Renegades (Dark Seas Book 3)

by Damon Alan

  “Watch your tongue, Eislen,” she said, reaching up to pull his chest hair. “That is your burden to carry.”

  He grabbed her hands and spun her around. “Not alone.”

  She smiled at him, but there was a tinge of sadness on her face. “No, not alone. Although there are days I wouldn’t mind if we were alone, deep in the woods, in a cabin nobody knew of but us.”

  He sometimes thought the same. “Once the priests have built their temples, once the soldiers have decided the future, once the people are settled… that’s when you and I will make time for just ourselves.”

  “Liar. They will never let you leave. You are their leader. For some reason the fools love you. So young, but like a father.”

  He whispered into her ear. “I’ve seen things no old man has ever seen.”

  She pulled back to look at him. Stares traded for a few minutes, then she looked away.

  “You should clean up and see to the elders. They are waiting to tell you how great you are.”

  Eislen grabbed her, lifted her from the ground, and tossed her over a shoulder. “How great I am? Are you not the one that talked me into leaving the capital in the first place?” He squeezed tighter as she struggled to get free. “And then isn’t this all your doing?”

  She relented and hung loose on his back as he stepped up through the front door of their house. There he set her down and pulled her into a tight embrace.

  “Things are different now, Salla. We have gone on a path we didn’t see, didn’t expect. But it’s a path that will mean our children will be free. And adept or not, they will be ours, not sent off to a butcher shop in the Westlands.”

  He felt her nod as her head moved against his chest.

  “We didn’t come this far to fail. Thousands are rallying to the cause. Thousands more will come later. We will overwhelm the leadership of our nation with our sheer numbers. And, if Sarah Dayson stands in our way, we will educate her as well.”

  “You saw what she did to Kampana before,” Salla said. “You had better hope she’s on your side.”

  “She’d better be on my side,” Eislen corrected. “Because the gods are.”

  Chapter 56 - Rescue

  06 Huni 15329

  Peter sat on the bridge of the Palino with his friends, floating weightless, but strapped into his seat at the waist. Unlike the warships of the fleet, the Palino never exceeded one G of acceleration. Gravcouches were not needed.

  Alarin sat to his right. On the other side of the table, however, was the person who was about to change the nature of spaceflight.

  Emille sat across from him at a briefing table hastily installed for just this purpose. She stared into Peter’s eyes, but looked through him. As if seeing into eternity itself. One of her hands was grasped in two of his.

  He had more motivation than ever to teach this woman what she needed to know. Two days earlier the confusion of Orson’s coup was sorted out.

  Eris was gone. Nobody had retrieved her team from the Gaia. Stars only knew what that monster would do to her when he found her.

  An ache filled him, clenching at his guts, pulling at every thought. But he had a job to do.

  Peter squeezed Emille’s hand between his. Just enough to let her know he was still with her.

  “I see you, teacher. And you as well, Alarin, my love.”

  Despite his sadness, Peter smiled. He brought up the long range image of the Hinden’s wreckage onto the briefing table.

  Emille did not look down, but her head tilted slightly.

  “I see this place. So close in terms of what is far,” she whispered.

  “Can you take the Palino there?”

  “It is a steep hill.”

  “Can you climb it?”

  A bead of sweat trickled down the graceful lines of Emille’s neck. She didn’t answer.

  “Emille. Can you take us there?” Peter asked again.

  “Not alone…” she strained to say.

  Alarin’s head slumped back on his shoulders. Behind him the Hamorian captain of the Palino gasped. She had at first refused to allow her ship to be used, but Captain Jannis had insisted. To the point of offering to seize the vessel.

  Emille’s head lulled forward, her chin against her chest.

  Peter felt a twisting in his stomach. “What’s happening?”

  “We are climbing the hill,” Emille and Alarin said in unison, their heads still limp. “As one.”

  The command center of the Palino was placed for maximum visibility. Unlike the warships of the fleet, the freighter had a bridge with an excellent view from the windows, at least in the forward arc of the ship. Oasis shone in from eleven o’clock. On the right side the massive gas giant Ember raged.

