‘Your visit will go a long way towards easing tensions,’ Senator Martin assured him.
‘Speaking of tension, do you work out?’ Arturus asked, giving the Senator a very inappropriate slap on his rump. Everyone gasped. ‘Those glutes are tight for a man your age!’
‘We’re unaccustomed to being insulted by ambassadors,’ Senator Kjanik said. ‘Why did Lance Alyxander send you rather than come himself?’
‘Oh, Senator, you know how it is when you get rich,’ Arturus said dismissively. ‘He’s double-booked with a manicure. But he gave me everything I need to negotiate a juicy trade agreement that your constituents will just love … Oh, where are my manners? There’s an election coming! The stress must be unimaginable. You should visit us on the barges. We have ways to help you relax.’
‘Perhaps we should continue this conversation elsewhere,’ Senator Martin murmured, glancing about.
‘Mmm, someplace private?’ Arturus said with a wink. ‘I know how twisted you are, you naughty Senator!’
‘Can we even let someone with his augments into the station?’ Senator Kjanik huffed.
Arturus slouched to one side.
‘Darling, the only things illegal about me are my good looks.’
Then he strutted past them out of the hangar, with his elite guard in tow. Vespa and the Senators hurried after him.
‘The corporations aren’t happy with the publicity stunt you’re pulling out there,’ Senator Tice warned. ‘It makes our job much more difficult.’
Arturus didn’t break stride.
‘Lance Alyxander offered those gifts to the people of Orionis, not the oligarchs who run this shithole,’ he informed him curtly. ‘He is well aware of corporate interests and prepared to make a deal, provided that it sets equitable terms for free trade.’
Arturus whirled abruptly, nearly causing the procession behind him to crash into one another.
‘What he will not do is let them establish Outer Rim monopolies. I think this bears repeating: if they want access to our markets, then House Alyxander must have access to theirs. I hope none of you are champions of the status quo. That would bore us.’
‘I think the timing of your visit is interesting,’ Senator Tice said.
‘Oh, how so, handsome?’ Arturus said, his voice heavy with sarcasm.
‘With the Archangel nearly finished, you picked a great time to be on your best behaviour.’
Arturus smiled, twirling the human-shaped sceptre in his hand. It must have been heavy, but glided smoothly between his fingers.
‘Are you rattling that shrivelled sabre of yours?’ he said, sashaying dangerously close to the Senator’s personal space. ‘Do you expect House Alyxander to tremble before the Grand Admiral’s fleet? So much for the goodwill of this arrangement. There, there, Senator Tice,’ Arturus hissed, patting his shoulder as if consoling a child. ‘The distance between our worlds is great. And the Archangel is just one ship. You have your toys. We have ours.’
‘If I may be blunt,’ Senator Hsu said. ‘It’s your relationship with Ceti that people find threatening.’
‘Peaceful relationships are about learning to coexist,’ Arturus said, resuming his stroll. ‘Consider our location on the far side of the Belt. We would be unwise to upset the neighbours.’
‘You’ve attacked ships registered to Orionis corporations,’ Senator Kjanik said. ‘That hasn’t made Lance Alyxander many friends here.’
‘Tsk. I hate violence,’ Arturus said. ‘Those incidents were tragic. But I’m afraid our recollection is that it was their ships which attacked our own – and lost. They learned the hard way that exploitation of the Outer Rim is not without consequence. One of my goals this visit is to propose the formation of a neutral council that will draft the rules for intersystem commerce. Then these matters can be judged objectively. Whether or not you can convince the corporations to play along, well, let’s just say I don’t envy you.’
‘The fact you’re here means we might be willing to change,’ Senator Martin said.
Arturus squared up to the entire group.
‘The fact we are here, Senator, means that you finally understand that you cannot impose your will on the Outer Rim,’ he said. ‘But please don’t judge me, I’m just the messenger. Now, who wants a cocktail? I love diplomatic receptions.’
