by Dani Hoots
He pulled out a card and handed it to me.
“Why are you here?” I questioned.
He grinned. “I can’t spend some quality time with my little sister?”
“No, not when your sister is, well, me.”
“I wanted to know what happened to you since that night. How you became the Emperor’s shadow. Any eights?”
I didn’t like talking about my past but Neil had ordered me to get them to trust me. I had to talk. “Draw.”
He drew a card as I started to explain what had happened to me.
“I ran back when Father was shot, as you know. He told me to go, but before I could run a soldier grabbed me and I dropped the key. I still had a hold of the pocket watch. I never went back for it,” I said.
“I remember that much. But what about after? They sent you to the Kamps?” he inquired.
I nodded. “Yes. That’s where they gave me a barcode in exchange for a name. We were just sheep, numbered, not recognized as having a living soul. I was there for four years. They treated us like experiments, feeding us different meds to see how we would react. All to see if they could brainwash us into submitting to whatever they wanted so they could make us into ruthless soldiers for the Empire.”
“How did you get out of there?” Rik pushed further.
I debated to myself why he wanted to know, but kept on telling the story. “I finally acted like I submitted to them, doing everything they said so they would stop feeding me different meds. There were so many meds. I guess holding on to the image of Father and you kept me going. The image of everything being torn away from me just like that. So I waited. I waited for the day when I would meet the Emperor and kill him for what he did to me. What pain he had caused me. You see, once a year the Emperor would come to the Kamps to check on how the brainwashing methods were working. They showed us off, at least those who had submitted fully. Those who were brainwashed. They didn’t dare bring out any of the other kids. I became cold and emotionless like the others. I became one of the strongest warriors. I never cried out in pain, I never disobeyed an order, and I never complained.”
“I’m sorry.”
I shrugged. “What’s there to be sorry about? That was the past. It was hard but I became stronger for it. Anyway, I was finally able to perform for Neil since I was top in my class, a ruthless killing machine. His parents had just been murdered by the P.A.E. and his generals accompanied him everywhere. It was my only chance and I took it. In the show, as they called it, they had us perform a battle to the death with knives, showing that we will fight for our lives no matter who it was against. The best kind of soldier, right? One who can kill one of their own. I believe my opponent was younger than me, a little boy. I can’t remember, it wasn’t the first time they had me kill another Kamp prisoner. I killed my opponent as ordered and before they left I threw my sword at his heart. He caught it. I still don’t know how, but he caught it. Twos?”
Rik pulled out a card and handed it to me. “You tried to kill the Emperor? How are you his shadow now? Fives?” I had just drawn a five. I handed it to him and continued explaining.
“I’m getting to that. I was arrested immediately of course. I would have been shot on the spot by his generals but Neil told them to wait. He approached me and asked me why I hated him enough to go through all this to kill him. I told him that he killed my father and brother. He said that he didn’t remember killing them. I replied it wasn’t him personally but his soldiers did. That the war on Garvner was because of him. He disagreed and said the war was because of people who rebelled. I had no response. He then asked if I wanted to live. I said yes. He said I could either die there or be trained by him to become his minion when I was old enough. He thought I had spunk, being able to fool everyone there into believing I had been brainwashed so I could avenge my family’s death.
“I thought for a second, not truly wanting to say yes but did anyway. Something in the back of my mind urged me to. No one present knew what to say. This had never happened before. A Kamp child was never to be thought more of than an experiment, one that they could send out to war to fight and to die. Not someone who would become the Emperor’s shadow. His leading weapon. He kept it a secret from everyone. Had me wear gloves so no one could see the mark on my wrist. Then he brought me to the palace and showed me around and began to train me,” I chuckled at the memory. “I tried to kill him five times after that. He saw it coming each time. I finally submitted and now here I am.”
“So you just gave up,” he remarked.
I smiled from his remark. “No, just finally understood the other side of the story. Father caused his own death. All of the P.A.E. do. They rebel and cause the death of those who obey the law. They deserve to die. Neil helped me see that. He saved my life.”
“You truly believe that?”
“Yes.”
Rik took a deep breath. He never thought his little sister would ever say that but I had changed. I wasn’t a little girl anymore.
“Father told me never to forget what he taught me. What he taught us. I never did, but I learned that there are more to things than meet the eye. There’s more to the Emperor than what people think. He isn’t like what you rebels make him out to be,” I started tapping the edge of the cards on the table again.
“How so?”
“He tries to make sure his people are treated fairly. He will get rid of representatives who are not doing their jobs, those who are just using their status to get things they want.”
“I’m sure he does.”
“How would you know? Have you actually looked to see what he has done to this galaxy?”
“Yes, I see all the pain he has caused his people. You don’t go to all the planets, Arcadia, and see how the everyday people are affected,” Rik took another deep breath, trying to calm himself down. “How did you still have Father’s pocket watch? If you were thrown into the Kamps, didn’t they take all of your belongings?”
