Sage occasionally thought about dropping the rifle and getting some real sleep. Then she remembered that one of the bodies she smelled belonged to Talon. She remembered that the real person behind his death, not the tool who used the knife, was coming soon to answer for his crimes.
At the present, she angled her head so that she could look through the ship’s viewport while also monitoring Zaimur. He was half asleep, but she didn’t want to take any chances. Through the glass, she could see the flashes of the battle raging outside. A portion of Earth’s gray and brown surface sliced across the lower region, half shrouded in darkness. All around it, ships darted from side to side, missiles exploded, and the Tribune lost its hold on the planet.
So much death, Sage thought. All of this just to get back here again, Cassius?
She’d thought about it a hundred different ways, and she couldn’t figure it out. She didn’t believe for a second that he had any real interest in helping the Ceresians, but she couldn’t figure out any other reason why he’d risk so much.
Is it all just to get back at the Tribune for casting you out? Or do you really blame them for Caleb?
She wasn’t sure how long she sat there, her stomach growling and her throat parched. Her eyelids started to get heavier, and just before she could no longer fight back the urge to sleep, Zaimur saved her.
“Cassius is going to kill you for this,” he said, hoarse. “You’re going to ruin everything we planned.”
Sage said nothing. She blinked her dry eyes and continued to stare through the viewport.
“I can see why Talon liked you,” Zaimur went on. “He loved to talk so much. You must’ve let him rattle on about all his grand stories from when he served my fath—”
Sage stretched out her leg as far as she could and kicked Zaimur hard in the ribs before he could finish the thought. He grunted in pain and tipped onto his side.
“Bitch,” he spat. “I’m just telling the truth. Do you really think you’re going to get out of this alive after he gets here? You’ve made your point.”
“I don’t care if I get out,” Sage answered, finally breaking her silence. It was the most genuine response she could come up with. She was willing to do whatever it took to get the truth. It was the least that Talon deserved for missing out on spending the rest of his limited days with his daughter.
She raised her damaged artificial arm as much as she could so that Zaimur would see, and put on a wry smirk. “He did build my arm though, so maybe you’re wrong.”
Zaimur broke out into wheezing laughter. “Of course he did. Damn you, Cassius Vale. What hasn’t he built?”
Sage wished she could wipe the smile off his face, but it would be a waste of what precious little energy she had left.
“You should have listened to Talon,” she said after another lengthy silence. “You didn’t have to kill him.”
“I didn’t have to let my father be killed either.” For the first time Sage noticed a hint of sadness in his tone. “But they were both dying, and there is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect my home.”
“Even ally yourself with Cassius Vale?”
“I don’t regret any of it.” He lifted his bound hands and glared at the bruises on his wrists. “Although, I suppose if I’d let Talon walk, we’d be a lot better off, so I am sorry. I shouldn’t have killed him, okay?”
“Too late.”
“But call us even for you killing Magda. I think that’s fair. She was a loyal friend.”
Sage leveled a glare his way, but didn’t stoop to his level and answer.
“Oh hell, you understand doing whatever it takes,” he blurted. “Look at you now. Look at this.” He jutted his chin toward Yara Lakura’s corpse. None of their followers knew she was dead. They thought she was safely beside Zaimur on the Hound’s Paw’s command deck, issuing orders.
“I’m torn between wanting to cut your throat for what you’ve done or kissing you and begging you to serve me,” Zaimur said.
“I’m done serving,” Sage replied.
“Well, when Cassius gets here, I’ll pretend I don’t want you to get rid of him, then.”
“Sir!” one of the crew members made an attempt at shouting down, instead coughing. “The Tribunal fleet is in range. Two New Earth cruisers are at the head.”
“Right on cue.” Zaimur sneered. He rested his bound hands on the lip of the console above and used it to reach his feet. His legs wobbled from exhaustion.
Sage sprang up and had her gun pressed against his back in an instant.
Zaimur was either too tired to be frightened, or she’d pushed him too long to care. She knew how pain worked. When you get as thirsty and starved as he no doubt was, death starts looking like an intriguing option.
