by V. St. Clair
There was applause and cheering as she descended the steps and walked into the audience, shaking hands with people as a general cry of, “Jessamine! Jessamine!” went up amongst them. Topher and Reya were beside her in an instant, keeping close to her and looking like they were going to break their jaws if they clenched their teeth any harder.
This must be security hell for them, watching me wade through a crowd of people who have special powers.
She was wearing armor, and if enough of these people still wanted her dead then they were going to get her someday, no matter what she did. She meant what she said on stage; she was done hiding.
She saw Risa in the crowd nearby, and though the Gifted woman didn’t shake her hand, she gave her a thoughtful look, like she wasn’t sure what to make of her. Jessamine inclined her head and said, “Was that transparent enough for you?” before continuing on.
She walked back to the speeder with her Majors, who were more tense than she could ever recall seeing them. They climbed into the front seat and lifted off quickly.
“Well, that will certainly save us from deciding how to explain the Viceroy’s death to everyone,” Reya said casually, still on edge as she turned the speeder into the emergency lane and made for the Augenspire.
“I doubt I’ve seen the last of the traitors, but this should drive them out into the open,” Jessamine explained. “The more legislation I can shove through, the less time they will have to formulate their plans if they are going to replace me with my sister. Speaking of which, it is time to begin educating Shellina more rigorously on her new duties, in the event I am actually taken down. Topher, you will help her, as you have already demonstrated an understanding of how to effectively run a government.”
“As you command, Excellency,” he answered neutrally, though Jessamine could sense his displeasure by his choice of the word ‘command’. There was no getting around it. Shellina needed a crash course in how to be a competent leader, which meant a lot of people were going to have to come together to help educate her very quickly.
They pulled up at the main entrance of the Augenspire and landed the speeder. Jessamine took a deep breath and said, “This is bound to be awkward,” before getting out of the car.
Sky-Leader Rolf and Ground-Leader Skye were waiting for her at the front doors, and as she approached, she wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from them. Were they going to challenge her before she even got into the building?
“Excellency,” they both greeted her, dropping to one knee as she passed them.
Jessamine tried not to look too visibly relieved as she said, “Ground-Leader, Sky-Leader. It is good to see you both. We will meet shortly.”
“It is good to have you back, Vicereine-elect,” Andrea Skye replied, sounding genuinely relieved.
Jessamine walked through the main lobby, and the other people there went to one knee as well as she passed, echoing the Ground-Leader’s sentiments as she went to the elevators.
Not all of them would be happy she was back, and some of the people here were doubtlessly still working against her, but it was a problem for tomorrow. For now she was content to take the elevator up to the High Chamber with Reya and Topher in silence.
When the doors opened into the Chamber, she was greeted by the sight of all of her Majors down on one knee in acknowledgment of her authority. Shellina and Darius were behind them on the benches, but also took a knee at the sight of her. Her sister looked embarrassed to see her—probably afraid I’m going to chastise her for doing such a poor job in my absence.
“I know this is a difficult time for all of us, and many of you might be angry with me for sharing our private failure with the world,” Jessamine greeted them. “You are entitled to your anger, as I am entitled to mine at the failure of my most trusted, valued advisors.” She let that sink in unpleasantly before continuing. “Fox and Parl have brought disgrace to your ranks, and it is with them your anger should lay. Their cowardice, greed, and presumption are what murdered my father and nearly killed me. I choose to believe they acted alone, excepting the technologists they corrupted, who are already being dealt with. I choose to believe the rest of you are as loyal and true to your oaths as ever. I would like to commend Major Gareth, in particular, for coming to my father’s defense and for saving my close friend, Hanna. You will receive a Medal of Bravery for your work.”
Gareth shook his head and said, “I don’t deserve your praise, Excellency. I failed to save your father.”
“I doubt anyone could have saved him under those circumstances, and you are worthy of my praise whether you believe it or not,” she corrected him. “As for the rest of you, I am willing to preserve my trust in you, and to not judge you by the actions of the few. If any of you feel unable to support me during my reign, see me privately and you may retire quietly, without prejudice. But know this: if any of you strike against me, I will do everything in my power to see you and your legacy destroyed. As such, I am stripping Parl and Fox of their titles, ranks, and all assets—both liquid and non-liquid. Anything they accumulated during their employment here now belongs to me, and will be donated to the Academy. Their families will receive no compensation for their deaths, and their records will be amended to include only the fact that they were the worst of traitors.”
The others absorbed this in silence, though she saw displeasure on some of their faces. Andro, Kristoff, and some of the others had been very close to Fox and Parl, and were probably horrified at them being posthumously eviscerated, though technically Parl was still alive.
I’ll need to watch them in the future, Jessamine noted mentally. All of the people closest to Fox and Parl would be the most likely collaborators in their coup.
“Where is Fox’s body?” she asked the room at large, but it was Shellina who answered.
“He has been dressed and packaged off to ship back to his family for burning.”
