Twin moons hung majestically in the evening sky over the Locura Ocean. The orbs lit the coastline, softly illuminating the Tahika Cliffs and creating what appeared to be an air of tranquillity.
A gentle breeze brushed the face of the tall, dark-haired young man who leaned against the balcony rail on the clifftop. Dair Haslip knew that breeze only added to the illusion of calm. For closer to the water, treacherous winds and unforgiving surf pummelled the cliffs.
Dair loved this place on his homeworld more than any other. Here he’d found solace in times of despair. He’d found inspiration. And now that he was preparing to leave Garos IV for the first time, he wanted every detail — the surf, the winds, the cliffs, the moons — etched into his memory. It might be a long time before he came home.
He’d grown up along these cliffs — he looked south toward the point — the lights of his grandmother’s home were barely visible. He thought of Jos, his best friend, and the times they’d hiked the hillsides using those lights as a beacon to guide them home. On nights just like this one, they’d planned their futures together at the Raithal Academy — Dair shook his head glumly. Jos wouldn’t be leaving with him now. The Empire did not look favorably upon someone whose father was wanted for treasonous crimes. Why did things have to turn out like this, he wondered?
Searching for an answer among the stars, Dair gazed skyward. There was no answer for Jos. But what Dair did see there filled his heart with pride.
Silhouetted against one moon, the Imperial Lambda-class shuttle descended through wispy clouds. It glided effortlessly toward the spaceport south of Ariana. That shuttle, and the Empire it represented, meant more to him now that he’d been accepted into the Academy. And with the Empire’s interest in Garos IV growing more in evidence each day, there were promises of increased prosperity and jobs for Garosians, opportunities for young men like himself.
“Have you ever seen a more magnificent sight?” someone said from behind him.
Dair turned around. He straightened his lean frame, pulling back his shoulders. The deep, rich baritone voice didn’t seem to fit the short-statured gentleman who joined him on the patio. “No, sir,” he answered. “How are you this evening, Minister Paca?”
“Good. Very good,” Paca replied, taking a deep breath of the sea air. “You are Dair Haslip, am I right?”
Dair threw him a smile, amazed that the Assistant Minister of Commerce remembered him from their first meeting over a year earlier. “Yes, sir. I escorted my grandmother to the reception this evening.”
Paca nodded. “Keriin Haslip. Yes, I’m quite familiar with your family, Dair,” he said as he moved toward the balcony railing. “I admired your father’s work. Such a tragedy.”
Dair looked away. He remembered how a Sundar bomb had taken both his parents during the ongoing civil war between native Garosians and colonists from Sundari. Even after six years, the pain wouldn’t go away. “Do you think the Empire will be able to stop the violence, Minister Paca?” he asked.
“Minister Winger is working closely with Imperial officials toward that goal.” Paca stared toward the horizon and sighed. “Of course,” he said quietly, “there is a price to pay when the Empire helps a world.”
“Well, sure,” Dair said naively. “Higher taxes, a larger military presence. But then we’ll have peace on Garos.”
Paca looked over the railing at the sea pounding the cliffs far below them. “Peace,” he repeated.
There was a sadness in Paca’s voice that caused Dair to turn and stare. But whatever he thought he’d heard quickly disappeared behind Paca’s broad grin. “So, Mr. Haslip, what are your plans now that your grandmother has sold the mines?”
“I’m enrolled at the university now, sir. But I’ve been accepted to the Imperial Academy for the next term,” Dair proudly replied.
“So you’ll be leaving Garos for the larger universe up there,” the older man said, pointing toward the stars. “Army or navy?”
“Army, sir. I like my feet on the ground.”
Paca laughed. “I understand.”
“All right, Magir Paca, I caught you! Are you corrupting my grandson?” Moonlight reflected off Keriin Haslip’s long silvery hair. Her lined face hinted that she was no stranger to hard times. But there was a spark in her dark eyes, like a fire burning brightly, that even the bad times had not extinguished.
