by Ryk Brown
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Frontiers Saga Part 2: Rogue Castes
Episode #9: I Am Justice
Copyright © 2018 by Ryk Brown All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.
CHAPTER ONE
Nathan stood at the podium, looking out at the cheering crowds gathered in the memorial square at the center of Rakuen’s capital city. Thousands had come to witness this historic moment. The moment when Rakuen and Neramese put their past conflicts behind them, allied with the Karuzari, and became part of the galactic human community, once again.
The old traditions and attitudes of their founders had kept them all but isolated for far too long. The jump drive had brought increased wealth and prosperity to both worlds, and recent events had convinced most people that the time for change was upon them. Unfortunately, the refusal of their elders to embrace such change had nearly torn their world apart.
Those who had opposed the change had been swept aside by a single act of violence, proving that the will of the people of Rakuen could not be stopped; not by foolish, old men who feared change. Now, the people of both worlds had come together to celebrate their new alliance and to hail the man who not only made it possible but had saved their entire system from certain destruction at the hands of the Dusahn.
The cheers began to subside, replaced by a chant that grew in intensity with each cycle. Na-Tan, Na-Tan, Na-tan… The infectious chant rapidly grew in volume as more joined in. Taking advantage of the moment, Ito Yokimah stepped forward and took Nathan’s left hand, raising it triumphantly in the air with his own, prompting an instant doubling of volume in the crowd. The chant swelled into a deafening roar as the crowd celebrated their new hero.
Nathan held both hands in the air, even after Ito stepped back out of the spotlight. After a few seconds, he lowered his hands, placing them on the podium before him. He nodded his appreciation to the crowd, over and over again, as he waited for their cheers to die down. Finally, he spoke; his words echoing through the loudspeakers surrounding the square.
“I am but a single soul. Alone, I am powerless, but when joined with thousands, with tens of thousands, with hundreds of thousands, we are an unstoppable force!”
The crowd erupted again, causing him to pause.
“A force for justice! A force for equality! A force for freedom!”
Again Nathan paused, allowing the thousands gathered before him to express their emotions.
“Today, the accords that created decades of mistrust, and prevented Neramese and Rakuen from achieving their true potential, has been swept aside by the leaders of both worlds!” Nathan continued. “Today, you are no longer just Rakuens or Nerameseans, every one of you are also Rogens! Proud and strong! And it is my honor to welcome you all into the Karuzari Alliance!”
The crowd erupted into a mixture of cheers and chants of Na-Tan, Na-Tan.
“History will mark this day as the beginning of the end of Dusahn tyranny,” Nathan continued, nearly yelling into the microphones to be heard over the roar of the crowd. “The people of the Pentaurus sector, the Bellius sector, the Rogen sector, and all sectors between and around them, will herald this day! As our victories mount, the worlds of these sectors will join our alliance! And our numbers will no longer be in the hundreds of thousands! Not even in the millions! The souls joined together for the cause of freedom from oppression will number in the trillions!”
The cheers swelled even louder, to the point of challenging nature’s thunder itself. Nathan stood proudly, his hands held high again. After a moment of cheers, he reached out for the hands of Ito Yokimah, Rakuen’s interim minister, and Minister Cornell of Neramese. The three of them raised their hands together, celebrating the historic moment along with their people.
Nathan wondered what exactly the history books would say about this day. Would they see it as he had played it? As the beginning of a new era? Or would they discover the truth about how this moment actually came to be?
* * *
Doctor Symyri had been kind enough to send a pair of medical techs to help move Miri’s stasis pod from the Seiiki’s hangar bay to his medical center deep within Sanctuary. As promised, the arrival inspection process had been far quicker than their first visit, possibly due to the influence of the good doctor.
Unfortunately, the actual medical facility had been considerably further than the doctor’s business offices had been. Without the use of the transport tube shuttles, it would have taken them hours to reach their destination.
The transport tube system was extremely complex. Fully automated, it allowed, those who could afford it, rapid transit between any two sections within the asteroid colony. After an eight-minute, high-speed shuttle ride, they had reached their destination and were walking the corridors toward Doctor Symyri’s medical center.
The route clearly marked, Jessica led the entourage through the maze of corridors. The local medical techs handled Miri’s stasis pod, and Lieutenant Rezhik and his men provided escort with Doctor Chen and Doctor Sato following.
The entrance to the medical center was fairly nondescript. It didn’t even look like a hospital. Double doors parted automatically as Jessica approached, and a young man in medical attire, data pad in hand, was waiting for them.
“The Scott-Thornton party?” the man asked, already knowing the answer when he spotted two of his medical techs escorting the stasis pod.
“Yes,” Jessica replied.
