by M. D. Cooper
Still, Vaax was not one to shrink from an unpleasant duty, and she started the playback.
The Empress appeared before her, a projection in her mind not be visible to anyone else—should anyone be so foolish as to barge into her personal quarters.
“I’m told you had her in your grasp,” Diana said, her eyes sparking with anger. “But you let Harken go. What was the point of placing you in control of that stars-forsaken system if you can’t get a simple girl from some low-rent harlot?”
As Diana had spoken, her voice had risen in both pitch and intensity. She had never directed that rage at Vaax before, and the GFF President felt a sliver of fear run down her spine.
“The fleets are ready to sweep into Silstrand and take it, but I don’t want to have that tech lost in the war. You need to secure it fast—before Silstrand realizes we’re ready to strike. With that unruly alliance under control, we’ll finally be in a position to stabilize this entire region of space, and create a proper buffer between us and the Hegemony of Worlds.”
Vaax reveled in the thought of bringing Silstrand into the Empire. As far as she was concerned it was a place without rule, without law. Vaax was all about rules, tradition, and law. A lack of order was why Silstrand was so ripe for the picking.
What Vaax wanted to ensure was Gedri would join the Empire without a fight. She was already making waves in the GFF and she wouldn’t stop with a few simple meals and regulation changes. Soon she would have the senate and the syndicates in line and turn Gedri into a proper member system of the Empire.
“One other thing,” Diana said, “one of my best tech and infiltration officers is on his way to you. See that he receives your full cooperation. If you do manage to get your hands on Harken, he can extract intel from her that will help you pinpoint the girl.”
The message ended, and Vaax swiveled in her chair as she reflected on her options.
Her eyes barely took in the room around her. For these unwashed pirates it was considered the height of elegance, but it was nothing compared to what she was used to back in Scipio.
Still, it was what the Empress wished of her. To use the pirate fleets operating out of Gedri to assist in spying and infiltration of nearby interstellar nations.
Vaax had to admit it was a good plan. Making the most of every opportunity was something Diana excelled at—it was how she had risen to the throne in the first place.
It was a modus operandi Vaax admired and followed. She had killed her way to the top of the GFF, and would use whatever means were at her disposal to stay there.
The door chimed, signaling someone was waiting to enter.
It was not something that could be done in Scipio, but here in Gedri there were more black-market brain hackers than the entire Empire. Turning an AI into a willing slave was the work of an afternoon.
Vaax sighed with disgust. Speaking of using whatever means were at her disposal. Maverick was the worst type of filth. Keeping woman as slaves, selling illegal modifications and who knew what else? But it was how he had lost control of his empire by ignoring it that made him weak in Vaax’s view. He’d let Harken run everything, and had been surprised when she attempted to supplant him.
“Send him in, but tell him I only have a few minutes.”
A moment later, Maverick entered the room. Vaax didn’t rise to greet him. Standing to welcome an underling was unheard of in Scipio, it transferred power. Instead, Vaax stayed seated with her legs crossed.
She gestured to the chair in front of her. “There’s a chair. Unfortunately, you won’t be staying long enough to use it.”
Maverick’s eyebrows rose. What he must think of her. His reputation was one of a hardened criminal, someone who had killed countless thousands on his way to the top, most of whom had been women. Vaax almost wanted him to try something with her.
“Thank you for allowing Kylie, Captain Rhoads, back to her ship. They can help us, we just need to buy them a little time,” Maverick said after a moment.
“They better come when summoned or it’s your head on the line, Maverick.” Vaax picked up a brooch from her desk and flipped it in her hand. “I reward loyalty more than most others that you’ve worked with in my position. Don’t do me wrong and we’ll go places. Lots of places.” She smiled. Vaax was told it was a chilling thing to see.
Maverick swallowed hard so maybe he thought so too.
“Cat got your tongue? Surely you’ll have something else to say before you go.”
“Other than what a beautiful woman you are?”
Vaax laughed, she couldn’t help it. “A man in your position generally doesn’t have the nerve to hit on me.”
“I wasn’t.” Maverick stepped closer to the desk, his fingertips tracing its surface. “I would never presume to be in your league, but it doesn’t mean I can’t admire the beauty of a painting I don’t understand. A piece of music that speaks volumes to my soul even though I cannot understand how it was arranged.”
Maybe she did underestimate him. For a crime lord, there was a bit of a poetic beauty to Maverick. Even if he did oversell it. “You intrigue me, Maverick. You might be too good for Gedri.”
