Echoes of Avarice

by Brendan O'Neill

  “What can you tell me about the Ka’Rathi?”

  Krieger appeared to be genuinely surprised by the question. He stared at Connor for a moment, weighing the question. Then his fatherly smile returned. “I suppose we have time for a little storytelling. But to answer that I should start from the beginning. I understand you are a professor of Pre-apocalyptic Histories, yes?”

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “A fascinating field, to be sure. But if you please, what can you tell me about the apocalypse and what followed?”

  Connor considered the question. His area of study had always been before the ecological and subsequent economic collapse of Earth’s national governments known as the apocalypse. His field didn’t focus too deeply on the apocalypse itself, but everyone knew the overall storyline.

  “Well, after a massive solar flare collapsed Earth’s technological infrastructure, the world fell into chaos. Other than what little was stored in shielded bunkers, few technical devices made after the 1980s functioned. Markets collapsed, global communications failed, and transportation was all but limited to horseback. The world basically fell back into the wild west.”

  “An abridged, but relatively apt description of the apocalypse. And after?”

  “Everybody knows. A Ka’Rathi ship landed outside Nairobi to scout Earth for invasion, with a fleet close behind. But they misjudged us. We banded together, defeated the invasion force, and took their ships. After that we backward engineered their technology into what we have today. Some of their technology was and still is beyond our abilities, but what we could learn was the foundation for the Empire.”

  Krieger nodded, resting his head on his arched fingertips. “And then?”

  “We put the surviving Ka’Rathi into sanctuaries where they could live without interfering with us. That is until the Ka’Rathi rebellion of a couple years ago. They rose up on Vega II, crippled our fleet with thousands of ships, then conquered Earth. Since then, they have been systematically wiping out outlying colonies.”

  “That is the popular belief,” Krieger said. This time his face wore a hard, insincere smile.

  “Are you saying that’s not what really happened?”

  “You said yourself that the Ka’Rathi were placed in sanctuaries. Do you find it possible that a group of creatures could build thousands of ships undetected on a single, well monitored world like Vega II?”

  Connor blinked in stunned silence. What could he say to that? Governments lie as a matter of course; it was common sense they would. But the scope of this…

  “So… what really happened?” Connor asked, his voice quiet as he tried to make sense of this travesty.

  “There was indeed an intense solar flare that initiated the fall of the nation states. Although our experts believe it would have still happened within a handful of decades given the rampant corruption, overharvesting of resources, and dependence on unprotected electronics. After the apocalypse, people often found crops all but impossible to grow due to the use of genetically modified seeds that wouldn’t self-germinate. Artificially accelerated global warming stemming from fossil-fuels created record storms, droughts, floods, and extinctions. Food and water became priceless, rivalled only by a dependable weapon. The only thing cheaply found was life.”

  Connor shifted uncomfortably as Krieger continued.

  “So, as you might imagine, when the Ka’Rathi happened upon humanity those many years ago, we were little more than wild dogs raping, murdering, and enslaving each other. We were a savage and hateful race, opportunistically seizing every advantage we could find. No one knows why exactly the Ka’Rathi chose to mire themselves in our conflict, but they offered the one thing humanity needed. A fresh start.”

  “They spent years secretly rebuilding our species, turning us from a collection of savages to a cultured people once again capable of rising above our baser instincts. The Ka’Rathi taught key members of humanity Pathing technology which is, as you pointed out, still the cornerstone of our technology today. They also shared how to construct jump engines and energy shielded electronics. Bolstered with these advancements, humanity formed a single government and began colonization of space.”

  “The birth of the Empire,” Connor said.

  “Correct, Mr. Harper. For a time, we spread through the galaxy as allies, working together to complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We founded dual military colonies, top secret cooperative scientific communes, a secret yet strong trade foundation, and even exchanged diplomatic envoys, all without the knowledge of the general human public.”

  Krieger’s face suddenly took on a distinctly tired expression as he continued.

