…Chairwoman Layna n’Calysher sat behind her desk in the Apex Office and regarded the document floating in the air before her. It was an executive order that she had wanted to sign ever since taking power. Now, Angelique and the Conversâzi had agreed that the time had come.
The order called for the forced relocation of all Marionites from their motherworlds to other planets throughout the Sisterhood. Once she approved it, they would be scattered, and divided past the point of offering any organized resistance. After that, the RSE could concentrate on each group, one at a time, and eliminate the troublemakers.
Especially the neomen. Although they weren’t a direct threat, they symbolized everything that N’Calysher and any right-thinking woman wanted to see purged from the universe. With them gone, the Sisterhood would be made a fit place for their daughters to live in.
Of course, she had no doubt that there would be some dissent; T’Tallya and her cronies had become quite vocal lately, but she was confident that her nation would support her, especially with the specter of Marionite terrorism looming over them.
The Sisterhood and history will thank me for this, N’Calysher told herself. She brought her stylus up to the hologram to sign the measure into law.
She got as far as her first name when the light from the window behind her became glaringly bright and she turned around to see what was causing the disturbance. Outside, the world transformed, and became fire…
…Twenty kilometers away, the canopy of Ellen n’Elemay’s aircar automatically darkened, becoming opaque for several seconds. The shock wave hit the vehicle next. The force of it shook the machine violently. Shielded from the invisible electromagnetic pulse by the special plating she had had installed around it, the ‘car’s onboard AI was able to compensate for the buffeting, and N’Elemay remained airborne.
After a moment, the canopy lightened again, allowing her to see the world outside. Despite the distance, the temperature inside the cabin had risen sharply, and she resisted the urge to order the AI to adjust the environmental controls. She wanted to revel in the heat.
Off in the distance, where Concordance Plaza had once been, there was nothing but a sea of flame and a rising cloud of ash and hot gasses. It was her vision in the desert made real; the blazing glory of God and the first taste of eternal hellfire for all sinners.
Tears came to her eyes at the sight. Not from any sorrow over the loss of the two neomen who had given their lives to make this possible, but out of pure joy for their souls. They were sure to ascend to heaven.
“God’s will be done,’ she whispered, taking over manual control of the ‘car. With one final, blissful smile at the sight of God’s wrath made manifest, she engaged the engines and flew away from the area.
She still had one more task to complete before she could return to the safe house. This was the delivery to the SNN News Tower of a message, intended for the entire Sisterhood.
***
“We can now conclusively confirm that an anti-matter weapon was detonated over Thermadon’s Federal Plaza. The death toll is still unknown, but authorities stated that over 50,000 are currently unaccounted for, and are feared dead.’
“Outside of the blast zone, casualties and damage range from extensive, to moderate, and all area emergency personnel are involved in search and rescue operations. Local hospitals are reportedly at full capacity and the Red Star Relief organization has mobilized its resources in the Artemi Elant to aid the populace of this stricken city.’
“In addition, SNN has been informed that similar devices were exploded in the city of New Lyrrica on Corrissa, at the Athtar Commercial Shipyards in Sita, and the industrial district of Delgen. A fifth device, intended for the naval base on Rixa, was intercepted by RSE and Naval Intelligence units before it could be detonated. Casualties in the affected cities are said to be as high, or higher than in Thermadon, but no official figures have been released.’
“Immediately following these attacks, the group calling itself the Daughters of Eve claimed responsibility. In their statement, they said that the bombings had been committed in retaliation for the Sisterhood’s alleged persecution of their Church, the occupation of their motherworlds, and the death of their Pope, Paula IX, which they labeled as a murder.’
