Captain Thomas Baldwin had mentioned that he’d never lived on Earon, so he understood little about it, his mother, then grandfather raising him among the center of the Concord. It connected her more with the captain, knowing he’d spent a few years on Nolix at the same time as she had.
They entered the hangar, Brax lowering both vessels to the floor. “Welcome to Constantine.” Brax opened the exit, and waved Basel forward. The man stepped off, his head turning slowly as he took in the hangar.
“Quite the ship.”
“Wait until you see the courtyard,” Reeve told him.
“How long before my baby’s fixed?” he asked.
“Shouldn’t be too long. But we’ll be at Leria soon, and the maintenance crew should be able to fabricate the parts.” Reeve started away. She tapped her wrist comm and spoke into it. “Bridge, this is Executive Lieutenant Daak. We have the prize. Feel free to set course for Leria.”
Ven’s voice carried through. “Very well.”
Basel’s eyebrows lifted. “You work on the bridge?”
“Sometimes.” Reeve began walking away, and he called out to her.
“I’d love to meet with the captain of this fine vessel. Can you make that happen?” he asked.
She listened as her brother replied for her. “We could probably arrange that. Come on, I’ll show you to your quarters.”
Reeve left them behind, returning to the boiler room to ensure things were operating smoothly. Since the would-be terrorist had attempted to destroy them, she’d been keeping a watchful eye on things. She wouldn’t let it happen again.
____________
Tarlen knocked on Treena’s door, and a voice called through a speaker outside it. “Who is it?”
“It’s me… Tarlen,” he said quietly. He was nervous to see her. It had been a while, and Kelli had warned him what it was like in Treena’s room.
A moment passed, and he thought she might not let him inside, but the door slid open eventually, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Hello, Tarlen,” Treena’s voice said from a speaker near the head of her bed. No matter the warnings, he wasn’t prepared for what he saw. Treena was on her back, lifted on four straps that shifted slowly. Her face was burned, scarred, her cheeks hollowed out. He nearly turned away and ran, but this was his friend, and he couldn’t bring himself to treat her with disrespect.
“Hi, Treena. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to visit you,” he said in a rush of words.
“It’s okay, Tarlen. I understand you’ve been busy with classes,” she said.
He beamed at the fact she even knew anything about him. It meant she’d asked someone. “Yeah, I’ve been struggling a bit with it all.”
“Have a seat,” Treena said, and he was unsure whether to look directly at her, or at the computer her voice was emerging from.
He obeyed, sitting beside her bed. She didn’t appear nearly as bad after he’d had a few minutes to acclimate, until he spotted the clear wires meeting in a cluster at the base of her skull. He swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry.
“This is a lot to take in. You don’t have to stay if you don’t want,” Treena said, her voice caring and gentle.
“No. I want to.”
“What classes are you taking?” she asked.
He was enrolled in a few, and he listed them off, ending with the History of the Concord. “That’s the one I’m struggling with the most.”
“That makes sense. You were isolated on Greblok, with limited knowledge of the Concord worlds. I couldn’t imagine having to learn thousands of lessons about each planet partner,” Treena said.
“I haven’t even made it that far. I’m studying the Founders. I can’t believe the amount of power shifts they had in the early years,” he said.
Treena’s body remained frozen, but she laughed through the speakers. “Those are only the ones they let you read about. Believe me, the power struggles have never stopped. They continue today, and likely always will.”
“Why?”
“Equality and balance are possible, but only if you remove egos from the equation.” Treena’s voice was lower than normal as she quoted the Code.
“I’ve heard that one but didn’t really understand it,” Tarlen admitted. Things were so much simpler among the Bacal people. As much as he was enjoying his time with the crew, the complexity of their lives made him pine for his old life even more.
“It’s basically saying that the moment you throw people together, whether it’s humans, Callalay, even Bacal for that matter, things become complicated. Often greed for resources or power takes over, and that’s why there will always be someone, or some group, seeking elevation in status,” she said.
“You should be an instructor,” Tarlen told her. She was far better than the AI program assigned to him.
Treena didn’t say anything for a moment. “That’s not the worst idea I’ve ever heard.”
Tarlen grinned. “How… what does it feel like?”
He didn’t need to explain himself; she seemed to catch on instantly. “Have you ever fallen into a dream where you think you’re awake, but you can’t move? You try to cry out, but your voice is powerless. You hear a noise beside your bed, but your neck won’t turn.”
“I’ve had that dream,” Tarlen said.
“It’s like that. All the time,” she said. “I’m trapped.”
“That’s scary. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s theirs…”
“The Reepa pirates?” he asked.
Another pause. “Tarlen, I understand your enthusiasm for the Concord Academy, but promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“You’re going to see a lot and hear even more things about it. You’ll be offered opinions and views from so many different people, of all races and statuses. Be true to yourself, because you’re a good kid with a big heart. Don’t let the politics and half-truths break you apart like they’ve done to me.”
He sat there speechless. “You’re not broken, Treena.”
“Maybe not… but promise me you’ll stay open-minded,” she said.
