“I am no thief, sir. Though I am a lowly servant, I have honor.”
“I applaud your honor, young man.” Chandrajuski led them outside, each carrying a side of a blanket filled to overflowing with dead leaves. As they walked, they scattered the leaves through the brush.
Chandrajuski said softly, “I believe we can speak more freely now. Tell me the Queen is not here.”
“She’s determined to free you. She has work for you,” Val mumbled, not looking at the admiral.
“Her death has been foretold, as was this meeting with you. She must leave.”
Val clutched the blanket fiercely. Chandrajuski had used the word ‘foretold.’ It spoke clearly of visions. Had his twin sister, Krys, been to see him? She’d lived here, and he’d searched for her only to discover that she’d perished along with a fleet of Chandrajuski’s ships. “Are you speaking of my sister? She’s dead.”
“All a ruse. She’s out on assignment. Do not look for her here.”
Val’s heart skipped a beat. She was all the family he had, and they were very close. He continued spreading leaves as he considered the admiral’s words.
Chandrajuski did not give him much time. “Others can fill my shoes, but not hers. She must leave.”
Val pursed his lips in agreement. If Ellie’s death had been foretold by Krys, she must, indeed, get away from here. “It will not be easy to convince,” he stated softly. “Can you tell me more?”
“Only the words that came in the vision. ‘Easy to leave, hard to remain. The man of dirt comes to one in shadow. She will fall to the unseen, but Death is not forever.’”
Val continued spreading the dead leaves as he considered. “Always riddles. This one seems fairly clear, at least part of it. Krys must be getting better. I’ll relay the message, Admiral.”
They headed back inside. Before parting, Chandrajuski added, “These guards are a hideous bunch. I’ve been doing some research on the Empire’s activities to subjugate them and have come up with some interesting information. We were not completely unsuccessful against them.”
“I can’t imagine the Empire failing at anything, sir.”
“Let us hope so, young man.” Very softly, he added, “Sire.”
* * * * *
Ellie was not pleased when she heard of the vision. Too much time had been taken on this project already, and she was not anxious to start over. Besides, she really wanted Chandrajuski at her side.
“Krys’ visions are difficult to interpret, almost impossible. The word ‘she’ could refer to anyone,” she stated firmly.
“Come on, Ellie,” Mike scoffed.
She turned to him with her hands on her hips. “Her visions don’t come with a date-time stamp. We don’t even know if the vision applies to this situation. Suppose we leave in search of someone else. Anyone we find to replace Chandrajuski will probably be in the same predicament, and the words of the vision would apply equally then.”
“You could leave, right now. The rest of us can see this through.”
“And if I leave, will that be the action that causes the vision to come true? Do you want me to die far out in space, all alone?”
He turned away with a grimace. He didn’t like these visions, didn’t like the very idea of them.
Ellie approached him and reached a hand up to his cheek, caressing. “The words included, ‘Death is not forever.’”
He took her hand and looked into her eyes. “Where I come from, death is forever. There’s no getting around it. Can the outcomes of her visions be changed?”
“I don’t know, Michael.” She turned to Val. “Do you know?”
He shook his head. “Surely you won’t take the chance?”
“What else can I do? What if the vision applies to whatever alternative path I choose? What if, because I panic and run off somewhere else, that’s what causes it to happen? Maybe if I stay here the path of the vision is changed and I’ll not die. Or maybe the first words of the vision, easy to leave, hard to remain apply to me, not Chandrajuski. Or maybe they apply to both of us.”
She looked hard at Val. “I’ll not die willingly nor easily, but if I am to die, I want to be with Mike and the rest of you when I do. Give me a better solution.”
They couldn’t. Mike felt like they were caught up in a catch-22. They were damned if they did and damned if they didn’t. He was not willing to risk Ellie, and he was ready to leave immediately, but he couldn’t say that would change the outcome of the vision.
She turned back to him. “We’ll just have to plan well.” She put her arms around him. “I’ve just found you, and I’m not leaving.”