“Room four,” the man said, his response directed more toward the medical techs managing the stasis pod than to the rest of them.
Lieutenant Rezhik glanced at the signs above the doors, immediately spotting the aforementioned room and headed toward it.
“I’m sorry, but only medical personnel and family are allowed in the examination rooms,” the young man insisted.
Lieutenant Rezhik glared at him. “Where she goes, we go,” he stated emphatically.
The young man’s expression changed instantly, unsure of how to respond. “Uh…” He looked to Jessica, whom he assumed was their leader.
“Security,” Jessica told him.
“I assure you, this facility is more than secure.”
“We just waltzed right in,” Jessica pointed out.
“Only because we were expecting you,” the young man defended. “And those two are our medical technicians, with appropriate access badges.”
“Then give us appropriate access badges, as well,” Jessica suggested.
The young man was flabbergasted. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple. There are ba
ckground checks, procedures… It takes days…”
Jessica stepped over next to the nervous young man, putting her arm around his shoulders. “The lady in that stasis pod is Captain Scott’s sister. You know who Captain Scott is, don’t you?”
“Of course,” the young man assured her. “Na-Tan.”
“Correct,” Jessica replied. “And Na-Tan has entrusted his sole surviving family member to myself, and these four men, and believe me when I tell you that we are quite serious about that responsibility.” Jessica looked into the young man’s eyes. “Deadly serious.”
The man swallowed hard, his eyes darting back and forth. “Can they at least change into clean attire before the examination process?”
“I don’t know,” Jessica replied. “Whattaya got?”
“Uh…I’m sure we can find them something,” the young man promised. “But, I’ll have to clear it with my supervisor first.”
“Might I suggest you go directly to Doctor Symyri?” Jessica urged.
“Of course,” the young man replied, eager to extract himself from the situation.
“He’s just trying to keep the exam room as sterile as possible,” Doctor Chen assured Jessica as soon as the young man departed.
“I’m sure he is,” Jessica replied, seemingly unconcerned. “Vasya, Brill, check the perimeter. This floor, the one above, and the one below. Junior should be back with clean duds for us by the time you return.”
“What do we do if someone objects to us poking around?” Corporal Vasya asked.
“Give them your best Ghatazhak death stare,” Jessica suggested. She looked at the corporal’s boyish face. “Maybe Brill should give them the look,” she added with a slight grin.
“Funny,” the corporal replied as he and the specialist moved past her.
“Perhaps one of us should accompany them,” one of the medical techs suggested. “In case they have any questions.”
“Good idea,” Jessica agreed. “We can handle the stasis pod ourselves, right, doc?” she asked Doctor Chen.
“Stasis pods are designed to run automatically for hundreds of years, if need be. So, yes, I think we’ll be okay for a few minutes.”
“Give them the grand tour then,” Jessica instructed the medical tech.
* * *
“You handled that quite well,” General Telles congratulated Nathan as he escorted him from the stage to the Reaper waiting nearby. The crowds were still cheering as he and the general disappeared into the Reaper’s passenger bay.
“Take us back to the ship,” Nathan ordered the pilot as he activated the door controls.
“Aye, sir,” the pilot replied.
“It would have been a lot easier if you had waited until after the signing to tell me who really killed Minister Sebaron.”
“He was an obstacle to our cause and to the security of his own people,” General Telles replied calmly as he took his seat.
“I’m sure he was,” Nathan agreed, fastening his seatbelt. “But that was for his people to decide, not your blade.”
“His people had decided,” General Telles countered. “The minister refused to listen. My blade only hastened the inevitable with far less loss of life.”
“Perhaps,” Nathan admitted as the shuttle rose off the ground. “But his resignation could have been achieved without taking his life, given time.”
“Time is a commodity in short supply,” General Telles insisted. “The Dusahn will attack again, and soon. They have no alternative. To ignore the Rogen system invites failure. Minister Sebaron was a fool to believe that Rakuen could defend itself against the Dusahn. You and I both know this, Captain. Every minute he remained in power, brought his world one step closer to destruction. Even his people knew this.”
“Which is precisely why we should have sought a less violent resolution,” Nathan argued.
“Were circumstances more favorable, I might agree with you. Unfortunately, the good minister brought his doom upon himself when he illegally seized Karuzari assets. Illegally by the laws of his own world, I might add. Laws that he was sworn to uphold. The man was without honor, and without wisdom. I feel no guilt over the taking of his miserable life.”
Nathan looked at Telles, one eyebrow raised.
“Frankly, Captain, it worries me that you are so bothered by my actions. Can you honestly tell me it was a mistake to assassinate Minister Sebaron?”
