The Lost Voice

by V. St. Clair

  It made Topher miss the man all over again.

  “Hanna, you are a wonderful person and if you hadn’t gone to warn the Viceroy, Parl might have gotten away with the whole thing. I’m sorry you were injured, and even sorrier that I was too short-sighted to think of sending help to the Viceroy myself.”

  The only thing Hanna wanted to hear from him was whether Jessamine was alright. Topher quietly assured her they had made it out safely, and that Fox was dead, which seemed to appease the woman and make her near-fatal stabbing worth it.

  He and Gareth approached Shellina in the morning to requisition the Dark Talents for Parl. She was alarmed at the thought of using them on a Major, but quickly agreed once they explained the necessity.

  Despite Topher asking for this, he was still nauseous when he and Gareth snapped two of the Talents into Parl’s enhancers while he slept fitfully. The Dark Talents were designed to control a Provo-Major if the need arose, and the two they plugged into Parl would effectively keep him in a vegetative state until they were removed. No amount of healing or medicine would return his mind to normal with these Talents in.

  He hoped he would be able to return to Jessamine the next day, but it wasn’t until the fourth day after her father’s death that he was finally able to break free of the Augenspire and go out into the city.

  His delay was mostly because he got a lot more mired in administrative work than he had expected. Jessamine and her father had always made it look easy, but running the government was a nightmare he would happily try to avoid in the future.

  The other reason it took him four days to leave the Augenspire was because he needed the shift rotation to line up correctly to put his preferred group back together.

  Topher, Gareth, Lorna, and Reya were all on day-shift, headed into the city to continue the search for Jessamine, along with a dozen others. They were split off in groups of two, though the four of them had plans to meet up in an alley so Topher could bring them to his mother’s house.

  They were also in plainclothes, theoretically so they didn’t alarm anyone during their search of downtown. Truthfully, Topher needed to get his heavies back from his mother’s basement, and the only way he could haul them out was if he was wearing them.

  It felt strange to be standing in the alley behind the Ticoria with another Provo-Major, especially because he rarely saw Gareth in plainclothes. It was even stranger because Gareth came from money, and kept looking around the alley like he didn’t want to be seen in it.

  “So…you grew up here,” Gareth said awkwardly, kicking at a pebble with his boots.

  “Well, not here in this alley,” Topher corrected him, amused for the first time in days.

  Thankfully, Lorna and Reya arrived shortly thereafter, though they looked similarly intrigued by the prospect of standing in an alley. It was probably their first time.

  Must be nice to be so wealthy.

  “Alright, let’s go.” He led them to the spot where the alley ended, lifting the section of pavement covering the hidden door. He descended the ladder and told whoever was last to close it behind them.

  “How many of these bolt-holes are there in the city?” Reya asked with interest as they descended into darkness, following behind Topher as he led them through the winding series of interconnecting basements and hideouts towards his mother’s house.

  “Hundreds, at a minimum,” he replied quietly. “Most are left over from the days of the Great War, when people were worried about getting dragged into the fighting if they were above ground, but now they’re mainly used to run unregistered businesses or smuggling.”

  “Good to know,” Reya responded faintly. “We’ve all read about them, of course, but seeing it in person makes it more real.”

  “So, tell me again about how your mother is Hera,” Gareth prodded him, as he was wont to do whenever they were alone together these days. “And don’t forget the part about how in the hell you missed it for the last ten years we’ve been hunting for her.”

  Topher grimaced in the darkness and said, “We were never extremely close, and we haven’t spoken much since I moved into the Augenspire.”

  “I guess not,” Gareth grumbled.

  “At least we know she is supportive of Jessamine, and that her group wasn’t behind any of the recent threats and attacks.”

  “Yeah, but on the down side, it means it really was Fox and Parl and whoever else within her own government attacking her,” Reya pointed out darkly. “They might have been in on the First Orbital attack too, for all we know.”

  They were getting close now, and Topher stopped them and said, “I think it goes without saying, but just in case it doesn’t, we are about to walk into a house with at least one resident Gifted, and whoever else happens to be visiting. They are not likely to have warm, fuzzy feelings towards us Majors right now, and it is imperative we keep tensions low and don’t make any threats—real or implied. Jessamine is in there, and her safety and our allegiance to her is paramount.”

  “No shit, Topher, or we wouldn’t be standing in this musty basement with you right now,” Reya nudged him with her shoulder. “Let’s go report in to our Vicereine-elect.”

  Topher took a breath and preceded them up the stairs, opening the door into the kitchen and hearing an immediate thud of footsteps coming from the other parts of the house. The Majors braced themselves and fought the urge to draw weapons as the hurrying footsteps came closer, and suddenly Jessamine barreled around the corner wearing an old T-shirt of his and a spare pair of his pants from before his last growth spurt.

  His mother and Maxton were right behind her, along with Ana Crumb. They all stopped in their tracks upon seeing four Majors in the kitchen, with the exception of Jessamine, who looked delighted. Topher hated what he was about to do, but he had to get this unpleasant business out of the way as soon as possible, even though it would wipe the smile from her face for the foreseeable future.

