Solaris
is a prequel to my Lone Wolf Series. Wil is on a mission to ask
Mining Guild Chairman, Emmelia Spenser, for help. The planet that his
friend has been sent to, is highly unstable, and they have families
with them. The miners are worried about their safety. Unfortunately,
certain key members of the Board of Directors of the Mining Guild are
kicking up a fuss.
Doing
some sophisticated time conversions, Wil decided to call Emmelia. It
was about 2:00 in the afternoon, Aolani time, so he should be able to
contact her on a secure line in her office. He began the lengthy
process of putting through a crystal call. Nearly an hour later, he
made contact. Emmelia answered immediately. It was voice only. She
sounded anxious.
"Are
you all right?" she said, before even saying hello.
"I'm
fine, Emme. How's everything?"
"Chaotic.
The good news is that The Rotunda is on the way to Solaris.
I'm worried though, I don't think it's going to get there in time.
The repercussions from this will be catastrophic if it goes south. I
shudder to think of the ramifications."
"Then
don't. You know it's a cluster fuck. Deal with it when it happens."
"Not
if?"
"Emme,
we both know it's a disaster waiting to happen. It's only a question
of time."
She
suppressed a sob, but Wil's sharp ears caught it.
"Didn't
mean to upset you, Emmelia." His voice was uncharacteristically
tender.
"It's
not your fault. You did what needed doing. I only wish I'd had the
courage to do it long ago. He was the Devil incarnate."
"Hell
no, Ambrose would scare the Devil and make him run for the hills. How
a man, as honorable as your father, and one as sick and twisted as
Ambrose, could come from the same family—"
"I
thought you didn't like my father."
"I
didn't, but I respected the hell out him. He was a cold hearted
bastard, there's no doubt. But the man had morals and convictions
stronger than most. He was a able leader and a good man, in his own
way. He might not have been much of a father, Emme, but he was a hell
of a Chairman."
"Yes,
he was." She sounded distant.
"But
you know what? He's nothing in comparison to his daughter. I happen
to think that the current Chairman Spenser is a hell of a gal."
"Thanks,
Wil. Right now I don't feel like I am."
"But
you need to know that you are. No matter what happens in the future,
hold to the fact that you did the best you could. Promise me,
Emmelia. You won't lose sight of that—no matter what happens."
"You
make it sound so ominous. Is it really that bad?"
He
didn't answer her. His silence told her everything she dreaded to
hear.
"That's
what I was afraid of."
"I'd
better go," Wil said quietly.
"Have
something pressing to do?" There was a laugh in her voice.
"No,
but I'm sure you do. I just wanted to let you know I'm safe. If you
need me, you know how to contact me."
"Yes.
Do take care."
"I
might say the same to you."
"Thank
you, Wil."
"Anything
for a friend, Emmelia."
The
transmission ended leaving her empty, lost and alone. She took solace
in his words. His opinion of her made her feel good. Wil was proud of
her and that meant a lot. He didn't give out compliments lightly.
©
2018 Dellani Oakes
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