by C M Dancha
“Thank you, Lead Trifect. I look forward to that day.”
“So do I, Officer. But, in the meantime be cautious and don’t go anywhere unarmed. The Prefect is up to something, so be on your guard at all times. And, no matter what happens, keep the Prefect alive. He holds the key to Yanda’s survival.”
Morg signed off and rejoined the homecoming party. He tried to hide the troubling news the Lead Trifect shared with him.
“Officer Morg, you look upset. Do you feel okay?”
“Oh, hello, Joseph. I still don’t feel very well. The vap pistol wounds plus the bug took more out of me than I thought.” Morg grimaced in imaginary pain. He wanted the kid to think his ailment was physical rather than what he just learned communicating with the Lead Trifect.
“Joseph, you don’t look very well either. What’s wrong?”
“I guess the bug still has me by the balls. Great party, huh?”
“Yeah, your father spared no expense for your homecoming. He must think a lot of you.”
“I’m sure he does. I’m sure he does.”
Morg could tell the kid was lying. After spending ten light years of travel time with the kid on a small transport, Morg learned when he told the truth versus a lie. Repeating himself was the first clue the kid was lying. That combined with fluctuations in his voice tone and non-eye-contact confirmed a falsehood. There was no question the kid had a problem with his father. Morg didn’t know what it was, but something was irritating him.
Morg was ready to continue the conversation but the kid’s mind was elsewhere. His eyes darted every which way, surveying the crowd for something or someone.
“What are you looking for?” Morg’s question went unanswered. The kid hadn’t heard a word Morg said. He grabbed Joseph’s arm and repeated, “Joseph, what are you looking for?”
“What? What, did you say Morg?”
“I’ve asked you a couple times what you’re looking for?”
“Sorry, Morg. I’m supposed to meet someone tonight and I thought she might be in the crowd.”
“Joseph, welcome home. It’s been a long time.”
Morg looked to his right to see the two strangers who joined the kid and himself. One was tall and lanky, with a pasty complexion and deep-set, narrow eyes. His jet-black hair and eyebrows blended well with the black outfit he wore. Morg immediately recognized this being as a Mentat. He ran into these creatures several times during his military career. All Mentats dressed entirely in black and had the same vacant look on their faces.
The other being who welcomed Joseph home was an Earthling. Morg guessed he was in his fifties. His clothes were modest yet custom-tailored from exquisite and expensive linens. The man had a deep tan which looked like it was spray-painted on his skin. He was groomed meticulously. Every strawberry-blonde hair had its place and Morg doubted that even a strong wind could move them from their assigned positions. When he opened his mouth, Morg couldn’t take his eyes off the man’s teeth. They sparkled a white which Morg didn’t think was possible. They made Jimmy Washington’s beautiful teeth look dingy.
“Oh, hello, Secretary-General Miller. Thanks for coming tonight. May I present Officer Morg. He and I flew the transport from Yanda to Earth.”
“Hello, Officer. I’ve heard a lot about you. All good and very heroic, I might add. This gentleman is your father’s Mentat.” The Mentat gave Morg and the kid a slight nod.
For the next five minutes, the kid and Millard Miller bantered back and forth meaningless topics. Neither of them spoke of the meaningful topics on their minds. Morg and the Mentat stayed silent and listened to the verbal volley between the two Earthlings. It was evident they hated each other.
Morg lost interest and was ready to excuse himself when the kid asked Miller, “Have you seen Beth tonight?”
“Actually, Joseph, that’s why I came over. I wondered the same thing. Have you seen her?”
“No, but answer this, Mr. Miller. Why would you be looking for a lowly assistant to the Prefect?”
Miller debated whether to say anything about Beth being the Prefect’s concubine for several years. It was obvious that Joseph didn’t know about their seedy liaison. He decided to keep that information to himself and not push his luck. If the kid found out about Beth’s sexual prowess it was a short step to her espionage effort to bring down the Prefect. And then, the kid would find out about his hired Verasiun assassin.
“Nothing more than we’ve become friends over the past couple years, Joseph. She’s a wonderful woman.”
