Center Moon: The Stone of Cordova

by Stephen Gambuti

  According to the half-breed, they were only an evening’s hike away from the village of Strom. Strom was a stronghold of the Alliance.

  The Earth was not only split between the Old Republic and the Parliamentary Council, but the third and smallest faction was the Alliance. This growing faction was exactly what its name stated. It consisted of three types of humans: Sapians, Crows and half-breeds. Leo had discovered it shortly after the Council imprisoned him. Another man in the holding cell had alerted Leo to the Alliance’s existence.

  “I wonder why my parents didn’t tell me about this?” Jonas asked Leo, who was crouching around a campfire, while the teen packed the dracosaur.

  “Too young to be trusted.” Leo grinned as he shoved a piece of hot saber cat meat into his mouth. “Strom is best invisible.”

  “I wonder why they wanted me to know about it?” Jonas blurted as he slipped his blaster into a makeshift holder on the animal’s back.

  “Didn’t tell, you were Troupe’s boy. Very secret man.” Leo’s eyes slid toward the teen, who stopped packing.

  Jonas approached Leo and took a seat along the fire. “You knew who my father was?” He glanced over to make sure Liotta was still asleep. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Didn’t know until I heard you yelling at Darden.” Leo clenched another bunch of meat in his jaws.

  Jonas squatted down in front of his half-breed friend. “Was my father a bad man?”

  “Good man … No. Bad man … No.”

  Jonas glared at Leo blankly.

  “Your father was a man who did what he had to do in order to protect his family.”

  “I don’t get it.” Jonas squinted his eyes.

  Leo giggled as the food dribbled down his chin.

  “I don’t get it, Leo, you lost me.” Jonas stood up, shaking his head.

  “Wait until tomorrow. Have better understanding.” Leo threw his scraps into the fire, creating gray smoke, which choked Liotta awake. Leo watched her twitch and wiggle her nose. He gave Jonas a stern look and put his index finger over his lips. “Not a word.”

  The sun was breaking through the early morning stars. The moons’ images slowly faded into the sky. Leo, Jonas and Liotta approached the peak of a mountain somewhere along the Sara stretch. At the foot of the mountains, the Meso River forked and reconnected, forming an island. The solitary chunk of land was inhabited with primitive stone dwellings. Jonas could barely detect people moving about them. Leo outstretched his arms to introduce the two teens to this mystical village. “Roots are here. In Strom.”

  Jonas shot Liotta a look of embarrassment. He had no idea why Leo was acting so goofy. It really did not matter much because Liotta fell into hard laughter when Leo started dancing. “Why are you so happy?” Jonas started laughing. “What has gotten into you?”

  “Home. Know how long it’s been? I’m home.” Leo leapt a few times with excitement. “You.” He pointed to Jonas. “Home, too.”

  The three of them headed down to the river’s fork. By the time they reached their mark, the sun was bursting through the atmosphere. Crisp white clouds accented the rich blue sky. Jonas was used to fortified cities, prisons and Safe Zones. This village was not protected by a single wall or fence. No guards with weapons to monitor visitors. The small community resembled paradise. Children were playing tag with three-foot lizards.

  Liotta smiled as two little girls waved to her from a distance. “What a wonderful world.”

  “Your world. Your Earth.” Leo giggled and motioned to a nearby walking bridge. “Let’s see some friends.”

  Jonas was happy to go. He removed all their gear from the dracosaurs and sent them on their way. Because the animals were now tamed, they would be ready to return for service if ever needed. Jonas grabbed Liotta’s hand, bringing her along behind him. Leo was walking lightly over the bridge as he hummed a cheerful melody. Every step brought them closer to Strom.

  As they completed their passage across the bridge, a bunch of children gathered around them. They stopped when they spotted Jonas and his friends.

  “I think they are scared of us,” Liotta stated.

  “Aren’t used to strangers,” Leo responded and waved to the children. “Good Sun.”

  The children waved back.

  Their faces ranged in shape and size. Some had thick hair and two eyebrows. Some had small noses with bulging foreheads. Others looked like regular Sapians, and others were completely Crow. Liotta was astonished by how happy they all seemed.

