The door to Senator Philo’s office loomed ahead of them. Their cyborg escort stepped aside. The metal door hissed as it slid open. Philo was perched behind his desk with his fingertips steepled. It was his default pose, used to make himself appear more important. He waited until the door sealed shut again, before he spoke.
“Thank you both for coming.” His voice was flat but authoritative. It was the same tone he used to address the public during political speeches.
Theo scoffed and shifted his weight. “Not like we had much choice.” From his peripheral vision, he saw Cierra shoot him a reprimanding glance. He ignored her.
“I understand that you have been under a lot of stress recently, but I assure you that even with that taken into consideration, insolence will not be tolerated.” Philo’s eyes were daggers, daring him to smart off again. “Now, if I can continue, the Grand Council of Masters has come to a decision regarding your team’s next mission and the Brotherhood’s future agenda. The attack on the Yasta home system has been approved. The two of you will be sent undercover as a married couple.”
“What?!” The word was out of Cierra’s mouth before she could stop herself. She quickly clamped her lips shut again.
Philo raised an eyebrow. “The success of this mission is vital to evening the playing field between the Yasta and the Brotherhood. Whatever is going on between you two, I need you to work it out before we have boots on the ground. The rest of your team might be willing to turn a blind eye, but I am not. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.” Cierra’s skin was flushed with embarrassment. She avoided eye contact as much as possible.
“Good. Be at the docking bay in three hours. We need to get going if we are to have all of the teams into place in time. You may leave now.” Philo leaned back dismissively, and watched the two of them depart.
Danthois was already gone when the door shut behind them. He was undoubtedly off to get the next group that needed to be filled in on the assignment. Once they were alone in the hallway, Cierra immediately started speed walking away. Theo had to jog to catch up to her.
“Cierra, wait. Cierra!” He reached out and grabbed her elbow.
She spun on him and pulled her arm away. “What?”
“Let’s talk about this.” Theo lowered his voice to a whisper, just incase anyone walked past.
“Talk about what?”
“You know what. The…kiss.” His heart raced as he said it.
“It was a mistake, okay. I was just caught up in the moment. It shouldn’t have happened. Is that what you want to hear? Can we just drop it now?” She avoided looking him in the eye.
Theo felt like a knife had just been stabbed into his chest. “Right. Yeah. That’s what I thought it was.”
“Good. Now that we have that cleared up, I’m going to go get ready to depart. You should, too.”
“Right.”
Theo watched her walk quickly away. He felt like an idiot for letting himself make the kiss into more than it was. Still, after seeing her as possibly being more than just a comrade, it was hard to unsee her that way. His life had only gotten more complicated from the moment she had come into it, and it didn’t look like that would be stopping anytime soon.
Two
When it was time to embark, Theo made his way to the ship. The docking bay was filled with five groups from the Carbonari, which were hand selected by Philo and the other members of the Grand Council for the infiltration mission. Theo spotted Makram and Cherish off to the left. He joined them, and managed to catch the tail end of their conversation.
“I don’t like it. I’m not used to working in tandem with so many other crews.” Makram was grumbling in a low voice while he eyed the other teams.
Cherish tilted her head to the side. “I think that finding out about Hojae being a traitor has made you less trusting of others.”
“Can you blame me?”
“Theo!” Cherish smiled brightly at him. “Have you seen Cierra? Hubard is already on board, but I haven’t seen her yet.”
“I haven’t seen her since this—” Theo’s words were cut off by Philo’s booming voice.
The senator had bullhorn pressed to his lips. “Commanders, please double check that all of your crew are accounted for. Once all of your group has arrived, please step inside and be seated.” He switched off the amplification and turned to Chanta with a sigh. “I feel like a teacher organizing an off-world fieldtrip.”
Chanta giggled softly. “That’s not too far off from the truth.”
Makram watched anxiously as the other groups began filing into the ship. “Where the hell is she?”
