by Eva Brandt
But this was the sacrifice every Chimera Warrior had to make. She might not have known about it beforehand, but it was too late to turn back. Would a woman be able to handle that burden? I didn’t think so, but I’d give her the benefit of the doubt.
I didn’t trust women, but I did trust chimeras, and if the Sphinx had chosen Selene, there had to be something special about this girl.
Seconds later, the ground shook as both the Sphinx and my Cerberus landed outside. The Sphinx wasn’t very happy with the treatment her tamer had received. The tent flew upwards in a rush of chimera power that made General Rhodes hiss in discomfort.
Selene pulled away, her strength returning with the arrival of her chimera. She straightened her back, now completely composed once again. “There you go, General Rhodes. I’ve summoned the Sphinx.”
“I can see that,” he replied. “It would seem that Flight Lieutenant Alexander’s first report was correct and we must act accordingly.”
Those cryptic words gave me a bad feeling, but before he could elaborate, one of the LCHRPs—the Zephyrus—flew up to us. Next to the Sphinx, the harpy model looked fragile, almost breakable, like a child’s plaything. “Sir, the Priestesses of Gaia have arrived,” her pilot reported from inside.
General Rhodes grimaced, an uncharacteristic lapse for someone as politically experienced as he was. “Thank you, Flight Lieutenant Glass,” he said as he tugged on the collar of his uniform. “I’ll speak with them at once.”
It was a dismissal, but the pilot didn’t immediately fly away. The eyes of the smaller chimera zeroed in on me and Selene.
It was stupid, especially with our two mechas right there, but even from the distance, I could feel the hostility of the other tamer.
I waved at him mockingly and said, “Run along now, Jared. You’re not necessary here.”
Jared said nothing, but I knew that whatever had crawled up his ass today would make him approach me later. The pilots of the harpies didn’t like the Grand Chimera Unit much, and Jared was no different. He and his cousin Vincent had been among the candidates for the Scylla and the Charybdis before Pollux and August had come along, blowing everyone out of the water. Jared and Vincent had ended up as pilots in the Lower Chimera Unit, and they were still bitter about it.
The Zephyrus didn’t leave, but I lost interest in it anyway. Another harpy—the Ocypete—headed toward us, accompanying the group of Gaia priestesses Jared had just mentioned. Their bodies were surrounded by the unfamiliar glow of Gaia’s magic, so intense the harpy’s glow was diminished.
Most of the priestesses wore hoods, as was their habit in public. The sole exception was their leader, the beautiful dark-haired woman now stalking toward us. Her eyes glinted with the blue-green powers of Gaia and she looked as pissed and dangerous as a wrathful Cerberus. “Selene, what in the world are you doing here?”
By my side, Selene gulped. “Hello, Mother. Would you believe it if I told you I’ve just become a chimera tamer?”
High Priestess Tanya Renard shot her daughter a look of disbelief. Then, she looked at me, and I realized I was still holding onto Selene.
“A chimera tamer,” she repeated. “I see. I think we should discuss this somewhere private.”
“I concur, High Priestess,” General Rhodes said. “I was just about to lead your daughter to the tribunal. If you’ll follow us, arrangements can be made to clarify the situation.”
Selene’s mother nodded curtly. “Agreed.”
“Flight Lieutenant Glass, coordinate the final clean up operations here,” General Rhodes ordered. “Flight Lieutenant Argyle, you’re with me.”
The pilot of the second harpy jumped at the chance to do the general’s bidding. Meanwhile, I was left standing in the center of the base, fuming. That was what I got for trying to help out a fellow Chimera Warrior. It didn’t surprise me that the old man would choose to lash out at me like this, but it was still irritating.
Maybe it was for the best. I was tired, cranky, and not in the mood for administrative operations.
Normally, when I felt like this, I would have taken some random whore to my bed. Since that wasn’t possible, I returned to the Cerberus and activated the long distance coms, choosing one of the frequencies I used most often.
