by Pam Uphoff
The speakers crackled to life. Professor Ivy introduced Ex-governor Orcu in bald terms and stepped back.
"Loyalty." Orcu swept a glance around the auditorium.
"Loyalty is what holds the One, and the Empire together."
Oh yeah?
"And you are all required to be loyal."
Required? I'd have said proud to be loyal. Where are you going with this?
"The Directorates are the instruments of the President of the Empire, as the Ministries are the instruments of the Council of the Empire. The military, these days, has a series of checks and balances that keep them from partisan abuse.
"You are all now, by your attendance here, obliged to obey the dictates of the President. Without regard for who is the President. Changing your allegiance when the man in the office changes. If you cannot follow that man, you have no business in the Directorates.
"The current President was fairly popular until he completely missed an attack on the One. He is now facing a recall election and will most likely be replaced. Former Minister Ahvi and Former Director of External Relations Agni will no doubt run against him. It does not matter where your preferences lie. Whoever wins, commands you."
The ex-governor paused and eyed the crowd. Shrugged.
"There is only one greater loyalty. And that is loyalty to the One True God.
"And the One has now been attacked. This is the reason for the recall, that we see no response to this act that affects so many of us.
"You are all no doubt concerned about your own genetics. About what has been done to you. About what the President of the Empire is attempting to play down. To ignore."
"Ah." Ebsa kept his voice down. "A political speech. Well, I suppose a recall election is a current affair."
Paer switched her glare from Orcu to Ebsa.
Heak elbowed him from the other side. "Shhh!"
"The question you now face is where your loyalty and duty lay." He leaned on the podium and eyed the students. "With the One or with a President in the process of being removed from office."
Ebsa could feel Heak's and Azko's alarm—and rejection.
On his other side, two blank spots. Paer was as tightly shielded as Ra'd.
"Where do your loyalties lie? Anyone care to say it out loud?" Half the heads in the audience turned their direction. And all the professors on stage. Except Ivy, who buried his face in his hands.
Ebsa stood. "With the legal President of the Empire at all times. Transferring to another man at the moment the Oath of Office is taken. Anything else would be illegal and lacking honor."
Ra'd stood up slowly, expressionless.
Orcu crossed his arms. "Ah yes, I recognize you and your group. Honor? You dare speak of honor? We are the new Warriors of the One, and we make the laws. We define what honor is."
"You are no Warrior." Ra'd's voice dripped contempt.
"And you are?" The ex-governor grinned. "Where's your invisibility? Where's your hundred meter death blow?" He waved the microphone like a weapon, pointed it at them. "Show me your skill, Warrior."
Ra'd's eyes narrowed.
Ebsa sighed, loudly. "You can get expelled for damaging school property."
Ra'd blinked. Looked over at him . . . started snickering. He cast a glance at the stage and made a rude gesture. Sat down. Ebsa sat as well.
Orcu sneered and spoke . . . tapped the microphone and tried again.
Professor Ivy hastily produced a new mic and handed it over.
Orcu frowned. "It is time for all of you to realize your loyalty to the One and act accordingly. It is time for you to think beyond mere government, and give yourselves to the Empire of the One. It is time to do what is right."
"Traitorous demagogue." Paer kept her growl low.
Ra'd stared down at the stage. "Indeed. He's just had a warning and ignored it."
Ebsa watched Professor Ivy, examining the broken mic. And looking their direction.
I'm pretty sure Ra'd was aiming at the microphone in the first place. But asking Ra'd for a death blow was . . . a really bad idea.
Professor Ivy stood up and took the working microphone from the ex-governor. "Thank you, Orcu Withione New York, for that very interesting twist on loyalty and keeping to our oaths." His tone was dry and disapproving.
Ebsa clapped loudly to get everyone started.
The Action Teamers turned and glared at them, but clapped long after everyone else had quit.
"Students? Analyze this and argue both pro and con. Hand it over to any of your professors who want it. Dismissed." Ivy replaced that mic, and gazed at the non-working one in his other hand. Frowned up at them, as they waited for the other students to move off and leave them a clear path.
