by S. H. Jucha
“I can’t advise you on whether the aliens know what they’re doing,” Dorelyn replied, reminding the council members of the intravertors’ source. “And I doubt any of you know this either. I admit this is the greatest challenge facing the domes since their origination. You’ll have to decide for yourselves. I’ll procure the requested cost information and present it to you, as soon as possible.”
* * * *
“Why weren’t we consulted before the meeting?” Rufus asked. Idrian and he sat in the comfortable chairs of Dorelyn’s office.
“I needed to determine the mood of the family heads without any influence,” Dorelyn replied.
“You think we would have talked out of turn,” Rufus accused.
Dorelyn stared coldly at Rufus, who quieted.
“And what did you determine?” Idrian asked.
“That the council members didn’t get either message … the commandant’s or mine,” Dorelyn replied.
“I think it’s worse than that,” Idrian said. “The failure to elect one of our candidates to the commandant’s post has undermined confidence in the council.”
“What?” asked Dorelyn, when she saw Rufus shift uncomfortably in his seat.
“Several family heads approached me after the meeting about an alternative to the council,” Rufus replied.
“What were their suggestions?” Idrian asked.
“They didn’t have any,” Rufus admitted. “They wanted to find out if I still believed in the council —”
“You mean they wanted to know if you still trusted my leadership,” Dorelyn interjected.
Rufus nodded guiltily, affirming Dorelyn’s conjecture.
“How did you respond?” Idrian asked.
“I told them that they were reacting prematurely, and they should wait until Dorelyn obtained the information from the commandant,” Rufus replied.
“That’s not what I meant,” Idrian objected.
“I know what you meant,” Rufus replied defiantly. “That’s all I’m going to say.”
Dorelyn observed the obstinate expression on Rufus’ face. The triumvirate had a fracture in it, which meant the council’s dissolution wasn’t far behind. She had no idea what would replace it. Certainly, Lise wouldn’t have her way. A governorship would never have sway over the domes again. She feared chaos — open competition among the families for influence in the domes and over the topsiders.
After Idrian and Rufus left, Dorelyn sat behind her desk, taking stock of the council, her position, and her family. If the council disassembled, then her family would need allies, and she considered the best mix to support her. In the meantime, to prevent the council’s unraveling, she needed to know who ordered the attack on Finian. If she could call out that family head, it would serve to divert the council’s anger away from her and toward another.
Making a decision on the latter subject, Dorelyn called Sika into her office. The woman sat primly on her seat. Her fingers were intertwined and rested lightly on her knees, as she awaited orders.
“I have to know who paid Roby, Sika,” Dorelyn said.
“Proof?” Sika asked.
“It must be irrefutable proof, a confession, a financial trail, something,” Dorelyn replied.
“And then?” Sika asked.
“If there’s an intermediate on station, I want them eliminated. Make it invisible,” Dorelyn said.
Sika nodded. Invisible was Dorelyn’s request to make the death appear accidental. Sika experienced a thrill. This was her favorite assignment. It was the most difficult to perform. When it was successfully completed, she lived on a high for days.
“And if the buyer is a stationer?” Sika asked.
“I doubt any topsider had the fortitude or wherewithal to order this,” Dorelyn riposted.
“Roby was an amateur. He was a petty thief and forger. Who would hire this fool?” Sika argued.
Dorelyn halted the response that had been on her tongue. Sika wasn’t a woman of many words. Three sentences said that she didn’t accept her mistress’ analysis.
“If it was a stationer behind this, then it doesn’t do me any good to collect proof of their involvement. Eliminate them as you would the intermediate, if they exist,” Dorelyn ordered.
Having sent Sika on her errand, Dorelyn experienced a moment of satisfaction. Someone had ruined her carefully laid plans to elect Rod Fortis. Now that someone would pay.
* * * *
Rufus ordered an e-trans, when Idrian and he left Dorelyn’s house. He requested the small electric vehicle drive a circuitous route for twenty minutes before it reached its intended destination, Idrian’s home. By using his family code, the e-trans was directed to not stop to pick up other passengers.
