The transmission went silent, and Talon allowed himself to release the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Everyone in the cockpit had their mouths ajar, but all of them were Vergent. None of them could’ve known the Cassius Vale that all Ceresians were brought up to know. Most of Talon’s people thought that after a falling out with the rest of the Tribunal Council he was killed. Others thought he was exiled to Titan. Nobody knew for sure before the message Talon just heard, but every Ceresian knew what happened in the Earth Reclaimer War—how Cassius had beaten them into submission.
“Commandeered?” Tarsis grunted, breaking the silence. “Slaughtered!”
“Tribune or not, he has no right to attack a Solar-Ark!” Larana slammed her fist down on the arm of her chair.
Everything that happened aboard the Amerigo suddenly made sense to Talon. The Keepers were always going to fight back to defend their ship, so there was no choice but to eliminate them. That was how Cassius Vale operated. Wherever he went, death swiftly followed.
“Set a course for Ceres Prime,” Talon demanded evenly. There was no reason to argue with the Vergents. Cassius wasn’t the type of man who needed to ask for the right to do anything.
Larana wheeled around, clearly irritated. “This is my ship. You don’t give orders. We’ll drop you at Thalia and be out of this mess.”
Talon didn’t flinch. “And risk the lives of your crew?” he said. “Whether or not anything Cassius said was true, the only thing my people hate more than him is the Tribune. They’ll respond in force, and when they do, the outer colonies like Thalia will quickly be under siege. Ceres is in the heart of the belt. There are hundreds of places the Tribune’s got to get past in order to reach it. There’s nowhere safer for you right now, unless you feel like braving their entire fleet to make it to Uranus.”
The Captain’s cheeks flushed, but she clearly knew that Talon was right. The Monarch was on the Tribune’s list now, and all of space was about to be crawling with their ships.
“Fine,” she grumbled. “But you're payin’ for the fuel, and anythin’ we can’t trade for.”
CHAPTER TWELVE—SAGE
One Last Lie
Sage held onto Elisha tightly as she guided the freighter through the thick atmosphere of Titan. Friction had the command deck’s viewport wreathed in a fiery skirt. She expected the ride to be bumpier, but Cassius’s upgrades to the hull made the freighter far more than just a Conduit-to-Conduit transport.
When the ship broke through, Sage found them in the heart of a storm. Precipitation lashed across the hull and dense clouds obscured her view. With the navigation systems disengaged it would’ve been impossible to find where to go if she hadn’t made the trip before. She could just distinguish the faint outline of the crater which bore Edeoria, sitting beneath the blurred shadow of the Ascendant.
She looked down at Elisha, expecting to see a terrified girl entering atmosphere for the first time. Instead she was wide-eyed and propped forward like she wanted to swim through the storm.
“Is that water?” she asked, awestruck.
“Not exactly,” Sage replied. “Methane mostly. Some other—”
“Where’s it coming from? The pipes must be huge!”
A smile tugged at Sage’s lips. Sometimes she forgot that most people in the Circuit had never been to a world with clouds. Most people had never walked upon the surface of the Earth beneath her scorched sky, hoping for the faintest sliver of light to peak through the clouds. It never did. “No pipes. It’s all natural. Titan is a world wrapped in clouds, like Earth.”
Elisha looked up at Sage excitedly. “Have you been there?”
As Sage opened her mouth to respond, the image of her last time on Earth rushed through her mind—Caleb’s smile followed by flashes of fire and blood. She took a few deep breaths to try and center herself. “Yes, I’ve been there.”
They didn’t exchange another word while Sage navigated the near impossible conditions. Elisha seemed content to just stare out into the storm. After a short while, Sage piloted them safely into the hangar of Cassius’s compound. The heavy outer seal quickly shut behind them to hold the frigid air of Titan at bay. There was a much different greeting party awaiting her than the last time she had arrived. The White Hand was missing, and in its place were a few small Tribunal transports. The smallest of them had a pointed top which gleamed like a wet pearl. The rest of it was of a similar luster, except the folded wings, which were painted to look like the black silhouettes of hands wrapping around its green chassis. It was the personal transport of a Tribune, which meant Benjar was there with his esteemed Hand, Yavortha.
