The Technician's Fight, Draft 1, CH06

“Captain,” the comms hunter said, looking at him. “The leadership is contacting us, demanding to speak with you.” Demanding did not bode

“Captain,” the comms hunter said, looking at him. “The leadership is contacting us, demanding to speak with you.” Demanding did not bode

“Captain,” the comms hunter said, looking at him. “The leadership is contacting us, demanding to speak with you.”

Demanding did not bode well. “I’ll take it in my office. Kergirik Dromitoira Virisos, you have decision authority in my absence.” No matter how long the admiral kept him, this didn’t warrant calling a Beta to take his place.

The hunter at the sensor board acknowledged him with a flick of the ear without looking away from his work.

Once seated, he readied himself for a fight not to have to do whatever inane order he was going to be told to follow, then accepted the call.

Instead of Admiral Thromakarin Omeritamil sel Stafey, a female appeared before him, seated on the other side of his desk and studying him.

“How may I address you?” he asked, since he had never seen her before.

“I am Admiral Thrumdora Sricaley Thofme Ef’halan, Captain Gralgiran sel Helrarvnir.”

He focused on the use of Captain to keep from reacting to the fact she was a halan. Only pirate clans use that addition, and only those proud of their origin kept it if they managed to break away from them. That she had made admiral while being proud of her pirate origin meant he was dealing with someone of strength.

He memorized her name so he could look her up once this meeting was over.

“How can I help the leadership, Admiral Thrumdora Sricaley Thofme Ef’halan?”

“I need you to change course. You are requested at Ashgoran Station.”

“I am heading there. After delivering a prisoner to an incarceration center.” No matter how many times the Psychologist had spoken with her, Alison McMartin had refused to appeal to her people, and she’d, in the Psychologist’s words, refused to appeal to anyone who’d just tell her they were too good for her to be one of them.

“You can deliver them after you have dealt with the situation at Ashgoran.”

“That isn’t protocol. Anyone found guilty of a crime warranting an incarceration—”

“Spare me the laws, Captain Gralgiran sel Helrarvnir. I’m in no mood.”

He made an effort to rein in his annoyance. “Alright. Then what can be so pressing there, that only I can deal with?”

“The Earthers have laid claims that Technician Jeremy Bradshaw’s claim of Kelsirian citizenship is invalid, and therefore he must be returned to them.”

“What the fuck are they talking about? They can’t claim anything like that after they kidnapped and tortured him.”

“The Earther government still claims they had nothing to do with that incident, and no one has found evidence they were involved; only that Earthers were involved. And they are working toward finding and apprehending them so the Federation can prosecute them.”

“They’re never going to do that.”

“I agree. But they are following procedures and because of that, there’s nothing we can do to keep them from laying the claims.”

“Jeremy’s claim can’t be denied. As my Heart, he is Kelsirian.”

“They are claiming that the validity of him being your Heart is in question.”

“The Heart’s Law doesn’t care about species,” he snapped.

“They argue that because his sickness affects the mind if left untreated, he can’t understand what it means to be your Heart. Or even understand that it means anything.”

“What sickness?” he asked, his tone suspicious enough she tilted an ear.

“They call it Encephalo-thrometapil-darminal.” She struggled around the Earther words. “They claim that an investigation into his habits revealed that he, unknown to them, stopped taking his medication sometime before you reached the station, and that by the point when he was on your ship, when he asked to stay with you, that his cognitive functions had been affected.”

“They can’t be serious.”

“They lodged the invalidity claim with the Federation, following every protocol.”

“Fine. I have a mentalist on board. I’ll have her do an evaluation of Jeremy and she’ll disprove their claim.”

“It won’t do. They aren’t making statements about his current state of mind. But the one when he initially made the claim of wanting to be with you.”

“That’s convenient, since there’s no way to prove anything about what it was then.”

She nodded.

“What argument are they making against him making the claim again?” It was the easiest way out of it, so they’d try something to prevent it.

“They claim that after more than one year on your ship, that even if medical inadvertently brought his condition under control, he can have been led to accept that our ways are correct for him even without anyone forcing him to believe it.”

“Are they actually claiming that a mentalist’s analysis of my Heart’s state of mind would be invalid?”

“Not invalid. Inapplicable to the situation. That the length of time he’s been exposed to our ways is enough to get him to see them as normal, even if they are not something an healthy Earther would ever consider so.”

Jeremy had said his government would continue scheming. Gralgiran hadn’t expected him to be right to this extent.

“Then we invalidate the claim through them not filing it correctly. It’ll at least give us time to—”

“We can’t.”

“What do you mean, you can’t?”

“They filed the claim flawlessly. We had our best adjudicator go over every details, and there is not one mistake in how it was filed.”

