The Black Guard: Book II: Evolution (Black Guard Series 2) (6 page)

"Colonel," I said, guessing at his rank.
"I'll give you two options. One, you can fight. Two, you can tell your men
to go back to the barracks. If you choose to fight, the two squads of Black
Guard I have with me will kill every Gurk guard in this building. Of course,
you will not be here to see it. If you choose to leave peacefully, you and your
men will live to see another day. So shoot or holster that gun," I said,
hoping the killing was done, at least for today.

He knew he would have to lower the gun to shoot me,
which would give Toch and me time to pull the trigger. Even if he managed to
kill me, he would die and his men afterward. Hate was written on his face, and
every muscle in his body tensed as a mental battle raged within him. After what
seemed an eternity—as I imagined the carnage of having to clear out the Gurks—he
slowly moved his gun to the side, holstered it, and then raised his hands.

"You have a Comm devise on your belt," I said.
"Tell your men to go home, that the party is over."

"Major Gowad, send several men to the Monarch's
office to collect six dead bodies," he said while watching me. When I
nodded, he continued. "Send the rest of the men back to the base. Tell the
men you send to leave their weapons with those leaving. Yes, that's an
order."

"Thank you, Colonel …?"

"Prakash."

"I think there has been enough killing for
today."

"Am I under arrest, or can I go?" he asked
quietly, having gained his composure, but his eyes flamed with hate.

"You may go, to avoid further bloodshed. However, I
do not speak for your Holy One, only for the Black Guard."

"I understand."

Toch and I watched as a detail came and removed the
bodies. They would have liked to charge us, but Lieutenant Elijah arrived only
a minute after they did. I changed while she supervised the cleanup.

* * *

By the time I had changed back into my uniform, the
cleanup had been completed. Omom Nastya and her daughter had changed rooms, and
the Holy One had been taken to her room. The new room looked more like an
informal meeting room or a place for people to wait. The walls were painted a
light shade of green, and the pictures were landscape paintings of rolling
hills, forests, and rivers. Six comfortable chairs and a small couch sat on a
hand-woven rug in shades of green with a vine pattern. Small wooden tables were
next to each chair.

The Omom and her daughter were sitting on the couch and
the general on a chair off to the side. They appeared to be engaged in a
conversation when I entered.

I gave a small bow. "Omom Nastya, I am Captain
Sapir in charge of the Black Guard detail assigned to protect you and your
daughter. I apologize for the violence in front of you and your daughter, but
we have a contract to protect you. When I entered, you appeared to be in
danger, and the Gurk didn't seem in a mood to talk."

"Why didn't you arrest Colonel Prakash?"
Nastya asked as she sat appraising me, her voice quiet and her face calm.

I smiled mentally. Invariably, clients assumed all sorts
of things about their contracts they had read and signed that weren't there. "Omom
Nastya?"

"Yes, or just Omom until I'm ordained, then Holy
One. You can call my daughter Sanaz."

"Omom Nastya, you contracted with the Jax for
protection for you and your daughter. We don't arrest people. If they are a
danger, we kill them so they don't cause future problems. I didn't kill Colonel
Prakash because I felt his death might have increased you and your daughter's
risk. His death would have caused Major Gowad and his twenty men to attack in
revenge. In the melee that followed, you or your daughter could have been
injured or killed."

"They will seek revenge eventually," she
persisted, watching me like a master appraising an apprentice.

"You could have them all arrested," I said.

"Not without cause."

"It won't be necessary then," I said.

She nodded after a few seconds. "I've spent several
hours contemplating your performance at Outpost. At the time, I thought it
miraculous. But meditating on it, I realize you were prepared for the trouble.
You knew your potential enemies and where each was positioned. You did that
today when you entered the room. Both were impressive performances. That's
good, because I can't afford to take any action against my Gurk guards. They'll
use it to incite the Gurk clan. I can justify relieving them of the honor of
being the Holy One's guard due to their extravagant demands. I don't have to
justify the killings—the Black Guard did it." She sounded sad.
"I wish there was another way to make the transition, but there isn't. I'm
sorry."