  “Topher! Majors! It’s about time you made it back here! I was starting to—”

  “Vicereine-elect,” Topher went down on one knee, interrupting her joyful outburst before she could finish.

  “Vicereine-elect,” his peers copied the gesture, dropping to their knees as well.

  It was horrible to watch the joy drain from her features, like watching a living, breathing woman turn to stone. More than ever, Topher wanted to get up and embrace her, but now, more than ever, it was not an option.

  “Oh,” she replied calmly, woodenly. So much pain went unspoken in that one word and Topher truly admired her for staying calm. “Rise, Majors. We have much to discuss.”

  She was back in business mode, turning away from them and walking into the living room where there was more space to spread out, though Topher suspected she simply wanted an excuse to look away from them and compose herself.

  “The Viceroy is dead?” Hera asked softly, staring at him with intense eyes.

  “Yes,” Topher answered, rising to his feet and following the others into the living room. Jessamine was still facing away from them, towards the closed window, so Topher did all he could to give her a while longer with her thoughts.

  “Mother, Ana, Maxton…allow me to introduce you to Majors Gareth, Reya, and Lorna. They are loyal to Jessamine and have been fully apprised of recent events.” Well, except for the part where Jessamine is Gifted and I’m hearing strange voices in my head.

  The others didn’t look thrilled to learn that more members of the Provo knew who they were and what they were a part of, but his mother stepped forward and broke the uncomfortable silence.

  “It is good to meet more allies. I am Hera.”

  “Oh goody…more Majors,” Max mumbled in mock celebration.

  Reya, who was half a foot shorter than him, narrowed her eyes and said, “You’re the one Fox was torturing? Topher told us the truth about what happened.”

  “That’s all you have to say after Max was dragged out of his dorm for no good reason and nearly tortured to death for thr
ee weeks by one of your peers?” Ana demanded.

  “I’m not really sure what else to say,” Reya admitted. “None of us really knew much about the whole thing, other than Fox had a prisoner he thought could lead him to Hera. Sorry for your wrongful imprisonment,” she said the last to Max.

  Jessamine had finally composed herself and now turned to face them, her face a mask over her emotions.

  “Majors, report.”

  Topher and Gareth tried to succinctly bring her up to date on what had happened, in the order it happened in, alternating between the two of them since Gareth had been the one with the Viceroy when he died. When he finished explaining what happened in his room Jessamine said, “They got Hanna, too?”

  Her face was still a mask but Topher could sense the fear behind her eyes.

  “No. She was stabbed twice in the abdomen and required surgery, but she is currently recovering,” Gareth explained, and Jessamine exhaled a sigh of semi-relief.

  They told her everyone else was accounted for and well, including Darius and Shellina, at which point Hera asked, “So Vicerina Shellina is presently running the government?”

  “Actually, your son is running the government,” Gareth replied calmly, causing Jessamine to raise her eyebrows in surprise. “I’m surprised they let him out of the building long enough to meet with you today.”

  “What? Why isn’t my sister issuing orders in my stead?”

  “To put it bluntly, it was beyond her depth,” Topher admitted. “I tried to encourage her—”

  “You told her to get her shit together and appoint someone who knew what the hell they were doing,” Gareth amended for him, before glancing at Jessamine. “Excuse me, Vicereine-elect.”

  Topher frowned. “I didn’t say it like that.”

  “That was how you meant it, and it needed to be said, so good on you for having the nerve to do it,” Lorna defended.

  Jessamine watched them in silence. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking, or whether she was pleased or furious with him for what he had done so far.

  “Shellina gave her authority to me in the short-term, and I have been immersed in trying to execute what I believe your orders would be, until I was able to return to you.”

  “Remember how I said you have an ambitious family?” Maxton whispered to Hera, though the others could plainly hear him.

  “I’m not ambitious. I simply did what needed to be done,” Topher stated. He felt like he had to say it a lot these days.

  “You’re running the entire planet right now, so I beg to differ,” Max pointed out.

  “He does so under my authority,” Jessamine intervened now, in her most businesslike tone. Topher didn’t like how hard to read she was, but didn’t know how to get her alone right now to speak more openly. “He is acting as my steward for the next few hours, and I thank him for doing it.”

  “The next few hours?” Topher asked.

  “Gareth, can you confirm that Parl said he was striking out at my father due to his softening stance on the Gifted?”

  “Yes, Vicereine-elect. When we were fighting and I asked why he turned traitor, he said, ‘Roald is getting old and weak, and his daughter’s the same. He should be stuffing those freaks on an island to die, not putting them in our military.’ ”

  Jessamine nodded.

  “Then I have new orders to issue.” She turned to Hera now. “I need you, Ana, and Max to spread word as quickly as you can through the Academy that there is going to be an important announcement in front of the clock-tower at six.”

  “Who will be speaking?” Hera asked for clarification.

  “No need to specify, just get the word out and get me a maximum number of witnesses.” She turned to the Majors. “Lorna, make some discreet calls to the media and inform them of an exclusive televising opportunity for the government, at the Academy clock-tower at six. Tell each station they are the sole recipient of this advance notice to discourage them from spreading the word.” Lorna nodded at the orders.