“I promise.”
“Good. Now, what can you tell me about the ship’s mission so far?” she asked.
“I haven’t been party to any of the meetings. They don’t allow me on the bridge,” he said.
“Have you tried to gain access?” she asked.
“Not yet. I’ve been hoping the captain would ask me, but he’s busy.”
“Who is he busy with?”
Tarlen sensed Treena was doing this for his benefit and he played along. “The Prime-in-Waiting is on board, and we’re bringing him to Leria.”
“And he’s human, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Why is that important?” she asked. The straps beneath her body whirred as they moved her muscles, keeping them active.
“Because there’s never been a human Prime in all the years of the Concord,” Tarlen said.
“And why is that?” she asked him.
He couldn’t even begin to answer that question. “You’d have to tell me.”
“Maybe I’ll ask you again, when you’re further into your lessons. How far are we from Leria?”
Tarlen thought about it. “A few hours. Four, I think.”
“I was confident we should have arrived already. Was there a delay?” she asked, and he suddenly felt guilty having to tell Constantine’s commander details she should be aware of.
“There was a distress call, and we brought a damaged ship on board,” Tarlen said.
Treena’s eye twitched. It was the first movement of her body he’d seen. “A distress call this close to Leria? How convenient.”
“What does that mean?” he asked.
“Nothing. I’m sure it’s just happenstance. Do you have anywhere to be?” she asked, her voice almost pleading. It tore at Tarlen’s heart to see her like this. It reminded him too much of his sister, in a strange way. An i
dea snapped into his mind, and he stood up, knocking the chair away a few feet.
“Tarlen?”
“Sorry, I have to check something out. I’ll be back, I promise,” he said, realizing that wasn’t enough.
“I understand. Thank you for coming to see me,” Treena told him, and he backed away, excited at his idea, but worried about seeming too eager to leave.
“Thank you for taking the time to talk with me,” he replied. “I’ll try to pay more attention to what’s going on around here, and I’ll fill you in. Maybe we can play our game again later too.”
“I’d like that.”
Tarlen rushed from the room, racing toward Doctor Nee’s medical bay and his sister.
Five
Leria was a magnificent planet, though it was obvious why Nolix was the capital of the Concord instead. The Tekol planet had the infrastructure in place to house billions of people, to dock dozens of cruise ships, to feed half of the Concord should they need it, since they were the hub of all transportation and logistics for the entire group.
Leria was the opposite of that. It sat far from the Border, but also nowhere near the center of Concord space. Where Nolix had space stations reaching out for half of the system, Leria had one, sizeable enough for two cruise ships to dock and receive repairs.
Tom watched the radar, hopeful they’d bypass any funny business at their arrival, and was pleased to find only two blinking lights on the entire map, both small transport vessels meant for in-system travel. After the excitement of the past few months, he wouldn’t have been surprised to find a fleet of Statu warships awaiting his arrival.
“Captain, ground control has reached out and suggested we use their dock, where we can access the Zilph’i transports to the surface,” Zare informed him.
“Inform them we’d prefer to use our own transports, and that we have no need of repairs.” Tom waited as the message was sent.
“Sir, they strongly suggest we use theirs,” Zare returned.
Tom found this a little unorthodox, and in his five visits here, he had never seen this request. “Fine. But relay that I find this unnecessary.”
Constantine moved for the station, and Tom stared at it, impressed with the style and function. Where most of the Concord stations were circular, with arms jutting out to receive vessels, this was a series of girders, each an intricate system of corridors connecting the two major docking bays. They settled into one, the beams resting around them like a cage, and suddenly, Tom felt like they’d made a mistake in coming here.
He did his best to dismiss the concern and rose, calling out names. “Brax Daak and Ven will accompany me to the surface. The rest of you stay diligent, and Zare, should anything need attention and you’re unable to reach me, patch the query through to Commander Starling.”
She nodded her understanding, and Ven rose along with Brax, both moving for the exit. Reeve met them in the hangar, standing beside Prime-in-Waiting Harris and Admiral Benitor, and they left the ship from the exterior door, through the sealed hatch, onto the station orbiting Leria.
A Zilph’i man, tall and dark – the opposite of Ven – greeted them, his white uniform pristine. “Welcome to Leria, esteemed guests. I am Delegate Xune.”
“Thank you, Delegate Xune. We’re looking forward to meeting with you and your counterparts below,” Harris told him before Tom could speak up.
Tom kept his lips shut and only nodded, following along as they headed to the transport. The corridors were tall, wide enough for three of them to walk side-by-side, and Tom moved with Reeve to his left and Ven to his right. By doing this, they remained unanimous as one crew, Brax directly behind them, eying everything and everyone suspiciously, no doubt.
“Have you been to Leria before, Prime-in-Waiting?” Xune asked.
“I fear I have not. I’m glad to be able to remedy that,” Harris replied.
“And you, Admiral?” Xune asked the elderly Callalay woman.
“I’ve been here many times. Likely before you were born,” she said, her words spoken with a sharp edge. That threw Tom a little.