Within seconds, the call connected and Brendan’s face popped up on my screen. He looked irritated, not that anyone else but me and the others would’ve been able to tell. His face was completely blank, his green eyes as sharp as his chimera’s fangs. A few strands of blond hair fell around his cheekbones and that alone was alarming, since he always kept his wild locks carefully tamed.
He must’ve had one of his famous fights with his father. A distraction would serve him well.
“You’d never believe what just happened, Brendan,” I told him. “The Sphinx has a pilot now.”
Brendan blinked and paused, the only sign that he was surprised. “A pilot? Don’t tell me it’s a Terran. They paraded everyone from the Tartarus Space Force in front of it and it remained dormant.”
I wanted to let him stew in his curiosity a little, but I didn’t have the patience. “It gets better. The pilot is also a woman.”
For the first time in years, I was greeted with the sight of my longtime friend and lover gaping in shock. Despite the strangeness of the situation, I laughed.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to have Selene Renard around. If things turned out the way I thought they would, she’d certainly make the classes at Chimera Academy more interesting.
The Journey Begins
Selene
The New Washington Tribunal of The Grand Judiciary wasn’t very far from the plaza where the chimera display had been set up. Even so, it had survived unscathed, kept safe by a set of shields fed by unique, Tartarus energy.
I’d never been here before, since it was another place where women weren’t allowed to go. As we stepped into the building, I looked around and couldn’t help but be disappointed.
For something I’d been so curious about all my life, the tribunal was bland and small. I supposed that made sense. The Grand Tribunal was located on Tartarus Base, of course, and the embassies that existed in every major city weren’t used a lot. A larger building would’ve been a waste of resources we couldn’t afford.
Everyone regretted that very much when we entered the main meeting room of the tribunal. Between the entourage of the general and my mother’s inner circle, we barely fit inside.
Or maybe that was just my impression because of the tension between General Rhodes and my mother.
“My daughter isn’t under your authority, General,” my mother said without preamble. “You can’t push her around as you see fit. She is first and foremost a child of Gaia.”
“That may well be, but she also has to follow the laws of The Grand Judiciary. She accepted the responsibility of being a chimera tamer and that comes with a price.”
“I didn’t agree to any of that. I’m her mother.”
“You don’t have to agree to it. It was her choice. If it wasn’t one she was supposed to make and she is not of age, she will become a ward of The Grand Judiciary.”
Okay, this was seriously getting out of hand. I hadn’t realized me being the pilot of the Sphinx would be such a problem. I’d known I’d get in trouble for the events today, but no one seemed to care that I’d broken the rules and come to the plaza. And yet, the general was talking about The Grand Judiciary taking custody of me? This was crazy.
Yes, they were officially the central government of the planet, but they didn’t really get involved in the affairs of the people on Earth. Those duties were assigned to High Priestesses like my mother. The Grand Judiciary focused on the military, whereas we organized administrative affairs and provided supplies. That had been our system for hundreds of years. And while I was grateful for The Grand Judiciary’s protection of our planet, I had no desire to become their ward.
“I’m of age,” I blurted out. “This was my decision and I stand to it.�
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“That’s admirable, Ms. Renard,” General Rhodes replied, “but you can’t just become a chimera tamer in the blink of an eye. Take Flight Lieutenant Alexander. He trained for ten years before he was considered as an appropriate fit for the Cerberus and they were introduced. You’re a clear anomaly.
“We cannot deny the Sphinx’s choice, but at the same time, giving an untrained woman a Grand Chimera would be folly.”
He said the words ‘untrained woman’ like they were an insult, not a simple truth. I didn’t flinch, but I came very close. “And what do you suggest, Sir?”
“There is only one solution. You must go to Chimera Academy.”
My mother let out an outraged gasp. “You cannot be serious. The academy is all-male. My daughter has never been in the company of any man except her father.”
“It didn’t seem like it earlier,” General Rhodes said, his voice tight with barely suppressed anger. He didn’t like this anymore than I did. “The Sphinx didn’t bring your daughter to the plaza, High Priestess. She was already there, in disguise, among hundreds of men. I can only imagine what reasons she must’ve had for the deception.”
