Freedom Saga 2: Freedom's Bell

by Marcus Johnson

“This is Valis speaking,” she said. “All forces are to prepare for prisoners immediately.”

  * * *

  Seles and Mira landed their mobile suits on Freedom before two making their way to the floor. When they stepped on solid ground they noticed Brian was waiting for them.

  “I hope you’re not expecting anything from us right now,” Mira said.

  “If he does then I hope he’s ready for a punch in the face,” Seles said.

  Brian smiled. “No, I wanted to thank you for the hard work. I also wanted to tell you to rest for the twelve hours.”

  Seles went up to him and kissed him. “Thanks.”

  Mira waited for a moment before doing the same. “No waking us unless it’s an emergency, okay?”

  “It’s a promise,” Brian said. “Go rest you two. We’ll take care of everything.”

  A moment after they left Jesela popped out of the side room with her tablet.

  “So how’d they look?” she asked as she began maintenance.

  “Like hell,” Brian said. “I know others have fought longer battles, but in my time here in space I’ve never seen something like that.” He noticed Jesela was yawning. “And I’ve never seen you do that.”

  “I do yawn,” Jesela said. “But only when I’m stuck with the boring stuff. Grigon wanted to keep tabs on the engineers over in the main launching bays.”

  “This is boring?” he asked.

  “The main bays have all the people,” Jesela said. “Where there are people there’s excitement.”

  “Interesting,” Brian said.

  He went to the side room and grabbed a mainatence kit.

  “I can do this myself,” Jesela said.

  Brian shook his head. “To be honest I feel useless when I’m on the bridge. I’d rather be out there than not.”

  “Once a pilot always a pilot,” Jesela said. “That’s how it is with you people. And by the way, you’re not useless. You’re quick thinking during the battle saved a number of lives.”

  “I know you’re right,” he said. “But it doesn’t change how I feel. By the way, how did the adjustments to Mjolnir go?”

  “They went perfectly of course,” Jesela said.

  “I’m glad,” Brian said. “Someday we’re going to need that ace.”

  * * *

  Valis was sitting in the Minerva’s cockpit when her com flashed.

  “Are you still awake?” Celi asked.

  “Barely,” Valis answered. “What is it?”

  “I’m prescribing sleep, that’s all,” she said. “I’ll see you tomorrow Valis.”

  “See you then,” Valis said.

  Celi made her way from the launching bay to her quarters. Valis felt vibrations as the engineers outside started working on the Minerva.

  I was right. The Minerva displayed on the monitor.

  “You were,” Valis said.

  That’s how my system works Valis. I’m sorry I can’t relate it any better.

  “You’ll get there,” Valis said. “Just like your brother did.”

  Mjolnir’s weird. He says strange things to us.

  “Strange?” Valis asked. “What do you mean?”

  “He’s flirting with them,” Daes explained as she stepped inside.

  “I don’t remember Brian being that way,” Valis said.

  “True,” Daes said. “But remember, Mjolnir is more like Brian’s son than his clone. There’ll be some personality differences.”

  Are you saying I won’t be like Valis? The Minerva asked.

  Daes nodded. “Because you were born at a different time your personality will be different. It’s the same whether you’re an AI or a genetic clone.”

  Valis shook her head. “By the way, how often do you speak with each other?”

  Much of the time we’re in the launching bay. In battle we don’t have the time to.

  “Are they able to contact each other between ships?” Valis asked.

  “They’re programmed to be able to contact each other just as our ships can,” Daes said.

  Artemis and Siren are funny. I think they match their pilots perfectly.

  “I need to pay closer attention to this,” Valis said.

  “What you need is some sleep,” Daes said. “Now get going and let me do my work.”

  “As you wish Daes,” Valis said.

  Take care of yourself Valis.

  “To you as well friend,” Valis said with a smile.

