Of course. They had practically grown up violently leaving the atmosphere of their planet. I felt foolish, and distracted them by moving my palm again, this time sweeping it sideways. The walls of the turbolift became transparent, the entire cityscape revealed before us.
The arches of the tower surrounded us on each side, acting as both supports and a frame for the city below. The lift was perfectly positioned, drawing the eye to different landmarks in rapid succession as it rose. There was the Temple of the Great Unifier, its crystalwork dissolving into the river. There was the Luvos Intersystem Starport, its myriad landing pads and docking bays sweeping out to disappearing points that made the ships look as though they were dispersing like pollen from the stamen of a blossom. Then the residential district, the foliage of the trees and the width of the streets sweeping in patterns that stood in stark contrast to the outer city we had seen in Ranta.
“This view is one of my favorite things,” I said to no one in particular. “Function and beauty are celebrated at the same time. It demonstrates everything we believe in: practical idealism, working toward the benefit of all.”
Qole stepped forward, and I was acutely conscious of her standing next to me. This was who I was, bared before her. What did she think of it?
Her brown eyes took in the city below us. “Where I come from, nothing about this is simple. Or practical.”
Apparently, not much.
“Your bodyguards sure didn’t seem happy to see us,” Arjan observed. “What are they so jumpy about?”
“It’s their job to be jumpy,” I said. “Don’t worry, my family is going to be delighted to see you.” Which was probably not entirely true, since I was breaching protocol. But I knew my family, and they would treat these people, who were risking a great deal for a good cause—our cause—with the respect they deserved.
Not that he had asked about my family. I might have been reassuring myself a little.
At the top of the tower, the turbolift walls went dark again, and the doors slid open to reveal an antechamber. Tall double doors stood opposite the lift. Two smaller doors led off to each side. Waiting for us was a man of medium height whose blue and silver officer’s uniform fit his well-built frame perfectly. His black goatee and sideburns were streaked with gray, standing out against his dark skin, but his bearing and movements spoke of nothing but vitality.
“My lord.” He bowed deeply. “It is a pleasure to see you home again.”
“Master Devrak.” I smiled and bowed in return, if not as deeply. Custom was custom, although my respect for my teacher and our head of security was limitless. “It’s wonderful to see you as well.” I straightened and gestured to Qole and Arjan. “These are my guests.”
Devrak nodded and reached out a hand. “Captain Qole Uvgamut. I am Devrak Hansen. Thank you for returning our prince safely to us.”
We were all caught a little off guard, although I ought not to have been. Gravity was the only force in the systems as dependable as Devrak at doing its job. Or maybe Basra.
“Uh, no problem,” Qole replied and shook his hand. “We’re all glad to be in one piece.”
“I’ve heard snatches.” Devrak solemnly turned to Arjan to shake his hand. “Arjan Uvgamut, thank you for your services as well. It is a pleasure to meet people from Alaxak, which I have heard so much about.”
“Really?” Arjan said, surprised. “That’s weird. I mean…” He trailed off. “Um, thanks.”
Devrak spread his hands. “My prince, I need to scan all of you before you enter the royal quarters. You are fresh from offworld, and we have to make sure that everything is safe for His Majesty.”
“Of course,” I said.
Devrak produced a small rod that had a long loop on one end. It beeped and whistled at me, and he smiled. “You are wearing quite the arsenal. Shall I take it for you or are you comfortable with its weight?”
“If you would, Devrak, I would appreciate it.” I shed my overcoat and unstrapped the holsters holding my plasma pistols and sword while he scanned Arjan. To my surprise, I did miss the weight a little when I passed the bundle to Devrak; the past week had made me associate being armed with a certain level of security.
When he passed the scanner over Qole, the light on it flickered and died. Devrak frowned and examined it. “It seems to have broken.”
Qole shifted uncomfortably.
“Well,” I said, “it didn’t make any noise, did it?”
Devrak glanced up at me, amused. “I suppose not. Thank you for letting me do my job. Now, go reunite with your family. Please pay my respects to them.”
Before I could stride to the double doors and fling them wide, one of the side doors burst open instead. “Nephew!”
I blinked. Rubion stood before me, his sleek dark hair and deep blue lab coat as meticulously in place as ever, except he was perhaps breathing harder than usual. “Uncle?” I said. “I wasn’t expecting you here. At least, not outside the royal quarters.”
He tossed his head at the double doors in a smooth, dismissive jerk. “I thought you would be arriving elsewhere, and besides, you know I haven’t the time or the stomach for banal family gossip.” He turned to Qole with an eager light in his Dracorte silver eyes. “And I thought our special guest might feel the same.”
My eyes narrowed a fraction before I quickly smoothed my expression. I wanted to be in total control in front of my uncle, not to mention Father—especially since it was Father’s fault we had nearly arrived in the containment block, not Rubion’s. But we’d already made it this far; I wasn’t about to get derailed now from giving Qole a welcome with at least marginal fanfare.
“Uncle, our guests have come a very long way, and proper introductions are in order before we get down to business. Speaking of which, Qole, this is my uncle on my father’s side, Rubion Dracorte II, and Uncle, this is Captain Qole Uvgamut and her brother, Arjan Uvgamut, of Alaxak.”
My uncle swept up Qole’s hand and brushed his lips lightly over her knuckles in a graceful gesture before she could respond. “Pleased. I’ve heard much about you. And you, of course, Arjan.” He held out his hand to Arjan. “Both your data sets were the most promising I’ve ever seen.”
Arjan’s smile turned puzzled.
“Right, apologies,” I said hurriedly. “I placed biometric sensors on both of you when we first met. I forgot to tell you.”
Both Qole’s and Arjan’s looks could have killed me.
My uncle saved me from falling over myself in further apology—or Devrak from having to intervene in my self-defense—when he said, “Honestly, I was absolutely astonished when I saw the results. I’ve never seen an individual, let alone two, with a greater concentration of Shadow working in their systems. And you’re both so functional. I can’t wait to see—”