Suddenly, Cierra rounded the corner and jogged over to them. She was panting a little from the sprint. “Sorry, lost track of time.”
“That’s not like you. Is everything okay?” Quietly, Cherish did a quick scan of Cierra’s vitals. Her eyes seemed a little red, but nothing else stood out as out of place.
“Yes, I’m fine. I was just a little distracted.”
“The other groups are already leery of us since we had a spy on our team without realizing it. I don’t want to give them any more reasons to ostracize us. Stay focused.” Makram’s voice was a little harsher than he had intended, but he made no move to apologize. “Come on. I don’t want us to be the last ones on the ship.”
He turned on his heel and marched up the ramp to the large ship they were about to leave on. Cherish put a comforting hand on Cierra’s shoulder, and gave it a light squeeze. Brushing past the two women, Theo followed Makram at a brisk pace. He agreed with their leader. Being on a mission that involved so many other teams made him uneasy. The sooner they were all dropped off in the Yasta home system, the better.
The interior of the ship was much larger than the previous cargo vessels Theo had seen the Brotherhood use. The belly of the ship had several rows of seating in a circular arrangement. Each team took up a row. Makram chose a seat in one of the empty sections. He gave Theo an odd look as he buckled into the harness beside him. It was clear that even though Hojae had been singled out as the traitor, Theo still wasn’t one of Makram’s favorite people. Cherish paused to let Cierra pass her. Hesitating, Cierra’s eyes darted to Philo. He was watching the whole exchange closely. She grimaced, and took the seat next to Theo. His body went rigid. The trip to Mithuna was going to be a long ride.
Once everyone was strapped in, the ramp retracted and sealed itself. Theo felt the craft submerge itself under water. The interior was plunged into darkness for a moment as they dove down towards the hidden entrance to the base. Bio-lights flickered into life. The soft glow illuminated the interior. Looking around, Theo noticed that the other squads bore a mixture of apprehension and boredom on their faces. He could almost smell the unease and untapped adrenaline. He had seen it many times when he was in the Carristoux Regional Militia. Each person on the ship knew they might not make it back. The Brotherhood often sent members of the resistance on dangerous missions, but this one was different. This time they would be going into the belly of the beast.
Once the ship was clear of the underwater entrance, it rose sharply to surface. The ascent made Theo’s stomach churn. He heard the thrusters engage as the craft switched from being able to travel underwater to flying. Takeoff was jarring. The crew found themselves jostled around inside. Theo tried to brace himself, but the roughness of the ride made his knee bump into Cierra’s. Even though the touch was accidental, he felt a jolt of excitement roll through him. He glanced at her. Just as his lips were about to form an apology, he saw that her eyes were clamped shut. The knuckles of her hand were white from gripping the edge of the seat. Her face was unusually pale.
Without thinking, Theo reached over and took her hand. Her grip tightened around his fingers. Cierra opened her eyes. They were wet with tears she was trying desperately to hold back. More surprising than the tears was the fear Theo saw. She was shaking. The turbulence battered them again, and she closed her eyes once more. That was when it dawned on him. The c
rash. Even though most of the Strike Force Retaliation team had been patched up and healed physically, the mental trauma of a crash that size was bound to leave some emotional scarring. She was trying to be brave and keep her composure, but it was clear that flying was almost pushing her into a panic attack.
The ride smoothed out, once they were in orbit. There was a general sigh of relief from the passengers. Cierra pried her fingers off of Theo’s. She had squeezed so hard, that for a few moments, they were stuck in a bent position. His fingers pulsed with each heartbeat, as his body tried to get the circulation back. She mouthed a silent ‘thank you.’ Theo nodded. The tension between them had eased, just a little.
Philo took a moment to address them. “Makram, go take over for Hubard. I need him here to discuss some final business before everyone is dropped off.”
