by M D Cooper
She nodded. “Then we’re in agreement.”
“Now, what to do next?” Cyrus pondered.
Pharis pursed her lips in thought. “I imagine you’re due for a check-in with Kristina?”
Antaris bobbed his head. “Yes, she’ll be expecting me.”
“Do you have a ship on the surface?”
“A small shuttle.”
“And is that where she’ll be expecting to hear from you?”
“No, I could be anywhere. We agreed to a virtual meeting.”
“All right, then we can mask your exact location, and you can contact her from here,” Pharis said. “I don’t think roaming the city is wise at the moment.”
“Very well,” he agreed.
Pharis called in an assistant, who led Antaris to a private meeting room. Using their agreed upon Link meetup, he reached out to his sister.
“What in the stars happened?” Kristina’s avatar exclaimed the moment she joined the meeting.
“Pharis is a force of nature, it turns out. I didn’t think they’d call for a full-on revolution!” Antaris could say that much and have the reaction be genuine. He needn’t tip his hand yet that he, too, had been drawn in by Pharis’s words and natural charisma.
“You need to come back here, Antaris,” Kristina urged. “The people are calling for me to step down unless I give in to their demands.”
“Then maybe that’s exactly what you should do.”
“Which?”
He shrugged. “Whichever you’d prefer.”
“Her eyes narrowed. “How can you be so flippant?”
“Because I spent decades thinking that we did everything we did for the people, and now I see that you care more about power than doing what’s right. We shouldn’t be in power if we don’t use that influence to help others.”
“Stars! You and Pharis really were made for each other.”
“Poke fun all you want, but we’ll see who’s laughing once the people make their choice about who they want leading them.”
“Your duty is to this family,” Kristina stated, her tone firm and cold.
“No, my duty is to Acadia. And to Serenity. For now, I think I’m exactly where I need to be.”
“You, the leader of the Acadian Guard, are going to leave your house leader alone and defenseless in a time of crisis?”
He shrugged. “There’s only a crisis if you don’t agree to what the people are asking for. Their requests aren’t unreasonable.”
“I won’t allow this family to fall to ruin.”
“If it does, it will be because you were too selfish to see the alternatives.”
“I’m ordering you to come back here.”
Antaris chortled. “If that’s how you want to be about it, then I quit.”
Kristina gaped at him. “You can’t!”
“I just did.”
Before she could protest further, he severed the connection.
Stars, I hope that was the right thing to do.
He let the conversation settle in his mind for a few minutes before returning to Cyrus and Pharis, who were waiting in the salon.
“How’d it go?” Cyrus asked.
“She’s holding firm. I resigned my commission.”
“You did what?” Pharis exclaimed.
“Today is about taking stands,” Antaris replied. “I didn’t like the direction things were going, and it felt like the only way to take a stand.”
“What about your ship?” Cyrus asked.
“In Commander Perry’s capable hands now, I assume.”
“Is it possible that he agrees with your stand and would like to take one of his own?”
Antaris tilted his head, eyes narrowed slightly. “That would be a coup.”
“If we’re going to tear down the system to rebuild, may as well really tear it down.”
“I suppose I could make a call.”
LOSING CONTROL
STELLAR DATE: 12.25.8938 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Charlemis Estate, Gallas, Serenity System
REGION: Orion Freedom Alliance, Perseus Arm
Terry paced outside the Charlemis estate. She’d tried to get an update from Cyrus, but he’d assured her that keeping her distance was better for the time being.
What in the stars is Antaris doing here?
Her mind was going to dark places, and the anticipation of finding out the whole story was driving her crazy.
Several people were still gathered near the terrace where the speech had been given earlier. They seemed to be talking over what they’d heard, so Terry hadn’t been paying attention to them. Her focus shifted fully to the group the moment a number of additional people showed up.
The new arrivals were carrying weapons.
Uh oh.
Terry tried to contact Cyrus on the Link, but he didn’t pick up. Not knowing what else to do, she pulled back so she could watch the situation develop from a safe distance.
The armed party was advancing across the plaza, and they were only the first wave. A full mob was forming, and they had a thirst for blood in their eyes.
Shit! Why won’t he answer?
Terry ran to a recessed area in the manor’s wall, which offered both a view of the approaching mob and an escape path to the outskirts of the estate. Based on the mob’s demeanor, she didn’t think she’d be able to stick around for much longer.
Twenty members of the Gallas Guard stood between the mob and the entrance. The guards were well-armored and had pulse rifles, compared to the members of the mob who mostly held lengths of metal pipe and other club-like weapons. In a direct engagement, Terry would wager her money on the guards prevailing with little opposition.
She reached for the pulse pistol tucked into the back of her pants. From her current vantage, the guards were unaware of her presence and she had a straight shot at them. If she acted quickly, she could take out a good number and even the odds in favor of the mob. Though such a frenzied group wasn’t bound to be rational, their sentiments were more closely aligned with Terry’s goals than the Charlemis family continuing its unfettered rein.