  * * *

  Veda and Shiken Ka remained at their stations while the others went to rest. The activity level on both bases decreased dramatically after the Malcovin were brought onboard and escorted to the brigs.

  “Another battle won,” Shiken said.

  “Another in a long series,” Veda said. “What’s sad is our organization can’t afford to lose even one.”

  “If losing the five means such we would,” Shiken said. “Not until we’re able to mass produce such weapons.”

  “I doubt that’ll be possible anytime soon,” Veda said. “Even if we tripled the annual budget it wouldn’t do much.” She put the image of the Grey planet killer on the monitor. “And I can’t imagine what it’d take to destroy one of these.”

  “It took one ship of desperate people fighting to survive,” Myden said as he entered the room. “Those who have the will to live will find a way.”

  “A better way of thinking I can’t come up with,” Shiken said. “Is that the wisdom you gained in your long life?”

  “No Lord Ka,” Myden said. “I survived out of necessity. It was part of the plan; otherwise my will would’ve given out long ago.” He stared at the image on the screen. “By the way, is there reason you’re looking at that abomination?”

  “I’m studying it as much as I can,” Veda said. “Remember, in another life I was an engineer.”

  “Are those really able to leap between galaxies?” Shiken asked.

  “Yes,” Myden said. “I visited Kelden for a time when they were first being experimented with. In those days they were more like colonies than war ships.”

  “How many of them are there?” Veda asked.

  “The number now I can’t say,” Myden said. “When the machine god was activated there were four active in our galaxy and eight in Kelden. There were two more as well, but they were exploring nearby dwarf galaxies when the device was activated.”

  “Then there’s a possibility there are more Greys like you still out there,” Shiken said.

  “It’s possible,” Myden said. “My guess is they fled long ago.”

  “I hope you’re wrong,” Veda said.

  “I do as well,” Myden said.

  Chapter 31 - Revolutionary Thoughts

  The footage of the Bronze navy’s defeat played on the monitors in Zaris’s hall. The only people in the room were the king, the two remaining admirals, and a captain who returned with the surviving ships. Once the video was finished Zaris snapped his beak and stood up.

  “You did right bringing this to us,” Zaris said. “Off with you now.”

  “Of course my lord,” the captain said before leaving.

  “This defeat is telling,” Zaris said. “Even with a well-planned strike our best were cut down. Heaven’s Light is a greater threat than I thought.” He looked at the two admirals. “It’s time we cut our losses. Let’s focus on the rebels causing problems across our empire. Vikrit, I trust you with the border. They’ll use the female uprising as an excuse for invasion.”

  “Yes my lord,” Vikrit said. “My navy will hold the border against all threats to the Malcovin people.”

  “I know you will,” the king said.

  Admiral Vikrit saluted before taking his leave. Once he was gone a number of the king’s guards returned to their positions in the hall.

  “I was a fool to reject Grigon so quickly,” Zaris said as he sat down.

  “There was no other choice,” Shakar said. “His actions were clearly heresy to our people’s ways. Those who commit such acts are doom
ed to death by our laws.”

  “Let me revise what I said then,” Zaris said. “I regret we couldn’t keep Grigon the engineer. What’s worse is the grandson we left alive ended up leaving us.”

  “We have excellent engineers working on the problem,” Shakar said.

  “Of course,” Zaris said. “The defeat of two of our navies is bad enough, but the uprising makes things worse.”

  “Perhaps it’s time for drastic measures,” Shakar suggested. “I know the free marketers won’t like it but we need to preserve our power base.”

  “I don’t want to do that because it shows we’re under fire,” Zaris said as he looked at the video of the destroyed Bronze navy. “But you’re right old friend, we need to do something.” He looked at one of his guards. “Call the press officer. I have an announcement to make.”

  “Yes my lord,” the guard said before leaving.

  “I’ll do whatever it takes to preserve the ways of our people,” Zaris said.

