The Fringe Series Omnibus

by Rachel Aukes

  Hari busily jotted down notes as he spoke.

  Critch then continued. “Broken Mountain is not a military base. It is a place for you to recover and stay while the CUF is out there causing problems. I know many of you were torrents before. You’ve more than served your time, so we shouldn’t ask more of you, but we will. We’re rebuilding the torrent army, and we can use each and every one of you. Unlike the Collective, we don’t conscript. We only take volunteers. If you’d like to enlist—or reenlist—talk to anyone wearing an armband for more details. Most of you know me, and you’ll get to know Stationmaster Faulk, who’s providing extensive support.” He paused and looked at Reyne. “And, I imagine you remember Marshal Aramis Reyne, who’s leading this campaign with me.”

  Gasps and denials had filled the room by the time Reyne lowered his shemagh to reveal his face. Angry yells quickly followed.

  “Traitor!”

  Reyne ducked some object thrown directly at his head. Sixx jumped in front of him as a human shield.

  Critch moved next to Reyne and put a hand on his shoulder. “Hear me out! Marshal Reyne is no traitor. He was sitting in a CUF prison when the attack on Broken Mountain occurred.”

  “That’s when he betrayed us,” someone shouted.

  Critch waved to silence the crowd, but many kept talking “The real traitor of Terra was found and killed. If Marshal Reyne was the traitor, you don’t think I would’ve killed him myself?”

  The last statement was yelled, and the discord began to dissipate. Only when the room quieted did Critch continue. “I trust Marshal Reyne with my life. He did not betray us, nor would he ever betray our cause. I would not stand alongside him if I suspected otherwise. He was the greatest leader the Uprising ever had, and many of you followed him through hell and back. I followed him. If you believe the rumors and you don’t trust him, then you don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t reenlist. However, if you can move past rumors and gossip and believe in what we’re trying to accomplish here, then we welcome you.”

  Critch motioned to Reyne, who took a breath before speaking. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about the lives lost during the Uprising, or the years you’ve spent in a CUF prison because you stood up for those who couldn’t stand up for themselves. We were betrayed, and it hurt. It still hurts. I find myself thinking, ‘What if we weren’t betrayed and we’d won the Uprising?’”

  He shook his head before continuing. “But that line of thinking is weak, because there’s nothing that can be done to change the past. What we can change is the future. We can change things so that our children aren’t conscripted into CUF service when they turn eighteen. We can change things so that we can own property or visit family in another colony without having to buy a Collective pass-card. We can change the future because we’re torrents.”

  He paused briefly as he found the comfortable pace that he’d often used with the torrents long ago. “I don’t know if all of you have heard the story behind why we came up with the name ‘torrents.’ It came from a small colony here on Terra. The colony was called New Liberty. Any of you heard of it?”

  Several raised their hands.

  “New Liberty had broken Collective law. They set up a school in a shed behind a farmer’s house. As you’re aware, only Collective-funded schools are legal, but the Collective won’t provide resources to most colonies. When a conscripted colonist from New Liberty was discovered reading a book, the CUF sent in a squad to burn down the school and make arrests. Unknown to the squad, it had rained a hundred miles north of New Liberty a couple days earlier. By rain, I mean it was a torrential downpour.

  “As you know already, Terra is mostly one big desert, so when it rains it tends to cause these massive flash floods that swoop through, and then everything dries up again. Well, to get to the New Liberty, the squad had to first cross a deep valley. Wouldn’t you know, when they got halfway across that valley, the floodwaters came crashing through. When the waters cleared a few minutes later, there was no sign of that squad. It was as if the torrents came through to set things right. And that’s why we took on the name ‘torrents’ to represent our army. We torrents will crash through the Collective and set things right. I’m a torrent. Who else here is a torrent?”

  Critch stepped forward. “I’m a torrent.”

  Seda also stepped forward, throwing Reyne a glance. “I’m a torrent.”