While she didn’t like the idea of the protest turning into a physical engagement, she recognized that it was inevitable. Her people had risen up, just like she’d rallied them to do. House Charlemis had had numerous opportunities to give into the demands for better working conditions—something that should have been a given in the first place—but the pleas had been ignored.
She’d taken things this far…wasn’t it her duty to help the revolution succeed?
Her hand curled around the pulse pistol’s grip. If she fired, there was no going back.
I need to do this for my people. If this uprising fails, we won’t get another chance.
Terry drew her pistol and lined up the first shot. She’d be able to hit two guards in rapid succession, and possibly two more before the others made her location.
She took the shot.
One. Two. Three. The guards dropped, stunned but not seriously injured.
Four. Five. The next two dropped at the same moment return fire struck the wall centimeters away from her.
She squeezed off two more semi-blind shots before seeking cover in the alcove.
Terry braced for additional fire in her direction, but none came. She risked a glance around the corner and saw that the mob had seen the brief firefight as the opportunity to make their move.
“Halt, in the name of the Gallas Guard!” one of the soldiers called out.
The civilians didn’t miss a step, crashing forward like a human wave. Half of the Gallas Guards fired while the others took a step backward away from the crowd, clearly conflicted about firing on civilians who may as well have been unarmed, for all the damage their primitive weapons could do.
Their hesitation was enough. Even as the front line of civilians fell to the pulse blasts, more people pressed forward and took their place—carefully stepping over the fallen to avoid further injuring them. They lunged forward and piled onto the guar
ds, managing to seize their weapons through sheer numbers.
In all fairness, the guards didn’t seem to put up much of a fight. Whether it was because they agreed with the protesters or they recognized they were outnumbered, Terry couldn’t be sure.
When she had open shots, she took out three more guards.
Some of the people in the mob traced the trajectory of the pulsefire back to Terry’s position, and they gave her nods of thanks when they spotted her. She smiled back.
I’m in it now.
The last of the guards fell, leaving nothing between the mass of people and the entry to the Charlemis estate.
The mob crashed through the door.
* * * * *
Pharis snapped to attention. “Did you hear something?”
“Yeah, that didn’t sound good.” Cyrus headed toward the door, his eyes squinting while he listened intently.
Another bang sounded in the distance, this time accompanied by shouts.
Pharis checked the Link. There were security alerts across the Charlemis estate.
Cyrus must have made a similar discovery, as his mouth dropped open. “What the hell is wrong with the security around here?”
“We’ve never had an issue like this.”
Pharis scanned the Link for more information. It was almost like the guards had walked away from their posts and turned off the perimeter security measures on their way out.
Maybe that’s just what happened….
She hated to think how much the opinions of the guards must have changed within the last hour, to go from protectors to letting a mob through the front gates.
Have I completely failed our people? Do I even deserve to be a leader?
A knock sounded on the hallway door, and it swung open before anyone could respond. Connor, the guard who’d escorted Pharis back from the port three days before, stepped inside.
“We have a situation,” he said.
“I can see that,” Pharis replied. “What’s going on?”
“A handful of guards decided to join the protesters. They want you to step down immediately.”
So I have failed. She took a steadying breath. “Maybe I should hand myself over, then.”
“No, if leaders step down completely, there will be chaos,” Cyrus objected. “We need to let the situation cool down a little and then come back in with a plan to make the improvements the people demand.”
“Lady Justina has called for the remaining guards to take any action necessary to secure the estate.”
“You can’t do that,” Cyrus told Connor. “If people get hurt or killed, we’ll lose any chance we may have of being seen as caring rulers.”
“That’s what I’ve told my people. I tried to persuade Lady Justina, but she doesn’t want to hear alternatives. My guards have stepped aside, and some joined the protesters when they learned that they wouldn’t be shot on sight for helping to seize the estate.”
“Maybe I can speak with Mother,” Pharis suggested. “She didn’t want to listen before, but the circumstances have changed considerably since then.”
“She’s locked in her chambers,” Connor revealed. “I’m not sure you’d be able to get through.”
Undeterred, Pharis attempted to message her mother over the Link. However, her communication attempt was blocked.
Pharis swore under her breath. “Does she really think she can hide from this?”
“We need to get out of here,” Cyrus stated.
“Yes, I have to agree,” Antaris said. “Based on what information I’ve been relayed from the Acadian Light, things are about to get much worse.”
“My lady, please. Allow them to escort you away from here,” Connor pleaded. “I can’t guarantee your safety if you stay. We are attempting to get Lady Justina to evacuate as well.”
“I need to show I’m ready to step up as a leader,” Pharis countered. “This is the perfect opportunity to take a public stand, while Mother hides.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Cyrus threw up his hands. “We’re under attack, for stars’ sake.”