“I never said it was a mistake,” Nathan pointed out. The shuttle jumped from the lower atmosphere of Rakuen to a few kilometers away from the Aurora’s position orbiting the Rogen sun, halfway between the orbits of Rakuen and Neramese. “I just wish there had been another way.”
“Are you saying that, had you been present at the time, you would not have authorized the assassination?” General Telles asked directly.
“No, I’m sure I would have,” Nathan sighed. “And that’s what bothers me.”
“I’m afraid I do not understand,” the general admitted.
“That it doesn’t bother me,” Nathan explained, “when I feel like it should.”
“Leaders must decide who lives and dies on a daily basis during times of war,” the general reminded him. “If it makes you feel any better, the fact that you still question the morality of assassination, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that such an act is necessary for the greater good of all, should put your mind somewhat at ease.”
Nathan looked at the general. “It doesn’t,” he replied, leaning back in his seat and closing his eyes for a moment.
* * *
“This facility is definitely more advanced than anything we have back on Earth,” Doctor Chen announced as she wandered the room, examining the various devices.
“More advanced than anything from Nifelm or Corinair, as well,” Doctor Sato added. “And it’s only the examination room.”
Doctor Chen stopped at a large, multi-jointed arm with some sort of a scanner head attached to the end of it. “I have no idea what this is,” she admitted.
“Some type of scanning device?” Jessica suggested.
Doctor Sato touched a view screen on the console in the corner of the room, causing it to come to life. “Oh, my,” she exclaimed. “I think it’s a molecular scanner.”
“What’s that?” Jessica wondered.
“It’s like our medical scanner on the Aurora, only instead of giving you images of tissues and structures inside the body, it gives you images at the molecular level,” Doctor Chen explained. “We’ve been experimenting with something similar on Earth, but have yet to perfect the technology.”
“It’s probably more similar to your medical scanner than you think,” the medical tech explained. “It scans at the molecular level, and then uses that data to build images of any structure within the body, allowing you to see them with as much detail as if you were holding them in your hand. More, in fact, since it can see inside those structures, right down to the molecular level.”
“We could really use one of these on the Aurora,” Doctor Chen admitted.
“There are portable versions,” the medical tech assured her. “They are commonly used on the battlefield or by emergency responders. There are even handheld versions, although they are nowhere near as powerful or accurate as the clinical models.”
“You know how to use this?” Doctor Sato asked the young man.
“I know how to operate it, yes. However, I am not qualified to offer a definitive diagnosis based on its scans. That would be up to the doctor,” the tech insisted.
“Don’t worry, I wasn’t going to ask you to,” Doctor Sato assured him.
“Mister Selly is far too modest,” Doctor Symyri said as he entered the exam room. “He is one of my best medical technicians.” The doctor paused, looking at Doctor Sato. “You must be Doctor Sato
,” he gushed, moving to shake her hand.
“I am,” Doctor Sato replied, appearing a bit uneasy.
“I am Doctor Nikolori Symyri,” he said, bowing respectfully as he took her hand. “It is an honor to meet you, Doctor Sato. I am a great admirer of your work and that of the late Doctor Megel. Such a tragic loss. My deepest condolences.”
“Thank you,” Doctor Sato replied.
“And you must be the infamous Doctor Chen,” Doctor Symyri said, turning his attention to Melei with equal fervor. “The one doctor in all the galaxy whom the legendary Captain Scott trusts.” Doctor Symyri reached out to shake Melei’s hand as he bowed respectfully. “I am equally honored. I hope he will soon have that same trust in me.”
“I am honored, as well,” Doctor Chen replied.
Doctor Symyri looked around. “Where is the good captain?”
“He was unable to return with us,” Jessica explained. “We have been tasked with the patient’s protection.”
“I see,” the doctor replied. “It would be better if he were here.”
“Responsibilities of his position, I’m afraid,” Jessica replied.
“You have an impressive facility,” Doctor Chen interrupted. “It appears that you have diagnostic methods unfamiliar to us.”
“Being located on Sanctuary has given me an unparalleled advantage. So many people come through this world, selling so many goods and information. It is a veritable goldmine of technology, science, and culture that, I suspect, is without equal anywhere in the galaxy. Were I based in the average hospital, or in the medical department of a starship, my expertise would be significantly diminished.” Doctor Symyri paused for a moment, appearing horrified. “Oh, dear, I hope that didn’t seem as egotistical and insulting as it sounded.”
“Not at all,” Doctor Chen assured him. “I understood your intended meaning.”
Doctor Symyri sighed with relief. “Oh, thank God. It is always such a delicate moment, meeting people whose culture and mannerisms are unfamiliar. It can be so easy to say the wrong thing.” The doctor leaned closer to Doctor Chen for a moment. “Wars have started for less, you know.”
