by E. R. Torre
Inquisitor Raven knew better.
His sons walked with the women out of the graveyard and to a waiting vehicle.
Inquisitor Raven followed, stopping at the graveyard’s entrance and before Chief Muses.
“Inquisitor Raven,” Chief Muses said and saluted.
The man stood just under six feet and was slightly overweight. He was in his late fifties yet still retained a hint of his fading youth.
“I’m so sorry for… for your loss.”
“Thank you,” Inquisitor Raven said. “Inquisitor Fulano told me you were re-assigned to the Reverie.”
“Yes sir,” Chief Muses said. “I was flown here so that I could pick up my things and—”
Chief Muses stopped and shook his head.
“Dammit Bill, they didn’t have to get me to do this today,” he said.
“No,” Inquisitor Raven said. “They did not. But they did and that’s not your fault. Let’s get back to the Cygnusa. There will be more than enough time to share a couple of drinks for old time’s sake.”
33
HPB Cygnusa, orbiting the planet Helios
The shuttle craft flew past Helio’s atmosphere and approached the Cygnusa.
Its pilot asked for and received permission to enter the mighty battleship. The shuttle then glided past the landing bay’s open doors and landed in her assigned berth. Atmosphere filled the area while artificial gravity was engaged. After all security features were in place, the shuttle door opened.
Inquisitor Raven was the first to exit the vessel, followed closely by Chief Muses. Inquisitor Raven found Lieutenant Sanders, the ship’s second in command, waiting for him near the extended walkway that led to his shuttle. She saluted him.
“Inquisitor,” she said. “Welcome… welcome back.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Inquisitor Raven said. “Anything to report?”
“No sir. The Cygnusa and all departments are in perfect order. Just as you left them.”
“You heard the news regarding Chief Muses?”
“We just received the orders, though it is my understanding this was in the works for a while.”
“Seems we’re the last to know,” Inquisitor Raven said. “Then again, we have been busy.”
He motioned to Chief Muses.
“If I’m needed, the Chief and I will be in my quarters,” he said.
Together, the two left the landing bay and headed to the elevators.
Inquisitor Raven’s quarters was sparsely furnished. A metal desk and a slide out chair were the most prominent pieces of furniture. A door led out of the room on one side and a smaller door led to a bathroom on the other. A third door, this one directly to his right, led to a very small bedroom. To the side of the desk was a window that looked out into space. The planet Helios was visible below.
“Where has all the time gone, Carlos?” Inquisitor Raven said.
“Been asking myself the same question. What has it been, ten years?”
“At least,” Inquisitor Raven said. “Please, sit down.”
Chief Muses sat before Inquisitor Raven’s desk. He couldn’t help but notice the framed photograph of Inquisitor Raven, Holly Raven, and their boys on it.
Inquisitor Raven walked to the small cabinet beside the window overlooking Helios and reached for a bottle of Naranja. He grabbed two glasses and laid them on the desk. He filled both and swallowed his drink in a single gulp.
“There was a time, back in the academy, where I could drink you under a table,” Chief Muses said. “I’m not so sure now.”
Inquisitor Raven made himself another drink and walked back to the window. He motioned to it.
“This right here is my greatest luxury,” he said. “Even in the darkest days, the view of the Gods’ wonders offer solace. Come, take a look.”
Chief Muses walked to Inquisitor Raven’s side. He looked through the window and down at Helios. He spotted Themonoli, the planet’s Capital and the center of the Empire’s power.
“That’s where Overlord Emeritus is,” Inquisitor Raven said. “That’s where we were only minutes ago. That’s where my wife will lie for eternity and very close by is where my children are.”
“The Sacred Hearts School,” Chief Muses noted. “Quite an honor.”
“The school is exactly five miles from Canneli Castle, the place where Overlord Emeritus is right this moment.”
Dark thoughts clouded Inquisitor Raven’s mind.
“I don’t have to tell you the size of the Cygnusa’s arsenal,” Inquisitor Raven continued. “With a single word followed by a security code, every one of the fusion cannons and torpedoes are at my command.”
“Please, Bill,” Chief Muses begged. “The walls have ears.”
“Under normal circumstances, my sons would never have been granted entry into the Sacred Hearts School,” Inquisitor Raven said. “I don’t know what’s worse, Overlord Emeritus forcing me to choose which of my greatest loves to put to death… or the fact that he already knew who I would choose and made arrangements so that my sons would be such a short distance from him. You see Carlos, my sons being in that school is not an honor. It is a leash. He’s ensuring I won’t do anything rash.”
“Overlord Emeritus wants what’s best for the Empire,” Chief Muses said. “Even if his methods may be… Dammit. You know how I feel about Holly. What was done to you tears me apart.”
“He wants Inquisitor Cer’s head,” Inquisitor Raven said. “I will give it to him.”
Inquisitor Raven sealed the bottle of Naranja.
“How long do you need to get your personal effects?”
“I report to the Reverie tomorrow,” Chief Muses said. “If you wish, I can use some of the time left to find a suitable replacement.”
Inquisitor Raven extended his hand.
“I’d like that,” he said.
Chief Muses grasped Inquisitor Raven’s hand.
