to her chin. “I heard it can get chilly in here once the air circulation system gets going good. I won’t be very far away and will come check on you in a little while.” He leaned over her and pressed his lips to hers. Her lips felt cold, but he knew from experience it was from the shock she had experienced, so he wasn’t overly concerned. He stood back up and noticed that the prescription was already taking hold of her as her eyes blinked slowly. He smiled down at her then turned to leave. Right before he exited their new home Sam called out to him.

“Jahan?”

He turned back around at the sound of her voice. “Yes, little one?”

“I…I…I love you.”

Her words struck him down. At first he wasn’t sure he had heard her correctly, so he asked her, “What did you say?” He had to make sure.

“I said, I love you,” Sam repeated then yawned with her eyes closed.

His hearts soared higher than he ever thought they could. “I love you too, little one. Sleep now.” He smiled brightly at his wife as she twisted onto her side, and quickly fell asleep.

Chapter 11

The first few days of the war passed slowly for everyone involved. During this time, more, and more people filtered into the command center shelter seeking a haven from the horrors on the outside. The bombing of the mountain and surrounding areas continued day, and night until Sam thought she was going to go insane. Several times she believed the mountain was about to cave in on them, and bury them all alive. Children cried continuously, civilians panicked, and the injured were cared for in a small infirmary that had been set up one level lower than the command center itself.

To try, and take her mind off the explosions on the outside, and the chaos on the inside, Sam tired her best to make herself as useful as possible. She helped to prepare food for those who didn’t have private quarters of their own; she played with the children who were often bored to tears, or she helped with the injured by helping the healer clean, and bandage minor wounds. Each night she fell into bed exhausted and would struggle to remain awake until Jahan made an appearance in their room. One night she had to force him to sleep for a few hours because he was running on fumes, and was about to drop. Niko backed her up and helped her to persuade Jahan that he wouldn’t be any good to anyone if he fell ill.

The reports on the fighting on the surface of Uxslore were sketchy but as the days passed more and more information was making its way to Jahan and the command center.

A group of scouts sent out by Tully, had successfully captured a soldier who was trying to spy on the mountain for Rahman. The man was interrogated for hours until he finally broke and spilled his guts in order to save his life.

Jahan told her that Rahman had half of the council members on his side, and had been planning on the invasion for a long time now. For years, Rahman had been skimming money from the council’s accounts in order to fund his army. The prisoner communicated to Jahan, and Tully that many of Rahman’s soldiers were serving him against their will because he had threatened to kill their families while they watched. Others were there of their free will because of the promise of great wealth Rahman told them he would give them if they followed him. The prisoner informed Jahan that Rahman had a base setup approximately two hundred miles east of the council building, and was buried beneath the ground much in the same way Jahan’s command center was. 

Jahan, Niko, and Tully spent countless hours going over maps of Uxslore in order to find a way to breach Rahman’s stronghold. They were trying to find a way into the base without being detected, but so far they had come up empty handed. Each night scouts were sent out to look for ways into the base, but each and every night nothing was found.

Jahan was taking the war hard, and felt as if it was all his doing. He spoke to Sam one night that he should not have gone off to make an alliance with the Flox but rather, he should have sent Tully along with Niko. He felt guilty for taking the time to find a wife too, but she emphatically told him he was foolish, that he could never have known what Rahman was up to.

“Have you contacted the Flox? Would they be willing to come help?” she asked him one evening when he had stopped long enough to eat the food she had brought to him.

“Yes, and their council is voting on whether or not to step in, and help. I wouldn’t be offended in the least if they voted no. The Flox nation does not have a durable army or a lot of weapons. That’s the main reason Niko, and I had gone there to make an alliance with them. We were afraid some other race might move in, and try to take over their planet, and enslave the population.”

“But, how long do you think we can last down here?” She had been worried about that for the past couple of days. She had no idea how many supplies were stored in the mountain or how long they would last considering the amount of people they had to feed every day.