  “My Gods. They are all friends,” Jonas said in disbelief.

  “Amazing. Little ones do not know difference.” Leo chuckled as he started to walk towards a group of dwellings.

  “This village is for everyone,” Liotta said as she explored her surroundings.

  “Like this when I grew up. Strom only one left.” Leo pointed to an earthy stone structure. “That is headquarters of Alliance.”

  Leo made it clear that the structure was their present destination. Liotta and Jonas followed his lead.

  They approached the huge dwelling. Leo rapped his knuckles on the door. There was no answer. The half-breed knocked harder. Still no answer.

  “No one is in there.” A voice came from behind Leo. They turned to see who was speaking. It was a Sapian man, who looked like he was in his late twenties. He was neatly garbed in animal skin pants. His upper body was clothed in an old Enforcer’s uniform.

  “Oh, I see. Could you please tell us where I might find someone who heads up the Alliance?” Leo seemed more courteous than usual.

  “Sure. Follow me.” The man turned and led the group down a dirt road. “The only one left is actually the senior-most member. He would’ve joined the others, but he is too old for scouting.”

  The group turned a corner and approached another stone dwelling. Leo giggled a bit as he watched the man tap on the door. The man turned the knob, opening the door slightly. He peeked in. “Jada? Jada?”

  “Come in,” an old voice summoned from behind the door.

  The man opened the door and escorted Leo and the teens inside the dwelling. When they walked in, they could feel the warmth of the home. The walls were lined with everything from photographs to antique battle weapons. Along the wall sat a table loaded with all kinds of rocks. It reminded Jonas of the gifts his father used to bring home. Liotta invited herself to look at all the pictures. One caught her attention. It captured her attention so much that she did not noticed her friends had already greeted the old man.

  “Welcome, travelers. Leo, good to finally see you again.” Jada smiled at his old friend. The man in his twenties whispered in his elder’s ear. Jada was a half-breed like Leo. “I see,” he said, responding to the whispers. When that conversation ended, the old man looked up at Leo. “You are looking to live in Strom?”

  “Hello, Jada. Pleasure to see you.” Leo seemed awkward. He was not giggling. He was dead serious and being extremely respectful. “Like to reside here Strom.” Leo bowed a bit. “Hold no allegiance to Old Republic or Parliamentary Council.” Leo bowed again. “Promise to be much better citizen this time.”

  “Stop bowing. It’s making me ill.” The old man eyed Jonas. “What’s your story, young man?”

  Jonas could not get over how respectful Leo was to this old man. He even noticed Leo’s usually broken speech was much better. He also wanted to find out about all that good citizen stuff. “My name is Jonas Troupe, sir. My parents were killed. Someone is trying to kill me. I basically need a place to stay.” Jonas did not bow.

  “What did you say your last name was?” Jada’s thick gray eyebrows lifted curiously upon his huge brow.

  “Troupe, sir. I—”

  “Jonas, come quick.” Liotta stood staring at a picture with her hand over her mouth.

  “Excuse me.” Jonas gestured he would return in moments. He stepped back into the hall where he noticed Liotta standing with her mouth covered.

  “Jonas. Come here.” Liotta grabbed him. “Look there.” Sh
e squeezed his arm. “It’s you. That’s you.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous Lio…” Jonas’ jaw dropped and a tingle ran up his spine. He was staring at himself. “I don’t understand. That’s me. On this guy’s wall.”

  “It’s not you, son.” Jada hobbled over with his thick ivory cane. “That’s my son.” The old man stared at Jonas. “That makes you … my grandson.”

  “Yeah, right.” Jonas gave Liotta a look and rolled his eyes. He thought the old man was crazy. “How could you possibly be my grandfather?” Jonas tapped his forehead showing Jada they were different. Somehow though, deep down, he believed him. That could be the only reason his father had told him about Strom in the first place. Because he knew someone would be here to protect him.

