Last of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book One)

by Lawrence P White

  “It appears that the Empire is not dead. Chandrajuski wants me to organize whatever support you can raise for Daughter, and he’s provided me with a temporary rank to do so, that of full admiral. Only the Queen can make the rank permanent, but it works for now. It looks like you’re our recruiter, and I’ll command them.”

  “I’ll recruit, but only until I locate Daughter,” Krys amended. “When I do, my place is beside her.”

  “Understood. And your purpose here, Senator?” Buskin asked, turning his head to Truax.

  “My removal from Rrestriss was a little rushed. I’ve not fully settled on a plan, but my intention is to assist Daughter from another quarter. Your job is to organize a military force; mine is to thwart Struthers’ aims by working through the Imperial Senate.”

  Buskin nodded his head. “It’s a good plan, though fraught with risk. I accept my assignment, of course. What may I do to assist either of you?”

  Truax considered. “If what we’ve seen here on Rrestriss is any example, Struthers is far more entrenched than I would have thought possible.”

  “We strike while the iron is hot,” Krys commanded. “Our message must reach as many as it can in as short a time as possible. I’ll continue as originally planned, but you and I, Admiral Buskin, should part company. You, too, can carry my message, at least for a little while. Your task will then shift to gathering recruits and hiding until called.”

  He nodded. “We have two squadrons here, mine and Hastak’s, both probably marked by the Rebels. We have a little time if we move quickly, but only a little. It’s terrible fighting tactics, but we fight a war of information at the moment, not a war of opposing forces. I’m going to split up the squadrons, sending ships out individually. Each ship will carry the same message, and it will provide rendezvous coordinates to anyone who decides to join us.”

  “Where will that be?” Stven asked.

  Buskin pursed his lips. “I can’t say at the moment. I’ll get my staff working on something. It’s not as simple as it would seem. We can’t just name a location, then expect only the good guys to show up there. The Rebels will catch on to what we’re doing sooner or later, and they’ll try to find us.”

  M’Sada spoke. “Sir, I’m just a lieutenant commander, but I’d like to make a suggestion.”

  Buskin looked at him in surprise. “You’re a Schect, as well. What’s on your mind?”

  “I’d like to suggest several levels of security, sir. Each can be separated by just a short jump so each level does not have to be far apart in time, but as to the final level, its coordinates should not be given out. Don’t let them come to you. Instead, go to them. Periodically send someone to the locations you give out, and whomever you send should have the means of testing loyalties, perhaps a swapping of command staff or something, so that organized resistance cannot remain organized. You’re bound to end up with Rebels within your fleets, but if you cut off their heads, they won’t be effective.”

  Buskin’s eyes gleamed, and a smile touched the corners of his mouth. “I like your ideas, Commander. Want a job?”

  “I already have one, sir.”

  Buskin turned to Krys. “Let’s see your list. We can divide it up among us, and Hastak and I might be able to add a few names to it.”

  “Your ships are marked,” Krys said. “You won’t be able to hit many locations before you’re challenged, and individual ships will not have the power to resist serious challenges.”

  “We won’t need to hit that many locations, Krys. When my guys find someone they trust, the new commander will take the list and continue spreading the message while my guys join back up with me. It’ll be a simple networking of old friends and acquaintances. You, on the other hand, are definitely in a marked ship. What are your plans?”

  She looked to Stven and M’Sada before replying, then said, “We’ll change ships if we have to. Don’t worry about us. As a civilian, I’ll have a lot more freedom of movement than you will, and I’ll not be expected to answer to local military commanders like your ships will. You’ll have to give your men some good covers.”

  “Don’t worry, we will. Let’s look at that list.”

  As lists were culled for distribution, M’Sada spoke again, his words meant for the Admiral, but his gaze on Kross. “We should get word to Brodor. We need as many Great Cats as we can get, Admiral. You can’t go up against the Chessori without the cats.”

  Kross looked thoughtfully at M’Sada. “An excellent idea, Lieutenant. Imperial matters always come first with us. My brothers would welcome the opportunity to strike back. I sense a general recall of Guardians and Protectors coming up, and soon.” He turned to Buskin. “It will have to be a Great Cat that takes the word to Brodor – no one else would be trusted. I’ll find a brother at our next port of call who will go. He’ll need to know where to send the recruits.”

  “Just have them wait on Brodor. I’ll come and get them. I’ll identify myself with the words Daughter, Otis, and Kross. Is that acceptable?”

  “No, sir. You will use the word Smhavna. It’s the name of the Queen who came to our aid two thousand years ago.”

  Buskin nodded. “Are we done here?”

  “It might be a while before we see each other again. I need a location of where to send my recruits,” Krys stated.

  “We’ll work through Chandrajuski.” He went to the navigation board and pulled up Centauri Sector. “As a back-up, I’ll have someone stationed here,” he said, pointing to a position in deep space and off the normal space lanes. Stven, Hastak, and Buskin each made a note of the coordinates. “My position is going to remain fluid, but I’ll do my best to keep someone there who knows how to find me. If both of those fail, you’ll have to find someone else who’s in the loop. We know who’s on each other’s list, so that shouldn’t be too hard.”

