Firebird- Part Forty-Two
First off, my website up and running..there are a few things we need to fix, but they’re just little stuff. So stop by and then come tell me what you think of it. www.tachase.comSecond of all, sad news yesterday. Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner, who broke down in The Preakness last year, was humanely destroyed. He was in too much pain and the vets had done all they could to heal him, but the odds were against him from the start. So raise a mint julep and toast a great champion.
On to what you’re really here for…lol.
Firebird copyright (c) 2007 TA Chase
Part Forty-Two:
Several hours later—
Rue shifted, his nerves sparking. He prayed that this whole meeting wasn’t a trap. Vlatko had explained that if it was a trap, Rue was to escape while Vlatko held the Mitcovians at bay. Rue snorted. Like he was going to abandon Vlatko.
He shifted again, trying to find a comfortable spot for his sore ass. Vlatko had found entertaining ways to keep his mind off the upcoming meeting. His hand touched the bite mark on his neck. Vlatko’s mark. Letting the Mitcovians know Rue was taken. He glanced over his shoulder at Vlatko who leaned against the wall behind him. A faint smile graced Vlatko’s face and a slight wink made Rue laugh.
Allaigh entered first. “High Councilor Zalaigh,” he announced.
Rue rose to his feet, keeping his hands by his sides. The High Councilor entered and Rue felt small. The Mitcovians towered over him and were even several inches taller than Vlatko. He bowed.
“Mr. Thaday, only time will tell if it is a pleasure to meet you face-to-face.” Zalaigh held out an enormous hand.
Rue shook it and nodded. “The jury’s still out on you, Sir.”
“Please call me Zalaigh. High Councilor is only for when I’m making planetary decisions.” Zalaigh gestured to Vlatko. “Do you have a name?”
“Vlatko.” The assassin nodded, but didn’t move from the wall.
“Why that? The I.U.M. doesn’t name their assassins. They merely assign numbers.” Zalaigh sat in a chair facing Rue.
Rue sat. He didn’t know that Vlatko wasn’t the man’s real name. Of course, Thaday wasn’t his.
“It had meaning to me.” The tone of Vlatko’s voice said the topic was closed.
Zalaigh folded his hands in his lap and stared at Rue for a moment. “Allaigh says he saw the Councilor’s Heart in your partner’s possession when he first contacted us. How are we to be sure it’s the same stone?”
Rue held his hand out and Vlatko dropped the fire opal on his palm. The instant the gem touched his skin, it flared, bathing them all in orange light. “Is this your gem?”
Zalaigh’s hands were shaking as the Mitcovian reached for the opal. “I was afraid we’d never see it again.”
Rue closed his fingers around the Heart and handed it back to Vlatko. “Seeing will be all you’re doing until we talk to the scientist.”
Vlatko tucked the stone under the vest he wore, his dark eyes daring Allaigh to try and take it from him. Allaigh made a move towards Vlatko and Rue tensed.
“Allaigh, no. He’s right. The scientist you seek is me.” Zalaigh hid his hands under the table.
“You? That’s the reason why you couldn’t come with us.” Rue frowned. He hated complications and this was a major one.
“Yes. Before I became High Councilor, I worked as a research scientist. I was trying to invent or find new ways of protecting troops in the field. The liquid body armor was one of many experiments. I was still in the development phase of the armor when the I.U.M. offered my assistant a deal he couldn’t refuse. His child’s life for my formula. He had no choice and I place no blame on him.”
Rue figured it had to some thing like that. Zalaigh didn’t seem the type of guy who’d invent some thing that would endanger the very people using it.
“Did you know about the formula’s breakdown?” Vlatko asked.
Zalaigh nodded. “In a way, yes. I knew there was a fault in the formula. I couldn’t keep it stable. The atoms kept breaking down. I never imagined human blood would bind with it to stabilize it enough to keep the test subject alive for even a few minutes, much less forty years.”
Rue tapped the table with his hand. “Do we have a deal then, High Councilor? You swear to give us asylum and protection here on your planet and in return, we’ll give you back your Heart.”
“What’s to stop us from just taking it right now?” Allaigh commented.
“Me.” Vlatko moved to stand next to Rue at the table.
Rue’s lover stared at the Mitcovian security officer with an ‘I dare you’ smirk on his face. His hand rested on his belt next to the grip of the handgun. His other hand hung relaxed at his side.
“Even you can’t stop a unit of Mitcovian guards.” Allaigh’s words acknowledged Vlatko’s superior strength against one person.
“No, but I can kill the High Councilor before any of you kill me.”
Allaigh growled, but Zalaigh touched the officer’s hand and shook his head.
“I’ll give you something else if you swear.” Vlatko didn’t relax, but his offer told Rue Vlatko wanted to take the deal.
“What are you offering?” Zalaigh’s blue eyes studied Vlatko.
“I’m offering all the information I have on the I.U.M. It includes private internal memos sent between high-level commanders about some of my kills. I have enough shit to topple several planetary governments.” Vlatko squeezed Rue’s shoulder and smiled down at him.
