War for Orion: Ghosts from the Past

by Conner Walworth

  He would still have to approach Donnchadh and tell him of his failure, but he would do that later. It would be a long and drawn out conversation and he wasn't in the mood for it right now. He sat down at his desk and continued to perfect his plan that would eliminate the Queen of Orion.

  Chapter 6

  Queen Adira urgently walked to the Council Chamber, trying her hardest to keep the anger off of her face. She wasn't angered easily, but the Council was well aware that this was interfering with the meeting scheduled with the Prime Minister of Ares.

  When she reached the tall wooden doors to the chamber, she stopped and took a deep breath to ease her mind. She opened the doors calmly and strode into the octagonal room. The entire Council was seated in the center of the room patiently waiting for her to take her seat at the head of the table. Sunlight beamed through the windows making Adira's deep blue eyes glitter, her blonde shoulder length hair shine, and her olive skin look flawless. She lifted her dress as she made her way up the steps and took her seat as the rest of the Council stood.

  Abdul was the last to take his seat. He was a very odd looking race that had originally come from Apollo to serve on the Council before she took the Throne. He had been an experiment of sorts for the race of Apollo to test their medical expertise on after dying of old age. A few doctors had decided to take his organs and put them in a flesh-like machine to see if his brain, heart, and other vital organs could function, allowing him to live until the organs failed. Luckily, or unluckily depending how one looked at it, Abdul survived and was able to continue living inside of the machine.

  The doctors had done a superb job at creating him. The outer coating of the machine was an artificial black skin and at the top of his head was clear glass with his brain visible through the liquid. He was the only creation of this kind on Apollo, legally and known anyway, because it was quickly banned after word of his creation leaked. The King had deemed it as dangerous, but they did acknowledge the advanced medical expertise of the Apollons and allowed Abdul to live until his organs failed.

  Adira looked around the table to her Council. Her predecessor had made sure that her Council consisted of one individual from each of the eight planets, except the planet she had been born on. He had believed that a strong and cohesive Council would help insure the fairest decision making for Orion.

  Adira cleared out her throat. "What is this urgent business that you all insisted I come down here for, forcing me to cancel my meeting with the Prime Minister of Ares?"

  Adira looked around and saw some of the Council fidgeting, but none of them appeared as if they were going to answer the question. In fact, they were all looking to Abdul as if the question had been directed to only him.

  She looked over at Abdul. "Abdul? Why am I here?"

  "Your majesty, Armino Valens has been killed. I didn't know any better way to reveal it to you but in front of the entire Council."

  Adira squinted her eyes and looked around the table. "I didn't know that Armino was sent out on any missions. Did you all approve of this without my consent?"

  The room was silent and Abdul spoke up again. "He wasn't on a mission. I misspoke. I should've said that he was murdered. Along with the rest of his family, with the exception of his oldest son who escaped the attack with a few minor wounds."

  Adira felt her heart drop in her chest. She had been a very close friend with Armino from their time growing up on Gaea. He had heard at a young age that she was going to be Queen one day and had told Adira that he wanted to protect her. When she had become Queen she remembered that promise and gave him a position in the GSOU. He did everything she told him, and more, very rarely failing her. She knew that he ran the risk of getting killed on the job, but she promised him if he did die she would take care of his family.

  The two of them had shared many deep secrets together and had a relationship that could be taken the wrong way if anybody were to find out. Only two people knew how close they were - Abdul and Marguerite. Both of them knew that is was nothing other than an extremely close friendship, but politicians would surely twist it if they found out he was more than just someone who protected her.

  Adira's trust ran so deep with him, she had entrusted him to something that she would entrust to no other race in Orion- hiding her only daughter. She had conceived the child before she took the Throne, and Abdul had encouraged her to hide the child from anyone that may want to harm it, though she hadn't had any known enemies at the time. It had hurt her to let her baby girl go, but she knew Abdul was wise from his numerous years serving the King. She had told Armino to take her baby somewhere safe to grow up and to tell no one, not even her, where her child was until the time was right for her to come out of hiding.

  "What do you know right now?" Adira broke her train of thought.

  A brown Themin spoke. "From the police reports, it seems to them that it was a planned out murder. By whom? They don't know for sure, but they've made some links and know that Armino was in the GSOU. They assume it was work related."

  A blue-green Filibian interrupted. "They know the races of the individuals that murdered Armino and his family from the surviving son. That's all that he knows, or so he says. The District police believe he may know more, like a planet they may have come from, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet."

  Abdul touched Adira's sleeve. "The boy's apparent dishonesty doesn't matter to us. One of the races he described matched someone that we are all familiar with - Donnchadh."

  "Donnchadh would never," she gasped.

  "The boy described an individual matching his description perfectly, but didn't give a name. After hearing the descriptions of the races and what they did, I have no doubt in my mind that this was the doing of Donnchadh and the Deimos Brotherhood. I assure you that this in no coincidence either. The Deimos Brotherhood doesn't operate that way."

  "I have a feeling you all called this meeting for more than just telling me what happened?" She held back tears.

