“Tell me,” Jerrapo asked simply.
So Andie began to tell her of Casey’s involvement in responding to things that didn’t seem to pertain much to being an ambassador. “It’s always the same though,” she explained. “He is always working with the Armada and it always involves the Brotherhood. He was directly involved with the questioning of the man they captured the night of the Bastalt Prison break, Jerrapo. He’s not an Armada officer anymore. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“I will have to trust you on that, Andie,” replied Jerrapo with a shrug. “I do not know anything about how the Armada works. What do you think is going on?”
“Casey knows too much about the Brotherhood, Jerrapo. The Armada knows too much. How exactly did they find out about this mark, for example? How come the Oman hasn’t figured out what we track and sent somebody without this mark into the Complex?”
“Maybe Eshude just is not that smart,” offered Jerrapo.
“Maybe. I thought I was just imagining things, that there were good answers to all of these questions. Last week something changed my mind.”
“When the CPF’s armory was destroyed by the Brotherhood? That was horrible! The CPF is supposed to have the best security on the planet, excepting the Armada.”
“That’s it exactly. Casey was part of the investigation once again. He told me something when he got home that had not been made public. The security had been compromised by a focused gamma burst before the building was bombed. All the electronics had been useless.” She watched Jerrapo’s eyes for any sign of comprehension but Jerrapo was frowning at the sidewalk. She obviously hadn’t made the connection. Hardly anybody probably would. She stopped walking and turned to face Jerrapo directly. “There is a weapon using a focused gamma burst. It’s nicknamed The Ripper by the Armada soldiers, Jerrapo. It’s what we used to destroy Kruunde Fortress.”
Jerrapo’s eyes widened. “Nobody on Corizen has that technology, Andie. Only the Armada does.”
“Exactly. As I see it, either someone in the Brotherhood has developed the technology all on their own, or they were given it by the Armada.” She swallowed hard. “I can’t believe Casey is involved in this, Jerrapo. Casey would never hand power to terrorists. But surely he has to have made the same connections I have. What is the Armada doing? Or does the Brotherhood have someone inside the Armada, and that is what Casey is really investigating?”
Jerrapo considered all of this silently. “So are you telling me this because I am your friend or because you want me to do something about it? If the Armada is supporting the Brotherhood I need to act, Andie.”
“I don’t want you to do anything yet, Jerrapo! We could really wreck something important Casey is working on just because of my own imagination.” Andie suddenly regretted having confided in Jerrapo. She should have known that a woman who had given up her Royal caste and life for Corizen’s new government could hardly listen to this and not do something.
“But this is something that could bring down our whole government. Perhaps there are Citizens who are engineering it for just that reason. Maybe the Union wants to swallow up Corizen,” Jerrapo responded coldly. The two women stared at each other for a moment in silence. Then Jerrapo thawed suddenly and hugged Andie. “See how easy it is for all of those old prejudices to return? I only have to think of the Union as trying to control my planet and I get suspicious of one of my closest friends. I am sorry.”
Andie hugged her back. “I’m just worried, Jerrapo. I don’t know what to do. I can’t talk to Casey about it. He refuses to discuss it at all since it’s classified information. But I’m so worried about him that I just don’t know what to do.”
“Well, let’s not do anything yet. Just keep your eyes and ears open, and I will do a little careful searching with my own contacts. Perhaps we can figure out if the Armada is really supporting the Brotherhood,” Jerrapo suggested. “Though if they are, there will be hell to pay,” she added fiercely.
“Thank you, Jerrapo.” Andie glanced at her watch and gasped in surprise. “I’ve got to go. I’m supposed to help Kendra with a project tonight.”
Jerrapo smiled. “Thanks for lunch. We should do it a bit more often, Andie.” She continued a bit more seriously. “And take care of yourself, my dear friend. May Veshti preserve you from the Brotherhood.”
“And you, Jerrapo.”
4. Tiran and Markus
On any other day during this time of year, Tiran would have been holed up in the library, reading another novel in the warmth of her favorite building in the International Complex. Today was more like spring than winter, however, and Tiran was taking advantage of the comparatively balmy weather to walk the grounds. The sun was shining and the only snow left was a small patch here or there in the shade. Yet it was still cool enough that the grounds were almost deserted, and Tiran didn’t have to worry about running into anyone. Tiran didn’t mind being around people, but it was so much easier to dream without other people reminding her of where she really was. Life in the International Complex was utterly monotonous, and Tiran’s regular way to escape that was through daydreams.
All her life, Tiran had been such an average person. She had done well enough in school, but she wasn’t brilliant. She had friends in the Complex growing up, but she had never been popular, or even truly close to any of the other kids. Even her looks were pretty unremarkable. She was about average height for her planet, though she was now somewhat taller than her mother. She had a smooth oval face, delicately arched eyebrows, and especially expressive eyes, but she didn’t give much weight to them. All these things helped her to blend in with the crowd. The only thing that set her apart was her skin color. All Denicorizens had blue-tinted skin, yet Tiran’s skin was a few shades lighter than most others, courtesy of having a Citizen mother.