  Someone from the crowd yelled, “I’m a torrent!” Sixx, Birk, and Hari all chimed in. The phrase was soon echoed by others until the room was chanting “torrents” over and over.

  With the room still chanting, the six departed into a tunnel.

  “I don’t think you’ll need the shemagh anymore,” Critch said quietly as they began their journey through the smaller tunnels.

  “Aramis Reyne,” someone called out from behind them.

  Reyne tensed, expecting an assault. When none came, he turned slowly to face a man hobbling toward them.

  “Do you recognize me?” the man asked.

  Reyne narrowed his gaze as he tried to place the man through the full gray scraggly beard. It was the blue eyes that made him remember, and Reyne realized the man wasn’t nearly as old as he looked.

  “I do.” Reyne cocked his head. “I’d always wondered what happened to you. You were in the news constantly, and then you just disappeared.”

  “It seems my beliefs weren’t in line with my superiors’.”

  “I didn’t realize they sent citizens to the Citadel.”

  “There are more of us sent there than you realize. Anyone who gets in the way of the wrong person faces the threat of the Citadel. It’s good motivation to always follow the rules. Citizens and colonists have feared the Citadel for too long. Its collapse was welcomed across the Collective.”

  Reyne paused. “I suppose I should introduce you. Everyone, meet Commandant Jed Baptiste of the Collective Unified Forces.”

  “You shouldn’t say it so loud,” the old man said. “You of all people know that names carry weight.”

  “The destroyer of Broken Mountain,” Critch said. “Now I recognize you. You led the final battle that crushed the Uprising.”

  Baptiste spoke with a sad intonation in his voice. “I believed I was serving the greater cause. I’ve learned much since then.”

  “It was Commandant Baptiste’s brig that I was in during the final days of the Uprising. Doc provided the intel on Broken Mountain to him,” Reyne said.

  “You set up Reyne to be seen as a traitor,” Critch said.

  “You know how much crap this man has had to deal with because of you?” Sixx added. “That was a pretty low thing to do.”

  Baptiste held up his hands in surrender. “That was never my intention. The thought had never even crossed my mind at the time. I didn’t release Marshal Reyne to be a scapegoat. I released him and cleared his record so that a little girl would have a father.”

  Reyne clasped the man’s frail shoulders, his heart wrenching at how the strong CUF officer he couldn’t help but respect during the Uprising had become a shadow of his former self. “I know why you did it. I never held it against you.”

  “Thank you,” Baptiste replied quietly.

  Reyne watched the citizen for a moment. “You’re a free man now. What will you do?”

  He shook his head. “I have nowhere to go. I could never return to Alluvia. My family believes I’m dead.”

  Reyne shot a quick glance at Critch before speaking. “You could become a torrent,” he offered. “You have a wealth of military knowledge and training,” Reyne said. “We can always use another advisor.”

  Baptiste looked at Critch. “I doubt that offer extends to citizens, especially those who’ve served in the CUF.”

  “The offer stands,” Critch snapped. “Everyone’s equal in the fringe. But you’ll find no special treatment for being a citizen, and you’ll be held to the same standard as any torrent.”

  After a moment, Baptiste stood taller, suddenly looking se
veral years younger. “I’d be honored to serve the torrent army in any capacity you see fit.”

  Seda motioned to a man wearing a blue armband, who happened to be walking by. “We have a torrent recruit. Officer level. Help get him signed up.”

  The man nodded and stepped up to Baptiste. “I’ll get you processed.”

  “Thank you,” Baptiste said to Reyne. His blue eyes shimmered with tears.

  A sense of rightness filled Reyne’s heart, and he found himself smile. “I’m glad we came here today.”

  “Our army is going to be quite the collection of strays and mutts,” Critch said.

  “That it is,” Reyne said with confidence. “And that’s one of the reasons why we’ll win.”

  As he and his compatriots continued down the tunnels, he felt Sixx watching him. “What is it?” Reyne asked.

  “That guy released you so you could take care of Throttle,” Sixx said.

  Reyne nodded. “If he hadn’t done what he did, neither Throttle nor I would be alive today.”

