by Dani Hoots
“But he did after that.”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t want to since he already knew everything that there was to be said about Jack.
Joss slapped me across the face. I didn’t even resist it. I knew it was coming.
“What did we agree about him?”
“To not think about him or love him. I’m sorry sir, you brought him up and caught me off guard.”
“Don’t let it happen again,” he snarled. I wondered what his true hatred for Jack was. It couldn’t have just been because I went behind his back. It had to do with loyalty, or maybe jealousy. I wasn’t quite sure.
“Yes sir.”
It would be hard, I knew, when I saw Jack again, to have to turn my back on him. But it would be alright in the end. I would suffer so that we could truly be together again in the future.
That is, if this mission didn’t kill me first.
And I knew Jack would do the same for me. It was apparent after he worked with the Empire just to guarantee my safety, although everyone had lied to him. He should have known better but after everything that had happened, I understood why he did it.
“As for your training, keep working with Dan. He should be able to train you in every area that you are weak. Speaking of which, since you are a Sanshlian, have you started harnessing any of the powers that are given to the Illusionist?” Joss asked.
I hesitated. The only power I had was my strength, healing, and being able to hide my thoughts. And I didn’t particularly want him to know the last part.
“No. I don’t know how to harness my powers or even use them. Other than strength and healing, of course. I know that they are there but I have no one to train me,” I answered.
He stared at me for a couple of moments, then nodded. “Fine. I will figure something out. You said that the others from the future gained powers as well?”
I nodded. “Yes they did. I presume all that were in that room and all that were thrown in the past have gained powers, excluding the two of us as we were already Sanshlian, sir.”
“It is going to be interesting, then, to go against them. We will need you to master your powers for sure if we want to gain control.”
“In actuality, that was another reason I didn’t try to figure out my powers. I didn’t want my brother using me for them for any type of advantage, as he was practically using me to find Sanshli for his own motives,” I explained. “I also didn’t know if he would even let me start using my powers. He feared me more than anything. It was why he kept me close and under watchful supervision.”
“Good, always thinking things through. But now, knowing who your father is, aren’t you interested in how powerful you can become?”
I thought for a moment. It actually never occurred to me that I could be as powerful as him, as I honestly had never met the man. I wondered if I had the book, if I could learn the same illusions as him, to be able to take over the universe as he did. Not that I really wanted to, but the power did intrigue me.
Was that the only way I could take him down? Destroy Nygard once and for all? At least, that was the plan.
“I am.”
Joss’ lips curled into a smile. “Well, then, we will have to start your training as soon as we are on Anosira.”
“Why not now?”
He laughed. “Because if something goes wrong, I don’t particularly want to be stuck in the middle of space when you blast a hole through the ship.”
I didn’t think of that. If I had no idea how to harness my powers, it probably would be safest if I wasn’t in space. “Good thinking. I can wait until we are planet side.”
He turned and waved me off. “Now, back to your physical training. I need you to be the perfect servant.”
I bowed. “Of course, sir.”
CHAPTER 9
I didn’t realize how much I missed Anosira until I laid my eyes on it. It was as beautiful as ever. The buildings were different, as the New Capital had not been founded quite yet. But that didn’t change its uniqueness, its grandeur. As we glided over the tops of the mountains and forest, I took a deep breath. I finally got to see it again, I finally got to see nature again. For a year I had been stuck in that prison my brother made for me, never seeing nature like this. Now I felt almost free.
Keyword there: almost.
I knew that Joss was keeping an eye on me. I knew that I would be under surveillance constantly, at least one way or another, mainly by reading my mind. But that didn’t mean it was any worse than how my brother had treated me. At least here I could move around and be free—Joss knew that if I tried anything, I understood he would kill me on the spot. There was no escaping him, he had waited a year to kidnap me, but that was only because of where Wes had me at all times. Inside the palace. Though I’m sure if he wanted to, he could have captured me before now. He was waiting until I came on my own. Or, at least, somewhat on my own.
We finally landed and I started down the ramp with Dan, my only belongings being the clothes Joss had lent to me and my pocket-watch. After everything, Joss didn’t try to take it away from me even though he must have known I had it, especially since it was on my persons when he captured me. He could have easily taken it then, but I was thankful he didn’t.
As we walked towards the palace, Dan said that we were to meet with the Emperor in his office. Joss must have hurried before us so that he could meet up with the other generals before I was able to step out of the vehicle.
I knew exactly where his office in the palace was but I let Dan think that he was guiding me. It would be hard to explain how I would know where everything was without having to expose the truth about what was going on or who I once was. Or will be, I guess. Time travel made everything confusing, something I was still pondering after all this time.
I thought about asking Dan if he knew who I really was, but I didn’t know how to broach such a topic. I also didn’t know if Joss wanted him to have such knowledge and I didn’t need to get into more trouble than I already was in. I supposed if he knew, he would have said something already. That or Joss was testing me and wanted to know how long I could keep such a secret to myself. I wouldn’t let him have that satisfaction though, I wouldn’t let him tease me like that.