All eyes turned to me and this time, I couldn’t suppress a shudder. And there it was, the moment when I had to explain my blunder.
“I just wanted to see the chimera, Mother. It wasn’t anything inappropriate.”
“You and your love for those machines… I should’ve discouraged it when I had the chance.”
But she hadn’t, because she knew, just like I did, that the chimeras were a gift from the gods, and she respected that. She’d never thought it would mean anything for me.
I wanted to tell her I was sorry, but the words refused to come out. I wasn’t sorry, not really. Like the Sphinx had said, if I hadn’t been there, she would’ve been stolen. So many more people would’ve died. I had my suspicions about that—about why the Sphinx had ended up in that position in the first place—but either way, it was clear to me that my new friend wasn’t safe in the hands of The Grand Judiciary.
Before I could worry about the Sphinx, though, I had to worry about myself. My mother faced General Rhodes once again, and impossibly, she seemed even tenser than before. “Is there no other way?”
“No,” General Rhodes answered, shaking his head. “I understand your dismay and I agree with you. Chimera Academy is no place for a young woman. But unfortunately, your daughter doesn’t have much choice.
“She’s already displayed her skill in controlling the Sphinx. If she doesn’t learn how to properly use that power, she’s a danger to herself and others.”
My mother clenched her fists and sparks of blue-green magic danced around her arms. “We can teach her how to control her magic at the temple.”
“The power of Tartarus is not like the energies you control, High Priestess, and you know that very well. It’s a highly destructive, all-consuming fire. It will burn her from within, especially considering her less than adequate physique.”
Oh, for Gaia’s sake. I was growing tired of everyone deeming me inferior because I was a woman. I opened my mouth to protest, to point out that I’d already passed the largest trial—connecting with the soul of the chimera.
My mother grabbed my shoulder and squeezed it tightly, almost as fierce in her hold as Flight Lieutenant Alexander. I got the message and stayed silent. “General Rhodes, what guarantees do I have that Selene will be safe on Tartarus Base?” she asked.
“None whatsoever. Chimera Academy is a dangerous place and for a woman… Well, you can imagine how it will be. I advise you to prepare for the worst.”
At that, I could no longer hold my tongue. “Prepare for the worst?” I repeated. “I don’t understand.”
My mother let out a heavy sigh. “Sweetheart, I know I haven’t explained too much about how things are on Tartarus Base. I should have, but I didn’t have the heart.”
I frowned, even more confused than before. I knew very well that women were looked down upon by Chimera royals and nobility. I’d been aware of it even before today.
But her demeanor suggested there was something more going on, something she’d kept from me. “You didn’t have the heart for what?”
“How should I say this?” My mother absently toyed with the sleeves of her robes. “While Chimera Academy is an all-male university, Tartarus Base is a mixed gender community.”
I nodded. Of course it was. The men couldn’t be separated from their wives or daughters. Here on Earth, we had a similar system. While men and women lived separately, we did interact from time to time. My father wasn’t a native to New Washington at all, but he dropped by to visit often.
I’d thought the situation at Tartarus Base was similar, but apparently not.
“The structure of their society is a little different from what you know. The women who live there come from two categories. First, there are the mothers and sisters of the Chimera Warriors. Typically, these women are nobility and they live sheltered lives. Their sole reason for existence is to carry on Tartarus’s Gift. Then, there are the sex workers. Men have needs and a lot of Terran women go there to make a living, to provide certain services.”
My mother had been kind in her assessment, but I could read between the lines well enough. After all, it didn’t take a genius. “So they’ll all see me as a…”
I trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. General Rhodes did it in my stead. “A prostitute. That’s what you’ll be, for most of the students and the staff at the academy. I can put in a good word for you with the dean, but beyond that, this is out of my hands.”
