“Cr…a…tor,” a muddled voice spoke suddenly, as if answering his thoughts. He twirled around, searching for its origin before he realized that it wasn’t coming from the White Hand or the com-link connected to the six androids he was working with. It was coming from ADIM’s, in his right ear.
“ADIM, is that you?” Cassius asked.
“I…at…Mar…” ADIM answered.
Cassius immediately knew what was wrong. Earth’s thick, stormy atmosphere was impeding their ability to communicate clearly at such long range. “I can’t hear you, ADIM. I’m here. I’m on Earth.”
“I…am…los…ing…commu…cation…”
“Save your energy, child. I’m leaving Earth now. Whatever you’re doing, I will be on the Hound’s Paw watching everything we’ve worked on come to fruition. Connect to the White Hand so you can do the same.” Cassius paused. He had to feel his chest to make sure that it was his heart pounding against his ribs and that nothing else was wrong. “I love you, ADIM. Together, we’ll end this.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE—ADIM
Welcome to New Terrene
I love you. Those were the final words Cassius had spoken after ADIM woke from his state of stasis and contacted him before doing anything else. He updated his systems. It was like no time had passed at all with all of his major systems stagnant, but if his calculations had been correct it should’ve taken five hundred and four hours after the destruction of the Shadow Chariot to reach Mars. The red planet loomed large in front of him.
He wished he could’ve continued the conversation. Love. It was not a word ever used in reference to him. Cassius could not even describe it accurately. Even so, ADIM was sure about one thing. He loved his creator and he had to seize the Vale Protocol so that he could be there with him when their plans finally came to fruition.
First, he had to figure out how to slow down. At his velocity, even his chassis couldn’t endure a collision with Mars and he was heading straight for it.
He scanned his surroundings. A Solar-Ark was speeding toward the Mars Conduit Station like the glinting tip of a spear. ADIM watched as it went by in a blur, passing through the rings of the station and exchanging containers of goods and passengers in a fraction of a second. The complex system of magnets and Gravitum-based attractors allowed the shipments to safely transition from a small fraction of light speed to a complete stop.
ADIM shot a few of his highest caliber rounds off to the right to alter his trajectory. He had to pass through the inside of the station’s rings—inches away from the surface which received the cargo bays of the Solar-Arks—if he wanted to take advantage of the systems used to transfer goods. No other vessels ever needed to sail within them, so the Conduit was always active.
He extended his body as straight as it could go and expended one last round in the opposite direction to perfect his course. Seconds later, he zipped through the rings, each one slowing him down until, by the last, he was essentially motionless. Shifting plates and apertures cranked beneath him in anticipation of receiving a container.
He’d never been to the Red Planet, but he knew it well. Cassius had told him countless stories, and all of the memory logs he’d adapted from Gaia gave him a clear picture. He needed Tribune Joran Noscondra, the only one presently on New Terrene, for what he was planning. Joran was almost definitely in the Tribunal Citadel. There was nowhere else he had reason to be. ADIM had seen his New Earth Cruiser docked and powered down at the defensive station built into Mars’ largest moon, Phobos, during his approach.
ADIM grabbed the edge of the Conduit’s last ring and used it to catapult himself straight down toward Mars. Midway Station, the towering space-elevator connecting the planet’s surface to the Conduit, extended from the Citadel. Figures moved up and down within it, but ADIM didn’t need to be enclosed. He grabbed hold of the tower, and began to climb down from space into the thin atmosphere of Mars.
A flock of Tribunal frigates soared around it, keeping an eye out for any Ceresian ship foolish enough to try and attack Mars. They didn’t see ADIM. He didn’t even need to use his camouflage projector against the tower of metal, because he was the same thing.
As the rosy surface of Mars drew steadily nearer, the skyline of nearby New Terrene took shape. The crystalline tops of the many towers shimmered in the sun, the colors of their vertical farms refracted, giving them the appearance of giant emeralds. All of them shot up through the city’s latticed ceiling enclosure, a colossal structure visible from space that spanned for miles, all at one hundred feet high. It was the most impressive human settlement ADIM had ever seen, and one that he knew would suit his creator once he took control.
