Baldwin's Legacy: The Complete Series

by Hystad, Nathan

  Luci ran forward, stopping at the entrance. She ran her hand along the side of the door, as if seeking the keypad.

  “You have to knock.” Treena leaned over the girl and used her knuckles to tap the slab. When no one answered, she checked the handle. The door slid open. Of course her mother hadn’t locked the doors.

  Treena had stayed here during her healing from the destruction of her cruise ship, so stepping inside wasn’t as surprising as it once would have been. It was familiar and neat, almost the same as it had been throughout her entire childhood.

  The floors were wooden slabs and a digital fireplace crackled along the living space wall. She waved them inside. “Come on. I’ll make some tea.”

  Luci skipped into the house, humming an unfamiliar tune. “What’s tea?” she asked.

  “You’ll have to taste it to find out,” Treena said.

  “Okay.”

  “Treena, I have that meeting with Longshade today. I should be going,” Tom told her.

  “That’s fine.” She’d really wanted him here, but maybe time alone with her mother would be a good thing.

  “Luci, I’ll see you later,” Tom said, but Luci was already off exploring the home.

  Treena leaned in and whispered to him, “Did Benitor reply?”

  Tom shook his head, his gaze darting to the door. “Not yet.” He spoke too quickly, and Treena had spent enough time around the man to sense he was lying.

  “Captain… Tom… what aren’t you telling me?” she asked.

  “Okay, I did hear from the admiral. She said there was no chance of changing her mind or the Prime’s. Luci and Seda will remain on Bolux Nine,” Tom said, his jaw clenching.

  “What are we doing here, then? We have to return her!” Treena realized she was shouting, and lowered her voice.

  The door opened, and her mother walked in, followed by their version of a ServoBot carrying bags of groceries. “What a surprise!” her mother exclaimed, and Treena glared at Tom.

  “We’ll figure it out,” Tom whispered before turning his attention to Treena’s mother.

  “Mom, this is Captain Thomas Baldwin. Tom, this is… Karen,” Treena said, moving to embrace her mom. She pulled Treena tight before breaking the hug, her hands settling on Treena’s cheeks.

  “You’re here. You’re really here. What brings you all the way to Riverton?” Karen walked to Tom and gave Treena’s captain a hug, kissing him on the cheek. He stood there, grinning quietly.

  “Mom, we have…”

  “I like it here. Is this my new home?” Luci asked, running into the living room from the hallway.

  ____________

  Aris wasn’t quite what Brax had expected. Humans were everywhere. It wasn’t quite like his home, where the Tekol people were the majority, but there were countless other Concord races living among them. Here, he felt out of place in his uniform and was glad he’d brought a few changes of clothing.

  The main city was on a peninsula, with beaches and ocean on either side. The effect was mesmerizing, and Brax walked with Tarlen and Doctor Nee as they sought their accommodation.

  “This is perfect. We get a night in Aris before meeting my counterpart, and you do whatever it is a chief of security does while searching for thieves,” Nee said with a smile.

  “Believe me, I’d rather be talking with a scientist than doing this,” Brax said.

  Tarlen gawked at their surroundings, and he tugged at Brax’s sleeve, his excitement palpable. “I wish I could join you and the commander tomorrow, but I have to be there for Belna.”

  “Don’t sweat it, kid. We’ll be fine without you,” Brax told him, hoping it didn’t come off as too flippant. “It’s better for you to be with your sister.”

  They’d been invited to stay at the local Concord Academy for the duration of their visit, and Brax had been happy to. He loved the energy around the learning facilities, though he doubted he’d have time to invade one of the training operations as he had when they’d been in Ulia.

  “What do you figure, Brax?” Nee asked as they passed a guard at the gates. The facility was widespread, the buildings short and flat. It was placed directly at the edge of the peninsula, creating the illusion of being at the end of the world.