  “Unfortunately, human nature could not be denied. Greed ran rampant through the population when they discovered the existence of the Ka’Rathi. A movement, fueled by select powerful individuals, rose to take what was not ours. After almost fifty years of Ka’Rathi rehabilitation and twenty years of peaceful harmony, we turned on our friends. The Empire struck several key Ka’Rathi bases with a secretly built armada of highly advanced warships. In less than a decade, the Empire had all but conquered the Ka’Rathi.”

  “So, what happened to the colony at Vega II?” Connor asked.

  “An excellent question, Mr. Harper,” Krieger said standing up. He walked to a teapot and waved an inviting hand at it. Connor shook his head and waited impatiently for the response to his burning question. Krieger took the time to poor the tea carefully, then sip from the cup delicately. Connor felt like he was about to explode when Krieger finally deigned to answer.

  “When the Empire attacked, they believed that if they neutralized all the Ka’Rathi in the galaxy, the threat of retaliation would be ended. The first assault focused on the known military bases and what was believed to be their home world.”

  “But it wasn’t.”

  “No, Mr. Harper, it wasn’t. The Empire didn’t account for one rather important detail. The true Ka’Rathi home world isn’t in this galaxy. We don’t know exactly what galaxy they are from, but the Watch suspects their home world is somewhere in Andromeda. It’s the closest galaxy to the Vega system.”

  “So, the massive fleet they sent came from their home world,” Connor said in somber contemplation.

  Krieger simply nodded his agreement and sat next to Connor on the charcoal sofa, the floral scent of his tea floating into Connors’ nose. They sat in silence for some time, allowing Connor to absorb what he learned. He’d never really believed the Empire was all unicorns and rainbows, but he never could have conceived of this.

  After several minutes Krieger shook his head in disappointment. “Well this was… not quite as productive as I’d hoped. I do apologize, Mr. Harper. It might be best not to introduce you to the Black Watch and its psychic training today. I think you’ve had enough.”

  Connor nodded and stood to go, but suddenly turned to Krieger. “I never did get to finish my question. I don’t want to know just about the Ka’Rathi. What exactly were you doing on a Ka’Rathi ship?” His voice had an accusatory edge to it.

  “Mr. Connor?” Krieger’s voice sounded innocent, but his eyes told Connor he had asked the right question.

  “The Ka’Rathi don’t take prisoners. The CPF told me. What were you doing on that ship?”

  “Perhaps they were keeping me for food.” Krieger was smiling again, as though he were enjoying the questioning.

  “Along with enough meat to feed our entire population?”

  “I see your point. There weren’t that many fat Ka’Rathi running about that scout ship, were there?”

  “So?” Connor asked, anger building at the man’s evasiveness.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Harper,” Krieger said, seemingly genuine. But Connor found it hard to place any but the most superficial of trust in him. “Old habits die hard. I’m afraid that’s one answer that will have to wait until we know each other a little better.” Krieger stood and walked to the door. “Thank you for your time. If you’re good enough to join me a
gain in a few days, we can learn a little more about each other.”

  Chapter 13:

  Connor arrived at the gym just before midnight. He hadn’t been sure if Lavi meant him to wear everything when she said ‘security gear’, but he didn’t want to take chances. Combat boots, long sleeve shirt, cargo pants, all topped off with a tactical vest he’d grabbed out of the armory on his way down.

  He liked the way he felt in these clothes, although he knew he didn’t cut quite the figure the professional soldiers did. Connor was still adjusting straps and buckles on the vest when he opened the gym door.

  Lavi was already practicing on a mat in the far corner. Unlike him, she wore ash gray leggings and a tight tank top as she whirled and swayed through one of the many forms she knew. Rubber knives and pistols, a plastic assault rifle, a short staff, a long staff, and a pile of Escrima sticks were scattered around the edge of her mat.

  “Well I see you went all out.” Lavi said as he scampered up to the mat.

  “You said to wear my gear, but you didn’t tell me…” Connor started saying, but Lavi held up her hand.

