Yamoto made a little sound beneath his breath. A scoff.
The door opened and the aide entered with Kazukhan, showed him in a few steps and withdrew. The Daimyo came closer to Yamoto and stopped.
“My Shogun.” He bowed.
“Daimyo.” Yamoto let the title pass. Shogun. He didn’t know what he was anymore.
“Thank you for granting me audience.”
Yamoto tired of these exact sorts of pleasantries. His military was disobedient, his nobles were fawning—there was no satisfaction to be had, no worthy people with which to deal.
But he played along.
“I’ve not heard from you in a while, Kazukhan. When I received your request I was curious. What news have you?”
“Not news, lord. At least, not anything that should not be obvious.”
Yamoto waited. Held his pose, arms behind his back; forced a benign smile.
Then his Daimyo shocked him.
“The Dominion is in a state of collapse,” he said. “This is not news.”
Yamoto felt his smile drop, but only after it had. Too late to pretend he hadn’t reacted. He looked on Kazukhan, his first impulse to be offended, as protocol would dictate. A lesser noble, accusing him of failure? So bluntly? It was dishonorable. It was punishable.
But it was true.
Could he berate him for speaking the truth? Should he? And wasn’t he just thinking how they needed change? How difficult it was to find strong-willed, like-minded people within the upper ranks?
He spoke carefully. “What, then, is the purpose of this audience?”
Kazukhan bowed again, a short bow, as if to let his Shogun know he meant no disrespect, with what he said or with what he was about to.
“I propose a solution.”
Despite the basic courtesies Yamoto felt as if Kazukhan addressed him as equal. The initial pretense of his Daimyo’s greeting had fallen away and before him stood a man of obvious conviction. Yamoto was not yet sure what that conviction was, or even if he would like it, but for the moment felt a bit of his inner conflict fall away.
Here might be someone with whom he could speak.
“A solution to which ill?” He decided in that moment to be frank. To not dance around, to not make the Daimyo explain himself. They both knew things were not well. “A solution to the fact that our Imperial prophecies have been cast aside? A solution to the chaos left behind by the beast? A solution to the war across the ocean? Or perhaps a solution to the decay within our citizenry? To what do you propose a solution?” It felt liberating to speak so candidly.
Kazukhan’s gaze was steady. “To all.”
Yamoto studied him.
“I hope you’ve not come here to waste my time.”
“My proposal may fail, in which case I suppose I have. But we won’t know until that time. Here and now I come with an idea. One that, I believe, wastes neither your time nor mine.”
“Go on.”
“A summit.”
Yamoto cocked an eyebrow.
“With the Venatres.”
At that he blinked and knew he looked surprised. For once he didn’t care.
“With their highest leaders,” said Kazukhan, continuing with his idea. “You, our ruler, our Shogun, and the leaders of our enemies. Here in Osaka.”
Yamoto tried not to stutter. “To what end?”
“An accord.”
“An accord?” And he slipped: “Are you mad? Our agenda is the destruction of the Venatres, control of the world. An accord is—”
“Our agenda is old.” It was true. Yamoto listened as his Daimyo went on: “Tired. That is the Emperor’s outdated agenda. He’s dead, his body cast away. That was the agenda of the High Council and the witch. They too are dead. That was the agenda of Ashikagi, Shogun before you. Dead. That was the agenda of Kang. Kang is gone, no more. That remains the agenda of your rogue generals, who defy you, but it is not your agenda. It cannot be. It is not the agenda of the people. This I know. Soon the Venatres will rally back. We are too far gone. With our disunity, with the state of our affairs, with all we’ve lost in recent months the Venatres—not us—will rule this world when the fighting is done. You know it. I know it. If we continue this conflict we will lose. The end of the Dominion could not be more at hand.
“However we yet hold power. If we talk, discuss conditions, we yet have the strength to dictate goals. We can set a course into the future on our terms. Anitra can come together, at last, and work toward the next objective.
“If we continue on our current path our final collapse is assured. And at the end of it we will have nothing.”
Yamoto knew Kazukhan was right.
But an accord!