“I swear on the Councilor’s Heart to give you shelter and aid until you die. We will protect you as if you were Mitcovians.” Zalaigh pressed his fist to his chest. “My promise is law for every living Mitcovian.”
“Good. I guess we just need to worry about the dead ones now,” Rue joked.
22 Responses “Firebird- Part Forty-Two”
Elisa,
You’re right. I forgot to mention that to C. He must have forgotten to name them when he published the site. So I’ll add that to the list of little things he needs to tweak.
You’re more than welcome for both the mention on my site and for introducing you to Lisa. She’s an awesome writer and I’ll certainly stop by on Monday to comment on her excerpt.
Lila,
I don’t think you can blame me entirely for you not getting anything done…lol.
More than you already do? Isn’t asking me to father your child way fangirl stalkerish? 😉
Sherrill,
Thanks. 🙂
And I forgot: first thanks to name me also in your site, I’m very proud and happy. And second, monday I will post the excerpt of Lisa Andel, if you want to step by. I have to say I like very much her writings and also the friend of mine who help me with the translation says she is very good. Thanks to introduce us. ciao, elisa
Wonderful Site TA. Very fashion :-))) only one thing: name the pages in the properties so I know his your website, I usually have many open TAB, and if you name the pages, the TAB is recognizable. Unless is my problem and I don’t see the name… ciao, elisa
T.A.
Your blog is officially the enemy of my getting anything done. First I read some of your yummy writing, then I read all the comments from your adoring public, then I comment, and by that time I should be sleeping.
You’re amazing, keep it up, or I will have to go all rabid fan-girl on you and stalk you. (er… more than I already stalk you).
Beautiful looking site, T.A. You done good. 🙂
Thanks, Yvonne.
Last blog story, I was told to give out tissues. I guess I should be handing out keyboard covers to protect your unsuspecting keyboard from drool…lol
TA-the website is very elegant,classy,and soothing at the same time. WONDERFUL! Thanks to both you and C for all your hard work.
Since I begged last week for another chapter- I’m going to let someone else do it this week. But know that I am panting over my keyboard *-*- OOps- guess I need one of those keyboard covers now!!!!
Yvonne
Saken,
Thanks for stopping by and letting me know you want to be on the list for the newsletter. I’ll add your name. 🙂
Also, thanks for the praise. Having readers like you and the others who stop by..really encourages me to keep writing (as fast as possible)
Faymas,
I’m thinking there’ll be maybe five more installments before the blog version is finished. 🙂
The other works…none are finished yet, but I’m closer to getting the short story done. So that one will be ready to send to my publisher in a couple days. Yay! Then I’ll be working as fast as possible to get the other ones done. As soon as I get any release dates, I’ll be sure to let everyone know.
Lozan,
I do have an idea for Shade’s story, but I never really gave Angel’s brother a thought. Maybe a year or two when he’s a little older. 😉
We’re a little closer to Thursday…lol
Anne,
Thanks. Using the covers for headers worked out really good. And I thought C made it look great. But since that’s what he does for a living…kind of expect it. 🙂
Hi there…I just wanted to say that I’m a great fan of your published works (I’ve bought them all ^_^) and I’m enjoying the installments of Firebird immensely. I think you deserve all the praise and wonderful reviews you’ve gotten so far and then some. I truly hope you continue to succeed in all your endeavors. And the website is gorgeous! It’s sexy and not too complicated. Oh! Before I forget…I’d love to be added to the newsletter list if that’s possible, my addy is forsakenwk at gmail dot com. I’d really appreciate it!
T.A.
I’m enjoying the Firebird Series…Qu – How many more installments so I’ll know how long I have to suffer till u finish.
Also what is the ETA on the other stuff u are working on?
Keep up the good works
Saw the website, it’s nice.
Faymas
So I Just Finished Angel…(s/b working)….oh well I love the ending so now I need to know if we are going to get a story about Shade..and what about angels brother?
Question I have so many questions…
are we closer to Thrusday?
lol
Man of Mystery …very sexy…but I still want the pic….but really sexy ….lol
Liked the site! Good idea to have the headers matching your book covers.
Sylvie,
Thanks. I didn’t want anything flashy or too busy. Elegant, tasteful and sexy was what I was trying for.
Nope sorry. Still Tuesday..unfortunately..lol
Lozan,
I don’t know about the pic. I kind of like being a man of mystery. 🙂 Thanks about the website.
I like hearing that you get choked up in the same places, even though you’ve read it before.
Hi,
First of all, your web site is beautiful, simple and elegant. Congratulation to you and C.
Then, is it thursday yet??? 🙂
Sylvie
So I Just Saw the Web Site & it is quite nice, are we ever going to get a proper picture of you T.A?
Lozan
oh by the way I am reading though angel’s evolution…and I still get choked up in the same spots..damn that is a GREAT Story.
This storys so good I don’t think I can wait..Is it Thursday yet?!!?…Okay so I need to know what will happen next…
So to divert my salivating for the next morsel/scrap that come from the table of TA, I will check the new web site out.