  “You’re trying. That’s a good sign. Let’s see if it continues.” She looked him over, then said, “Loose the boots and vest.”

  Connor sat on a bench and did as he was told. While he was untying his boots, he cast a sideways glance at Lavi. Her leggings and skin-tight tank top showed off her sculpted form spectacularly and Connor found himself lost in what became a sideways gaze for a few seconds. He had to close his eyes and shake his head to clear his mind, rushing through the last of the laces.

  “Ok, what’s first?” Connor said as he jumped off the bench.

  “We are going to practice your cover,” Lavi responded. “Remember to keep your hands tight against your head.”

  Connor nodded, familiar with the technique. But only familiar. His cover was loose and sloppy because of his slacking.

  Lavi swung a slow practice round-house punch at Connor’s head. As quickly as possible, Connor grabbed the back of his neck with his right hand, while his left hand wrapped around his head to grab the opposing wrist. Both his elbows formed a single point which he used as a battering ram.

  The woman’s fist impacted harmlessly against Connor’s arm as he drove his weight into her upper chest. He pulled his momentum at the last moment, easing the impact into her body. But with all his weight focused onto the points of his elbows, Lavi still had no choice other than to back off against could have been a crippling charge.

  For an hour Connor practiced his cover, and various offensive techniques based off it. Lavi threw in various types of attacks, forcing Connor to change his strategies and defenses. When he wasn’t in his cover, his eyes watched Lavi’s neck.

  He knew he was supposed to watch her chest, allowing his peripheral vision to see her hands and feet, but he was raised to believe staring directly at a woman’s chest was disrespectful. A glance was ok and his sideways looks were definitely walking a fine line. But he couldn’t force himself to directly watch.

  Connor was so focused on his techniques that he missed the frustration slowly burning in Lavi’s eyes. She was passing up obvious opportunities to give Connor a chance to learn, but his inhibitions were holding him back.

  It soon became painfully apparent why she’d chosen her attire. Connor’s shirt and cargo pants gave her innumerable options for handholds. She could grab, twist, or lock any lose piece of his clothing. But her tight clothes made that far more difficult for him. Other than getting lucky enough to grab the shoulder strap of her tank a couple of times, he was almost entirely limited to manipulating her extremities. It reinforced the techniques she wanted him to learn.

  In the middle of one of Connor’s techniques, he somehow managed to maneuver Lavi around so that his left arm around her neck as she was bent over. From this position, he could have dropped backward and driven the top of her head into the mat. Against an opponent in real life he probably would.

  But there was another move he knew he should practice. Connor simply had to reach under, grab the strap on the front of Lavi’s tank top and pull. At the same time, his other hand would press against the back of her shoulder, the leverage spinning Lavi around to drop her on her back.

  Connor started the move but hesitated in grabbing the front of her shirt. Lavi suddenly exploded forward, wrapping up one of his legs. As he slammed onto his back, she grabbed his foot and rotated her body. The torque rolled Connor onto his stomach, and when she squatted over him, pain seared his ankle. Connor screamed and pounded his submission on the mat. The woman held him in agony for a few seconds before she let go and stood, turning to regard Connor with a dark look on her face.

  “Why didn’t you finish the move, Connor?”

  He opened his mouth to answer but closed it again. They both knew why. Connor just looked away.

  “Why didn’t you finish the move?” Her voice was harder now. Angry, in fact.

  Connor wasn’t sure why she wanted him to explain the obvious, but when she got angry, he got afraid. “Because I was afraid I would grab… not your shirt” he said quietly.

  “My breasts.” The statement was cold and her eyes flashed.

  Connor just nodded not able to meet the angry woman’s gaze.

  “I am trying to give you every advantage. The benefit of my years of training and experience, and you’re throwing it back in my face!”