“Relax,” he said. “I have to receive our guests, don’t I?”
“Where’s Cassius?” Sage questioned.
“Incoming transmission,” the comms operator said, cuffed near central command. “It’s coming from the Ascendant.”
“Patch him through.” Zaimur held out his hands for Sage to unbind, and she reluctantly did so. He rubbed his wrists and stretched his arms. Then he combed his fingers through his grimy hair and wiped his cheeks.
Unlike with Cassius, Benjar’s face appeared on the holoscreen in front of them. His glower was hard and unyielding, and Sage immediately stepped to the side out of sight. She kept forgetting that seeing Cassius hinged on her having to face Benjar again. It wasn’t something she wanted to deal with. Merely the sight of him on the screen made her chest constrict.
For Talon, she told herself.
“It’s nice to speak with you again, Lord Vakari,” Zaimur said. Seeing the Tribune appeared to renew him with energy and his usual sense of entitlement. Remind him what he too was after. He still needed someone to kill Cassius, and so as much as Sage had the upper hand, his goals weren’t lost.
That was probably what had kept him calm all this time instead of trying something insane or sneaking out a message to a hit squad to break into the command deck and free him. He couldn’t risk death, because then he’d never see this crazy plan unfold. Greedy until the very end. No concern over future generations like what drove Talon, or any worthy member of the Tribune.
“Save the pleasantries, Ceresian,” Benjar snapped. “You sound like another man I’ve grown tired of dealing with. Where is he? I know you couldn’t have possibly come up with this scheme alone.”
Zaimur grinned. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
“You’ve gone too far, Morastus! Can’t you see I’m trying to save your people from lawlessness? From faithlessness? Your father never understood that, and neither do you!”
“Forgive us for not being more thankful, but I think we’ll have to settle for a different arrangement.”
Benjar leaned back, his lips pursed. Usually he acted carefree, but Sage recognized this expression. He only put it on when someone had truly gotten under his skin.
“So, explain to me again, then,” he said, “why I shouldn’t ravage every member of your pathetic fleet the moment we’re in range. You know I can.”
“The same reason you both abandoned conquering Ceres to rush here. Like I said last time we spoke, if you fire a single shot, I’ll start blowing mines.”
“Using the weapon you still believe we used on Kalliope?”
“Exactly.”
Benjar’s scowl deepened. “You’re a fool if you don’t believe by now that Cassius was behind everything.”
“It doesn’t really matter anymore, does it? We’re here. Unless you want to see your precious Earth wind up like Kalliope, I suggest we settle this like gentlemen.”
Considering what Sage had overheard between Zaimur and Cassius, he was bluffing. They were only prepared to destroy a single mine as a show of force if it came to that. But if Talon was correct, and Cassius was behind Kalliope, then Sage had no idea what he was capable of. Using the weapon against Benjar’s fleet seemed to be the most likely.
“In person,” Zaimur said. “My men have been instructed not to fire upon your transport as it brings you to my ship. Come alone. Those are my terms.”
Benjar chortled. “You think I would step foot onto your heretic-infested ship alone?”
“I do. You have us vastly outnumbered. If I kill you and it comes to battle, there’s no question who’d win. But I also have hundreds of Tribunal prisoners on Luna that I won’t hesitate to begin executing. Your loyal Hand Yavortha seemed to be happy to do the same with my people.”
Zaimur stopped and flicked his hair to the side in a show of pageantry. For a moment, it was as if Sage weren’t there. Like she hadn’t taken over his command deck and thrown a wrench in his plans. Maybe she hadn’t. She’d caused a few extra deaths and an uncomfortable ride, but in the end, all the people in his way would die too.
“If you haven’t dispatched for the Hound’s Paw in five minutes, people start dying,” Zaimur said. “In ten, I’ll blow apart the Euro-Continent Mine.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Benjar roared. “Is this how you animals negotiate on Ceres?”
“We play the hand we’re dealt.”