“Yes, they did. My supervisor thought it was a handsome watch and kept it for himself. When I agreed to serve the Emperor, I asked Neil if I could take it back. He said yes, but I would have to kill him for it. Neil knew that if anyone found out I was a child of the Kamps then there would be serious dismay. The children of the Kamps were punished for their parents’ doing, to warn anyone that if they didn’t respect the Empire their children would be made to serve the Empire.
“The idea of a Kamps child being the Emperor’s shadow would cause a riot. Neil did his best to cover up that I had ever been there, giving me a new last name and identity. He burned down the section of the Kamps I was in. There were no survivors. The only people that knew were his old generals but he ordered them to never tell a soul and they never did. Those generals have since been replaced. I believe they received some nice land on Anosira for keeping their mouths shut.”
“Sounds about right.”
I ignored his remark. “What about you? What has happened these last eleven years with you? Twos?”
“Draw,” he said.
I drew a three and hoped he wouldn’t say it next.
“I found John,” he explained as the details came back to him. “As Father instructed us to do. We searched for you after the Imperials left but we never found any trace. John decided it would be better for us to leave and took me to Valle. There, he became like a father and raised me as his son alongside David and Will. They were orphans there. We trained to be part of the P.A.E. and have been part of it ever since. Six?”
“Draw. Your story sounds a little less violent than mine.”
“That’s for sure.”
“Will blames me for John’s death you know. Wants to kill me.”
“I know.”
“Do you blame me?”
Rik was silent, not wanting to answer the question.
“What about Amanda?” I moved the subject on. “Where does she fit into all of this? And threes?”
He pulled out two cards and handed them to me. “I met her on Cisum
during a mission for the P.A.E. about eight years back. She was running away from her family who violently abused her. She needed a ride and I gave her one. I told her about the P.A.E. and she decided to join. We started dating and have been married for a year and a half now. Nines?”
I handed him my nine.
“She hasn’t said a word to me since I have been on this ship. Any particular reason?” I asked.
“She doesn’t trust you. She’s seen what you have done to the P.A.E. She thinks I’m a fool for even bringing you on this ship.”
So it was because she thought I was a mistake. “You are a fool for bringing me on this ship.”
“What about you?”
I looked at him puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“Boyfriend? Husband?”
I felt my lips crisp into a smile. “You want to know about my love life?”
“We have a lot of time to kill on this journey, might as well catch up on all the lost time.”
“No boyfriend. No husband. There’s a guy on Recar but it’s nothing special. Don’t ever admit love. Don’t ever let love into my heart. Messes things up. It’s a weakness. My loyalty is to the Emperor and the Emperor alone. Love will get in the way of that loyalty,” I clarified.
“And here I thought maybe you were with that general, Draff I believe his name was. You both have an interesting reputation. His tactics are close to yours.”
“Never. Not even if he was the last man in the galaxy. We don’t get along. Makes my life miserable. Accuses me of things. Makes me look like a fool in front of others. He is the most pompous, arrogant, heartless son of a bitch that has ever lived.”
A grin appeared on Rik’s face. “Just like you.”
“True. I see too much of myself in him to ever love, let alone like him. Maybe in another time but not this one.”
“What about the Emperor?”
I eyed Rik, hoping he wouldn’t go there. “What about him?”
“What is your relationship with him?”
“I serve him as would any other in my place.”
“Nothing more?”
I stared at him for a second longer then laid my cards on the table. “This game is over.”
Rik stood up and headed towards the door.
“I killed him, you know,” I muttered. He turned back to me. “And yes, I did realize it was John. Dear John. He was like an uncle to us, wasn’t he? Helping Father raise us after Mother died. And I shot him. He stood in my way.”
I got up and walked over to where Rik stood glaring at me. “You want to know what he said before I killed him? He said, ‘Arcadia, so it is true, you did betray your father. If only he could see you now’. Then I shot him and went on with my mission. No hesitation,” I let the words linger. “Don’t think just because you are my brother that I will ever hesitate to kill you if need be. You better make sure your men don’t try to kill me, because I know they all want to. Deep down I know you want to, too. It won’t end well for any of you if you try.”
Turning back to the table, I sat down and shuffled the cards back up. Rik just stood in the doorway, staring at me. He didn’t think I had actually killed John, but I had. He was in my way and would have shot me if I lowered my gun. So that was that. Rik left me there.
I didn’t want to say what I did but his comment about Neil pissed me off. I was sick of all the accusations of my relationship with the Emperor. They didn’t understand that there was nothing between us; I was just his tool against the P.A.E. Nothing more. He saved my life and I owed it to him. I owed everything to him.
As I sat there, thinking of the conversation we had just had. Why did I agree to become the Emperor’s shadow all those years ago? I didn’t care now but I hated him then. Something in my mind held that thought as David came back into the dining hall. I dealt another game as he sat down across from me, not saying a word.
Chapter 8
We reached the Roz system. I never saw my brother for the rest of the trip. I didn’t know if it was because he was still healing from his injuries or if I had made him too enraged to even look at me. Whatever the reason , he ignored me, leaving me with David for the remainder of the time. I didn’t know why but I didn’t mind David’s company. Not saying I liked his company, I just didn’t mind him being there all the time.