Makram grumbled under his breath, but did as he was told. He unbuckled his safety harness and made his way to the cockpit door. It slid open easily. Through the gap, Theo could see Rix and a few other robots watching a few screens and sensors. Rows upon rows of buttons and monitors covered the console. It was much more complex than the typical cargo ships he was used to piloting himself.
Hubard emerged, as Makram slid into the pilot’s seat. Irane followed closely behind him. It occurred to Theo that the whole time he had been with the resistance, he still hadn’t learned very much about the boy. He was young, but seemed to command more respect from the rest of the Brotherhood than was typically given to someone his age. Hubard joined Philo in the center section that all of the rows of seating were facing. To Theo’s surprise, Irane strapped himself into the chair that Makram had just vacated.
Philo’s authoritative tones filled the compartment. “This mission is a bit of a slow burn. I know most of you prefer to go in and get things over quickly, but this time I need you to have some patience. We aren’t just hitting a monastery on an outlying planet. We are going into the heart of the Yasta organization. I’m not going to lie and tell you this will be easy. It won’t be. We are on their turf. The only advantage we will have will be the element of surprise.”
“And the mineral of Relissarium.” Hubard pipped up from beside the senator. He was obviously trying to make a joke, but Philo was not amused.
With a frustrated sigh, Philo continued his speech. “Yes, thank you, Hubard. You will be given lasana blades.” Hubard started to speak again, but Philo continued talking before any more quips could be interjected. “As you can see, we have five squads assembled for this mission. Each team will be journeying to one of the five main monasteries on Mithuna. Hubard and Seneca will drop off each squad at previously scouted locations, as close to your respective monastery as possible without drawing attention.”
In the center of the circle of seats, a hologram shimmered into life. The surface of Mithuna rotated in a slow orbit. Five red ‘X’s marked the locations of the monasteries. “Once the teams are all on the planet’s surface, Hubard, Seneca, and the robots will set up a command base on the uninhabitable moon Durga of Mesha.” In response to Philo’s words, the hologram zoomed out to include the next planet closest to Mithuna and its moon.
“Since the robots have no need of life support, the ship’s oxygen and power reserves will be solely dedicated to Hubard and Seneca. This will allow them to remain comfortably onboard for an extended time. Along with keeping all of the ground troops in contact and coordinating our attacks, they will also be experimenting with new applications for Relissarium.” Philo turned to look at his aide.
Following her cue, Chanta took a step forward and shared the information on her communication tablet with the hologram feed. An image of a winged angel rimmed in golden light over a pile of headless demons came into view. “In approximately five weeks, the Yasta monks will be celebrating their largest holiday of the calendar year. Dargani is the festival that celebrates the Archangel Nergal’s victory over a horde of demons. Because it is such a large affair, every Yasta practitioner and supporter from the surrounding planets that can make the journey to Mithuna will be there. During this time, the ones able to make the pilgrimage will journey to one of the five monasteries to receive more training from the Holy Five.” Chanta flicked her wrist and the next image appeared. Five monks in Yasta robes stood dauntingly side by side.
Philo took over the meeting again. “The Holy Five are the Supreme Council of Yasta Brother Field Marshals. It is our job to assassinate any and all of them with stealth, coordinated attacks, and of course the lasana blades that Hubard has developed for us. Each team is responsible for independently coordinating the attacks in the monastery they are assigned; however, it would be best if the attacks could be synchronized across all five squads. The less amount of time between attacks the better. We don’t want them to have the opportunity to warn any of the other monasteries. Take your time to learn the layout of the monasteries, and any other key players that may need to be taken out as well.”
Chanta pulled up another image on the hologram. This time it was of wild celebrations and artistic exhibits. “During the festival, the monasteries are closed to both lay members and visitors. Everyone is encouraged to go out and create new life, music, and art in honor of the Archangel Nergal. Since the monasteries will be almost empty, Dargani night is the perfect time for a well-executed inside job against the Yasta.”