  Then it was all gone. Blackness was now their only vista, except for the few sensor spars that jutted forward from the ship.

  “We have d—” Emille and Alarin said in unison.

  “—one this thing,” Emille finished alone.

  “We are at the wreckage,” a bridge crew member confirmed.

  “Well done, Emille,” Peter said, excited. “You’re amazing.”

  She smiled warmly, looking in turn at both Alarin and Peter. “I am what you have made me.”

  The rest of the bridge crew was scrambling to launch the shuttles the fleet had sent along in the cargo bays. The three who were instrumental in bringing the Palino here, however, were not involved. They would sit at the table until it was time to leave, then take the ship home.

  Alarin patted him on the back.

  “We can go get your mate soon,” the First Adept said.

  “Are you in my mind?” Peter asked.

  Alarin laughed. “Peter. My brother. I am not in your mind, but I know your mind. Every adept on Nula Armana does. Merik shared it with them long ago. You are trusted among us.”

  “Except for me, apparently,” Emille commented in disagreement. “She wanted me to get to know you in the old way. Maybe she saw what you would do for me, and by extension, humanity. Maybe that had to unfold organically, unlike my relationship with Alarin.”

  “I find it hard—” Peter started.

  “To love the woman who took so much from you, I know,” Alarin finished. “But it was her that made all this possible. What evil she did, she more than made up for in her last moments.”

  “Tell that to Captain Dayson. Merik stole everything she loved away.”

  “No,” Alarin countered. “And while Sarah resists the truth she was given, she knows that one day the long absence of her loves will be over. And Merik didn’t take it all. Sarah loves her people. You are still here.”

  “But your absence from your loved one doesn’t have to be that long,” Emille interjected. “We will go get her.”

  Peter looked down at the table. He wished he had the certainty in his mind that the adepts did.

  Emille didn’t give Alarin a chance to jump in. She had clearly grown fond of Peter, and wanted to comfort him. “You are one of us now. As soon as your shuttles save your Sarah Dayson, then we will plan for killing your renegade.”

  “That’s Captain Dayson’s decision. Not mine,” Peter said, sighing.

  “Your worries are she will cut her losses,” Alarin said.

  “It might be the tactically wise thing to do. Orson bested her once already.”

  Emille snickered.

  “What?” Peter asked.

  “Nothing.”

  That was irritating. “Tell me,” Peter demanded.

  “I mentioned to her that this was what it was like to be of the non-gifted,” Alarin said. “You know so little of your leader that you doubt she will fight.”

  Peter stared at him a moment. Then it occurred to him. Alarin was right. He was so caught up in his own paranoia over losing Eris that he didn’t trust Captain Dayson to be herself when he needed her to.

  “It is your fears that cloud your awareness,” Emille said. “She will end our enemy. Alarin has shared with me the ways of Sarah Dayson’s mind
.”

  Strangely, that was comforting.

  Eris wasn’t saved yet, but knowing the adepts would help made the difference. Captain Dayson… well, the adepts were wise. She never willingly surrendered.

  She’d want Orson’s head.

  And the three people at this table had provided the tools to do it. Maybe.

  “How far can you go?” Peter asked Emille.

  “That is not the question,” Alarin said.

  “What is?”

  “How many adepts are needed to unite in order to push through to where we need to go,” Emille answered. “I united with the consciousness of my man to get us here, and together this distance was easy. I think I can take us fairly far with my mind and his alongside. But not to a place so far away that it doesn’t even show in the sky.”

  “That is where we need to go,” Peter asked. He hoped there wasn’t desperation in his voice.

  “Then we’ll need some more adepts to come along,” Alarin said. “I know of some in Zeffult who would snap up such a chance.”

  “And I in Antecar,” Emille comforted. “Set aside your concerns, Peter.”

  “Easier said than done,” he replied. He looked at Alarin. “And how can you do this? Don’t you have a nation to rule?”