“How do they even know all the procedures that have to be followed?”

He didn’t know what they were. Claims on the level of governments were well beyond him, but he’d had to file several as captain and alpha, when ships from other species interfered in his investigations and more than once he’d had to refile it because his opposition pointed to errors and omissions in the process he’d followed.

“They clearly have allies.”

“Among our people?” he asked in disbelief.

“That’s…unlikely. Even your ardent detractors haven’t been able to side with the Earthers after what they did to your Heart. But there are other species and they all have access to the same procedure files we do.”

“You realize this is only an excuse to get him to a station where they will have a ship, and personnel, at the ready. They aren’t going to keep him on the station if they get their hands on him. They are going to hide him on their ship, in their territory, and deny any involvement.” His anger gave his words a growl. “I will not let them keep him to torture again.”

She nodded. “The leadership is giving you permission to use whatever measure you deem needed to keep your Heart safe during this.”

Like he needed their permission.

But that she gave it had meaning.

He wouldn’t be a lone alpha when the Earthers claimed he was breaking rules. He’d have the strength of his government at his back.

“Thank you.”

The acknowledgment was limited to a flick of the ear this time. “There is one other thing you need to be aware of. They had to declare everyone they are bringing because of what happened last time, that they will leave the ship or not. A name caught the attention of our annalists. Harry Bradshaw.”

“Jeremy’s father,” he said. The name had come up a handful of time, and Gralgiran had been left with the impression that what his parents had allowed to happen to him when he was a teen had caused more of a distance between him and his father than his mother.

“Thank you for confirming our suspicions. If they are bringing him, they plan to make use of him. Possibly appeal to Earther familial bonds.”

He nodded. Jeremy cared for his family, even with what had happened.

“Did your adjudicators compile a plan of action to fight their claims? I don’t have anyone on my ship with the training to take on a government.”

“They did. I am sending it now, but one of them told me something I think you’ll find interesting. He believes that this isn’t a fight for adjudicators, but for hunters.”

“I don’t…” or maybe he did understand. His experience with adjudicators showed that their first instinct was to placate their enemies, to find equalities from which resolutions could be built. He could only think of a few cases where he’d gotten everything he’d claimed for when they were involved, and those were because it had come to light that other party had broken protocols. Every other time, he’d had to be satisfied with a partial victory.

Maybe this was a claim before adjudicators, but he couldn’t afford a partial victory, especially if the Earthers were planning something underhanded.

“Thank you, Admiral Thrumdora Sricaley Thofme Ef’halan, I will set on creating a strategy immediately.”

*

He growled at the files before him.

The problem with approaching an adjudicator problem with a hunter’s perspective was that every suggestion his betas had offered amounted to storming the chambers and forcing the Earthers to admit to their wrongdoing. The methods varied depending on which specialty the beta had, but the end result was the same.

Covert Ops suggested infiltrating their ship’s computers and extracting the information. Investigation wanted to put in claims for all transmissions since someone had to have said something that would clue them in on the plans. He thought that going with their finances would be the best way. His front line betas’ suggestions were straight forward. March in, take control of the situation and not leave until they had the results they wanted.

They’d spent the rest of his shift had half the next one going over options and nothing of use had come of it. He’d sent them home and had come home himself planning on a shower to relax before Jeremy arrived and started on food. But instead he’d sat in his office and had gone over everything again, looking for something, anything.

He did not look forward to telling him about this.

“Gral?” his Heart called.

“Here,” he replied, rubbing a temple. Please stand by me Otimar Rorshterik and whisper the words that will let me break this to him gently.

“I am done,” Jeremy snarled, stepping into his office. “You are going to tell that friend of your to fucking stop it.”

He rubbed his temple harder. “What are you talking about?”

“That Tommerimortoral has just spent an entire shift following me around, glaring and running off the moment I look at him.”

“Then try harder.”

“What?”

“Jer, just try harder, okay?”

“No, you are going to tell him to stop.”

“No, I’m not,” he snapped. “You’re the one who has a problem with him.”

“He’s the one who had a fucking problem with me for some fucking unknown reason.”

“It’s not unknown.” He couldn’t keep the derision from his tone, and Jeremy narrowed his eyes.

“Why is he stalking me?”

“Talk with him.”

Jeremy snorted. “How about you tell him to come talk with me instead?”

“I don’t have the fucking time, Jer!”

“How about you fucking make it, Gral?”

“And what? Let the Earthers just plan how they’re going to take you from me without doing anything?”

Jeremy’s expression turned flat. “What?”

He fought the urge to curse the god of wisdom. It wasn’t like he’d have heard any of his whispers through their screaming.

