“We won’t do major damage to his facility,” Pimyt said, “only wrecking a small percentage of it. Just enough to anger Jacopo and get him working harder to find our bad guy. We’ll use some of your backup Red Berets, the ones stationed down on Canopa.”
“Go ahead and set it up.”
The little Hibbil nodded. “One more thing, Your Magnificence. This just came in from the government.” He activated a telebeam unit on the table, causing a black-and-white message to flash on, floating in the air. The words were backwards to Lorenzo, so he touched a pad to spin it around his way.
“Interesting, wouldn’t you say?” Pimyt said.
“To say the least.”
Truly, this was startling news, and Lorenzo was not sure what to make of it. The shutdown of podships had enlarged. No longer confined to Human and Mutati worlds, it now encompassed the entire galaxy … and neither he nor Pimyt could imagine why.
Chapter Seventy-One
Princess Meghina is expressing a desire to come out of seclusion and mingle with the patrons of the orbital casino. Polls show that much of the public is willing to assume the best about her, asserting that she should never have been born a Mutati in the first place.
—Telebeam report to Francella Watanabe, read just before one of her ranting tirades
Ostensibly, the damage to NehrGem’s industrial complex appeared minor, as only a small section of one jewelry-manufacturing building had been destroyed by the remote-guided rocket, and fire suppression systems had prevented further damage. But that section had contained the rarest gemstones in Jacopo Nehr’s collection, garnered from mining operations around the galaxy. If podship travel did not resume, he could not hope to replace these losses. Even some piezoelectric emeralds of the type used in nehrcom transceivers had been destroyed, making it an Alliance security matter and a subject of utmost military importance.
In a matter of hours, forensic evidence revealed that the perpetrators had been Noah Watanabe’s Guardians, based upon tracking records that turned up on fragments of the rocket. And, with a brashness that made Jacopo’s blood boil, Noah even sent a telebeam message to Jacopo’s offices afterward, claiming full responsibility for the attack.
Feverish with anger, Jacopo ordered immediate retaliation, and he began searching for a place to strike. This proved to be a challenge, since the perpetrators could not be located. They were like wisps of wind, gusting up here and there and then disappearing into thin air. As a consequence, the targets were limited … but not non-existent.
Within two days he set his sights on a warehouse and storage yard where the confiscated assets of Noah Watanabe were held under government seal. These were items that had been removed from the Ecological Demonstration Project and from the orbital EcoStation.
Seeking no approval from Doge Anton or the Hall of Princes, Jacopo launched a full-scale bombing attack on the warehouse and storage yard, using one of the merchant prince aerial squadrons. Not surprisingly, since there were no defensive weapons at the facility, he succeeded in completely destroying the target.
That evening, he was confronted at his office by one of Doge Anton’s Red Beret officers, Lieutenant Colonel Erry Pont. Sputtering in protestation while the officer read a list of charges against him, Jacopo summoned his own security personnel to prevent the man from arresting him. Six uniformed NehrCorp guards rushed into the office and surrounded the red-uniformed officer.
“You cannot hope to resist the power of the Doge,” the officer said calmly. Jacopo recognized him as the son of Gilforth Pont, one of the leading noble-born princes. In an obviously intended slight, Lieutenant Colonel Pont had not removed his red cap, and gazed at Jacopo with an arrogant expression.
“Take off your hat in my presence,” Nehr demanded.
The officer glanced around, then did so. But his arrogant expression did not change and he said, “In your vengeful zeal, General Nehr, you overlooked some rather important legal details, which I would be happy to explain while I take you into custody.”
“I will not be taken into custody!”
“Even though you are in command of the Merchant Prince Armed Forces,” Pont explained, “you carried out an unauthorized and illegal course of action. Those were no longer Guardian assets you destroyed. They were the assets of the Merchant Prince Alliance, since they had been officially confiscated and placed under seal.”
“Mere technicalities. I’ll explain it all to Doge Anton myself.”
“He has authorized me to tell you that he is not interested in any explanations. He is quite upset.”
“Why? Is he a puppet of Noah Watanabe as rumors suggest, protecting Guardian assets and refusing to bring the little worm to justice?”
“The Doge will not be pleased to hear you said that, General.”
“Or is he a puppet of his mother, who is coddling noble-born brats like you and your father?”
“General!”
“Tell Anton I refuse to be arrested, and I refuse to listen to any charges!” Nehr thundered. He waved a hand. “Now go, before I place you in one of my brigs!”
“I’m afraid he’s gone too far,” Doge Anton said to Nirella, as they prepared for bed. “I know he’s your father and I respect him, but he can’t go around half-cocked, attacking whatever he wants, using MPA forces.”
“You’re right,” she said, “but your mother is pushing to have him removed since he is not noble-born, and you must be your own man.”
“With you at my side, I will be,” the youthful leader said, with a soft smile. He kissed her and added, “I’m sorry I’m not a better lover, but the stresses of the job are taking their toll.”
“I adore you anyway,” she said.
It saddened him to notice disappointment in her eyes. During the months that they had been married, Anton was growing to love Nirella. Time was healing the wounds he suffered when he lost Tesh, and now he only wanted to please his wife.