  “I guess knowing that takes the sting off a bit at being seen as a traitor,” Hari said.

  “No. Not at all,” Reyne replied.

  At that moment they passed by an adjoining tunnel, and Critch stopped cold. Then he smiled, turned, and strolled down that tunnel.

  “Where’s he going?” Seda asked. “The medical unit is this way.”

  When Reyne recognized the old torrent, he pulled out his pistol. “Retribution.”

  Sixx noticed Reyne’s actions and unslung his rifle. Birk already had his pistol in his hand. Hari and Seda gave each other a look before pulling out their weapons.

  “Mingh,” Critch said as he approached the man.

  The man turned and immediately grinned. “Marshal Fender, it’s an honor to see you.”

  “I’ve been looking for you.”

  Mingh held his fingers to his chest in surprise. “Me? I heard the torrent hoorah speech in there. You sound as good as ever, but if you’re looking to bring me into your new army, I’ve got to think on it.”

  Critch pulled a knife and sliced Mingh’s throat before the man had a chance to react. Mingh fell to his knees, clutching his throat. Mingh’s men pulled their shivs, but immediately backed off when they saw the guns leveled on them.

  Critch stood over Mingh, wiping his blade clean. “I would never have you in my army. That man you killed a couple days ago in the Citadel? He was a very good friend and an even better torrent. You?” Mingh toppled to the floor. “You’re nothing except dead.”

  When Critch returned, Reyne eyed him. “Feel better?”

  “No. He got off too easy.”

  Reyne clapped his shoulder. “Maybe seeing Vym will cheer you up.”

  Critch shot him a look. “She’s likely pissed at us for taking so long to break her out of that hellhole.”

  Reyne frowned. “You’re right. She’s not going to be in a good mood.”

  Seventeen

  Battle Lines

  “Took you long enough to stop by for a visit,” Vym said from her bed in a private room off the infirmary.

  The woman had aged far too much in the last year, Reyne noticed as he and Critch approached. Each man grabbed one of her hands.

  After a moment, her scowl relaxed. “It’s good to see you two together again. I’ve been out of the loop for a year. You’ll have much to fill me in on…but I’m tired. It’ll have to be later.”

  “I hope you haven’t grown too attached to this place,” Seda said as he took a seat on her cot next to her. “I’m having you moved to a new location today.”

  “Seda, my dear man.” Vym smiled at Seda as he bent over and kissed her cheek. “I never doubted you’d come for me.”

  He seemed insulted. “I’d never leave one of my own to rot in that place.”

  She guffawed. “If all it took was for me to get thrown into prison for you to get off your lazy butt and take down that awful place, then my time there was well served.” She patted his hand. “Thank you for sending in that pair of nice looking men to come fetch me. I admit I don’t think I could’ve made it to the buses.”

  “I’m only sorry I couldn’t have been there to take you to my personal clinic. I never meant for you to be brought here. But some matters arose that I needed to take care of first.”

  She frowned as she examined his rilon arm. “Does that have anything to do with the rumors I keep hearing of a ghost ship fighting off a squadron of CUF gunships?”

  Seda chortled. “Everyone knows ghost ships aren’t real.”

  She shot him a sideways glance. She then looked up at the others standing around her. “Hari, my girl. Good to know Seda hasn’t driven you off yet.”

  “No, ma’am,” the woman replied with a smile.

  Birk gave a small wave. “Hi, Stationmaster Patel.”

  “Hello, Birk. I see Critch still isn’t giving you enough to eat.”

  Sixx approached, and she scowled. “Oh no you don’t. You stay back there. I’m still upset with you.”

  He held up her hands. “I didn’t know she was your niece at the time. I swear it.”

  “Tut, tut, I don’t want to hear it. You are an incorrigible young man. You’d better watch yourself. I’ll be back on my feet in no time, and then you’ll be sorry.”

  Seda’s tablet chimed, and all heads turned to him. He pulled it out of his pocket and declined the call. “He can leave a message,” he muttered.