At the top of the Tribunal Citadel, a glass dome provided ADIM with a view inside to its council room. A flame in the center crackled within a golden basin, but that’s not what ADIM focused on. Suspended above it was a familiar, wiry plant in a transparent container. He’d seen it countless times whenever Cassius watched the last recording of his human son. The plant had been nurtured on Earth by Caleb Vale.
It does not belong here, ADIM thought. He’d heard Cassius express his disdain for the plant remaining under the control of the Tribune numerous times. He considering smashing through the glass and taking it, but he couldn’t draw attention to himself too soon. He’d expelled much of his ammunition on the Ascendant and didn’t have the White Hand’s stores at his disposal to reload, so he had to capture Joran in the most efficient manner possible.
He continued down from the dome of the Citadel, along its gleaming walls. He had to use his magnetized chassis to do so, but still nobody saw. It was one of the most guarded buildings in the Circuit, but they were waiting for ships of human assassins. A dozen fighters patrolled the area constantly, and there were Combat Mechs posted at the entrance. But until ADIM had control of the Vale Protocol he couldn’t take them on, so he decided to use one of his creator’s gifts.
He leapt off of the citadel, landing on top of a tram that was arriving from New Terrene. Once it passed through the airlock into the citadel he rolled, unseen, off of the backside of the car and crawled around to the front. He waited until it came to a complete stop and then emerged guised in the appearance of Benjar Vakari.
He took a few steps forward, imitating a human gait as best as his limbs allowed. The line of Joran’s Honor Guard posted at the tram station’s exit noticed him and immediately fell to their knees. “Your Eminence,” they said in unison as they dragged their fingers across the floor.
ADIM said nothing. He continued forward, into a spectacular entry hall organized around a fountain and a pink-flowered tree. A scanner wrapping the entrance beeped that it detected metal as he passed through, but nobody tried to stop him. He was a Tribune. The lead guard hurrying after him was hushing the security officers posted at the scanner who had no clue what to do.
“Your Eminence, forgive me, we weren’t told to expect your arrival,” he said. He snapped his fingers toward a well-proportioned female attendant sitting by the fountain. She ran into another room, and emerged a moment later with a glass of water set on a golden tray.
“Water, Your Eminence?” she asked, averting her gaze.
ADIM stopped walking. “No,” he said, using his encounter with Benjar to impersonate his voice. He turned to the guard. “Please inform Tribune Noscondra that I must meet with him immediately in private.”
“Yes, Your Eminence,” the guard said. He walked a short distance away and then relayed the command into a com-link.
While he waited ADIM observed the lobby. It was octagon-shaped, and every corner boasted a Combat Mech along with two guards. The entrance to a lift ascended into the council room, and was the most densely guarded. There was enough firepower to tear apart ADIM’s chassis, and yet all of them were lowering their heads in reverence to him, unable to see what he really was.
They are too weak to remain, ADIM decided.
“His Eminence, Joran Noscondra, will meet you in the council chambers,” the gua
rd said to ADIM after his conversation concluded. “Follow me.”
He led ADIM toward the lift. The sentries outside of it parted ways. ADIM hung his head to make sure his eyes wouldn’t be seen through the pixels of lights wrapping him in the image of Benjar Vakari up close.
ADIM and the guard rose through the space. When it reached the council chamber it was completely empty. ADIM entered, and when the guard attempted to follow he held up his hand to keep him back. There were four tall, golden seats across from the fire basin. A map of the Circuit floated above it, similar to the one ADIM used to show Zaimur the location of the Tribunal fleet but much, much larger. From that angle ADIM could see that the wiry plant of Cassius’ human child was positioned in the coordinates of Earth.
“Benjar!” Joran exclaimed. He entered from another direction, presumably from private quarters. He wore a forced smile. “I had no idea you were coming. Don’t you have a war to win? Earth is under attack.”
ADIM said nothing as Joran got closer, his long robe brushing across the smooth, pearlescent floor.