“Un-package it,” Jessamine said coldly. “We do not honor traitors; they are unworthy of the death rites.”
“But Jessa—” her sister interjected, horrified, though most of the Majors seemed to be expecting this.
“Have the scientists pour acid through his enhancers so the Talent technology can’t be stolen or mapped, and dump his body in a ditch somewhere for the birds to eat.”
“How horrible…” Shellina bit her lip, looking agonized.
Toughen up, little sister, or they’ll get you too.
“Does Parl live?” Andro asked, breaking the silence.
Jessamine leveled her gaze at him and said, “For the moment, though I am told his injuries are extensive enough that he will likely die in the next few days.”
She had made the decision in that moment, and there was no time to go back on it now. Fortunately neither Topher nor Reya made any attempt to contradict her statement.
“With that unpleasantness out of the way, please rise, Majors. It is time to put the past behind us and to move forward. I want you back on normal shift schedules and regularly assigned duties. I will meet with our commanders and get a list of potential candidates to replace Fox and Parl so we can begin interviews. Have someone call the General Assembly together on three-hundred in half an hour. Dismissed.”
She planned on addressing Topher next, but Major Kristoff called out to her first, looking sheepish as he asked for a private word. Topher and Gareth tensed marginally but Jessamine waved them away and stepped to the side with Kristoff.
“Yes, Major?” she began, alert for signs of treachery.
Kristoff dropped to one knee before her and bowed his head.
“Excellency, I want to apologize personally to you for not seeing my friends for what they truly were.” He looked ashamed, rubbing his eyes with one hand and blinking before looking up at her. “I knew Fox and Parl disagreed with some of the Viceroy’s policies, but I never thought they would act out on it. I want to assure you of my full support, now more than ever. Someday I hope you can forgive me for not seeing Parl and Fox for the snak
es they were.”
Jessamine hadn’t expected this at all, especially from the typically arrogant Kristoff. She swallowed a lump of emotion at the idea that maybe she could use this tragedy to consolidate her rule more firmly and bring about change even in the upper-echelons of the government.
“Thank you, Kristoff. I will not judge you by the actions of others. If you continue to serve me well, whether you agree with my policies or not, then let us put this behind us.”
“Excellency.” Kristoff inclined his head once more and then rose to his feet, saluting her before walking off.
She stopped Topher before he could get away and pulled him to the side.
“Kristoff sucking up already?” he asked benignly, eyes following his peer out of the room.
“He was apologizing, actually, for not realizing what snakes his friends were,” Jessamine corrected. “I know you haven’t gotten along in the past, but he seems contrite, and I need every ally I can get.”
Topher nodded.
“I hope you know you also have my special gratitude for your role in saving my life, though I couldn’t say it in front of the group without showing your hand. I will also add a medal to your—”
“I don’t need a medal, Excellency, nor do you need to express your gratitude at me doing my job. I serve at your pleasure.”
Jessamine frowned at the formality and coldness, though she had asked him to be less casual with her in public.
Damn it, I hate this.
“Thank you, Major, that is all. I need to speak to my sister now.”
“As do I, Vicereine-elect. You tasked me with training her.” Topher walked alongside her, clearly displeased with his assignment but determined to do his best at it anyway.
Poor, wonderful Topher. She would make amends with him soon and everything would be alright. They were only tense because of the tragic death of her father, and everything else that had followed.
Things will get better soon. They have to.
“Shellina,” she greeted her sister properly at last. “I am glad to see you are well.”
Shellina jumped up and threw her arms around her, and Jessamine allowed the hug, swallowing a lump of emotion at the first physical sign of affection from anyone since this whole mess started.
“I was so worried about you when we heard you were missing; I feared the worst. But I should have known you would make it out—and however did you get off the top floor, anyway?—but Father was dead and you were gone and I didn’t know what to make of things. And then all these people wanted things from me and I didn’t understand what—”
“It’s okay, Shellina, it’s alright,” she cut her sister off before she could ramble on for hours. “Father and I didn’t insist on your education and involvement in matters of government, which was a mistake on our part. You’re going to have a lot of tutors now: Major Topher, Ground-Leader Skye, Assemblyman Harold, and whoever else I can drum up with knowledge and experience to help you catch up.”
Shellina smiled and said, “You’re going to help me too, Topher? Oh, thank you so much! I promise I’ll do my best and study hard and—”
“In the meantime, I have other important work for you as well,” Jessamine continued, taking a breath and preparing to cut the last of her ties to happiness.
Forward momentum. No more hiding.
“Oh?” Shellina asked curiously.
“I intend to marry Darius in two months, and I’ll need your help planning the wedding. We both know I’m hopeless at these things, and you excel at them.”
Darius looked surprised by this advanced timeline, but did nothing to argue it. Topher looked…blank.
Shellina squealed in delight.
“Oh, hurray! Of course I’ll plan everything for you—I’d already started before you left. But lord above, only two months? I’ll have to use all the influence I have to get coordinators lined up by then. Oh, you can count on me! It’ll be perfect!”