Joseph looked hard at Miller attempting to decide if he believed him or not. He opted to believe Miller, but it was what he didn’t say that concerned him.
“When was the last time you saw her?”
“About six hours before your transport docked.”
“Why don’t we spread out and see if we can find her. Officer Morg, would you like to come with me?”
“Joseph, I’m going to retire for the night. In fact, I’m going to stop at the medical depot before turning in.”
“That’s a good idea, Officer. Get those wounds looked at and take some more bug medicine.”
“Officer Morg, will I see you at the condensator demo tomorrow?”
“I plan on it, Mr. Miller. But I’ll see how I feel in the morning.”
* * *
“Brothers, have you made any progress identifying our cloaked enemies?”
The Lead Trifect only had to look at their faces to know what the answer was.
“Have any more of our Interceptors run into a cloaked planet?”
“Not one Lead Trifect.”
“Can’t our physicists identify some type of trail left by these cloaked invaders? There has to be some type of disturbance or residue left by a planet or weapon platform moving through space. It shouldn’t matter whether they are cloaked or not. There should be something left behind in their wake.”
“I’m sorry Lead Trifect. Our physicists haven’t found a thing. They think the cloaked planets have either stopped or, or, or….”
“Or what?”
“Maybe they don’t exist, sir.”
The Lead Trifect was close to throwing a fit but caught himself. He began to question his logic. Had he created an incorrect theory from indisputable facts? Was his deductive reasoning flawed? As much as he didn’t want to entertain the thought of being wrong, he had to consider it. What other theory could explain ships appearing and disappearing out of nowhere? And, what could explain five Interceptors bursting into atomic particles for no reason?
“Brothers, I understand why you and our physicists may not think there is an invisible enemy creeping toward Yanda. You are entitled to your opinion, but I still think my theory is right. Not only do the facts support my theory, but I can feel the enemy coming toward us. Yes, I can feel them.”
The two underling Trifect looked at each other. They wondered if their boss was losing his mind. Since when was military strategy based on feelings?
“Brothers, I know what you are thinking. I would think the same if I was in your position. I’m not sure what else we can do now. Keep our Interceptors in a crisscross search pattern. Maybe one of them will stumble upon something. Otherwise, it’s up to Officer Morg. I believe Prefect Conway is behind the cloaked armada preparing to invade Yanda. If Morg follows my plan, we have a chance. If he doesn’t, we are doomed.”
39
“Honored guests. Welcome to the Mount Mikilopii volcano. This morning, you will witness one of the greatest technological breakthroughs in the last thousand years. Behind me is Earth’s toxic gas condensator. It captures over ninety percent of the toxic gases released by volcanos. The gases are reduced to their basic elements and compacted into secure shipping containers. These lightweight containers can then be sent economically to customers throughout the universe. Here on Earth, we have an overabundance of the toxic gases discharged from volcanos. However, many planets lack these basic elements which are vital to maintaining a healthy atmosphere for th
eir inhabitants. When our condensator vessels arrive on these planets, the gases are recombined back to their original state and released into the atmosphere. It’s a win-win. Earth gets rid of the toxic gases it doesn’t need and the planets in need of these elements have their atmospheres restored.”
“What a load of crap! If that were only true. This speaker, whoever he is, has obviously never heard of the CASETA Agreement which his exalted leader, the Prefect, reneged on. The Prefect is using this technology for political blackmail and advancing his military schemes.”
While the Trifect underlings waited for the Lead Trifect to cool down, they intently watched and listened to the condensator demonstration ten light years away. On the lip of the volcano was a massive piece of equipment which towered five stories in height and a quarter-mile in length. It sat on a perfectly cut ledge twenty-five feet from the summit. The back side of the condensator hung over the volcano lip so its input ducts could suck in the toxic gases released from within the earth. In front of the condensator was a viewing stadium chiseled into the mountainside. It held a maximum of three thousand beings. The ships which brought attendees to Mikilopii hover-docked in a semi-circle around the volcano.