The gall.
He found himself warming to his Daimyo.
“How would such a meeting even be arranged?”
“If it please my lord, I will act as liaison.” The Daimyo lapsed to a more respectful protocol. “With your agreement, I am determined to make this happen. I will arrange it. Somehow. Some way. I will exploit whatever resources are needed in order to do so.
“I will bring the leaders of the Venatres to us. I feel strongly that this is the way.”
Yamoto wanted to resist, but recognized those impulses as yet more old ideas struggling to hold on. Just as Kazukhan said. He was right in that regard. And in that Yamoto suddenly saw a glimmer of hope. This was the clean sweep he’d been imagining. Why couldn’t they do it?
He had no idea what the outcome of such a meeting would bring, but in that moment was supremely intrigued by the thought of it. Parley with their enemies, perhaps even to make allies.
He turned from his Daimyo, back to the panoramic windows.
“Let me consider it,” he said, wanting at least to give the impression of resistance.
Though in truth his decision was made.
* *
Music poured from the walls of the bridge, the quality of the sound amazing. The Reaver’s audio system created a depth, a richness that would’ve been an audiophile’s dream. Jess had no idea if the Kel designed the system with music in mind—maybe they had Kel rock bands a thousand years ago—but the fidelity was perfect. At the moment they listened to a track from an artist named DJ Fujito, a trance/step piece with throbbing bass, and it was like standing inside a pair of high-end headphones.
Nani killed the track.
“That’s some of his music,” she said. “He’ll be at a club in Segovia for a one-night show. Just outside Madrid. Lorenzo will be there.” She’d called everyone together to report on the latest. The last bits of the puzzle had been pieced together and she now knew where Lorenzo, the Bok leader, would be, when, and how the Project was preparing to execute their plan to kidnap him.
“So how are we going to do it?” asked Bianca.
Nani swiveled in her chair to face them. It was clear she’d already been thinking of ideas.
“We beat the Project at their game. They’re planning a covert grab after the show. We grab him first.”
DJ Fujito was apparently Lorenzo’s favorite DJ and the Project expected Lorenzo to make an appearance. They had no idea how or in what fashion, but they expected him to be there.
“We grab him first? How?”
“I’ve ruled out a few things,” said Nani. “I think the best way is low-key.” She looked at Zac. “Zac and either Jessica or Bianca could go to the club as a couple. That would be the least conspicuous, based on everything I understand about the situation.” She looked directly at Jess and Bianca. “You both know Earth culture, better than anyone here. One of you needs to go with him. We need someone who can blend. Zac is perfect for an operation like this because, well, he’s the man for the job. With no additional weapons or equipment he can beat out the Project, nab Lorenzo and make a getaway. But he’ll be out of place in his mannerisms. He has to be with someone. Also, from what I’ve read, these sorts of clubs aren’t likely to let in a single guy.” Jess was impressed with Nani’s understanding of the dynamics
of such an Earth social event.
Satori, of course, was skeptical. “Go into the club?”
“That’s where Lorenzo will be. Until he arrives we won’t have a lock on him.”
“It should be me,” Jess interjected, wanting to make sure that was settled before anything else. If anyone went to the club with Zac it would be her.
“Why not just wait outside?” Satori kept up her line of questioning. “Or swoop in?”
“We could,” said Nani, “but we don’t know when Lorenzo will arrive or even how. The Project isn’t sure if he might come in via some secret entrance, or how he will arrive or exactly when. They only expect him to be inside the club for the show at some point. They’re planning to have someone inside waiting for him. I think it’s best to mirror their actions, then move before they do. We shadow them, then, when the time is right, we strike first. Beat them to the punch.
“The Project has the proper lead-up. This is not a brute-force action. Once in the club Lorenzo can be identified, then they plan to execute a grab. With Zac we can beat them to it. It should be easy enough.”
Jess stood a little closer to Zac and held his arm, imagining doing this mission with him. In truth she could hardly believe it had come to this. Not only were they planning how to actually make it happen, Satori was, so far, not protesting.
“So how do we get in and not be seen?”