“I don’t have times for your games Benjar,” Joran scolded, his smile melting away. “Have you finally come to gloat that you were right about Cassius in person? You better be sure Cordo can handle the Ceresians alone.”
Once he was close enough, ADIM sprung at him and wrapped his arm around the Tribune’s neck. He squeezed just hard enough to ensure that Joran wouldn’t be able to wriggle free. He needed him alive so that the Vale Protocol’s Biometric Scanners would read the flow of blood through his appendages. It was created by Cassius, so ADIM assumed that the security was impossible to deceive.
“Benjar!” Joran squealed. “What is the meaning of this?”
The guard by the lift came running out, but ADIM placed a bullet between his eyes before he had a chance to raise his weapon. Then ADIM carried Joran toward the map of the Circuit.
“Have you lost your mind?”
ADIM shoved him against the rail wrapping the map, and reached out through the flame. It was so hot it would’ve burnt human flesh, but to ADIM it was nothing. The image of Benjar projected around his arm wavered as he stretched out and grasped the container with Caleb Vale’s plant.
There was no reason left to hide. ADIM allowed his true appearance to show, and Joran’s jaw dropped. The lift chimed before Joran could say anything. A squad of honor guards stormed out, rifles aimed. ADIM turned towards them, his arm still wrapped around Joran’s neck and the other holding the plant. The guards fanned out in front of him.
“Hold your fire!” Joran shouted. “Hold your fire.” He futilely attempted to twist his head around to look at ADIM. “Release me at once!”
“Tell your followers to stand down,” ADIM said with his own voice.
“Do you even realize what you’re doing, whatever you are? I am a Tribune!”
“I am ADIM, and if any weapon is fired in our direction, I will snap your neck.”
ADIM squeezed hard enough to feel Joran swallow. The Tribune immediately motioned with his outstretched hand for the guards to lower their weapons. They did, but they didn’t move.
“You’re Cassius’ android Benjar spoke about aren’t you?” Joran realized. Words spilled out of his mouth quickly as his fear of death took hold. “No Ceresian android has eyes like that. Is this what he’s stooped to now that he’s gone? Sending his abomination to assassinate us?”
“He is not dead.”
With the plant and Joran in hand, ADIM strolled forward. The guards moved out of his way, but they kept their eyes on him. He reached the lift, and instead of taking it he leapt through the open shaft around it. Joran screamed at the top of his lungs as they plummeted fifty feet toward the floor of the lobby. The burnished floor cracked beneath ADIM’s feet as he landed. Every rifle in the room snapped toward him, the arms of the Mechs too. They held their fire once they realized who ADIM was holding.
“What does he want?” Joran asked. He was short of breath from screaming. “The plant? Take it! It was Benjar’s prize anyway.”
ADIM ignored him. He shuffled cautiously across the lobby, keeping an eye on all of the guards. None dared make a move.
“Release the Tribune!” one demanded.
ADIM wasted no time. He needed Joran alive, but he needed to ensure the defenses didn’t try anything. He shifted his arm, shot Joran through the meat of his bicep, and then returned to choking him. The guards aimed their rifles and stepped forward, but held their fire. Joran howled in pain.
“I told you to tell them to stand down,” ADIM said.
“Stand down!” Joran gasped. “Have everyone stand down!”
He continued to moan as they crossed the room, but nobody else dared make another move. They didn’t even make a sound. The tram ADIM had arrived on was still there, and he backed slowly onto it. The door shut behind him, and he threw Joran into one of the seats.
ADIM placed his hand over the controls for the car’s lighting system, and used it to enter its full programming. He set it to depart for New Terrene at max speed. Joran was flung from the chair as it shot forward, but ADIM caught him.
“I thought even Cassius was above something like this,” Joran grumbled. “I’d heard he went after Benjar on the Ascendant, and now he’s sent you for me, hasn’t he? The coward. I should’ve listened to Benjar and had him killed a long time ago!”
“The Creator did not send me,” ADIM replied.
