Brax shrugged. “Strange luck, I suppose.”
“I wouldn’t call it luck, Lieutenant Commander Daak. Thank you for warning us. The coronation is only a day away, and we don’t have a Prime to give the Concord,” Benitor said.
“I’m confident the Founders will agree on someone,” Nee said softly.
____________
The coronation chamber was smaller than Tom remembered it being, but back then, everything had been new and exciting, his own future bright with unlimited possibilities. Now the chamber felt restricting, and for the second time in a month, Tom wished he could leave Nolix and return to the distant stars. He didn’t belong on the surface.
Constantine had spent so many years living here; Tom didn’t know how the old man had done it. Maybe if every mission was like Tom’s first two as captain, he could understand wanting to hang up the First Ship logo after a few years; but at that moment, watching the Founders representatives file into the room, his collar was too tight, the air too stale.
Reeve Daak was beside him, her formal black uniform and big smile making her look like a shining star herself. Brax was larger than life beside her, a bead of sweat across the top of his bald head. Doctor Nee’s white hair was a sharp contrast against his dark uniform, and he met Tom’s gaze, nodding in return.
Tom watched Tarlen soaking in the event. He was glued to each detail, asking Reeve who everyone was and what they were doing. He was pleased that the kid was so interested in the Concord, and saw a lot of himself in the Bacal boy. They were both orphans, and it made Tom want to keep him under his wing, to show him that life could go on even after such a catastrophic event.
The room was round, and there were a hundred rows circling the center stage where twenty seats were filling up, five from each Founding race. The five partners that had left in the aftermath of the return of Constantine three months ago had been reinstated, and a member from each partner world was in attendance today. Penter was there from Greblok, having taken a leadership role among his people.
He stood a few rows behind, and Tom glanced over, seeing the same appearance of rapt attention on his face that Tarlen had. Tom laughed to himself and continued to watch as the last of the Zilph’i delegates shuffled in, taking their seats.
The Tekol were presented in orange uniforms, always opting for colorful options. The Callalay were in muted beige tones, never seeking attention. The humans from Earon wore white three-piece uniforms, and Tom felt Harris’ loss as they sat down. He’d been replaced by a woman named Tess Longshade, and Tom was surprised by how young she was. Even from his spot in the fourth row, he saw the nervousness in her eyes.
There were ten active admirals now: a string of promotions had been given in preparation for today, and Tom smiled as he recognized familiar faces among them, older peers who’d been captains for a long time in the fleet. He noticed that the previous Prime Pha’n was nowhere in sight, and that was probably for the best.
Admiral Jalin Benitor took the stage, and the packed theatre quickly silenced.
“Welcome to the most important day in the Concord in decades. We are here to elevate one Founding member to Prime. Our union has been at odds for a long time, secrets have been unburied, and that’s now a thing of our past.
“With the assistance of Captain Thomas Baldwin…” Benitor stopped as cheering erupted around the room, and Tom felt a mix of emotions as the attention turned to him. Even his own crew were staring at him, all smiling and clapping. When it was quiet enough, Benitor broke in again. “We have been able to save Greblok and institute a new partner into the Concord. The Bacal people have already proven their value, and as we seek to expand our reach, it will be with them as an example to others.
“Captain Baldwin has also managed to offer us intel of the Statu home world, and we are working diligently to utilize this information to the fullest extent. As I said, no secrets. We will be returning to end the Statu threat, once and for all.” Another round of applause. Tom had suspected this was coming after Reeve explained what was happening at the engineering facility in Ulia. They wanted a wormhole generator so the Concord could send a fleet to fend off the last warships.
“The crew of Constantine also managed to break free from a trap set by the Assembly. Lark Keen, the constant thorn in our sides, is now imprisoned indefinitely. Let that be a lesson to anyone who rallies against us.” Benitor smiled, looking to Tom. He hadn’t been expecting all the praise and suddenly wished he was tucked away at the rear of the room, instead of front and center where most eyes could seek him.
“The Ugna have also joined the Concord, making this a triumphant time for us. Welcome, Elder Fayle,” Benitor said, and this did surprise Tom. She stood in her seat across the theatre, and accepted the applause with grace. Seeing her made him miss Ven’s presence even more.
“With that being said, we are here to name our Prime and leader for the next extended term, and we’re proud to say we have elected a hard-working delegate from Zilph’i. The Zilph’i are talented, intelligent, and calculating, and perhaps a little too self-sufficient in years prior. We are thrilled to have them opening their doors wider to us, so that we can benefit directly from one another’s assets.
“Delegate Xune, will you please rise?” she asked, and the applause grew even louder. Beings from dozens of races rose, calling out their support as Xune stood, nodding courteously. He walked to the center of the stage, behind the podium where Benitor was, and she turned to him.
“Delegate Xune, do you accept the role of Prime?” she asked.
“I accept.”
Even Tom hadn’t been positive what the Concord had been planning, but judging from the unified reaction around the room, this was the right decision.
Tom’s gaze drifted around the theatre and settled on a tall pale man at the rear of the space. He was standing by the exit, wearing an Ugna robe. Tom’s chest constricted as he stared at the ghost.