  “Then we should be away,” Krys stated. She looked from Buskin to Hastak, then back to Buskin, her lips pursed. She had nothing further to say. Each of them had their orders, and each of them would risk all for the last of the Chosen.

  Buskin, though, had more to say to her. “Periodically send someone with word of your successes and failures. Particularly your failures. It will be from those failures that the Rebels will attempt to infiltrate my forces. When you can, let me know your itinerary, as well. That way, if we stop hearing from you, we’ll know where to search.”

  She smiled a tight smile. “With the distances and times we’re dealing with, Admiral, there will be little opportunity of rescue for any of us. It’s imperative that if any of us are lost our mission continues. We serve the Empire and the Throne, and we serve to the death. Are we agreed?”

  They joined hands, each reaching one hand into the middle of a circle formed by Krys, Buskin, Hastak, Truax, Stven, M’Sada, Tarn, and Kross. Eyes moved from one to the other, agreeing, but remembering, as well. No further words were necessary.

  Krys and her group turned and left. Hastak remained with Buskin to work out details of their parts in the mission. Back aboard Rappor, M’Sada lifted from the deck of the hangar bay and exited the cruiser, then asked for a destination. Krys, Stven, and Senator Truax stared at each other, wondering where they should go next.

  The scales along Senator Truax’s spine rippled in excitement. “It’s begun. Do you see, Krys?”

  “See what?”

  “Your plan is working. You’ve managed to recruit me, and you’ve managed to recruit two full squadrons that will network out to spread the word. When you find her, you’ll be in a position to offer material help to her.”

  “It’s not my plan, it’s Chandrajuski’s. Like you, I’m just a pawn in all this.”

  “Not so, granddaughter. You’ve graduated. You’re now one of the leaders in whose hands our future resides. I am another. And though she doesn’t know of our activities, Daughter will not be surprised when she finds out. She knows us that well. Where do we go from here?”

  “Our focuses differ. Let’s find a location that suits both o
f our purposes. We might separate after that, and we might not.”

  Truax studied the remains of the list given to Krys by Admiral Chandrajuski. “I seek other senators, and perhaps governors. You seek military commanders, and perhaps governors when it suits. I see a number of locations that work for both of us. Starting at the top of Chandrajuski’s list, assuming he prioritized it, the first that meets both criteria is Rega VIII. The second is Mitala I. Both are sector headquarters.”

  “Mitala I is the closest by far,” Stven stated.

  “Then set course for Mitala I,” Krys commanded.

  Chapter Twenty-nine: Loving Life Again

  The man of dirt, as Ellie had referred to him, no longer struggled with his calculations. She had helped him to understand himself, and his mind was clear. As Resolve neared Gamma VI and accuracy requirements went up, Mike forced himself to rest for a day after each jump, but he did not falter, and his jump calculations were perfect and swift.

  There were huge gaps in his knowledge of the Empire, not least of which was a gnawing concern over what would happen once Resolve reached Gamma VI. What would become of Reba and him? Would they be sent back? If they stayed, could they possibly learn to function in such an advanced society? They would be met by someone high in authority, someone related to the Heir, someone who would whisk her and her mother away for safekeeping. What, then, would become of the two from Earth?

  But he held his focus. His only job was to get them to Gamma VI. What would happen after that would happen, and he would deal with it. He was loving life again.

  Chapter Thirty: Still a Cub

  They were down to their last jump. Ellie took a needed time out, leaving Otis and Reba on the bridge to keep an eye on things while Mike slept. She gathered up Alexis and went to the lounge, settling herself into the corner of a couch to let Alexis nurse. Her breasts were full, even a little sore, and she desperately wanted to spend the little time she had left with her daughter, knowing it might be a long time before the opportunity presented itself again.

  She loved motherhood. Without Alexis, her life would be bleak, indeed. She knew Alexis was all that remained of her family. She couldn’t put into words why she knew this, but it was true. Her Talents never lied, and she had known for some time now. She still grieved, but the worst of that was behind her. Alexis came first in her life now, and as the child sucked at her breast, she knew real contentment. The two of them would persevere, somehow, and they would do it together.

  She smiled at the thought, then smiled anew with thoughts of her friends. They, too, were part of her life now, a part she had not even known she was missing until they came along. For the first time in her life, she knew the happiness that true friends brought. Despite the many Testings she had performed, Testings that left little of a person’s feelings unknown to her, she had never thought to experience such feelings herself. She would do her best to keep her friends near her during the trying times to come.

  The many demanding hours in the net minding the ship had challenged her, but such was not her true calling, and those long hours would soon come to an end. This, too, she knew. Beyond that, she sensed only great danger. She couldn’t define it, couldn’t see clearly enough to know specifics, she just sensed great danger. Would they fail, she and her friends? She didn’t know.