Everywhere the Trifect looked, Earth technicians watched, adjusted, and minded the condensator equipment. They estimated the crowd on Mount Mikilopii to be several hundred. The demo attendees consisted of dignitaries from the most influential and powerful planets in the universe. Their fancy clothes and uniforms were the norm rather than the exception.
“Lead Trifect, I see the Earthling. There he is!”
The Lead Trifect looked to where his brother Trifect pointed on the halo-screen. Standing on the presentation stage, approximately ten yards from the speaker, was Joseph Conway. It was easy to see the kid wasn't interested in what the speaker had to say. His head swiveled right and left repeatedly. The Lead Trifect wondered what he was looking for.
“I wonder where Officer Morg is? Shouldn’t he be on the stage with the Earthling?”
“Brother, I hope he isn’t. In fact, he better not be anywhere near that presentation. He should still be in sickbay.”
The Trifect underlings looked at each other and wondered how their boss knew Officer Morg was receiving medical attention at that moment.
“Most of you don’t know this, but Mount Mikilopii has a minor eruption every three years. The eruption is as predictable as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. We are in luck, for today is exactly three years since its last eruption. So, in approximately forty-eight minutes, the gods who live within Mikilopii will once again rumble awake from their long slumber and vomit lava and gases.”
The speaker was proud of his cutesy description of the upcoming eruption. He thought how clever he was referencing the Polynesian gods who lived within the volcano. The broad smile on his face vanished when he realized the crowd didn’t share his sentiments. Anxiety ran through the crowd. There was an undertow of comments racing back and forth. People looked at each other with apprehension and wondered about their safety. Many started to file out of the viewing stadium and headed for the docking platform to make a hurried departure.
“Honored guests, there’s nothing to be afraid of. The condensator equipment will control the eruption. It will moderate the energy given off by the mountain. Rather than one or two huge blasts, the volcano’s energy will be released in many minor explosions. You’ll feel a slight trembling underfoot but that’s all….”
The speaker’s pleas didn’t convince the crowd. When they heard the word “explosions”, pandemonium broke out. The guests ran, crawled, and battled their way to the stadium exits. Joseph Conway and Miller Millard stood their ground on the stage and watched the confusion below. They didn’t notice the speaker hauled off the stage by militia goons and replaced by Prefect Conway and Beth.
The Prefect and Beth ascended the podium like heads-of-state. His entire wardrobe was a rich purple. Even his shoes were the color of royalty. The only non-purple items were six ten-carat diamonds which served as buttons running in a vertical line down the middle of his waistcoat.
He held Beth’s right arm high to escort her to the podium. The tiara on her head and the full-length cape draped around her shoulders shimmered gold, silver, and platinum in the mid-morning sun. The expression on her face was one of a reluctant participant in an elaborate scam.
Thunderous horns erupted from the audio system and filled the stadium. Their collective blast overwhelmed every other sound. The fleeing guests, stadium marshals, and laborers froze in place. The simple melody the horns played announced something great. Everyone’s attention refocused to the stage where they beheld Prefect Conway and a beautiful young lady dressed as a princess.
Joseph Conway didn’t recognize Beth at first. The heavy layers of colored makeup around her eyes and smeared on the lips hid her natural beauty. The tiara and jewels hanging from her ears and hair were ornaments a make-believe goddess would wear. The girl from his youth would never make a spectacle of herself with such gaudy accessories.
His eyes bulged from his head when he realized who was standing next to his father. Without thinking of why or what it meant, he yelled to his former love and headed for the podium. Miller Millard grabbed him from behind and held him in place with a bear-hug. The horns stifled his call so only a weak “Beth” reached the Prefect and his concubine. Neither of them looked in his direction. Prefect Conway needed to get the crowd under control and Beth was too embarrassed to look in his direction.
The Prefect stood motionless and stared into the crowd. Each guest felt like he was the object of his piercing gaze. The horns stopped. No one spoke to each other. Like scolded children, the guests filed back to their seats and waited to hear what the Prefect had to say.
“Isn’t this a beautiful morning?”
