by Lincoln Cole
8
“Abi?”
The little girl looked up, a wide grin on her face. “Dulah!” She held up a small plastic doll in a white dress. It was eerily detailed to resemble a woman. Abigail had covered it in layers of clothing, and it had the vague resemblance of a clown. “Betsy missed you!”
Abdullah coughed. “How…are you doing?”
“We are about to have a tea party. Would you like to join us?”
Abdullah felt sick. “No, not right now. You have a…speech…right?”
Her face fell. “I don’t want to do it,” she said, crossing her arms and pouting. “I don’t like to read, and we have our tea party! Argus is going to come too.”
Argus the doll? Gods, what is going on?
A child as the Minister’s Envoy? This is crazy.
Abdullah had never heard of it happening before. He couldn’t imagine the Minister sanctioning such a decision.
Not that it mattered. Abdullah was in no place to question the Ministry, and he certainly wasn’t going to question Captain Grove. If she wanted the little girl to read a speech, then it was his job to make sure she did it.
But how the hell am I supposed to do that?
“Do you like tea?” he asked.
“Uh huh,” she said. “And we already started preparing the table. Our guests will be arriving soon and Betsy and I have to prepare.”
Abdullah hesitated, thinking. “Can I come to your party?”
Her face lit up. “Sure Dulah, you can come!” She ran to the corner of the room where all of the chairs had been pushed to. “But now I need another chair!”
“I can get a chair,” he said. “And we can have our tea party. But first I need you to read the speech.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t want to.”
“But if you don’t read it, the Captain won’t let me come to your party. And I really want to.”
He felt like an idiot, but Abi seemed to be considering it. “Will you be there with me when I read it?”
“I’ll be there, right beside you the entire time. And as soon as we are done we’ll all have tea. Okay?”
She thought a moment longer than nodded. “Okay, Dulah.”
The door opened behind them. Jamar stepped into the room carrying a folded black robe. Red lines ran along the neckline and sleeves. “Are you ready? You need to put this on.”
Abi touched the material. It shimmered under her touch. “It’s beautiful,” she said breathlessly. “Is it for me?”
“It’s all yours. Come with me.”
He led the little girl to a side room, and Abdullah let out a long sigh.
Captain Grove followed her servant into the small office room a few moments later, arching an eyebrow at Abdullah. “Did you convince her?”
“She’ll do it, I think,” he said. “Whatever it is you want her to do.”
Captain Grove smiled, but it didn’t reach her gray eyes. “Good. Better we don’t drug her for this. It’s important that she trusts us.”
Us? Abdullah thought but didn’t dare voice the concern.
“How did you convince her?” Kristi asked.
“I…uh…promised I would go to her tea party after.”
This time, the Captain didn’t smile. “Then I suppose you’d better not let her down,” she said, turning and disappearing out of the room.
9
“Where is this asshole? It’s been hours,” Ike said, holding his arms up. His elbows were the only defense he had to keep a little breathing room. The crowd was milling tighter with pent up energy as more people were forced inside.
The room was well beyond packed, and he couldn’t see anything other than a sea of bodies. He wasn’t even sure how the life support systems were keeping enough air in the same location.
“Won’t be long now. We’re all here,” Ben said. “And you better not be too uncomfortable. We’re going to be here for a few more hours until they can get us to Daer and drop us off.”
“What?” Ike groaned. “Hells bells.”
“This is our real punishment. Just think of it as a growing experience. This will make you stronger. And remember kid: this time tomorrow we’ll be free.”
“I just want to get the hell out of this cargo hold and—”
“Shut up,” Ben interrupted. “The door is opening.”
Ike glanced ahead and confirmed what his friend said was true. The bay door was sliding open. Several men strode inside, clearing the area and pushing prisoners back. They were all armed and armored. Ike peered up at the rafters and saw more guards posted above.
“Shit,” Ike said, pointing up. “They are carrying launchers.”
Ben glanced up and hesitated. “Missile launchers,” he said. “Must be crowd control.”
“Crowd control involves blowing us all up?”
“Bean bags is my guess,” Ben said, but he didn’t sound convinced. “Or ball bearings. Riot gear.”
“Probably.”
Ike glanced back to the front and saw that the men were setting up a stage. It was raised about eight feet off the ground, high enough that anyone on top could easily be seen. Another few minutes passed as the guards pushed the perimeter back.
Finally, a small contingent came out of the door.
“The hell?” Ben said. “They brought a kid? What the hell are they doing?”
Ike watched the group climb onto the platform. A hush had descended over the hangar and all eyes were faced forward. The lights dimmed. Ike lowered his elbows and felt a chill run down his spine.
Something was wrong.
The aforementioned little girl was in black shimmering robes that dragged the ground. She stood in the center of a trio of people on top of the stage. To her right stood a woman in a well-decorated uniform and to the left was a bronze-skinned man with sharp features and short-cropped hair. He was holding the little girl’s hand.