But he escorted the ex-governor to the side and out the tunnel entrance for lecturers.
The next day, Ebsa was a little surprised to not get a summons from him.
But perhaps the professor didn't want to know.
Chapter Fifteen
5 Shawwal 1403
"Wedge and City were released on parole this morning."
They all exchanged glances, shrugs.
Ebsa looked at the glowering head of the campus police. "Thank you for letting us know. Are they restricted from campus?"
"Yes. If you spot either of them, call me at this number, immediately." He tapped keys on his comm, and left without further words.
No problems during the day, other than steadily dropping temperatures and rising winds.
After dinner, back in their safe library . . . Ebsa noticed that Paer's guards were now close enough to grab Paer.
More of them than usual, as well. Between the sniper and that speech last Wednesday, probably a good idea.
"I think we're limiting ourselves, in our consideration of motive, and driving force." Ebsa frowned down at his screen, his report on the ex-governor's speech. "Because that sounded like a call for non-loyalty. And he deliberately pointed us out to the crowd. An easily deniable targeting to any of his agents, his errand runners, in the audience."
Ra'd nodded. "The Action Teamers are the obvious agents, but we've all had minor run-ins with other students. I've seen Teamers with several others, several times." He tapped at his comp and turned it around. "This is my list."
Paer leaned in to read it and raised her eyebrows. "Updi 'Stupid' Withione? And these guys are seniors I've seen around . . . I guess I'm used to people, complete strangers, walking up and introducing themselves. But Ilhe and Ajny? Really?"
"Yes. I investigated them. Ilhe was taking chemistry, not Info, at New Toronto U before he transferred here. Ajny was doing linguistics, but showed no indication of interest in Neanderthals until last semester—adding the class late and paying a penalty. After he applied to the Directorate School."
Ebsa eyed the list. "Ajny and this other guy are both in my Info class. I think I just may push Ajny around a bit tomorrow. Verbally. I, of course, would never stoop to physical intimidation."
The others exchanged glances. Paer snickered.
"Ebsa . . . " Ra'd eyed the high stacks.
Surely he's not trying to be tactful? Oh, One. He is. I'm not soft, dammit.
"You are much too mellow and easy-going to seem intimidating. Which is entirely different from being actually dangerous. In fact, I'm not sure you realize how dangerous you are." Ra'd snickered. "Let me do the intimidating, okay?"
Ebsa blinked.
He thinks I'm dangerous?
He sniffed to hide confusion. "I still think that must be an obscene term."
"Okay is a catchall term meaning 'all right,' or 'I understand,' or 'do you understand' or several other things depending on context and inflection. Nothing obscene at all. It's useful." Ra'd eyed him. "Did you really think I was going to kill that . . . person?"
"You weren't?"
And I'm only half joking.
"I was tempted, but even I have better sense than that."
Paer rolled her eyes. "See? Ra'd's right about you and intimi
dation. Nobody would even think that about you, but we all thought the ex-governor had signed his own death warrant yesterday."
Ra'd grinned.
Ebsa sighed. Is it a good thing to be unintimidating? For everyone to think I'm nice? At least Ra'd thinks I'm dangerous, and he should know. Right?
"Right. I'll ask Ajny a few innocent-seeming questions. Depending on his answers, Ra'd can ask again, in private."
Ebsa ignored the guard frowning down on him.
Heak squirmed. "Have you got a pic of this Ujhu? There's a guy who's . . . well, he's friendly. Just friendly. Nice. He talks to me."
Azko whistled. "Ooo! Heak's got a boyfriend." He dodged a half-hearted fist and tapped away at his comp. "Is this him?"
Heak looked at the picture from the incoming student's sorting, and nodded. "Yep. Drat. I was beginning to think I had at least a little sex appeal."
Various suppressed snickers and coughs. Azko hid his grin behind his oversized computer.
Ebsa just shook his head. "Umm, Heak? You just need to lower your personal shields a bit more and show more glow. When you decide to start accruing boyfriends, you won't have any difficulties. It'll be iron filings to a magnet."