An honor guard marched into the space, their capes fluttering like leaves in wind. Yavortha was in the middle of the pack. She could tell by the golden emblem on his pauldrons as well his distinctive, hawkish nose. Behind him was Benjar. He wore a carbon-fiber chest-plate over his viridian tunic and held up the cloak draped over his left arm so it didn’t drag across the floor.
She expected seeing him to make her feel like she was back home, but when she noticed his characteristic grin it was just the opposite. A burning itch flared up between her thighs that made her shiver. Her vision was clouded by the kind of blotchy circles that come after staring at the sun too long.
Sage grasped Elisha’s hand and led her out of the Command Deck. When they reached the cargo hold, Sage kneeled in front of the girl.
“Follow my lead once they’re here, and don’t speak unless you’re addressed,” Sage said. She made sure Elisha nodded back. Sage signaled the cargo hold to open.
The ramp fell down and blinding light flooded it. It was swiftly followed by a host of soldiers wearing dark, tinted visors, their pulse rifles held up at the ready. Sage opened her mouth to speak, but none of them paid any attention her. They swept the entire space and then a few of them moved further into the ship, out of sight.
Sage felt Elisha huddle against her leg. She could only imagine what an array of faceless soldiers in heavy armor looked like to a child from the shanties of Ceres Prime.
“Who are they?” Elisha asked, her tiny voice filled with fright.
“Tribune Vakari’s personal guard,” Sage said. “Don’t worry, they’re just being cautious. I’m one of them.” As soon as the words left her lips the girl’s hands lifted off of her leg. Before she had a chance to look down, Benjar Vakari strolled up the ramp with Hand Yavortha in front of him.
“Your Eminence,” Sage uttered, quickly falling to her knees and allowing her fingers to graze the floor. She looked down, making sure that their gazes didn’t meet until he responded. Yavortha arrived first and yanked the pistol out of her belt, making no effort to be gentle. He patted her down, from head to toe, and when he was done stepped aside. Benjar then moved forward.
“Sage,” he exclaimed. “By the Ancients, you’re alive!” He reached out and placed his hand over her head, trying to get a better look at the bandage wrapped around it and coated in dried blood. “What has that monster done to you?”
Sage opened her mouth to tell him, but she was reminded of Talon. She saw his bright, blue eyes, burning with thoughts of betrayal. She could feel her hand squeeze the trigger that robbed Vellish of his life. It made her overflow with rage. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting to feel when she looked upon Benjar again. She wasn’t used to expecting to feel anything. The whole time…he was watching through my eyes, she thought angrily. As soon as she beheld his complacent grin, she had little doubt over the truth.
She bit out the words she wanted to say, fully aware of her place in the room. “He cut the implant out of the back of my head,” she replied calmly,
“By the Spirit,” Benjar gasped. He moved behind her, getting a full view of Cassius’s work. His index finger tapped the scar, causing Sage to flinch and him to pull back. “My poor girl. We will make him pay for this.”
As his fingers slid over her skin, her unsettled mind thrust her back to all the times she shared his bed. She could
feel his flesh rub against hers, the rolls of his belly grating against her body, sweaty and repulsive. She could feel each lustful kiss he placed down her neck, his hot breath lingering on the air with foul aroma. It was revolting. She had to look away, and there she noticed Elisha standing in the shadow of a guard’s rifle, her tiny face flush with judgment.
“Sage,” Benjar addressed her. “Is everything alright?”
She wanted to say the truth, but as she looked at Elisha she remembered the promise she had made to Talon—that he would have a chance to see her again. In the girl’s face she witnessed the same anger that had gripped her father when he found out who she really was. She didn’t care. Help get Elisha home, and then go home. That was all she wanted, and keeping Benjar happy was the key attaining it. “I’m fine,” she said. “Just a little out of it still.”