“By the way,” she said later when it was just the two of them, “I see you’ve been mentioned in another vision.”
“It’s like you and I are tied together somehow. It’s unsettling, to say the least. I wish it would stop.”
She smiled. “We are tied together, my love, by some power higher than the both of us. Our futures are linked. Are you ready to make it official?”
He blinked. Had he heard right? Had the Queen of All Space, as he thought of her, just proposed to him? He went internal. >What’s she talking about, Jake?<
>I think you perceive correctly, Mike. Why don’t you ask her?<
>No way! I’m just Mike Carver, Earthman. I’m just here by accident, and she’s Queen, Jake.<
>You’re Mike Carver, First Knight, my friend. I don’t think she chose you for that position because you were the only one around. You’re very much a part of her Empire now, and I know you like being here. Everyone knows the two of you are in love.<
He turned to Ellie and pulled her into an embrace. “In all the months we’ve had together, we’ve never had a moment of privacy. I love you, but I want to prove it to you. I want to court you if this Empire of yours will let me. Have you ever been courted?”
“No, not until I met you. Isn’t that what we’ve been doing this past year?”
“Well . . . it’s been a pretty strange courtship, and there’s lots more to it.”
She leaned back from him with a contented smile on her face. “I figured you’d say something like that. Know this, Michael: I like this courting. I love you and my heart is home. You’ll come around one day. My Empire will not stop this ‘courting,’ nor will I. In the meantime, know it’s your Empire, as well.”
“Then let’s get you out of here. I’m not ready for you to die, nor as First Knight am I ready for the last of the Chosen to die.”
She closed her eyes and sighed, returning to his embrace. “The last of the Chosen cannot die, Michael. The Empire is counting on us to change the outcome of the vision, and with this advance knowledge it might be possible to do so.”
He wished he had a better plan, but he didn’t. “I love you, Princess, no matter what happens.”
“I know.”
* * * * *
A meeting with Captain Jeffers proved difficult to set up. Besides the fact that he was busy, he rarely left the base, even living there. His only relaxation came during meals at the Officers Club. Val ambushed him there.
“Excuse me, sir,” Val said as he stood at attention beside Jeffers’ table, where Jeffers was enjoying a meal with three other senior officers.
“Lieutenant?” Jeffers queried in irritation. “Can’t you see I’m having dinner?”
“An urgent dispatch, sir. Sorry to bother you. Please sign here, and I’ll disappear.”
“Wait. I might need to send a response.”
As Jeffers began opening the package, Val glanced anxiously at the others sitting around the table. “Uh, sir, I was told it is for your eyes only,” he risked.
Jeffers looked up at him in annoyance. “These are always ‘eyes only,’ Lieutenant.” Jeffers looked into the envelope and withdrew a piece of paper. He studied it briefly, looked thoughtful, then looked up at Val. “I’ll need to think about a response. Wait outside. I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
“Yes, sir.” Val turned on his heel a
nd marched away as if on a mission.
Jeffers and his three companions emerged from the club half an hour later. “I have transportation, sir,” Val offered, “but there’s only room for you.”
“We have our own transportation. Why don’t you come with us instead?”
Sweat broke out on Val’s forehead. Was he headed into capture and interrogation? “Of course, sir. After you, sir.”
Minutes later they pulled up before a poorly lit row of small offices near the flight line. Jeffers unlocked the door to an end unit and led the way in. As soon as the door closed, he turned to Val. “Where did you get this?” he asked, holding out the Knight’s Pin.
Val turned to take in the other officers who were now holding blasters pointed at him. “I must know with whom I am speaking, Captain Jeffers.”
“Lieutenant, your life is on the line here. Answer the question. You may speak freely before these others.”
“I may speak freely of Chandrajuski? He sent me to you.” Jeffers looked worriedly to the other officers.
“To whom do you report, Lieutenant?”