  “I figure I wish we had more time here,” he said, letting his pack slide to the ground as he walked between two beige buildings, coming to a wooden walkway that led to the water. The others were close behind, and Tarlen gasped at the view. Sunlight glimmered off the mostly still water, and Brax thought he saw a plume of ocean blow into the air from some underwater creature a short distance from the pier.

  “Hello,” a meek voice said from behind them.

  Brax turned, preparing to reach for his PL-30. There stood a wisp of a girl, a couple of years older than Tarlen. Her face was darkened from the intense sun, her hair bleached blonde, and Brax couldn’t tell where one freckle ended and the next started.

  “Hi,” Brax said. “Can we help you?”

  Her eyes were dancing, and she opened and closed her mouth twice before saying another word. “Are you the ones from Constantine?” she asked.

  “That’s right.” Brax folded his arms at his chest, wishing she’d get on with it. He wanted to jump out of his uniform and find the sun for a few hours before it set.

  “I’m… My name’s Madie. I…” She waited for a uniformed student to walk by before continuing. She was noticeably without Academy clothing, opting for pink shorts and a white tank top. Was she even a student?

  “Look, we’re tired, so if you have questions for us or…”

  Resolve filled her expression. “I can help you.”

  “Is that so?” Brax raised an eyebrow and glanced at Nee, who was frowning.

  “You’re here about the missing ships, right?” she asked quietly.

  “How can you help us?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “Not here. They might be watching. I can’t tell if they’re still around.”

  “Who?” Tarlen asked, and the girl peered at him, as if she hadn’t realized the Bacal boy was there.

  “The Assembly,” she whispered.

  “Wait… what are you saying?” Brax stepped toward her, but she darted away from him.

  “Tomorrow. Place called Beaches, by the hotels. Sunrise.” She was off, long legs running quickly down the shoreline.

  Doctor Nee shook his head, watching her go. “That was interesting. Now how about we find our rooms and something to eat?”

  Brax stared at the empty sand, wondering if the girl was laying a trap, or if she really wanted to help.

  ____________

  “And you’re sure no one’s been told of her whereabouts?” Karen asked.

  Tom liked Treena’s mother. She seemed no-nonsense and had a strong head on her shoulders, much like her daughter.

  “We wouldn’t ask you to risk yourself,” Tom told her.

  She sipped her coffee, Tom noting the slight tremble to her hand. He’d feel the same way if their roles were reversed.

  “And how long would she be staying here?” Karen asked.

  “Mom, we haven’t figured that out. We couldn’t leave her there, could we? You would have done the same thing,” Treena said, and her mom nodded.

  “I don’t blame you. I’m just getting on in years, and the last thing I expected was a child to come under my care,” she said.

  Tom looked to the living room, where Luci was holding two toys, one in each hand, making them have a conversation with each other.

  “You took care of me last year,” Treena said.

  “That was different, and you know it. Oh, Treena, it’s great to see you like this. After you lost your… I’m just glad to see you in good spirits and so passionate about something. If you could only go back two years to tell yourself you’d be okay.”

  “Well, we can’t do that, but I am sorry for everything I put you through while I was here,” Treena told her mom.

  Tom wanted to sink into the chair and vanish
, feeling like an intruder on a very private conversation.

  “You have nothing to apologize for, sweetie. As for that cute little girl, of course I’ll care for her. I still have a bunch of your things stored away that she can have.”

  Tom pictured a closet full of his commander’s clothing and toys, preserved in top condition by her doting mother. She resembled the real Treena, but her hair was longer and darker. She wore a simple necklace, her clothing in muted earthy colors.

  “You can’t tell anyone who she is,” Tom said.

  “What do I say?”

  “Tell them… she’s the orphaned child of one of my crew members, and when you heard, you offered to help,” Treena suggested.

  That was the best alternative they’d come up with on their journey, and it sealed the deal. The panic evaporated from her mom’s face, and her hand was steadier on the next sip of coffee.

  “I’ll be honest, I have been a little lonely out here,” Karen told them. “Maybe this will be the fuel I need to keep going.”