  “Jessamine...” Topher began, alarmed by the sound of all of this.

  “Reya,” she spoke right over Topher. “Make sure there’s a speeder here to take me to the Academy before six. I want you in it, too. Also, bring me my light armor if you can manage to sneak it out of my room. Topher, you’ll be riding with us as well.”

  “Of course,” Reya saluted.

  “Gareth, you have the most important job of all. I want you to let the Augenspire know I have been located at around five fifty-eight, and that I’ll be speaking at the Academy on live broadcast. I want the Majors, Minors, and everyone in-between tuned in to their televisions by the time I start talking, but I don’t want them to have enough advanced notice to mobilize and show up at the Academy in person.”

  Gareth looked absolutely stunned by this, but only said, “I understand, Excellency.”

  “Good, then you are all dismissed. I’ll see you tonight. Topher and Reya, wear your light armor and be prepared for guard duty.”

  The abrupt dismissal was jarring after waiting so long to see her, and while the others moved uncomfortably towards the basement stairs, Topher said, “A word, please,” to Jessamine.

  Her face was still carefully controlled, but she allowed him to lead her to his old bedroom, which it seemed she had been occupying during her stay here. Topher shut the door and said, “Jessa, talk to me. What are you planning?”

  “I’m going to speak at the Academy,” she answered.

  “I worked that much out for myself,” he leaned closer. “What are you going to say?”

  “I’m going to make my enemies regret the day I escaped the Augenspire alive, and then I’m going home.”

  Topher had been afraid of that.

  “Jessa, I know you’re reeling right now from the news of your father’s—”

  “Don’t make the mistake of assuming my feelings right now. I understand what I am doing, Major. All I need to know is whether I can count on you to stand beside me or not.”

  There was something cold and pitiless in her eyes, and as much as he wanted to fix the hurt he saw there, he knew there was only one answer he could give, and he gave it.

  “I am yours to command, Excellency.”

  “Good, then make sure you and Reya are prepared for six o’clock.”

  “I don’t want to lose you, too,” Topher blurted out as she turned to walk away from him.

  She stopped at the door and turned to face him again.

  “I appreciate the sentiment, Topher. I don’t want to die, either. But it was a mistake for me to be gone for so long, and it is one I intend to rectify. I will drive my enemies out into the open, and I will crush them like bugs, or die in the attempt. Unlike my sister, I refuse to sit around crying until they come for me in the night.”

  And with that, she left him standing there in his childhood bedroom, thinking it was moments like this that made him love her and wondering how in the hell he was going to protect her now.

  5

  Jessamine Elaria

  For days she had been sitting around idly, twiddling her thumbs and waiting for the world to speed back up. Well, now it had. The news of her father’s death meant she was in charge of everything, and suddenly there wasn’t enough time to make all of the plans she needed to make before tonight.

  She hated sending the Majors away, but she needed to be alone. Topher obviously thought she was about to do something stupid—and maybe she was—but it was her choice to make, and she couldn’t bear the thought of hiding any longer.

  I’ve been gone too long already.

  All this time she had been operating under the assumption that her father was still in power, thinking the attack had been focused solely on her. If the Viceroy had survived, there would be no hurry for Jessamine to return home, and they could coordinate plans carefully and strategically.

  Without a Viceroy there was a vacuum of power. Jessamine understood the implications even before they told her Topher was calling the shots�
�and what the hell was Shellina thinking to allow that to happen, anyway? As much as Jessamine loved her younger sister, Shellina had never been intended to rule at such a young age, and had been neglecting her lessons until recently. If Jessamine didn’t come back to get things in order, the vultures would settle in around her sister, sensing weakness, and begin picking apart the government for their own personal gain.

  The General Assembly is probably already whispering about confirming Shellina in my absence and trying to take the Viceroyalty from me.

  What a nightmare that would be, having to go through the nasty process of claiming usurpation charges against everyone involved—including her naïve sister—and fighting to regain her birthright.

  She was sitting in Topher’s room with sheets of notebook paper strewn about her, jotting down ideas as they came to her and trying to develop a comprehensive strategy for how to re-stabilize the government before her big speech tonight.

  Mercifully, no one bothered her, not even to suggest she eat or drink anything, which was good because she would have snapped at them to get out and leave her alone.

  My father is dead.

  The thought kept interrupting her progress, but there was no time to mourn him. Forward momentum was what she needed, now more than ever. Her enemies wouldn’t be resting, so neither could she.

  There are many of them and only one of me. They can afford to lose, here and there, but I can’t.

  Speaking of which, what should she do about Parl and Fox? It still wasn’t clear whether the former would even survive, or what his mental state would be if he did. She would need to send a very clear message about how traitors were dealt with, even at the highest levels of the government. Fox’s family would want his body returned to them for burning, and both Majors came from powerful families who had a lot of pull with her father.

  Not anymore, she thought brutally, jotting down some notes for herself on what to do about the whole mess.

  It didn’t feel like much time had elapsed when there was a knock on the door, and Jessamine growled in frustration and prepared to snap at whoever was daring to disturb her with whatever petty thing—