"There is no need. No one hires the Jax if there is
a reasonable alternative. But the honesty is appreciated. Although keeping you
and Sanaz safe is my only concern, it may help me in choosing between
options."

"I've told General Heydar to support you anyway he
can, although I'd prefer it didn't directly involve the army, since its members
come from the six clans. Over time, he will select the group who will
eventually replace the Gurk as the royal guards."

"I'd appreciate any advice you are willing to share
with me," Heydar said.

"I would be happy to so long as it doesn't conflict
with my duties. You should be aware that the Black Guard's only concern is
protecting Omom Nastya and Sanaz. If someone interferes with us doing our duty,
then they become the enemy—no matter who they are. And while we will be happy
if our actions help others, that is not our primary concern. You were a good
example. I swept your feet from under you because you were in my line of fire.
You being on the floor may have saved your life, but it was not the reason I
moved you out of the way."

 
"I'll
make sure my men understand that. What about accommodations?" Heydar
asked.

"Nothing special. The Black Guard does not
segregate men and women. Since we will be providing night and day security, it
would be nice if our quarters were close to the Omom Nastya and Sanaz. That
would also help counter the threat from the Gurk should they pursue a course of
revenge."

"There is room in the palace. With Omom Nastya's
permission, I will take care of it," Heydar said while watching Nastya.
When she nodded, he rose, but he stopped when I raised my hand.

"Omom Nastya, I would like to introduce my team to
you and let them take up their duties immediately." I waited for her to nod.
"General, would you ask Lieutenant Elijah to come and bring in one of the
teams?" I doubted the Gurk would respond in force so soon, but why take
the chance?

Elijah entered with Senior Sergeant Catz and her team of
nine.

"Nastya, I'd like to introduce my
second-in-command, Lieutenant Elijah." I stepped to the side, content to watch
Elijah conduct the introductions.

"Lieutenant Elijah, have you served with Captain
Sapir long?" Nastya asked, clearly interested.

"I've served with Captain Sapir on four different
assignments over the years."

"I understand the red dragon on your captain's
collar, but what are the double dragons on your sleeve?"

Elijah smiled. "One of our senior sergeants
described it well. He said, 'It's the only recognition the Guard gives for
doing your job. Not so much as a reward to the individual, but as a reminder to
the rest of us what it means to be in the Black Guard.' Mine were awarded for
my team's action on New Kief; others in this detail for their actions on
Lanzhou."

Nastya closed her eyes for several moments before speaking,
"Great battles which earned your present designation, the Black Guard, and
a reputation of being heartless ... But I sensed compassion at New Kief."
It wasn't a question but begged for a response.

"We're in a killing profession, but we take no
pleasure in killing."

"Good. I would rather die than be the instrument of
wanton killing. Proceed."

"Senior Sergeant Catz will be assigned to you,
Omom." She said, stepping aside.

After each Guard had been introduced, Elijah had Catz's
detail leave and Nadel and her detail entered.

"Miss Sanaz, Senior Sergeant Nadel and her group
will be assigned to you." Elijah stepped aside and Nadel stepped forward
and gave a shallow bow.

"Miss Sanaz, I am Sergeant Nadel. My team and I
will be your private security."

"The Gurk are very good ... and scary ..." she
said almost in a whisper, and her voice carried a slight quiver. I think
everyone in the room involuntarily leaned forward to hear Nadel's response.

"What is the scariest animal on your planet,
Sanaz?" Nadel asked.

"A Rock Bear. They are very fast, have long
knife-sharp claws, and are evil," she said after a moment.

"To us, the Gurk are like very young Rock Bears—a
little dangerous but still learning. The Black Guards are like mother Rock
Bears, and you, Miss Sanaz, are one of our cubs. And like a mother Rock Bear
with a cub, we are very protective and will watch after you night and day. We
each began our training at age six, and we have much experience dealing with
pesky young Rock Bears," Nadel said just above a whisper as if she were
sharing a secret with the child.