“What did you say to those who approached you after the meeting?” Idrian asked after they were underway.
“It’s not important what I said,” Rufus replied. “It’s what they said. They’re ready to abandon the council.”
“How does that help us in the long run?” Idrian complained.
“Think about what you’re saying,” Rufus argued. “This intravertor project, if it’s successful, could be generations away.”
“And you’re telling me that these family heads are not concerned with the future but the present,” Idrian finished for Rufus.
“Yes. And why not?” Rufus shot back.
“If we allow that attitude to dominate our policies, we’ll be abdicating a strategic position with regard to the topsiders. Where do you think that will lead us?” Idrian argued.
“I don’t know,” Rufus replied. He’d sympathized with the council members who had approached him, but the conversation he was having with Idrian was why he wanted to talk to him. At first, he’d wanted to sound Idrian out on his attitude about the council. But, as usual, he was learning much more from Idrian.
“I can tell you,” Idrian offered. “The families’ powers will be wasted fighting one another for dominance. In a generation or maybe two, the families will have wasted their reserves and will be infirm. After that, it won’t be long before the topsiders occupy our domes.”
“I don’t see that ever happening,” Rufus declared.
Idrian glanced at Rufus, who resolutely stared forward. Idrian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at Rufus’ refusal to envision the future if the families were locked in protracted battles. But he knew neither emotional option would serve him well.
“Rufus, our populace enjoys the stipends that our families’ wealth lavishes upon them,” Idrian explained. “If the families’ funds are depleted in decades of infighting and those nice stipends dry up, what’s to stop our populace from descending into chaos?”
Rufus took his eyes off the ped-path and the approaching dome airlock to regard Idrian. He hated Idrian’s questions, which asked him to speculate on a future based on the long-term machinations of the dome’s families.
“I’ll tell you what I think,” Idrian said, acquiescing to Rufus’ entrenched silence. “If the families lose control over the populace, station security will descend on our domes in significant numbers to restore order. Then topsider administrators will arrive. They will offer our privileged young and our house staff an opportunity to work on topsider needs or starve. Which do you think they’ll choose?”
Rufus turned to Idrian. He did have opinions on more focused questions, such as this one. “We’ll lose our staffers in a heartbeat,” he said. “As for the privileged young, they’ll become a mob. They’ll be angry and shouting to get their stipends back.”
“Which won’t ever return,” Idrian added.
The e-trans wandered through an agri-dome before it turned around and headed toward the dome it had just left.
“What do you think we should be doing?” asked Rufus, having decided he needed to hear Idrian’s advice.
“Doing? Nothing!” Idrian urged. “We’re reacting and maneuvering, when we should be waiting, watching, and learning.”
“Are you looking for allies?�
� Rufus asked. It was the one question he wanted to put to Idrian.
“No, I’m not,” Idrian replied forcefully. “But I can tell you that Dorelyn is probably examining every contingency. She’ll try to protect the council and her position, but she’ll be creating a list of potential allies.”
“If she asks you to join her, will you accept?” Rufus pursued. He didn’t want an alliance with Dorelyn, and he hated the idea that he’d lose the support of the one family head who’d never tried to undermine him.
The men sat quietly, having voiced their opinions. The e-trans stopped at Idrian’s house, and the family head climbed out, waved quickly to Rufus, and headed inside.
Later, Rufus would report his conversation to the three family heads, who’d confronted him.
“Idrian is not choosing allies at this time,” Rufus said.
“Do you believe him?” a family head asked.
Rufus glared at the woman. “More than I would believe any other family head,” he growled.
“What do you think we should do?” a man asked.
“Idrian suggested it’s best to wait and see what develops. I think that’s a good idea,” Rufus replied. “We’ll talk later,” he added and departed the group.