  “I don’t mean to…”

  “Shut it!” Connor staggered back in astonishment and fear at the sheer anger Lavi unleashed at him. She stalked closer until she was less than a foot away. He couldn’t help but stare into those rage-filled eyes. “You promised me you would give me your all. But when I put you with a woman, you turn to shit. I’m spending my personal time to train you, and you’re still not giving me your all. When I tell you to watch your opponents’ chest, you do fine with your male counterparts but your eyes watch everything but the chest of your female counterparts. They beat you every time because you can’t see their feet with your peripheral vision. Your pointless chivalry is holding you back!”

  “I was raised…”

  “I don’t give a fuck how you were raised!” Lavi’s hot breath smacked his face. “Your gentlemen’s shit is for polite society and culture. Fighting is not polite. Survival is not for gentlemen, or ladies. Survival is dirty. Survival is painful. Survival is anger and rage. Survival is self-control. When we’re on the mat, we’re practicing for survival. There is no polite!”

  “I thought maybe if I watch your neck it would work the same.”

  “But it doesn’t, does it?” Her voice was low but dangerous. “Your eyes start bouncing around because you can’t see your opponents’ feet. Then you start looking down, and you can’t see their head or hands. Especially when they are close.” Lavi stepped back, a little more in control again. “Look at my chest, Connor.”

  Connor’s eyes glanced to her chest but shifted away almost immediately.

  “Look… at… my… chest… Connor!” She punctuated each word with a hard slap on her chest.

  He brought his eyes back down, fighting his instincts to look away.

  “It won’t kill you to watch, Connor. But it will kill you if you don’t.” After a few moments of making sure his gaze never left her chest, she tilted his chin up. His eyes gratefully found hers. “As long as you’re on the mat or if it’s a real-life fight, you need to get past your gentleman hang-ups. Stare at your opponent’s chest, grab their breasts, ass, or testicles, I don’t care. As long as it’s a tactical decision to get the advantage in a fight, do it. Fighting dirty will keep you alive.”

  She stepped back a step and rubbed her hands tiredly across her face. “I trust you to be professional, Connor. I trust that you will make decisions that you feel are necessary. I trust you… and I don’t trust easily. Don’t break that trust by giving in to your weakness.”

  Lavi turned and grabbed her bag. “We’re done for today. Since I’ve seen some improvement, we’l
l practice again tomorrow. But that’s your last chance. I will allow some time for adjustment, but I’d better start seeing you watch your female opponents’ chest. If I don’t, we’re done and so are your chances of making the volunteers. Got it?”

  Connor nodded and the woman turned for the door. It was only now that he noticed the gym had gone still. Everyone else had stopped what they were doing to stare at them. He felt humiliated, but for once, he understood. Finally, he accepted that she wasn’t the problem. He was.

  He was still watching after the woman when she called back over her shoulder. “Oh, and I’m using your shower.” Connor mutely watched her go. For the first time, he actually didn’t mind her in his space.

  Chapter 14:

  Connor leaned against a wall in the empty corner corridor, looking out the viewport. Both the Prometheus and Pegasus sat just outside the nebula giving him a rare, clear view of the Pegasus’s formidable, dark metal hull. Its navigation lights were out, making it look like a dark ghost against the now gray cloud of gases.

  This was one of the few times within the last month and a half that Connor had a chance to rest. Krieger had been right in his assumption that Captain Yuji would move to the Pegasus. He pushed both crew and volunteers hard to repair his new prize as quickly as possible. As soon as the ship’s self-repair and life support were brought online, he called for the massive migration of personnel to the great warship.

  Connor volunteered for any job that returned him to the Prometheus, the only place he’d really felt at home in years. Now, it was likely the last time he would ever step foot onto the old ship. She was all but gutted, retaining just enough of her systems to stay running. Captain Yuji left a skeleton crew of five crewmembers to man her, commanded by his second officer, Commander Svetlana Volkov.

  When Connor wasn’t helping in the transfer, he was either training in the weapons range or sparing with Lavi. Between training and working, he’d been lucky if he could get six hours of sleep a night. All the work cut into his personal time with Charisma, but they saw each other quite often in training.