“I trust you,” Jessamine said with a smile she didn’t feel. It was hard to be excited about cementing her bond to a man she was apathetic about at best, but more than ever she needed to bring stability and continuity to the government, and that meant marrying and reproducing.
“Well, I must go see Hanna now. Major Topher, would you like to join me?” If anyone had a right to come with her right now it was Topher, and as miserable as she was, Jessamine still wanted to spend time with him.
“No thank you, Excellency. I would prefer to begin my work with the Vicerina, but please convey my hopes for a speedy recovery to your personal assistant.”
Jessamine’s heart sank at the rejection, but all she said was, “Thank you, Major, I will do so.”
And with that, she walked away from the man she loved, the life she used to have, and her old wild dreams of happiness and freedom, leaving it all behind her as she went to catch the elevator.
Alone.
6
Carl Vucanis
Carl slumped against the headboard, closing his eyes and trying to conjure up enough willpower to finish his homework. It was hard to focus on anything of substance with all of noise outside his room these days.
Two weeks after curfew had officially been lifted, the Gifted were still celebrating their newfound freedom. Since loud parties in the dormitories were still against Academy rules after nine o’clock, Carl’s peers in Deco-Reco had taken to starting their festivities during the middle of the day and wrapping up before the Quiet Hours. He couldn’t really blame them for celebrating their new Vicereine—who had officially been sworn in just last week—and had even attended a few parties around campus himself, but right now his heart wasn’t in it.
I still haven’t heard back from the Provo-Minor about my interview.
Jessamine had told him she would do what she could to get him past the chemical interrogations, but that was when she thought her father was still ruling the planet. Now it wasn’t his military, it was hers, and the fact that he hadn’t been called on yet by the Minors for a second interview didn’t seem to bode well for his chances.
Had she already spoken to them about Carl’s application and iced him out? Or had he simply dropped off of Jessamine’s radar as soon as she returned to the Augenspire, never to be thought of again?
Not that I can blame her for forgetting about me. It’s not like she has nothing else to do.
He couldn’t imagine how much work was involved in assuming control of an entire planet, not even factoring in the time and effort she was going to have to expend rooting out traitors and establishing herself as a strong leader within her own government. Then there was the wedding to Darius Hamish coming up in a matter of weeks…
No wonder she had no time to focus on staffing in the lower levels of her military.
But even without her interference, I would have expected to hear back from the Minors I interviewed with by now if I had done well.
Carl sighed and closed his textbook, abandoning the pretense of doing anything productive tonight. It would be the second unfinished homework assignment in a matter of days, but it was impossible to care about classes with everything else going on. Had he known the Viceroy was about to be murdered by a treasonous plot within the government, would he have even applied to become a Ground-Captain?
Well, yes, probably. In some ways it made the job more exciting. Aside from people hating him because he was Gifted, there would now be the added mystery of whether any of the people he was working with were plotting an assassination attempt against their new Vicereine.
There must be something wrong with me if I want to be involved in the politics and corruption of government.
He certainly didn’t want Jessamine to be murdered, and what better way to assist her than by gathering intel from within the military itself? They could be allies.
It’s the first time in centuries we’ve had a leader who isn’t set on punishing us just for existing, Carl ran a hand through his hair. There has to be something I can do to help her.
Major Topher would doubtless have her personal security taken care of, little though Carl liked to admit it. He had never actually met the man, but between everything he’d heard from Hera, and knowing Risa had been messed up for the last ten years about him going away to work for the enemy, Carl had a pretty solid dislike of the Major.
If not for him, Risa wouldn’t be so angry at the thought of me joining the military, and she probably would never have joined the resistance and spent half her life brooding over her long-lost love.
It was only eight-thirty, but Carl contemplated calling it a night and going to bed. Even with curfew lifted he had nowhere to go, as he had stopped attending Hera’s meetings when he decided to apply for a post with the Augenspire.
The knock on the door came just as he was getting up to change into his pajamas. Assuming it was one of his floor-mates wanting him to come out and join in their festivities, he answered the door in mild annoyance.
“I’m not intere—Minor. I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else,” he amended rapidly, stunned by the presence of the Provo-Minor standing outside his room. The dark-skinned man had almond-shaped eyes and slicked-back hair, his black robes draped around him and touching the floor. He pursed his lips at the noise emanating from further down the hall, near the lobby and the elevators.
“Applicant Vucanis?” he asked in a no-nonsense tone of voice. He obviously didn’t enjoy being in a building full of Gifted.
“Yes, that’s me,” Carl stood up straighter and tried to look competent and authoritative, thankful he hadn’t already changed into his pajamas for the night. Was the man here to give him an update on his application status or arrest him?
If he was arresting me, he would have brought backup.
“Your presence has been requested at the Augenspire. I am to escort you.”
“Right now?” Carl raised his eyebrows in surprise. If he knew he was going to have another interview tonight, he would have definitely showered and tried to neaten himself up.