“Sir, it was an honor working for you.”
“You will be missed,” Inquisitor Raven said.
He motioned to the door and escorted Chief Muses to it.
34
Hours passed.
Inquisitor Raven sat alone in his quarters.
He read through bits of information and examined numerous galactic charts and log entries.
After a while, he shook his head and rubbed his face. The reports were becoming so familiar he felt he could recite them from memory.
He sighed.
“Keep going,” he muttered.
He continued his immersion.
In time, his eyes wandered from the reports and to the framed photograph of his wife and children.
“I’m not good to you like this,” he said.
He got to his feet and walked to his window.
On Helios, a line of clouds grew in the east. They were the first of what would be several winter fronts.
A message popped up on his communicator unit.
“Yes?” he said.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, especially when you asked for privacy…” a familiar voice responded.
“What is it, Lieutenant Sanders?’
“Sir, could I please come in?”
The door slid open and Lieutenant Sanders stood at the threshold.
“As you see, I haven’t ripped apart the furniture,” Inquisitor Raven said. “At least not yet.”
Lieutenant Sanders entered the Inquisitor’s quarters. Once the door closed, she faced her commander.
“Sir, to begin, I just wanted to say I’m so sorry—”
“If you’ve come to offer sympathy, I’ve had my fill,” Inquisitor Raven said.
“I have something to show you. It’s about the Xendos. There are a few theories I—”
“I’ve got a few myself,” Inquisitor Raven interrupted. “Tell you what, I’ll go first. We lost the Xendos because she had somehow rendered herself invisible.”
Lieutenant Sanders didn’t know how to react to that. Inquisitor Raven waved his hand.
Inquisitor Raven spun his computer monitor around so that Lieutenant Sanders could see the files and images on it.
“I’ve researched all known and experimental Phaecian and Epsillon camouflage research. Our Military Intel developed a way to cloak small objects but in over three hundred years no one –to our knowledge– has been able to hide anything larger than a single seater fighter and certainly nothing as large as the Xendos. Thing is, even if the Xendos had a way of hiding in plain sight, how did she eliminate her heat and electronic signatures? Her exhaust? That’s way beyond any tech we currently have.”
“It is,” Lieutenant Sanders said. She motioned to Inquisitor Raven’s computer. “May I?”
“Go ahead.”
Lieutenant Sanders turned the monitor and keypad and pressed a series of keys. When she was done the screen was filled with a series of blurry photographs of outer space.
“What is this?” Inquisitor Raven asked.
“Pictures taken by the Cygnusa and four of the other vessels under your command during the search for the Xendos.”
Lieutenant Sanders pressed several more buttons.
“We were always looking at what lay ahead of us and in the search zones. We weren’t quite as concerned about what was behind.”
The images merged to form a three dimensional composite projection.
“I still don’t—”
Inquisitor Raven stopped talking for he saw it. A dark object that blocked the light of a distant star.
“I’ve enhanced the image,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
Lines formed and the shape was better defined. Though the image remained blurry, the ship’s outline was distinct.
“It’s the Reverie,” Inquisitor Raven said.
“She was in Longshore, following us,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “Secretly.”
“Why would…?” Inquisitor Raven began and stopped. A heavy frown formed on his forehead. “Inquisitor Fulano was at my wife’s funeral. He’s been… he’s been watching us? Why would…?”
The frown became deeper.
“By the Gods, he was ordered to,” Inquisitor Raven said. “He was watching making sure we did as ordered.”
“Sir…”
“She was Overlord Emeritus’ backup plan,” Inquisitor Raven said. “We were ordered to take out the Xendos if she fought. But what if Inquisitor Cer surrendered?”
“Sir, you’re not suggesting…?”
“If we captured the Xendos and took Inquisitor Cer alive, the Reverie would have acted,” Inquisitor Raven said. “Powerful as the Cygnusa is, she’s no match for Inquisitor Fulano’s ship.”
“Sir, you can’t believe that!”
“After what was done to my wife, I can very much believe it. Overlord Emeritus didn’t want anyone from that vessel brought before a court.”
“And now he’s taking away our Chief of Engineering,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“You will not convince me that isn’t further punishment,” Inquisitor Raven said. “But I’ll prove myself to the Overlord. We will continue this mission and we will find the Xendos.”
“And Chief Muses’ replacement?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me if this person has strong ties to Overlord Emeritus.”
Lieutenant Sanders nodded. If the new Chief of Engineering was an Overlord spy, he wouldn’t be the first.
“Sir, there was one other matter…”
Lieutenant Sanders once again pressed buttons on the computer before Inquisitor Raven. The holographic display faded and the monitor on the Inquisitor’s desk lit up with notations on Displacer activities.
“These are the logs from the Genna Displacer at the end of the Longshore Space Lanes,” Lieutenant Sanders said. She pointed to a single Displacer entry. “Take a look at this.”
Inquisitor Raven read the information.
“The Acrobat,” he said. “Grade B transport craft. She left a day after we gave up the search for the Xendos and set up guards at the Longshore Displacers. Her destination was Canaria.”
Lieutenant Sanders pointed to another item on the Displacer list.
