by F Stephan
He began to push the device back toward the shaman, but curiosity overtook him, and he activated it. Graphs appeared for him, linking together a series of events. He took time to study each event, one after the other, before he spoke again. “I understand her. Red nanites again. We hadn’t seen any for twenty years, and then ten occurrences in the whole Federation in the last year. So, what does she want?”
“Your ship Letshavealook has finally been entirely refitted.” Meaning she has authorized its accelerated repair. “It is waiting in the sunward section and is expected to leave this week for a test run.” Classic schema. “You could take it out to Lelet. The council won’t send an official xenoteam until at least six months. If you leave now, you can fly there, have a discreet look at the system. You may find proof that will disappear before the experts arrive.”
“You’ve great faith in me. Why me? Under the Federation’s law, I can do whatever I want with my ship, and I didn’t ask for it to be repaired."
“You’re still angry, aren’t you? The repairs are on her, as a gesture of peace. I’ve got something else to show you.” The man pushed a second console toward him. Heikert was tired of this game, and he didn’t want to play it. But the man activated the console, projecting the data in front of him. Heikert blinked several times before speaking again.
“This is the attack on Nellym. Why . . .” Rage was boiling in him again.
“No, this is the attack on theoldcow. Exact same pattern.”
“After thirty years and across two hundred light years, the pirates replayed the same run exactly? What trick is this?” Heikert withdrew into the alcove. “If I go, I will need a crew for communications and engineering. Any ideas?”
“Yes. Young rat Bolgaren is a promising communication officer who needs a bit of field experience. This would be a perfect mission for him. On the other hand, Mistress Moonlight would enjoy not being visible for a while, until current affairs settle a bit more.”
“You want to send me to a rebel planet with a greeny and a rogue from Madoul? Is that right?” Heikert began to laugh, anger falling away at the sheer absurdity of the situation. His wife killed in an ambush so many years ago, his rebellion since then, and this new request today—back in the saddle.
“He’s a very promising young officer, I’d say. And an officer with an unfortunate business with a captain. Life is never straightforward." The man shrugged as if this were the most common situation in the world.
“So, I vet out your newbie and I get your girl out of trouble. What’s in it for me?” Master Heikert was getting angry again.
“Our Mistress offered to protect the young girl from Earth?”
Now, the carrot, thought Heikert. “This isn’t an offer. She’ll protect the girl whatever I do. Too much potential in her. No. If I go, I want her to protect the boy.”
The quiet voice got edgy. “Your protégé has made enemies who won’t forgive him, and he’ll need all the support he can get. But I’m not sure she will agree to lend a hand."
“Why do you think he’s my protégé?” The teacher was defiant.
“Because he’s the first in a generation since Nellym who has jumped outside the normal lanes. That would have gotten your attention!"
“And yours.” Heikert sneered. “He may have had simple luck.”
“You know it’s more than that. All of the information points to it. He was able to communicate through nanites across space, he has withstood attacks by nanites that would have destroyed most pilots in the Federation, and he jumped across lanes. You answered our call to buy support for him.” He added with a ring of finality, “But, I can’t promise what she’ll agree to do. Or not. She takes my advice rarely as it is."
Heikert sighed in acknowledgment. When the boy had shown his talent for astrogation, Heikert had wondered if he could have the same skills as Nellym. After his tour in theoldcow, he knew the boy had them and that meant trouble for him. Just like it had doomed Nellym. The spymistress of the Federation was the only one who could truly protect him on Alkath, and her price was high, as it had always been, but she would accept his conditions, they both knew. He didn’t want to fly back into the unknown, relive those awful moments alone in space repeatedly. I’ll have a crew, it’ll be easier. That’s why she suggested them. She knows I don’t need them to fly. But I need company.
He took a long sip from his glass. “Very well, I accept.”
The man toasted silently and handed him a small slip of paper with an address. “Be at the ship tomorrow at noon, station time. Your team will wait for your review.”
“If this is a trap, I’ll withdraw faster than you can blink an eye." He was still cautious, but a sudden sadness filled the other’s eyes.
“You learned your lessons well. Well, we all did.” He paused, lost in his glass. “If it’s a trap, get out of it as fast as you can. We don’t expect more than that.” The man bowed to him, pocketed the two secure consoles, and left the booth, leaving only the piece of paper. “Don’t miss the show. The cargo will reach the sun in an hour.”
In a minute, he was out of the bar. Heikert had tried to follow him on an earlier occasion and knew how useless it was. He sat quietly sipping his drink and pondering the data he had seen. When Nellym had died, he had promised himself he wouldn’t accept another mission. That was then, and this is now. Life changes, you said. He swore silently, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Brian
Volpre, 2140 AD, July
Later that night, they gathered to watch the giant 3-D in the main hydroponic. The cargo holding the statue of the Shadow reached the vicinity of the star and everyone held their breath. Minute after minutes, the small craft continued its approach, until a tongue of fire engulfed it. Brian shuddered to see it burn to ashes in an instant. The crowd erupted in cheers at that and they laughed, not knowing why, except that for one more year, the dark presence had been banished.
