by Mike Smith
Gone were the dark lines under her eyes, the pale skin and dull, lifeless eyes, which had stared back at her for so long now. Instead with these clothes, her hair tied back into a long braid, she looked years younger, reminiscent of the young woman who had first arrived on Eden Prime. For her skin now seemed to glow and her eyes sparkled once again. For the first time in a very long time, she felt she was doing something right. Slipping the knife Jon had given her into her boot, she set off, lengthening her stride to reach the spaceport in time for her departing ship.
*****
Stepping off the passenger ship, almost forty-eight hours later, Sofia was in a foul mood. She had never travelled by commercial passenger liner before and was amazed at the disorganisation. Although she arrived promptly at boarding time, the ship had then been delayed many times. Firstly by a missing passenger and then by the requirement to off-load that passenger’s luggage. This was quickly followed by a technical fault in the FTL drive, which resulted in a missed departure window. All-in-all the ship departed almost six hours late. To add insult to injury, they had then lost their arrival slot and had to wait for one to become free. The ship finally docked twelve hours behind schedule, by which time Sofia felt ready to scream.
She had already done a quick search of the station’s data-net and discovered there were presently one thousand, two hundred individuals living on the station with the name Albert. As this wasn’t much of a help, Sofia had decided to start with his last known location, on the assumption that hopefully somebody might know where he had moved to, assuming he was still alive, of course. For the last time Sofia had seen Albert, Harkov’s mercenaries were kicking down his door. Not actually knowing the address also did not help, so Sofia resorted to following the roundabout route Jon had taken the last time they were on the station. At the time Jon had suggested it was necessary to do this to lose anybody who could be following them. Sofia wondered if she might have to adopt this same plan, because out of the corner of her eye, she kept seeing a glimpse of movement.
Finally arriving at the non-descript door that was her destination, Sofia took a deep breath and touched the announcer. After several long seconds, with no response, her heart fell. It was obvious nobody was there. Which left her in a bit of a quandary, as she had no idea where to go next.
She felt the movement of somebody behind her, long before she heard it, the displaced air raising the hairs on the back of her neck. Pivoting smoothly around on the balls of her feet, knife suddenly in hand, in a manoeuvre Jon would have been proud of, she forced her forearm up against her attacker’s throat, the knife hovering inches from him.
“Agh!” He screamed in terror.
Sofia blinked in surprise. “Albert?” she asked, shocked. “What are you doing following me around?”
“Grr,” he replied, motioning towards his throat, where Sofia still had him pinned.
“Sorry,” Sofia apologised, releasing him. “What are you doing following me around? You scared me to death.”
“Scared you to death? You were not the one pinned against a wall with a knife hovering in front of you. Who taught you to do that anyway? Sorry, silly question. I need to have a serious word with that boy, you're an Imperial Princess, girl, he cannot go around turning you into some sort of warrior Princess.”
Sofia giggled at the description, before enfolding the small man in a massive hug. Albert had originally come from Kesser IV, where the gravity was much stronger, so while he was very short, barely over five feet, he was extremely strong, as he had demonstrated on their prior visit by effortlessly lifting a table with one hand. “How did you know I was coming anyway? I was travelling under an assumed name.”
Albert’s gaze softened as Sofia gently let go of him. Sniffing he replied, “While you might have picked up on Jon’s way-of-the-warrior, your skills as a spy are absolutely terrible. You were travelling under the assumed name Sophie Radec.”
Sofia blushed, embarrassedly. “When they asked me my name, it was the first thing that came into my head.”
Albert just rolled his eyes, stepping past Sofia and tapping his personal code into the door, which slid open. Stepping into the darkened room, Albert motioned for her to follow. “Come into my humble abode and take a seat Princess,” he bowed mockingly. “And we can get down to business, as I assume you did not come all this way in person just to check up on my health?”
“I was worried about you,” Sofia confessed. “However, I just got so caught up in setting up the new Confederation I lost sight of what was important in life.” She cast her gaze down, ashamed at her actions in the past. When she felt his soft hand take hers, her eyes were brought up to stare at Albert, who was gazing at her with an understanding look in his eyes.
“You are more like your father than you ever realise.”
“You knew my father?”
“Yes, I know him. Although I doubt he remembers me. It was a long time ago, before you were even born.” Albert subconsciously cursed his slip of using the present tense referring to her father, but it seemed that Sofia had not noticed the mistake. “Anyway enough about the past, let’s discuss the present,” he said rubbing his hands together. “What can I do for you Princess?”
Looking Albert straight in the eye, Sofia asked. “I want to know where Jon has gone and why. He left me a message saying goodbye. Whatever crazy plan he has in mind is going to get him killed and I want to stop him. It’s long overdue that Jon and I talked.”
Albert leaned back in his chair thoughtfully. Truth be told he already had a strong idea of the purpose of Sofia’s visit before her arrival, as some truly incredible information had recently been brought to his attention. “Yes, I might be able to assist Princess, but there is a price.”
“I can pay any amount that you require,” Sofia replied confidently.
“My price is not always in credits.”