Maverick laughed. “Oh, I’m not. It’s where I belong and I’ll protect it…until the end.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Get Harken and turn her over to me. Then, we’ll see where your future lies. If you even have one.”
Maverick shook his head. “You’re bold. No one…” he cleared his throat. “No person has ever spoken to me that way and gotten away with their life—not in centuries.”
“No?” Vaax tilted her head as she regarded him. “Are you sure? Last I heard, you let Kylie go and gave her a ship. A woman you professed to have owned. She looked pretty free to me. I bet she’s said a few choice words about you.”
“Whatever.” Maverick snorted and turned a way, walking back to the door. Before he reached it, he turned. “Just don’t forget who backed you to get you this far. I’ve made more than one president in Gedri, and I’ve taken more than one down.”
Vaax didn’t reply, and the man left. She stroked the underside of her jaw as the door slid closed. She might have a use for Maverick yet, if his girl Kylie could pull off her end of their little bargain.
Vaax was a betting woman and now, above all others, she was betting on Maverick getting her exactly what she needed to survive.
HUBEI’S DECISION
STELLAR DATE: 09.18.8947 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Canton City, Hubei
REGION: Hanoi System (independent)
Yovette took a deep breath and enjoyed the calming sensation of the rise and fall of her chest before opening her eyes. She turned her head toward the windows of her bedroom. The sky might’ve been blue, but instead of a vast ocean below it, she had a view of homes and parks, and in the distance, the small city’s factories and industrial areas.
Vacation was coming, but not soon enough for her liking.
Her husband, Chan, leanly built and with a head full of black hair, rolled over and threw an arm around her waist. He snuggled in close and he kissed her shoulder.
“Morning already?”
“’Fraid so,” Yovette whispered and kissed his lips meeting hers—albeit too briefly. “The morning duties await,” she said and threw the plush white covers off her long legs a
nd gave them a stretch as she sat up. She turned and swung her feet over the edge of the bed, rolling her shoulders as her toes dug into the thick rug.
There was time for a quick shower and that was about it. “You’re going to have to see Fen off to school this morning,” Yovette said and she hurried to the closet to select an outfit.
Chan groaned and flopped down onto Yovette’s pillow. “It’s supposed to be your turn this morning.”
“Let’s not fight. You’re the one who said you’d help me if I ran for governor. Remember?” Yovette’s words came out in a more biting tone than she meant. She felt apologetic but didn’t say so. She didn’t want to argue so early and especially not before her first cup of coffee.
Before he could say anything in response, she rushed from the bedroom and turned down the hall toward the bathroom. Her daughter’s bedroom door was covered in a drawing she had done the other day, one created with bright glowing colors.
As Yovette passed, the 3D holodisplay on the door rotated, showing another drawing, then a collage.
From inside the room a small and very sweet voice called out. “Mommy, is that you? Can you draw with me?”
Yovette slowed and stuck her head in. The visual of Fen, her six-year-old daughter, sitting on an unmade bed and surrounded by crayons and paper barely registered. “Not now, sweetheart. Tonight,” Yovette promised, before she dashed to the shower.
* * * * *
Freshly showered, Yovette pinned her black hair into a bun and dressed in simple black pants and a casual purple blouse and jacket. With earrings and a necklace in place, she hurried into the kitchen, drawn to the sound of bacon sizzling and the smell of eggs frying.
The kitchen was one of the nicest parts of the governor’s home. White cabinets and fixtures, with all the latest updates, and conveniences. She especially liked the breakfast bar where Fen currently sat, all dressed in her green and white school uniform. Her black hair was pinned back with green barrettes and green knee socks were pulled up high.
Yovette kissed Fen’s cheek as the little girl was bent down over some last-minute math homework. On the stool next to Fen, rested her backpack and a light green sweater. “Don’t forget your sweater this morning, dear.”
“I won’t, Momma,” Fen said, but didn’t bother to look up.
“Drink your juice,” Yovette tried to keep her exasperation to herself. Fen constantly futzed around in the morning, didn’t eat her breakfast, and then complained that she was hungry on the way to school.
Under her mother’s stern glare, Fen picked a piece of bacon off a plate and munched on it, her way of complying and defying at the same time.
From his place at the stove, Chen turned and glanced at Yovette. “Coffee’s over there. The way you like it.”
She looked beside him and saw the yellow mug waiting for her. Before taking a sip, she walked to her husband. “Thank you,” she said, and accepted his kiss, throwing an arm around his waist.
“That’s what I’m here for, right?” Chen smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes and Yovette wondered what he really would have said if Fen hadn’t been sitting right there.