“Of course not, Madame Haslip. You know me better than that,” he teased her, kissing the hand she extended toward him. “We’ve been discussing Dair’s future. I’ve just heard his good news. Garos will be proud to have one of its finest young men attend the Academy.”
Dair stood straighter, noticing the flash of pride that swept across his grandmother’s face. But her smile seemed almost forced. Though he had noticed she’d grown quieter on the subject of his leaving Garos as that time grew close. He was her only family after all — that would explain her lack of enthusiasm.
Keriin looped her arm through Dair’s. “Tell me, Paca,” she said, clearing her throat, “is there any truth to the rumors I’ve heard about Minister Winger?”
“I believe we are looking at our first Imperial governor,” Paca said.
“Uncle Tork? I mean, Minister Winger?” Dair marvelled. “That’s great, isn’t it. Gram?”
“Uncle?” Paca questioned.
“The Wingers have always been like family,” Keriin explained to an amused-looking Paca. “And yes, Dair, Tork Winger would be a good choice given his knowledge of the current peace negotiations with the Sundars,” she added.
Paca nodded his agreement. “Yes, hopefully the Empire will not force a peace,” he said, shifting uncomfortably when he caught the puzzled expression on Dair’s face.
“Force a peace?” Dair frowned, looking from his grandmother to Paca as footsteps echoed across the old stone patio. He saw the tension drain from Paca’s face.
“Minister Paca? I’m sorry to interrupt.”
“What is it, Linsa?”
“Senior Lieutenant Brandei’s shuttle has just landed. Minister Winger has been called away to meet with him.”
“This late in the evening?” How strange. “Excuse me, Madame Haslip. Dair. I must speak with Minister Winger before he leaves.”
“Of course, sir,” Dair said. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, my friend,” Keriin called to him. “Well, Dair, I guess we’ll have to make other arrangements to get home this evening.”
Dair sighed. He’d been looking forward to the Winger’s visit all week. “Uncle Tork was going to tell me more about his days at the Academy,” he told his grandmother.
“Well, perhaps another night,” she smiled. “So, tell me, young man, did you come outside to escape from us old folks?”
Dair took a deep breath. “I guess I was thinking about Jos, Gram. He should have been here tonight.”
“He could have come with us, Dair.”
“I told him that. But he said everyone would be talking about his father. And he was right. Gram! That’s half the conversation I’ve heard! ‘Did they capture old Desto Mayda yet? They’re gonna terminate Mayda for sure!’”
“I know Jos must be hurting,” Keriin said. “Did you tell him that your acceptance had come through?”
“Yes. He was expecting it, but he really doesn’t want to talk about it. But he did say he wants me to go.”
“And you don’t believe he’s being sincere?”
“It’s not that. It’s just, I know how I’d feel if the situation were reversed. He’s my best friend. Gram.” A smile crossed Dair’s face. One memory was so clear, like it had jus
t happened yesterday. “Did I ever tell you what Jos and I did that summer after my tenth birthday?” Keriin shook her head.
“You know that stretch of cliffs just south of Mount Usca — we used to go climbing there all the time,” Dair told her, noticing that even in the moonlight her face seemed to pale.
“I fell once,” he continued. “I wasn’t hurt bad, Gram. But I was so scared. I couldn’t move.”
“What happened?”
Dair chuckled. “Jos came down after me. I was gripping the rock face for dear life! Jos is next to me, dangling over the ocean from this rope. And he’s carrying on a normal conversation like we were standing on flat ground. I bet he talked for 10 minutes, just dangling there! He had me laughing and before I knew it, we were scaling the cliff!” Dair sighed. “He was always there for me, Gram. And well, now I feel like I’m deserting him.”
“Oh, Dair —”
“Keriin?”
Dair turned impatiently, disappointed that they’d been interrupted. But Sali Winger’s arrival made him temporarily forget his depression over Jos. Aunt Sali had been his mother’s closest friend. And she’d grown even closer to his grandmother in the years since West and Nieka Haslip’s deaths.
