“But I’ll never have children,” he said. “Why would you …?”
“A necessary bargain to avoid an impossible future. We cannot allow the best of humanity to wither and die. We drive evolution. We are not its victims. You will never be a father, but you will be a proud uncle.” He switched focus to James. “The hybrids will bear the children. Hundreds at first, thousands soon after. Something you said earlier, James, was not too far from the truth.”
“Which was what?”
“You said I wanted the Jewels to act as an army to fight our enemies while the Chancellors grew sick and died. No, no.”
James perceived the next words before he heard them. Something rising from the dark told him in the first hours after he was reborn. Now, he needed to hear it. To understand why the Jewels had to be hidden. To understand the last message his parents sent Jamie Sheridan: Through your death, the fates of millions to come will be ensured for centuries.
“You will not fight for the Chancellory,” Emil said. “On the contrary. You will destroy the Chancellory. Two remarkable new species will take humanity forward and build the next three thousand years. And the Collectorate? Nothing more than a launchpad. A small corner of an infinite expanse. As I told both of you before, the Bouchets are neither timid nor ordinary.”
Emil and Frances joined them in the well, holding hands. He saw it in their graceful strut, their assurance to each other of never being in danger. And the smiles they offered their sons – as if they instantly forgot the past. James recognized it: A victory march. Why did he not see the obvious? They aren’t prisoners.
“However,” Frances told her sons, “some Bouchets are gullible. You have been lied to at every turn.”
“Yes,” Valentin said, “by you.” He reached for his sidearm.
“No more dramatics, Valentin,” their father said. “It’s very simple. We are not your enemies. We are your rescuers. James, we never tried to kill you at the fold. We never tried to kill your friends or Dr. Tomelin. And my security forces on Seneca? Please. After what you’ve heard today, do you believe I would be so incredibly reckless?”
As the curtain came down, James saw the entire picture as he should have known it all along.
He whispered, “Fuck me.”
“Yes,” his father said. “That sounds about right.”
Emil tapped his amp three times. A cube emerged.
“Are our people in position?” He asked.
Maj. Sexton Marshall replied.
“Waiting for the good word, sir.”
“Outstanding.” Emil winked at James. “Execute.”
48
R AYNA LONGED FOR A FAST HORSE but settled for listening to technological explanations she did not understand.
As her group walked through Bouchet research and development, Dr. Tomelin pointed out many impressive contraptions – most having to do with bioengineering. Tomelin delivered lectures on the purposes of each lab, the products in development, and which experiments violated Chancellory bylaws. She referenced working here until six years earlier. Admiral Perrone followed alongside, a cube open with others listening in. Rayna ignored the names of his accomplices when he rattled them off, followed by their long titles – an imperial element Rayna despised.
She wanted to be anywhere else. She searched her mind for a link to James, but she felt only an itch. When she called out, he did not respond. Instead, she felt a quiet breeze where his words should have bounced back. The breeze turned into a murmur then a heartbeat. She could touch him, and yet …
“Is he in danger?” She asked Mentor.
The tall man in white carried his pocket watch as he walked alongside her, admiring the technology.
“Fear not,” Mentor said. “It is only a matter of distance. You will both learn your range soon enough. Still dreaming of the first kiss?”
“You are disgusting. We will decide our future today. I should be with James now, not in this place where these assholes create their monsters.”
“Dare I remind you, Rayna? We are one of those monsters. They assimilated us into each other in this very facility.”
Mentor’s eyes twinkled, which infuriated Rayna. He seemed fascinated by the tubes, conduits, and holograms.
“I have no wish to know about my origin. Only what is ahead. Can you tell me what these people will do to creatures like me?”
“Depends, my dearest. They have the original mission objectives, but time changes hearts and minds. Speak to Admiral Perrone or Dr. Tomelin. They are here. If you need comfort, turn to Misha. He was invaluable to you from an early age.”