“Each of you have been given cover identities, and papers to support your stories.” Philo took a moment to make eye contact with the teams. “It is imperative that you do not reveal yourself as members of the resistance. I don’t have to tell you that the Yasta have no issues killing suspected Carbonari supporters on sight. Danthois, Chanta, and myself will be joining Makram’s team since they are short on personnel. I will be taking over the role of commander for the time being.”
Theo heard a muffled curse from the cockpit. Undoubtedly, Makram had been listening in through the comms and was not happy about being demoted. A small, satisfied smile curled the corners of Theo’s mouth. He didn’t necessarily dislike Makram, but he didn’t mind watching him squirm a little either.
The senator continued speaking. If he had heard Makram’s exclamation, he chose to ignore it. “My team will be posing as acolytes, journeying to the Kinyah monastery. It is the most formidable and the most benevolent. Of all of us, Cherish is the most likely to be chosen as an acolyte. Even though she’s augmented, her quick thinking in battle and adaptability will be something the Yasta will want to have for themselves. Hubard, why don’t you go over the lasana blades now.”
The older man was practically bubbling over with excitement, as he addressed the assembled squads. “You are all being supplied with a lasana blade. I believe most—if not all—of you have had a chance to practice with them before now. It is important for you to keep your blades hidden from the Yasta. They have the technology to make them, and they know the resistance has them as well. Any outsiders that have one will cause suspicion. Try to keep your blade on your person at all times. Train with the infintium blades the monasteries will provide. It is rare for most acolytes to have even an infinitium blade, so try to act impressed with it. If for some reason you have to hide your lasana in your room, please remember to make it easily accessible. Even the best technology won’t do you any good if you cannot get to it in time.”
There was a general murmur through the teams. Most of them hadn’t been expecting to have a lasana blade of their own. The energy in the ship shifted towards excitement. Philo cleared his throat, and the whispers stopped. Everyone turned their attention to Hubard again.
“Ahem, yes, well, aside from the blades, each squad leader will have a comms system to contact me for pick up, advice, or cross-crew communication in case there is an emergency. If you need an expedited extraction, or if there is a critical change in plans, please let me know as soon as possible so we can coordinate with everyone. We will be on Durga, so the sooner you let us know that you need us, the better.” Hubard pushed his spectacles up higher on the bridge of his no
se. Batumah help them if things got critical. The flight time alone from Durga to Mithuna could be enough to get them killed, if they waited too long to ask for an extraction.
Philo waited a second to make sure that Hubard was finished, before he called out. “Aphio, will you come give everyone some information about the monasteries?”
When the man stood up, Theo noticed his lanky arms were feathered. The bio-lights made them shimmer in varying shades of blues and greens. He had heard of Aphaians before, but he had never seen one in person. His pupils were slanted and darted quickly. Instead of hair, Aphio had long feathers that gave him the appearance of having slicked back, shoulder length hair. His head twitched from side to side a little as if looking for any nearby danger.
“Since Hojae and Naia are no longer with us, I am the last member of the resistance to have come from the Yasta home system.” Aphio’s voice was twittery. Words with ending ‘ah’ sounds came out as more of a caw than a word. “Each monastery is on the top of a mountain. Part of the journey to becoming an acolyte is making the climb. The mountains are dangerous. Not all who embark on the pilgrimage will survive. The Yasta believe the journey will weed out anyone too weak to remain in their ranks. Most of the mountains take two to three days to climb. The Kinyah monastery is the hardest to reach. The climb is fierce, and will take anywhere from three to four days if everything goes well. Because of that, the Kinyah group will be the first ones dropped off. Some of the natural flora is deadly. Avoid touching anything, if you are unfamiliar with it. Even the most harmless looking plants may not be what they seem.”
Makram’s voice traveled through the comm. “In a few minutes, I’m going to open the wormhole. Buckle in now.”
The Relissarium Wars Omnibus Page 25