“I have to at least fire him,” Anton said, at last. “Our highest military officer is still subject to the laws of the MPA.”
“I know.” She fluffed her pillows and climbed into the large bed they shared.
“What is your rank in the Red Berets?” he asked, even though he already knew the answer.
“Why, I’m a reserve colonel,” she said.
“I’m giving you a promotion, to Supreme General of the Merchant Prince Armed Forces.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“We’ll put the word out that it’s only an interim appointment, until we decide on a permanent replacement. Don’t worry about making a mistake. The Mutati war is on suspension anyway.”
“But I’ll need to be in touch by nehrcom with our forces all over the galaxy, to make certain everything is in readiness. I’m not sure if I’m qualified for that.”
“You’re as qualified as your father, since you co-manage the galactic operations of Nehrcom Industries with him, and I know you have extensive military knowledge. I’ve seen the holobooks you read. You’re a student of military tactics and strategies.”
“True, but I do not have anywhere near the prestige of my father.”
“I have to admit, Jacopo was doing well as Supreme General until this lapse. Maybe he will recover his senses with rest, and again qualify for the job.” Anton scratched his head. “Mmm. Instead of firing your father or taking him into custody, I’ll put him on a leave of absence for an indeterminate period. That’s the political way to handle it. He still has powerful friends and allies, and I don’t want to lose their support.”
“You’re learning fast,” she said.
The following afternoon, upon learning of the Doge’s decision, Jacopo Nehr took his wife, Lady Amila, and a few men who were loyal to him and joined Lorenzo on the space station. There he conferred with two men whom he thought had remained loyal to him, Lorenzo and Pimyt.
But in this time of galactic chaos and tension, relationships were not always what they appeared to be.
After the
six Elixir of Life winners were announced, Princess Meghina began to socialize with the other five, and they formed an exclusive club. Under continuing medical observation, the small group arranged regular get-togethers in Meghina’s royal apartments on Lorenzo’s orbiter. All the while, Francella and her researchers eavesdropped electronically on everything they said.
In the cities and towns of Canopa there were philosophical debates about the elixir, as people considered whether or not they would like to become immortal, if CorpOne ever offered more of the precious substance for sale. They considered it like a lottery.
One evening on board the orbital gambling casino, Lorenzo announced that he would like to become immortal himself so that he could spend the rest of eternity with his pretty wife. The Doge Emeritus revealed that he was at the top of a waiting list for the elixir, and would take it himself as soon as it again became available.
In Noah’s camp there were also debates, with his Guardians lining up on both sides of the issue. The outspoken Acey Zelk, having heard how apparent immortality had changed Master Noah, did not want it for himself.
“What fun would there be if I knew I could not be killed?” the teenager asked one afternoon while taking a break with Dux. “The risk of death makes life worth living.”
“It does give things an edge, doesn’t it?” Dux said. “As for myself, I think I agree with you. Maybe if everyone I cared about, such as yourself, could be made immortal I would accept it for myself, but the odds are slim that the elixir will work on any of us.”
Overhearing this exchange, Noah saw a certain wisdom in their opinions, but for himself he did not entirely agree. He wanted to accomplish so much that he didn’t see how one lifetime could possibly be enough for him. From an early age Noah had always seen broad horizons, had always felt that he could make important contributions. Now, the longer his allotted lifetime, the more he could achieve.
Admittedly Noah had felt trapped at times by his own enhanced existence, as if it were—paradoxically—yet another prison confining him. But if he could ever regain access to Timeweb it might open wondrous possibilities for humankind and new glories for all of the galactic races … if only they could see the wisdom of working together instead of at cross purposes.
Thus far Noah was presuming that he still had his own immortality, since he had been feeling physically strong, without any hint of the aches or pains that his friend Eshaz had complained of … a Tulyan who had lived for nearly a million years.
But Timeweb continued to reject every attempt Noah made to reenter it, and this disappointed him deeply.
Chapter Seventy-Two
The immortal Mutati courtesan presents us with difficult questions. Out of the thousands of doses of elixir that were distributed, Princess Meghina is the only Mutati known to have consumed any, and the cellular effects on her were dramatic. Mutatis typically have lifespans similar to those of Humans, so the possibility of immortality for every shapeshifter who consumes the Elixir of Life is frightening. Maybe this is not the case and it is only a coincidence, but it presents obvious security concerns, as it could result in the ultimate domination of that race over humankind. I would strongly recommend two courses of action: We must only distribute additional doses under strictly controlled conditions, and you need to notify your son of the situation. After all, he is the Doge, responsible for the welfare of all of us.
—Dr. Hurk Bichette, telebeam to Francella Watanabe
A week passed.
Despite his inexperience on the job, Doge Anton had already developed a routine. Each morning he arose early and had breakfast brought to him in his office. If the weather was nice, he ate in the adjacent rooftop garden, as he was doing now.
He flipped on a telebeam projector beside his plate and read the messages as he ate, letting an electronic fork automatically lift morsels of omelet to his mouth. It freed up his hands to continue working.