Sofia’s face paled, but she still lifted her head high, looking him in the eye. “Name your price then, whatever it might be and I will pay it. I’ve already lost Jon once before, I refuse to do so again.”
Albert looked at Sofia in a new light. He had been impressed with the girl when they first met. She was not at all what he had expected, based on facts he had read about her. There was an inner strength about her, a determination of purpose. She was both steadfast and loyal, traits Albert prized highly. All-in-all, Albert thought Sofia was a good match for Jon. Coming from a harsh planet, where it was a daily struggle for survival against the harsh elements, divorce was unheard of. Albert’s own mate had died many, many years before. Their lifespan being far longer than others, due to their stronger metabolism caused by the high gravity, Albert had first taken notice of Jon when he was still a young boy. He admired his strength and determination, but also his compassion, his desire to help others. It seemed she shared many of those same traits.
“My price is three-fold then. First you will owe me. One day I might need to call in a favour, it’s always useful to have an Imperial Princess and Confederation President owing you.”
Sofia nodded in agreement.
“The second is that whatever happens in the future, you will always put Jon’s needs before your own.”
“I don't understand.”
Albert closed his eyes in frustration, trying to think how to explain. “I get lots of information that passes across my desk Princess. Some of it is huge; it could topple governments, but others are tiny, personal things. I have been doing this for a long time, as I mentioned, before you were even born. I can feel a storm coming. I don’t know what it is, or where it will come from, I can just feel it. We will need everything we can to survive this storm, but most of all we will need somebody to lead us and Jon is the only person who can do this. Maybe your father could have, but that is no longer an option we have. But not even Jon is perfect. He has weaknesses, flaws, but most of all he needs you for your support and help. Together you are stronger, and maybe it will give us a chance. Hence my second price Princess, whatever
happens you promise that you will put Jon’s needs before your own.”
While Sofia did not fully understand, she nodded her head in agreement. “And the final price?” She asked.
Albert now lowered his head in embarrassment. “After I have given you the information you require, you promise to stay awhile and talk. While I have many customers, I have very few friends, could you stay and keep an old man company for a while?”
Understanding what it was like to be so lonely, Sofia just nodded her head, touched by this little man.
“Then I will tell you what I know Princess, for Jonathan is travelling to Tartarus.”
Sofia blinked in surprise. “Jon is travelling to Tartarus, the prison of the damned?” She exclaimed in disbelief. “For whoever has lived unjustly and impiously goes to the dungeon of requital and penance which, you know, they call Tartarus,” Sofia recited. “Plato,” she added in response to Albert’s shocked expression.
“I know that,” Albert said astounded. “Thank the Maker, that Jon came and rescued you from your father’s tutors,” he muttered aloud. “There is a place called Tartarus,” he quickly added.
“There is?” Sofia replied, dumfounded. “Where the damned go?”
“No, no, no.” Albert interrupted waving his hands furiously. “There is a planet called Tartarus, the corporate headquarters of the Tyrell Corporation.”
“Never heard of it. Why is Jon going there?”
“Jon believes that they are currently holding somebody important hostage there,” he replied vaguely.
“Who?”
Albert took a deep breath, for the first time in his life, preparing to lie to a customer. But Albert had no idea what Sofia would do if he told her the truth, perhaps she would travel straight there, to a certain death. Albert was fond of this girl and did not want her death on his conscience. “It doesn’t matter who,” he said glancing around, but no bolt of lightning struck him dead, much to his relief.
“What else can you tell me?”
“Sejanus now runs the Tyrell Corporation.”
Sofia went deathly still, her breath caught in her throat. It was only Albert’s reassuring hand on her own that kept her from crying out in fright.
“Does Jon know about Sejanus?” Sofia asked in a terrified voice.
“I don't know. I don’t see how. Sejanus had left long before Jon joined the Praetorians. They would never have met.”
“I thought he was dead,” Sofia said, looking down at her hands clasped tightly together in his. “After what he did to me, he vanished. I just assumed that my father—”
“I don’t think Gideon told your father everything that happened.”
Sofia was not in the slightest bit surprised Albert knew about that dark time in her life. It had taken many years for her to get over it, almost becoming a recluse in the process, frightened to trust anybody. Especially men. Of course that was before she had met Jon. It was only around him she was able to relax, for the first time in her life being able to feel safe. For anybody trying to hurt her would first have had to get past him and nobody ever had. For Jon seemed to have almost a precognitive ability when it came to protecting her and her father. On the day Jon had become Commander of the Praetorian Guard he had sworn to her, on his life, he would never allow anything or anybody to hurt her, and Sofia had believed him.
“What if Gideon told Jon what had happened?” Sofia asked worriedly.
“Then Sejanus would have died a long time ago,” Albert said firmly. The last time the two of them had been in this office, Albert had observed the way Jon had stared at Sofia, his love for her obvious, even back then. No, if Jon had found out what Sejanus had done, not even Tartarus would have saved Sejanus from his wrath. “It is just a coincidence,” he reassured her.
Sofia nodded her head, her gaze still downcast. It was times like this she most missed Jon’s reassuring presence, but he had been gone for over five years now, ever since she caught Jon with that woman.