As I predicted, nothing had changed on Garvner. Everything still stood centuries behind the rest of the universe and the people here wanted to keep it that way. It made them feel secluded from the rest of the Pandronan Empire, even though they were now part of it. The Empire preferred them to be behind technologically, it made it easier to keep them in order, or at least it has for the last eleven years.
As we landed, David handed me a cloak to help hide my identity, in case anyone recognized me. I doubted if anyone would recognize me on Garvner but I complied.
“Have you ever been back?” David watched as I gazed down at the planet from the space-screen.
“No.”
He stepped up next to me. “Only been here a few times myself. It’s... interesting.”
“Interesting. Never heard it described as that before. Lame, boring, historic, prehistoric even. Never interesting.”
“It’s all a matter of opinion.”
I chuckled. “I guess you could say that.”
“Why? How would you describe it?”
I turned to face him. “Home,” I could tell he was trying to figure what I meant by that. “What happens after we find the key?”
“What do you mean?” David led me towards the ramp of the ship.
“Are you going to try to kill me? This is all you needed me for, am I right?”
He hesitated. “Interesting that you used the word ‘try’.”
“Do you really think you could succeed in killing me?” I remarked as we made it to the bottom of the ramp.
David didn’t have a response. We waited for the rest of the crew to meet us on the space-port floor. Not many ships occupied the port, mostly traders coming for supplies for other planets. A couple of Class Three ships were parked on the other side. I made a mental note to stay away from those.
After a few minutes, Rik came walking down the ramp, alone. He wrapped himself in a cloak. He knew he could be spotted if Imperial news made it out this far. I wondered if wanted posts were sent out for him, or if the Emperor made it all disappear. All I knew was that I didn’t want to find out the hard way.
“Where’s Will?” David questioned as Rik approached.
“It’s just going to be us three. I thought it would be best if Will didn’t come along,” Rik gave me a glance. He knew I was right and he wouldn’t be able to control him after I found the key.
“Why? Is he going to try to kill me or do you not want him to have the pleasure?”
“I’m not going to kill you. I promised to let you go and I will hold to that promise,” Rik gestured towards the exit that faced the city as he raised his hood. “Shall we?”
I squinted as I saw the star’s reflected light on the ocean’s surface. It was a long time since I felt the cool breeze of the ocean’s air. Taking in a deep breath of the sweet, salt-filled air, I smiled. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until now.
There was only one space port on Garvner. It was located on the south side of the island just above the sea-port. My brother and David led me down the walkway to the small port city of Vass. Vass was one of only two major cities, the other being Clar. The rest of the settlements were composed of small villages. I looked up to find the large moon, Nasir, still hanging in the sky as usual. It was mined for the minerals and elements that Garvner lacked. I turned back toward the port and followed Rik into the city.
Vass had two main roads, one leading north towards the forest and one that went east to west that led to the other two sea-ports and also through the middle of the city. The rest were all small alleyways that Rik kept us in the shadows of. He didn’t want to draw attention to us. We passed pub after shop after pub again. This city
was really quite quaint. Much of the housing was above the shops and pubs where the shop owners lived with their families. Sailors stayed in their ships or in inns and the rest of the citizens lived on the edge of town or in the smaller settlements that were scattered across the large island. We had lived in a clearing in the forest outside of town where Father harvested different varieties of fruit trees.
“It really hasn’t changed, has it?” I questioned Rik as we made our way through the town.
He shook his head. “It may look the same on the outside, Arcadia, but it’s not. These people aren’t as cheerful as they once were. The Empire destroyed their home and it has taken them this long to rebuild it. You were probably too young to remember, but this town was a lot busier, filled to the brim with people having a good time. There even used to be festivals, parties, or just days of fun. Not now. Not since the Empire seized control.”
“You come back often?”
“Every once in a while, just to see how everything is. In the beginning I helped people rebuild their houses, stores, pubs. This whole city had been almost destroyed. It took some time to rebuild.”
“The Empire gave supplies to help,” I stated.
“Yeah, but not enough. Not enough to rebuild all they had lost. You really think your precious Emperor gave all that he could to this planet? Look around you, Arcadia, these people are barely making it.”
I looked briefly around, taking a closer look at the people as they walked by in the streets. Rik was right, they didn’t look happy. The sparkle that was once in every eye was gone. The perkiness was gone. I hadn’t noticed until now. I remembered as a girl coming to town and being greeted with open arms. These people weren’t open to others, they try to stay secluded. Things had changed.
We made our way through half of the town. Once we approached one of the main roads, it started to get more crowded. We needed to cross one main road in order to get to our old home; otherwise we would have stayed away from any crowded area.
I kept my head down and followed Rik as he walked in front of me. David followed behind, making sure I wouldn’t try to run off. I tried to stay away from all the people that were going about their daily lives. I didn’t want to start a fight if I bumped into the wrong person. I would easily win, but I didn’t need the attention. Even with much consideration, I still ended up bumping into a man carrying luggage across the street.
