Before entering hibernation for the long journey to the Nostradamus System, Tanner went to Greco’s quarters. He knocked on the door.
“Come in,” the apeman said.
Tanner did, finding Greco lying on his bed. “Mind if I sit down?”
“Help yourself, brother,” Greco said listlessly.
Tanner took a seat. He scratched his cheek. “So what do you think?”
Greco kept staring up at the ceiling. “About what?” the apeman asked.
“We tried Consul Maximus’ great plan. We went to an impossible world and picked up a nullifier. While there, we took care of some problems. I’m not sure yet how the nullifier is going to help us free Remus and Avernus.”
Greco turned to him. “This has nothing to do with my people. They’re already free. I doubt the Coalition has been able to do much with them.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Last time we checked, that was the case. Why would it be any different now?”
Tanner nodded slowly. “Maybe you’re right.”
Greco put his hands over his chest and twiddled his thumbs as he went back to staring at the ceiling.
Tanner looked around. The room was still a sty. He got up and went to the desk. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Greco didn’t respond to that. So, the centurion began opening drawers.
“Do you mind?” Greco said. “That’s an invasion of privacy.”
Tanner ignored the apeman, opening the bottom drawer and extracting a bottle of brandy.
Greco finally sat up. “Put that back. It’s my special—”
Tanner broke the seal, opening it.
Greco’s eyes nearly bulged.
“This is to your victory,” Tanner said. He poured into a glass, handing it to the apeman.”
“I should hit you for doing that,” Greco said. “I could whip you in a fight if I wanted to. I’m far stronger than you are.”
Tanner continued to hold out the glass. Finally, Greco took it, cradling it sullenly.
“Why the long face, my friend?”
“You had no right to open my brandy,” Greco said.
“We’re celebrating. Don’t you want to celebrate?”
“Why? I failed. I tried to split the planet—”
Tanner put his head back and laughed.
Greco scowled as his fingers tightened around the glass. “It isn’t right to mock me, especially in my own room.”
“Are you kidding me? I’m not mocking you. You did a great thing.”
“Do you mean by destroying the cyborgs?”
“No,” Tanner said. “I don’t mean that at all.”
The scowl became a frown. “I don’t understand.”
“You’re trying to make a koholmany, right? You want to split a planet in two.”
“I’ve said that many times,” Greco said.
“Well, you came very close the other day,” Tanner said.
“Which is not the same as success,” the apeman pointed out.
“I’m surprised at you. Surely, you know the ways of great inventors.”
“What ways?”
“An attempt that doesn’t work isn’t a failure. It simply means that that method doesn’t work. So, you’re one step closer to finding the step that does work. Doesn’t that make sense?”
Greco stared at the centurion. Suddenly, he exposed his teeth. It could have been a grimace, but Tanner knew it was a toothy apeman smile.
“Say, that’s right,” Greco said. “I’ve thought for a long time that the system we used would work. Clearly, it didn’t. But that doesn’t mean—well, as you said, I’ve crossed out a false way. That means I’m closer to the truth, I’m closer to making my koholmany.”
“Exactly,” Tanner said.
“Yes,” Greco said. “That is worthy of a drink.”
“A toast then,” Tanner said, as he clinked the bottle of brandy against the apeman’s glass. “To finding the vibration that will split a planet in half.”
“Indeed, indeed,” Greco said. He slugged back his brandy, holding out his glass for more.
After first taking a moderate sip, Tanner poured his friend more. It was good to see the apeman upbeat again.
“Let’s get victory drunk,” Greco said.
“I’ll drink to that,” Tanner said.
***
The next day, as Tanner massaged his aching head, he sat down in the galley with Lord Acton. The Shand ate a sparse salad, chewing each bite thoroughly.
“We should enter hibernation soon,” Acton said.
Tanner didn’t respond right away. He opened a bottle of water, guzzling it. He was still dehydrated from getting drunk with Greco.
“I have decided to give you the newer nullifier,” Acton said. “By rights, I should give you my old one and keep the new one. Yet, I suspect you would be upset if I took the better one.”
“You never miss a beat, do you, Acton?” Tanner muttered.
“Hmm, yes,” Acton said, taking another forkful of salad. He chewed for a time. “We have accomplished a marvel. What is more, what you did underground was magnificent.”
Tanner eyed the Shand.
“Is something wrong?” Acton asked.
“No, no, it’s simply that I’m not used to receiving compliments from you. I’m sure it doesn’t mean you’re trying to butter me up for something else. I would never suspect such a thing from you, Lord.”
“Sarcasm is not your strong suit,” Acton said.
Tanner considered his next words while studying his water bottle. Finally, he looked at Acton. “Thanks for the Innoo Flaam. Thanks for the incredible stealth ship. But most of all, thanks for aiding humanity. We really did need your help. You know what, Acton, you take the good nullifier and I’ll take the poor one. I don’t really know what good a nullifier will do me anyway.”
“You continue to surprise me,” Acton said. “You must realize I want you to have the better nullifier. Thus, you throw my compliment in my teeth. Well done, Centurion.”
“Lord Acton,” Tanner said. “For once, you have miscalculated my intent. I really am thankful for all you’ve done. I can be a pain at times. I know that. But you stuck with us. I’m being fully honest. But I’ll take the better nullifier. And you know what?”
Acton shook his head.
“I’m hoping you’ll stay with us for a while.”
