The Return: The Conglomerate Trilogy (Volume 1)

by William S Frisbee Jr

  Luke glanced at his reflection in the star scape, it was easy to compare himself with Mark. By contrast, Luke appeared to be in his late twenties, early thirties, muscular and with his head shaved except for a short mohawk type buzz cut and a dragon shaved onto the side of his head. Elena had always liked clean shaven and disliked the feel of scruff, so Luke kept it that way. The shaved dragon was Luke's personal rebellion and statement to the world.

  “What is your god damned problem?” the Prime Minister continued. Obviously his boss wanted to yell and scream but Luke didn’t care either way. “Humans don’t lead assaults, especially Commanders, Commodores or Colonels. You have a small fleet and over a hundred of top of the line sentient droids for that!”

  Luke shrugged and sat down without being offered. If he was going to be lectured by the Prime Minister then at least he could be comfortable. Mark could rant and rave for a while. They both went back a long time. Prime Minister Harrison was one of the few people Luke could tolerate these days. Maybe he could get another mission far from New Alamo? Drama like this was even more reason to spend time away from other humans. Sentient droids did not have this kind of drama, or at least he did not answer to them. Luke’s mind turned to how quiet and calm his CIC was.

  “I should bust you down a rank!” Mark said.

  “In the NADF, Marines or Mercenary Corps?” Luke asked with mild interest. “Take your pick, bust me from Commodore in the NADF, Colonel in the Marines or Commander in the Mercenary Corps? How about all three? You can bust me down to private. That would be cool.” Luke chuckled. “I’d really learn my lesson then.”

  Mark sat down himself and steepled his fingers, looking over them at Luke. A sigh escaped the Prime Minister. The worst of it was over. This was good because it was getting boring and both knew a demotion would be more trouble than it was worth. Luke wasn’t here for the pay, the responsibility or anything else Mark could offer him. He was here for a chance to serve New Alamo and die. Mark wouldn’t dare try and take either of those away from him.

  “Losing battle?” the Prime Minister asked more calmly and Luke nodded admiring the star field behind the Prime Minister. Yelling at Luke had never led to a victory in Luke’s opinion.

  “Fine,” Mark said with a sigh.

  ‘Not all personal battles had to be won,’ Mark liked to tell Luke, and even though the Prime Minister didn't say it out loud, Luke knew he was thinking it.

  “Thank you for the battle wagon. Damned good job,” Mark said.

  “Thank you,” Luke said now on alert. The change of conversation would be bad, and Luke’s attention focused on the Prime Minister. With his eyes on the star field, Luke studied Mark out of the corner of his eyes. Something bad was about to happen. Prime Minister Harrison would normally have rambled on for longer. In certain organizations, it was Admiral Harrison. He had been Luke’s commanding officer for a long time. In the New Alamo Defense Force, Luke held the rank of Commodore, as a Marine Officer he held the rank of Colonel but he was frequently called Commander which was a senior mercenary rank. Luke downright refused to be promoted to admiral.

  “I want you to take apprentices,” Mark said ripping Luke’s immediate and unfocused attention away from the star field in the background, Luke’s eyes locked on the Prime Minister like a deer staring at headlights. Luke didn’t know what to say or do, and for perhaps the first time in a long time, Mark had Luke speechless. It was like a grenade going off in Luke’s lap, but a maiming, fragmenting grenade would have been more welcome.

  “No,” Luke said once he could think again and plan a response. Luke wanted to applaud Mark for catching him off guard like that. Luke had made it clear he didn't like being around people. Too many reminders, too many memories, too many other things. Droids were easier to deal with. No complications except mission complications. The droids were basic human in appearance but they could not be mistaken for real humans unless you spent too much time with them. Luke was sure he had not. Sentient droids were not complicated. They were friends, but they took orders and did not have the mental baggage actual people did.

  “I’m sorry,” Mark said pleasantly, perhaps happy he had found a chink in Luke’s armor. “Did that sound like a request?”

  “No,” Luke replied, putting a growl into his voice. “I always work alone.”

  Mark nodded and continued to stare at Luke over his steepled fingers.