Benjar placed his hand under Sage’s jaw and tilted her face toward him. “I’m sure everything he told you seemed real, but he has always been a master manipulator. Cassius would say anything to get what he wants. As much as he may claim to care for you, he lost his regard for all human life long ago. He has turned to abominations of steel. By the Ancients, he stole a Solar-Ark! A heretic after all these years.”
“You know about that?” Sage questioned.
“The whole Circuit knows. I was hoping you could tell me what he intends to do with it.”
“He never had the chance to tell me before I was sent away.”
Benjar frowned. “Ah…Well, your faith will be rewarded, and you have my thanks for returning one of the missing freighters to us.” He stood to full height. “You must show us where he took it, the freighters and you. We must stop him before he can hurt anymore of my people.”
“I truly don’t know,” Sage replied honestly. “All I can say for certain was that it was a large enough hangar to fit the Solar-Ark he stole.”
Benjar’s features darkened. He leaned in close and scanned her face. “You’ve been gone for a month; surely you saw something! Is he hiding amongst the Ceresians? We’ve torn this place apart searching for clues about what he is planning, but every console has been wiped or blown to pieces. Knowing him, I fear the worst.”
“And you also know how careful he is. Where we were I’ve never been before. I didn’t see any other people, only one of his abominations.”
Benjar’s cheeks were getting red, but he managed to stay composed. “But you piloted a ship here?”
“The ship was programmed to come here. I had nothing to do with it. I was incapacitated and placed in the command deck. He removed all of the tracking systems.”
Benjar looked past her toward one of the soldiers returning from the other areas of the ship. He must have nodded to affirm what Sage was saying because Benjar clenched his jaw out of irritation.
“Damn that man!” He moved away from her and paced back and force. Then he stopped suddenly and pointed at Elisha. “What about her?” he shouted.
Yavortha went to grab Elisha by the shoulders, but she backed away, terrified. The guards kept her from going far and Sage panicked. Old Sage never would have. She would have stayed collected and allowed Elisha the chance to prove how little she knew. But new Sage didn’t have such temperance. She barely understood how her freshly-liberated mind even worked.
“She was his prisoner!” Sage protested.
“Was she now?” Benjar approached the girl, intrigued, but before he could get there Yavortha whispered something into his ear. Benjar put on his warmest smile and knelt down in front of her. “Where was he keeping you, child?”
Elisha didn’t say anything. She just stared at him, her nose wrinkled in anger.
“You’re Ceresian, aren’t you?” Benjar continued. “Tell me what you know and I will grant you a better life with us. Far from the rock and shadow of your asteroid belt.”
“I wasn’t a prisoner! ADIM told me what you did to Julius!” she shouted and went to strike the Tribune. A guard quickly picked her up and restrained her as she squirmed.
“You will tell me!” Benjar roared. He lifted the back of his hand to strike her, but Sage jumped between them.
“She doesn’t know anything, Your Eminence!” Sage yelled as she spread her arms in protest. “I swear on my vows she doesn’t. She just doesn’t trust us. Please, leave her alone. I’ll try to remember every detail I can about where we were.”
Benjar scowled, but after a short pause he turned around, his long tunic whipping around his legs. “Very well. I trust you. But you both need medical observation now. We can’t be sure what Cassius did to you. He could be watching us.” Benjar shifted his gaze to Yavortha, who was watching with a sneer. “Hand Yavortha. Please escort Sage and the girl to the Ascendant for further examination. Then prep the ship for my return. With both Cassius and Lady Nora out of the picture, we will continue our work to establish order around Saturn. Cassius’s attack must quickly be forgotten.”
“Yes, Your Eminence,” Yavortha responded firmly. He stashed his rifle on his back and started moving toward Sage.
“Your Eminence, I assure you I’m fine,” Sage insisted.
“I’m sure you are, but I would feel better if you were examined before returning to your duties,” Benjar insisted. “This is Cassius Vale we’re dealing with after all.”
