Star Marque Rising

by Shami Stovall

  Noah furrowed his brow. “Demarco… you sure there's nothing? Is it because you're worried about Endellion?”

  “No.”

  “You sure? Everyone knows you two were a thing.”

  “Trust me. I don't miss it.”

  The moment stretched on, and Noah tucked his hands into his armpits. “All right,” he muttered. “But let me know if I can do anything for you.” He turned to his brother, but Lysander motioned to the door with a tilt of his head.

  Noah left, giving me one last look over his shoulder before the door shut.

  Lysander and I stood in the dimly-lit room, neither of us moving or speaking. I wanted him to yell. Anything to take my mind off reality.

  “You've been like this since Capital Station,” Lysander said, his eyes narrowed. “No bravado. No interactions with the crew. Something happened, and you're not telling the officers.”

  “If I have an official statement, I'll call everyone together,” I snapped.

  “I'm not here for your official statement. Noah says you're recovering—he thinks you need time—but I know Endellion well enough to see that something happened to her, and you, and perhaps the whole of the Star Marque. We could signal the other commodore and retrieve Endellion from the other ship, but obviously we're not doing that. Why?”

  We had tried to signal the ship, but to no one's surprise, it had refused to answer. Endellion didn't want us to interfere with her trek to Vectin-14. She wanted to beat us there.

  Lysander said, “You have more arrogance and confidence than everyone on the ship combined. If something shook you, it must have been catastrophic. What happened?”

  “You wouldn't believe me,” I said.

  “Maybe I wouldn't have a few years ago, but that's not the case anymore, Demarco. Perhaps you're not military trained, but you're dedicated to the Star Marque. I've seen what you've done with Noah, and I know risking your life to get the ship away from Capital Station was no small task. You could've saved yourself. A man who would risk everything is a man I can trust.”

  His words sank into my thoughts. Lysander really was Endellion's opposite.

  “What do you know about Endellion?” I asked.

  “She's a calculating commander with a goal, and she keeps it in sight at all times.”

  “Her only goal is power. She says she wants to be a planet governor, but has she ever said why? She doesn't give a shit about ruling a planet. She wants something else. Something bigger.”

  Lysander lifted an eyebrow. He mulled over my comments before saying, “I don't know where you're going with this, but perhaps she just wants the success.”

  “No amount of success will quell the demons that fuel her ambition.” I couldn't keep the hate out of my voice, and I knew Lysander must have sensed it.

  “What's this about?” he asked.

  “She did it. She caused the malfunction on Capital Station. I—I didn't know I was helping her until it was too late.” My statement settled between us, plunging the conversation back into silence.

  Lysander stared, but his expression betrayed none of his thoughts. After several seconds, he nodded. “To kill Felseven,” he said, coming to the correct conclusion on his own. “And his supporters.”

  “I know what you're going to say—because I read your damn mind—but I can't report her. If I turn her in, I turn us all in, and then she'll never see justice for what she's done. Endellion could worm her way out of anything.”

  Lysander ran a hand down his face, his gaze distant, lost in thought. “She left us?”

  “That's right. She wanted to leave the Star Marque attached to Capital Station.”

  “Why? She's done nothing but help me at every turn. And she's helped countless defects, and other crew members. My brother included.”

  “Endellion—” I debated whether or not to say anything, but I couldn't help it, “—doesn't give a fuck about defects. She doesn't give a fuck about you or anyone else. She turned you in to the HSN Navy Corps officers so she could have you as a pawn. She got a doctor who specialized in defect research so she could help herself. In the grand scheme of things, Endellion couldn't care less about your life or mine. If she thought throwing you out into the cold embrace of space would get her a little closer to power, she would fucking do it. Do you understand?”

  Lysander glared at the floor. “She… revealed me to the Navy officers?”

  “This is why I kept to myself,” I said. “Nobody on this rig knows jack shit about Endellion, except for Sawyer. I haven't even begun to reveal the depths of her secrets.”

  I breathed deep, rage lurking in every pore of my body, ready to return to the surface the moment I remembered Endellion's many transgressions.

  Lysander took the information better than I thought he would. “What're you going to do?” he asked, breaking the silence.

  That was the big question.

  “Leave,” I commanded. “I don't have the patience to talk about this. If you think of a brilliant solution, you let me know.”

  Lysander hesitated for a moment. He gave me a hard stare before heading for my door. “Demarco,” he said as the door slid open. “Thank you.”

  “Don't.”

  “You could've gone with her. What made you come back?”

  I almost answered immediately, but I caught my breath before I uttered a word. Why hadn't I gone with her? The thought of betraying the Star Marque cut too deep. Maybe—because I was an asshole—I would have gone with her if she had just destroyed Capital Station, but I never would have trusted her again.

  But not the Star Marque. She was the captain, and I was the vice-captain. We owed everyone aboard a duty. They looked to us for protection. I wouldn't fail them.

  I could see why Endellion thought loyalty and duty were hindrances. They held back ambition. But they also stifled great evil. She made me think I was weak for valuing other things besides success, but how long could she have said that, when she'd left behind so many enemies and so much destruction on her path to glory?