  The all shook their heads. "I, or the Council, believe that the Deimos Brotherhood took out Armino as a strategic move," Abdul started. "It is no secret to anybody here, and even our enemies, that Armino was your best man."

  Adira raised her hands. "A strategic move? What does killing a single man along with his family possibly get them?"

  "You," said a frail, female Quierleon. "It gets them you."

  "Me?" she repeated. "There are still other members in the GSOU to protect me. Surely they don't believe that I'm vulnerable now."

  "With Armino out of the picture, it will be easier for them to get to you, whether you want to believe it or not. I'm sure there are others who could take his place, no doubt, but none will ever be as good as Armino, therefore, they can get to you easier." Aldrick said.

  Adira waived her hands. "This is ridiculous. That could've been anybody in his house! And even if it was Donnchadh, which I'm not saying it wasn't, I am in no more danger than I was before. I have a whole squad of men in the GSOU, plus guards posted throughout the entire Palace to protect me."

  "You underestimate the Deimos Brotherhood," Hildereth looked the Queen in her eyes. "You have to believe us when we tell you that you may be next on their list. I assure you, we weren't meant to know who was behind the massacre of Armino's family. There weren't meant to be any survivors, and that fact that there was one with information like this, means they made a huge mistake that could possibly save your life. We can't just look over this as if it's irrelevant."

  Adira masked the pain she was feeling inside from her face. "I will not be next. That I can guarantee all of you."

  "You have no way to guarantee that Adira," Abdul whispered, barely audible to the rest of the Council. "You must tread carefully."

  Adira pretended not to hear Abdul. "So what if killing Armino was a strategic move? What am I supposed to do now?"

  "Find your daughter, your majesty," Alura, a Filibian, suggested.

  "How do you know about my daughter?" She looked over at Abdul.
"Does everybody here know about my daughter?"

  "Sadly, there are many more races than just the ones in this room who know about your daughter," Abdul nodded. "It has been some time since they found out."

  "How dare you tell them! I trusted you Abdul Hakim!" she raged. "You swore secrecy to me!"

  Abdul looked away. "It was not I who told Queen Adira."

  "Are you suggesting that Armino told?" she fumed. "Armino would never tell anybody!"

  Abdul raised his hands a couple of inches. "All I know is that it was not I who told. I kept my mouth closed, and only recently, found out others knew about your daughter too. Not all of those who know are your friends either Adira, and I'm afraid they may tell the Deimos Brotherhood, who will surely find her unless you act swiftly."

  "So individuals know she survived, but not where Armino took her?"

  "Yes. That's correct, your majesty," Abdul said.

  "Do any of you have any guesses where Armino took her?" All of the Council members shook their heads. "Well, neither do I. He took her someplace that she would be safe and that is good enough for me."

  "I don't think that's good enough your majesty," Aldrick said.

  "No? If I don't know where she is, and the only person that does is dead, how is my enemy going to find her?" She looked around the room. "Anybody want to answer that question for me?"

  "This is the Deimos Brotherhood, your majesty. They make it their job to find people who are supposed to be safe or hidden," Alura said.

  "There are no records of her! She never had an identity! How is anyone going to find her when her own mother can't find her? As far as any race is concerned, she is non-existent."

  The Quierleon spoke up. "If information was leaked regarding her survival, how do you know information regarding where she's hidden wasn't released too? I'm not saying that anybody does know, but what if? Do you want to take the risk that whoever leaked this may have also leaked a location?"

  Adira ignored the shot questioning Armino's loyalty to her. "I will think long and hard about this. You all bring up excellent points and I need to think over all of this more clearly, without any clouded judgment from myself or distractions from others," She stood up. "I will let you know my decision by the end of the week, if not sooner. You are all dismissed."

  "What's happening Abdul?" Adira let out a long drawn breath.

  He put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm not sure Adira, but I think the rest of the Council is right to fear for your life and your daughter's safety. The Deimos Brotherhood has proven to be a potent enemy, we can't take them lightly any longer."

  "Why now after all of this time? Surely they've had plenty of other opportunities to take me out."

  "Maybe they've been planning for years, but were only just now able to start. Without talking to them we can only guess what they are planning."

  Adira walked towards the doors. "I need time to think about everything that has happened. Once I have decided, I will call you to my personal chambers to discuss what our next moves will be."

  Abdul smiled. "I know whatever you choose will be right Adira."

  "I haven't even made a decision, yet you think it'll be the correct one?"

  "I don't think you've made a wrong decision yet in your reign as Queen."

  "If you say so Abdul. Just don't be disappointed if I make my first wrong decision," She turned and left him alone in the Council Chamber.

  Adira went straight to her personal chambers and pulled all of the curtains closed so she could be absorbed in the darkness. She plopped down on her oversized bed and stared at the ceiling.