However, in her dreams, things were entirely different. She was brave, she was smart, she was resourceful, and most of all, she was beautiful. Her mother’s stories of her life on Zenith and her part in the Revolution fascinated Tiran. It must have been so scary yet thrilling to be kidnapped and taken to another planet. The way her parents had met had been so romantic, too. To top it all off, then her mother had reunited by chance with her old childhood friend and married him! It made Tiran sigh with envy. Her mother’s life had been so exciting, and Tiran’s life had been so simple and ordinary.
Sometimes she wondered if she could just get away from the International Complex, things might liven up a bit. Her favorite novels were the Denicorizen adventure stories about people who escaped treacherous villains and found fabulous treasures hidden in the Blue Plains or the Ural Mountains. Even if she could just get away and travel a bit, life would be that much more interesting. Maybe she would even have a chance to have some romance of her own in her life. Tiran sighed heavily. Her mother would never let her go anywhere. Everything was always about secrets and about being safe, especially lately. Her mother was driving her crazy with the constant reminders not to leave the Complex and to never tell anyone that Laeren Bruche was her real father. Tiran kicked at a paving stone rebelliously. She wasn’t stupid, no matter what her mother thought. Yet just for once, she wished she could tell people who her parents really were. Just to see the look on their faces.
Tiran’s gloomy thoughts were interrupted by the sight of her cousin Kendra. Tiran watched Kendra’s approach while stifling a sigh of envy. Kendra didn’t have to worry about looking average. She was a Citizen, of course, and as light as Tiran’s mother, but it was more than that. Kendra was one of the most striking girls Tiran had ever seen. She had waist-length blond hair and turquoise eyes and simply seemed to glow with happiness (the image of Aunt Jenna, her mother always said). When Kendra had come to study at the International University, at first Tiran had felt awkward around her and a little envious. However, Kendra was so friendly and considerate that any negative feelings had quickly disappeared. Despite their differences, she had qui
ckly become Tiran’s closest friend during the last five months, and it was Kendra to whom Tiran confided everything.
“Tiran!” Kendra exclaimed breathlessly as she finally reached her cousin. “I have been looking for you everywhere! Have you heard what happened?” Kendra nearly slid and fell on a patch of ice in front of Tiran. Tiran reached out and grabbed Kendra to steady her. Kendra gasped for breath for a minute. “Sorry,” she panted. “I’ve been racing around, trying to find you. You won’t believe it—Morek-Li Damato was assassinated!”
“What? You can’t be serious!” Tiran looked around them in fear. Things had not been really safe in Roma for a while now, not since the Brotherhood had taken over the Bastalt Prison and let some of the prisoners go. Some parts of Roma were downright scary, and many people didn’t go anywhere at night anymore. Yet President Damato had had the top security. He had been supposedly as safe as those living in the International Complex under Armada protection. If he had been killed, anyone could be.
“What happened?” Tiran asked in a hushed tone.
“A bomb in his transport. He was heading from his house to a Congress session. Everyone is saying that the Brotherhood did it.”
“The lousy Brotherhood. I don’t understand them,” muttered Tiran. “Why do they have to go around killing people?”
“But how bad is it going to be now? Bad enough that my parents will want me to come home?” Kendra asked worriedly. Tiran thought for a moment, and as they started back home, they discussed it for awhile. The violence in Roma wasn’t all that real to them yet, and mostly they wondered how it would affect their own lives. Deep down, Tiran actually felt a flutter of excitement at all the danger. She would never admit it, and she was horridly ashamed of it when someone had just been killed, but still, it was something exciting and different. Part of her actually enjoyed her shivers of fear, probably because she really didn’t feel she was in danger personally. Still, she hoped that her father was going to be home tonight.
When they reached the Ambassador House on the other side of the Complex, everything was dark. Tiran pressed her thumb to the pad by the door and pulled it open. The house was silent and empty. “Aunt Andie must be out,” Kendra noted.
“I wonder if she’s heard the news. My mom knew President Damato,” Tiran remembered. “She’s not going to take this well.”
The girls fixed themselves some dinner and then discussed their plans for the evening. It was terrible about President Damato, but still, life had to go on.
“I have a paper to research,” Kendra told Tiran. “Do you want to head to the library with me?”
“OK,” Tiran said brightly. “Maybe Markus will be working tonight.”
“Ohhhh, Markus. You really sound like you like him, Tiran.”
“I don’t! Not like that. He’s just so friendly and so much fun to talk to,” protested Tiran. In spite of her protests, she could feel the heat darkening her cheeks. Hopefully, Kendra wouldn’t notice.
“Yeah, right,” Kendra doubted, rolling her eyes. “That’s why you always want to go to the library in the evening. Just to help me with my homework, right?”
“Oh, come on, Kendra, he’s old enough to be my father,” Tiran defended.
“You’re right about that! Too old for me, no matter how nice he is. Well, wait here for a sec, and I’ll go get my backpack.” Tiran waited for Kendra, and the two girls bundled up and left the house for the short walk to the campus library.
