by Drew Avera
Etan smiled politely and shifted his weight to his other leg. "You know, we've lost three members of the council in less than a week's time. Some would say that we don't need as many councilmembers as we have, that our bloated ranks make us less efficient, but I don't see it that way."
"No?" I shoved my hands in my pockets and pulled my coat tighter around me. This high up, the wind whipped from the air circulating system. Some said it was a reminder of what wind on Earth felt like, but I had no idea if that could be true. Earth, most of the time, seemed more like a fantasy world than reality.
"We have our faults obviously, but we can do a lot of good if we worked together." Etan paused and glanced to his right where Pollux stood stoically like a statue in the shadows. "I'm sure your mind is racing with questions right now."
"You're right about that. Too many to put into words if I'm being honest," I said. "This week has taught me that the world isn't how I thought it was."
Etan rested a hand on my shoulder. "I would be lying if I said I did not feel the same way. If not for Cherum coming to me, and his untimely death, I would not have put the pieces together for Tetrim's conspiracy. I didn't want to believe it, but when he agreed to my ‘deal,' then I knew it was true. I had to do something."
"Tetrim was right, though. Your recording was far from an admission of guilt. He said nothing about conspiring to do anything. That would not have stood as evidence in any court, regardless of how corrupt it was."
"No, but Tetrim was always a man who acted out more than speaking out. For those that knew him, it proved his guilt. Hence, justice was served." Etan cleared his throat as we looked over the edge of the building together. Somewhere down below was where Cherum's body had been sprawled out in a pool of blood. Now, it was as if it never happened. Not even a blood stain on the sidewalk.
"Why did you summon me here?" I asked after a long silence.
"We need a new pontiff for the World Council and I want you to take the position." He said.
I did a double-take to see if he was serious. "Are you kidding me? Why would I want to serve the same organization that took everything from me?" I faced him squarely now, defensive. I half-expected Pollux to approach, but he stood as still as night.
"I'm not kidding you at all, but the World Council had little to do with Marada's death. That was all Tetrim's scheme. Everyone I know loved her, even if she could be difficult to work with when she was passionate about something on the other side of the aisle. But I would want twenty more just like her if I could have them. She cared about Mars and its future. I think your service would honor that. Don't you?"
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Do you know what you're asking me? The pontiff is a useless position. It's a figurehead for the common person, with no authority of the Council at all. I would sit there with my hands tied."
"You would sit there as a skeptic, analyzing the behavior of other members to ensure something like what happened to Marada doesn't happen again."
I scoffed. "How am I supposed to do that? People will undercut you to act behind your back. Most people don't wear their sinister plans on their sleeves."
Etan nodded. "You'll have him," he said, pointing at Pollux. "The World Council is overdue for an overhaul. It's time we rebranded ourselves as a force greater than the impotent diplomacy we try and govern behind. It is a useless tool in today's society, as you've seen."
"Without diplomacy, then how will anyone have rights when the government goes in a direction they don't agree with? It sounds to me like you want a dictatorship. Are we trading one form of tyranny for another?" I asked. My heart rate quickened, and I felt nauseous. I hated what I heard coming from his lips, but what I hated more was seeing his point and not finding a suitable argument.
"Power unchecked would be a dictatorship, Halem. But I'm offering something else."
"What is that?" I asked skeptically.
"The authority to be the great equalizer. With the Agency as your tool, our new, syndicated form of government will not go unchecked or unbalanced."
I looked to Pollux and asked, "Do you hear this?"
He nodded.
"I've already cleared it. The Agency will continue under Pollux's leadership, the Guard will disband, and we will move forward."
"That's a lot of changes in only two days," I said, thinking back to the person I was when I was seconds from blowing Tetrim's brains out all over the World Council stage.
"Necessary changes nonetheless. So, will you take the position and help right the ship? We need honest men willing to do the hard things for the right reasons if Mars stands a chance as we shift into the next phase of our future."
Etan offered me the world in many regards, but I was not convinced that this new direction was what Marada would have wanted.
"You say my service would be in honor of Marada, but she opposed the artificial atmosphere project. If you're moving forward with it, then how is that honoring her?"
Etan exhaled loudly and turned to face me. "Marada was difficult. She would oppose anyone in the room to make her point heard, but she was very much in support of a better future for Mars. She cast her ballot in support of the project before the gala. She wasn't stupid and fighting the tide would be a losing battle. Unfortunately, her vote was not counted until after her untimely death. I'm sorry to say."
It felt like the air was knocked out of me. "Oh my god," I said, my voice shaky. "She was killed for nothing."