  “I couldn't leave the Star Marque,” I said, strained. “Not when there was a chance that I could save it.”

  “That's why I need to thank you,” Lysander said. “When I was in the HSN Corps, this is what they taught the officers to do. They taught us that selfishness is default and only a select few have the courage to sacrifice for the whole. The reciprocity of camaraderie, the notion of honor—that's what holds brothers together and makes civilization great. I… appreciate that someone without my background or training came to the same conclusion. I have a great deal of respect for you. Now more than ever.”

  Heh. Lysander. Maybe I should've listened to more of his bullshit in the past.

  He glanced over and nodded. “If you need anything, Vice-Captain Demarco, let me know.”

  * * *

  One week from Midway Station.

  Endellion had already been there for seven weeks. I'd thought we would never hear from her again, but I wasn't that lucky. She'd had the audacity to send a message to the Star Marque over the relay system. A vid message to the crew.

  I almost didn't play it. I almost sent back a message of my own, calling her out. But I knew she would never be taunted into a fight.

  The vid played for the crew over all the computer terminals and screens. I sat in the mess hall, watching the vid with the rest of them, my arms crossed, and my fingers digging into my enviro-suit.

  Endellion stood in the middle of the screen, flanked on either side by soldiers. Her black-and-silver enviro-suit had all the markings and designations of a planet governor, and she kept her helmet over her head the entire time, even as she spoke, never revealing her face.

  “Crew of the vanguard-class Star Marque,” she said, in the same cold tone I had grown to hate. “This is your captain, Endellion Voight. You'll be pleased to know that I have earned the title of planet governor and for the next 20 years, I will preside over Vectin-10.”

  The statement chilled my core. A piece of me
wanted her to fail—just to see her suffer—but I knew that would never be the case. Without Felseven and his associates to vote against her, there was nothing in her way. Not only that, but since several other governors had died when Capital Station crashed, I was sure the Vectin ministers wanted to fill the empty seats as fast as possible, especially with individuals who shared their goals and aspirations.

  Their Stellar Engine would be top priority for all planets. More taxes, more materials, more labor. Endellion had won her seat by playing to those eager for change.

  My thoughts returned to my surroundings when the cheers became overwhelming. The ground enforcers lifted their rum pouches and shouted.

  “She's an inspiration,” one woman said. “The first human governor since the Federation's formation!”

  Another guy nodded. “That's right! Our captain's the best!”

  “I have two messages,” Endellion continued leisurely, but each word cut at my patience. “First, I would like to take this moment to name Clevon Demarco as the new captain of the Star Marque.”

  The cheering intensified. Enforcers all around the mess hall turned to face me. A few threw pouches. Everyone wanted to pat me on the arm.

  I couldn't believe she had the balls to name me in the vid. Did she think I would still serve her while she was governor? All I could think about was stabbing her to death with her own cybernetic insides.

  “Second,” she continued, her voice almost drowned out by the commotion, but not quite. “I want to officially confirm the land I've promised each and every one of you. When you arrive at Vectin-10, you will be granted a six-hectare parcel of property. After that, you can terminate your employment with the Star Marque or continue under Captain Clevon Demarco's leadership.”

  I was deeply surprised. I'd thought she would renege on that offer, especially after she'd said it would make her look corrupt or tainted by favoritism. But I suspected not fulfilling her promise to an entire crew of enforcers would have looked even worse. That would have made her a liar, and she wanted to maintain some semblance of dignity.

  “Six-hectare parcel of property?” someone next to me asked. “Outrageous.”

  “How large is that?” another asked.

  “60,000 square meters. I once lived in an apartment on Midway Station that was 50 square meters. Unbelievable.”

  I tuned everything out and glared at the screen. I hated her. I hated that everyone there thought she was a role model of perfect stature. Her crimes sat forgotten, and I suspected that most wouldn't even want to hear them. Endellion had solidified herself as their messiah.

  I stood from the table, white noise in my thoughts, blocking out everything else.

  “Sawyer,” I said, knowing she would hear me. “Call the officers for a meeting. I know what needs to be done.”

  * * *

  Quinn, Lysander, Dr. Clay, and Sawyer sat around the massive table. I stared out the transparent metal alloy wall that looked out into the darkness of space.

  “—and then she altered the course of Capital Station's path to hit Galvis-4,” Sawyer concluded.

  Quinn and Dr. Clay widened their eyes.

  I couldn't tell the entire crew, but if I was going to run the Star Marque, the officers needed to know. They needed to know why my objective would be to hunt Endellion down. They needed to know she was a tyrant, an autocrat of the highest order.

  “I don't believe you,” Dr. Clay said. “She had a harsh disposition. But destroying an entire space station? Never.”

  Sawyer tapped the PAD on her arm. A recording of Endellion's voice played back, and my blood ran cold as I remembered the moment with perfect recollection.

  “There won't be any evidence after the dust settles. Capital Station was old, after all. A malfunction isn't outside the realm of possibility. Now let's go.”

  Keeping that recording would be hazardous. I would tell Sawyer to delete it later—and maybe even incinerate the PAD. While it would damn Endellion, it would cost us all. We didn't need it hanging around.