“When SNN attempted to contact the Office of the Chairwoman, we were unable to receive any response, and as of this newscast, the whereabouts of Chairwoman n’Calysher are unknown. It is feared that she, along with key members of the Supreme Circle, were among those killed by the blast, but government sources refuse to confirm or deny this. Senatrix Tanya t’Tallya, who has been a known proponent of reconciliation with the outlaw cultists, had this to say…”
Somewhere in the middle of the Senatrix’s statement, the full import of what was happening overcame her, and Lilith’s knees gave out. Hand going to her mouth in horror, she collapsed into the nearest chair. “Goddess,” she whispered. “Goddess.”
An icon in the corner of her vision warned that she had several urgent messages waiting for her, but overwhelmed with shock, she ignored them.
A gentle touch on her shoulder made her look up. It was Ingrit, who looked just as shaken as she was.
“They’re probably calling you, Lily,” she said. “You have to answer them. They need you now.”
Lilith responded dully, and turned to look at the footage that was playing out in the holocast. Vistas of blackened, twisted metal, shattered concrete and smoke met her eyes. That, and fire, everywhere. She didn’t know if she was supposed to be looking at Thermadon or somewhere else, and there were no landmarks left intact enough to place it all in context.
The caption appeared an instant later. She was seeing the area around the Federal Plaza, where the Golden Pyramid and Concordance Hall had once been. Now, there was nothing there except death and devastation.
“Lily?” It was Ingrit again. With force of will, Lilith tore her gaze away from the holocaust and regarded her wife. “They blew it all up,” she said hollowly.
“Yah,” her wife answered. “They did. Now Lily, you have a job to do. They need you. We need you, Vice Admiral.”
Lilith nodded again and with some effort, managed to compose herself. Her wife was right, she thought. She opened the first message.
The sender was tagged as a Lieutenant Martha bel Shannon, RSE, location masked. This surprised her. Like any citizen, she was fully aware that the RSE was already attempting to track down the individuals responsible for this atrocity, but for the life of her, she couldn’t fathom why the State Police would be calling her. She was a Navy flag officer, not a spy, or anyone with underworld connections.
When she returned the call, and the sender came up on the holojectors, she found herself facing an average-looking young woman, dressed in the severe black uniform that her Agency favored, with an equally somber expression on her face.
“Lieutenant?” she asked her. “What can I do for you? This isn’t the best time for me to talk.” In fact, it wasn’t the ‘best time’ for anyone at that particular moment in history.
“I fully appreciate that, Vice Admiral,” Lieutenant bel Shannon replied. “This series of events is hard for all of us and I know that you must have pressing business to attend to. I apologize for the interruption, but something strange has come up.’
“As you know, we are checking on anything that might lead us to the terrorists responsible for these bombings, no matter how odd or unconnected it might seem.”
“And you’ve found something that has to do with me?” Lilith inquired, genuinely baffled.
“We believe so,” the Lieutenant informed her. “Just before the attacks occurred, our embassy in Nuvo Bolivar received a package. It was delivered anonymously and addressed to you.”
Lilith was absolutely flabbergasted. “To me? From someone in the ETR?”
“Yes, ma’am. There was a note inside, and this.” She held up a small object. It was a chess piece from a pre-Sisterhood set. A knight. A white one.
/> Lilith’s blood ran cold. “W-what did the note say?” Despite her best effort, her voice was unsteady and her hands had begun to tremble.
“It said; ‘All the blood is on your hands’.” Bel Shannon answered. ”Do you have any idea what this means, Vice Admiral?”
Lilith did, and it took her a moment to collect herself enough to answer the woman’s question. “I think I do. I used to know a man—an officer with the ETR. His name was Alex Rodraga and he served aboard my ship when we were still fighting the Hriss. He left at the end of the conflict and joined the 14th fleet.” She paused, and then added, “I was the one who gave the order to destroy his ship.”
“Do you think that this chess piece has something to do with him?” Bel Shannon inquired.
“Yes,” Lilith answered. “Alex loved the game, and when we were off duty, we used to play together for hours. Chess was a passion of his and I used to joke with him that he was my ‘white knight’.’