  “Are you doing okay? That doesn’t sound good.” Treena reached beside her, taking her mom’s hand.

  “I’m fine. I don’t need to work anymore, not with the income from the mills rolling in, and I can’t keep volunteering my days away forever. This will be good for me, and for the poor girl. Her parents are that notorious?” She said the last bit quietly, with a hand beside her mouth.

  “They are.” Tom didn’t elaborate. They’d agreed that their names and affiliation with the Assembly would remain secret.

  “Then it’s settled,” Karen said, sending Tom to his feet.

  “I have to be going, but it was a real pleasure to meet you, Karen Starling.” Tom nodded to her, and she seemed disappointed he wasn’t staying.

  “I can’t stay either, Mom. I have business in Aris in the morning,” Treena advised, and her mother’s eyes welled up.

  “I wish you were here longer, but promise me you’ll visit sooner rather than later.” Karen peered over at Luci, who was still doing a good job of keeping herself occupied.

  “I promise, Mom.”

  With a quick goodbye to Luci, Tom left the house, opting for the fresh air while Treena said her goodbyes to the girl and Karen.

  He stared at the sky as the sun began its descent and took a deep breath of crisp forest air. As much as he loved being in space aboard a cruise ship, he found Karen’s setup refreshing. She was far enough from the city to actually find peace on a planet.

  It was the perfect place for them to stow the girl until he could convince Admiral Benitor to heed his advice. Tom strolled toward the shuttle, and a few minutes later Treena jogged toward him.

  “I’ll drop you at Aris,” he told her as he brought the engines to life.

  It was a few hours later by the time Tom found the Concord offices at Tauros. He’d already messaged Tess. indicating that he was running late, and it was dark when he entered the skyscraper lobby. It was a far cry from the rustic home of Karen Starling. This was opulence and style paired as one.

  He could picture Harris loving a place like that and wondered if that was what had drawn the previous Prime-in-Waiting to the position on Earon.

  “I’m here to see Chairwoman Tess Longshade,” Tom told a desk clerk sitting behind an energy shield.

  The elevator beeped open, and an AI appeared behind him. She was wearing a white pantsuit, and her hair was pulled up tightly in a bun. “Please follow me.” The AI flickered as she entered the elevator, and Tom smiled at her, not saying a word. It seemed that AI projections were gaining popularity elsewhere, not just on their spacecraft.

  The elevator stopped some time later, and Tom turned to thank the AI, but she’d dissipated, leaving him alone on the fiftieth floor.

  “Thomas,” Tess said from down the corridor. The lights were dimmed, the offices empty at this time of the evening. CleanBots roamed the floor, picking up debris and washing the tiles, and Tom stepped over one as he walked to Tess’ office.

  “I’m glad you could make it. I hope it was no trouble,” she said, and Tom nearly laughed. He’d had nothing but chaos since he’d started this role as captain, but he only shook his head, saying what was expected of him.

  “No trouble at all.”

  She led him into the office, and he whistled as he saw the view. The city was lit up below, the expansive panoramic windows giving him not only a view of Tauros, but of the dark, star-littered sky. “Do you like it?” she asked.

  “I don’t visit cities often,” he told her.

  “I’ve heard that about you. Does that have anything to do with your parents, Tom?” she asked, motioning for him to take the seat opposite her desk.

  He choked back a retort. “I don’t follow.”

  “Your parents were killed while living in a big city. I thought maybe you were…”

  Tom’s blood began to boil, and he had to fight to keep from leaving. “If it’s just the same, I’d rather keep this focused on the task at hand. Unless you have a private tragedy you’d like to dive into?”

  This caught her off guard, and Tom reveled a little in the twisting of her expression. It was gone in a flash as she regained her exposure. “I didn’t mean to offend. And here I was, so looking forward to this. I’m sorry for starting out so poorly.”

  Tom could see she was nervous for some reason, and he decided to give her a pass, for now. “Think nothing of it. I’ve had a tense few days.”