Despite the tense atmosphere with the Senators, Arturus somehow managed to turn the ‘diplomatic reception’ into one of the most memorable events ever hosted at Tabit Prime.
The flamboyant envoy insisted on supplying his own refreshments and entertainment, opening the invitation to all government staff and effectively converting the most important legislative facility of Orionis into a dance hall. The spontaneous event, quickly approved by Vespa, created a logistical nightmare for the security team as they struggled to keep a wary eye on all the strangers on board. But the show went on without major incident, and in her view was successful in accomplishing what she wanted: to demonstrate that she could relate to voters.
Per their agreement, she kept her interaction with Arturus to a minimum. It was no secret they were siblings, but for the diplomacy to work, they had to remove their personal connection from the equation. She observed the reactions of officials who met him, noting who warmed to his charm and who didn’t. Generally, things went the way she expected; Arturus, for all his show, was still an incredibly bright individual. He managed to impress even those Senators who were predisposed to not cooperate with him under any circumstances.
Perhaps things would be different now. The ‘reception’ might have diffused tensions somewhat. After all, this was a historic occasion. Bringing the two nations together was no small feat, and under normal circumstances, she would bask in that. But the disturbing memory of her dreams made that impossible.
The revelry finally ended in the early hours of the following day. Vespa sent a note to the delegation that the scheduled meetings would be delayed for several hours to give everyone time to recover. But upon reaching the executive residency, she stumbled upon an uncomfortable scene: Arturus, with his contingent of golden warriors, standing beside a small platoon of Orionis security guards.
‘They won’t let me into the home of my own sister,’ he said, his robes undone, revealing a startlingly muscled chest beneath. Vespa always remembered him as a scrawny child.
‘He’s my brother,’ she told the guards. ‘You may stand down.’
‘We’ve been instructed to stand post here,’ the captain said.
‘Fine,’ she said, opening the door. Arturus waltzed inside, dragging a finger along the guard’s chin as he passed.
Vespa walked into the open kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. The door shut behind them.
‘I’ll have one as well, please,’ Arturus said, taking a seat at the island counter. ‘Do you keep in touch with Mum and Dad?’
‘We speak every now and then,’ she answered, pushing a glass over and sitting across from him. ‘They live on Eris now, by the way.’
‘Really? I didn’t know that,’ he said, taking a big gulp. ‘That is the most refreshing glass of recycled piss I’ve ever had.’
‘You put on quite a show at the reception.’
‘I am what I am,’ he said, taking another sip. ‘And House Alyxander relies on me to be me.’
‘I suppose you’ve found your calling,’ she said, raising her glass. ‘Cheers to that.’
‘Maybe,’ he shrugged, clinking her glass with his own. ‘It’s not a calling so much as it is a yearning.’
‘For what?’
‘More of everything. Lance Alyxander isn’t someone you’d want to die for. But he is someone who makes you desire more than you’ve ever wanted. Somehow, he manages to deliver it.’
‘We have more Earthly concerns here in Orionis.’
‘So you do. And here I am. Are we secure?’
‘Electronic jamming, voice scrambling, the works.’
‘Careful, Vespa. Only those with very dark secrets take s
uch precautions. I hope you’re not going to ask me to have an opponent of yours succumb to a tragic accident.’
‘I asked you not to mention that.’
‘And I asked you not to have ORPHUS brought anywhere near this place,’ he admonished, pointing to the blue light in her bedroom. ‘If you won’t take my advice, then remind me why I’m here.’
‘You know the reason why.’
‘You want a formal endorsement of your candidacy from Lance Alyxander.’
‘I do,’ she said, full of hope.
Arturus sighed.
‘I have been authorised to grant such in exchange for a full copy of the Catalogue, including the classified bioweapons of the final era,’ he said.
Vespa’s heart sank.
‘You know I can’t do that!’
‘Then I regret to inform that he will lend his support to your opponents,’ Arturus said, placing the empty glass down. ‘He is rather inclined to expedite your removal from Orionis politics.’
‘What?’