“The Pin is mine. The answer lies inside.”
“Show me.”
Val passed his hand over the Pin, and it sprung open. Ellie’s countenance shone forth. When Jeffers lowered his gaze to the Pin, he paled.
“Sire,” Jeffers stated quietly as he returned the pin to Val, “we are at your command.”
“I am Lieutenant Val for as long as I am on this world, Captain.”
“Of course, Sire. What is your command? You may speak freely. This room is safe.”
“Chandrajuski gave me your name. He did not give any others.”
“Let me speak plainly, Sire. His loyalty to the Empire has never been questioned by the Rebels. Our loyalty is a secret, a well-protected secret. Each of us in this room is loyal to our oaths. We will never submit to tyranny, but the Rebels trust us.”
“Hand me your weapons, all of you,” Val commanded.
The three officers hesitated, understandably. Val nodded his head. “Consider, gentlemen: if my purpose here is to reveal your true beliefs to your new governor, you are already lost to your cause.”
They sensed the truth in his words. They handed the weapons over one by one. Val raised a communicator to his mouth, spoke one word, then turned out the lights and opened the door. Two Great Cats immediately sprang into the gloom, followed shortly thereafter by two hooded figures. The door closed and the lights came back on. The shorter of the two figures reached up and pulled away a hood to reveal the Queen’s face.
Jeffers and his associates immediately bent to one knee before her. “Arise, my heroes,” she commanded. “I would be introduced.”
Captain Jeffers introduced the others: Admiral Hortle of Fleet Command, his assistant Captain Jonders, and Admiral Tonga, chief of Survey and Intelligence.
“Who leads among you?” Ellie asked.
“Chandrajuski, Your Majesty,” replied Captain Jeffers. A knowing smile lit her face.
Admiral Tonga spoke up. “These are unusual times, Your Majesty. Though we three outrank Captain Jeffers, we report to him. He leads the underground for Chandrajuski. Though unorthodox, the process works.”
She removed her cloak, as did Mike. The officers saluted him, then shook hands as Ellie introduced him.
“Your Majesty,” Jeffers said turning to her, “It’s incredibly dangerous for you to be here. We must address whatever issues you have, then get you out of here.”
“First things first, Captain. We deal with the highest matters of state. I must assure myself of your loyalties. Will you submit?”
“With honor, Your Majesty,” Jeffers replied.
Ellie Tested all four and found none wanting. She was pleased and let them know it. “You have remained true to your oaths,” she said. “There is no higher honor among civilizations. Now, to work. My purpose in coming here is to release Admiral Chandrajuski from his imprisonment. We can make room for you and any others you choose. Will you assist me in this venture?”
“Your Highness,” Jeffers pleaded, “Chandrajuski’s replacement, Admiral Vorst, is expecting just such an attempt. I have ingratiated myself into his confidence and in so doing have managed to retain my position, much to our advantage. I believe I am privy to most, if not all, of his plans. We will have only one opportunity.”
The meeting lasted an hour, after which Jeffers called a halt. “Your Majesty, I must protect my cover, or this is all for naught. We four will be missed if we remain any longer. You have the outlines of a plan. We can complete the details later.”
“Yes, our time is up. I will leave you with a special communicator to arrange future meetings. It is not of Empire manufacture and cannot be overheard by anyone outside our small group.”
“No, Your Majesty. I cannot risk its discovery. We have a network set up for just this sort of thing. If Sir Val is willing to act as intermediary, we’ll stay in contact through him.”
Ellie bit her lip while contemplating. She turned to Mike for guidance and received a nod, then to Otis who also nodded his agreement. A meeting point for Val was set up for the next day, and they all departed as surreptitiously as possible.
Otis, after deep reflection, decided to lead their efforts against the gleasons personally. Though his first responsibility was to protect Ellie, he concluded that the greatest risk to her was the gleasons, and he was the most skilled warrior among the Great Cats. He went off planet to do the research suggested by Chandrajuski in his meeting with Val. He would not provide the slightest opportunity to the enemy to send tracers after him as he searched the world net here on Centauri III. His search would take place elsewhere.