As usual there were several messages from his mother, listing the most important appointments he had that day, and how to handle each of them. She was not pleased that he had appointed Nirella Nehr as interim Supreme General, and for days she had been pressing to have him not to make the appointment permanent. In Nirella’s place she had been touting her own candidate, Gilforth Pont, providing reasons why he would make a great general.
The trouble was, Anton knew the man, and he didn’t have the first idea about what it took to lead the Merchant Prince Armed Forces. Neither did his spoiled son, who had manipulated the system to obtain an appointment as a lieutenant colonel in the Red Berets. Anton didn’t like people who worked their connections to get ahead. Instead, he liked those who advanced through the sweat of their own brows.
The fork continued its passage from the plate to his mouth, using sensors to keep from missing or stabbing him. He paused to take a sip of tangy juice, and turned the fork off. He didn’t feel like finishing the omelet.
Consistent with his opinion of others, Anton felt some embarrassment for his own appointment to the highest position in the Alliance. He was the son of a noble-born prince himself (albeit out of matrimony), and in danger of becoming one of the very dandies he loathed. Still, he had high hopes of proving that he deserved the job. Already he was asserting himself, showing his mother that he could make important decisions on his own.
He knew she could not really do anything about that, because she held her own lofty social position in large part due to her relationship with him, her bragging rights as the mother of the Doge. She tried to act like she was in charge, in tacit control, but he really held the more important cards. He just needed to figure out how to play them.
His feelings for her were evolving. Anton was beginning to see Francella as a complete person, with strengths and weaknesses. He didn’t think he could ever forgive her for abandoning him at birth, but at least she had paid a family to raise him. That showed some modicum of concern, and suggested that she wasn’t nearly as bad as she seemed to be.
Yet the stories of her raw rage were terrifying, the things she allegedly did to Noah, or tried to do to him, as well as the rumors that she may have killed her own father and blamed it on her brother. Her actions in the laboratory may have been controlled experiments; at least that was what she claimed. In addition, she insisted that she had nothing to do with old Prince Saito’s death, and Anton wanted to believe her. He also worried about her health, and hoped a way could be found to slow or reverse the accelerated aging she had been suffering.
A robot servant removed the dishes, and he continued reading the telebeam images that floated in front of his eyes. One of the messages—from an investigator he respected—cited proof that Noah was not responsible for the attack on Jacopo Nehr’s jewelry-manufacturing complex after all, and that Lorenzo del Velli had actually been the perpetrator.
Interesting. So Uncle Noah is not guilty of everything after all.
Anton considered sending the information to Jacopo Nehr himself, then reconsidered and forwarded it to Nirella instead. It was her father, and she would want to do whatever she could to ensure his safety. But why had Lorenzo done such a thing? The plots among merchant princes seemed endless.
After forwarding the message to Nirella, along with his own cover note, Anton paused to consider who else should know. His mother? Eventually, yes. But first, he wanted to do something he had been delaying for too long.
Because of Lorenzo’s deception, the young Doge finally decided to meet with Noah, and he responded to his uncle’s diplomatic overtures.
Reading the telebeam message in his underground office, Noah felt a rush of elation. Anton said he looked forward to resuming their close relationship, and suggested a neutral meeting place—in a canyon on the far side of Canopa. That sounded all right to Noah, but he would check with Subi before answering, to make certain that the necessary security measures were taken.
Touching his sapphire signet ring, Noah closed the transceiver. The message disappeared into his ring in a wisp of gray smoke.
Subi Danvar hurried up to him, and shouted, “Cameras show soldiers and heavy vehicles outside! We can’t hold them off for long.”
Subi guided Noah toward a side tunnel, which they entered at a full run.
“MPA?” Noah asked.
“No, paramilitary. They’re wearing Red Beret uniforms.”
“I didn’t think Anton would do this to me,” Noah said.
“Maybe he didn’t. As the Doge Emeritus, Lorenzo has Red Berets, too.”
Noah cursed, and as he ran with Subi, he wondered how his enemies had found him. At the adjutant’s suggestion, Noah had beefed up the energy-field security system and metalloy barricades at the main entrance, so that—along with the brave Guardians who were facing the attackers—should slow them down.
Reaching a rear chamber, Noah and Subi assembled fighters and equipment. From all tunnels around them, fully armed Guardians streamed in and received their orders.
More explosions sounded. Looking at a portable security screen, Subi reported: “They’re at all of the entrances. We only have one way to get out and try to hit them from another side.”
He pointed to a Digger machine.
High in the enclosed operators’ cabin of the vehicle sat Acey Zelk and Dux Hannah, side by side. “Let’s go!” Acey shouted. He shut the door and fired up the big machine. Its engines made a deafening roar.
In the face of the overwhelming onslaught, Noah and a force of Guardians used the Digger to tunnel an escape route for them. Following a compass, they set a course toward the northeast, his old ecological compound.
With Acey at the controls the machine hummed, throwing dirt and rocks behind it, which robots pushed back with smaller machines, allowing the fighters to surge forward into the earth. The Digger was fast, and the robots had to work hard to keep up behind it.
Noah smelled the dust and dirt, and he coughed, as did the Humans with him. He saw an opening ahead, and heard what sounded like running water.
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