The Secret War - 1st novel in the Shadow Series

Chapter 19 .

Vai

My father waited for us. He was not happy. He shifted his expression to a somewhat smile when the Brist shifted from foot to foot by my side.

"Warpaint," my father said with that strained smile, "tell the Brist we are happy to welcome him aboard." My father paused to let Warpaint translate to the Brist. The Brist relaxed. "Tell him, we would like to give him a tour of the museum before Lieutenant Tanpo takes him home." Warpaint relayed the words.

My father was only barely containing his rage. My father had been angry with me countless times, but I couldn't remember a time like this when his fury stretched out in sightless waves to touch everyone around him.

None of my fellow students could look at him. In fact, Teacher Miller couldn't look at him. Only Lieutenant Tanpo willingly looked at him and she had done her job well. I doubted my father's anger was directed at her.

How much authority did my father have? Could he have Teacher Miller fired? Nothing that happened was her fault. I thought my father had overstepped his authority many times that day, but Lieutenant Tanpo had seemed to defend him when Teacher Miller brought it up. I wondered what the other shuttle pilots had thought when my father commanded them to rescue us. And I was sure it was at his command.

The Brist hopped once when Warpaint finished speaking with him, but it wasn't the frantic hop that happened when the Slpsis and black creatures were coming at us. This seemed excited.

"Good," my father said without waiting for Warpaint to translate. "Vai."

I stood up straighter. It was uncomfortable being under his sudden attention.

"Go with Warpaint and take the Brist on a tour of the museum. Then you can bring him back here so Lieutenant Tanpo can take him back home. Warpaint, be cordial with our guest and remember to translate correctly."

"Lieutenant Commander," Teacher Miller found her voice, "a mechatronic and a boy are hardly the diplomats for . . ."

My father looked at her. She looked at her feet.

"Yes, sir," Warpaint said.

"When you are finished with that task, Vai, you may eat at the Museum Delectables before returning to our quarters."

There was a long pause. "Yes, sir," I finally said.

My father's smile disappeared and his voice went low and gravelly. "Get going then."

I didn't wait for Warpaint or the Brist. I hadn't heard my father use that tone. It was terrifying. I did turn when we reached the docking doors to make sure Warpaint and the Brist were with me. They were. The Brist had a strange expected smile as he looked up at me. I tried to smile back down at him, but was distracted at how my father silently stared down my fellow students and teacher. Was it really okay to leave them? On the other hand, I didn't want to be in the same room when my father was so angry.

"Let's go," I said.

I didn't say anything as we made our way to the museum. The Brist talked constantly and pointed at different things on the ship. Simple things like the lights. Warpaint spoke to him. I wasn't sure if the Brist was asking questions and Warpaint was answering or if they were just having a casual conversation. Warpaint didn't translate for me and I didn't really want to know. Teacher Miller was correct in that neither I nor Warpaint were diplomats. Then again, the Brist was a driver. I doubted he was a diplomat either.

"Well. Here we are. The museum," I said when we arrived.

Warpaint said something to the Brist. The little alien replied enthusiastically. I assumed Warpaint had relayed what I just said, but I wasn't sure since Warpaint wasn't translating to me their conversation.