My head was starting to spin. I remembered the way General Rhodes had looked at me earlier and how uncomfortable I’d felt under his scrutiny. Then, I recalled Flight Lieutenant Alexander’s strange behavior toward me. He had been so dismissive of me at first, but there had been an odd intensity about his gaze, something that had made me hyperaware of my own body. When he had helped me, he’d seemed different. Why?
Discarding those thoughts, I did my best to hide my dread. “I have the Sphinx. She’ll keep me safe. I’ll be fine.”
“It’s brave of you to think that, if naive.” General Rhodes sighed. “I can only hope you’re right. High Priestess Renard, since the school year starts in a week, we don’t have much time to waste. If you can send someone to gather Ms. Renard’s belongings, we can place her and her chimera on a flight to Tartarus Base within the next couple of hours. We’re fortunate that the private shuttle of the Chimera royal family is in orbit. I’ll speak with His Royal Majesty, King Philip, and make the final arrangements.”
My mother nodded. “Thank you, General Rhodes. I’ll need a moment to talk to my daughter now.”
“Yes, of course.” The two of them shared a look I didn’t understand. “We will give you a little time to get accustomed to the idea.”
With that, the general flicked his fingers, gesturing for his entourage to come with him. My mother whispered something into the ear of one of the other priestesses. Led by General Rhodes, the men exited the room. A few seconds later, the women followed.
In the wake of their departure, my mother and I were left alone. Shockingly, the room still seemed too small and I still felt a little like I was suffocating.
Chimera Academy. I’d dreamed about it, wished that I could go there, that I’d have a chimera of my own and join the ranks of the soldiers who protected Earth. I hadn’t expected it would happen this way.
Then again, I hadn’t expected many things.
My mother’s stern voice snapped me out of my shocked trance. “Listen to me very closely, Selene. General Rhodes is giving you a chance. The Chimera royal family has a son who is your age and he’ll likely be on the transport.”
I looked up at her, wondering where she was going with this. “Yes, I know. Prince Brendan.” I’d heard all about him from Louise. “What about him?”
“You’re a lovely girl. If you… familiarize yourself with Prince Brendan, he might support
you while you’re away.”
My mind went blank as I processed her suggestion. “W-What?” I croaked out shakily.
“There’s no shame in it, sweetheart. Having a sexuality is normal and he may be able to keep you safe. If people know that you belong to—”
I knew she was only trying to help me, but even so, her words made me recoil. “I don’t belong to anyone. I’m my own person and I’m a chimera tamer now. I’m not afraid of them. If I meet Prince Brendan, I’ll be polite, but I won’t throw myself at him like some slut. Besides, I wouldn’t know how to do that even if I wanted to. And I don’t.”
By the time I finished my rant, I was breathing hard, a strange heat building up in my body. It reminded me of earlier, of the moment I’d reached out to the Sphinx to summon her. This time, I had no such focus and for a few moments, I panicked, not knowing what was going on with me.
My mother cupped my cheek with a gentle hand, and the overwhelming heat subsided. “Maybe you’re right. Forgive me, daughter. I lost my head. Gaia and Tartarus know what’s best and you have your own gifts. You’ll get by.”
I slumped against her, taking comfort in her proximity. Her familiar scent and the feel of her soothing magic settled my nerves and restless power.
But deep inside, I knew it was a temporary respite. I might have my problems with General Rhodes, but he was right about one thing.
I didn’t belong on Earth anymore. The power I’d accepted made me dangerous to myself and to my loved ones. And the only people who could change that would see me as a sexual object because of my gender.
This dream come true was quickly turning into a nightmare, but I’d follow my path to the end.
* * *
My departure from New Washington was rushed and almost anticlimactic. There was no time for me to speak to a lot of people and the whole business with me piloting the chimera seemed to be something General Rhodes wanted to keep under wraps. I ended up saying my goodbyes to Louise through coms. My tearful friend wished me all the good luck in the universe. I forced back my own tears and anxiety, hiding them underneath a fake smile. “If nothing else, it’ll be an adventure. I’ll send you an autograph from Prince Brendan.”