We ventured through the palace, things looked about the same as they did in the future, other than some different decorations scattered about here and there. The layout was the same and that was all that mattered. I wondered if the underground tunnels were built yet or if this was before their time. I would have to ask Joss later. Or stumble across them once again. I was pretty good at stumbling across such things.
We stepped into Joss’ office, which was the same office in the future, but decorated differently. Some coloring, oddly enough. I thought for sure many Emperors would have changed the style of the room to suit their aesthetic preference. It could have just been him, wanting the same as he had in the future, or they could have just not changed the red coloring. Either way it made me forget I was in the past for a moment.
Joss was already there waiting with three others. They had to be all three generals; Tom, Laura, and Pete. But who was who, I had no idea. They were each different, just as David and Will were. I’m sure I would be introduced to them sooner or later, and their identity didn’t matter to me. I preferred not to have to talk to Tom, though the moment he opened his mouth I could probably conclude it was him.
“Myra, please, take a seat,” Joss gestured to a seat. I sat down and Dan sat next to me. “I thought it would be best to bring you all here in order to understand that Myra has come back to the Empire and will help us destroy the Second Republic once again.”
“I thought you went and captured her. Now she is on our side?” one of the two men said. He had dark blonde hair and was cleanly shaven. Could be Pete, could be Tom. I wasn’t quite sure yet, although he didn’t use any profanity so it was probably Pete.
“I did, but she admitted to me that she saw the errors in her ways. She is back and I know that to be
a fact.” He licked his lips. “As I know that all of your loyalty is to me and me alone.”
“So you think we can trust her?” the woman said. Laura, that one I knew to be a fact. She still had that cold expression she always had. That and she was the only woman I knew from the past that could have been her. “Are you really that trusting of her?”
“I am. As you know I can read her mind. Myra has seen the error in her ways and with Wes’ destruction throughout the universe, she knows the importance of the Empire and what greatness it will soon bring.”
I glanced over at Dan. So he had to have known about our powers, if Joss could bluntly say aloud in Dan’s presence he could read minds. So, I wondered, does that mean he knows what I am?
“After everything, you finally came crawling back, eh Myra?” the blonde man said again.
Raised my eyebrow. “Got a bone to pick with me?”
He shrugged. “Just seems like you get out of the shit you did pretty easily. Can’t help but wonder how.”
“Oh, believe me, I get to pay the price of my sins. Joss has made sure of that.”
The blonde let a grin appear on his face. “Well, I would definitely like to see that in action.”
“That’s enough.” Joss stopped our bickering, just as always. “I want you five to get along. I don’t want to hear you acting like children ever again. I don’t want to deal with your fights, your bickering, your child-like behavior. For once in your life, act like you are generals. That includes you, Myra.”
“Yes sir,” I said. I saw Laura hide a grin. Usually Neil held me in his favor, he would only take his anger out on the others. Now that wasn’t the case.
“Okay. Now,” he pointed to one of the men. “General Tim Nevo. General Logan Pale. General Jane Doresmith. You three are dismissed. I need to catch Myra up on a few things. We will meet again in a few hours and go through any information Myra has for us about the Republic.”
The three of them bowed and left. I kept my eye on the two men and tried to figure out which was which. From what I could remember, Thomas and Pete both hated me equally, though Tom hated me a little more. Both of them would pick on me though, so I had no idea which could be which. I turned back to the Emperor as they left.
“Which one is Tom and which one is Pete? It is hard to tell,” I commented. I then realized Dan was still with us and tapped my mouth. “Oh, I mean—“
Joss waved me off. “It’s fine, he knows that we are from the future.”
I found this admission to be odd, as the Neil I knew would never give some random person information that they didn’t have to know. That meant there was something going on with him, more than I realized. And as to what that was, it would be a while before I found out, if ever.
“I’m surprised you didn’t notice,” Joss went on. “Neither of them were Tom, he is away on a mission. He won’t be back for a while.”
I felt my heart skip a beat. “Jack?”
“Tim is Jack and Logan is Pete. I’m surprised you didn’t notice by the way he was looking at you. I guess you were just so used to them glaring at you that you weren’t paying enough attention to them. It wouldn’t have occurred to you that one of them was Jack.”
“What can I say, I am used to scowling. I usually just turn my back on them and don’t give them any attention.”
“I bet you that do,” Joss stood up. “And he is waiting outside for you right now.”
My heart felt like it was being crushed by Joss’ fist. But I wouldn’t let that affect me. I couldn’t, not when it could cost me the end of this war. “I won’t do anything you haven’t ordered sir.”
“Just making sure,” he glanced at Dan. He had been silent, listening to our conversation. I wondered how much he knew of the feuds between me and the others. “Dan, I presume Myra is doing well as she trains with you, that she isn’t causing you any problems.”
“She is doing well, yes. We still have a lot to work on, but we will get there eventually.”