  “Get over her,” Mark said, knowing where Luke’s thoughts were taking him. “Come back to the human race. Learn happiness and joy again.”

  “No,” Luke said. This was not an appropriate conversation. It did not involve a mission, or mission parameters. The door was probably locked. It was not the first time she had been the focus of the conversation and last time, Mark had locked the doors on Luke to keep him from walking out.

  “She has been dead for over forty-five years,” Mark said. “You are one of my best Commanders, despite your piss poor, anti-social, attitude and your death wish. You have so much knowledge and so many skills that can be shared. You’ve gone out the farthest into the Conglomerate and you have done more than most. I need more like you.”

  “I don’t need complications,” Luke said trying to imagine strangers on his ship. It was harder than he thought. Maybe he would not come back to New Alamo ever again. He could take jobs and missions further and further out. There were advantages in that. The Topa could work with those conditions he was sure. He would send most of his profits back to New Alamo and they would leave him alone. If Mark wanted something he could send a message.

  “Please,” the Prime Minister said, and it sounded to Luke like Mark was pleading. “You are part of our society. You are the hero of Naantali. You and Elena stopped the Caliphate attack cold. Everyone in New Alamo owes you his or her life. The Topa LIKE you and favor you in so many ways. You are a hero so many times over. We need more like you. I can’t get more like you unless people know how you think and work.”

  “Tell them to read my reports. I don’t want to be a hero,” Luke said looking at the desk between them. It was easier to look at than Mark. The desk was real wood or fake wood, didn't matter so much to Luke. It looked nice, elegant, and expensive. “I won’t get over Elena. She was my soul mate, she was a very real part of me, and that part of me died in the battle of Naantali. She was, incidentally,” Luke locked angry eyes with Mark, “my better, more pleasant, peaceful and polite half.” There was a threat there and Luke hoped Mark would notice. This conversation had gone on too long already.

  “It has been forty-five years. Let her go dammit!” Mark said, missing the hint intentionally. “She is dead and gone. She made you swear to fight for life. What you do is not life; it is a semblance of life waiting to embrace death. I know she would want you to be happy. You are following the letter of your promise but not the spirit. Her death is not your fault.”

  “You don’t know her,” Luke said. He wanted to lash out and hurt something. Why did Mark have to dredge it up? Did he want to get beaten to a pulp? Mark wasn’t right, was he? It was more complicated than that. Mark could not understand. Mark had never lost someone he cared so deeply for. Nobody had, not like this. He had been married to Elena for over seventy years.

  “I know enough about her,” Mark said. “Your last conversation was broadcast throughout the solar system. We all heard it. She wanted you to LIVE. She loved you. Is that so hard to understand? She made you promise to live, not hurry up and join her.”

  “Shut the hell up,” Luke said, ice in his voice. “This conversation is over you arrogant prick. Unless you want to test your office defense systems.”

  Mark looked at Luke, and Luke knew the Prime Minister was gauging how much further he could be pushed. Luke didn’t make idle threats, he didn’t let his anger control him, and he knew Mark had never felt a need for a real office defense system, leaving it off most of the time. It might be an interesting challenge.

  “You will take apprentices. That is an order,” Mark said, prepar
ing himself for an attack. Luke could see Mark would not back down and Luke didn’t like the taste of defeat. Luke would follow orders, Mark had to know, but there had to be a way to discourage Mark and make him back down.

  “Prime Minister,” a voice said from his desk. It was Aide, Mark’s personal droid. “Incoming Topa vessel. Estimated Time of arrival in five minutes.”

  “Shit,” Mark said wondering what they wanted and why now? Topa vessels were fast. They could cover in five minutes what most vessels would take to travel in a week. “I wonder what they want.”

  “I work alone,” Luke said, he did not care about the Topa vessel.

  “We will discuss this later,” Mark said.

  Luke could see Mark wanted him gone as he glanced at Luke and the door. Luke was not in a civil mood and being uncivil to the Topa could result in the destruction of New Alamo. But Mark couldn’t give Luke an inch or he would never get it back, Luke would make sure of it so he had to keep the pressure on Mark. “I need to see what the Topa want.”