  Vym looked at the gray tablet and then across the faces. “My, times have changed even more than I realized.”

  “I’ll bring you up to speed after I return from Myr,” Seda said.

  “Myr?” Sixx asked, before quickly tacking on, “I’m going with you.”

  “I won’t be there long enough for you to see anything. I’m landing to pick someone up, and then I’ll be heading back to the fringe.”

  “That’s fine,” Sixx said. “I’m still going with you.”

  Seda shrugged. “So be it.” His tablet beeped, and he looked at it. He stared at the screen, frowning.

  “Seda, what is it? What’s wrong?” Vym asked.

  He slowly looked up and blinked as though his mind had been in a different place. “Mason sent me a picture of him sitting in my office in Rebus Station.”

  “He’s here?” Critch asked.

  “You can’t go, Seda,” Reyne said. “You know it’s a trap.”

  “I know that,” Seda gritted out. He turned to Hari.

  “I’ll check it out,” she said quickly.

  “I’ll go with you,” Critch offered. “Mason and I have some unfinished business to discuss.”

  “No,” Seda ordered. “If Mason’s here, he’ll be surrounded by dromadiers. You’ll be shot on sight.”

  Critch narrowed his eyes. “I can get around a few droms.”

  Seda shook his head. “You don’t stand a chance going after Mason on his terms. He’s too good.”

  “He’s right,” Vym added. “You would die today if you walked into one of his traps.”

  “I survived last time,” Critch retorted. He took a deep breath and pursed his lips. “Fine. But I will get him. It’s only a matter of time.”

  “We will take him down,” Reyne corrected.

  “Go, Hari. Be careful,” Seda said. “Who knows what Mason has planned.”

  Hari nodded. “I’ll see you back at the hangar.”

  Seda watched Hari rush away before he turned to Vym. “Let’s get you out of here.”

  The woman pushed herself into a sitting position, setting off a coughing fit. After drinking some water, she spoke. “Best thing I’ve heard all day.”

  The journey from the mountain was quiet and tense. When they reached the hangar, Seda paced the floor nonstop until Hari returned. She pointed at the lounge for him to join her there. He strode over but, before closing the door, motioned for Critch and Reyne to follow.

  “He wasn’t there,” she began. “The CUF has taken over Rebus Station and turned it into a
military base per Corps General Ausyar’s orders. I had to use your back entrance to bypass all the security. Some commandant was already taking over your office when I arrived.”

  “Now that Rebus Station is under martial law, I anticipated Ausyar would ensure I have as little reason as possible to get in their way.”

  “The officer gave this to me to give to you. He said Mason left it for you.”

  He took the silver box from her hands and ran his fingers over the ornate pattern. “Did you open it?”

  She paused. “Yes. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a bomb or poison.”

  He swallowed and lifted the lid. His jaw clenched tight and his lower lip trembled as he gently reached in and pulled out the contents.

  Reyne couldn’t make out what he was holding, but whatever it was seemed to traumatize the powerful man. Reyne stepped over. “What is it?”

  Seda plopped onto the couch, still holding the contents. He gazed up briefly before looking back down at the item that lay across his palm.

  At first Reyne thought the item was a piece of leather with markings on it. His lips parted when he realized it was human. The bluish hue of the skin narrowed it down to someone from Myr. “Who’s it from?”

  Seda swallowed. “Every Founder has three brands.” He touched each marking as he spoke.

  “Each rune represents an equal branch of the Founders—towers for Alluvia, waves for Myr, and wings for the colonies.” He ran his finger across the fourth marking. “Only three Founders have a fourth brand that reads ‘tribus’ in Latin, which means ‘three’. It’s for the Founders who oversee one of each of the three branches.”

  He exhaled. “I oversee the colonies. Mariner oversees Myr, and Mason oversees Alluvia. I know it’s from Mariner because she had a birthmark just below her brands. Right here.” He pointed to a spot on his lower abdomen. His almost-smile was erased by him fighting back tears.