safe. I can work and earn my way.” Glancing at us, she clarifies. “I know how to cook, clean and tend to growing plants. I used to work in a hydroponics unit.”
I gesture to one of our males to take possession of the weakened queen. “We will return to our base and see this one safely settled before continuing the mission.”
The general turns on me with a vicious snarl fit to rival any of my own. “The hell we will. Unless you’ve forgotten, the mission comes first. It won’t kill her to come along for the ride. We’ll take her to safety when the mission is finished.”
Weary of defying a queen, I suggest an alternative course of action. “Perhaps we can spare a few speeders to take her to safety. Look at her. She is weak and in no condition to…”
The general cuts me off in mid-sentence. “She’s fine. We’re not zigzagging all over the damned place to make sure an indigent is comfortable. She’s been roughing it this long. She’ll be just fine spending the day with us.”
I know in my heart of hearts this is not the correct course of action, but General Watson is a queen of queens, so we must all do her bidding. We make our way out of the cave, still going back and forth about options, like leaving the little queen here with one warrior for protection and sealing them in the cave. As large as it is, there should be plenty of oxygen to last a day. The good general refuses even this accommodation.
Finally the new queen bravely speaks up for herself. “If they are programed to do whatever women say and see us all as queens, I demand to be taken to their ship.” She plucks up her courage and makes a compelling argument to be taken to safety. “I’ve been sleeping rough for months. I’m exhausted and not in any condition to protect myself if you guys manage to pick a fight with the Moltan. I don’t want to stay out in the blistering sun hunting bad aliens with you all day.”
To my mind, a queen has spoken and therefore, she will be immediately taken to safety. General Watson’s head snaps around to glare at the needy queen. “Girl, do not test my patience today. I promise you that I’m not in the mood for it.” When the smaller queen does not immediately capitulate, the general speaks again. “We’re not fighting about this. I’m in charge and you’ll do as I say if you want rescued. If not, you can stay right where you are.”
I watch as the weaker queen’s shoulders go limp. “I guess beggars can’t be choosy.”
Looking her over with no small measure of disdain, the general responds succinctly. “No. They cannot. Let’s saddle up. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover and we’re burning daylight as it is.”
Though I like this queen’s strength and beauty, I do not like that she usurps my authority nor that she thinks this queen is less than because she has nothing. This is not the way of our people. Each and every queen is unique and precious in our eyes. I see this as her disrespecting the queen who will one day belong to one of my brethren. It doesn’t sit well with me.
I mumble as we get onto the scooter. “All queens have value, not just the ones with high status.” Perhaps this is not the right queen for me after all. I begin to question my previous thoughts on the matter.
In response to my words, the general clarifies. “On our world, we all sacrifice for the greater good, or in this case, the mission.”
“Part of our standing orders was to rescue any vulnerable queens wishing sanctuary.”
“We can’t split our forces. If we do find that pack of Sonarians, we’ll need every warrior if we have any hopes of defeating them. I’ll keep her behind the shielding, I promise.”
This is barely enough to set my mind at ease, for we have run roughshod over the rights of a vulnerable queen this day. All my prior contentment is replaced with a sad, hollow feeling. Even my inner dragon is disgusted by this situation. He turns his back on me and this human queen. Where once there was heated interest, now there is only annoyance.
We travel from one abandoned base to another in this vast uninhabited land, finding nothing of note. My unease grows as the daylight fades into darkness. I