The Ashes of Worlds

by Kevin J. Anderson

  And she understood what Davlin had done.

  Margaret and Anton made their way down to the stone frame and looked at the vast and empty insect metropolis all around them. “The breedex picked a new planet, one that wasn’t marked on the normal coordinate tiles, so we’d never find them. Then the scientist sub-breeds destroyed the transportal to cover their tracks. I don’t expect even our best experts could figure out where the Klikiss have gone now.”

  Anton nodded sadly. “It seems like a good ending to the hive song.”

  His mother agreed. Davlin was gone, the Klikiss were gone, and she finally felt that her work was done.

  172

  Jess Tamblyn

  Back at the ruins of Rendezvous, where the formerly inhabited asteroid facilities and artificial domes had once been strung together in a loose cluster, Jess gazed wistfully at the debris through his ship’s windowport. Dozens of Roamer craft flitted around, locking onto the largest pieces of the wrecked governmental complex and using their powerful thrusters to nudge the rubble back to a common gravitational center. Others used momentum cannons to fire rock pellets into space, gradually easing the asteroids into place.

  “At one time, we could have used wental power to realign all of those pieces,” Jess pointed out. “Now I feel . . . at a loss.”

  “Now we feel normal,” Cesca said. “We’re Roamers, and that’s good enough for me.”

  Though they no longer had the presence of the water elementals inside them, the intimate mental touch had come to them one last time after they had left Ildira. The wentals are exhausted, but we survive. The verdani sacrificed much, but they survive, as well. Jess and Cesca had felt weary, but gratified by what they had accomplished. The hydrogues are contained within their gas giants, and the faeros within their suns. Chaos has been controlled, life still thrives, and balance has been achieved once again, at last.

  “Yes, life thrives,” Cesca agreed with a cryptic smile, pressing a hand against her belly.

  “Then we’ve won,” Jess said.

  The wental voice was silent for some time. The war is over, and all factions have survived, it said. That is our victory. Then the voice was gone.

  Jess and Cesca rode in a small Roamer ship that had been given to them, since they could no longer fashion a water-bubble craft whenever they needed it; nor could they survive in vacuum or stroll across the terrain of an airless planetoid. Now they were just average people again, real people. A man and a woman.

  How Jess had longed for that. “I wouldn’t change a thing.” He reached over to stroke her long dark hair. “And our work isn’t over — it’s just going to be different.”

  “The work of a Roamer Speaker never ends. Isn’t that what Jhy Okiah used to say? She was a smart woman.”

  Cesca grinned. “My new role as Speaker will be to help the clans fit in with the Confederation and to encourage plenty of cooperation.”

  As they approached the Rendezvous site, Jess and Cesca identified themselves, got clearance, and docked their small ship in a complex where the ambitious workers had established a rugged living dome. Tanks of spare fuel, water, air, and packaged supplies had been set out in a metal-walled oasis. After cycling through the airlock, they met several dozen men and women who had come back, working on a quixotic scheme to put all the pieces back together, as if that would make everything as it had been.

  Cesca swept her gaze around, smiling at the people. “I recognize you — clan Rudyear, isn’t it?”

  An older woman nodded. Three teenaged boys stared at the two visitors. One short, stocky man paled as he recognized them. “Don’t let them touch you!” He hesitated. “Can you two come in here? Is it safe?”

  Laughing, Jess stepped forward and clapped the man on the shoulder. “Nothing to worry about. The wentals are gone from our bodies.”

  “We’re nothing special anymore,” Cesca added.

  “I beg to differ,” said the older woman. “We’ve heard plenty about the two of you. Even without wentals inside you, nobody’s going to argue that Speaker Peroni didn’t do what was necessary for clan survival during our hardest times.”

  Cesca hugged the old woman, who flinched from the embrace, despite her assurances. Jess threw his arms around two of the other people inside the dome. “I hope you don’t mind. It’s been so long since we could actually touch another person, we’ve really missed it.” He shook the hands of the perplexed teenaged boys, who didn’t seem to understand what the problem was.

  “Speaker Peroni, are you going to return to Rendezvous when we have it completed?” said an obviously pregnant blond-haired woman.