He paced back and forth, looking through every viewport in the car to try to get a clearer picture of his surroundings. Tribunal fighters in the sky followed as the tram raced down Pavonis Mons, the towering peak the citadel was built into. As long as ADIM had custody of one of their revered leaders none of them would fire.
“Right.” He groaned and put pressure on his arm. “An abomination like you just came here all by yourself.”
ADIM wrapped his hand around Joran’s throat and lifted him into the air. “I am upholding will of the Creator,” he said. “You and all of your followers cannot be trusted with his safety. You must all be subdued.” He tossed Joran against the wall.
The Tribune gasped for air and clawed at his throat. Then he stared up at ADIM, his eyes bright with dread. “I won’t be used in another one of his messages! I deserve some respect from that man for all I did!” He used a chair to pick himself up onto his feet and held himself there, legs wobbling. “Just end this already! What’s one more death at the hands of that traitor?”
ADIM turned and gazed at New Terrene. His field of view was filled with glittering towers, all except for one. One was stark and made completely out of metal as dark as ADIM’s. It was the Enclave—the heart of every Tribunal system. It ensured the security of Tribunal settlements throughout the Circuit. Somewhere locked inside that building was the Vale Protocol’s mainframe, and Joran was the key to strolling in safely.
“Not yet,” ADIM said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO—SAGE
The Tigress and the Hound
“I’m counting on you, Vale.” Zaimur stood at the command console of the Hound’s Paw looking at a live transmission of Cassius on a HOLO-Screen. Zaimur glanced nervously back over his shoulder at Sage, who held a rifle at his back.
“Get him here, now,” she demanded. Whether or not the skeleton crew left on the command deck knew about Cassius before Sage arrived she wasn’t sure, but there were no secrets left in the room. None of them could leave, and Sage monitored every order they sent out from the command console to make sure they followed orders and didn’t say anything to the rest of the Ceresian fleet under the threat that they and Zaimur would all die if they did.
Zaimur turned back to Cassius. “We both know I’ll need you here to help convince Benjar we’re not bluffing when he arrives,” he continued. “Blowing the mine is a last resort.”
“Like I would miss a chance for a face-to-face with Benjar Vakari?” Cassius laughed. “Just ensure that the defenses are down and my passage is safe. ADIM is controlling an escort for me, bu
t I don’t want to see what would happen if this bomb meets a rocket.”
“It’s safe. Now go.”
Zaimur slammed on the button to switch off the transmission. Then he slumped down onto his palm. Sage shoved him onto the floor and bound his wrists to the base of the console with scraps of Yara Lakura’s clothing.
“You can’t keep me tied up like this forever,” Zaimur said, his voice shaky.
Sage sat directly across from him at the viewport of the Hound’s Paw, using the sill to help herself down. She laid the rifle across her lap, keeping it aimed at Zaimur. They’d been in similar positions for two weeks.
By then her many wounds were the least of her issues. With the command deck sealed off from the rest of the ship supplies were limited. There were a handful of ration bars scattered through the piloting stations that had to be shared among herself, Zaimur, and the engineering crew to keep them all alert, but that was all. Two glasses of water left behind by Ceresian Clan leaders were the only thing keeping them alive. A few of the members of the engineering staff had already fallen to thirst. The remaining ones were struggling at the ship’s controls, half-asleep.
Sage’s eyes were heavy, and on the few occasions she got an hour or so of rest she did so with Zaimur restrained and the barrel of her rifle pressed against his neck. The first time she did it one of the engineers attempted to sneak up and grab one of the guns she kept piled at her side. Her Executor training woke her to the sound of his footsteps and she planted a bullet in his brain. Nobody tried after that.
After a week, hunger and thirst were wreaking havoc on her body along with all of the others. Zaimur’s breathing was bristly, like he had gravel stuck in his lungs. Hers was silent, but only because she was forcing it to remain that way so she wouldn’t appear weak. The entire room reeked of shit, urine, and, worst of all, death. The bodies littering the floor were slowly rotting while the ship’s old air recyclers hummed and diffused their stench. It was too foul to get used to.
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