She looked up to him for support. The man nodded to her and she stepped forward, opening her mouth to speak. Everyone strained to listen, which was unnecessary. Her voice—shrill and rapid—echoed throughout the entire hangar by speakers.
“You have been gathered to face your crimes. In the name of the Minister, Givon…Givon Mielo, you have been judged,” she looked up at the man beside her and he nodded his approval. The little girl turned back to the crowd. “Seek penance with God.”
The crowd stood in stunned silence as the trio climbed off the stage and exited the hangar.
“What…what does that mean?” Ike asked, glancing over at Ben. “What the hell does that mean?”
Ben’s jaw was hanging open and all the blood drained from his face.
10
“How did I do?”
“You did great, Abi,” Abdullah said, holding her shoulder and steering her away. His heart was racing and he could barely breathe. “So good.”
“And now we get to have our tea party?”
“Uh huh,” he said. Captain Kristi had stopped, watching through the window the multitude of faces within. So many people crammed into one place.
Not for long.
Captain Grove gave him a long look and beckoned him over.
“Go ahead and set up,” Abdullah said to Abi. “I’ll be right in.”
The girl ran to the office, all smiles and excited energy. She looked so small and innocent, her too-big robes flopping around her tiny frame. He watched her go and faced the Captain.
She was peering through a one-way window into the cargo hangar, hands clasped behind her back and a pensive expression on her face. Abdullah glanced past her, wondering what she saw in those clustered faces.
“Captain?” a voice said over the intercom. “Shall we proceed?”
The moment dragged on. People inside the hangar had figured out what was going on and were pounding on the door. Some were climbing on top of each other. But there was no escape.
Abdullah felt a lump in his throat as he stared at the Captain. She turned to look at him. “You disappr
ove.”
Abdullah couldn’t hide it. It was written all over his face. “Dead men learn no lessons.”
“You assume this lesson is for them.”
He forced a ragged breath. “Who is it for?”
“We are in orbit over Daer. Once we leave this area, the only gravity strong enough to affect the smugglers will be the planet. And each other.”
“They will clump together and plummet,” he surmised, shaking his head. “A harsh lesson.”
“But necessary.”
“Will the Ministry be offended?”
“Their own Envoy gave the command,” Captain Grove said, her voice making her meaning clear. “They cannot speak against her without speaking against themselves.”
Abdullah’s skin felt clammy and he felt like he was standing on thin ice. At any moment, he might fall through. “Then,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “We have no choice but to honor her decision.”
The Captain studied him for a long moment and smiled, her cold gray eyes boring into his soul. “No choice at all.” She turned back to face the door. “Vent the hangar.”
It happened quickly. Abdullah couldn’t hear anything through the thick doors, could only see the terrified expressions. There was a sudden rush as people were dragged toward the exit and out into space, along with the hangar’s air supply. But with bodies so tightly packed the air only managed to pull the ones closest to the exit out into space.
The rest scattered about in the hangar, the liquid in the air freezing solid in seconds. Abdullah watched them stop moving, horrified and wishing he was anywhere else.
Six thousand dead, he thought. Most of the bodies will burn up on impact with the planet’s atmosphere.
But they don’t have to hit the surface to make an example.
“I’ll have guards clean up the mess before we reestablish atmosphere. I don’t want any thawing out on my ship,” Captain Grove said, peeling her eyes from the spectacle and glancing at Abdullah. The edges of her lips curled.
“Don’t you have a tea party to go to?”
Epilogue
Argus
Argus Wade received the report only a day after it happened. He was in his private chambers on Axis. The words were clear and easy to understand, but he had trouble processing them just the same.
It was a report of what had transpired in Sector Two aboard Denigen’s Fist. The entire Republic was up in arms about it, with constant newscasts condemning the actions of Captain Kristi Grove.
The actions of the Ministry.
It was a firebomb dropped into his lap, and he was terrified to think that he had orchestrated the events. He was responsible for the deaths of all of those people: criminal or not, they didn’t deserve to die.
His daughter didn’t deserve…
“Oh God, what have I done?”
There was a knock on his door. It opened after a few seconds and an attendant stuck her head into the room. “The Minister would like to speak with you.”
“Did he say why?” Argus asked, a hollow feeling in the bottom of his stomach.
“He did not,” she said. “He is waiting in his office.”
Then she disappeared, leaving Argus alone. He fought down his panic, taking deep breaths and forcing himself to relax. He knew the Minister would receive word of the events that had taken place aboard Denigen’s Fist. Events performed in his name and the name of the Ministry.
The walk to the Minister’s office felt like miles, but before he knew it he was standing before the double doors. Hands shaking, he pushed the door open.
“Ah, Argus,” the Minister said, smiling at him and setting aside a paper he was holding. “I’m glad you could join me.”
“Of course,” Argus said, hoping his voice wouldn’t crack. “I was told you needed to speak with me.”
“Yes,” Givon replied. He didn’t offer for Argus to sit. “I received a report recently about Ministry actions taken against criminals.”