“A different world,” she told Mentor. “So now Misha is home and he wishes to show all he knows.” Misha looked her way as they walked, asking from time to time if she needed clarification on what she was hearing. Rayna shook her head each time, dismissing his concern. “I already learn much from you, Mentor. They can put object in my head and teach me the rest. Da?”
“True, dearest. But Misha loves you as a father.”
“I had one of those. I do not need another.” She nodded toward Perrone. “The admiral is much like Father. Very arrogant, most in love with himself, but also a fool. Just as Father, this man will not see the truth until it is too late.”
“Agree. He seems to possess a blind spot.” He checked the pocket watch. “Are you planning to destroy me when this is resolved?”
He caught Rayna by surprise, but she loved how Mentor always anticipated her moves.
“You will make your case when the time comes, Mentor, just as we have negotiated before. But you know the truth. You are as obsolete as Misha. When James and I are together and we have cleared our path, we will need no counsel from voices in our heads.”
“Fair point. What does one say to a Berserker? ‘Don’t go berserk?’”
“We will do as we want. It is the fate of all the Jewels.”
“Is it?” Mentor pointed to Perrone. “Have you heard what the admiral is telling his allies instream? He does not sound like a man who will give you total autonomy. I can’t imagine any sane Chancellor would give the ten of you absolute free will. Seems a very dicey proposition.”
“Will not be up to him. He will be gone soon.”
“I see. And who will oversee our lot?”
“Unsure.” Rayna pointed to Ophelia. “This one is a shapeshifter. She was very gentle, like a mother, when she met me on the island. Later, she spoke to the admiral as a different woman. She is harder than they know.” Rayna turned to Mentor. “Do you remember Nyura Yurkovich? She was a kind and loyal wife to Alexei. Gave him six children, all boys. She was most respected, but she fooled them all. The boys did not belong to Alexei. When he uncovered the truth, it was he who left the village in shame, not Nyura. He died weeks later, and she married the father of her children. Shapeshifters are very dangerous. They are also patient.”
“Which is why they are difficult to spot,” Mentor said. “You have never hidden behind a false face, my dearest. Take care that your honesty not betray you. You must practice the craft of nuance, especially if I am to be destroyed. You are a load to contain, even when you have a bug in your ear.”
Rayna shooed Mentor away, but a part of her ached at the thought of a permanent removal. In ten years, she spoke to him more than any human. He guided her through the darkest episodes, advised her even as she murdered her enemies--perceived or otherwise. He made sure she did not melt under the shock of this new world and its technological wonders. For years, he offered boundless literary descriptions of the Chancellors’ Earth, repeating the stories so nothing would be a great surprise. He never elevated the Chancellors above their flaws, never promised her a paradise. She owed him. Still, Rayna saw one path.
I have been here long enough. I only need James, and he only needs me. This is the way forward.
She sped up the process. Rayna pushed past Misha, Col. Onyx, and Ophelia to interrupt Perrone’s back-and-forth with his allies instream.
“Who are these
people you speak to far away? They cannot be important if they are not here.”
Perrone scowled for an instant then shifted to a more receptive tone. “Ah,” he said, “so you are listening after all?”
“No, but I think you speak too long. We should go now.”
Perrone waved back Ophelia and Misha, who moved to pull in Rayna. He pushed at the cube and tossed out a large window for all to see. Three faces – two men, one woman - about the age of her deceased father stared back at her, their brows raised as if seeing a fabled beast for the first time.
“Rayna, may I introduce Leonard Mauritius, Barbara Quinton, and First Admiral Josephus Fierston. Everyone, this is our second Jewel, Rayna Tsukanova. As I’m sure you’d understand, she is struggling to adapt to protocol.”
“I do not struggle, Admiral. Why are these people important?”
“As I explained earlier, they represent a valuable alliance of presidiums and the Guard. They will be able to manage our future. The Bouchets committed countless crimes against humanity. Once they have been prosecuted and their assets redistributed, we will take the appropriate next steps. You were listening as we discussed the plans for the Jewel hybrids? Yes?”
She glanced at Misha, who seemed helpless in his new role.