Nani turned back to her screens and tapped a few things. “The club is very exclusive,” she said. “We can’t just barge in. We have to gain entrance as legitimate fans of the DJ. This is really the only tricky part. I’ve looked over the layout of the venue, done some research on clubbing,” the matter-of-fact way she said this fascinated Jess, “and I think any more than two of us is going to stand out. The best way is not to go as an individual, not as an odd-looking group, but as a couple. Zac and one of you—Jess,” she amended. “Based on what I’ve seen about the atmosphere of the club, that will have the best chance of success. We have to pose as legitimate club-goers and be admitted inside.”
Jess imagined posing as a couple and making their way in, like some kind of secret spy James Bond move, and while part of that intrigued her—and some of it, she had to admit, made her giddy—most of it just made her nervous.
They were going down to Earth. Where she was a wanted criminal.
Satori asked: “So we get in, fine. But how do we get to the club? Won’t this attract a little attention?” She looked pointedly at the bridge around them and, by extension, the Reaver itself.
Nani answered simply: “We’ll use one of the fighters.”
“Still a little obvious, isn’t it?”
“I’ve figured out a way we can land without being seen. Probably.”
“Doesn’t this thing have a transporter?” Bianca quipped. “Like Star Trek or something?” No one laughed. “You know.” She made a boo-eee-ooo sound, complete with a timid little wave of her fingers to simulate someone beaming in.
“A what?”
“Never mind.”
Jess gave her a “really?” look.
Nani continued. “I believe I have a way to get a fighter down undetected.” Then: “I’ll stay aboard the Reaver and run things here. Since Jess will go down with Zac, Bianca can stay and help.”
Nani turned to Satori and Willet. “Which means, I thought I would show you two how to fly the fighter. Seems the most obvious choice. With the right descent path at the right time you can drop through the airspace over the area and get to ground. The fighter uses the same wave-function propulsion as the Reaver, so if you go slow it should be silent and, potentially, near invisible at night. Active countermeasures should keep you off their electronics. I’ve sighted a few possible landing sites.”
Jess continued to be impressed. Nani was taking charge. So far everything made sense, though, like Satori, Jess wasn’t entirely convinced an ambush outside the club wasn’t a better idea. Mentally she reserved the right to make changes, but for now it sounded workable. As Nani said, with Zac it would be easy. Zac made all of it, in fact, easy. Presumably Jessica’s only role would be to provide legitimate cover—a date—for him to enter the club.
She stole a quick glance at him.
“And so how does this play out?” Satori asked. “We go to this club and … what?”
“Overall it’s simple,” said Nani. “The Project expects Lorenzo, and probably a few of the other, younger Bok, to be at the club to see DJ Fujito. They know Lorenzo is a fan, it’s one of the few things they do know about him, and that he’s shown up all over the world at Fujito’s shows. They’ve connected the dots and believe he’ll be at this next show, at a club on the outskirts of Madrid.”
“They believe?” All of a sudden Jess could feel Satori putting on the brakes. “I thought you said—”
“The Project is committing resources. Their confidence is high. Remember, until Lorenzo came along they were never able to pin the Bok anywhere. The Bok have been living in the shadows of the rest of humanity. Until the Bok attacked the Project back in Earth’s twentieth century no one even knew they existed. No one knew anything.
“With his overconfident attitude Lorenzo has finally, unwittingly, opened things up. So, no, they can’t be a hundred percent sure he’ll be there and neither can we. There’s just no way. But the Project has every reason to believe he will. Based on what I’ve seen I do too.
“This is our chance.”
Jess wondered if Nani now knew more about the Earth than she herself did. After days of near-sleepless, non-stop analysis of Jessica’s world, was the brilliant scientist girl suddenly more of an expert on her own home?
“So Zac and I pose as a couple out for a night at the club,” she said, “go in and pretend to be there for the show and wait for Lorenzo. Then nab him.”