“There’s more—oh this is so him—the chess piece isn’t anything original.” She looked up at the ceiling and wiped away a tear, wholly unconcerned that the RSE officer was watching her fall apart.
“Do you need a moment?” the woman asked. When Lilith shook her head, she pressed on. “What is so unoriginal about it, Admiral?”
“It’s from an ancient book,” Lilith answered. “You see, Alex loved old books. That was something else that we had in common, and I know the book that it came from. It was one of his favorites, ‘Le Comte de Monte-Cristo’ by Alexandre Dumas. It’s a story about betrayal, and revenge.”
The RSE officer considered this carefully. Then, “Did Rodraga ever mention any relatives to you? Someone who knew about this book and what it meant?”
“He had a father,” Lilith told her. “An officer in their military. I think he was stationed on one of their downside bases. He may have shared the same passion for rare books, but I can’t say for certain. Alex didn’t tell me much about him.”
Bel Shannon quickly consulted another holo. “Yes,” she said at last. “I have him. A Colonel, in charge of their base on Cespedaa. It was a resupply base near their border with the Hriss Imperium. We destroyed it, but after the war, the ETR forces posted a small garrison there and he stayed in command.’
“This could actually prove to be a valuable lead, Vice Admiral. Based on what you just told me, he’d certainly have motive enough—and be in the right position to--”
“To what?” Lilith asked pointedly.
“I’m afraid that that’s classified,” Bel Shannon told her. “But thank you for your time. Please, let us know if anyone connected with this man, or the ETR, attempts to contact you.”
“I-I will,” Lilith managed to stammer. The call ended there, and the coverage of the attacks replaced it.
Jan bar Daala entered the room next.
“Vice Admiral?” she said. “Admiral ebed Cya needs you to call her right away. Vaalkenstaad has sent a car around. They’re waiting out front.”
Lilith gave her adjutant a haunted look. “Tell them to wait,” she said, her voice husky with emotion. “I need a few minutes.”
“Vice Admiral, Admiral ebed Cya said that it was urgent—“
“I’m sure that it is,” Lilith replied curtly. “Tell everyone to wait.” Her eyes were fixed on the holo and what was left of Thermadon, but the image was blurred by the new tears that were welling up in her eyes.
I did what I had to do, she told herself. We all did. I’m not responsible for all this. Deep down though, she knew differently.
***
Kaly was at work in the west field, tinkering with a clogged hydro-valve when Enggredsdaater approached her.
“Kaly,” she said gravely. “Zere’s been an attack. Zey used zome nukes on Thermadon and zome othervorlds. Concordance Park and za Golden Pyramid are gone. Zo is za RSE building, an zey alzo zhink zat za Chairwoman iz dead.”
Kaly didn’t look up, but she did pause. Briefly.
“Zey say it vas za Marionites,” Enggredsdaater added.
Kaly said nothing, and went back to her work.
Enggredsdaater remained standing there for a moment longer, and then finally, she turned and walked back down to the house.
It wasn’t that Kaly wasn’t angry. She was. The problem was that other emotions were warring with her sense of outrage for dominance. As a citizen, she certainly felt violated, and she felt sorry for the innocents that had lost their lives in the attacks. Any woman would have.
But as a victim of the RSE and the Sisterhood’s government herself, she almost found herself sympathizing with the terrorists. In their own way, the Marionites had been just as fekked over as she had been, and by the same forces. The Sisterhood had a lot to answer for, and as she saw it, the government at least, had gotten what it deserved.
More importantly, the fight was no longer hers to wage. She was done with all of it, and as long as the rest of the universe stayed out of her way, and off Zommerlaand, they could all kill each other as far as she was concerned.
There were also more important things to worry about, she reminded herself. Getting the west field’s hydro-delivery systems was one. Fixing the agribots was another.
She went back to work.