  “I’d like that,” Cesca said. “The clans will always be independent, but we probably don’t want a separate governmental center from the Confederation.”

  “I was just thinking of it as a nice place to live,” said the short-statured man.

  “We’ll help spread the word,” Jess said.

  “Good. We could use any help the clans can spare,” the old woman said.

  “For a percentage, of course,” the short man added.

  “For a small percentage.” She and the man eyed each other, and finally he backed down.

  “Who knows,” one of the workers suggested, “once we get finished here, maybe we’ll figure out a way to reassemble Earth’s Moon, too.”

  “Ridiculous,” the woman said. “It would be easier just to haul in a new one from a planet that doesn’t need it.”

  “Okay, we can do that, then.”

  Jess didn’t think either plan sounded particularly easy. But then again, Roamers specialized in solving problems, regardless of the complexity.

  He and Cesca stayed long enough to have a meal, and then flew onward. Their next stop was the Osquivel shipyards, and then Theroc, where King Peter had called a great meeting to relaunch the government of humanity.

  Reveling in being among people again, he and Cesca took every opportunity to shake hands or exchange embraces with friends, family, or new acquaintances, relishing the human contact.

  They also relished their time alone in their journeys between destinations. “We have a new start,” Cesca said.

  “I’m glad we won’t be starting at the beginning.” Jess remembered how unhappy they had been for so long, with Cesca first betrothed to Ross Tamblyn, then to Reynald of Theroc. They had been kept apart, following what they believed to be their duty rather than their hearts, afraid to speak up for what their emotions demanded. They had been so miserable. “We belong together.”

  As the ship flew onward, Cesca gave him a kiss. “You’re right. I don’t ever get tired of feeling human contact . . . close human contact. Especially contact with you.”

  He glanced at the autopilot and the chronometer. “We do have several hours before we get to our destination. How do you propose we occupy our time?”

  “For that, Jess Tamblyn, I suggest you follow your Guiding Star.”

  173

  King Peter

  The great gathering of civilizations occurred on Theroc.

  Condorflies buzzed overhead, as if trying to compete with the numerous Roamer ships that landed in a constant stream in the worldforest clearings. Celli and Solimar acted as the official green priests, and through them the messages and news spread everywhere throughout the telink network.

  The representatives of Confederation colonies had used their own green priests to call for ships, so they could attend the convocation. Rlinda Kett, Branson Roberts, and Nikko Chan Tylar delivered as many visitors as their ships could carry. Those ambassadors who could not appear in person sent messages through telink, which were delivered and read aloud so that every attendee could hear the widespread and unwavering support across the Spiral Arm.

  Sarein, dressed in the same ambassador’s robe that ancient Otema had worn years ago, acted as a liaison with the former Hansa bureaucracy. Deputy Cain was also there, along with Fleet Admiral Willis, General Conrad Brindle, his wife, Natalie, Robb, and Tasia, all in seats of promin
ence.

  Patrick and Zhett scolded Del Kellum, who continued to scribble messages, passing them to green priests for transmission as he waited through tedious delays before the final ceremony. Now that his skymining business and the gigantic shipyards were operating without hindrance, Kellum couldn’t tear himself away from his administrative duties, but his daughter and her husband made him sit up and pay attention.

  Overhead, forty-nine Ildiran streamers raced back and forth, creating sonic booms and leaving a crosshatched pattern of exhaust trails. Though reluctant to leave Ildira again himself — considering what had happened on his last innocent mission to Theroc — the Mage-Imperator nonetheless sent Nira, Osira’h, and Prime Designate Daro’h; through the thism he would know what he needed to know.

  Next to King Peter, Estarra held baby Reynald in her arms. She didn’t care that this was a formal government ceremony: She intended for their baby to witness the birth of a truly unified Confederation. Proud grandparents Mother Alexa and Father Idriss wanted to watch the child, but the Queen’s word was final.

  OX never allowed himself to be more than a few steps away from the King and Queen. His synthetic skin was polished and all his systems up-graded — especially his memory capacity, to accommodate the data that Deputy Cain had saved in the archives, as well as the new experiences he had accumulated since escaping from Earth with Peter and Estarra.