♦
Despite all her protesting, Tiran had butterflies in her stomach as she left Kendra at the research terminal stations and headed for the stacks of musty old books. Markus was one of the night attendants at the library, and at this hour, he was probably shelving and straightening books. There was just something about the way Markus acted that made Tiran feel so comfortable. She loved to talk to him. He was so friendly, and always so happy to see her. Tiran knew that many of the other young students at the University felt the same way. Many evenings she would find Markus engaged in lively conversation with one or two other students. One other young woman, probably a few years older than Tiran, came so frequently that Tiran was sure she had a crush on Markus. But Markus was the same friendly person to everyone. She could hardly explain what it was, but something about him just drew her to him, like a magnetic attraction. She didn’t know why, but she looked forward to seeing him every time she came into the library.
She wasn’t disappointed tonight. He was talking to a young man Tiran vaguely recognized as he shelved books from a cart. He was cute enough for an old guy, she thought. He was very tall and had strong chiseled features that were softened by dimples that showed when he smiled. His eyes were a merry brown, crinkled at the corners. His brown hair was a bit gray at the temples, but she thought it only made him look more distinguished. If I were his age, I would think him really handsome, she decided.
He saw her as she came up the aisle, and he grinned broadly. “Look who it is! Where have you been, Tiran? I have not seen you in ages,” he greeted her, his pleasure evident.
“This is Jed,” he introduced. Tiran inclined her head formally, and the boy returned it, a bit shortly.
“So, Markus, I was saying, what do you think of my plans? Should I quit the University and strike it out on my own? Maybe go to Urok?” Jed asked hopefully. Even Tiran could see how eager Jed was for Markus’ approval. Just like me, she thought with a smile. How does he do it?
“I think that depends on what you want to do. The University is a great place to get an education. Yet if you want some practical experience, going out on your own is the best way to do it, and I would always recommend Urok. It is simply beautiful out there.”
“Did you live near the Plains, Markus?” asked Tiran enthusiastically.
“I used to live right in the middle of them when I was younger.”
“Is it true that nothing grows on them—not even weeds?”
“Oh, yes. Nothing grows there at all, but when you have stood on them under the moonlit sky, you see the beauty of the vast Plains. They are silent and empty, true, but it is the perfect place to meditate and get a glimpse of the greatness of the universe.”
Tiran sighed in envy at Markus’ description. “It does sound perfect—a great place to get away and have some peace,” she agreed.
“I wish I could take you there. You would love it,” Markus told her, a bit wistfully.
“Well, I think I will go to Urok,” broke in Jed, a bit sullenly. “Markus? Where should I go in Urok?”
Just then, the night librarian came around the corner. “There you are, Markus. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I need your help with something,” he said, a bit impatiently.
Markus waved good-bye at Jed and then beckoned to Tiran. “I’m off early tonight. Do you want to have a drink with me?”
Tiran laughed, a bit nervously. “I can’t exactly go into a bar, Markus. I’m not old enough yet.”
“Well, a chocolate then. We can meet in the University Cafe at eight,” he coaxed.
“Oh, OK. As long as I don’t stay too long, it should be fine.”
♦
Tiran sipped her hot chocolate cautiously. “I didn’t realize that the Cafe had such good chocolate,” she mentioned a little lamely. She was a bit uncomfortable in this situation. It was too much like a date.
“Haven’t you been to the café before now?” he asked in surprise.
“Actually, I haven’t,” she confessed.
“Where else do you eat? Just in the cafeteria all the time?”
“Oh, no, I eat at home. Every once in a while I grab a snack in the lounge, but that’s it, really.” Slowly she started to relax in her chair. It was just as easy to talk to Markus here as in the library.
“I did not realize the dormitories had kitchens. You must like cooking.”
“Oh . . . well,” she hesitated, “I d
on’t live in the dorms. I’m not actually a student at the University.”
“Really? I had no idea! I thought for sure you were one of the more mature first year students.”
“No.” Tiran blushed at the compliment. “I have a private tutor right now. I haven’t taken the entrance exams yet. I still live at home. My parents have a house here in the Complex.”
“Well, that must be nice. You live in a very safe place then. How long have you lived here?”
“Ever since it was built. I was really young then, so the Complex is pretty much all I know,” she explained, a bit embarrassed at her lack of experience.
“I think that is wonderful!” said Markus warmly. “What a nice place to grow up! I love working here in the Complex. It has such a sense of complete detachment from the rest of Roma.” Tiran thought about that for a moment. Of course, he thought that she was sheltered. She really didn’t know anything at all about Roma outside her small protected world, and to someone as experienced as Markus, she must often seem so naive. She would have given the world at that moment to be a sophisticated woman who had traveled, just like in her daydreams. However, Markus soon reassured her.
“It is so refreshing to meet someone like you, Tiran. You are so quiet, it was hard to get to know you, but truly you are an extraordinary girl. I enjoy our time together so much,” he flattered.
Tiran could feel the heat burning her cheeks. “I’m just a normal girl, Markus,” she protested.
Markus quickly changed the subject, and Tiran soon found herself chatting unreservedly with him. She told him about her early childhood in the brand new Complex and the only half-remembered visit off-planet to Zenith in her childhood. The time flew by so quickly that when the cafe started to close, she was startled. “We’ve been here for three hours! I can’t believe it!”
Corizen Rising Page 4