Etan nodded. "I didn't want to tell you, but you need to know. Transparency is the only way to build trust. This is me extending the olive branch to you on behalf of the World Council. We would never have condoned what happened, but your loss is because of our unbalanced system. Hopefully, you can help us restore it."
I lost control and threw up a little. It wasn't just his words, but the memories dredged up, and the effects of the pain medication. After spitting the acidic fluid from my mouth, I wiped my lips with my sleeve.
"Are you all right?" Etan asked.
I nodded. "If I take the position, who am I responsible to?"
"Me, at least for now. I'm assuming direct authority over the Council during this time. It has been severely lacking in the leadership department. I aim to correct those deficiencies."
"Who will you work for?" I asked as I eyed Pollux warily. It was hard not to distrust a member of the Agency. Days before I was their target. At least until Pollux's alliance shifted in my favor.
"You," he answered.
Surprised, I glanced back at Etan.
"There's something else you should know," Etan said. "When I left the stage, I immediately contacted Pollux to dissolve his contract with Tetrim. You may think it was his conscience that led him to kill Tetrim, but I ordered the hit before you arrived."
"Why are you telling me this now?" I asked.
"Because if you work with me, I don't want to keep you in the dark. I'll answer your questions and not lie to you about the cold truth of what it is we will have to do to move out of this dome and out onto the Martian landscape. I also think you deserve to know, as the potential pontiff, that the Agency is loyal to the Council, not an individual."
"Makes sense," I said. I closed my eyes and tried to settle down with the idea of what he was asking of me. This would be a different life from the one I knew, but that would be true regardless of what I did. At least this way I would be able to do some good.
"Are you interested?" Etan asked after a pause.
I opened my eyes, looked up at him and nodded. "I'll do it."
Author’s Note
Rise of the Syndicate is based in the Dead Planet universe. The Dead Planet series is the first series I created beginning in 2012. Once I finished the trilogy, I had no idea there would be more stories to tell in Archea, but I’m glad it wasn’t over.
While deployed on the USS Harry S. Truman in 2015/2016, I had the initial idea to write a short story called “The Syndicate”. The plan was to write a 10-20,000 word stor
y which I began with the opening chapters of this book. Unfortunately, after Castor completes his mission, I didn’t know where I wanted to go with it. So, the story sat on my hard drive for two years before I dusted it off.
Rise of the Syndicate is more than the completion of a story I began while floating in the Persian Gulf. This book is a victory lap after I contemplated giving up my writing career after a bout with stress and depression. I became a writer to tell stories, and it is a part of me now that isn’t easy to let go. On the brink of giving up, I found inspiration within the writing community that I’m a part of. I’m extremely thankful for those friends who encouraged me to push forward. I’m thankful for you too, for taking a chance on me and reading this book. I genuinely hope you enjoyed it.
What does the future hold for the Syndicate? Outside of the Dead Planet trilogy, I plan to write more books in this universe predating my original series. I have the next book planned out, also based on a short story written years ago.
In short, I don’t think I have quit in me. I may have felt down a few months ago, but I’m pumped to tell more stories and explore new worlds. I hope you’ll come with me!
If you haven’t read Dead Planet yet, then grab the box set today!
The Dead Planet Series: www.drewavera.com/deadplanet
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Acknowledgments
Writing is a very solitary endeavor. Fortunately, I have a great team of people who help me see past what I thought I wrote in order to present a better story to readers. Thank you, Gary, Allen, and Dione, for reading an early draft of this book and helping me fix the mistakes.
I would be remiss to not mention my excellent cover designer. Thank you, Tiffany, for making a great cover that matched my vision for what Archea looks like in my head. Visit her site at www.darkmatterbookcovers.com
About Drew Avera
Drew Avera is a Navy veteran and the bestselling author of The Alorian Wars. He grew up in Mississippi and enlisted in the Navy at seventeen. From there, he received training as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate and has deployed four times in support of operations in the Persian Gulf. Drew began his writing career in 2012 and has published more than twenty books since, mostly in the space opera and cyberpunk genres, both of which inspire his music production as well. When not writing, or creating music, Drew spends his time with his family in Virginia. You can learn more about Drew, and sign up for email updates, by visiting www.drewavera.com.
Also by Drew Avera
The Alorian Wars
Broken Worlds
Deadly Refuge
Mutiny Rising
Shadow Empire
Regime Change
Darker Waters
Orbital Decay: An Alorian Wars Prequel
The Dead Planet Series
Dead Planet: The Complete Dead Planet Series
The Prospect: A Dead Planet Series Prequel
The Policeman: A Dead Planet Short Story