“I know which one of those my money’s on,” Bobcat ventured. “And not for any reason Marcus has. The real giveaway is that they haven’t been noticed by ADAM, meaning, they aren’t using technology created by any of the species we know. Who else but the Seven are arrogant enough to assume their tech supersedes ours? Even the Leath use our comm tech.”
Bethany Anne sighed. “One more item to add to the list for ‘discussion’ with the Federation council when I get to Red Rock. I want you guys to get straight on figuring out how I get a working BYPS into the Etheric as soon as the four of you are together again.”
She dropped the link so as to not hear the groans from Bobcat and Marcus.
TOM spoke up, his tone an immediate indicator he was about to add to her load. You said something earlier about Gödel being a pain in the ass.
Yeah, Gödel is a gigantic pain in the ass. So what?
There was another Kurtherian you nicknamed “pain in the ass.”
Bethany Anne frowned. The one who turned up while I had my hands full with folding the Empire and protecting Earth from attack, yeah. What makes you bring her up? You helped her Ascend, right? She made an explode-y motion with both hands. Bam, she’s gone onto a higher state of being, or whatever it is you guys do.
TOM made a sound of uncertainty.
Bethany Anne’s eyebrow went up. She is gone, right?
I had believed so, TOM admitted with a sigh.
But?
I’m not sure I trust my memory, TOM admitted, hesitation in his voice.
ADAM interceded at this point. >>We went over your entire memory after the rift trap and found nothing amiss,<< he reminded TOM.
Bethany Anne had heard enough. You’re not letting this go, huh? Have ADAM check you again now he’s done working with the Collectives.
That would be wise, TOM conceded. While my memory is clear that I performed the Ascension rites, the gut I don’t have is telling me Gödel and that petitioner are one and the same.
A soft tap at the door forestalled Bethany Anne’s reply.
“What is it?” she called.
Tabitha poked her head around the door with a huge grin plastered across her face. “I can’t believe you’re doing this!”
“I take it our ride is here.” Bethany Anne returned Tabitha’s conspiratorial grin. “I’ll be out in just a minute.”
Tabitha closed the door, and Bethany Anne took a moment to consider everything that had snuck up on her. Taking care of whatever was going on in the buffer zone between the Interdiction and the Federation could be excellent practice for the teams moving out here to join the war. The possibility that TOM had been mind-fucked was a worry for another day.
Bethany Anne got up to leave the cabin. I trust you both to get to the bottom of this. If we know Gödel’s identity, we can bring her house of cards down that much easier.
She slipped out of the cabin with the problem moved to the back of her mind for now. The rest of the guys had arrived, as had their transport to Red Rock.
Bethany Anne’s heart soared at the familiar sight of the ArchAngel, who had been restored to her original glory.
More familiarity when the airlock cycled open and Dan Bosse walked out with a wide smile stretching his usually somber features. “Someone call for a ride?” he asked in an amused tone.
“Glad you could make it,” Bethany Anne told Dan as she walked forward to meet him.
Dan looked around, nodding at everyone in turn. “I’m glad to be here. Nice setup you’ve got. It took a while to get through all the security.”
Bethany Anne was warmed by the immediate pick up from where they’d left off at the forming of the Federation. “You know me and remodeling. I can’t resist a fixer-upper.”
Dan chuckled, turning his attention back to the others as he stepped away from Bethany Anne’s hug. “I don’t know where to begin,” he started. “By all accounts, you’ve been pretty busy since we were last together.”
John was next to speak, the first to recover from his surprise. “Well, shit, Dan! How the devil have you been?”
Dan spread his hands wide. “Oh, you know. Shuffling along and doing my best not to make waves. I ran into Akio and the others not long back, and they’re causing the Seven some headaches.”
Tabitha smiled at the mention of her former shadows and mentors. “They said so in their last report.”
