The marines leveled their weapons at Helena as well, and the senior marine said, “My Lady, if you’ll come with us.”
“If she uses that pointer on the hologram,” Knowles said, “shoot her.”
Helena sensed the marines would follow any order from Knowles. She was trapped.
“Yes sir,” the marine said as he grabbed Helena by the wrist.
“Captain Knowles?” Helena said. “What is your next move?” She handed the pointer to him.
“I-Get her to the brig!”
With a marine on each side of her, Helena was escorted to the lift.
“No good, sir,” the marine said. “Lift’s out.”
Helena sensed some subterfuge from Nathan and Lieutenant Rhom. They rigged something.
As the helmsman resumed his station, he said, “Your orders, sir?”
“Mark fifteen-tango,” Knowles said, “That’ll buy us the distance we need to make the jump.”
“You’re running?” Nathan asked, shocked at the other captain’s cowardice.
“We can’t fight them,” Knowles said.
“We can’t abandon the admiral!”
Helena sensed the admiral now – recently retired from service but still respected in the Human Council. His ship was under attack, yet it was a trap. Everything revolved around the ambassador, but Helena didn’t have the time to focus on the mystery.
“You can win,” Helena said.
“Take her below decks!” Knowles said. “Use the maintenance lift! Just get her off my bridge!”
Helena said, “Lieutenant Rhom, scan those asteroids for their density and crystalline structure. I’m sure Captain Connor will be surprised with what you discover.”
Chapter 9
The marines escorted Helena and Duronius to the maintenance lift and into the brig. While waiting in her cell, Helena sensed the tension on the bridge as Captain Nathan Connor attempted to sway the crew. She hoped he was intelligent enough to realize the mining lasers on their freighter could break apart the asteroids – violently. That would be enough to disable the frigates and secure the rescue of the admiral’s ship.
“I’m sorry, My Lady,” Duronius said from the adjoining cell.
“It was not your fault,” Helena said. “However, now that we have a moment alone, perhaps you can enlighten me on something.”
“Anything, My Lady.”
“Why did you volunteer for this mission?”
Duronius waited for the ship to settle after the most recent impact and said, “I was on my way out of the praetorian guard to make way for younger, more capable soldiers. Then, the emperor came to me and asked for my advice.”
Helena raised one of her eyebrows. “He did?”
Duronius nodded. “He asked me for my best man, someone to protect his daughter on her journey to Terra.”
“And you volunteered…?”
“I have a daughter. She’s grown now, but I cannot imagine any harm befalling her,” Duronius said. “I sensed your father feels the same way about you. Your family has been good to me, so I saw my opportunity to show the emperor my gratitude and respect.”
“My father holds his praetorians in the highest regard,” Helena said. “And, now I see why. I am glad you volunteered, Duronius.”
The ship rattled again, this time from the impact from many small particles. Helena sensed Nathan’s victory on the bridge. They were using the mining lasers.
“Well,” Helena said, “I hope the remainder of my mission is uneventful. I’d very much like to return you to your daughter.”
Duronius studied her for a moment from the corner of his eye. “You’ll make a formidable Empress, My Lady,” he said. “Know that all praetorians respect you as if you already held that station.”
“Thank you, Centurion,” she said. “Your words mean much to me.”
After a few moments of silence between them, he said, “May I ask you a question, My Lady?”
“Of course. Always feel free to speak candidly with me when we are alone, Centurion Duronius.”
“You spoke at my daughter’s graduation seven years ago, at Cyclades.”
Helena nodded, though she didn’t immediately recall any details about that particular event. She gave speeches at dozens of graduations each year.
“You said that Antares needed to remain apart from the galactic neighborhood,” he said. “You said the dilution of our people would result in a loss of everything we were, and everything we are. That to nurture our past and cultivate our future, we must first build from within. Then, once Antares was strong again, we would look upon this new neighborhood around us and decide our part.”
“I remember.”
“Have we come so far in seven years? Is that what this mission is about?”
Helena shook her head. “We are generations away from completing the foundation I spoke of,” she said. “This mission is one of necessity. The Humans and Proxans wage war in our skies. This must stop. Sometimes, need outweighs wisdom.”
“I suspected as much, but I wasn’t sure,” he said. “Do you still believe in your words from seven years ago?”
“I do. With all my heart, I do. This is not how I wanted things to begin with Antares. This isn’t on our terms.”
Helena scanned the ship and found the battle to be over. Though nobody was actively listening to the quiet conversation in the cells, that didn’t mean they wouldn’t play back a recording at some later time.
She didn’t wish to keep Duronius in the dark about their plot, but the safety of the mission’s secret demanded she remain discreet. Nobody outside of her family could know of the true nature of their diplomacy. Treachery waited on the edge of a fang, ready to strike the heart of both the Humans and Proxans. Helena’s goal was to sharpen that edge into a deadly instrument.
“They’re coming,” Duronius said.
Helena nodded and watched as the door to the brig slid open and two Humans entered.
