As the Enclave erupted in a chorus of voices, he leaned over to Adamans. "When the dust settles, come and visit me. I have a few things for you." Chuckling quietly, the former custos slowly, painfully made his way from his seat for the last time.
* * *
He lay in his bed with a tube connected to his bionic arm. It was how he had eaten for the past two decades. A mix of specially prepared nutrients, vitamins and medication dripped into him. In response to the cocktail of drugs he had taken in order to appear at the Enclave in person, his body was shutting down.
His bed was angled so that he was sitting upright. He held a book on his lap, caressing it with his human hand. It had been many decades since the massive tome had been opened. In celebration of their freedom, and his release, he had opened it and read it for himself. The words flooded back to him, sparking memories he had assumed were long since gone. They comforted him.
Adamans entered his bedchamber and waited to be acknowledged. The former custos beckoned him closer.
"With all due respect, sir, I am not sure I am ready to fill your shoes."
"Bah." He cut the air with his hand. "You are more than ready. My time is over. Our people will need new leadership now. The Inner Sphere has changed again. It is time for us to have a new perspective on things. Besides, I'm an old man."
"Sir," he began, but was cut off.
"I'm dying, Adamans; my dance with the devil is almost over. Now that our people are free from their bond, a universe of opportunities awaits. Who better to lead them than you? I haven't been off New Earth in generations, not since the Great Betrayal and the Jihad." He sank for a moment into his memories of lost comrades. It was strange that his thoughts went to men from the Before Times. At the time, sworn foes rather than friends. Ironic that in the end I am like you, right down to the eye.
"I'm not worthy." Adamans' voice brought him back from his memories.
"You know, you used to have a sense of humor. You should rediscover it. The Enclave will follow you now that we are truly free."
"Follow me—where?"
The ancient man chuckled. "Wherever you lead them. The Fidelis will need to help the rest of the universe come to grips with who we really are. The present generation knows little of our origins, and most will not resent us for our past. Others, especially the Clans, will doubt us, or try to destroy us."
"What do you recommend, sir?"
"Terra," he replied. He reached for the glass on the bedside table and took a sip of water. "Take our people to Terra. It was our destiny before it was ripped from our claws. Go there yourself and feel the grass in your toes, the wind in your hair. Walk in without fanfare and claim your birthright . . . the birthright of our people."
"I will not fail you," Adamans pledged.
"Don't let our people forget who they really are, Adamans. The Fidelis must teach the rest of the Inner Sphere about our past. Instruct them in how our people have served. Allow them to see that their past also has returned." Using his human hand, he grasped the massive book, half-lifting, half-sliding it to his successor.
"This is—"
"The Unopened Work," the former custos confirmed. "Only one copy survived the Road of Pain and the Great Betrayal. It is our history, and tells the origin of those events. Now that we are free, each Fidelis should read it for himself and learn its stories. I have preserved the book all these years, but I also have added verses as our people changed and grew. It is your duty to share it; it is up to our people to write the next chapter."
Adamans hefted the book. Every Fidelis knew of its existence, but it was rarely seen. The book had the mystique of a sacred text: The Unopened Work was a critical element of many of the Fidelis' ceremonies, but only the custos touched it or opened it. This book had survived through the darkest of times of his people. Now he was charged with using it to bring them into the light.
The old man coughed hard, painfully. The sound jerked him away from his thoughts. "Custos?" Adamans asked, leaning forward.
"I am not the custos, boy, you are," he said, wiping phlegm from the corner of his mouth. "Now. I am just a dying man. Call me once by my name—not the title."
"Sir?"
"Call me Paul," he said with a smile, and closed his eyes.
He relaxed completely, and a long sigh escaped his lungs. Adamans set down the book and gently lifted the old man's wrist to check for a pulse.
The past had died. What remained was the future.
He looked at the book once more. The symbol on the cover was a powerful leaping predator—a smoke jaguar—and the image made his heart swell with pride. "I will not fail you, Paul. I will let the rest of the Inner Sphere know that the wayward children whom they damned have returned to their doorstep as their saviors."
About the Author
Blaine Lee Pardoe was born in Virginia and raised outside Battle Creek, Michigan. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Central Michigan University. He works for Ernst & Young LLP as an associate director in technology. He lives in Virginia and swears it is the best and most beautiful place to live in the known universe.
Pardoe has written more than forty books, including a number of computer game guides, science fiction sourcebooks for BattleTech and other series, the best- selling business book Cubicle Warfare and the highly acclaimed Great War military history book The Cruise of the Sea Eagle. He is a member of the Von Luckner Society, the National Maritime Historical Society and the Organization of American Historians. He wrote material for FASA for more than fourteen years. He has written several novels for the BattleTech™ and Mech Warrior™ series, including Highlander Gambit, Impetus of War,
Exodus Road, Roar of Honor, By Blood Betrayed, Measure of a Hero, Call of Duty, Operation Audacity, and Target of Opportunity.
Blaine has appeared as a speaker at the U.S. National Archives, the U.S. Navy Museum and the New York Military Affairs Symposium, and on numerous national television and radio shows.
Blaine is a Civil War buff, and when he can, he hunts for relics from the war in the old camp and skirmish sites near his house. He also plays the great Highland bagpipes. Those fans who want to contact him may do so at [email protected].
Contents
BOOK 1 Price of Service 8
Interpretation of Duty 9
Altar of Freedom 5
Overture 1 Interpretation of Duty 3
Price of Service 9
Altar of Freedom 1
Price of Service 7
Interpretation of Duty 6
Altar of Freedom 3
Price of Service 1
Interpretation of Duty 8
Overture 2 Altar of Freedom 4
Interpretation of Duty 1
Price of Service 4
Interpretation of Duty 13
Price of Service 3
Interpretation of Duty 4
Overture 3
BOOK 2 Price of Service 2
Interpretation of Duty 2
Altar of Freedom 2
Interpretation of Duty 11
Price of Service 5
Interpretation of Duty 7
Interpretation of Duty 10
Altar of Freedom 5
Interpretation of Duty 5
Altar of Freedom 7
Interpretation of Duty 12
Price of Service 6
Finis 1
Finis 2
About the Author
Surrender Your Dreams Page 28