He returned weeks later, but he had learned nothing of value from the Empire’s efforts against the gleasons two thousand years previous. His own people had done most of the fighting and were the only experts. Otis knew that a serious injury always resulted in the gleasons’ bodies returning to their natural color, a dark green. If he and the other cats could find the gleasons and wound them, they could then deal with them in a normal fashion. Finding them would be his first priority.
“Wouldn’t it be better to take them out from long range?” Mike asked. “Surely we can get the right weapons for you.”
“We already have them, Sire. We’ll take them out from a distance if we can find them, but we’ll make plans to cover all contingencies. I have only two cats to go up against each gleason. I would assign more if I had them. I cannot stress how utterly devastating these creatures are.”
The Great Cats huddled together for a time, then all but Otis left. They would have three days to study the area around Chandrajuski’s home, during which time they would attempt to pinpoint the locations of the gleasons and keep them in sight. The extraction of Chandrajuski would occur on the fourth day. The plan was set in motion without delay.
* * * * *
Admiral Tonga, Chief of Intelligence for Centauri Sector but secretly one of Chandrajuski’s key followers, reported excitedly to Vorst, the new Sector Commander. His agents had intercepted information that the Queen was on Centauri III. She was planning to rescue Chandrajuski that very evening.
“Hmm,” Vorst smiled grimly. “You have a plan?”
“The gleasons will deal with them, I’m certain, but I can put together a reaction force just to be certain. And we won’t need Chandrajuski any more after tonight. He can be taken care of, as well.”
Vorst thought for a time before speaking. “Does she know of the gleasons?”
“Not if she’s planning to enter the premises, sir. We believe she has only a handful of men. No one would be so foolish if they knew of the gleasons.”
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” Vorst said as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Inform the gleasons they are to let the new arrivals into the house. They are not to let them leave the grounds alive. Jeffers will take responsibility for the reaction force. I want you to stay here and follow the
action. And inform Jeffers I will accompany him.”
“Very well, sir, though I would very much like to lead tonight.”
“No. Your job is intelligence, not operations. You’ll stay behind, keeping the big picture in mind and keeping me informed of any problems that might develop. We cannot underestimate the Queen. I expect she’ll have backup plans and a reserve force prepared to assist her if necessary. I want every man called up, all posts active.”
Tonga replied with his own grim smile. “Might I suggest just the opposite, sir? Let me keep my best men in place and put appropriate ships on alert, but otherwise keep our staffing to a minimum. I would very much like to mislead them.”
“A good idea. Work it out with Jeffers. Just do not underestimate her. And she may have diversions planned to distract us. Do not let us become distracted, Admiral. No matter what else happens, we have only one mission tonight. Our focus is only the Queen. Understood?”
“We will keep our focus on the Queen, sir.”
Chapter Fifty-six: Aldebaran I
Krys and Tarn both spent time in the net working with Stven on the skills needed to manage the ship without a net. They had visited four more worlds in the eight months since Orion III, and they had changed the beacon after each one. The work was challenging at first, then it just became monotonous. The Great Cats declined to help, reminding them that it was impossible for anyone else to be in the net with them.
When they came out of hyper, Aldebaran I lay dead ahead. So, too, did a large number of Chessori traders. Stven looked at M’Sada who was again doing the driving. “What do you think?”
“They can’t possibly know who we are.”
“Agreed. Let’s just act normal and continue inbound.”
“Okay, unless one of them turns toward us.”
No threats materialized, and they landed three weeks later. This time, instead of going directly to Admiral Seeton, the fleet commander they were to call upon, Krys, Tarn, and Trist, the third Great Cat, checked into a local hotel. They partied that night, doing their best to act the part of rich kids. They left the hotel at mid-morning the following day in search of Seeton.
Last of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book One) Page 60