Hearing that caused Sage’s heart to sink. She never would’ve thought she’d understand the reference, but she also couldn’t believe how much she wished she could just sit down with Talon and learn one of the holocard games he’d played.
“Have you forgotten that your people attacked Eureka first?” Benjar asked. “Whatever you think happened on Kalliope, you started this war. I’m only trying to finish it.”
“So am I!” Zaimur hissed. He coughed a few times, wiped his mouth, and held Benjar’s gaze. “Whether you really believe the lie that you didn’t want this or not, I don’t care. Your Tribune preaches peace, so let’s end this war together. A victory for us both.”
“I once sat in a room with your father and attempted to do the same. I won’t do it again with Cassius Vale there. So long as he is on your side, there won’t be peace.”
“Cassius helped arrange this, sure, but if you want his life, I won’t stop you. Consider that my gesture of good faith. The clock is ticking.”
Zaimur ended the transmission. As soon as the feed cut out, he released a mouthful of air. Then he turned and looked at Sage. She’d never seen a man appear prouder of himself in all her life. It was as if he’d been waiting for that discussion since the day he was born.
“Yara would’ve tried to kill him anyway,” he said, shrugging.
“You’re as bad as he is,” Sage said. “Offering lives away like they’re worthless.”
Zaimur grimaced as she grabbed his wrists and squeezed them together. He tried to pull away, but even her artificial arm at fifty percent was more than capable of restraining a starving, pampered asteroid dweller.
“Funny thing to hear from the woman who put every corpse in this room on the floor,” Zaimur remarked.
“Not all of them.”
Sage shoved Zaimur toward the exit out of the command deck. He nearly tripped over Talon’s leg stretched out from behind the command console. He stopped after he caught his balance, looked down and swallowed hard, as if remembering his current predicament. Even if everything he wanted was within reach, the inescapable fact remained—Sage could kill him and he’d have nothing. She’d have to be even more careful now. He might not be so complacent any longer.
“Tell Cassius the Tribune is on his way,” Zaimur ordered his comms officer. There were no secrets about Cassius’ existence left in the room.
“Sir,” the officer replied, “the Ascendant hasn’t yet dispatched—”
Zaimur cut him off. “He’s coming.” He turned back to Sage, the weariness returning to his darkened features in full force. “Let’s get this over with.”
“You’ll meet them outside,” Sage ordered. She nudged him forward with her gun. “Try anything other than bringing Cassius right to me and I’ll put a bullet through your brain.”
I’m waiting for you, Cassius, she thought. No more lies.
24
Chapter Twenty-Four—Cassius
Even Cassius had to admit that he was impressed by the size of the Tribunal fleet. Through the viewport, he could see it propelling across space toward the Ceresian force gathered between Earth and Luna. The Ascendant spearheaded a formation of hundreds of fighters and frigates. Of course, that was only for show since ADIM’s attack had left it far inferior to Tribune Cordo Yashan’s identical New Earth cruiser, the Viridian, a short distance behind.
Still, even during the Earth Reclaimer War, Cassius hadn’t seen such an impressive display of force.
Thanks for bringing a crowd, Benjar.
A transmission chirped. Cassius opened the link, and before he could swipe Zaimur’s face to his front, the Morastus leader said, “He’s on his way now.”
“So am I,” Cassius responded. “The weapon is armed, and ADIM is awaiting my signal.”
“I hope you’re ready, Vale.”
“For far too long. Open the hangar.”
Cassius grinned as the transmission ended. He banked the White Hand around a cluster of debris and aimed it straight at the Hound’s Paw. Zaimur’s ship remained hovering beside the conduit station, above lightless Luna City. He couldn’t imagine what the Ceresians sitting in their rusty, slipshod fighters were thinking as they were asked to trust their leader and stay put.
Even though he was thousands of kilometers out, Cassius could see the Hound’s Paw’s private hangar coming open. Ceresian ships gave him an escort, but it was another vessel ahead of his that caught his eye. It was as shiny and white as the White Hand, but with green highlights along its wings. A Tribunal shuttle.