“That was pretty amazing!” Nathan said as he approached her cell. “Though I’m still unsure how you were able to sense that trap or the asteroids.” He motioned to his companion and said, “This is Admiral Stugardt…”
Before the admiral could speak, Helena said, “Did you tend to my guard?”
“Yes,” Nathan said. “We have the ambassador in custody and your guard is in our medical bay.”
“I need to treat him,” Helena said. “Your doctors do not know our physiology and they could harm him. You must release me from this cell.”
“He is stable,” Nathan said.
Helena locked eyes with him and said, “I value my guards the same as you do your crew. You must allow me to see him.”
“Very well,” he said. “Right after I make a proper introduction.”
Admiral Stugardt stepped towards Helena’s cell and said, “I hear I have you to thank for my daring rescue?”
Calm, brown eyes behind silver spectacles returned Helena’s gaze. Though bald, the admiral’s white goatee betrayed his years. This man, like Nathan, had seen his share of battles.
“If you are offering your gratitude,” Helena said, “I accept.”
After studying her for a few moments, Stugardt said over his shoulder, “Marines, you are dismissed.”
Helena sensed Stugardt’s curiosity and Nathan’s surprise. As the marines filtered through the door, Helena said, “Captain, why do you stare?”
“You-” Nathan said. “I’m sorry. It’s just… this is the first time I’ve seen you without your tattoos.”
Helena put her hand to her face and suppressed a gasp. An off-worlder shouldn’t see her bare face. What would her father say? Valeria?
With the marines gone, Stugardt returned his attention to Helena. “Ok, Nathan,” he said, “now can you tell me?”
Helena sensed Nathan’s excitement.
“Of course,” Nathan said. “I just don’t know what to do with this information yet. So, I think it’s best only a few of us know for now.”
“Of course,�
� Stugardt said.
Nathan turned to Helena with a wide smile and said, “Tell him what you can do. Well, just show him. Tell him things about his past, or something.”
Helena shook her head. “I’m not here for anyone’s entertainment. You’ve seen what I can do.”
“She can read minds,” Nathan said. “That’s how she beat me in chess and that’s how she rescued you.”
The admiral’s eyes widened. “Is that so?”
“Yes,” Nathan said, “and she’s on a mission to form an alliance with us. We may just get the upper hand against the Proxans for once.”
“I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself, Captain,” Helena said.
“I know,” Nathan said. “It’s just been an exciting few hours here. There’s no way we should have won that fight.”
“Maybe now you see how I defeated you at chess?” Helena said.
“What?”
“Yes, I was reading your thoughts, however, I also played to your weaknesses.”
“How do you mean?” Nathan asked.
“Well,” Helena said, “as the game unfolded, you planned your next moves and were somewhat limited by your own tactical plan. Sometimes you must improvise.”
Nathan grumbled. “I know how to improvise.”
Stugardt smiled and said, “After what I just witnessed, I think she knows how to improvise on a whole different level.”
“Indeed,” Nathan said. “Well, let’s get you out of this cell. I’ll escort you to the medical bay.”
♦
Helena applied a salve to the praetorian’s wounds, removed the projectiles, cleaned the surgery site, and sedated him for the night. Though Helena offered her services, the ship’s medical staff preferred to tend their own injured Human crewmen.
After a few hours of sleep, Helena joined Nathan in the forward lounge. The void of space dominated the viewport and she suppressed a shiver.
“I’m truly sorry about your guard,” he said.
“He should be fine now,” Helena said.
Nathan sipped his coffee and looked into her eyes. “I promise I’ll get to the bottom of Bergem’s motivations. If that’s even his real name.”
“He was trying to steal something,” Helena said, intrigued and intimidated by the full cup of the Human ‘coffee’ drink before her. The aroma was stronger than most Antaran drinks and after the cheeseburger, she was wary.
“Really? We didn’t find anything in his clothing or in his quarters.”
“I’m certain of it. The Proxans, the admiral, the trap – it’s all connected.”
He leaned closer and whispered. “Can you read his mind?”
Helena lowered her voice and said, “Maybe. However, he is well-trained. It may be difficult. Especially if he suspected my abilities.”
Nathan reclined in his chair and scratched his chin. “Hmmm… I’d get a nasty reprimand if I allowed you to speak with the prisoner. However, if you happened to pass him in the hall while we moved him, that’s different. I mean, there’s no way my marines could predict you’d be in the starboard corridor in twenty minutes.”
Helena smiled. “That would be quite the coincidence.”
“Well,” Nathan said, “I should return to the bridge.”
As Nathan exited, Admiral Stugardt entered.
“Aha,” Stugardt said, “May I take the captain’s seat?”
Helena motioned to the empty chair and eyed her coffee. Was she brave enough to try another Human food?
“I hope you got some sleep after last night’s excitement?” he said.
“Thank you for your concern, Admiral. I am well.”
He nodded and said, “Good. So, tell me of your world. I’ve never been to Antares.”
Checking her internal clock, Helena calculated the time she would need to reach the starboard corridor for her encounter with Bergem. She still had a few minutes.