“Then I hope you find it as you remember,” Xune said, his tone remaining agreeable.
The transport shuttle was similar to Constantine’s, but it was stretched out slightly, the hull black where theirs was white. Xune waited for them all to enter before stepping on board, and they each sat along the benches, strapping in before the vessel powered up, lifting them away from the station and lowering to the planet below.
They exchanged a few pleasantries on the way, and Tom tried to recall the last time he’d visited. It had been at least three years ago. Cecilia had been in need of some minor tweaks, and the Zilph’i engineers had created a new Star Drive update that had become mandatory for all cruise ships. Captain Yin Shu had privately spoken out to him about needing their upgrades, saying they were probably adding spy equipment to the vessel.
There was always a level of distrust in his previous captain, and Tom could see why. Even though they were both Founders, there was a long history between the Zilph’i and Callalay people. Tom was happy enough to stay away from the middle of it.
Through the viewer, forests grew visible; thick ancient trees reached to the clouds. He spotted some of the buildings attached to the canopies, pathways landing between the tops of trees, connecting the structures. He’d been up top a few times and had been amazed at the views, even if the air was hard to breathe at such an elevation.
Up there was where he’d seen her for the last time, and this wasn’t a good moment to rekindle old flames. He had important work to do, and she was a distraction he couldn’t well afford. Seeing all of this, remembering Seda from his youth, reminded him of another name Tom hadn’t rolled over his tongue in ages. Lark Keen had vanished here two decades ago, and Tom still didn’t know what had happened to his old best friend.
The shuttle kept moving, descending as they crossed the treeline, heading for the capital city of Ulia. It was so different than Nolix, and Tom found himself grinning as they approached it. He had a lot of good memories here, first coming to visit with Constantine and his grandmother Yanni, the year after his parents were killed.
The buildings were mostly squat and round, windows circling each level, allowing ample light. This region was often warm, close to the center of the planet, with extensive sunlight giving the city a feeling of happiness you didn’t have in cloudy or poor-weather areas.
He’d found it quite exotic: the people so friendly, the food bizarre but appealing. Most humans refused to eat the wriggling worms and countless other strange palate offerings, but he’d been drawn to them as a kid.
Ven was silent, and Tom noticed the man’s hand was shaking slightly. He wondered if that was related to nerves about returning home or something else. “Will you be able to contact your people?” Tom asked him, low enough for no one else to hear.
“I will contact them,” Ven assured Tom, and the captain cut the conversation when the delegate stood.
“Welcome to Ulia,” Xune said as the ship settled to the ground, the door hinging open. Tom found the fragrance blowing in familiar and comfortable, and he took a deep breath.
The others departed, and Tom waited behind with his crew. “Ven and I will be trying to make an excursion while we’re here. I ask that you two stay near the action, keep me informed and up to date on the politics. Reeve, you have local contacts, correct?” he asked.
“I do. I’m planning on visiting the research facility and seeing what’s new and improved. They may be an isolated bunch, but they always keep their fingers on the Concord’s pulse,” Reeve said.
“Brax, you stay close to your sister and hit the barracks, check out what they think. Visit the Academy and do a little digging, okay?” Tom asked.
Brax nodded. “No problem. I’ve always wanted to see what kind of facility they have here.”
“Put your feelers out. With any luck, Ven and I will only be a day or two.” Tom walked outside, the Prime-in-Waiting tal
king with Xune as the delegate pointed to a few of their buildings, explaining what their function was, and who operated out of them.
It was bright, and Tom used his hand like a visor, observing the cityscape. He could still see the sky, and though there were over five million living in the capital city, it was much more spread out, comprised of smaller communities within itself.
A hovercar approached, and Tom noticed the incoming people were all armed, guns in hand, and he tensed at the sight of the tall Zilph’i soldiers nearing them. Brax reached for his own gun, and Tom set a hand on his forearm, shaking his head.
Xune turned to them, smiling. “Do not be alarmed. We are under orders to be cautious with all off-worlders. These are trying times.”
“Surely you have nothing to fear from the Concord,” Harris said. He wore a billowing cloak today, as fitted his position, and it seemed strange on a human. It blew in the breeze, adding to the effect.
“We would be remiss to not consider the Concord a potential enemy, with the sheer amount of lies we’ve uncovered since your return from the Statu world,” Delegate Xune said softly.
Harris seemed about to speak, when Tom took over. “Perhaps we can discuss these findings and come to an amicable agreement,” he said, knowing this wasn’t his place.
“Perhaps.” The Zilph’i man motioned for them to enter the hovercar, and they did so one by one, Brax bringing up the rear. Tom wondered what they’d found in their research on the events of Yollox, or if it had gone deeper.
The trip to their destination was quick, the hovercar big enough to accommodate their group. It was more of a transport bus, with open windows allowing fresh air inside. Tom suddenly wished he was here to relax, but the time for rest was long past. He’d experienced enough of that over the last two months, although sleep had evaded him even then.
Baldwin's Legacy: The Complete Series Page 36