“They’re trying again. They’re claiming you have some sickness and that it affected your mind. And because of that, you weren’t sane when you said you wanted to be with me.”

“They can’t— I can’t—”

He had his Heart in his arms before the panic set in too deeply. “I won’t let them, Jer. They will never take you from me again. Believe me when I tell you this. No god, theirs, mine, or anyone else’s will be able to keep me from protecting you.” He pulled away and watched his Heart’s eyes, watched the panic recede until he felt he’d be able to hear the rest of what he had to say.

“But that’s what I have to focus on, Jer. So you need to handle Toom. Talk with him.”

“He keeps running.”

“He isn’t courageous the way you are. You’re going to have to corner him, you’re going to have to force it on him.”

“Why can’t you just tell him to sit down and tell me what’s I’ve done for cause this?”

“Because if I force him, it’s not going to resolve anything. I can’t be involved in that.”

“Because you’re already involved in creating the problem, aren’t you?” Jeremy closed his eyes. “Did I steal you from him?”

“No, Jeremy. You didn’t. I am not his to be stolen from.”

Jeremy hugged him tightly. “I’ll do my best to find a way to talk with him. I’m glad this didn’t get too bad between us.”

He held his Heart gently. “You might not be done screaming. Your father is among those coming to enforce the claim.”

Jeremy didn’t scream.

He laughed. It was a bitter and angry sound.

Outline section 

Aside from the paperwork involved with their one human prisoner, the current pirate aftermath was business as usual for Gral. Which is why it almost doesn’t surprise him when he’s informed he has a call from the council waiting for him on the bridge.

When Gral gets there, he is informed that the humans have finally gotten through all the hurdles their last kidnapping attempt created for them and resubmitted their accusation charges regarding Jeremy, though they’ve wisely pulled back the kidnapping charges and are instead trying to argue that Jeremy isn’t of sound mind due to his “illness”. Jeremy’s father will be present

This of course riles Gral’s fur, but it’s a summons from the council. At least this time Gral has time to prepare a case. He will inform the councilmen talking to him that he is currently carrying captured pirates and towing what is left of their ship slaved to his nav. If he can’t continue to the nearest penal colony, he’s going to have to request another huntership meet them along the way to transfer the prisoners and salvage. This is easy enough to arrange.

With that, Gral goes over what he’s going to need to do to arrange a defense. The doctor and Leiha will be invaluable, though he also should expect the humans to change tactics again if things don’t look to be working for them. Thinking of all possible arguments in the time it will take to reach the station the court case is being convened at will be exhausting.

Also, there is the matter of telling Jeremy... they knew this was coming, but the only way they managed to get on with their lives was not dwelling on it.

###

While there were some rough spots in supper as Jeremy learned to cook, ultimately the quality of the meals in the house have improved with the cooking of Gral’s heart. If there are two problems they haven’t surmounted yet, it is grains and desert. Finding a desert they both like may be an unwinnable battle; Jeremy was so proud of the sherbert he mixed last week with native kelsirian fruits, but to Gral it was like someone took the glaze to a rib roast and froze it. Grains on the other hand...

...it’s the little things that remind Gral that his mate isn’t a biological kelsirian, no matter how much he attempts. His dietary needs are one of them; humans either need more carbohydrates than kelsirians, or none at all. Not much ground in between, at least if he wants to be healthy. So Jeremy has been trying different grains from across the federation; today, it was a Ridoshi staple. Jeremy thought it had promise, Gral... well he loves his heart.

Super begins, and there is some talk. A bit out of left field, Jeremy will ask about Toom. Apparently the pilot has been stalking him around the ship for awhile, always looking very... aggressive. Not doing anything but glaring, mind you, but still... Jeremy is worried if he’s done something. Gral should have seen this coming; he’ll explain to Jeremy that Toom is upset because Gral is no longer sleeping with him.

This is news to Jeremy, as all Jeremy knew about his love life before was that he didn’t put an effort into finding his heart; he only assumed that also meant he wasn’t having casual sex. Gral will find this amusing, and he sees several ways he can guide the conversation from the table to their bed... but that would be running from the difficult stuff in front of them.

So yes, Gral will tell Jeremy about the court summons, which unless we want to repeat everything all over again, is a good enough mic drop for the chapter.

Addition 

Jeremy will come to gral because of Toom, but Gral will not respond in the best way because of what he has to deal with.

the supper part was dropped completely because I needed Gral to start the altercation already 'stressed' it was the only way I could make it devolve into the screaming match. this also lead to the the thoughts about how badly the planning is going.

but the whole situation did resolve how something that was always planned to happen in a few chapters would be initiated, or at least no longer come as a surprise.