Heak frowned at him. "Really? Everyone says I need to lose weight."
Ebsa shook his head. "I'll bet it all women saying that. Guys? Nope."
"You're fit, healthy, curvaceous and you've got a good face. Excellent bones." Ra'd shrugged. "Haircut, makeup, wardrobe. Like Ebsa says, glow more. You'll knock them dead—when you're ready."
Heak blinked. "Excellent . . . bones? Really?"
Paer grinned. "Don't rush into it. Especially since you'll probably be moving in two and half years. Are you hoping for Interior or Exterior?"
Heak sighed. "Well, I can't see myself doing Teams . . . but a job in Gate City would be cool. And maybe even less politics than Paris. Of course there are all the Regional and Divisional offices. And the Colonies."
Azko nodded as glances turned his direction. "Exterior. Info. Maybe Info Team. I'll have to declare for Teams, or not, after next semester. Not that analysis or cyber security here wouldn't be interesting, but . . . "
Ra'd laughed. "But hacking into a whole new system in a whole new world? How could you possibly resist?"
The boy grinned. "Exactly. Of course that's all predicated on the theory that by the time I graduate, they'll forget all about us getting former director Ujmw removed."
Ebsa cleared his throat. "Yes, our first assignments could be . . . interesting. Right now, though, we need to do some planning. What are they likely to try to do? To us and also in the larger political arena."
"They want us to fail, in school." Heak frowned. "Except Ra'd. I think they want your soul."
Ebsa winced, and nodded. "Although dead will do as well, as far as I can see."
Heak nodded. "And Paer . . . they wanted your political influence, but with this recall movement, I'm not at all sure but that they won't change their mind about just how you could best be used."
Ebsa hunched his shoulders. They're all better at political analysis than I am. And by the alarmed expressions on the guards' faces, they hadn't realized that Paer was no longer in the "more valuable alive than dead" category.
Azko cleared his throat. "There's a cluster. Lots of calls, starting late last night."
"So we can expect something, possibly tomorrow or the next day." Ra'd smiled. "Maybe this time I'll really hurt someone."
Ebsa sighed. "Couldn't they wait until after finals?"
One of the outer guards walked in, snow melting on her cap. "The snow's coming down faster and the wind is picking up. I recommend heading for your dorms."
They all nodded and collected their gear. Climbed into coats . . . his mother's big white parka was coming in handy, very warm.
Azko sniffed in mock offense when Ra'd and Ebsa failed to turn in at their dorm and walked him to his.
"You're close enough to contact us mentally, if there's a problem inside." Ebsa hunched into his coat, wishing he didn't feel like something was lurking in the swirling snow.
"Yes, Nanny."
Ra'd laughed . . . but they stood there long enough to feel the younger man's lack of alarm as he walked inside. They waited long enough for him to get to his room, then they trudged back to their own building. Shook off the snow in the entryway.
Ebsa shed his big white parka. "Hey, we won't have to do the two kay run tomorrow, will we?"
"Softy!"
Ebsa turned to see Oh Hey watching them. Shrugged. "I suppose we could all strap on snowshoes or maybe skis and go for it."
Oh Hey glared, turned away, back to the common room where a vid was blaring. They could hear both male and female laughter. Apparently the Action Trainees were going to party during the storm.
Ebsa headed for the stairs. "I think I'll block the door, to discourage drunken revenge."
Ra'd snorted. "You have nothing to fear from them. Especially drunk."
Ebsa nodded. I don't, do I? I may not have the advanced martial arts, but I'm way ahead on Speed, on magic . . . Wow. "I'm going to make the crass assumption that there will be no morning run, and maybe not even any classes, and sleep in."
Snort.
Ebsa grinned as Ra'd failed to admit he was going to sleep in as well.
He hung his coat and sat to untie his boots . . . sighed and stepped back out and down the hall to the lav. It stank, again. "Stupid pranksters." He watched where he stepped, noted the excrement smeared on mirrors and commode seats. He pissed and headed back . . . Why am I dizzy . . . what am I doing lying on the floor with the Teamers' crap . . .