  * * *

  Deep under the capital city of Malcov Prime the leaders of the female rebels met again. The red feathered leader, Seka, turned on the monitor. The screen flashed before showing the grand hall with Zaris standing in front of his throne.

  “To the people of Malcov, it is I, Zaris, your king speaking to you,” he started. “For the last twenty seven years my vision of a prosperous Malcovin people has been made reality. Our economy has done well and our military the finest equipped in the Confederation. But now, a pair of traitors to our people, Grigon and his grandson Dreka, has joined the rebels and fight against us. They will lie and cheat in every way to destroy our prosperity. To execute their plan they’re using the military might of Heaven’s Light, a mercenary organization led by the Terran Brian Peterson. Along with the other leaders of that organization Grigon and Dreka seek to take our world from us by force. As your king I cannot allow this and as such declare martial law. We will close the borders to those who hate our way of life and strike down those corrupting our people from within. It’s our duty to…”

  Seka turned the sound off.

  “I don’t need to hear his posturing,” she said.

  Another bird woman entered the room and handed her leaders a data crystal each.

  “Did you make contact?” Teaika asked.

  “Yes,” the soldier said. “Valis promised she would meet with us in the next ten days.”

  “Excellent,” Seka said. “It’s finally going to happen.”

  “I’d rather have been able to do it on our own,” Kili said.

  “We would’ve succeeded even without their help,” Seka said. “It just would’ve taken us several decades to do so.” She cawed. “Let us rejoice with this news. The time has come.”

  * * *

  Valis walked onto the bridge of the Avoni. There, Zae, Baed and Vae were at their stations. She sat down in her chair and turned on the computer.

  “Is it true you’ll be leaving us for a while?” Baed asked.

  “I will,” Valis said. “But I leave the Avoni in good hands.”

  “It’s good to hear you say that,” Zae said. “But why are you going in person?”

  “To show them we mean what we say,” Valis said. “Actions speak louder than words. That’s what Brian keeps telling me. In order for the strategy to work we need the females of Malcov to help us. That and the fact there are many sympathetic males these days.”

  “Amongst Dreka’s generation I suppose,” Baed said. “But the older ones like their king are set in their ways.”

  “It’s not very different from our people’s history, just in reverse,” Valis said.

  “Are you going alone?” Vae asked.

  “No, Grigon will be joining me,” Valis said. “Dreka said something about coming as well.”

  “When will you be leaving?” Baed asked.

  “Tomorrow sometime,” Valis answered.

  “We’ll take care of things here then,” Zae said. “Don’t worry about us, just take care of yourself.”

  “I will,” Valis said.

  * * *

  The six ships in the docking area of the Columbia base were being repaired. Dreka directed exterior work on the Raulno when Kivi walked over to him.

  “You can go,” she said.

  “Are you sure?” Dreka asked. “I don’t want to leave you in the wind.”

  Kivi smiled. “You worry too much Dreka.”

  “My grandfather says that a lot,” the birdman said. “I think he worries too little.”

  “Perhaps,” Kivi said. “I can let you go because you trained this crew better than anyone else could.”

  “Thank you,” he said. “You’re the best captain I’ve ever served under.”

  “Will you be taking anything with you?” she asked.

  “Just a Talon I’ve been working on in my spare time,” he said. “Valis will need backup in case things get heated.”

  “No doubt they will,” Kivi said.

  “By the way, are they working together?” Dreka asked.

  “The Gemini’s working perfectly,” Kivi said.

  “I’m glad,” Dreka said.

  * * *

  Grigon entered the launching bay where the Artemis and Siren were to find Jesela and Brian working on the two mobile suits. Both the Kalaidian and Terran were covered in grime.

  “Did you come to relieve us old man?” Jesela asked.

  “No,” Grigon said. “I’m didn’t want to leave before looking them over.”

  “So you’re leaving me alone?” Jesela asked.

  “You can handle it young lady,” Grigon said.

  Brian emerged from a strange position on the Artemis and jumped down.