When the crowd stayed quiet, the Prefect asked again, “I said, isn’t this a beautiful morning?”
The crowd didn’t understand why the Prefect was asking such an odd question when a volcanic eruption was less than a half-hour away. Half the crowd wondered if he was crazy. The other half hoped he wasn’t. Everyone in the crowd replied with a weak “yes”.
“Ladies and gentlemen let me welcome you to Earth’s first-ever demonstration of the toxic gas condensator. You have my word that you are as safe here as anywhere in the universe. That includes your home planet. Frankly, I wouldn’t be here if I thought there was any chance of endangering my life or the life of Queen Beth.”
The Prefect looked at Beth and smiled. Three men rushed onto the stage with an ornate throne and helped the bejeweled Beth into it.
“Isn’t she beautiful?” Again, the guests responded with a feeble approval.
“Yes, she is a beautiful creature.” The Prefect stopped and leaned toward the crowd. He cupped his ear straining to hear an imaginary question from someone in the crowd. “What’s that? You don’t know who she is? We have a few minutes before the demonstration so let me tell you about the stunning Queen Beth.”
Prefect Conway went over to Beth and kissed her on the forehead. Joseph went rigid with anger.
“Queen Beth has a humble history. She grew up in a dirt-poor family. Her father was a drunkard and her mother a Jessabelle. I graciously took her out of this pathetic existence and gave her everything. Food, clothes, a beautiful home; anything her heart desired. And, all she had to do in exchange was be faithful and put-out occasionally. You might say she is a high-priced concubine.”
Beth’s fingernails dug into the chair’s wood arms. Her face turned crimson and sweat ran down her forehead. The crowd loved the trashy story told by the Prefect. They forgot about the up-coming volcanic eruption. Joseph Conway tried to break free from Millard’s grasp. Miller had no love for the kid, but they did share one thing; they both hated Prefect Conway. If he let go, the kid would be cut down before he got within ten feet of his father.
“And, how did Queen Beth repay me for this life of luxury? She became a traitor. Sh
e joined the rebel faction who plots daily to overthrow my administration. She and her friends want to end my reign and turn Earth into a Yandan colony. And, when that’s done, Earth’s Global Union Assembly will be squashed. Earth will no longer determine its own destiny. We will no longer own the rights or profits from our condensator technology. All toxic gases will be sent to the thieves on Yanda. Our friends on Florid will be suffocated out of existence. The swine on Yanda will be our masters.”
The Prefect’s accusations had the desired effect. The Floridians in the crowd called out for the execution of Beth, the whore queen. Most of the Earthlings backed the Prefect and screamed out their allegiance to him. Rulers and powerful guests from other planets cast their doubts aside and fell in line with the pro-Prefect fervor in the stadium. The only opposition within the stadium came from Millard and Joseph Conway. They stood on stage trying to out-scream the crowd. Their effort to tell the crowd about the lunatic Prefect got drowned out. Ten light years away, the Lead Trifect swore to kill the Prefect if he got the opportunity.
When the shouting and swearing subsided, the Prefect started again. “But…. but, let me tell you the rest of what’s been going on. That man, over there, is the leader of the rebels.” Prefect Conway pointed and shook his finger at Miller. “I’m speaking of the Millard Miller, the Secretary-General of the Assembly. He’s the mastermind who wants to turn Earth over to the Yandans. He and some fellow rebels in the Assembly want you to be slaves to the Yandans.”
“That’s not true. The Prefect lies. He’s a lunatic who….” Miller went down hard onto the stage when a militiaman slammed the butt of his assault rife against his head.
“That’s what all traitors deserve.” The crowd erupted in applause and yells of support.
Prefect Conway raised both arms above his head to quiet the crowd. “My fellow beings, there’s more. I saved the most despicable piece of information for last. I’m sorry to say, my only son, Joseph, is also a conspirator and Yandan spy.” There was dead silence in the stadium. The crowd was shocked by this revelation. How could a son betray his father? Wasn’t this the same son who received a lavish homecoming party?