-41-
Choices
Aurelia asked Devon to lunch at the Miner’s Pit, and he took the opportunity to discuss the conversation he had with Liam. Maggie greeted the pair and found a table in the corner for them after directing three retired spacers to the bar with their drinks.
However, Devon didn’t find the courage to broach the subject until after they finished their meal. It did occur to him that Aurelia was sensing every turn of his emotions.
When the dishes were removed, Devon cleared his throat, and Aurelia suppressed a smile. “Liam has asked a favor of me,” he began. “He wants me to train the sergeants he plans on promoting.”
“You would be a lieutenant training lieutenants?” Aurelia asked. “A ship’s captain wouldn’t follow that type of practice.”
“I’d be promoted to major,” Devon said.
“What did you tell him?” Aurelia asked. She kept her emotions from broadcasting. Devon had woken something in her that had been dormant since she was a young teenager, and she worried that it was about to be torn asunder by the opportunity Devon was offered.
“I said that I could give him the length of time for the Belle to make one more rotation to Emperion for slush,” Devon replied.
Aurelia was quiet, waiting for Devon to continue. He seemed poised to tell her more.
“Here’s the thing,” Devon said, reaching across the table to lightly grasp Aurelia’s hand. “Liam needs my help. If I left now, there would be a huge officer vacuum in security. I can’t let that happen. But … but … at the same time, I don’t want us to be separated. I realize it’s selfish on my part, but could you see your way clear to put off your trip to Triton for that amount of time?”
Aurelia laughed softly. It was strained, as if it served to release some pent-up angst.
“I told Liam that I needed to talk to you first before I gave him my answer,” Devon added, with a touch of urgency.
“You did, did you?” Aurelia replied. It was a rhetorical question. She could sense Devon’s worry, hope, and desire for her. It was a heady mixture. She gave him a warm smile, and said, “I realized that I need some specialized training and some applications developed before I could go to Triton. I wanted to tell you about the delay during lunch. That’s why I invited you here.”
“Oh,” Devon muttered. “I guess I was worried for nothing.”
Aurelia felt Devon ease the grip on her hands, and she held tightly to his. “Understand me, Devon. I loved everything you said about us. That you didn’t want us to be apart. That you wanted me to wait. If I’d been planning to leave when Jessie’s ships sailed, I would have stayed on station, because you asked me to wait for you.”
The subtle wrinkles in Devon’s forehead and slightly narrowed eyes told Aurelia he was unconvinced. Those indicators helped her make an important connection. Devon and she were a lot alike. Both of them were insular people, slow to trust, and wary of strangers.
Aurelia’s eyes beseeched Devon’s. Then she closed them, opened her gates, and sent him emotions the like of which had only been shared with her mother and sister when she was young. She didn’t project a brief or subtle wave. She pushed and held it. When she opened her eyes, Devon was grinning like an idiot. That he sat in the corner of the room was a plus. It had allowed her to focus on him and prevent her emanations from influencing the other diners.
“Why didn’t you say so before?” remarked Devon, a grin still plastered across his face.
“I guess I take a while to warm up,” Aurelia replied. “Come,” she said, releasing Devon’s hands. “We have some planning and work to do. The Belle will complete its roundtrip before you know it.”
Aurelia couldn’t help herself. On the way out of the Pit, she left behind her a trail of smiling customers, as she shared her happiness with others.
The pair parted company at security. Devon headed to Liam’s office to tell him the news, and Aurelia informed Devon that she had an appointment.
* * * *
“I’m going to work on station for one rotation of the Belle,” Aurelia told Harbour, when they met in a JOS business center. “I need to prepare myself … study how to learn a language and purchase some specialized apps.”
“I think that’s a great idea, Aurelia,” Harbour replied. “You won’t forgo your share of the Belle’s empath stipend.” Harbour heard Aurelia laugh, and asked, “What?”
“You’ve been keeping funds for me under the Belle’s general account to hide my stipends, and Jessie has used his company accounts to do the same thing,” Aurelia replied. “The funny thing is I’ve no idea how much is in either account.”