“Look at her size and mass.”
“Roughly the same as the Xendos,” Inquisitor Raven said. “As are another one hundred and fifty vessels that passed through the Displacer during that time.” Inquisitor Raven scrolled through the information. “Her identification codes are proper.”
“They are,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “But the Acrobat couldn’t have gone through the Genna Displacer at that time.”
“Why?”
“Because she arrived at the Canaria system using the Genna Displacer a month before. Not last week.”
“It could have been another trip.”
“There were no other trips. The Acrobat went to the Canaria system for an engine refitting. She’s been docked in a local station for the past month.”
“Inquisitor Cer duplicated the Acrobat’s identification documents?” Inquisitor Raven said.
“I believe so.”
“But how was she not identified by sight?”
“As you said, hundreds of ships passed through those Displacers since we gave up on the search. Either the Xendos was very lucky, the Displacer crew were incredibly sloppy, or…”
“How did she get the Acrobat’s identifiers? How would Inquisitor Cer know the ship was out of commission? And even if she did, how would she know to go to Canaria to throw us off her trail? She had help. Considerable help. It’s the only logical explanation.”
Inquisitor Raven shook his head.
“But something’s not right. She had to enter the Longshore Shipping lanes expecting Overlord Octo would release the information on the sex trade and admit to his crimes. Even with all the help she had getting out of there, why put herself in such danger? Surely there are easier ways of exposing Overlord Octo’s actions?”
“I don’t know the answer to that sir,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “Regardless, I checked the Canaria Displacer’s logs for the time immediately after the phony Acrobat’s arrival. Another ship left the zone after the Displacer shift change. This ship also had the same dimensions of the Xendos and also used a legitimate craft’s identifiers to move on. Using this information, I found a path and followed it.”
“To?”
“Onia.”
Inquisitor Raven’s eyes widened.
“Inquisitor Cer fled to the Epsillon Empire?”
“I believe so,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “There’s more. Sir, what I’m about to tell you is… Well…”
“What do you have, Lieutenant?”
“The answer to a question that we didn’t bother asking: Where the Xendos came from.”
“What do you mean? It was in the Remula system before—”
Inquisitor Raven stopped talking. He shook his head.
“You don’t think she was there?”
“It’s a very distant system and, based on his personal history, hardly the place someone like Overlord Octo would visit. The next time the Overlord appears, it’s when he’s transmitting his admission of guilt in the smuggling and sex trade operation and offers to fall on his sword.”
“If his retreat to Remula is a cover, where was he before the Longshore Space Lanes?”
“Erebus. The Epsillon side.”
Inquisitor Raven could barely contain his shock.
Two hundred years before, the Epsillon and Phaecian Empires had their one and only war. It started and ended in the Erebus system. Both Empires filled that solar system with their most fearsome ships, only to have each and every one of them incinerated by an explosion, still unexplained, which destroyed the ships days after war was declared. Left without any weapons to fight with, the Empires settled for an uneasy truce which lasted to this day.
“Talk,” Inquisitor Raven said.
“I don’t know what Overlord Octo, Inquisitor Cer, and the rest of the crew of the Xendos were doing in Erebus but they were there. A vessel fitting the Xendos’ description came through the Erebus Displacer and into Remula shortly before the Xendos arrived at the Longshore Space Lanes and just a couple of days before Overlord Octo released his admission.”
“Inquisitor Cer pilots the Xendos from Erebus, travels long enough to nearly get caught, and then flees back to the Epsillon Empire? Are you suggesting she is a traitor?”
“Sir, I’ve been over Inquisitor Cer’s records very carefully. There isn’t even a hint of evidence to suggest she could be a traitor.”
Inquisitor Raven’s mind was whirling with possibilities. He said:
“Whatever Overlord Octo was doing in Erebus, it interested Overlord Emeritus to the point where he wanted the Xendos and all aboard the ship not just caught, but dead. And if we didn’t clean up this mess, the Reverie was standing by to do it for us.”
“There is one final fact,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “I did a comprehensive search of the Xendos and found two entries. It’s listed as a new vessel created by the Casparia Shipping Company for Overlord Octo’s use and delivered to him only a month ago. This was her maiden flight.”
“More fake records?”
“Yes sir. I could find no independent confirmation of that build. The Casparia shipping records were wiped shortly afterwards in what they called an on-site magnetic accident.”
“Very convenient,” Inquisitor Raven said.
“There was a second Xendos listed in the databanks,” Lieutenant Sanders continued. “That information was… it was not easy to find, sir. This Xendos was a spy ship planted on the Epsillon side of Erebus just before the Galactic War. The ship was among those lost in the explosion that took the system out.”
“You think that Xendos and the one Inquisitor Cer flies are the same?”
“I do,” Lieutenant Sanders said. She rubbed her chin before continuing. “Sir, I remain a loyal officer of the Phaecian Order yet feel what was done to you was… cruel. More so because you weren’t given enough information before ordered on this mission. Perhaps it would have made no difference yet…” Lieutenant Sanders paused for a moment before continuing. “I made an oath to fight for Phaecia, but I also made an oath to serve my commander.”