“I didn’t know anything was being done about the Ookens,” Bethany Anne cut in, keeping the conversation on track. “The whole reason I’ve decided contact with the Federation is the only way is because they’re not taking the threat seriously enough to be effective if the Seven strike anywhere inside their borders.”
There was a murmur of agreement from everyone.
Bethany Anne’s hands clenched into fists momentarily. “Fuck, I was prepared, and we still had a bitch of a time fighting them off.”
Dan shook his head. “I wish I could say we were acting with Federation approval. Good luck convincing them to change their minds, imminent danger or not. My advice is to poach their military and make a real defense force out of whoever sees the light.” He half-grinned at the disbelieving look from Bethany Anne. “Some things don’t change. Politics get in the way of me doing my job, so I’ve learned to ignore the politicians and do what needs to be done. What was it you always said? Forgiveness is easier to attain than permission.”
Bethany Anne laughed. “It’s not difficult to remember why I like you so much. We’d better get going. I don’t want to disappoint the Federation council by missing our meeting.”
Dan looked around. “Ad Aeternitatem, Bitches!”
He chuckled as they walked back toward the shuttle area.
Federation Space, Red Rock, House of Arbitration
The atmosphere in the privy chamber was so thick it left a coating on Lance’s tongue. He took a sip from the glass of water in front of him and turned his attention to the delegation.
The delegation murmured among themselves, small talk for the most part. Harkkat was quiet for once, having completely exhausted the council’s patience for the ever-flowing fountain of horseshit that fell from his lips.
Lance would have found Harkkat's machinations amusing if it wasn’t for the position he had put the rest of the council in, him most of all.
Now, thanks to the events at the mining outpost, Harkkat wasn’t the only one who was under scrutiny. Lance had fended off too many uncomfortable questions since he had informed the council of the situation in the outer quadrants.
The incident might have cost Lance his deniability when it came to Bethany Anne’s location, but it had also cleared up once and for all whose allegiances lay where. Ixtal’s shift in attitude had shocked the whole council. Lance was grateful, to say the least. If not for the death of Addix, well, he might have found himself in the hot seat with the Leath trade secretary.
As it was, Lance counted himself lucky that the current Ixtali legate, who happened to also be the granddaughter of Addix, had taken it upon herself to blame the Seven entirely for her grandmother’s death.
Had Txeina chosen instead to blame Bethany Anne, as Harkkat had been aiming to do with his dissembling, today’s meeting would be going very differently.
Lance was beyond thankful. He could see his daughter removing everyone on the council in a bloody rage before she allowed them to remove him. Years of his efforts to build cohesion would be lost, and Bethany Anne wouldn’t bat an eyelid.
Clearly, the faction who valued their old ways over the laws of the Federation was of the same mind.
Lance smiled politely at each in turn, his smile only reaching his eyes when his gaze passed over the pains in his ass and landed on his new Ixtali friend.
Even the Yollin potentate was circumspect. Lance suspected the cold shoulder had less to do with him not confiding in him before bringing the Leath problem before the council, and more to do with nervousness about how the former Empress was going to act when she arrived.
&nbs
p; The lights dimmed suddenly, drawing gasps from the younger delegates.
“She’s here,” Harkkat uttered in a scratchy voice. “Watch her take over. You’ll regret not heeding my warnings when we’re all explaining to our Makers that we’re there early because we invited in the monster at our door.”
Lance stood up. “That’s my daughter you’re talking about. I suggest you shut that shit-trap of yours and be grateful this is an official meeting. I’m just waiting for you to misstep again, Harkkat.”
The darkness was lit by a number of red, white, and blue sparks that appeared above their heads.
Lance smirked and sat down. “Too damn late for you now.”
“Is Harkkat right?” Txeina demanded. “Does the Queen endeavor to be an Empress once again?”
“FUCK, NO!” Bethany Anne’s reply shook a fine rain of rusty dust from the ceiling.