It was Ven.
____________
The last week had been a hectic one as Reeve and her team had worked tirelessly to get Cleo up to speed. It had taken a lot of work, but there she was, cradled on the top of Constantine, ready to depart when necessary.
Reeve had kept herself busy with work, trying not to let the stress of their recent events alter her mood. It wasn’t only that Brax had nearly been killed again; it was more than that. Reeve was proud of herself. She’d always been smart. As far back as she could remember, she’d had her face in a manual of some sort, scrolling through countless texts on her father’s tablet, searching for a deeper understanding of everything she came across.
During the trap by the Assembly, Reeve had been forced to rely on her intelligence, and by doing so, she’d saved the crew from what could have been a horrible demise. Lark Keen wasn’t going to be intent to let them go. No, he would have used them as an example of his power. He would have killed them all and delivered an empty Constantine to Nolix, exhibiting his strength.
Her own ingenuity had saved them, as Brax had reminded her countless times over the previous few days. Reeve stepped down the ladder leading to Cleo, and noticed Brax there. “You good, sis?’
His expression looked as it had each time she’d seen him lately: worried. “I’m fine, Brax. Would you leave me alone?”
“I can’t. I know what it’s like to be put in critical situations like that. I remember the first time my hands controlled the pulses that destroyed an enemy. It can be difficult to live with the decisions you make.” Brax’s hands were on his hips, and she walked past him, bumping him slightly with her shoulder as she entered the elevator. He followed.
“I said I’m fine. I did what I needed to save our people. End of story. I’m not going to dwell on it,” she said, but the words were easier to say than the truth. She’d been struggling with the lives she’d snuffed out, even if they were members of the Assembly. Regardless, she tried not to regret her decisions, because she was logical, and her actions had been justifiable.
“Okay. I’ll let it go. Oh, good news for once,” he said, smiling. The elevator opened, and they stepped onto the bridge. The sanitation crew was there, giving the bridge a once-over before they departed on their new mission. Reeve smiled to the workers, and left with Brax trailing behind.
“What’s the good news?” she asked.
“Delivery came an hour ago. Marked for one Commander Starling. I think it’s what she’s been waiting for,” Brax said.
Reeve slapped him on the arm. “Why didn’t you lead with that? Come on, help me bring it to her room.”
Epilogue
“Did you study Potern versus Situs Four?” Constantine asked Tarlen.
“If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been a little busy with… terrorists and coronations,” Tarlen said with a wry grin.
Kriss rolled her eyes. Apparently, she didn’t impress easily. “I did, Con. Potern claimed that the Yulaz from Situs Four stole from them. Potern was the first world to send people to the moons of Lunama, and in doing so, they planted ownership markers on each of the ten moons.
“The Yulaz arrived a hundred years later, and set up camp on the largest moon. When the people of Potern returned, they found their moon was inhabited.” Kriss spoke smoothly and succinctly, impressing Tarlen. He hadn’t seen her actually put forth any effort on her classes yet, and was glad she had finally taken an interest.
“Very good, Kriss. Now what did…” Constantine’s AI projection flickered. “Tarlen, Doctor Nee would like to speak with you. You’re dismissed.”
“No fair,” Kriss said. “Can we call it a day?”
Constantine’s face was unreadable as he spoke. “Sure. Why not?” He vanished, leaving the two students alone in the classroom.
“Tarlen, you’re allowed time on the bridge, and you’re buddies with the doctor. What’s he like?” she asked.
“He’s great. Really nice, and he’s hilarious,” Tarlen said.
“What about his…” She glanced at her hands.
“He’s a Kwant, yes, but he’s no danger to us,” Tarlen said firmly.
“Good to know. I’m glad you’re here, Tarlen.” Kriss’ hair was loose today; long curly red locks hung past her shoulders. They stood, and she blocked his exit. “I heard you did some pretty impressive things for us. I just wanted to say thank you.”
Tarlen stood still, hardly able to look her in the eyes. “You’re welcome.”
She reached out, lightly grabbing the fingers of his left hand. She stepped in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. One minute she was there; the next she was gone, the moment passed.
Tarlen grinned the entire way to Nee’s medical bay, and he waved to Kelli as he entered. She waved back, busy with a patient. “He’s in the other section,” she advised him.
Tarlen knew what that meant, and his stomach sank. Was something wrong with Belna? Nee didn’t normally call for him through Constantine, and that meant it might be important. He jogged to the rear of the room, entering through the sliding doors.
Belna was on a bed, facing up, and Nee was leaned over her. “Tarlen, my boy. Come here,” Nee ordered.
The second he walked to the far side of the bed, he saw the series of thin wires running through the table and into his sister’s head. “Now, don’t get scared. I took your idea from last week. What if Belna was inside here, locked away by the Statu? So I had the least invasive surgery implants done, and now I’m about to plug her in.”
“You did this without my permission,” Tarlen said quietly, but without conviction. He knew Nee was only trying to help, plus seeing Treena had sparked the idea, and he’d been the one to mention it to the doctor. He glanced at Nee, who was busy fiddling with a harness. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t tested it,” Nee said.