Dair could see why Tork Winger called himself the luckiest man on the planet. A wife like Sali was the dream of every politician Attractive, charming, and intelligent, she could turn a boring diplomatic affair into a tremendous success.
“Sali dear, is everything all right?” Keriin asked.
“Yes, everything’s fine,” Sali replied, smiling sweetly at Dair and giving his arm a gentle squeeze. “But as you’ve heard, Lieutenant Brandei has asked Tork and I to join him at the medical center.”
“At the medical center? How odd!” Keriin observed.
“Yes, I thought so, too. But he said he wants us to meet someone. If you don’t mind coming with us, we can still stop by your house just as we’d planned, only after this meeting.”
“Well, of course, dear. That will be just fine,” she smiled. “Maybe we’ll even invite the Lieutenant along!”
“What an excellent idea. Keriin,” she said. “Dair, are you sure you don’t mind leaving the reception?”
“No. not at all, Aunt Sali,” Dair replied enthusiastically, excited by the prospect of meeting a naval officer from a Star Destroyer. He offered each woman an arm.
“Such a gentleman!” Sali said as they walked toward the door. “By the way, Dair, why haven’t you and Jos been by the mansion lately? I hope Jos isn’t embarrassed about the awful things I’ve been hearing about his father …”
“Brandei, what in the worlds is this about?” Tork Winger asked, greeting his old friend. “What are we doing here?”
Brandei smiled mysteriously. “Come with me,” he said.
Dair walked behind the group down the corridor of Ariana’s medical center. Keeping a watchful eye on the Imperial lieutenant, Dair was impressed by his swift, deliberate gait and the way he held himself. Everything about the man exuded confidence. Dair wondered if graduation from Raithal Academy would endow him with such confidence.
“I understand you’re here on your own,” Winger was saying.
“I completed a special assignment in the Reega system, and was given permission to come ahead on ‘unofficial’ business, old friend,” Brandei replied. “The Judicator will be arriving within a few days. The captain sends his regards, and asked me to tell you he will meet with you then.”
“All right. But why are we here now?”
Brandei stopped in front of a glass wall which separated them from a patient’s room. Dair saw a young lieutenant, not much older than himself, sitting by the bedside of a child. The child’s head was bandaged and her face was bruised.
“Oh dear, that poor child!” Sali Winger gasped, reaching out toward Keriin for support.
“What happened?” Keriin asked.
“We found her, barely alive, in the rubble of a house after a raid. Damn Rebels.” Brandei said, his voice filled with disgust. “The medics assure us she will recover. But the child has no family. Sali. They were killed in the raid.”
Sali turned to her husband. Dair saw her eyes fill with tears. Then she looked at Brandei, hoping she read correctly the meaning behind his words. “You’re going to leave her with us?” she asked.
Brandei took Sali’s hand. He knew she’d been unable to have a child of her own. “I told the captain about you. He thought it was an excellent idea.” He smiled gently. “Poetic justice, so to speak — a Rebel child raised by an official of the Empire.”
A Rebel child? Dair’s mind raced a thousand kilometers a second. He wondered what kind of men could do this to their own people — their own children.
“Do you know her name?” Sali asked as Dair caught Uncle Tork studying her reflection in the glass. There was no trace of the high-powered politician in his eyes, only a man deeply in love with his wife.
Brandei shook his head. “She’s drifted in and out of consciousness, hasn’t said a word.”
“Who’s the young man with her?” Winger asked.
“That’s Lieutenant Chanceller. He’s the one who dug her from the rubble. He seems to have appointed himself guardian.”
“May I go in?”
“Of course, Sali.”
“Keriin, come with me — please?” she implored.
Keriin nodded, motioning for Dair to follow. He wondered why she seemed so insistent that he go into the sick bay. She knew how much he disliked these places — too many memories of the time his parents died.
As the door slid shut behind them, Dair shuddered. Medical equipment hummed quietly, blinking sickening yellow and blue lights. The room was cold and uninviting. But only Dair seemed to notice.