Nani nodded. “The Project will have the place covertly surrounded. They’ll also have agents in the club. They don’t know how Lorenzo will arrive, but they plan to wait till after the show and get him as he leaves. At first they were going to tail him but decided that was too risky. Capture and interrogation seem the best solution. I think that’s what we have to do as well. They’re not coordinating with the host country so this is covert for them too.”
“So Zac grabs Lorenzo before they can.”
“Essentially, yes.”
“What then?”
“Well,” Nani had clearly thought through every aspect. “At that point we’ll use the fighter. You capture Lorenzo,” she looked to Zac and Jess, “Willet and Satori fly in, pick you guys up and return here. That will expose us, yes, but once we have Lorenzo it may not matter. Stealth will no longer be an issue.”
“See?” Bianca was determined to make her joke. “That’s why we need a transporter. Then we don’t need Zac, the fighter—none of it. Boo-eee-ooo.” Everyone looked at her and she added sheepishly: “I’m just saying.”
Nani continued. “From there we figure out the rest. All Zac has to do is get him away from the club, far enough and fast enough so that we can pick them up. People may see the Kel fighter, yes, but we’ll have the head of the Bok and, after that, things change drastically anyway.
“Obviously we still have some particulars to work out,” Nani admitted, “but that’s the general idea.”
Satori shook her head. “I still don’t get why we’re doing this.”
“Because they hold the key to tying everything together,” said Jess.
“I don’t see how that’s as significant as you keep insisting. It seems to me this starship is way more relevant than any ancient secrets, probably skewed or lost by these guys. We don’t even know. We have no idea what we’re getting into.”
“They could be holding another Icon,” said Jess.
“Could be.”
“Maybe more. Icons with coordinates for other worlds. If they still have anything from that ancient period it’s more valuable than gold or starships. There were other worlds back then, other things known by the Kel and humans of t
hat time. We’ve got a chance to pry it out into the open.”
“Even if that’s true, how? So we capture their leader. What good does that do us? Don’t the rest then scurry deeper underground? We’ll never find them. Not only that, as soon as we tip our hand we can no longer move in stealth. Once we’re exposed … how do we even go after anything else?”
“Lorenzo will tell us what he knows,” Jess looked to Zac. “And we’ve got the means to get at it. Nothing down there can stop us. We put together the pieces of the puzzle, we control the dissemination of facts, and we work out a way to introduce Earth to Anitra and to figure out a solution to the Kel and everything else.” Putting it like that made it seem a far bigger task than it was already.
Jess forged on. “Like we agreed, we have to look at things from a completely different perspective.”
“I never agreed to that.”
“The entire existence of two worlds is about to change,” said Jess. “Drastically, and we’re at the center. With everything that’s been exposed, if we just walk away …
“We, the people right here on this ship, this small group, have a chance to make a change.” It was everything she’d ever fretted over, after her return home from Anitra, trying to decide what to do with the Skull Boy in the barn, the Icon, how or if she should use them to make a difference. To wake the world from its sleeping delusions, to bring it to the next level. Now she had an even bigger Skull Boy, the starship, and she still hadn’t figured out the solution. “We have to take this chance.”
Back then she’d never done more than dream about it. Thinking of ways it might work, realizing, sadly, how it never could. Forced to admit all the ways it could fail and lead nowhere, or even make things worse.
Now was hardly different. There were a hundred ways this could also fail, could also make things worse, not better. Only now the cat was out of the bag. And whether they did anything or not, things were going to happen. If they didn’t find the Bok the Project would. Those secrets, whatever they were, would be exposed. The Project knew nothing of this starship or Anitra or, really, for that matter, the Kel. Now the Kel were aware of the humans. Whether they could ever find them or not remained to be seen, but humanity could not wait for that encounter. Humanity had to be as prepared as they possibly could. That meant someone needed to hold all the cards. Not one group with this bit of info, one group with that bit of info, none talking. And so this group right here, on the bridge of the Reaver, holding the biggest card of all, would be that someone. Jess, Nani, Zac—all of them. They would strip the Bok of what they knew and decide how to bring it all—all information, all knowledge, two human worlds and all else—together.
Star Angel: Dawn of War (Star Angel Book 3) Page 21