Residence of Celina, Ashkele Free Port, Ashkele, Hallasa System, Frontier Zone, Xee Protectorate, 1049.03|05|03:53:77
Thousands of light years away from Zommerlaand and the embattled Sisterhood, Celina had no idea that the bombings had even occurred. Intent on her compositions, she had sequestered herself from the rest of the Galaxy. What mattered was her music, and especially, the Song.
She was in the process of working with the footage that she had gathered and combining it with the Song to create the very realie that the Sisterhood had forbidden her to make. Despite all of her experience producing other realies, this one had stymied her. None of the clips seemed to ‘fit’ with the Song, and she had been struggling to make everything work together.
To help with her creative process (and in anticipation of all the money that her completed work would make them), Maggothymn Productions had established her in a fine home in the fashionable east side of Ashkele, and her state-of-the-art studio commanded a sweeping view of the Drow’voi ruins.
Perhaps this is why my dreams are starting to center around them, she reflected. The most vivid one had occurred only the night before. She had been transported through the vast complex by an unseen guide as the Song echoed down the great stone canyons in all its glory.
Now that she really thought about it, something about the setting had complimented the melody unlike anything she had encountered before. She stared out through the studio’s window at the broken horizon, considering the implications.
Maybe I was all wrong about the realie, she thought. Maybe this Song is about more than just Humanity. Maybe it belongs to something much larger—maybe even the entire galaxy itself.
This notion was so radical, and yet so exciting— and so ‘right’--that she sent a command for Clio to play the Song for her. While the melody unfolded, she suspended all of her preconceptions and took in the vista before her, letting the ruins and the music speak to her as one.
The more that she listened and traced the outlines of the shattered towers with her eyes, the more certain she became that she was on to something. Her ‘Song of Humanity’ was actually the ‘Song of the Galaxy’, she realized, and the Drow’voi deserved proper credit.
There was no doubt of this now. She also knew that she had to visit the Necropolis to gather footage for her realie, and see if it would inspire her to write other melodies—perhaps even new Songs that would be just as wonderful as the main theme was.
“Clio!” she exclaimed, “I want you to call up everything you can about the Necropolis. I also want a map. A good one.”
“Why, Celi?” the AI asked.
“Because I was wrong,” Celina told her, rising from her chair. “All wrong! It was here, staring me right in the face, and I simply didn
’t see it. The Song needs to be about everything, not just about humans, and the Necropolis is the key.”
“Are you sure?” the AI asked her. The doubt in Clio’s tone was plain.
“Yes! I am,” Celina replied, her enthusiasm growing. “I’m more certain about it than I have ever been about anything else in my whole life. Now please darling, get me that material right away.”
Five standard minutes later, a rather confused Clio had amassed a huge collection of holos, vids and still images of the Drow’voi city for her mistress. She had also purchased, at great expense, the latest copy of the official Xee map of the planet-wide ruins.
Ordering a cup of what the Xee believed passed for kaafra, and too thrilled to notice its horrid taste, Celina opened up the holomap and poured over its features. Although it should have, it didn’t surprise her in the least that her dreams matched the actual landscape perfectly.
The only part that didn’t, stood out quite clearly. It was situated in the very heart of the planet wide complex. Instead of the great plaza that she had seen in her vision, this part of the map was totally different. There was no open space indicated at all, just an unbroken stretch of uniquely uninteresting buildings.
Celina’s eyes narrowed in consternation. “This is all wrong!” she said. “There’s a huge square there, and a big building. Inside it is a huge tree-like structure. According to this, it doesn’t exist.”
Confused and frustrated, she checked the maps data tags and verified that it was not only the most current version, but according to the National Astrographic Society, absolutely accurate.
“Maybe the square was just in your dreams, Celi” Clio suggested gently. “This map has been verified and it’s the one that the Xee government uses.”
Celina shook her head emphatically. “No. The Xee are hiding something. I know it. That plaza is there, Clio. The Song didn’t lie to me. It’s real.’
Sisterhood of Suns: Daughters of Eve Page 64