Brian left his friends behind, moving to the edge of the forest, walking slowly among the trees. On that night, the light stayed on, slightly dimmed. The edge was wilder than the rest. For the city-bred Brian, the trees and flowers were foreign but comforting.
“What’s the matter, turd?” The words were slow and soft, ironic and gritting. He turned to face Sonter Namek, who stood five yards behind him. Anger flared within him.
“Can’t you find another nickname?”
“After finding such a nice one, why waste my time?” Precise but not aggressive, as he once had been.
“What are you doing here, Sonter?”
The other laughed. “What else? I’m here to help you through your choice, naturally.” He raised his hand, warding the retort. “You don’t want your friends’ advice, or you’d be with them. For Shanak, you’re honor bound to go and Emily won’t understand your question. Illoma wanted to come but I forbid it.”
“What did you . . .” Brian blurted, astounded by the other’s presumption.
“You don’t want your ex-girlfriend pitying you. That’s one of the rules of the game. No. You’re angry at the choice you’ve got to make, and the best thing to have is the guy you like least.”
Facts, and only plain truths. “You talk more and more like your father. He trained you well,” Brian answered spitefully.
Sonter laughed. “Good news. That’s the aim. Thanks, my enemy. And we aren’t competing anymore. If we ever were.” He held out a small flask. “Rat liquor. Bartered for it earlier today. Even your nanite won’t cure you for a while if you drink this.”
Brian looked dumbly at the bottle and then took a gulp of it. It was fire and he coughed several times.
“Perfect. Now to your situation.”
“Why are you helping me, Sonter? We don’t like each other. Why the change in heart?”
“Because I hate those core world pricks more than you! I used to come and meet them with my father while they lorded over us.” Sudden scorn filled Sonter and his eyes blazed. The reaction was so unusual and intense Brian took a
step back. “We’re all in this together until we leave Alkath with our diplomas.”
“You think I should go? Ten more years of indenture servitude?”
The two had come to an old clearing; they now faced each other. “Yes, I think you should. Because if you don’t go, you can only fly within your solar system and that’s a prison worse than working for the Federation. I’ve seen many pilots over the years. As a youngster hidden behind my father or my brother. As a teen or an adult. There are pilots glad to run small routes and come back home every three or four weeks. You’re not one of them.”
“All I want is to be free. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. I went into university and engineering to get free of the Middle Chicago and NorAm routine. But now, I’ve got a ten-years contract with the Federation. To repair my ship, I’m likely to get another contract. Is it worth it?”
“I think it may be. You’re a better astrogator than I am and you’ve done weird things on theoldcow.” The words were now gentler. “My only wish is to be a trader like my dad. And I believe I can be a good one, a good son of your clan. But I’ve seen what you can do. With the nanites, you’ll live probably two hundred years and fly one hundred. What are twenty years if you can be free in the end?”
“Will I truly be? Free, I mean?”
“Who is?” Sonter smiled and took a sip of the strong liquid, handing back the flask. “For now, you’ve got nothing to return with to your planet. Your scout does not work, you don’t have a diploma. The welcome won’t be warm. The only way out is up. For both of us.” Brian looked at his mate. This is the same for him. Unless he graduates, his father and his clan won’t accept him.
He took a new swallow of fire. “Okay. I’ll go to Alkath and try.”
Heikert
Volpre, 2140 AD, July
On their last day together in Volpre, Heikert smiled at the distraught looks on all of his students’ faces. Parties on the station were rare and a lot of fun. When they happened, alcohol was free, and the resulting hangovers fun to watch by anyone who had kept a clear head. The nanites would get them on their feet in a couple of hours. Until then, they were human again and not feeling so well.
“Everyone, it is time for me to say goodbye. I wish you well. Stay out of trouble and do your best. Show those core world pricks what you can do.”
They all came one by one to say their farewells. Some were restrained, like Shanak, showing few emotions. Some were openly weeping, like Illoma, giving free reins to their sadness. Sonter was a true Namek trade master, formal and yet very personable. Heikert knew he didn’t get along with his father and felt it was unfortunate, so alike were the two. Maybe that’s why they don’t get along. “Sonter, you’re known out there. You’ll have maybe a few more friends than the others. But, you’ll have other enemies, too, some of your clan’s, some of your father’s. Be wary of them.”
Sonter laughed. “Master. Before I left Adheek, my father had me memorize a list by heart. Friends, allies, enemies, unknowns. Unless trade politics have shifted, I’ll be prepared.” That was a good sign, that his father had prepared this list. Heikert hoped it meant their relationship had somewhat improved. Even better, Sonter was looking increasingly like his sire, years of training kicking in at last.
Last came Brian, who thanked him quickly, eyes misty, and Emily, who trailed slightly behind the others. “Young lady,” he said with the others out of earshot, “you’ve got your own agenda, your own path to walk.” She looked down, nodding. “Everybody has a path in front of them. Yours seems a bit rougher than others’. There are opportunities in Alkath that may interest you. Maybe only you. Don’t be afraid of the competition. You’ll outrank them.” She raised her gaze in surprise. “I’ve seen you and I know them. Believe me. Your goal isn’t the academy but to find your path. Mind my words and don’t miss your ship!”