  “Your people are cleaning Zeffult of the weapon’s traces, and I have regents to administer things in my absence. This is bigger than Zeffult, Peter.”

  “I suppose it is,” he agreed.

  Chapter 57 - Humility

  17 Juni 15329

  The first election in New Korvand was over. The results were being tallied. Sarah paced on the dias with the other candidates for her position, as well as for the first civilian government of the small archipelago.

  The woman who’d become her best friend, Thea Jannis paced next to her. Despite also being a candidate for office in the election, Thea wasn’t pacing for herself, but keeping Sarah company. “Quit worrying. Whatever happens, the worst that it can be for you is early retirement to gardening, raising animals, fishing… Hey… is it too late to withdraw my candidacy?”

  Sarah laughed. Thea was a changed woman since her stint as commander of the fleet. She seemed to have a new appreciation for the load Sarah had carried so long.

  “It’s too late. You’re going to be the first Chancellor.”

  “And you’re going to be the commander of our forces still. Because if you’re right about me, then I get to pick you.”

  “I got over three hundred people killed on the Hinden.”

  Thea grabbed Sarah’s shirt roughly, stopping her mid-step and whirling her around. “You are done with the self-whatever-it-is you’re doing. Blame, pity, whatever. Done.”

  Standing close to Peter Corriea, near the polling boxes, Alarin and Emille looked up simultaneously. Maybe they caught the surge of emotions between the two women.

  Sara blushed. But Thea was right. Being handled like that was a bit of a shock. Her mouth fell open to respond, but nothing came out.

  Apparently Thea didn’t need a response anyway. “You lost some crew. In the military, people make that sacrifice. Some die, some are in command of those who fall. We named this city after a man who did both. Heyden Jerna.”

  The mention of her mentor’s name made Sarah cringe. He’d be disappointed in her right now. For her failure to defeat Orson, and for her current weakness.

  Once again Thea jerked the cloth of her sleeve. “People fought to be on your crew back at Mindari. There is a reason for that, stupid.”

  Sarah’s eyes widened to match her mouth.

  “That’s right. You’re being stupid. Tough love. Suck it up.”

  After several stunned seconds, laughter welled up from within.

  Sarah started laughing.

  Thea joined in.

  Soon people were laughing who had no idea what they even found funny. Maybe it was the stresses of their last years flowing outward in one of the most human of expressions.

  Joy at this victory.

  The official establishment of their society.

  Whatever the cause of their mirth, the infection spread. The moment was celebratory among the thousands gathered in the town’s square.

  “Results!” someone yelled.

  The large projection screen behind the candidates lit up.

  Chancellor of New Korvand:

  Thea Jannis: 8,217 votes

  Andovan Batalova: 1,894 votes

  Fena Malk: 1,314 votes

  Mayor of Jerna City…

  Cheers erupted in the gathered crowd.

  Sarah clapped Thea on the back. “Looks like you won!”

  Thea smiled a reluctant smile. “I guess I did.”

  Alarin stepped to the microphone. He still looked uncomfortable speaking into it. He halted as his voice boomed out. “I—” Alarin and Emille both looked around, startled by the speakers echoing the adept’s voice across the square.

  Stifled giggles passed through his audience.

  “I,” Alarin began again, “am honored to announce the winner of tonight’s election. This concept is new to me, I admit, but your leadership asked me to be the neutral party who ensured the integrity of your system.”

  He grinned. “I quite like it. Democracy is a fantastic idea.”

  The crowd cheered.

  “For the next seven hundred cycles of this moon around Jalai, Thea Jannis will be your leader. As First Adept, I am looking forward to working with her to rule Refuge as one world, one people.”

  The crowd roared their approval. There were thousands present, but they sounded like millions.

  Emille grabbed Thea from Sarah’s side and dragged her forward.

  “I—” Thea began and then looked around, jokingly confused, imitating Alarin.

  Laughter once again broke out in the assembly.

