Read Naero's War: The Citation Series 3: Naero's Trial for Free Online Page A

I will not suffer at his hands. My beloved will make sure of that. It will be clean and swift.”
    Jo shook his golden head. “That’s still awfully hard,” he told her.
    For once, Naero nearly broke down, but she caught herself.
    She went down on one knee and stroked the black, silken hair of her replicant. Perhaps this is what it might have been like, if she had had a sister. “Master Jo, care for our child. She will be a wonder, and she will need wisdom and guidance all the more. Just as I am tainted by the Darkforce of my own Dark Beast, she is pure. My girl shall be of the Lifespark itself–of the Flame Eternal.”
    She paused for a moment and looked down briefly in shame.
    “Out of my own selfishness, I have wronged Khai. I have not told him about our child as yet. He knows nothing of her existence. Please, will you take on the burden of telling him about our daughter and why I did what I did–for all of our sakes? Tell him to love our child with everything that he will ever be, for she will be the best of each of us. And if he can find a way, tell him that it was my wish that he love Naero-3 as if she were myself. I have made her as much like myself as is possible, and she will instinctively love and adore him, just as I do. I know she will never be me, but please tell him to try, for our sake and the sake of our children. Can you do all of that for me, Master Jo?”
    High Master Jo knelt before her and took both of her hands. He sighed very deeply and shook his head in disbelief. “All this time and no thought to yourself. All for others. And they wish to take your life. What gross folly to throw away the life of a Spacer of such worth. I can and I will do all that you have asked of me and more, Naero. You are worth a thousand Master Vanes. If only we could make the fools see that.”
    Naero smiled, just barely. “Thank you. You honor me and my Clan. Just bring Khai to Naero-3 after the execution, and explain everything to him.”
    “I will. I will keep her safe within the shielded vault on board my personal ship.”
    “I’ve put Naero-3 into a sleep until then. And our child is peacefully in stasis within her. Naero-3 will awaken shortly after I am gone. She and Khai will need to talk about bringing our daughter to term and about the KDM as well. My replicant and Om must continue to unlock its secrets one day, for the good of the Alliance.”
    He looked at her. “Naero, is there anything else that I can do for you?”
    “No, that will be more than enough. Now, in the time I have left, I have many messages to send out. And then I want to spend my final, last minutes with my beloved Khai.”
    That was the way it went.
    Khai came to her chambers looking like the saddest thing there ever was.
    Naero smiled with joy and took his face into her hands and kissed him.
    “Please,” he said to her, holding out both of his arms. “Take both of my hands. Cut them both off.”
    “I’m sorry, Khai. We both must face this. This is the way things are. Let them be. So, things did not turn the way that we wished. But the last thing I want before I go on to the next journey is to be in your arms and know your love. Then they can dump me into the nearest star whenever they are ready.”
    Khai remained with her and they spoke no further words. They held each other until the last hour and their last minutes together were finally up.

 
     
     
     
    5
     
     
    Naero Amashin Maeris strode out into the bright daylight on Kalathar, feeling the warm breeze on her face. She undid her long, dark hair, removing the golden hair clasp that had been her mother’s.
    She handed it to Master Jo and used telepathy to tell him, For my daughter, when she is old enough to wear it. Tell my girl where it came from. How beautiful and brave her grandmother was.
    “Just like her mother,” Master Jo whispered.
    “It’s time,” Naero said with a nod of her head. “Let’s get this done.”
    She walked out alone to the appointed place that