  “I’m done,” he said.

  “Thanks,” Jesela said.

  Brian turned to Grigon. “When are you leaving?”

  “Tomorrow,” Grigon said. “I think Dreka wants to impress a certain young woman back home.”

  Brian laughed. “I didn’t know he thought about things like that.”

  “Before I was forced to flee I set the union between him and the lady in question,” Grigon said.

  “What’s her name?” Jesela asked.

  “Seka,” Grigon said. “Valis told me she’s in charge of the underground back home.”

  “Sounds like a match made in heaven,” Brian said.

  Chapter 32 - Valis Departs

  Why I am doing this? Valis thought as she checked herself in the mirror. She was in her quarters and had a bag stuffed with clothes placed near the door. Is it for him? Or is it for myself? The door buzzed.

  “It’s me,” Zae said.

  “Come in,” Valis responded.

  The door opened to let Zae enter.

  “You look restless,” Zae said. “Is something bothering you Valis?”

  “I’m not sure,” Valis said.

  “I was wondering why you’d take this on,” Zae said. “You could’ve sent me or Baed.”

  “And no doubt either choice would’ve been a good one,” Valis said. “No Zae, I’m going because I need to sort a few things out. I’ve been avoiding it since he left us.”

  “Brian didn’t go very far,” Zae said.

  “I don’t mean that,” Valis said. “I meant when he left us and headed for Earth. It’s been bothering me as to why he had to go alone.”

  “I know Myden talks about the plan as if it was a dogmatic code,” Zae said. “But I get the feeling Brian doesn’t like it at all. Destiny and fate are things people are bound to dislike. I can understand because I have my doubts about the Teacher’s plan.”

  “What makes you doubt it?” Valis asked.

  “There’s no magic to it if there are backups,” Zae said. “Both Baed and I bear the marks just like the five of you, Kyli as well. As to the Warrior aspect, Brian’s but one of many who could’ve taken the title. Dreka is just as good a pilot and a much better engineer.”

  “I don’t see him is as a leader though,” Valis said.

  �
�But he is,” Zae said. “Dreka defers because he’s not being pushed into it. Brian’s felt the pressure since the day we took him from that Grey ship. The only time I saw him as he wants to be was during the sojourn. And if it wasn’t for Celi he’d be dead right now. His part in all this would’ve ended five years ago.”

  “I feel responsible for pushing him like I did,” Valis said.

  “It’s not all on you,” Zae said. “All of us share in the blame, especially Myden. No one wants their life to be determined ahead of time. Calling it destiny doesn’t make it any better. Everyone wants to believe they have a choice in their life, even if it’s only a small one. That’s the freedom Brian believes in.”

  “Is that the freedom you believe in?” Valis asked.

  “I do,” Zae said. “My life isn’t bound by some fate I have no control over. But if something happens to Mira I will take her place and fly the Siren. I won’t do it because of destiny, but because it’s the right thing to do and I want to do it.”

  “So do the right thing, but because it’s the right thing and because you freely wish to do it?”

  “That’s what I’m getting at,” Zae said. “Think it over on your trip.”

  “I will,” Valis said.

  * * *

  Daes was running maintenance on the Minerva when Valis stepped inside with her exoskeleton on. She tossed her helmet and bag into the back room.

  “I’d ask you to be careful,” Daes said. “But I doubt I’ll need to do that.”

  “Did you leave the schematics for me?” Valis asked.

  “Of course,” Daes said. “You can’t do repairs without them.”

  Daes finished what she was working on and headed for the front hatch. Valis quietly set the system up before looking up.

  “I don’t know if the phase cloak will work for this,” Daes said. “But if it’s two mobile suits you should be able to slip through.”

  “Zaris’s declaration isn’t helping the matter,” Valis said. “I’ll have to revise a few things.”

  “You’ll make it,” Daes said. “We’ll meet again in a week or two.”