Dark Empire Book Three: Secret War - Chapter Three Scene Three

 

 A broken man and a doctor determined to fix him.

* * * *

Kalquor

Degorsk smiled atthe young man seated on a bench in the garden area of the fleet psychiatrichospital. Unsurprisingly, Dramok Ilid failed to smile back. His moroseexpression was a cloud among the spring greenery.

Degorsk bowed.“Ensign Ilid, I’m Dr. Degorsk, the psychiatrist assigned to your case. It’s aprivilege to meet you.”

Ilid blinked at him.“A privilege?”

Degorsk detected thefirst of what was no doubt numerous issues following the hell Ilid had beenthrough. “I’ve reviewed the story of your bravery in escaping and warning theempire about the Darks. You faced incredible odds. May I?” He motioned to the partof the bench left unoccupied.

“Huh? Oh, yeah.Sorry.” Belatedly, Ilid stood and bowed. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”

“The pleasure ismine. Please, you don’t have to stand or call me sir. I’m an on-callconsultant, no longer an official part of the fleet.” Degorsk settled next tohim.

“Did you serve on aspyship? Or just here, putting broken men together again?”

Broken men. Issue number two. “I was part of a couple ofdestroyer crews as a medical doctor. I ended my career on a spyship, so I’vehad some experience similar to yours where such assignments are concerned.”

“Did you know a Dr.Umen?”

Ilid named thedoctor from his former duty vessel. According to the report the young man hadsubmitted, Umen been overcome by a Dark rider. Under its influence, he’dperformed horrific experiments on Ilid and others.

“I wasn’t acquaintedwith him. I hope the fact I once held the same rank won’t disturb you.”

Ilid gazed at him.The Dramok’s face was young and vulnerable. Degorsk wondered if he’d looked sochildlike and lost before his shipmates had been attacked or if his experienceshad sapped the strength from him.

“You don’t look likehim. You don’t talk like him either. I guess I’ll be okay around you.”

“I hope so. I wantto help you.”

“You mean you’reordered to help me.”

Degorsk gazeddirectly into the young man’s eyes, which kept skittering over the grounds, asif looking for something. “As I said, I’m no longer a formal member of thefleet. To be honest, I’m no fan of it. It nearly broke me, a long time ago. Idon’t take orders from the chain of command. I’m here for you, not them.”

It was true. Tranismight have been an admiral, but Degorsk often contracted his services to thefleet at his Dramok’s request. He was recognized by many in the fieldfor helping fleet personnel traumatized in the field of duty return to normallives.

“If I told you Iwant to resign as soon as possible, you wouldn’t try to talk me out of it?”

“Ilid, I wouldn’tsend you out on another ship if they paid me the empire’s entire fortune afterwhat you’ve been through.” Degorsk offered a caring smile…because he did carefor those who ended up needing him, at times to his own detriment. “The fleet agreedto release you as soon as their medical staff maps your brain in hopes oflearning how you see the aliens who did this to you. I’ll personally give hellto anyone who tries to extend your service beyond the month it’ll take.”

“Getting out is allI want,” Ilid breathed, his shoulders releasing tension. “And the nightmares tostop. I’m so tired of being afraid.”

“Let’s get startedthen.”

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Timeis running out to halt the Darks’ march to the Kalquorian Empire’sannihilation.

Finallyhome on Kalquor, Dramok Ilid is haunted by his encounter with the Darks, whichhe barely survived. His struggle far from over, Ilid’s sanity and the empire’sexistence hang on a quickly unraveling thread. When he learns the Darks havearrived on Kalquor, even his family’s love may not be able to keep him from anunthinkable end.

OnEarth II, head of planetary security Nobek Kuran’s hands are full: meeting hispotential in-laws, training his replacement, and keeping tabs on a roguelieutenant governor with a secret agenda. His troubles are only beginning whena deadly attack on those he loves drives him to the brink of murder. Meanwhile,spy Nobek Selt finds himself growing far too close to his subject, reporterBlythe Nelson. Does his clan dare to romance a woman devoted to uncovering thetruth, including their secret activities on her world?

Havingwiped out the entire Bi’is civilization, the Darks have seized control of theGalactic Council of Planets and attempt to bring the Kalquorian Empire to itsknees. Clans Tranis and Piras are desperate to stop the enemy from destroyingKalquor and its allies. Can Hope Nath and Chief Engineer Lokmi capture a lethalenemy capable of passing through all known barriers?

Releasing January 26