“How does it work?” Belna was still, wearing a white robe, lying on her back, staring blankly with white eyes toward the ceiling. She could move, but only when prompted to. They fed her some soft solids, but mostly liquids to prevent her from choking.
“Much like Commander Starling’s. I’ll plug it in, and Belna will be able to speak to us through these speakers... if she’s there,” Nee added. The speakers were embedded into the sides of the table, and Tarlen waited impatiently as the doctor continued through his last few steps of preparation.
A few minutes later, the process was complete, and Doctor Nee stood up straight, double-checking his work. The wires protruded from the base of Belna’s skull, and Tarlen hated seeing her plugged into a machine like that, but what choice did he have?
“I’ll turn the program on now.” Nee typed instructions on his console, and the wires began glowing bright blue.
Tarlen didn’t know what he was expecting to see, but when nothing happened, he feared the worst. He leaned over her, holding her hand as he spoke softly. “Belna? Are you there? It’s me, Tarlen.”
She didn’t move, but he felt her fingers tighten on his. That had happened before; it could be a coincidence.
Doctor Nee intruded. “Belna, I am Doctor Nee, and I’m here to help you speak. It will be strange, but all you have to do is think of what to say, and it will pass through our speakers. You can speak to your brother if you’re able. Don’t be afraid. Together, we can bring you back to us. I’m confident of this.”
Tarlen thought he might have felt her hand twitch again, but she was unable to speak.
“It didn’t work,” Tarlen said.
“Or she’s not there. But I see spikes. Look.” Nee pointed to a diagram, with graphs and lines jumping up and down.
Tarlen couldn’t do this any longer. If she was really gone, maybe they should do her a favor and…
“Tarlen?” The voice was small, almost silent, but he heard it.
“Belna! I’m here.” Tarlen felt her hand move again.
“Tarlen. Help me.”
He glanced up at Nee, whose smile vanished at her first words.
____________
The twins left her room, and Treena finally took a step, not trusting herself to do it in front of an audience. After three months trapped in her real body, she wanted to cry at the freedom of moving in another state-of-the-art artificial host.
She stared at herself in the mirror again. She’d asked for a few modifications this time. Her hair was slightly longer, blonde and shoulder-length. Just long enough to braid if she chose, or to tie behind her head.
Treena glanced at her hands, grateful for the scar on her palm from that time she’d injured it rescuing Felix from the storage facility on Huxin Three. She smiled at the memory of him sitting there eating some local frozen dinner that, according to him, tasted like space worms.
Her steps were sure of themselves, no longer staggering and awkward like the first time she’d woken up with her consciousness inside a robotic body. This one felt good, solid, and her heart swelled at the effort the engineers had gone through to make this even better than the previous model. She’d managed to destroy their first work, but now, she wasn’t confident she’d be able to sacrifice herself quite so easily.
Treena noticed a note appear on the tablet, and she picked it up, tapping the message.
We live only once, let yourself be at peace with who you are. Treena knew this was from the Code, and she smiled as she read on.
You’re an inspiration to many here at the Concord, Commander Treena Starling. We’ve created two more models, just like the one you’re currently using, as backups. If anything happens again, you won’t have to wait months for a replacement.
Be well, and thank you for everything you’ve done.
Admiral Benitor
There was a secondary message, one sent right after the first.
Take care of him for me. He’s important, even if he doesn’t know it yet.
Benitor didn’t have to tell Treena of whom she was speaking. Thomas Baldwin was vital, that much was clear. He might not have done all the actions himself to stop the Assembly, but his team’s belief in him, and the lev
el of competency he demanded, had only assisted their eventual victory.
She straightened her hair, feeling it even more than before with her fingertips. She inhaled, surprised she had a heightened sense of smell. This robotic body was going to be amazing to operate.
Before leaving the room, she walked to her real body, crouching at the bedside. “We’re going to be okay, Treena. We really are.” Her own eye twitched, and she smiled at herself, no longer scared to see who she really was. She’d been stuck inside there for weeks on end, and had learned so much more about herself. She’d managed to guide Tarlen and keep him and the rest of the crew safe, and that told her there was more to Treena Starling than a strong body.
She exited her room, leaving the lights on half brightness, and stepped into the hallway, ready for their new mission.
____________
“You did well, sir,” Constantine said.
Tom nodded absently, staring out the viewer along his office wall as countless spaceships moved slowly past Constantine.
“Are you even listening?” the AI asked.
“Sorry. I have a lot on my mind.” Tom turned his attention to Constantine. “Is it strange?”
“Is what strange, sir?”
“Calling me sir. Being an AI projection on a cruise ship named after you. You seem so real,” Tom told the odd version of his grandfather.
Constantine appeared to consider the words. “Not really, Captain. I’m programmed to be what I am.”
“But you have memories. All of them.”
“That’s correct.”
“Do you remember what you said to me after my parents died?” Tom asked.
Constantine walked over to the viewer, staring out as he spoke. “I told you I would be there for you. I said I’d never be a replacement for your parents, but I’d never let you down.”
Baldwin's Legacy: The Complete Series Page 58