Bethany Anne appeared in a blaze of light that whited out the chamber and caused those new to her presence to emit shrieks of surprise. “You’re blaming me because people are glad I’m back? They can call me Empress all they like. It doesn’t make one bit of difference.”
Txeina was the only delegate besides Lance who had met Bethany Anne face to face outside a political environment, although a funeral was no place for networking. The bond created there was an entirely different animal.
The delegates conferred in sharp whispers as the fully armed and armored Bitches appeared around the walls of the chamber like gods of old Earth, deities from Norse legends.
Unnecessary whispers, since Bethany Anne and Ashur heard every word. Last to appear was Ashur. For some reason, his appearance was the most shocking to the delegates.
Bethany Anne dismissed the grumblings with a sharp wave. “What is the issue? Spit it out. I haven’t got all century.”
“Forgive us for not taking that at face value,” Harkkat ventured.
Bethany Anne held up her hand to stay the outcry from the Yollin and Ixtali delegates. “Explain.”
Harkkat glanced nervously at his fellow delegates before continuing, “We hadn’t considered that you were here to retake the Federation. It’s you feeling it’s necessary to make that statement that has some of us scared. You brought the matter up. What are we to do but believe that’s your goal?”
Ashur growled low in his throat. Is his memory short? he asked over their mental link. Just give me the word, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t forget who saved his ungrateful ass.
Bethany Anne allowed the silence to stretch and grow in tension as the delegates waited for the explosion to come.
When she spoke, her voice was low and even. “Secretary Harkkat. Were you or were you not present at the illegal mining post when it was attacked by the genetically modified creatures known as Ookens?”
Harkkat had no decency, it seemed. He met Bethany Anne’s gaze brazenly. “You know I was. You were also there. That is the focus of this hearing.”
Bethany Anne nodded. “True, I admit I answered the call for help. However, I am not bound by any treaties that limit my travel outside the Federation. Unlike you, I have adhered to my part of the treaty, and only returned when called.”
She swept her gaze around to encompass the entire delegation with her next words. “The Federation is in danger. Not from me, but from the enemy you have all forgotten. The Ookens are merely puppets, mind-controlled slaves of the Seven.”
A snicker broke the delegates’ silence.
Bethany Anne turned on the Noel-ni delegate with red eyes and a serene smile. “Go ahead. Laugh all the way to your grave. What you pampered assholes don’t realize is that I am the only thing that has kept you safe from harm. The Federation would not even stand if not for my fucking permission. I have bolstered your economy. I have siphoned off the people who would have clogged the judicial system due to their inability to conform. Most importantly, I have prevented the Seven from sending their monstrosities to rampage freely across the utopia you are supposed to be guarding.”
The delegates had no way to deny Bethany Anne’s accusations. Not now that the pieces were falling into place regarding certain events that had previously defied explanation.
Bethany Anne’s lip curled. “The very last thing I want is to take power back. I can’t think of a single more mind-numbingly boring and thankless act.”
She manifested a chair from Etheric energy, since none had been provided for her, and sat back with her hands laced in her lap. “So get your fucking acts together. Because while I don’t want to take control, I will if I have to. And I can promise you that I will not be the benevolent dictator you were so damned lucky to have before. I will crush obedience out of you, and you alone. Not the people. Each and every one of YOU.”
The delegates all spoke at once, some arguing the legality of her statement, others denying that their defenses were inadequate.
“Fuck the law.” Bethany Anne’s eyes blazed with passion. “I AM MY OWN LAW!”
She silenced the arguments, sending out a wave of fear that would remain with the more delicate delegates for the rest of their days. “The Seven have the ability to attack via the Etheric dimension, meaning they can skip around anything you can put in their way. I have technology that can outsmart them.”
She didn’t have it just yet, but they didn’t need to worry about the semantics when she had the brightest minds alive working on the problem. “Vote. Who among you will send troops, ships, and resources to build stronger defenses? Who will stand back and allow themselves to be carried like corpulent wastes of good oxygen? I need to know who is useless and who needs support. I won’t need to get rid of anyone who desires to be Ooken food.”