With bright eyes, Fen slid her backpack on. “Bye! See you for dinner, Mommy. We’ll draw, right?”
“Absolutely,” Yovette gave her daughter a quick hug and handed Fen her sweater. “You’d forget your head…” she said with a smile.
As Chen ushered Fen out of the kitchen, Yovette checked the time on her internal clock. Running late, always running late. Yovette just hoped she’d make it home for dinner at all.
* * * * *
As soon as Yovette stepped out of the hovercar and walked into the governor’s offices, her Link lit up with requests, status updates, and questions. They came from every quarter; staff, officials from other government branches, and the media.
Yovette shunted them all away as she stepped into the elevator that would take her to the tenth floor. She took a deep breath as the doors slid open to reveal her staff’s desks, and a cluster of people all waiting for her.
Here she went.
She walked out of the elevator with a calm certainty that she didn’t feel, and smiled at the staff. “Good morning, everyone.”
“Good morning, Governor,” a dozen voices said at once with little variation.
One of her assistants, a man named Boyd, spoke up louder than the rest. “The fire on the Durian Continent swept across a large swath of farmland. They got put out in the early morning. There were no deaths, but we lost a million hectares of corn. We’ll use up most of our yields elsewhere just to reseed.”
Yovette pulled up last year’s corn yields and cross-referenced Hubei’s yields with that of the other planets and habitats in the Hanoi System. “Reach out to Governor Winch of the Chimin asteroids. They have a large hydroponic op for growing corn. Maybe there’s something we can trade with them for enough to cover our shortfall.”
Hubei was attempting to reduce their reliance on imports and non-organic crops, but it was proving difficult as their population grew. Re-learning basic land management and not relying on AIs to handle food production had caused more than one shortfall in recent years.
“Yes, Governor!” Boyd rushed off and Yovette held up a hand for silence as she pushed through the crowd, desperate for the relative safety of her office.
As she reached for the doorknob one of the area’s more prosperous landowners barged in front of her.
Quang raised his hand, point over Yovette’s shoulder. “Lixia is stealing my land!” he yelled.
“No, it’s not!” Yovette turned to see Lixia closing in on her from behind. The woman was fuming, her face matching her red shirt as she stepped up to Quang. “It’s my land. The survey maps and official markers say so. Just because you want to claim it for yours, doesn’t mean—”
Yovette held her hand up and silenced them both. “This isn’t the time or place. The Office of Land Manag—”
“We’ve been to the OLM,” Quang replied with a snort. “They’re useless. If you can’t resolve this we’ll have to go to the courts.”
“You only call them useless because they agreed with my findings,” Lixia said. “Accept it. That uranium deposit is mine.”
“Maybe if they didn’t have AIs in their heads messing with their thoughts, they would have seen things clearly,” Quang retorted.
“OK, OK,” Yovette said. “I don’t have all the details in front of me. Please provide the details of the dispute and the OLM’s findings and I’ll review it.”
Lixia nodded and Quang sighed, but didn’t move.
“Quang, would you mind? I need to get to my door.”
“Fine, but you better take a long look. Remember the backing I gave you on your run for this office here.”
“Really, Quang? That’s very subtle of you,” Lixia scoffed.
“Look,” Yovette said. “I’ll give it a fair review. Until then, neither of you can begin mining that uranium. Take a vacation or something. I don’t want to hear about either of you make any regrettable threats or moves against one another.”
Lixia walked away, as did Quang. One taking the stairs and the other stepping into the elevator.
The moment they were gone, a dozen other people stepped forward, but Yovette took a deep breath to restore her calm, and addressed the group.
“I need just a few minutes to get settled. I have your requests in my queue, I’l
l get to you all before long.”
With that she slipped into her office and closed the door behind her. She leaned against it and let out a long sigh of relief. The display next to the door said it was just twenty degrees, but Yovette felt like the room had to be thirty.
She unbuttoned her jacket and tossed it onto the sofa beside the door. Sliding into the seat behind her desk, Yovette triggered her desk’s holodisplay to bring up her day planner.
The security briefing had been postponed. Admiral Yamato had been aboard one of the Hubei Space Force’s cruisers that had diverted to intervene in a shipping dispute. As a result, he would be out of convenient comm range for another day.
The report didn’t say that his intervention had resulted in any issues, and Yovette decided not to dig any deeper for the time being.
Yamato’s presence wasn’t crucial for the meeting, but Yovette wasn’t going to argue with one less meeting in her day.
Yovette considered it.
Yovette hoped so. It felt like every time the people of Hubei pulled themselves out of one fire, something else happened and they slipped into crisis or controversy.