“Will you send me back to New Terrene after?” she asked. “I assure you I’ll keep the city safe until there’s no strength left in me. I’ll take the girl with me. She’ll never cause a problem, I sw—”
Benjar hushed her. He leaned in so close that she could smell fresh tomatoes on his breath. “I have complete faith in you, Sage Volus. After you’re examined we’ll discuss your future assignment. New Terrene was never safer than it was in your hands.”
The words, “Thank you, Your Eminence,” escaped Sage’s lips just as they had countless times during their many conversations. Yet, though what Benjar said lifted her heart, there was something behind his eyes, something she couldn’t quite place. Perhaps it had always been there and she’d never noticed it, but there was no mistaking its presence.
“This way, Executor,” Yavortha said. He nudged her in the side before heading toward the transport. The guard holding Elisha followed behind him.
Just then, Sage remembered something that had been bothering her since the moment Cassius Vale re-entered her life. “Your Eminence,” she began, “Cassius claimed he saved me that day on New Terrene before the explosion. Was that the last time you saw him as well? I hope he didn’t plan anything there or corrupt any systems.”
“I didn’t get an opportunity to see him in person while he was there, but I will have Joran’s forces sweep the area clean just to be sure,” Benjar responded without looking back at her. “Good thinking as usual, Sage. Farewell.”
“And you, Your Eminence,” she whispered through her teeth as she fell back into step with Yavortha.
Benjar hadn’t mentioned Cassius being on New Terrene at all after the explosion, and he forgot to deny that Sage had seen the ex-Tribune. After years of loyal service, she’d caught him in a lie for the very first time.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN—TALON
The One who Lived
At first The Monarch was refused entrance into the Morastus docking port on Ceres. They were instead instructed to gain access through the nearby Conduit Station, a long tedious process—the Ceres Conduit was more of a transportation hub than any of the others in the Circuit. Talon wasn’t surprised. After Cassius’s message he imagined the entire Circuit was on edge. Even the Clans would be busy bickering with each other, trying to figure out what to do next. That was just how the Ceresian Pact operated, and Talon didn’t figure that would help much when it came to organizing the looming war.
After they were denied, Talon decided there was no other choice but to provide his name. Considering that his attempt to rob a Tribunal Freighter had been an undeniable failure he was hoping to avoid that, but after everything that had happened he just didn’t care. It worked. They were gr
anted immediate entrance after he did, under the condition that Talon would have to meet with Zaimur Morastus personally.
“Remember what you promised,” Captain Larana said as the Monarch’s ramp fell open.
“I know. I’ll talk to him,” Talon responded. “Just try not to go very far.”
She grunted a response and Talon stepped down off of the ship into the Buckle of Ceres. He took a deep breath of the typically musty asteroid colony air. Air recyclers too old for their own good gave it a sour aroma, and all the sweat pouring off of dock workers definitely didn’t help. Talon had grown used to it by the time he could walk. He couldn’t be more relieved to be home.
He turned around and noticed Tarsis making a face like he was going to vomit.
“Never been here?” Talon asked.
Tarsis cleared his throat. “My old ship used to stick to the Tribunal settlements. The few of those people willing to defy their master’s prohibitions offered better deals if you could imagine that. There’s much more…life here though.”
“Takes some getting used to,” Talon chuckled. “You should see what the Domes are like.”
“Soon maybe.”
“I’ll see if I can make any arrangements to keep you safe after I meet with Zaimur,” Talon said.
They’d both decided earlier that it was too dangerous having someone at such a noticeable stage of the Blue Death walking around in public. Most common people thought it was contagious, and if another clan leader got his hands on the bearded Vergent then he might be sent back to serve on another Solar-Ark. Talon had noticed that his own affliction was starting to show itself beyond just his extremities, but next to Tarsis he was a mere youth to the Blue Death. Larana had let him change out of his Keeper uniform and into a pair of loose-fitting cloth rags with a sewn-on hood that helped conceal him.
“Just focus on yourself,” Tarsis said. He looked back over his shoulder and waved someone over. Kitt came running down The Monarch’s ramp and stopped beside him. Tarsis placed a hand on the center of his back. “Captain Larana wants him to go along with you. Just to make sure.”
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