  “Big deal. So you gotta nice forehead. That picture was taken when your father was seventeen. I bet you’re about that age as well.” Jada nodded with confidence. “I heard he was murdered. He and your mother. Damn shame. I must’ve cried for three rounds straight.”

  For some reason, Jonas was beginning to believe Jada was telling the truth. He quickly glanced at Liotta for her non-verbal opinion, but she was still focused on the picture. How could this be possible? How could I be a half-breed? Jonas turned and looked at the picture again. “But how?”

  Jada was trying to read Jonas’s thoughts. “You see, your grandmother, my wife, was a Sapian. Your father had her genes.”

  “But the Academy? He told me you had died when he was a boy.” Jonas was getting visibly confused.

  “Come with me, son,” the old man said as he took Jonas by the hand.

  Jonas was reluctant until he noticed that they had identical knuckles. The hairs, the creases, everything. He followed Jada into the galley. The old man fixed Jonas a bright orange drink.

  “You must be thirsty.” The old man sat on a chair across from Jonas. “I had a feeling this day would come.” He looked sternly into the teen’s eyes. “Your father sacrificed his life for this village and all of us living in it.”

  “I don’t understand.” Jonas chugged a sip of the orange beverage.

  “To make sure the Alliance was not discovered by anyone, your father left and joined the Parliamentary Council.” Jada slapped his own forehead. “Damned bugs.” He returned to the explanation. “Your father decided it would be best to keep things hidden by joining the Enforcers. He became part of their elite squad in order to gain information.”

  “I still don’t understand.” Jonas looked more puzzled than before.

  “My son was the highest operative the Alliance ever had. He was a spy, Jonas. He would go out on missions with a small squad. That squad was supposed to kill anything different without question. Your dad would go on those missions and terminate his peers.” The old man sat up straight. “There were times when the Parliament was right on our heels. Your father would save small villages of innocent people, then have to terminate his fellow officers for the sake of secrecy.”

  “I think I understand.” Jonas was putting pieces together slowly. His grandfather’s story was consistent with what Darden had said. Except for the parts about saving innocent people. His father killed Darden’s son. Jonas was certain the boy was innocent. “My father killed a young boy. My friend Darden told me that Dad killed his son. He saw it.”

  “Unfortunately, bad things happen.” Jada sighed, knowing this would be tough. “Your father did what he had to do in order to keep an entire civilization in existence. That is no easy task.”

  “Why didn’t he just outwardly command the Alliance?”

  Jada poured an orange drink for himself. He snatched a quick sip and continued. “You see, the Parliament has such superior technology that your father was able to secretly protect our existence and stop the Old Republic from finding us at the same time.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “The amount of information your father had at his fingertips alerted him to any hints someone was on to us.” Jada sipped on his drink with a soft slurp.

  “You mean all the communications devices?” Jonas did not see any devices that could transfer data like the Sapians had. “How did you talk with my father?”

  “I never needed to do much of anything. When your father received word about any kind of trouble, he eliminated the threats. We could not communicate with normal devices because the Parliamentary Council would pick up our transmissions.” Jada eased back in his seat and pursed his lips. “I remember one time your father actually sent a message through smoke signals.” Jada cracked a small smile for himself.

  “Where is the Alliance now?” Jonas asked as he finished his drink.

  “We spotted a couple of Crow transports landing near here. The troops went out to scout for anything strange. We maintain a peaceful existence through force.”

  Jonas thought of Darden’s transport landing nearby. “Where did they land? When?” Jonas stood up.

  “Easy, young man. Our men our checking it out. If the transports seem to mind their business, we will leave them be.” The old man tilted his head and studied Jonas. “I had a feeling when I saw you. You are his spitting image.”

  “I was going into the Academy, too.” Jonas took the paper out of his pocket. “Until my friend found this.” He threw it on the table.

  Jada unfolded it and patted down the wrinkled parchment. He read it over carefully.

  “Liotta thinks it came from an Enforcer we were holding.” Jonas waited for a response from his grandfather but none came. “I know it’s from a Crow.”

  The old man looked up at Jonas. “They were Republican probes that killed your parents, right?”