“Yes,” Argus said, “and I assure you I will speak to Captain Grove regarding the events that transpired and make sure it never—”
“I approve,” Givon interrupted. Argus trailed off.
“You what?”
“I approve of her actions completely,” he said. “It is about time people came to understand that the Ministry isn’t a spineless entity leading sheep. It is past time they realize just how important faith is in these faithless times.”
Argus floundered for words. “I see.”
“I wish to release a statement fully sanctioning the actions of the Captain and our young Minister aboard Denigen’s Fist.”
“I understand,” Wade said. “I’ll draft up documents and have them sent to you immediately.”
“Good,” the Minister said, smiling and picking up a piece of paper. Wade thought he was dismissed and started walking toward the door. “It seems that your daughter is going to have a long and fruitful career aboard her new vessel. You made a most excellent decision, my friend.”
Argus Wade felt the words cut into his stomach, but he didn’t dare show his emotions. “Thank you,” he said.
Then he left the Minister’s office, drenched in sweat and wondering if the world would ever stop spinning.
Jayson
It was a few days before Jayson was allowed to visit Richard in the infirmary. His friend was heavily bandaged and still looking pale, but they’d already been informed that there would be almost no time to rest. They would begin training soon, and their days would be long and arduous.
Part of Jayson was thrilled at the prospect…the other part was terrified. He didn’t know just what he’d gotten himself into and was hoping he might find a way to get himself back out.
“How are you,” he asked, sitting in a chair near Richard’s bed.
“I’m all right,” his new friend said, then coughed. “Apart from the excruciating pain and constant nausea.”
“Training starts tomorrow,” Jayson said.
“That’s what they said,” Richard said. “Think they’ll go easy on me?”
Jayson shook his head. “No.”
Richard coughed again. “No, I don’t think so either.”
“But, we’re past initiation, so things can only get better from here, right?”
Richard stared at him. “I’ve seen a lot of things, and been to a lot of places, so I know something about how things work. Things are going to get a lot worse before they get better.”
“Aren’t you optimistic?”
“Just a regular ray of sunshine,” Richard said. “Kid, you’ve got some talent, and maybe the pain is making me sentimental, but I wanted to tell you: don’t let them break you. They’re going to try and you just have to be strong.”
“Sure,” Jayson said. “I won’t let them break me.”
“Good,” Richard said. “There might just be hope for you yet…”
Richard trailed off as the drugs kicked in, slipping back to sleep. Jayson sat with him for a while longer before heading back to his chambers.
The academy would be where he would stay for the foreseeable future. He would train and learn, but this would never be his home.
Vivian
Vivian settled the ship down at the hangar in the city Fasbend on the planet Eldun. They had been traveling for a few days and Vivian was sorting her feelings and emotions out after everything that had happened on Jaril.
She hadn’t spoken much to Traq, and he had stayed in his room. She knew he wasn’t handling things very well, but he was only a child.
“Children are resilient,” she said aloud. She knew it was true, but she was afraid that such resiliency wouldn’t be enough.
The life she had thrust him into when she took him from his home…it wouldn’t be easy. He would always be at risk, and if the wrong people knew he existed, they would stop at nothing to retrieve him.
Dead or alive.
She stood and moved to Traq’s room aboard her ship. She knocked on the door, waited for a s
econd, and then pushed it open. He was sitting on his bed, head down and despondent.
He looked up as she came in. “Where are we now?”
“Eldun,” she said.
“Why?”
“This is a lawless backwater planet, constantly on the verge of war. Which means it’s dangerous.”
He scrunched his face in confusion. “Shouldn’t we go somewhere else if it is dangerous here?”
She looked at him, so small and fragile on the bed. He had a good heart, so full of life and hope. He didn’t understand how bad things would be, and without help, he wouldn’t stand a chance in the world.
“We’re here because it’s dangerous. Your training starts today.”
Kristi
“Have you never heard of patience?” Jamar asked.
Kristi looked over at him, frowning. “I have been more than patient all of these years. It is time some things changed.”
“You don’t need to accomplish everything all at once,” her servant explained. Sometimes it is best to let the dust settle.”
“Every day there are more problems. More dust. If we let things settle how they may, then we will be picking up the pieces of this Empire in only a few years.”
“It isn’t an Empire.”
“Isn’t it?” she said. “A rose by any other name…”
“Then what do you propose?” Jamar asked. “We attack every lowlife and despondent we can get our hands on and single-handedly clean up the entire galaxy?”
“I’m not proposing anything,” Kristi replied. She stood up, towering over Jamar. “Last I checked, I’m Captain of this vessel. My word is law.”
End of Book I.
Lincoln Cole
About the Author
Lincoln Cole is a Columbus-based author who enjoys traveling and has visited many different parts of the world, including Australia and Cambodia, but always returns home to his pugamonster puppy, Luther, and family. His love for writing was kindled at an early age through the works of Isaac Asimov and Stephen King and he enjoys telling stories to anyone who will listen.
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