“Lieutenant Chanceller, I was told you saved this child,” Sali said as the young man slowly stood up and turned to face them.
Piercing blue eyes met Sali’s eyes. “Yes, ma’am. I — I just couldn’t leave her there to die.”
“Thank you for watching over her,” she told him.
“There’s something special about this little girl, ma’am.”
“Special?”
“It’s like she was reaching out, drawing strength from everything around her, just trying to stay alive.” He shook his head sadly. “Such a shame what happened to her home.”
“A Rebel raid?”
“Oh, no, ma’am. We were looking for a Rebel stronghold right near this little one’s home. Our forces destroyed half the city.” He took the child’s hand into his. “I never want to see anything like that again,” he said quietly.
“Our forces?” Sali asked.
Chanceller’s eyes were riveted on Sali. “Yes, ma’am. We did this,” he said as a bitterness crept into his voice. “There were no Rebels there.”
Sali stood speechless, her eyes widened in shock. Dair frowned, skeptical of what he’d heard. Surely there was some mistake. The lieutenant was exaggerating. “That can’t be right,” he said.
“I was there, kid. I know what I saw,” Chanceller replied.
From the corner of his eye, Dair caught his grandmother’s expression. Her gaze was transfixed on the child. And the silent nod of her head was more powerful a statement than any words. She believed him! I don’t understand this!
Chanceller surprised Sali when he reached for her hand. “You take good care of her, ma’am,” he said. Gently he placed the child’s hand into hers.
“Yes, I will, Lieutenant,” she told him. “Thank you for giving her a chance to live.”
“A chance,” he nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Good-bye, ma’am.”
Wind rustled tree branches in the densely forested hillsides north of the mines. The baraka trees had taken on a purplish hue — the weather would turn cooler soon. And though it was still three hours until sunset, thick shadows had begun to crawl upon the landscape. The mountains were alive with animal life, but it was the sound of Human predators that worried Dair.
“Shhh! Would
you be quiet! We could get in a lot of trouble,” Dair whispered to his friend. He couldn’t believe he’d let Jos talk him into this.
“For what? We aren’t doing anything wrong,” Jos Mayda replied in a tone that was uncharacteristically defiant.
“I don’t know if those Imperial scout troopers would agree with you,” Dair told him as he peered through his macrobinoculars.
Jos shrugged, pushing long golden locks out of his eyes. “You worry too much, Dair. We’ve been hiking out here in these hills for years. Your grandma owns all this land anyway!”
“She used to,” Dair reminded him, scanning the hillsides nervously.
Rolling his eyes, Jos scowled at that one minor detail. He leaned back against a tree, placed his hands behind his head, and sighed. “Remember the time we got lost in the caves, Dair?”
Dair grimaced. “Yeah, I thought your dad was gonna blast us both when he found — ” he paused, remembering the forbidden topic. “I’m sorry. Jos. I didn’t mean — ”
Jos shook his head. “It’s okay. Gotta face facts, you know. We aren’t kids anymore. My father’s an outlaw, a traitor. I’ll never see him again!”
There was more than just anger behind Jos’ voice. “I know he cares about you, Jos.”
“If he cares so much, then why couldn’t he tell me, just explain to me, why he felt he had to work with the underground!” Jos exclaimed. He buried his face in his hands and suddenly burst into tears.
Dair sat silently sharing Jos’ loss as if it were his own. He placed his hand on Jos’ shoulder. He knew there were no words that would comfort his friend.
“You know, all I ever wanted was to go to the Academy,” Jos finally said. “Remember our plans. Dair? We were gonna see the galaxy together! They’ll never let me go to the Academy now!”
“Maybe there’s still a chance, Jos. My gram could talk to Minister Winger — ”
“Oh, forget it, Dair! I’ll be stuck on Garos forever!”
Frowning at his friend, Dair watched him wipe the tears from his eyes. Jos had changed so much these last few weeks. He’d always been able to make the best of any situation.
Star Wars - The Adventures of Alex Winger 1 - Turning Point Page 1