“We have more than enough supplies to last for months, but hopefully, this worst last that long.” He took another bite of the sandwich she had made for him. “I am hoping to hear from the Flox sometime tomorrow, but if not, we will keep going on the path we are on. Rahman has to have a weak spot somewhere, and it’s just a matter of time before I find it.” He crumbled up the napkin then placed it on a plate his sandwich had been on.

They sat in silence for a few moments lost in their private thoughts. Sam thought about Earth, and the numerous wars its residents had fought all for the sake of power. Thousands upon thousands of people had died in the countless wars, and probably thousands more would die in wars that had yet to occur. The people of Earth never seemed satisfied to leave one another alone, someone always wanted to push their ideas or beliefs on another who didn’t agree. It was a sad scenario but true, and obviously, the people who lived in space were no different.

Sam was just about to get up, and leave when suddenly the lights dimmed then flashed several times before steadying out again. “What was that?”

Jahan was already on his feet. “I don’t know.”

Together they walked to the main command center room. Several people were rushing around while Tully, and Niko issued out orders. Jahan took up his spot at his console and began typing furiously on his keyboard.

“I want a full report on the status of the generators,” Jahan announced as his eyes watched the screen in front of him.

Sam went to stand behind her husband as he worked. She was a little afraid to go back to their room for fear the lights would go out completely, and she wouldn’t be able to see where she was going.

“My lord, the generator room sustained a direct hit, but the roof above it has managed to bear the weight of the collapsed debris on top. We need to remove the debris as soon as possible, or the roof might not be able to continue to carry the load.”

“Jahan, I can take a group of men up to the surface, and see what needs to done in order make the roof stable again,” Marco told his brother.

“Do it,” Jahan replied.

The next few hours were chaotic as people rushed to, and fro to clean up the debris that had fallen inside the command center. A patrol of troops came in dirty, and hungry, but ready to give their report before thinking of taking care of themselves.

Sam suddenly felt as if she was in the way, so she decided to go in search of Keena. The two women had spent a lot of time together since their forced protection took place. She found the younger woman in the middle of feeding her infant son.

“I found you,” she said when Keena waved her over to the area that had been setup for the children to play.

“I was too scared to move when the lights started flickering, and the last thing Marco needs right now is for me to underfoot.” Keena tried to force a laugh but failed.

Sam could see the fear in the woman’s eyes. She was just as scared, but she didn’t want to let Keena know. “How about I sit right here, and keep you company. There isn’t anything pressing I need to attend to right now.”

“Thanks that would be great.”

“How’s the little guy doing?”

Keena switched the baby from one thigh to the other. “He’s been fussy since we came in here. Poor little guy must be so confused on why he doesn’t get to sleep in his bed.” Keena wiped the baby’s mouth with the corner of the shirt she was wearing. “How are you holding up? I mean…Marco told me about how Jahan found you. I hope that was okay.”

This was the first chance Sam had to talk with another woman about what happened to her since she landed on Uxslore. Not that she didn’t want to talk to Jahan or anything, she just wanted another woman to talk to.

“It’s fine. I mean, there’s really nothing to hide. But..,” she paused for a moment before choosing her words, “but, I feel as if this war is my fault.”

Keena’s eyes widened in shock, and her mouth hung open for a second before it snapped shut again. “Why would you even think such a thing?” Kenna sat the infant on the floor in front of her so he could play with the toys spread out on a blanket at her feet.

Sam shrugged her shoulders in defeat. “Wouldn’t you think that if your husband was supposed to marry someone else because the council demanded it? He went against what was required of him.”

The younger woman turned so that she could face Sam directly. “NO! I would not! The council has been itching for something like this to happen for a long time now. Especially Councilman Rahman. He’s had it out for Jahan ever since he was a kid. My father is on the council too, but my marriage was not arranged. Marco and I basically grew up together. I used to follow him, and his brothers everywhere, and made quite a nuisance of myself! But, don’t you believe for one minute that this war has anything to do with you. Rahman just used it as an excuse to start it.”

