Page 3 of Treylon (Soldiers of the Ardannan #1)
When she glanced up, Treylon was frowning. “So treat yourself to a new bathing suit or two, maybe another dress for clubbing. Don’t women like to shop?”
“You’re not going to want to tag along with me while I go through racks of clothes,” she said with a chuckle. “I’m picky about details.”
“You should go this morning,” he urged. “I have a meeting in the admin building. Then this afternoon we’re all going to the beach. Dinner is at seven in the five star restaurant and then more dancing. This morning is your best chance.”
A little discomfited at how he had the whole day already scheduled with no input from her, Rosalie chewed her next bites slowly. “When you say ‘all’ do you mean the group from last night?”
He raised one eyebrow. “You have a problem with that?”
“No, they seemed nice. I was hoping we’d have time just the two of us.
” She lowered her eyes and covered her sudden attack of nerves by serving herself berries she didn’t want and sprinkled sugar over them.
When he stayed silent, she gathered her courage and added, “And I’m surprised you’ve got a business meeting. This week is supposed to be for fun.”
Treylon reached across the small table to take her hand.
“Rosalie, whatever you think is going to happen here this week isn’t.
I’m just going through the motions of this ridiculous dating setup because I was given no choice.
You’re a nice girl and very attractive but I’m not here to find a match.
Those five guys are my closest friends. We serve together in the Ardannan military and we’re looking at this as an opportunity for free R&R, let loose a bit and then get on with our lives.
Although Meeker did strike me as unusually distracted, as if he was really into the girl IDA matched him with. ”
She snatched her fingers away from his grasp as if she’d been touching a hot stove. “What do you mean, going through the motions?”
“Surely you heard all eligible Ardannan males between the ages of twenty and fifty were ordered by our government to participate in this activity? We’re the first contingent but all the others will be coming in groups over the next year.”
“Don’t you have enough women on Ardanna?” she asked. “Is this a ‘Mars needs women’ kind of situation?”
He leaned back frowning. “A what?”
“It’s phrase on Earth, left over from old literature and trideos I guess. Means your people need women from us to survive.”
Treylon laughed and Rosalie enjoyed the way he threw his head back and clearly relished the humor in her suggestion.
“No, we have slightly more women than men actually and a similar dating program is being set up right now through IDA for them as well. We’re doing this because our research on the Sectors tells us we’ll become a more integral member of the organization the more closely we build our ties with you humans.
The more we intermarry and have children. ”
“But why go to such lengths?” she asked. “It’s not a race, not a competition. I mean we’re in a backwater out on the rim on Earth but I know there are new members joining the Sectors all the time.”
His face set in serious lines and he toyed with his fork.
She thought he wasn’t going to answer her, which was fair enough.
She had no reason to be made privy to Ardannan policy decisions.
She was drinking her orange juice when he spoke in a tone that captured her attention immediately. “Have you ever heard of the Fekkoi?”
“No.”
“Nice little civilization, out past Ardanna. Not as advanced as we are but getting there. One home world, settlements on several others in the core system, a few colonies on planets in the next. Not allies, not enemies. Good trading partners. Avid for help with their tech, especially in the faster than light drive arena.” Treylon leaned forward.
“Suddenly all communication with them ceased. Eventually our government decided we needed to investigate so a small fleet was sent. Do you know what we found?”
“Nothing good, I’m guessing.” Rosalie’s chest grew tight and she realized she was holding her breath.
“Nothing but blasted planets, in both solar systems. A few floating hulks of what had clearly been vessels desperately trying to escape the destruction. You have heard of the Mawreg, right?”
Swallowing hard, she nodded. “Our enemies, sworn to eradicate humans and humanoids from the galaxy. On Earth we have a saying about being happy to be out on the far rim, away from everything including the Mawreg.”
“My people had been debating whether to join the Sectors or not. There was a lot of resistance to subsuming ourselves into a larger whole. Ardannans are quite independent by nature.” Treylon flashed her a tight grin.
“After the fleet returned home and shared the holos and trideos, and brought the one Fekkoi ship to survive—twenty-seven survivors of an entire civilization—opposition vanished overnight for the most part. We couldn’t wrap ourselves in the Sectors flag fast enough, because we’re next .
And we know it. The Mawreg operate on a galactic time scale only they comprehend but at some point they’ll come for Ardanna and we want the Sectors fire power.
We also want their allies, the only beings in the Universe the Mawreg fear. ”
“The Mellureans? Are they even real? I always figured it was maybe a myth. You know, ancient sentients, all powerful, not human. Too good to be true.”
“Oh they exist all right,” Treylon assured her.
“The Mellureans hold themselves aloof most of the time but they have been known to help the Sectors on occasion and when they do the Mawreg disappear. There are even individuals within the Sectors the Mellureans have claimed as friends? Allies? Whatever the relationship is, my government wants us to be on their good side and to do that we have to first be full participants in the Sectors.” He drank his coffee which had to be cold by now, in one gulp.
“Sorry, probably much too serious a conversation for the breakfast table. But you did ask.”
Rosalie’s emotions were mixed. She was pleased he’d chosen to explain the background to her but the facts were terrifying.
The stakes were so much higher than this silly week of fun and dating.
Appetite gone, she pushed away her plate.
Treylon rose. “I’ve got to get going. Enjoy your shopping trip. ”
“When will you be through with the meeting?”
He paused at the threshold of the room. “We can have lunch at one of the seafood places along the beach. Meet me here at noon.”
“And then the beach?” she said.
“Volleyball, surfing, hang gliding—" His voice trailed off as he walked away from her down the hall to his room.
None of which I do , she thought in dismay.
I’ll take a book or two . She remembered the brochures had shown comfy beach chairs with their own umbrellas and talked up the feelgood service with mini bars peppering the beach area.
Vacation. This is probably the only vacation I’ll ever have in my entire life the way things are going so I need to enjoy it.
Even if romance is off the menu. Too bad, he’s kinda nice when he forgets to be rude.