  “Yes. See, I knew it was the Crows.” Jonas smiled.

  “Your friend Liotta was right on the mark.”

  Jonas’s smile ran away from his face. “What?”

  “This was written by a Sapian. The lines are too perfect. The probes were used to confuse people. The Parliamentary Council killed your parents. An assassination. I am glad you’re here. They want you dead, too.” Jada folded the note back up and handed it to Jonas. “They have caught on to your father’s plan.”

  “But they accepted me into the Academy. Three rounds early even.” Jonas tried to defend his point.

  “Sure. Because you survived the probe attacks. They would let you come to them.”

  “But they gave me bodyguards, too,” Jonas exclaimed.

  “Yes. To make sure you don’t run off. But you did.” Jada nodded happily. “Now, tell me all about your little adventure.”

  Jonas and his newfound grandfather discussed all that happened. They spent several hours together. Liotta and Leo toured the village, while Jonas and Jada continued introducing themselves to each other. The more Jonas learned, the prouder he was of his father. The more Jada learned, the fonder he grew of his grandson.

  A Sapian man burst through the front door and shouted for Jonas’s grandfather.

  Jada looked up when he heard his name. He motioned to Jonas that he would return shortly as he got up from his seat. The old man walked out of the galley and down the hallway to greet the Sapian man.

  “Jada. Sir.” The man was catching his breath. “We have double trouble.”

  “How so, Quarp?” Jada asked as he leaned into his cane.

  “Well, we scouted the transports that landed. From what we could tell, they are a group of about thirty. All breeds. They apparently escaped Cordova because they came in Crow prison crafts.”

  Jonas, who was listening, had curls developing in the corners of his lips. He knew this was the group that had escaped with Darden. “They are good people.”

  Jada turned, surprised to catch Jonas eavesdropping. “How do you know?”

  The Sapian man had confusion all over his face.

  “I freed them.” Jonas grinned.

  “You didn’t tell me you had gone to Cordova.” Jada shook his head with a cross between shame and pride. “You could’ve gotten killed.”

  “Darden saved my life while I was i
n the medi-center,” Jonas explained as he moved down the hall to become closer to the discussion. “He also saved me in the prison.”

  “Who is Darden?” the Sapian man asked.

  “He is a friendly Crow. He belongs with us … and the Alliance.” Jonas stood firmly.

  “Well, your friend brought along another problem.” The man coughed, trying to catch his breath. “Landing in the woods behind them were ten Parliamentary cruisers. I am certain they are packed with Enforcers, sir.” He trained his eyes on Jada again.

  “Oh my. This does sound like a problem.” Jada bit his lower lip and played with his beard. “Where are our troops?”

  “A handful stayed behind to monitor any signs of aggression. The rest are along our borders just in case.”

  “The hovers?” Jada asked.

  “They are standing ready. We have about six ready to go. The other two we can’t fuel.” The man seemed to be breathing better.

  “We have to save those people, Jada. They will just go back into a prison zone. Besides … My friend is out there,” Jonas interjected as he stared at his grandfather.

  “Son, if we rescue those prisoners, then they will know of our existence.” Jada patted Jonas on the back. “Your heart is in the right place, though.”

  Jonas felt completely incompetent. His grandfather had just blown off his idea.

  “Go and continue to monitor. Let me know when the Enforcers destroy the prisoners and make sure they leave shortly after,” Jada ordered. “Keep the hovers ready … just in case.”

  “Yes, sir.” The Sapian man left at once to deliver the command.

  Jonas looked over at Leo and Liotta, as they, too, were privy to the conversation. Liotta was shaking her head. She hurried over to Jonas and pulled him aside. “You know I have never been a big fan of those Crows. But you can’t just let them get slaughtered like that.”

  Jonas knew she was right. He also knew Leo was thinking the same thing. “Jada … Grandfather … Sir?”

  “Yes, son.”

  “I’m sorry if I threatened your community’s secret existence. I am sorry if my father spent his whole life defending this existence, but remember the man who told me that his son was killed by my father?”