Sam absorbed Keena’s words, but she couldn’t shake the feeling it was all her fault. “But if…,”

“But nothing!” Keena cut her off. “Jahan would be furious to know that you are thinking that way.”

Sam sniffed back the tears that stung her eyes, and nose. Damn, she was an emotional wreck the last week, and needed to stop pitying herself.
No, damn it! It’s not my fault!

Keena wrapped her thin arms around her shoulders and hugged her tight. “I tell you what. Let me find one of the older girls to watch Daneel then we can go for a walk.” She stood up then leaned over to pick Daneel up. “Come on you, let’s go find one of the girls. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay,” she replied. She watched as Keena, and Daneel disappeared around the corner. A single tear managed to escape but she brushed it away with an angry hand. “Stop it,” she mumbled to herself. “Don’t be such a ninny, Sam. For crying out loud, you didn’t ask to be kidnapped then sold!”

Keena came back a few minutes later empty handed. “Mei is going to watch him for a while. I can always rely on her; she is such a doll. Come on, let’s go walk.”

“To where?” Sam looked around at the stones walls of their underground bunker.

“Haven’t you explored this place yet?”

Sam shook her head no.

“This place is huge if you know how to get around in it. Come on, I’ll show you.”

Keena took her by the hand and pulled her off the bench they had been sharing while Keena fed her son. They walked quietly for a moment until they were alone, and headed down a corridor Sam had not been down before.

“What’s down here,” Sam asked as she looked around the corridor. It didn’t look any different than anywhere else in the command center, boring, and made of stone.

Kenna smiled at her. “This corridor leads to the garage where all the vehicles are kept. If we are lucky, we might be able to slip through the door, and get a bit of fresh air.”

“Oh man, that would be great!” She was already feeling better. The thought of breathing some fresh air had her adrenaline flowing.

“I go there now, and then to visit Marco while he and his men work on the vehicles. He’s in charge of that, and I’ve got to say, he a brilliant mechanic. He can make anything run.” Keena giggled which caused Sam to join in.

“How long have you been married to Marco?”

“Three years. My father wouldn’t let me marry Marco until I turned twenty cycles. He wanted me to be sure Marco was the one.”

“Why is that? You could have gotten a divorce if it didn’t work out.”

Keena stopped short and looked at her as if she had just cursed their goddess. “Divorce! Oh gracious no! Divorce never occurs on Uxslore. Once you are married to someone, it is until death.”

Sam looked just as shocked as Keena had when she mentioned divorce. “No divorce? But what happens if there is abuse or infidelity?”

“Wow! Jahan needs to inform you of the customs here on Uxslore. A marriage only occurs when both people involved feel as if the goddess has blessed them. There has never been any kind of arranged marriages, except for the one Jahan was supposed to do, which most people agreed was ridiculous, and definitely no divorces!”

Sam was so engrossed in a conversation with Keena that she didn’t realize they had entered the garage. She stood stock still as she took in the activity going on in a massive area. Men walked back, and forth carrying tools while some climb on top of the vehicles, some which she had never seen. All she could do was assume that these were their version of fighting jets. Speaking with a group of men on the other side of the bay stood Jahan and Marco.

“I wonder what they are talking about,” Sam said as she leaned in closer to Keena’s ear.

Keena smiled then said, “Why don’t we go find out.”

“Oh no, no. Won’t we get in trouble for being in here?” She grabbed Keena’s arm to stop her from heading in the direction of their husbands.

“Possibly, but I don’t care.” Keena giggled then sashayed over to the group of men.

Sam held back until she was sure it was okay for them to be there. She watched as Keena spoke to the group then pointed over to where she still stood. The entire group including her husband all turned to face her. She breathed a sigh of relief when Jahan motioned for her to come over.

Taking a deep breath, she hurried across the busy area, careful not to get in the way of a passing vehicle. She waited for a second as a three-wheeled motorcycle rolled by as it was pushed by two mechanics. As soon as it was safe, she darted across the open expanse to her husband.

“What are you doing here, little one? It’s not safe to be in here.” Jahan bent down to peck her on the cheek.