  “Now I can store several more lifetimes’ worth of memories,” the Teacher compy had said when the restoration upload was complete. His optical sensors gleamed gold with excitement.

  “You have a lot more work ahead of you, OX,” Peter had said. “You taught me so many valuable things that I was hoping you’d teach our son, too.”

  “Will you be Reynald’s Teacher compy?” Estarra asked.

  OX did not hesitate. “I would be honored.”

  After the Ildiran skyparade wrapped up overhead, the streamers raced back to their warliner in orbit, and King Peter called for attention. “People of Earth and Theroc, people of the human race — whether former Hansa colonists or Roamers — and representatives of the Ildiran Empire.” He looked around to see rapt attention on the faces of the large crowd that sat shaded under the green canopy of leaves. “Endings are often sad, beginnings usually joyous. Today we have both. After listening to an overwhelming majority of representatives, I exercise the authority vested in me as the leader of the Confederation to formally dissolve the Terran Hanseatic League.”

  King Peter listened to the surge of applause. Deputy Cain and Sarein clapped the loudest.

  When the cheering died down, Estarra spoke. “The King and I welcome all peoples who wish to live in peace, so that a strong civilization can thrive in the Spiral Arm. We have seen the costs of enmity and destruction. Now let us reap the rewards of cooperation, commerce, and friendship.”

  Peter continued even before the applause had quieted. “Our past was built on the whims of tyrants, the blood of innocents, the embers of stars, and the ashes of worlds.” Beside him, Estarra held the baby in one arm. He took her free hand. “Together, we build a new future for all, and together we can achieve the impossible.”

  Glossary

  Adar — highest military rank in the Ildiran Solar Navy.

  Aguerra, Carlos — Raymond’s younger brother.

  Aguerra, Michael — Raymond’s youngest brother.

  Aguerra, Raymond — streetwise young man from Earth, former identity of King Peter.

  Aguerra, Rory — Raymond’s younger brother.

  Ala’nh, Tal — one of the remaining cohort commanders of the Ildiran Solar Navy.

  Alexa, Mother — former ruler of Theroc; wife of Father Idriss and mother of Reynald, Beneto, Sarein, Estarra, and Celli.

  Andez, Colonel Shelia — EDF soldier, former Roamer captive with Patrick Fitzpatrick III, chosen to lead Chairman Wenceslas’s “cleanup crew.”

  Andropolis, Dr. Tito — Hansa scientific adviser assigned to assist Chairman Wenceslas in creating technological “miracles.”

  Aquarius — Nikko Chan Tylar’s wental-repaired ship.

  Archfather — symbolic head of the Unison religion on Earth.

  Barrymore’s Rock — isolated Roamer fuel depot destroyed by Sirix’s black robots.

  BeBob — Rlinda Kett’s nickname for Branson Roberts.

  Beneto — green priest, second son of Father Idriss and Mother Alexa, killed by hydrogues on Corvus Landing, returned in a wooden body as an avatar of the worldforest, then later joined with verdani battleship.

  Big Goose — Roamer derogative term for Terran Hanseatic League.

  blazer — Ildiran illumination source.

  Blind Faith — Branson Roberts’s ship, destroyed during an escape from Earth, rebuilt by Roamers at the Osquivel shipyards.

  breedex — a hive mind of the Klikiss, which controls all the members of a subhive.

  Brindle, Conrad — Robb Brindle’s father, former military officer, returned to active duty; when Robb left to join the Confederation, Conrad insisted on remaining loyal to the EDF.

  Brindle, Natalie — Robb Brindle’s mother, former military officer returned to active duty.

  Brindle, Robb — young EDF recruit, comrade of Tasia Tamblyn, captured and held prisoner by hydrogues after trying to contact them at Osquivel, rescued by Jess Tamblyn. With Tasia, Robb joined the Confederation and helps them build their military.

  Burton — One of the eleven generation ships from Earth, seized by Ildirans at Dobro and its passengers used in breeding experiments for generations.

  Cain, Eldred — deputy and heir-apparent of Basil Wenceslas.

  cargo escort — Roamer vessel used to deliver ekti shipments from skymines.