  At the start of the day she had planned to meet with the Prime Minister of Ares, look over some proposed laws from politicians on other planets, and relax in the spa before going to a formal dinner. All of those were now cancelled because the Deimos Brotherhood was poised to make a move on her life. Adira still couldn't convince herself that Armino was the one that slipped up about the existence of her daughter after entrusting him with all of her secrets. If he told someone about the most important secret, what about all of the others she had revealed him? And if he had told someone, why was everyone just now saying something after he was dead?

  There were too many questions that she couldn't answer and it made her want to pull her hair out. Adira let out a deep breath and tried to clear her mind of everything so she could start deciding what her next moves were going to be; the first of those regarding her daughter. She truly wanted to bring her here, but didn't know if it was the right decision if she was able to find her.

  She still had yet another to decision make that no one else brought up during the meeting - what about Anlon? She was very close with Armino and Marguerite, but hadn't got to know any of his kids personally. She couldn't bring him here just to drill him with more endless questions like he had surely already endured countless times at the District prison. But then again, there were doubts about his honesty in the police reports.

  Bringing him here was much more than about questioning though, she felt like she had to keep her promise to Armino and bring Anlon here to protect him. Armino hadn't died on a mission, but it appeared he died because of one, leaving her to feel responsible for the events that had unfolded.

  "Abdul, you can come to my office," She called on her comlink. "I've thought long enough. Anymore thinking and I'll begin doubting myself."

  She hung up waited at her desk for Abdul to come in. They had become close since she had become Queen and she trusted him more than any other of the Council members. Maybe it was because he was older and wiser, or that he showed true compassion for the well being of Orion. Whatever it was, she felt a strong bond with him and would rather reveal what she was doing with him before letting the rest of the Council know.

  "What is your decision?" Abdul walked into the office.

  Adira folded her hands. "We're bringing my daughter here. I'm just not sure exactly how to find her yet."

  "Excellent!" he beamed. "And I may be able to help you find her."

  "What do you mean you may be able to help? You know where she is?"

  Abdul shook his head. "No I don't, but Armino told me he left a clue for you if he were to ever die."

  "Of course he left a clue. He was a very intelligent man. That is why he was never killed on a mission. His decision making is why I chose him above all others to protect me."

  "It has to be an obvious clue that only you would think of," Abdul thought aloud.

  "So he didn't tell you what this clue would be or where I could find it?" she sighed.

  "No. He just said there would be clues you'd see all the time. Letters perhaps?"

  Adira realized that he was right. Armino always left her letters and now that she thought of it, each one contained the exact same thing. "Yes he did leave me letters, though I burned them every time he came back safe, so I don't have any left to look over."

  Abdul let out a breath. "I'm sure he left other clues for you as extra precautions. It may take a little longer, but I'm positive that we'll find her."

  The Queen nodded. "I know we will too. There is one more decision I made on my own that the Council neglected to bring up."

  "Another decision?"

  "Yes. Armino's son, Anlon, survived and I want to talk to him."

  "The authorities there got nothing useful out of him," He opened the palm of his hands. "What are you going to get out of him that they didn't?"

  "I'm the Queen, Abdul. Do you really think that he'd lie to me?"

  "I don't know. Maybe," he shrugged. "Lying to the police is no small offense."

  Adira raised her eyebrows. "I don't think that he will. I'm more than just an authoritative figure, I was Armino's friend and want the same thing I know Anlon wants. I'll make sure to tell him that so he'll have every reason to believe me."

  "So you expect he'll come here and immediately believe you will bring him justice for the death of his family?"

  "No. Not immediately," She shook her head. "I wil
l have to earn his trust, but this is about more than just questioning Anlon. He doesn't have to answer my questions if he doesn't want to. My promise to Armino is just as important to me as finding the races responsible for his death."

  "Just don't get too hopeful he'll help you. You've never met him and I'm sure Armino never talked about his work with his family," Abdul warned.

  "He didn't tell his family about me or his work, with his kids anyway. Marguerite knew, but he said it'd be safer if the kids were kept in the dark," She readjusted in her seat. "If Anlon is as similar to Armino as he claimed all these years, Anlon will eventually come through and help me."

  "Okay. It does make some sense to bring him here, but what if he doesn't want your protection and refuses your help?" Abdul asked. "Have you thought of that yet?"

  She rolled her eyes. "Nonsense. Who wouldn't want to live in the Queen's Palace?"

  He shrugged. "I was just asking what ifs Adira."

  "Well, don't. Anlon will accept the offer. I know that he will."

  Abdul dipped his head. "Sorry, your majesty. When do you want him brought here?"

  "Immediately. We know where he is now, correct?"

  He nodded. "We do. He hasn't left Hassental and seems to be living his life as normally as he possibly can given his circumstances."

  "Well, bring him here. I'll make sure he knows I'm on his side and that I want to protect him from any danger."

  Abdul stood up and bowed. "I will get on it immediately. He will be here within three days."

  Adira held up her hand to stop him. "Make it one day."

  He dipped his head. "One day. You will see him in one day."

  Abdul turned around and left Adira alone in her office. She waited until she heard him shut the chamber door before she got up from her desk. She scrambled over to her dresser and rummaged through a hidden drawer to find Armino's letters.