  Alexis was nearly sated and ready to sleep when Mike came strolling into the lounge prior to going on duty to make the final calculations. Oblivious to his surroundings, he drew a glass of water, chose a chair without thinking, and sat down deep in conversation with Jake. She studied him, as she had studied him many times without his knowledge. Physically, he was tall and rugged, but spare. He looked like he could run for hours without stopping. A smile tweaked the corners of her mouth as she thought back to her first impression of him. He had first struck her as barbaric, and why not? He was from an emerging world that had none of the sophistication of the Empire. Little did she know how wrong that first impression had been. He and Reba fit every possible definition of high intelligence and sophistry. Even more, they chose well. The decisions they made were good, in some cases far better than her own, and they were not afraid to make those decisions, then act on them. They were survivors of the first rank, but they were much, much more to her than that.

  The man sitting across from her deep in thought literally took her breath away at times. She wondered how she could have so disliked him early on. Now . . . now she craved his presence, craved his touch. She loved him, pure and simple. She hadn’t planned it, in fact she had fought it, but after that first time in the net when he had asked her for her name, something no one else had ever done, she had not fought it very hard.

  A lump caught in her throat as she thought about the danger ahead. He, too, would be in danger, and she knew intuitively that he would not abandon her to that danger even if she asked him to. She didn’t need her Talents to know how this man felt about her, and her heart filled with gladness. He was a part of her life now, whether he knew it or not. Getting his agreement on that would remain high on her list of priorities in the future.

  Were these warm thoughts of him coloring the decision she had made about his Naming? She had argued the idea within herself for weeks now, but she found it impossible to think of him only in terms of his usefulness. She needed to do so, but her feelings colored every thought of him. That didn’t change her decision, not for a moment. She needed him personally, but her Empire needed him even more. And now the time had come.

  “Michael,” she said softly.

  His eyes focused on her in surprise. When he realized Alexis was under the blanket nursing, he blushed and got up to leave.

  “Excuse me. I didn’t realize you were here,” he said.

  “There’s nothing to excuse, Michael. Please stay. Is it as nice as I imagine to have a Rider? And, hello, Jake.”

  “Jake says hello. To answer your question, you might get a different answer depending on when you ask. At the moment we’re getting along, and we’re even in agreement for a change.”

  She looked wistful. “Before Alexis I yearned for my very own Rider. I wouldn’t trade Alexis for anything or anyone, but I would still like a Rider of my own.”

  “They’re not exactly your own, Princess. Jake is plenty independent.”

  “But you have become friends. It shows. I would like such a friend.”

  “You had Jornell, and I get the impression you’re always surrounded by others.”

  She winced. How little he knew!

  “What you say is true, but it’s not the way you think it is. Marriages within the Royal Family are arranged for the well-being of the realm, not the individual. I liked Jornell, he was a good friend, but he was almost as old as my father. We spent little time together outside official functions, except . . . ” She paused, uncertain of how he would take her words, but they must be said. “Except for the creation of an Heir,” she finished. “That was the principal purpose of our marriage. We were friends, but the kind of love I hear about between husband and wife was not there. Yet I miss him. As for friends, until meeting you, Jake, and Reba, I have never known anyone who was not aware of my position. You know I am royalty, Mike, that I am a member of the Royal Family. Friendships developed within that mold are not true friendships. I have many friends, but all are friends because of my position.”

  “I’m glad I met you before I knew who you were.”

  “Yes, and as a result of that meeting, I’m a witch.”

  Mike turned red again. “How . . .”

  “Did you think we would leave you in that room to wake up to Jake on your own? We’re not that way, Mike. And I’m truly sorry I shot you. I know now that it was unnecessary.”

  “Given the circumstances, I might have done the same thing,” he replied. “But I’m here, I’m helping as much as I can, and it has nothing to do with your position. I have nothing to gain from you. In fact, I have everything to lose, including my life, and including being sent home after we get to Gam
ma VI. But I’m still here, willingly.”

  His words hit her like a blow, and she tensed. She thought she knew him better than that. “You plan to go home?” she asked in a small voice.

  “No, I don’t. But what good will I be to anyone out here? I don’t have any purpose in your society. Will I be sent home?” he asked, raising his chin to her.

  She closed her eyes as relief flooded her body. How had she not focused in on this concern sooner?

  “You will not be sent home, Michael Carver. Quite the opposite. I intend to keep you around for a while, a long while. Your attitude will probably change, everyone’s does,” she said sadly. “I’m not complaining. Well . . . I am, but it’s the way things are. Money and power change people. That’s a simple fact of life, a major factor in my life. But I would like to have you for a friend, and I’ve always wished for a Rider for a friend.”

  “Well, why don’t you have one?”

  “The Chosen have never been allowed to have a Rider. I guess it’s tradition. Maybe it’s because we are then forced to choose our advisors with greater care. If everyone around me is smarter than me, and those with Riders usually are, I must choose my advisors carefully. They absolutely must have the best interests of our civilization at heart. Dishonest or unscrupulous advisors could wreak havoc on everything my family stands for. That cannot be allowed to happen. I choose my close associates with great care. I always Test them as well.”

  “You’ve Tested me. In fact, you’ve Tested me three times. What did you find?”

  “You’re still here aren’t you?”

  He lifted an eyebrow in response. “I see. In that case, since I’m deemed acceptable, that I speak true, you can believe it when I say I’m not quite as afraid of you as I was, and I like you in spite of your being a witch.” He smiled. “I, too, like calling you friend.”