Cassius reached up to his right ear and switched on the comm-link. “ADIM, are you there?”
A minute went by with no response, and by then he was about to enter the Hound’s Paw.
“ADIM, if you can hear me. It’s beginning.”
Cassius left the device on, just in case, as he entered the airlock of the hangar and the Ceresian escort peeled off. The outer seal closed, and the inner one opened to reveal a sight he wasn’t expecting. He landed the White Hand beside Benjar’s transport, but all around them were scorched metal and bloody bodies. There were no Morastus or Lakura fighters left alive, and a Tribunal combat mech was positioned in front of the corridor leading up to the command deck.
Is this why Zaimur seemed rattled earlier? Cassius wondered.
It seemed that the Tribunal defenses of Earth had made one last attempt on Zaimur using a mech. An executor perhaps? Judging by the number of corpses and the rubble piled by every branching corridor, that seemed the most likely culprit. He found himself impressed that Zaimur had managed to survive such an attack.
Not that it mattered anymore. Nothing that could stop Cassius now. He stood and checked his outfit in his pale reflection in the viewport. Formal wear from his ancestral Titan. The way his father ought to have looked. He straightened his belt and bracers, tidied his hair, and made sure every part of his violet tunic fell in the right place. Satisfied, he hurried back to the ship’s exit.
Cassius strolled out leisurely, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. He didn’t even bother to leave his hand hovering over the grip of his pistol in case something went awry. As the sole of his boot touched down on the ruddy floor of the Hound’s Paw, he looked left and saw Benjar stepping out of his transport, trying to disguise a noticeable limp.
The Tribune looked as ridiculous as ever. A gaudy, olive green robe draped around his ankles, the emblem of the New Earth Tribunal embroidered on the chest. Golden eye makeup was drawn thin across his temples, white powder on his cheeks. He noticed Cassius immediately and put on the same arrogant expression Cassius had wanted to wipe off his face for years.
He couldn’t believe Benjar had come alone. He truly thought nobody could touch him. That no Ceresian vagrant would dare be b
old enough to make a move on him. Or maybe he was that desperate to keep Earth safe. A shackle indeed.
“You?” Benjar spat, though he didn’t look caught off guard. “Why am I not surprised?”
“You couldn’t have thought I’d disappear without saying goodbye,” Cassius said.
“I’m glad the both of you could make it!” Zaimur called out. He stood on the other end of the ransacked hangar, leaning against the inactive mech. “You’ll have to forgive the status of my hangar. There was an… altercation. Miss Lakura thought she could oust me, but it’s been handled. Please follow me.” He turned around into the corridor and headed back toward the command deck.
Both Cassius and Benjar looked from side to side as they walked toward the passage. Cassius took note of the subtle movement within Benjar’s shuttle. He might have walked out alone, but he wasn’t alone. A coward until the end.
From inside, the Hound’s Paw’s hangar looked even worse. The foul, yet familiar, stench of death was rampant, and Cassius could tell by the twitch of Benjar’s nose that he was focusing on ignoring it. Parts of the walls had crumbled, and all the blood was too crusted to the floor to ever be scrubbed completely. The room’s air recyclers rattled along, noisier than Cassius remembered them being.
“I knew you couldn’t be dead, Cassius,” Benjar said. “Somehow I knew that I wouldn’t get to join the Spirit before seeing your face one last time.”
“I didn’t want to disappoint you,” Cassius said. He stopped in front of a body right outside the corridor and beckoned Benjar to enter first. The Tribune lowered his head in refusal, and Cassius didn’t waste a second stepping forward. “After all, can a Hand ever be separated from the man who named him one?”
“Why, are you looking to get the job back? I find myself in need of a new one after your girl had one last meeting with Yavortha. Your work, I presume?”
So she did make it out. Cassius never doubted it, but having vocal confirmation was a great relief. She was going to hear his message.
“Getting her there, yes, but I can’t take credit for that,” he said. “She was always talented.”
The Circuit: The Complete Saga Page 71