‘I’m sorry, Vespa.’
‘I opened the gates for him!’ she exclaimed, springing up from her chair to pace. ‘I brought the corporations to the bargaining table! I put up with your antics to bring them here! He owes me!’
Arturus pushed himself from the counter.
‘Lance has done enough and more for you,’ he said. ‘You’ve become careless, sister. The Gift has corrupted your judgment and stoked your ambition.’
‘I’ve always done right by it!’ Vespa protested. ‘You know I have!’
‘I used to think so,’ Arturus said. ‘More importantly, so did Lance.’
‘What do you mean by that?’ Vespa demanded.
‘It was a mistake to help you dispose of Donovan Mayce,’ Arturus said. ‘The man was a bastard, but he was better for Orionis, and for House Alyxander.’
‘How dare you?’ Vespa hissed. ‘You saw what I saw.’
‘Prophecies of anarchy? The collapse of civilisation? I suppose,’ Arturus said. ‘But his secret depravity towards ghosts, women especially, enabled your scheme. You could have told the police what he was doing. You did no such thing. It was more advantageous to be a vigilante instead.’
‘Advantageous?’ Vespa fumed. ‘I would hardly describe the risks we took to stop this man as—’
‘Oh, I wanted what you did alright,’ Arturus interrupted. ‘Donovan Mayce deserved to die, and I convinced Lance of it. Don’t you see? Our visions are shaped by our desires. The truth is, more people benefited by his being alive than not.’
‘Do you think that little of what I’ve accomplished here?’ she said. ‘That my chancellorship is no better than what that pig would have done?’
‘The chancellorship was founded to serve humanity. His did. Yours only serves firstborns,’ Arturus said. ‘Take my advice: if you respect the institution you claim to love so much, then let the democratic process take its course and stay out of the way.’
Vespa glared at him.
‘What happened to you?’
Arturus shrugged.
‘I was punished for the folly of my advice and made to learn from the experience,’ he said. ‘Lance believes I can better serve him now that I’ve learned to isolate my desires from the truth. Vespa, we used our Gift for reasons we believed were right and just. But who were we to judge? That should never be our province. The future we see is only a possibility.’
Vespa calmed herself and changed tactics.
‘I keep seeing this place burn,’ she said.
He reached out and touched her hand.
‘I’ve seen it as well,’ he said. ‘More than once, especially after Mayce died.’
She looked into his eyes, wondering if he was recording the conversation.
‘Ceti is coming.’
Arturus flinched.
‘Here? To do what?’
‘Attack the Archangel.’
‘That’s absurd.’
‘Admiral Hedricks wanted to hide that from me. I would have never found out if not for a rogue pilot among them.’
Arturus frowned.
‘Withholding that from you is treason.’
Vespa waved her arm in disgust.
‘He can cite any number of security reasons to keep it from political scrutiny.’
‘So the man who controls your Navy and the most powerful weapon ever built is also above the law,’ Arturus said.
‘In so many words … yes.’
‘Then the dreams will become reality.’
She reached out and clasped both his hands.
‘We have to use our Gift to save people,’ she said. ‘It is an enormous responsibility we must bear together.’
‘Not we, sister,’ he said, pulling his hands away. ‘You.’
‘You have an obligation to try.’
‘My obligation is to inform Lance Alyxander of this at once.’
‘No, you can’t. Not until I tell my cabinet.’
‘I’ll give you seventy-two hours. What does Hedricks plan to do about this?’
‘He’s going to let Ceti press the attack and make a show of crushing them in plain sight of the Inner Rim.’
‘Charming. And how convenient, them coming here.’
‘I need your support, Arturus, please.’
‘Lance Alyxander doesn’t believe you deserve that. And given what you’ve just told me, now I fully understand why.’