  “No,” Luke said wondering if he could get Mark to back down to get rid of him. “I don’t care about the Topa. I work alone.”

  “Incoming Topa transmission,” Aide announced.

  “Shit,” Mark said for multiple reasons, glancing at Luke. “Accept, audio only.”

  Luke wondered what he could say to piss off Mark but not the Topa.

  “Hello friend Mark,” a Topa voice said in perfect English. The Topa appeared to speak every language known and had an uncanny understanding of the different cultures and subcultures. “May I join you and friend Luke? There are things I would like to discuss. I apologize for such short notice, I know you are a very busy person.”

  “It is all right,” Mark lied. Luke paid attention. Beating the crap out of Mark might have to wait although Mark didn’t have to know. What did the Topa want?

  A blue shimmer appeared and Suresh stepped through. Thin and dressed in a blue glistening suit, the gray-skinned alien was a head taller than both humans and the large expressive, black eyes took them both in. A small mouth and non-existent nose made Luke wonder, not for the first time, if this was one of the alien grays from Earth UFO mythology. Luke did not know what sex it was, or even if they had a sex. Perhaps Suresh was male, but could be female. Suresh’s sex didn’t matter, Luke had decided long ago that Suresh was male. The blue patterns shifted on Suresh’s suit as he stood there looking at them. By reflex the two humans stood and seeing Suresh restored peace to Luke. Of all the Topa he had encountered, he liked Suresh most and felt more comfortable around him. Which did not keep Luke from trying to find out if Suresh had a temper or could be irritated.

  The Topa were the undisputed rulers of known space and were from a race called the Pral. There was no doubt about their technological superiority. When they spoke, empires listened for two reasons, they rarely spoke, and when they did, they accepted no argument, and were more than willing to use force. They were respected, loved, or feared by all known races. They attempted to interfere in the affairs of other races as little as possible, allowing the other races to rule themselves and fight each other, but within some very strict guidelines and rules.

  Besides keeping the peace, they also ran the banking system, and managed the many different technological licenses and patents.

  The Topa were the rulers and the Tal were their secretive, merciless enforcers. Nobody on New Alamo had yet encountered the feared Tal but there were plenty of references in Conglomerate history where they had been called upon, and they struck with ruthless efficiency, using the most advanced weapons and ships ever seen. The nearest Tal base was in Ubashi, the sector capital about four wormholes away. While Luke had been to Ubashi on several occasions the Tal had never left their base on the outskirts of the system and Luke had never had any business to take him near it.

  “I have missions for you Commander,” Suresh said more formally, and addressing Luke. “We will pay the standard rates with an unspecified bonus on successful completion of the missions. I have transmitted the details to your vessel.”

  “Is this Topa sanctioned?” Luke asked, it was easier to focus on business and missions with Topa Suresh. Missions? As in several of them? Maybe he could escape New Alamo before the ‘apprentices’ were decided upon.

  “No, the Topa will not officially be involved, but your current Shoka licenses remain in effect,” Suresh replied. “This will be a human affair. We will pay you through the government of New Alamo. Standard expenses and contract conditions are acceptable.”

  “What are the general details?” Luke asked still mad at Mark and willing to take it out on anyone who got in his way. Even Suresh. Hopefully these missions would send him far away from New Alamo and take a long time. The term ‘human affair’ was odd; usually the Topa made a point of humans being the only aggressors or the primary participants. Suresh made it sound like it only involved humans.

  Suresh looked at him for several seconds, perhaps deciding how much to say. Mark probably had to make an effort not to cringe at Luke’s insolence. Luke stared at Suresh, it was a shame Suresh was taller. If Luke tried to get in the alien’s face, he would only look at Suresh’s neck, not very intimidating.

  “You did well on your last mission. I am very happy with your handling of the Bronkaw/Caleet affair. It was just and lives were not wasted.”

  “That didn’t answer the damned question,” Luke said not in a mood to be nice right now. Mark had just rubbed him the wrong way. He liked Suresh, but not enough to kiss up to him, or cut him any slack. He liked Mark too, but Suresh didn’t screw him over.