“I heard, but you are not one to choose for us.”
Barbara Quinton spoke sharply from the cube.
“Augustus, we talked about this issue of non-compliant Jewels. You heard my concern. Does this one need to be reconditioned?”
“No more so than you, Barbara,” he said with a wink. “Rayna speaks her mind. As does Emil’s son. We cannot deny them their voice. The stakes are enormous. They will follow our lead when the time comes.”
Rayna kept the laugh to herself and faced the allies in the cube.
“I do not know you, so how do I trust?” She nodded to Perrone. “He is most confident man. Always he smiles. Very happy today. I think he smiles too much. Do you trust admiral?”
“With respect, young lady,” Barbara said, drawing Rayna’s ire, “you are not here to question our motives. We know what is best for the Chancellory.”
“I do not care what you know best. I will not see you again. You are fools.” She turned to Perrone. “This man is biggest fool.”
As she pivoted, Rayna heard squabbling, offended voices. Misha’s eyes flashed shame, but Ophelia gave away nothing, her stoic eyes flittering back and forth between the Jewel and Perrone. I was right about you, Rayna thought. You are shapeshifter. What is your plan?
A moment later, dissenting voices died down for Perrone.
“Col. Onyx, our young Jewel is no doubt exhausted. Please escort her and Misha Tsukanov to the designated guest quarters. I have sent details to your stream stack.”
The officer, who said nothing throughout the tour but kept one hand close to his sidearm, offered a side-nod and tapped his amp. When he faced Rayna with a barren expression, she wondered how quickly she could take him in a duel. He was as draped in muscles as the other soldiers, but she decided he lacked imagination and dared not think he might lose to a girl. She took comfort in her shashka, which remained pouched against her chest.
“In the meantime,” Perrone told Ophelia and his instreamed allies, “I wish to unveil the most stunning piece of Emil Bouchet’s treachery. Would you agree, Dr. Tomelin?”
“Stunning,” she said, above a whisper. “Yes.”
Rayna noted the timid reply and wanted to hear more, but Onyx motioned for her to retreat. Misha suggested they comply.
“Behind the doors of this next laboratory,” Perrone said, “you will witness the greatest single threat to the elimination of the Chancellory. I have kept this information from you until today for fear of its implications.”
He droned on as he moved toward the double doors, Ophelia at his side. Rayna sensed what lay beyond the doors, but she focused her attention on a single word Perrone used: Fear.
She opened her mind, and Mentor was there for her.
“This will be our greatest challenge, their fear of us. Da?”
“I’d venture to say yes,” Mentor replied. “Clever, dearest.”
“We will have two choices, James and I. We can make them trust us by following orders. Or, we can give orders. Then they will fear us.”
“True. They will also move against you.”
“The stupid ones will. The cowards will do as we say. They will be like Doroshenkos. James and I will be Vasily Shkuro.”
Mentor sighed. “I thought Vasily Shkuro had no honor.”
“He does not.” She turned to Mentor. “But he defeated my family. I will not be defeated again.”
The tall man smiled. “No. I rather think not. If I might make one last pitch to be around when you give these orders? I …”
Mentor stopped, as did everyone else. Rayna, Misha, and Col. Onyx swung about. The double doors opened, but the way through was blocked.
Eight armed soldiers flanked the tallest peacekeeper Rayna saw since crossing the fold. Perrone was irate.
“Major Marshall, what on Earth is this?”
The voices on his cube fell silent, and the images blinked out.
“What this is,” the major said, “is the end of the line, sir. In the name of the Unification Guard, under powers granted to me by The Foundation Treaty, and with permission of the residing Marks Presidium, it is my duty as Major Sexton Marshall to relieve you of command and to detain you on charges of gross neglect of thirty Chancellory bylaws and illicit abuse of the power of the Admiralty to affect treason and murder. Please relinquish your sidearm, sir.”
Rayna tensed. She couldn’t hope to take out a phalanx of peacekeepers plus one more at her side. She thought of every move as the admiral backed away from the major.
