“Earth is a new member of the Coalition. No one from Earth even knows of the Omega Dome’s existence. No one.”
Bertok stopped about fifteen feet in front of me, hands folded in front of him like a creepy, old priest.
“Leave her be, Bertok. She is small. A female.” One of the other Councilors stepped forward. “I met Naron. This female is incapable of defeating him.”
The conversation seemed to be turning in my favor, so I resisted the urge to argue. I knew how to fight dirty. I could murder a man Naron’s size, if I had the element of surprise and got lucky. But that didn’t mean I had.
“It is a Councilor’s duty to protect the planet from danger, including those of the lying, female variety.”
I cocked my head to the side. “If I was so dangerous, why did you sell me to Cerberus? Why did you trade me, a human female, for his assistance in destroying an opposing region’s city?”
Murmurs swirled around us.
“What city?” someone asked.
“Bakkarholt.” Eela spoke up from behind me and shouts erupted at her response.
“Two Trion fighters have engaged a Cerberus attack ship in Trion air space.” The announcement came from the guy who’d spoken into his wrist watch.
The silence was deafening as everyone absorbed the news. I didn’t wait to press my advantage. “Cerberus is here because Bertok arranged it. He used me to deliver the coordinates of Bakkarholt through a necklace. I’m not up on my Trion politics, but what would happen if that city was destroyed?”
All eyes turned to Bertok as the other Councilors considered the answer.
“And what would happen to Cerberus if he was blamed for the attack?”
“Nothing,” Eela said, her voice loud and clear. “Everyone knows his evil legion can’t be stopped. Only the Coalition Fleet would have the firepower to destroy them, and they are too busy fighting a war.”
“This female speaks nonsense. She murdered her mate and fled to Omega Dome.”
“Careful with your lies, Bertok. Are you sure Cerberus will really fire upon Bakkarholt? I mean, you messed up. You promised Cerberus a bride from Earth. But I’m here and not on Rogue 5. You didn’t uphold your end of the bargain. What happens when you break your word with Cerberus legion? Maybe he sent a ship here for retribution. What we call payback on Earth. Maybe they’re here to kill you.”
It was a bluff. I had no idea what Cerberus was going to do. But if Bertok freaked out and tried to save his own ass, then everyone in the room would know the truth. As no one moved to stop me or interrupt, I assumed they were waiting for Bertok’s reaction as well.
“Cerberus is here for you, Bertok. You. They don’t care about Bakkarholt,” I repeated. “What’s the biggest city in your region? Maybe they’ll be satisfied with blowing up your house? Maybe they’ll track you through your comm system and send assassins? But they’re here. You should probably say goodbye to your family and friends.”
His eyes widened, and he turned his back to me. Speaking into his own wrist device as he spun on his heel, he started walking toward a door at the back of the chamber. “Sound the alarms in the Wildlands. Danger level five. Threat imminent.”
“Guards, seize Councilor Bertok!” one of the men shouted.
The guards nearest Bertok were the protection trio who’d come in with us. They started to move, but I was closer to Bertok. I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to take him down.
I ran for him, spun my titan stick around in an arc and lunged, zapping the guy in the ass.
He startled, stiffened and let out a high-pitched yelp. Turning, he glared at me. “You! You ruined it all!”
There was the asshole I remembered. Now I’d let every other Councilor see the man behind the curtain.
“Yeah, I’m not all that meek, am I? I’m just what Cerberus wants, except your plan didn’t work.”
The guards flanked me but wisely exercised caution about approaching Bertok with me waving my titan stick around.
“The only place you’re going to be ruling over is prison.”
His face turned dark red and veins popped out at his temple. He was one pissed off old asshole.
“Outpost Nine, this is High Councilor Henrick.” A deep voice came from somewhere in the room like a ghost, but I assumed it was some kind of speaker system. “We have intercepted a Cerberus craft and have destroyed it. Ion cannons were locked and programmed to target Outpost Nine and the High Councilor’s meeting.”
That was the last straw and apparently enough to prove Bertok’s guilt. The guards stepped toward Bertok, ready to take him into custody or whatever they did on Trion. But he wanted nothing to do with it. He tried to run past us, to get away, which was totally futile.