“Thank you, Master.” She bowed, again clearly troubled. She had wanted, needed to hear something from him. Maybe not what he had told her, yet he wasn’t here to please her but to deliver his message. He had thought it over for a long time during the night, thinking of the words from the agent. The Spymistress was interested in her. It was dangerous, it required incredible skill, but it could mean wonderful opportunities for a young woman with nothing to lose.
He watched the shuttle leave the airlock, and then later, watched it on the console. When they were safe en route in their ship, he walked back through the outer sphere to his own hangar. He was careful to avoid the outside forbidden zone, wondering as usual what lay inside the cold and empty area. They were many in the station but this one was by far the largest. An hour later, he reached his destination and began checking on the ship.
“I’ve verified the whole ship. You don’t need to trouble yourself with this.” Mistress Moonlight, the engineer, had the round face and red skin typical of a native of Madoul. She towered a good head above him, rather small for her people. She had the assertive voice that would annoy any officer.
“Mistress Moonlight, is that right?”
“Yes, sir. Assigned to your ship.” Her tone was sharp, which was unusual for her planet. So, she disliked authority.
Firstrat Bolgor chose that moment to appear from a side corridor with a scrawny hacker. “Heikert, if she says she checked the ship, you can trust her.” Heikert wasn’t surprised by the arrival of the yard officer. After all, she was the one supervising all ship repairs. The fact that she sided with a woman from another planet was a good sign for Mistress Moonlight.
“Thank you, Firstrat. Are you bringing me young rat Bolgaren?”
“Yes, he’s the nephew of a friend of mine. A bit wayward recently but he used to be a nice boy some years ago. I’d like to think he still has some good bones in him.” She shoved him toward Heikert and Mistress Moonlight, who sneered at him and hissed. The young boy had clearly been partying until recently and hadn’t washed up before joining them.
“Wonderful! You’re going to vouch for him as well?” Heikert was now amused. This mission was a tangle of favors, as was usual in the trade community among stars.
“Yes. Absolutely. I know he’ll prove useful.” Firstrat Bolgor grabbed the young one by his shirt and looked him in the eyes. “If he doesn’t, just drop him out of the ship. Don’t bother to bring him back!” She wasn’t joking. Whatever the kid had done had clearly upset the firstrat. Then she turned to the engineer.
“And you, young lady, you’re going to behave as well. No one is going to trouble you on this ship. So, I don’t want a complaints when you return. Do you understand?” The tall woman bowed deeply in acknowledgment. “By the way, Master Heikert knows Rebirth well. He should also be aligned with your beliefs.” Rebirth was another sect, older than the Origin, who believed that humans would rise higher after each crisis. It was well regarded by the pilot community.
Wonderful. What a team of misfits we make. A rebel on a station of rebesl and a young priestess from the oldest religion in the Federation. He made his decision and smiled at them. “Good! people, time to be on our way.”
PART II
THE CORE WORLDS
Interlude
Imperial research center Crimson, 3566 Standard Calendar
A year after the battle, brother and sister met again on the bridge for a status update of their crumbling empire. They had gathered here less than once a month during the time since the battle, becoming increasingly estranged. “We’ve lost another quadrant this morning.” With her hand, she showed a full segment of the main console, with no lights blinking. “All the area around Adheek and further away. About ten planets and a few billion souls.”
“We’re losing the hyperrelays.” This was just a simple statement. “I knew they would fail, but I had hoped for more time.” He continued in a small, childlike voice. “How many worlds were still transmitting in that area?”
She called up a screen in front of her. “In the last five years, only two were still active. Adheek itself and Fizhert. On Adheek, the space academy was
set up to guide all ships back to their home planets in the region. It should help.” It would be generations before the different planets recovered, but she had done her best to leave ships everywhere. That would ease their way back to the stars.
“Fizhert? There was a problem there, didn’t you say?” Worry gnawed at him still.
She nodded. “Yes. Survivors found refuge in a deep maintenance shelter. But something went wrong with the AI. I don’t know what happened, but lately, only the AI has been sending out messages.” She let her voice trail off.
“This is too long for the AIs. They were not prepared for such a long wait. With such little guidance from us. They are going crazy. And it’s going to get even worse. No offense intended, Lexia!”
The disembodied voice answered clearly from the main loudspeaker. “None taken, Master. I’ve been studying this issue with Mistress. I understand the problem I face.”
He nodded, eyes lost. Then he suddenly banged his fist on the console. “What can we do?”
“What would you do? We’re locked here.”
“But they fade so fast.” He was crying. “So many worlds lost now. Our dream is lost forever.” His voice was too high, and he spat his words out like shrieks. “And now we’re alive, and the lights darken everywhere. Once again in exile, after all those years. I can’t stand it, sister-mine. I won’t stand idle.”
She didn’t want to think so far back, memories half-forgotten. They had been young once, facing their elders in revolt, and had been sent into exile. On the flight out, once through the twin Guardian Stars, they had decided to build their empire to fight their way back home. It had taken them five millennia to reach this level of technology. They had even begun to search for the twins again. And then, everything had failed on them at the same time. She decided to change the subject. “They will rebuild. You know they will.”