  Alarin laughed.

  Sarah noticed Emille did not, but the young girl was still learning the ways of the people she was so newly involved with.

  “I am honored to serve,” Thea said. “Just a few months ago we had a terrible crisis unfold. We were betrayed by our own, and lost hundreds of our people. Our friends,” Thea gestured toward Alarin, “lost uncounted lives.”

  Thea paused. The crowd fell into silence, their mirth broken.

  “Including a hero who’s name will be engraved on our capital building. Nartek Schavinsky. Alone he saved the Stennis from destruction. Alone he planted two nuclear weapons and steered the ship away from obliteration in the atmosphere of Ember. We haven’t heard from Tech Schavinsky since the weapons detonated. He is presumed dead. But he will never be forgotten as long as New Korvand stands.”

  Thea asked for, and shared, a moment of silence with the assembly before she continued. “But we survived. And if I can tell you one thing, I’m a lousy military leader. I’m good at building apartments, delivering babies, and fixing scuffed knees. But no… I’m not good at commanding a military force. It’s just too stressful. And I’m not mean enough.”

  Oh, here it comes. Wonder if the crowd will hate her for this.

  “That is why I want Fleet Captain Dayson to be commander of our forces. That is why my first act in office is to promote her to Admiral Dayson. Because we have wasted enough time sitting idly by instead of punishing the man who betrayed us all. She will speak to you as soon as I do one more thing.”

  Thea beckoned Sarah to the mic. She opened a small box, and inside were two small rings of ten stars each.

  Sarah recognized them. Insignia that Admiral Jerna had given to her a long time ago, telling her that someday he’d pin them on her. Turns out he was half right. But at least she’d wear them for the first time in a city that bore his name.

  “You went in my quarters without permission,” Sarah whispered.

  “That’s what you want to take from this?” Thea responded.

  Sarah shook her head as she smiled.

  Thea removed the Fleet Captain stars from Sarah’s shoulder, and pinned the admiral insignia in their pl
ace.

  Thea embraced her and whispered something into her ear. “These people would follow you into the depths of Ember. Quit doubting. So you lost this time. It’s not even the first time. Just the first time to a human. Do what you do. Lead this military once again, Admiral Dayson.”

  A nod was the only answer Sarah could muster.

  She pulled the microphone from its stand and walked to the front edge of the stage. A muscle in her arm twitched. Would they yank her off the stage and drag her through the streets?

  “In two days the Michael Stennis is leaving the system. Most of you know about the way of traveling that Lieutenant Commander Peter Corriea and Adept Emille Sur’batti discovered and perfected.” Sadness she couldn’t push away entered her voice. “Stars, a good number of you wouldn’t be here now without that discovery.”

  Sarah paused. The crowd was dead silent. Her knees felt weak, and for the first time in her life, she wanted to put down her responsibilities.

  Instead she felt a presence. A warm support that had no words, just overwhelming respect and friendship. Alarin was with her. In her. And, after the rush of confidence and supporting emotions, he shared his words.

  We are one people. I will always be your friend. In my mind, Sarah, you are the mother of our future.

  She turned back to the mic, renewed. Her voice surged with confidence. Alarin was right. As one people there was a job to do.

  “I intend to use that ability to pursue the war criminal and renegade Garrette Orson. I will kill him if I must, but I hope to capture him, bring him back here, and let a panel of his former peers decide his fate.”

  A surge of murmurs rippled through the crowd. Did they blame her for the rebellion?

  An unseen hand once again lifted her just enough.

  “To bring this criminal to justice, I need you to step up again. This order hasn’t come down yet, but our new Chancellor informs me that I can only take volunteers with me. That from today onward, our service will be all voluntary. I accept that. If we don’t have enough people to man our ships, we will put them in parking orbits until that changes.” Sarah put urgency into her voice. “But I remind you that Orson has fifty of our own, and who knows how many of the Schein’s crew are being held against their will. I believe it will speak to the character of our new society on how we deal with that.”