  A faint smile came to the Topa’s lips. Luke wondered if it was real or just for his benefit.

  “Your first mission is to retrieve your Soma and assist her, it has been too long. Then you will proceed to Josaka system and assist your Soma there. You will then receive additional instructions and act as needed.”

  “What is a Soma?” Luke asked. Curious despite his anger. It was not a term he had heard a Topa use before.

  “A Soma is a close thread in the tapestry of the universe and life,” Suresh replied.

  Some also called the Topa mystics. Luke was not generally polite, and he had low tolerance for mystical jargon or concepts. Like now.

  “A close thread?” Luke said sarcastically, scrutinizing the Topa wondering how much information he could wring out of the Topa. “What kind of crap is that? I’m a warrior not a seamstress! I thread my needles with an assault rifle and trust me when I say most people don’t want to be close to that.”

  Mark’s eyes widened.

  “You are one of our Shoka,” Suresh said, referring to the licenses Luke was issued, allowing him to wage unspecified war, it was called in some circles a license to kill. “She will be another, of equal rank once you have trained her.”

  “She?” Luke said, alarm bells going off in his head, this would not work then. He was not about to train some damned alien female. “I work alone.”

  Suresh looked at Luke and spoke gently. “I understand your concerns friend Luke. They are unfounded. Also, I am glad friend Mark has found you some apprentices. The teacher is ready.”

  “I don’t want any damned apprentice and I don’t want to train any damned alien female. I am not some freaking instructor. You want a teacher, read a book or buy a program.” Luke said with a growl. Suresh stood there pleasantly unconcerned. It gave Luke pause. Suresh and the Topa had always been fair and decent, just annoying, and it never seemed intentional. Luke had been convinced they cared, but now?

  Luke tried to generate anger for the arrogant Topa but the anger and hostility was not returned. It was so damned hard to be angry and mean to someone you liked but not when they didn’t get angry back at you. Luke let it go since it wasn’t accomplishing anything. An alien female? Just biology. It was unlikely she would remind him of Elena in any way. She couldn’t be any worse than the droids.

  “Be at peace friend,” Suresh said unconcerned. “You are a c
ornerstone; you are a dye in the tapestry. You will influence many and you have a prominent role to play. Please be at peace.”

  “Cornerstone? Now I’m a mud grubbing mason? Dye in the tapestry? I’ll get red all over it for sure. As for peace? I don’t know what that is,” Luke said, his anger fading and being replaced with frustration. ‘Peace,’ as if he could ever appreciate the concept again. It was hard to be mad at Suresh since Suresh did nothing to reflect Luke’s anger or frustration. Maybe that is why they were the undisputed rulers? Or was it something else? Mind powers?

  “I understand,” Suresh said but Luke did not believe him.

  “When am I supposed to meet this Soma?” Luke asked.

  “When you get there,” Suresh said with a smile Luke could have sworn was intentional. “The exact coordinates are on your vessel. Proceed at your own pace and be at peace. You will arrive at the appropriate time.”

  Luke glared at Suresh wondering what would happen if he attacked, maybe just to slap Suresh once, to see what would happen. This was not characteristic of Suresh to withhold or delay information. Very odd. Usually Suresh had too much information, not that he would talk Luke’s ear off, but he was never so cryptic or evasive.

  “Please notify the apprentices to join Luke as soon as possible,” Suresh said to Mark. “I know of your selections and why. Thank you.”

  Mark nodded. Mark looked surprised and Luke realized he had not shared that information with the Topa. Luke found that as disturbing as Mark did.

  Mark took a second and told Aide to notify them.

  “They will join you at your ship,” Mark said a minute later.

  “Thank you very much for your help in these matters,” Suresh said to Luke. “I know how difficult it is for you, but you have never failed me. I have a great deal of respect for you and a great deal of trust. Frequently you have done me a favor, going beyond your duties, and I would like to reciprocate. This is a gift to you.”

  Luke nodded and walked out, not knowing what to say, and not trusting his voice. He could not take out his anger on Suresh right now as tempting as it was. He would not take out his anger on someone innocent. While Suresh was annoying, he had never done Luke wrong.