As if on cue, a new round of shouts and thuds sounded from down the corridor outside.
Connor drew his weapon. “My lady, you must go now.”
The main exit was blocked. Short of throwing herself at the mercy of an armed, angry mob, Pharis needed another option. As much as she hated to admit it, this wasn’t the time to stand up and try to make a statement. Tensions were too high, and emotion would almost certainly prevail over reason—and those emotions would not be in her favor at present.
She needed to step back for now, like the others had suggested. However, she knew her mother wouldn’t ever leave the estate without being forcibly removed, and she’d allow any of their loyal staff to fall victim to the mob in the name of protecting the Charlemis estate.
There was one person in particular that Pharis couldn’t stomach leaving behind to such an uncertain fate. And she didn’t trust anyone else to make sure her friend made it out unharmed.
“I can’t leave yet.”
She ran to the concealed exit in the rear of the room, which led to the private passageways between the residential suites in that wing of the manor. The others were slow to react to her sudden movement.
Surprisingly, Cyrus’s avatar nodded.
Pharis sped through the windowless corridors, following the indicator over the Link of where Rosa was in the building. Not surprisingly, it was Justina’s private suite. Pharis tried to page Rosa to have her meet at the passageway entrance, but Rosa’s Link connection was set to ‘do not disturb’.
I don’t know what I’ll say, but Rosa doesn’t have a chance of getting out if I don’t go myself to retrieve her.
She couldn’t leave her long-time caretaker behind, not after everything she’d done for Pharis. She’d treated her with love and compassion even when everyone else had looked down on Pharis as a disgraceful joke who’d never amount to a proper leader. Pharis never would have become the woman she had without Rosa’s nurturing. It was that care and kindness that had ignited Pharis’s love of helping those less fortunate, and she’d love to have Rosa’s inspirational spirit to help guide her through the trials that were sure to follow. No traditional political advisor spoke from the heart in the way Rosa could.
Unlike Pharis’s room, the private passageway didn’t connect directly to Justina’s suite, but rather opened directly across the hall—a security measure for the leader of the house, only having one operable door into the chambers rather than a back pathway that would be difficult to monitor. There was a separate emergency exit through the floor, but Pharis doubted her mother would ever employ it.
When Pharis exited the private passageway across from Justina’s personal chambers, she was met by four guards who were posted at the door. They took offensive postures as she stepped out, only relaxing the slightest measure when they saw it was her.
“I need to speak with Rosa,” Pharis stated in her most commanding tone.
“No one in or out. Lady Justina’s orders,” one of the guards replied.
“She is not the only authority around this household. Rosa is my personal servant, not hers. I require her assistance immediately.”
“Lady Justina’s orders.”
“Rosa understands the nature of her responsibilities and the hierarchy of requests. Pass on my message to her, and let her decide what to do with the information.” Pharis wasn’t sure that suggestion would get her anywhere, but it was worth a shot.
The guard who’d first spoken set his jaw and looked away from Pharis, but one of his companions glanced back at the door.
“I’ll check with her, my lady.”
Pharis tried to h
ide her surprise. “Thank you.” Maybe my message about people taking more control of their own lives is getting through.
The second guard stepped inside the chambers, and a minute later, returned with Rosa.
She remained in the doorway. “My lady?”
“Rosa, please come with me. It’s urgent.”
“Lady Justina is napping. I need to be here when she wakes.”
“This will only take a moment. I need to speak with you privately.”
The guards eyed Rosa in a way clearly meant to discourage her from leaving the chambers, but the old caretaker followed Pharis down the corridor and around the corner.
“We need to go now,” Pharis said as soon as they were beyond the guards’ earshot.
“What? Why? My lady, my duty is here.”
“Things are too unstable here on Gallas. It’s not safe.”
Rosa hung her head. “That may be so, but I have responsibilities.”
“You’ve put in your time,” Pharis told her. “You have a choice. You can die at my mother’s feet, or you can come with me and have whatever kind of life you’d like. The choice is yours.”
The older woman hesitated. “Die?”
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. Things aren’t looking good. People are calling for blood—not mine, specifically, but I don’t intend to be anywhere nearby when it turns violent, as it inevitably will. My best hope is to get somewhere safe and try to help restore peace. Someone will need to step up to begin putting the pieces back together.”
“You do have a gift for bringing people together.”
Pharis took the older woman’s hands. “Thanks to you.”
“Oh, nonsense.”
“You were more of a mother to me than she ever was, Rosa. Please, come with me.”
Rosa finally smiled. “I would be honored to continue to serve you.”
“Then let’s go.”
Pharis raced back into the hidden passageway with Rosa in tow. She traced back her to own suite and then past it, following the emergency escape route she’d been taught as a child. The passage would allow them to access the underground tunnels leading to the private ship port.