Recognising the devastation in Sofia’s face and the desperate way she looked at him, Albert was quick to head-off the question that he knew was coming. “I do not know why Jon did what he did. I’m a knowledge broker, not a relationship counsellor,” he explained.
It had been one of the more unbelievable scraps of information to pass across his desk over the past few years. Albert found this so incredible that he had sought out no less than three independent sources to verify the story. Even then Albert had found it difficult to believe. For the first time his belief in Jon had been rocked to the core, for he was sure he had not mistaken the look in Jon’s eyes when he had gazed with absolute adoration at this woman the last time they had been here together. The same look Albert had once looked at his mate with. The complete amazement that Jon had been so blessed to find his missing half. Yet Albert recognised Jon never did anything without a very good reason, although what that reason might be, he had no idea.
“So what do you plan on doing now?” Albert inquired curiously.
“I am going to go and find Jon and bring him home,” Sofia replied resolutely.
Bring them both home, Albert thought.
*****
As there was no ship scheduled to depart Memphis for Eden Prime for the next several hours Sofia agreed to meet Albert for a late dinner in one of the more exclusive restaurants on the station. Casting her gaze around the dimly lit restaurant it reminded her of another restaurant, on Altair many years before, where Jon had taken her after she had won their bet. Similar to that restaurant, the illumination mostly came from the stars shining outside. Each table had a single solitary candle, barely giving off enough light to illuminate the table. The entire atmosphere was very romantic and very intimate. It just made her realise how much more she missed Jon, his presence and his smile.
Sofia’s thoughts were interrupted when the entrance to the restaurant suddenly opened and a group of men walked in. However, Sofia realised that they were not there for the food or ambience, especially as they were dressed in their black and silver uniforms with pistols clearly visible at their sides. It was obvious that they were looking for somebody, as upon entering their gaze immediately swept through the room, pushing past the maître d' as if he did not exist.
Having no idea who or what they were looking for, but taking no chances, Sofia quickly leaned forward blowing gently to extinguish the candle on her table and slipped the hood of the cloak that she was wearing over her head to hide her face. Fortunately she was seated far back in the restaurant away from the main entrance, hence the guards or soldiers, whoever they were, were starting from the other end of the room, methodically sweeping past each table. The fact that they stopped at every table where a young woman was seated and checked her face carefully, started to instil a sense of panic in her. She didn’t know how or why, but instinctively she knew they were looking for her. Ever so slowly she leaned back, away from the table, further into the dark shadows of the room.
“Piss off. Go and find your own broad,” one of the elder diners insisted loudly, not taking his eyes off the young woman, probably at least thirty years his junior, seated opposite him. His eyes flashed in irritation, when completely ignoring him, one of the guards jerked the woman out of her seat, to stare closely into her face. “Frank, Joe, s’ck it to ‘em,” the elderly man drawled with a heavy accent.
The guard was surprised on releasing the woman to turn around and bump into the chest of one of two mountain sized men. Dressed in expensive tailored suits, both bulging at the breast pocket, obviously concealing a consignment of guns, they looked like two huge gorillas that had been squashed and squeezed into suits.
“’Dis ‘ere man bothering ya, boss?” One of the walking mountains rumbled ominously, mangling his grammar, picking up the guard by his tunic as if he did not weigh a thing.
“Can’t ya see I’m dizzy with my broad? Do a number on this punk. Give ‘em some chin music, then dangle ‘em out of here, before the other bulls arrive,” the older man insisted.
“Sure ‘fink boss,” the other gorilla agreed, as the first drew back his fist and let loose, cracking the guard firmly across the jaw, sending him crashing backwards, landing on another table, much to the detriment of the entrée that had just been served.
At the large smash of broken crockery, one of the guards still standing near the door, who was obviously in charge, raised his pulse pistol, sending a bolt into the ceiling. All sounds in the restaurant abruptly ceased as all eyes focused on him.
“I will insist on everybody’s cooperation for just a short time,” he announced loudly. “Then we will leave you to your meal in peace. We are looking for a woman.”
However, if he thought that was going to intimidate the diners, he was sadly mistaken, as a number of shouts and catcalls echoed from around the room.
“Yeah, you and the rest of us mate.”
“Go and find your own.”
“The brothel is three-floors down.”
The officer went bright red at the calls, but before he could reply an expensive slice of calzone bounced off his back, to roars of approval from the guests. A plate of spaghetti, which the officer ducked beneath, closely followed this. With the addition of Frank and Joe lumbering through the restaurant with murderous intent, pushing everybody else out the way, the entire restaurant soon degenerated into a general brawl, with food, drinks, tables, and chairs being flung left, right and centre. The guards disappeared under a hail of fists and prone bodies.
Sofia meanwhile decided then was an opportune moment to make her exit. While the main entrance was blocked by the mob in full swing, Sofia eyed a smaller serving entrance off to one side, which the waiters frequently disappeared through. Keeping to the shadows, she quickly made her exit. Pushing through the doors she entered a kitchen with chefs busy preparing meals, with waiters and waitresses darting about. With no idea where to go next, she frantically approached the nearest waitress.