“Good to hear. Must be driving her insane that she can’t beat you. See, she hasn’t ever been defeated before,” he glanced over at me, curious to learn my reaction. I didn’t give him the honor of seeing me as weak as I was with Dan. I held my head high, as if I was taking this training as a way to become stronger. Which I was, but it still ate away at my pride that Dan could beat me so easily.
Dan replied. “Then you must have had some pretty weak people working for you, Joss. There is so much she doesn’t know.”
I shot Dan a look. He liked joking around like this, just because he was so skilled. He knew I hated it but I couldn’t do anything about it. Though I didn’t understand why my usual survival reflexes egging me to kill him had gone away and now I just wanted to learn more from him. I felt comfortable around him even though I didn’t know much about him. I learned never to trust anyone, yet here I was, putting my faith in him, that he would teach me everything I need to know.
“I presume you will further her teachings to strengthen her powers as well?”
I looked at Dan. What did he mean by that? Did he mean that Dan knew about my powers, that he knew enough to train me? Was he a Sanshlian as well? I knew that since the Emperor had been a Sanshlian that they were still out there, thousands of years later. Could Dan also be a descendent of a Sanshlian?
“Yes I will. I am looking forward to that. I want to see what her powers are.”
He didn’t know enough to know who I was, but knew that I had powers. Interesting. Maybe he didn’t have powers but was always close-by to the Emperors, as they needed to be trained using their powers as well. Joss had once said his parents included a mind reader and an illusionist. I guess someone had to teach them as well.
“I’m glad I will finally be able to control them,” I added. “Wes wouldn’t let me train with anyone, and with him watching my every move, it was kind of hard to do anything.”
“But at least you had Lance, or am I incorrect?” Joss added.
I felt my cheeks redden, but not out of embarrassment. I was mad that he kept bringing that up, wanting to hurt me more and more.
“Calm down, Myra, I was only joking. Now.” He sat back down. “Tell me about what your brother has in store for us.”
“He is planning on attacking Ttkas. He wants to destroy their military bases, and most of their capital.”
“When?” Joss asked.
I shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I know it’s bound to happen soon. He is gathering troops as we speak.”
Joss rubbed the scruff on his chin. “We haven’t even contacted them. It’s too early. They are still with the Second Republic.”
“I know that, but Wes doesn’t care. He wants to destroy them before they even commit treason. It’s sickening. I even confronted him about it but he didn’t care. It was where his wife was killed and he didn’t care that so many people would die, and it’s all because of his clouded judgement. Not even Lance or Alan can, or will, stop him.”
“Which is why you are here.”
I nodded. “Nothing that the Empire has done has been that of wrongdoing. Wes is dragging this into an even darker time than we can ever imagine. We must stop him and bring order back to the universe. Through the Empire, I pledge my loyalty, as I always have. I will not turn away. Give me a mission, I am yours to use.”
Joss’ lips turned into a smile. “I’m glad to hear that Myra, even though I know you are just trying to make me trust you. You don’t need to go above and beyond. You don’t need to kiss my ass, though I won’t complain if you do.”
“Sorry sir,” I responded automatically. I was used to apologizing, even before everything with discovering my Sanshlian roots. I wondered how many times I had told him I was sorry, that I truly meant it or if it was just a reflexive response I was used to giving.
“But as for this news of Wes attacking Ttkas, we need to act first. I want you and Dan to… persuade the representative to align with us.”
With the word ‘persuade’, I could
feel my adrenaline begin to rush. I hadn’t been on a mission for such a long time, or at least not one assigned to me. I was still on the mission to take down Nygard of course, but this was different. This was what all my years of training prepared me for, situations where I got to feel like the old me again, although I didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing. I hadn’t been the best sort of person, as Wes was quick to point out again and again. I had even killed my Father’s friend, basically my brother and my uncle-like figure growing up. I was under orders by the Emperor to take down the head of the PAE operation and our uncle stood in my way. He could have run, I gave him the chance. Instead he told me that I was breaking my father’s heart and then I shot him point blank. It was his fault, I told myself, over and over again, during nights that I couldn’t sleep. He should have run when I gave him the chance.
But that was a long time ago and I had killed hundreds of more men like him, ones that worked for the PAE, committing terrorist-like attacks, yet thinking I was the bad guy for stopping them. What they were doing was sowing chaos, it wasn’t going to bring back the Empire, it was only going to bring them death.
And now it was happening all over again. The Second Republic was causing chaos and I had to help snuff it out. Well, at least appear like I was aiding in quelling it. What I really was looking for was Sanshli.
“And by persuade, you mean…” I asked.
“Don’t kill him, but make sure he will never betray us,” Joss clarified. He knew he had to mention not to kill him, as he had learned that mistake long ago. I needed specifics otherwise my strength got the better of me.
I nodded, happy to finally be doing some kind of work. Wes had me cooped up in a box for so long, I needed to threaten someone like this, torture if necessary.
And for some reason, I was excited about it.
I had faith that it would be easy, especially if Dan was with me. I knew I wouldn’t have to worry, that he would have my back if anything went wrong.