“Antares has come a long way from our start in the domes,” Helena said. “We have tamed our star and terraformed the surface of our planet. We are close to the vision of our homeworld portrayed in our history books – rivers, mountains, lakes, waterfalls. Our scientists predict we will reach our goal in the next several generations.”
“Impressive,” Stugardt said. “Tell me, if you don’t mind, when did your people first discover their mental discipline?”
“Several generations after the first settlers. The radiation from our star was a blessing and a curse. Widespread birth defects and new diseases almost killed the early Gima before they could flourish. Even today, a successful birth is cause for an entire town to celebrate. We are not as prolific as the Humans or Proxans.”
He raised one of his thin eyebrows. “Is that so? I hear you have six sisters.”
Helena allowed a smile to trespass on her painted face as she thought of her sisters. “Indeed. My bloodline is special.”
“And the titanium on the dark side your planet? How has that resource remained untapped for so long?”
“We have little use for the rigid metal,” Helena said. “Since our population does not expand, we have no need to travel the stars.”
“No explorer spirits amongst the Antarans?”
“A few, from time to time,” Helena said. “However, as a homogenous culture, our people recognize the value of family and the homestead. Wanderlust is an unhealthy endeavor when one considers their own responsibilities to family and state.”
Stugardt placed his elbows on the table and rested his chin in his hands. “I don’t know,” he said, “a little wanderlust is good for a civilization. Exploration opens new horizons, new possibilities. You can only grow so much with inward reflection.”
“Without a perfect sense of self, external experiences cannot be fully integrated with a psyche. How can you know the truth of a thing without knowing the truth of yourself?”
“Self truth,” Stugardt said. “Now that’s something I’ve been meaning to get around to now that I’m retired.”
“I apologize,” Helena said. “I know our cultures are different and I should not project my beliefs upon you.” She scanned his emotions and found his mind alive with activity, but he held back. Something made him uncomfortable. “My ways must seem simple to someone who has travelled the stars and fought battles.”
Stugardt met her gaze and said, “I don’t think there’s anything simple about you, My Lady. In fact, you terrify me.”
Helena read the admiral’s thoughts easy enough. He recognized the threat she posed - not only to his privacy, but to his way of life. Humans valued their independence and individuality. Someone who could read their minds threatens to take away some of that independence. Helena hadn’t considered that angle before, but now she held it in her mind and analyzed the trajectories. Could this endanger the mission? Would the Humans trust someone with her abilities?
Stugardt laughed. “Well, maybe terrify is too strong a word. I’m just glad you’re on your way to speak with my government instead of the Proxans. I, for one, wholeheartedly support your claim that your people can provide valuable assistance to our fleet. Before we met, I was looking forward to enjoying my retirement. Now, I may just stick around to see this war to its conclusion.”
Helena nodded and said, “A warrior’s first and last home is always on the battlefield.”
Stugardt sighed and Helena sensed his thoughts return to his family. He cherished them, much as Helena cherished her sisters.
“Indeed,” he said.
“Admiral, I really must be going,” Helena said. “But I should learn more about the Proxans without further delay. Could you arrange some material for me?”
Stugardt nodded and said, “I’ll make sure you are provided all the material we have onboard. Also, if you like, I’m free tonight. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
Helena rose and the admiral mirrored her motions. “That would be acceptable,” Helena said. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“Yes, of course. Good day, My Lady.”
Helena smiled and picked her way through the chairs and tables of the forward lounge to the exit where Duronious waited.
“We don’t have much time,” Helena whispered to her guard. “Let’s move.”
Duronious followed Helena through the dim passageways. Then, she saw Bergem. Several marines led Bergem from a lift and in her direction. Helena and Duronious passed the group and Helena sensed Bergem’s recognition.
“You… You witch!” Bergem said, struggling against his constraints.
Helena focused on his mind with all of her strength and ability. This was her one chance.
“Don’t trust her!” Bergem said, but one of the marines raised his hand as if to strike and Bergem recoiled.
His mind was not as poised as before and Helena slipped inside like a thief in the darkness. She battered through the orderly partitions and through the streams of his memory. Something was wrong. Things were too perfect. As she extracted the information she required, Helena realized the shocking truth – this man was a machine!
Chapter 10
“A machine?” Nathan said, his eyebrows raised in doubt.
Helena nodded.
Admiral Stugardt leaned towards the captain and said, “It’s not too far-fetched, Nathan. We knew the Proxans were developing this science.”
The admiral, captain, and alien princess sat in Nathan’s office. The hum of the freighter’s engines permeated the room, as did the aroma of untouched coffee. A small window offered no light but an amazing view. The vastness of space and the distance of the stars churned Helena’s heart in directions she hadn’t thought possible. She found it full of possibility and mystery. Perhaps her heart reserved some wanderlust, after all.
Nathan rose and stood at the window. “You said you discovered his secrets?”
Helena nodded. “Yes. He is a thinking machine, constructed to imitate and replace his target. The real ambassador Bergem is dead, killed by this duplicate.”
Nathan shook his head. “The possibilities are frightening.”
“You found nothing on his person or possessions because the data he stole is stored in his cybergenic mind.”
For Duty (Antaran Legacy Book 1) Page 7