"Swallow."
Ebsa swallowed, choked, coughed, gagged . . .
"That should hold him. Even if his Withione buddies get within a kilometer, they won't detect him."
Ebsa stopped concentrating on getting his windpipe clear and reached mentally . . . into nothing. Methelformaline. Crap. He jerked his hands . . . tied behind his back. Rough rope. Cracked his eyes open. A useless precaution, no one was watching him. Voices echoed off concrete walls, too confusing to follow the excited, angry medley. Utilitarian lights hanging from the ceiling.
A possible opportunity.
He was well away from the lights. Hard floor, rough concrete. Musty basement odor, with a strong whiff of garbage. He thought of the nastiest things he'd ever tasted, ever smelled. Rolled away from the light, onto his back, over to his left side. Tried to vomit . . . the nasty crap on the bathroom floor, he'd probably fallen in it.
That worked. He gagged and vomited. Not much, it'd been hours since dinner. He spit. Trying to analyze what was in his mouth was enough for another spasm. He spit to clear his mouth, then rolled carefully back to where they'd left him.
So if that was Methelformaline, how much did I absorb on an empty stomach and how long before it wears off?
He left the unanswerable speculation and eyed the figures closer to the light.
Ugh. That was Wedge, so no doubt City would be one of the others. That man with his back to Ebsa . . . surely not the ex-governor.
Principals aren't supposed to get their hands dirty.
Guess that means it's personal.
And fussing at the side, Ilhe.
Oh One dammit! I was hoping Ra'd was wrong about those two obnoxious scholars. He tried to reach out, mentally, and found only fog. Damn, damn, damn.
Ilhe was pacing, turned suddenly to the open doorway. "There you are! Where have you been?"
Ajny walked into the room, stalled out barely into the light, staring at Ebsa. "Oh One. You really did it. I can't believe . . . "
"Shut up! Are you a coward? I can't believe I ever thought you could be an errand runner." The ex-governor stepped forward, and jolted to a halt.
Sensei Ikku stepped around Ajny. "How dare you suborn children to your revenge! How dare you!"
A snicker from Blob as he stepped up behind the Sensei.
Ebsa had a low view of the quick melee. Two
of the strangers staggered back, but the four action trainees were too many for Ikku to do anything but get thrown to the floor and restrained. Ebsa got a close up of the furious Ikku, heaving against the men holding him and getting a pill shoved down his throat, cursing incoherently.
Ebsa looked past them all and met Ajny's gaze.
"Run."
Ajny jerked out of his frozen stance, turned and bolted.
Chaos in the heap of men on top of Ikku, who kicked out and tripped Ape . . . City was out the door, pulling a gun . . .
Ebsa winced as he heard two shots.
City galloped back in. "He got away!" He snatched a coat and ran back out.
"You and you. Get him."
Wedge and Ape hastily grabbed coats and trotted out.
Ikku heaved, but he was thoroughly bound.
Five men left. And only Blob is an action trainee. Of course the Governor is ex-Action Teams, so I guess I ought not . . .
Ebsa jerked back from a vicious kick, rolling to absorb some of the impact.
Blob sneered. "Don't get your hopes up. Your Precious Princess Paer is being a good girl, and doing what she's told to do. Silly girl thinks she can save your life."
"So you'll commit murder? For what? Revenge? The influence of a disgraced ex-governor? Blind striking out in anger?"
Blob sneered and drew his foot back for another kick. Ebsa rolled toward him, into his other leg, knocked him down. Ikku kicked his bound feet and got Blob's head.
Not hard enough, but the man was staggering as he crawled back to his feet.
Ex-governor Orcu grabbed him and hauled him to a chair. "Sit. Keep an eye on them."
He gestured to the others. "You two on either side of the doorway. If the wrong person comes in, kill him."
Ebsa tried a stun spell . . . it faded into the fog . . . but the fog was pulling back, a bit.
He considered a one-way shield. Letting thoughts in, but keeping his own trapped. He hadn't a clue whether that would resemble someone still drugged, but it was all he could think of.
Just give me a little more time.