  Quinn shook her head. “Endellion said that?”

  Sawyer nodded. “She also said this.”

  A recording of my and Endellion's voices played back for the group.

  “The Star Marque,” I said, strained over the speaker of the PAD. “I won't leave without it.”

  “Then you'll die with it,” Endellion replied. “Come, Clevon. You know this is for the best. Could you imagine me handing out hundreds of planetside estates once I became governor? I'd be accused of favoritism and corruption, and it would've been a dark mark on my political career. In a way, this is serendipity. The perfect end to a good run.”

  Lysander glowered at Sawyer's PAD. “It's hard to hear.”

  “I never thought she would do something like this,” Quinn said. “I knew she was ruthless—Yuan said some weird stuff when she was drunk—but this? I never would've guessed.”

  “And you saved the Star Marque?” Dr. Clay eyed me with a lifted eyebrow. “I suppose you truly are the hero here.”

  I was glad Sawyer hadn't played the rest of the encounter. I gave the doctor a nod. “Endellion's gone,” I said. “But Sawyer was the backbone of her leadership. I'm the new captain, and I won't let Endellion's monstrous actions go unchecked. I plan to run the Star Marque. To make something great. And I want you all there with me.”

  “Us?” Quinn asked. “Really?”

  “Yes. We could do things the right way, recruit people without harming them, and face Endellion when no one else can.” I turned to Sawyer. “Are you with me?”

  Sawyer pulled her knees up to her chest. I knew she still harbored some loyalty to Endellion, but she hardened her expression. “You have my full support.”

  Although Quinn and Lysander went to answer, I turned my gaze to Dr. Clay and matched his squinted glare. “Well?” I asked him.

  He chuckled. “Well, what? You know the answer. I wasn't here for anything before. Endellion tried to kill me, but she didn't. I'm not invested in seeking revenge. As far as I'm concerned, I should stay away from all this and focus on my research.”

  “Stay,” I said, “and I'll give you my piece of property on Vectin-10.”

  The others in the room caught their breath, half-gasping.

  “Your entire parcel?” Dr. Clay asked.

  “For ten years of service,” I said, knowing I was paying him an insane yearly salary for an enforcer doctor. “I need someone who specializes in defects, and you're one of the best. Please.”

  Lysander stood. “He can have my piece of property.”

  “No,” I said. “Keep it.”

  “I won't need it in a few years,” Lysander said, staring at me with a hard-set gaze. “It's better this way.”

  “I want him to stay for you,” I replied. “And for Noah, and Mara. And anyone else I might pick up. If Ontwenty and her research is anything like you all gush over, maybe you won't be dead in five years. Besides, I want you as my vice-captain—which means you'll have to stick around longer.”

  Lysander straightened his posture, more so than before. “You want me as your vice-captain?”

  “You've got a moral compass. I don't. I want your guidance.”

  “I still need to agree,” Dr. Clay said, interjecting himself into the scene.

  “Well?” I asked.

  “I'll do it. But only for ten years. Max.”

  “Good.” I turned to Quinn. “Are you with me?”

  She hesitated, and I knew I asked more of her than the others. She and Lee had plans. They wanted to start a family and leave the enforcer life behind. This was supposed to have been her last mission, the one to end them all.

  “Demarco,” she muttered. “I don't know. I'll have to speak with Lee about it.”

  Even if she said no, it wouldn't matter. We would get new pilots, and I would make it work, one way or another. Although I didn't share Endellion's “ends justify the means” mentality, I had become a fan of her determination. She never gave up, and neither w
ould I.

  “You have until we reach Midway Station,” I said. “I want to keep you, but I understand if you go.”

  She nodded.

  Sawyer swiveled her chair to face me. “Captain Demarco.”

  The title sounded weird, but I liked it. “Yeah?”

  “We'll lose most of the ground enforcers when they take their land.”

  “I know. We'll get more, and then we'll take on more jobs. I swear, we'll be everything we were and more. And the moment Endellion makes the wrong move, I'll be there to see she pays for everything she's done.”

  The others at the conference table stood, and each regarded me with a resolute expression.

  Thank you for reading!

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  ABOUT SHAMI STOVALL

  Shami Stovall grew up in California's central valley with a single mother and little brother. Despite no one in her family having a degree higher than a GED, she put herself through college (earning a BA in History), and then continued on to law school where she obtained her Juris Doctorate.

  As a child, Stovall enjoyed every portal fantasy, space opera, and magic series she could get her hands on, but the first novel to spark her imagination was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. The adventure on a deserted island opened her mind to ideas and realities she had never given thought before—and it was the moment Stovall realized that story telling (specifically fiction) became her passion. Anything that told a story, especially fantasy series and military science fiction, be it a movie, book, video game or comic, she had to experience.

  Now, as a professor and author, Stovall wants to add her voice to the myriad of stories in the world. Everything from sorcerers, to robots, to fantasy wars--she just hopes you enjoy.

  See all future releases with:

  https://sastovallauthor.com/newsletter/

  Or contact her directly at:

  s.adelle.s@gmail.com