  “Met the new crew? I haven’t been able to yet, but I hear they’re good,” Tess said.

  “Rene Bouchard and her team will do a great job. What is it you wanted to discuss?” he asked. She’d given him no indication of her objectives, and he hated being left in the dark.

  “I understand you were there while Harris was killed,” she said.

  “That’s correct.”

  Tess’ eyes narrowed, enhancing the wrinkles around them, and Tom realized he might have misjudged her age by a few years. “Let me cut to the chase, Tom.”

  “Please.”

  “The Concord may have all four Founders, but there are still cracks in the foundation. Humans have been on the bottom for so long, and we were nearly able to rise in the ranks. We were in line to become the Prime, and Harris would have made some real advances for us,” she told him, her passion for the subject evident.

  “Is that so?” Tom didn’t love where the conversation was going.

  “We managed to convince the admirals and Prime Xune to make another human captain of Shu. They were only too happy to oblige, since we were slighted so hard with the entire Harris scenario,” she told him.

  “Harris was killed.”

  “But not until after he was stripped of the Prime-in-Waiting title.” Tess intertwined her fingers and set her hands on the desktop.

  Tom stood, not wanting any part of her agenda. “I have a lot to prepare for. If you’ll excuse me, I should be going.”

  “Thomas Baldwin, you owe it to your people to make a stand on humanity’s behalf. If you use your recent celebrity…”

  He cut her off, growing wearier of her voice with each passing second. “Celebrity? I’ve done my job, and my crew has done theirs as well. What you think is fandom is appreciation for us keeping the Concord safe. I don’t care what you’re trying to pull here, but we’re Founders, and I’ll never work against the others to benefit humans. You know nothing of the Concord fleet and what we stand for.” He turned to leave, and heard Tess clapping behind him.

  “Very good. What a show. The grandson of a traitor, and he thinks his morality is pure,” she said, and he kept walking, not willing to engage.

  The elevators couldn’t take him away soon enough. Whatever Tess had been working at, she’d reminded him too much of Lark Keen as she’d talked with him, and it was something the Prime had to be alerted to.

  Thirteen

  “Now do you understand, Ven?” Elder Hamesly asked, only he was no longer Elder Hamesly; he was Father Hamesly.

  “Perhaps,
but I do not agree with you,” Ven told him.

  The man’s news had been a revelation, and Ven found he knew next to nothing about his own people. The mere fact that so much of their existence was hidden made Ven appreciate the openness of the man across from him. That didn’t mean he needed to align with Hamesly’s beliefs.

  “I didn’t expect you to, but I did want you to consider what I’ve said.” Father Hamesly’s eyes bothered Ven the most.

  “And you’re saying that without En’or, with abstinence from the Talent, we can eventually return to our intended states?” Ven asked, unsure of how that could even work.

  “That is correct.” The man’s hands were much darker than Ven’s, his skin pigment that of an average Zilph’i. “The Talent is what makes us albino, but we can choose otherwise. We can choose to abdicate from our calling.”

  “Why would we do that?” Ven asked, still confused by the preaching of this self-proclaimed “Father.”

  “Ven, for one so bright, you’re being quite dull. The Ugna are on the verge of gaining their own independence. For the first time ever, they’ll be out of the shadows. Already they’re recruiting those from the Founders. Have you heard they have human, Tekol, and Callalay among them now?” Father Hamesly’s eyes were wild.

  Ven waited a moment to reply. “I’m aware.”

  “Really? I should have assumed you harbored more information than the average Ugna, given your rise to the ranks as executive lieutenant aboard a Concord cruise ship,” the man said.

  Ven finally found the courage to ask the question that had been burning inside him for the last few hours. “What happened, that you decided to forsake your people?”

  “You still don’t understand, after all these years, do you?” Ven shook his head, and the man continued to speak. “The Elders have been tearing children from their families for centuries, offering a pittance in exchange for their offspring. They’re using us.”