Even Nastya smiled.

* * *

We were in the Omom's residence within the palace, which
she now shared with the current Holy One. Although the contract was very
specific, it was void of any details: what was the threat, where would she be
traveling, when, etc.

"Omom, could you give me some general background on
Blackwood's situation and what you are planning in the days ahead? It will help
me be better prepared."

She closed her eyes and said nothing for several
minutes. "We're a religious planet and would rather not have an army, but
when we moved into the Helix Sector a hundred years ago, we were plagued with
raiders and had to arm ourselves in self-defense. So, we created an army to
protect our citizens and an honor guard to protect our leader, who we call the
Holy One. She or he is descended from the first teacher of the Holy Book."

I nodded.

She continued. "In the beginning, the honor guard
was rotated among the six clans; however, the Gurk proved to be our best
fighters over the years, and they became the Holy One's exclusive honor guards.
But for the last twenty or more years they have sought more and more privileges
and authority. It has evolved to a point where they are beginning to shape our
laws. I sense that any attempt to redefine their privileges or authority could
result in a military takeover. Today confirmed that. Although Colonel Prakash's
supposed reason for holding my daughter and me prisoner was a potential
assassination from an outside system, in truth he heard I had signed a contract
with the Black Guard and intended to ambush you and at the same time let me
know he was in charge. I'm sorry I couldn't warn you. By the time I realized
what was happening, he had me sequestered."

"I thought that might be the Gurk's logical response
and prepared accordingly. The more I know, the better I can prepare."

"In two days, there will be a formal ceremony in
the palace sanctuary, where I will be officially named the Holy One by the
Council of Omoms. Over time, I will be expected to visit each of the clans.
Because of my controversial decision to terminate the Gurk as palace guards and
thus to remove their authority and privileges, I feel it necessary to make the
journey immediately, or a civil war may result."

"I can understand the Gurk clan but why the
others?"

"First, the Gurk are the most militant of the
clans. Over the years, they have taken a strident approach to the teaching of
the Book. At least one other clan, maybe two, may be inclined to side with the Gurk
if they choose to overthrow my rule."

"Power can be seductive," I said, leaving off
to those least fit to rule
. "You
understand the current contract is for your daughter and your safety only. We
will not involve ourselves in any revolt or civil war except to protect you.
That would require the Jax army or marines."

"I'm hoping quick visits combined with your
presence will avoid violence. Using the Jax to quell a civil war would leave
scars we could never recover from." She gave a wry laugh. "Of course,
a civil war would divide us into parts and weaken us forever. I'm asking a lot
from you and the Jax, Captain Sapir."

* * *

Yesterday
had been a busy day. The general had secured three rooms for us in the Holy
One's area: one for each senior sergeant and her detail and one for Elijah and
me. I had designated six-hour shifts to keep everyone alert because of the
immediate concern over the Gurk.

There
were three entrances to the palace: one into the Reception/Sanctuary, one into
the main hallway from the front, and one for workers in the rear. Inside the
palace, there was one entrance into the Holy One's quarters. On each shift, the
team on duty would assign two to cover each client and one to cover each of the
four entrances, leaving the senior sergeant and one other to take turns roaming
the palace and responding to problems. For the official ceremony, both teams
would be on duty.

The
trip to visit the clans would be more complicated, because an army contingency
would be accompanying Nastya and her daughter, the heir apparent.

I met
Sergeant Catz in the hallway to the Holy One's area. She only nodded as I
approached, since she was on duty.

"What's
the current status, Catz?"

"Omom
Nastya and her daughter are in the dining room eating breakfast. Everyone is at
their post, and we're scanning those entering the Holy One's area with the help
of a lieutenant that General Heydar sent over. There have been no problems, but
we are spread very thin. It's too bad we can't enlist the army's help."