21
VIOLA
With the exception of her own personal corelink, Viola’s cabin aboard the Merckon research vessel Lycidas was completely devoid of electronics. There were no windows or ornaments on the bulkheads; just symmetrical trails of grey metal rivets. The living area was spacious and well furnished for a freighter, but three weeks of microgravity was already starting to wear on her. She yearned for another run along the Danube. Until the mission was complete, her only real exercise would be within these walls.
Switching off her mag greaves, she pushed off a bulkhead and launched into a tucked somersault across the cabin. End over end she spun, landing perfectly on the far side. At the point of impact, the greaves switched back on, and her strong legs absorbed the excess momentum. Lacking proper training equipment, she found herself unable to sit still for long.
Viola had been coached by her relentless father to block out emotions. But ever since learning about who – or rather what – she was, certain innocuous experiences now triggered overwhelming sadness. Ever since her unforgettable night with Cerlis Tarkon, the mere sight of a couple’s embrace, or a compliment paid among conversing friends, made her think of the mother she not only never knew, but had never existed in the first place. Every act of kindness she witnessed triggered a rush of emotions that her training could not repress.
With each graceful flip from one side of the cabin to the other, she thought: I am an amniosynth. Biologically, she was human; and by all accounts, the perfect human, one for whom all things physical and mental were no challenge to master. But emotionally, she was the product of … what, exactly? she wondered. Corporate ambition? A spiteful ego? Why does that matter to me so much?
Another flip, and her world turned upside down as she asked the most fundamental question of being human:
Why am I here?
Some religions believed human life was born to fill a higher purpose in some grand divine plan. Except in this case, ‘God’ was Klaus Silveri, the man who made his fortune from manufacturing arable dirt.
She pushed herself off with greater force this time, darting across the cabin in a blink. And still she effortlessly landed square on her feet, causing a bang that was much louder than before.
For the longest time, her passion had been the Arkady. It remained so, except now she had embraced a second passion with equal purpose. Both were quests to discover origins. One would be pursued using the Lycidas and its resources. For the other, she needed the help of friends, of which she had exactly two.
Carrie Lin, now an employee of Vulcan Industries follo
wing her incident with Travis Mareck, was currently prosecuting a secret investigation of Klaus Silveri.
Her other friend was Wegan, the mutant and veteran gas rig miner who cleaned the floors at Merckon Prime. Prior to her departure, he had provided black market technology that would allow her personal corelink to communicate with Brotherhood’s open network once they arrived at Zeus. That way she could conceal her efforts from Merckon, which monitored her use of the device.
There had been calls from Klaus. Nearly a dozen, in fact, and that was before the Lycidas soared past the orbit of Eris. In time, there would be a confrontation, but not until she had armed herself with facts.
She launched herself again, and this time when she landed there was a knock on the hatch.
Gliding over to open it, she found one of the scientists she had recruited for the mission, Dr Gavin Strong.
‘Hi,’ he said, looking around. ‘Is everything okay in here?’
‘Everything is fine,’ she said. ‘What’s up?’
Gavin was much shorter than she was, with short, unkempt auburn hair and sharp green eyes. A brilliant biologist, he was arrogant but generally pleasant to work with. He, like the rest of the scientists on board, reported directly to her.
‘We’re about to make the turn,’ he said. ‘There’s a celebration happening in the bubble. Figured you’d want to know.’
‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘I’ll be there soon.’
‘Okay,’ he said, peering inside her room again before clunking away on his greaves.
The Lycidas was twice the vessel that Viola had asked for.
At nearly a kilometre in length, the ship’s primary hull was a converted gas transport freighter. To study the elusive aliens in their natural habitat, it would have to maintain a low Zeus orbit for an extended period. The shielding required to protect the craft from the radiation belts had doubled the mass of the ship; a third of her length was devoted to propulsion, fuel storage, and power systems alone. Altogether, about ninety per cent of the ship’s total volume was uninhabitable. Although Viola was hoping to negotiate her way aboard mining rigs that had made contact with the Arkady, the Lycidas was equipped with a sensor pod and enough cable to reach the jet streams hunter specimens were known to inhabit.
The Tabit Genesis Page 22