Lance sat forward, totally enjoying the ease with which his daughter was bypassing the usual round of debate that came with even the most trivial topic. “My vote is for action on behalf of humanity. Now we are no longer playing hide-and-seek, I can pledge whatever resources are available and as many people as we can spare without leaving our asses hanging in the wind.”
Bethany Anne loved her father more than ever at that moment. The rest she could become maybe a little fond of, should they choose correctly. “Thank you, General,” she told Lance with feeling. “But then, I knew humans could be counted on not to back down from a challenge.” Her red eyes took in the rest of the delegates. “What about the rest of you?”
18
Txeina was first to break the silence. “Ixtal will support you, my Empress.”
The Noel-ni matched Harkkat’s hiss of outrage.
Txeina’s mandibles writhed in anger. “You will shut your foolish mouths and think of your people. Of every innocent, and every brave soul who offers themselves into service and dies to protect them!”
Not one person present thought she was referring to anyone besides her grandmother.
“The Empress is here to warn us of a danger beyond the comprehension of the people we are sworn to protect,” she continued. “It is our duty to ensure that they never learn of such horrors. She is offering us the road to our own salvation instead of yoking us to her will as the Kurtherian slavers intend. Can you claim your motives are as pure, Leath?”
“I recall the majority of the Leath being somewhat more grateful for the Empress’ intervention after generations of being used as toy soldiers by the Phraim-‘Eh,” the Torcellan delegate chipped in.
Bethany Anne pointed a finger at the delegate. “What she said.”
“She is not our Empress!” Harkkat all but screamed. He was on his feet by this point, his face flushing a violent shade of blue. “She was banished because she couldn’t be trusted with all that power! Surely we don’t have to do anything except arrest this…this illegal alien and get on with deciding this quarter’s fiscal outgoings.”
Lance covered his eyes with his hand. “You didn’t want to go there,” he muttered inaudibly.
Bethany Anne snickered in the face of the piss-poor attempt to hijack the meeting. “Oh, poor baby believes the hype. Secretary Harkkat.�
�� Her voice was honey over ice. “Ask any of the delegates who were present at my abdication. Watch the videos. They will correct your thinking. I chose to step down. I chose to leave so the Federation could find its way without me looking over your shoulders. If I had not chosen, no power in this universe could have forced me to give up everything I built with the blood of my people, the sweat of the Yollins, and tears I cried when no one was looking.”
Harkkat found his sneer cut off, along with his ability to breathe.
Bethany Anne shook a finger at the Leath. “I also promised to return should anything threaten my peace. That time has come. I am not bound by any law, and I will bow to no system of government. You are children compared to me. In fact—”
“We’re getting off subject,” Lance interceded before Bethany Anne lost her temper. He glanced at the delegates around the table. “Your votes, please.”
“Yoll is with the Empress,” his old friend the Potentate replied, standing to bow deeply to Bethany Anne. “Ad Aeternitatem, even through the gates of Hell if that is what you require of us.”
Bethany Anne put a hand to her breast, moved beyond words. She nodded, her reply thick on her tongue. “Courageous Yollins. You do not forget, and neither do I.”
Harkkat remained silent as the vote went around the table. Those who did not swear continued loyalty still pledged their resources to the war effort. Even the delegates who had been instrumental in calling for Bethany Anne’s abdication in the first place did not waver in their duty to protect their people.
Bethany Anne watched Harkkat with growing annoyance. Every planetary state voted in favor, only Leath’s vote remaining.
“Well?” Bethany Anne pressed. “What’s it to be? Duty or cowardice?”
Harkkat offered a small, sly smile. “Seeing as you need a unanimous vote, I’m going to say neither. I choose to abstain.”
The Valkyrie Returns (The Kurtherian Endgame Book 7) Page 18