“Let’s fix that, shall we?” Harbour replied. Now that Liam was the commandant, Harbour had no fear for the influence of the family heads over JOS security, which might have endangered Aurelia. What made that less likely now was Devon’s constant companionship.
Harbour guided Aurelia in creating a financial account via her comm unit, which Jessie had given her years ago. Aurelia showed Harbour when it was ready and sent her the account information. Then Harbour accessed the Belle’s general account. She accessed Aurelia’s funds and made the transfer.
Aurelia watched her comm unit update its display. “Can this be right?” she asked.
While Aurelia was mesmerized by the coin that had accrued for her during the years, Harbour sent a message to Jessie with Aurelia’s account information. She could imagine Jessie’s smile, as he transferred Aurelia’s crew earnings to her new account.
“Oh, for the love of Pyre,” Aurelia whispered.
“Now you have your empath and your crew earnings,” Harbour announced happily.
“Thank you, Harbour,” Aurelia said, sharing her pleasure empath to empath. “I’ll miss you, when you sail.”
“No you won’t, Aurelia. Jessie and I are staying behind. We’ve work to do on station,” Harbour said.
“The projects,” Aurelia guessed.
“Exactly,” Harbour replied. “It will take some personal leverage to keep those moving forward.”
“Now that I’m learning about coin and expenses, I’ll have to find out how much Devon has saved,” Aurelia said excitedly.
“I assume Devon’s going to accompany you to Triton,” Harbour said.
It didn’t surprise Aurelia that Harbour had guessed. She knew she was broadcasting.
“What about the lieutenant’s job?” Harbour asked.
“That’s Major Higgins to you, Envoy,” Aurelia announced officiously.
“That would make it even more difficult for him to leave,” Harbour remarked.
“It might, if he didn’t have an enticing reason to give it up,” Aurelia said, with a pleased smile.
Harbour had never detected the level of happiness
that Aurelia projected, and she worried that it might be a bubble that could be burst.
“What’s the plan?” Harbour asked.
“We wait for one rotation of the Belle,” Aurelia explained. “I study, and he trains two sergeants, who will be upgraded to lieutenant positions.”
It clicked for Harbour. Liam was filling the void that his promotion and Devon’s leaving had created. It was a smart move on the part of the new commandant.
“When Jessie’s ships return, we request a ride to Triton,” Aurelia continued. “I wonder how much it costs to lease a mining ship for a trip to Triton.” The new account, with its two immense deposits, had suddenly reminded her that things cost, and some things cost a great deal.
“It’ll be free, Delegate Garmenti,” Harbour replied, smiling. “Your work on the dome will benefit Pyre, and Devon and you will be compensated for your efforts.”
“Wait until Devon hears that,” Aurelia replied, grinning. “He’s probably worried about giving up his annual stipend to decipher glyphs with me.”
“Is anyone else planning to go with you?” Harbour asked.
“No, and I’m not intending to ask others,” Aurelia replied.
Harbour examined Aurelia’s joyful face. She asked, “Is that smart?”
“It was my being alone with the console that helped me discover the technique of the empty projection,” Aurelia replied. “I don’t need people looking over my shoulder.”
“Except for Devon,” Harbour teased.
“Some people are welcome to look over my shoulder,” Aurelia riposted.
After Aurelia left, Harbour reviewed her conversation with the young empath and it made her realize a significant mistake on her part. Nelson Barber and Jacob Deering had joined the exploration team in hopes of personally accruing some of the Jatouche rewards. Unfortunately, whatever the Jatouche and Tsargit sent to Pyre probably wouldn’t directly benefit these explorers. Only coin in their accounts could do that.
At her desk, Harbour connected her comm unit to the monitor and examined the Belle’s general account. Her thought was to reward the explorers, but using the colony ship’s funds didn’t seem appropriate to her. Instead, she accessed her personal account and nearly fell out of her chair. Funds had been accruing for her for many years, first as an empath, then as their leader, and finally as the captain of the Belle and its lucrative slush project.