  Celli — youngest daughter of Father Idriss and Mother Alexa; she recently became a green priest.

  Chan, Marla — mother of Nikko Chan Tylar, wife of Crim Tylar. Marla was killed by Klikiss during the colonists’ escape from Llaro.

  Charybdis — primordial water planet, site of Jess Tamblyn’s original dispersal of wentals. Charybdis was devastated in an unprovoked faeros attack.

  chrysalis chair — reclining throne of the Mage-Imperator.

  cleanup crew — elite watchdog security group given special orders by Chairman Wenceslas to quell dissent. They are led by Colonel Shelia Andez.

  cloud harvester — ekti-gathering facility designed by Hansa.

  cohort — Ildiran Solar Navy battle group consisting of seven maniples, or 343 warliners, commanded by a tal.

  Colicos, Anton — son of Margaret and Louis Colicos, translator and student of epic stories, sent to Ildiran Empire to study the Saga of Seven Suns. He was captured with the Mage-Imperator’s Ildirans and held prisoner on the Moon.

  Colicos, Louis — xeno-archaeologist, husband of Margaret Colicos and father of Anton, killed by Klikiss robots at Rheindic Co.

  Colicos, Margaret — xeno-archaeologist, wife of Louis Colicos and mother of Anton, vanished through transportal during Klikiss robot attack on Rheindic Co and lived among Klikiss. After helping colonists escape from Llaro, Margaret was recaptured by the new breedex.

  competent computerized companion — intelligent servant robot, called compy, available in Friendly, Teacher, Governess, Listener, and other models.

  compy — shortened term for “competent computerized companion.”

  condorfly — colorful flying insect on Theroc like a giant butterfly, sometimes kept as pets.

  Constantine III — stormy, primordial planet, site of Roamer facility to extract polymers and raw materials from its thick atmosphere; known for exotic flame-proof materials.

  Corribus — ancient Klikiss world where Margaret and Louis Colicos discovered the Klikiss Torch technology, site of one of the first new Hansa colonies. Eradicated by Klikiss robots; Orli Covitz and Hud Steinman were the only survivors.

  Covitz, Orli — teenaged girl, one of two survivors of the Klikiss robot attack on Corribus. Later, she moved to a new home on Llaro, only to be caught
in the Klikiss invasion. After discovering that her music could stun the Klikiss hive mind, she helped the remaining colonists escape.

  Crenna — former Ildiran splinter colony, evacuated due to plague, and resettled by humans, then later frozen when its sun died in hydrogue-faeros battles. The colonist refugees resettled on Llaro, and were trapped by the Klikiss invasion there.

  cutter — small ship in Ildiran Solar Navy.

  Cyroc’h — former Mage-Imperator, father of Jora’h, poisoned himself so that Jora’h would have to take over the leadership.

  Daniel — Prince candidate selected as a replacement for Peter, left stranded on neo-Amish world of Happiness.

  Daro’h — former Dobro Designate-in-waiting but now the Prime Designate of the Ildiran Empire after the death of Thor’h.

  DD — Friendly compy owned by Margaret Colicos, seized by the Klikiss robot Sirix, before he escaped through a transportal to rejoin Margaret. Now DD serves as the companion to Orli Covitz.

  Designate — any purebred noble son of the Mage-Imperator, ruler of an Ildiran world.

  diamondfilm — crystalline parchment used for Ildiran documents.

  Diente, Admiral Esteban — one of the four surviving grid admirals after the black robot uprising and the hydrogue war; he was ordered to capture the Mage-Imperator’s Flagship.

  Dobro — Ildiran colony world, former site of human-Ildiran breeding camps before a revolt shut them down.

  domate — largest sub-breed of Klikiss, silver carapace with black tiger stripes. The domates acquire and provide genetic material to the breedex during reproductive fissioning.

  drogue — deprecatory term for hydrogues.

  Durris — trinary star system, close white and orange stars orbited by a red dwarf; three of the Ildiran “seven suns.” Durris-B was extinguished in the hydrogue-faeros war, but reignited when faeros incarnate Rusa’h led an armada of faeros back through the star’s transgate.