by Scott Moon
Seccon glanced at the hangar door where many of the Sky Clan villagers were grouped together, staring at the strange sights inside what they thought was a grand longhall or cathedral. Borghild hugged herself and watched him carefully. He ached to be near her. Some decisions were clearer now.
“It is not the same, Nguyen. You should understand that as well as anyone,” Seccon said. He moved even closer to the general, warning the guards back with an angry glance, and willed something to happen. “The only people the Carosn Device won’t turn inside out are the Blood Royals. It doesn’t matter how far off-line you think you are.”
“Our experts disagree,” Nguyen said as he took a step back to create space between them and cast an annoyed glance at his bodyguards. “My Recon teams have spotted the New Galactic Order faction wearing insulation rings. Can you believe that? They’re more superstitious than these animals.” He nodded toward Sveinn and the others.
“These animals don’t fear the Carosn Device,” Seccon said. “And they don’t fear you.”
Nguyen backed away another step and signaled for his guards to handle Seccon. “The old CD wouldn’t do much to them, but I have been led to believe this version will make them pray for death. Something about bleeding eyes and brain hemorrhaging. But at least they won't be twisted apart like an accordion. Go to my doctors. They will advise you of the best procedures to remove or neutralize your Internals.” He paused, more comfortable now with two soldiers between him and Seccon. “Humans sit Humanum.”
“Veritas nihil sine actione,” Seccon said. He spoke again, more loudly, when Nguyen turned to leave. “Truth is nothing without action.”
Nguyen stopped, hesitated, and then turned around. “I agree completely. That is why I commended the action you took against the Emperor without knowing anything about our secret society or Zero Brigade.”
A chill went up Seccon’s spine. He hadn’t thought about his act of regicide for days.
“Truth is nothing without action,” Nguyen repeated, taking a step forward. His soldiers perked up and watched the incident as it unfolded. “Truth. Is nothing. Without action. So help me honor the truth, Seccon. Help me find Aefel. Help me find the Blood Royal. Help me find the Carosn Device.”
Seccon wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Nguyen and his Zero Brigade didn’t know about Sveinn and his sisters.
It was obvious the NGO had broken from the Earth Systems Commonwealth and understood that Sky Clan contained the Blood Royal. Perhaps they had known before Seccon or Aefel had. Their commitment to eliminating the Old World Order was clear. Their efforts to exterminate the Imperial line could not be doubted. What he didn’t know was what they wanted instead.
He still didn’t have a name or a location for the secret society he had been searching for, but he had their military expression in the form of Zero Brigade. They wanted the Carosn Device and Aefel. Seccon could practically feel Aefel just beyond the reach of both NGO and Zero Brigade search teams. He didn’t know the man, but felt a dislike of him in the same manner he could not force himself to be fond of Fey. A rational creature should understand his thoughts and intuition. Too often, humans of the Commonwealth, with or without Cybernetic Internals, were left with a nameless feeling of dread.
Humans sit humanum. Seccon thought of another watch word that hadn’t died yet. Ooja!
General Nguyen continued to stare. When he thought Seccon wasn’t looking, he gave his guards hand signals, probably to take him out if he said the wrong thing.
Seccon stared at the man. He couldn’t believe that Nguyen and his Zero Brigade hadn’t figured it out the identities of Sveinn, Fey, Ari, and Thrud.
Humans must be human. Seccon was starting to view the statement through Fey’s eyes. It wasn’t much of a quest. None of the Grendels possessed technology. They were like the Blood Royals in that way.
“Good luck finding Aefel,” Seccon said.
“Help me find him and I will protect your pet villagers from the NGO.”
“Why do you want him? I thought he was just a tool of the ESC Military,” Seccon asked.
“That is outside of my mission briefing. I would guess they want to kill him or make him your replacement.”
Seccon moved away as the General continued to speak. He watched Borghild, who seemed pleased with his attention. He stared past the survivors of Sky Clan and saw winter in all of its Grendel glory.
“I must have an answer from you, Seccon,” Nguyen said.
Sunlight broke from the clouds and streaked across the valley. First Base barely looked like a part of Grendel. It was a harbinger of what was to come for anyone with the knowledge to understand what was at stake. There would be a new political order, whether it was the ESC splinter group calling themselves the New Galactic Order or Zero Brigade’s Secret Society or some miraculous coalition of Grendel natives.
“I will help you find Aefel, on one condition.”
“Name it,” Nguyen said.
“I want sole custody and control of Sky Clan for now and all time.”
“Done.”
“In writing.”
“I said done.” Nguyen turned to his executive officer. “Draw up the paperwork. We have just won the war for the price of a few native thralls.”
Seccon was facing away from Nguyen when he smiled.
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