“I will relinquish nothing to you, Sexton. You were my most trusted officer all these years. You …”
“Yes, sir. And I took my cues from the master.” Marshall looked beyond Perrone to the others. “The rest of you are free to go. Dr. Tomelin, I have sent Bouchet’s instructions to your stream stack.”
Ophelia pivoted without a word. Col. Onyx lowered his sidearm and strutted toward the phalanx.
“It’s over, Augustus,” Marshall continued. “Your amp has been nullified. We will detain your collaborators within the hour, including the First Admiral. What you do now will go far in determining their fate as well. I need your sidearm.”
Rayna went from desperate to exhilarated in seconds. She did not understand the intricacies of what just happened, but Perrone never saw this coming. Just like Father.
“Come,” Ophelia told her without slowing down. “I think we deserve a meal.”
Rayna shared a smile with Mentor. “They are assholes still, but she is smartest one. I must come to know her better.”
49
J AMES WAS AS SPEECHLESS AS VALENTIN. Their assumptions died as fast their father ordered the arrest of Perrone, his allies in other presidiums, and every infiltrator in the compound. Emil’s revelations about the price of immortality seemed a mere distraction when he told them of his longstanding deal with Maj. Sexton Marshall and Dr. Ophelia Tomelin. His apology for using dramatics in the communal suite as a stalling tactic struck James as bizarre but sincere. Yet nothing prepared James for the invitation to afternoon tea in the observatory.
Emil and Frances left the suite hand-in-hand with muted smiles, as if this victory was a foregone conclusion.
“It’s what they do,” Valentin told James. “Every triumph, large or small, is time to celebrate. It’s been this way all my life. The spread will be incredible this time.”
Rifters arrived at the observatory, and Solomons laid out a buffet suited for fifty guests. The brothers joined their parents in a domed spectacle resembling a planetarium Jamie Sheridan visited on a field trip to Birmingham. Three-dimensional projections of Collectorate star systems lorded above the feast. Along the sides of the dome, images from each featured colony showed off natural wonders: spectac
ular terrains from seas and mountains to sunsets in colors he never imagined. Beautiful as they were, he felt the setting was as staged as every other event since he crossed the fold.
“Please, sons,” Emil said with full plate. “Eat. If you’re not yet prepared to sit with us, we understand.”
Smells familiar and strange arose from twenty heated platters. Meats blended with cheeses, seafood raw and spiced, vegetables steeped in creams, fruit sliced as rainbows. James wanted it all, just like the first meal he ate after killing his brother and transforming.
“This is tea?” He whispered to Valentin.
“The best food you’ll ever eat. Trust me, it was the only thing I missed when I joined the Guard.”
“You know they’re trying to butter us up?”
“There’s more about the immortals they haven’t said.”
“The Jewels, too. There are eight more hybrids on other planets. I guaran-damn-tee they’ve heard reports by now.”
“You’re right, brother. Father pays for priority comm channels over the Fulcrum. Faster even than military.”
“You think he’d give us answers if we asked real nice?”
“No, James. I say we wait. Let’s see who else arrives. In the meantime, we take a table far from my parents and eat.”
The food was, as Valentin claimed, spectacular. Taste sensations drew James back to the buffet three times, two plates each, for a bottomless well. They ate in relative silence, but James saw a continuous, low banter between his parents.
Unfamiliar faces arrived – Valentin said they were high executives in the Marks Presidium. They offered polite nods to the heads of the family en route to the buffet. Maj. Marshall and Ophelia trailed them. Neither paid the brothers any mind, but James lost interest in them as soon as Rayna entered with her observer, Misha.
Their eyes locked. James felt a cool, perfumed breeze, the strongest link yet. Even from a distance, he smelled her skin and tasted her lips. They dropped into each other’s minds. He began:
- Don’t appear anxious. They’ll be watching us.
- Is good thing they cannot hear us. They dislike what I say.
The Impossible Future: Complete set Page 55