The Shand set down his fork. “I will hire you, Captain, if you’re willing.”
“Hire?”
“A Shand must work according to the codes of our species.”
“What do you have in mind?”
Acton hesitated, finally saying, “Surely you recall what Ursa told you. A Shand has many plans, often fifty years in the making. The patrician is essentially correct concerning that. I will have to consider my priorities as I take into account your particular skill sets. I’m sure I have an idea or two that could use a fellow like you with a ship like this.”
“You know I plan on freeing Remus, right?” Tanner said.
Acton stared at him. “What I have in mind will help with your objective.”
Tanner thought about that. “Count me in then, Lord, for a reasonable fee. I also want to get Nelly Jordan from Calisto Grandee. First, though, let’s all take a well-deserved rest in hibernation.”
“Agreed. I will head there shortly.”
“Me, too,” Tanner said. “First, I need to talk to Lady Varus.”
***
Tanner raised his hand to knock on Ursa’s hatch. He figured pressing the buzzer would be too—
The hatch opened before Tanner knocked. Marcus was there. The tribune stepped out and stopped abruptly upon seeing Tanner. The bigger man eyed him. Some of the former friendliness had departed.
Tanner didn’t know why.
“My sister is the heiress of House Varus,” Marcus said in a stern voice. “It is good for you to remember that.”
Tanner nodded.
“She—”
�
�Marcus,” Ursa said from her room.
Marcus glanced back into the room. “Remember your high station, sister. We must go home one day. We must free our world. It may be that we will be the highest nobility left. Shouldn’t we—”
“Thank you, Marcus,” she said. “I appreciate your concern. I really do.”
Marcus wouldn’t look at Tanner now. Finally, he brushed past the centurion to march down the corridor.
Tanner watched him go. He thought Marcus and he were friends. Why had the man suddenly decided to act like this?
Ursa stepped up, giving him a troubled smile. She wore a sweater he’d never seen before, set in such a way that one of her shoulders was bare. He noticed her hair next. She must have taken some time to do it up like that. She also wore lip-gloss and a touch of makeup.
Tanner had a good idea now why Marcus had become angry. “You’re beautiful,” he said.
Ursa looked down, smiling.
He stepped closer, taking her hands. “Ursa Varus,” he said.
She looked up. “I have a bottle of wine. I thought we might celebrate our victory.”
Tanner grinned. She looked so beautiful, and she had clearly made herself up for him. A few sips of wine, some soft talk—
Impulsively, Tanner leaned in, kissing her. She kissed him back. He let go of her hands, holding her face as he continued to kiss her.
Suddenly, she pulled free, staring at him with wide eyes. She looked more beautiful than ever. “I’m sorry. I-I can’t do this. I want to. I thought I could. I know you don’t understand. But Marcus is right about this. I have to think about our world’s future.”
Tanner knew what Marcus must have just told her. Ursa was a patrician of the highest blood and the highest house. He was just a lowly plebian. While he might have done much to save humanity, the centurion still needed to know his place in the order of Remus society. Someday, they would all go home again, and Ursa could well be Remus’s new leader.
“I…” Ursa said, frowning in obvious self-torment.
“Lady,” Tanner said.
She looked up at him.
He touched her cheek. She leaned into his hand a moment before drawing back.
“You’re beautiful, Ursa. But you’re also a patrician of House Varus. Your brother’s right, as you say. You must remember your high station.”
“Tanner,” she said, staring at him as if across a great gulf.
Tanner recalled the promise he’d made to himself about her. He never wanted to see her hurt. Marcus did not yet approve of him for his sister. The tribune recalled Remus values. Maybe Marcus had just helped his sister remember those values as well.
Inwardly, Tanner shrugged. So be it. He liked a challenge. Winning Ursa was worth convincing Marcus the he, Tanner, was more than just a plebian. Maybe…maybe if the centurion freed Remus, Tanner of Vesuvius would be the one to rule the planet with Ursa beside him.
“We’re going to enter hibernation soon,” Tanner said.
Ursa nodded wordlessly.
“We’re heading for the Nostradamus System.”
“Oh.”
“After I get my computer specialist, I plan to continue my mission to free Remus. Lord Acton might be helping us.”
“Us?” Ursa said.
“If you’re going to be staying…” Tanner said.
Ursa stared into his eyes. “Do you want me to stay?”
“Yes.”
“I will,” she whispered.
“Good. You should get ready then.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Unless you plan to wear that outfit to the hibernation chamber,” he said.
She blushed, smiled shyly and closed the hatch.
Tanner stared at the hatch. Then, he turned, doing so just in time to see Marcus dart behind a corner far down the corridor. Her brother had been watching.
Tanner smiled as he headed down the corridor in the opposite direction. The road to Remus’s freedom might still be long and winding. He was going to need all the allies he could get.
Now, it was time to prepare. They had acquired a great tool in the nullifier. He also had this super stealth vessel and an Innoo Flaam gun. He would drive the Coalition off Remus just as he had vowed.
Tanner smiled wider. It was time to rest. The good guys had won a round. That was rare in this galaxy. He should enjoy it while he could.
The End
To the Reader: Thanks! I hope you’ve enjoyed Star Raider. If you liked the book and would like to see more of Centurion Tanner and Lord Acton, please support it by putting up some stars and a review. Let new readers know what’s in store for them.
—Vaughn Heppner
Star Raider Page 40
