“And what happened to the Toquil?” Mary asked.
“He disappeared. They did attempt to reach his people, to compensate the man for his kindness and bravery, but they’d never heard of the man.” Emperor Bastion stared at Jules while he said this.
Jules had a bad feeling and closed her eyes. A powerful thought burned into her mind. Help me, Jules. Help me, Recaster. It was Regnig! He was alive. She rose suddenly, sending her chair to the ground behind her. “Tell me his name.”
“Jules, what’s gotten into you?” Magnus barked. “Mind your manners.”
But this was too important. She rounded the table, crouching near the Emperor. “What was his name?” The question came out as a desperate whisper.
“He told Manria his name was Regnig.”
____________
Help me, Jules. Help me, Recaster.
At first, I thought I’d dreamt the words, but I hadn’t been sleeping. Sergo had gone to check on our guests, and I’d been drifting off, exhausted from the trying day. We were making progress to the portal world, Exerli Two, but still had a day and a half before arriving.
I heard the imprint from Regnig, felt the anguish of the request.
“I’m coming, Regnig. Don’t give up.” This was good. It meant he was alive, and I was confident he’d been forced onto the Wibox Runner heading for Mount Carve. Our only advantage was that the Wibox weren’t aware they had a tail. We needed the element of surprise.
I considered Sergo’s theory. A monster that ate memories. I’d witnessed a lot of things, but that was a new kind of terrible. I hoped he was wrong. It was likely we’d find some answers at Mount Carve. We’d begun working on a plan of how we’d manage the people when we arrived. It wasn’t going to be as simple as landing and seizing Regnig from their clutches.
This was an operation run by wealthy alien gangsters, and I doubted there would be much room for negotiating from the likes of me. Sergo, on the other hand, might have gained some credibility, had he not thrown it all away during his last visit.
He’d gone on to tell me how disturbed he was by the weapons schematics. He’d stolen the tablet, leaving Fronez behind at Mount Carve. As it turned out, he’d needed to go into hiding after that, and that was when Sergo had first met Kareem while lying low on Haven. Thus history was made. Without finding Sergo all those years ago, I couldn’t have located Mary during her Iskios possession, and I might have lost her and Jules forever.
“They’re sleeping,” Sergo told me. These Kraski ships weren’t built for housing eight people, and all the spaces had been utilized. “Given any thought to the plan?”
“We have one shot at this, and it’ll have to be good.”
“What do they want? A Toquil named Sager,” Sergo said.
“That’s right. If the Wibox have Regnig, and they ditched the guy we have on board with Jomm, they think Regnig’s the one they’re after,” I reasoned.
“Only he isn’t.” Sergo let out a laugh. “Parker, it’s the oldest trick in the book.”
He’d lost me. “What is?”
“The Wibox are scum. Someone on Mount Carve wants Sager, and they grabbed any old Toquil they could get their mitts on. They’re going to offer him as Sager and make the trade.”
“For what?”
“Who knows? That doesn’t matter. All we have to do is convince them he’s not Sager. Maybe they’ll be appreciative,” Sergo said.
“No way. We arrive empty-handed, and they’ll just as soon kill us as well as Regnig and the Wibox. We need some ammunition.”
You can use me. The voice entered my mind, and I spun around to see the Toquil we’d recently freed on Ibarran D.
“Why would you offer to help?” Sergo asked him.
I lived for seven months on that ship. They’re deplorable. Whatever the Wibox are doing, it’s not good. Let’s stop them and save your friend. He was always kind to me. The man’s beak opened, reminding me so much of Regnig.
“I’m Dean Parker, and this is Sergo of the Padlog. I wish we could have met under better circumstances,” I told him.
Yes, I feel the same way, I assure you.
“Kallig, you were on Gretiol when you were taken from your home?” I wanted to hear the full story.
I do not know how the Wibox accomplished this. It’s said they breached the Gretiol security once before, two hundred years ago, he said.
“Tell us more.” Sergo sat lazily in his seat and spun around to face the small man.
Emperor Bastion the Fourth’s daughter was taken. She was gone for a while, returned miraculously. Rumors circulated that she’d killed in order to escape, but not without the aid of one of our people. It’s believed that a brave Toquil helped her, and because of that, the Gretiol have worked beside the Toquil since the day of her homecoming. I am placed as an ambassador, being the fifth Toquil to fill that role since Manria was brought home.
This had to be important. I tried to click the pieces of this together in my head, but was clearly missing some pertinent information. “You said a Toquil helped the girl. Who was it? Did he go to her planet with her?”
No. He only told Manria that he was disappearing. We also do not know why he was imprisoned in the first place. There is much to this story that we haven’t discovered, but we are proud of the Toquil’s actions regardless.
The imprint of Regnig’s desperate plea from a few minutes ago itched inside my mind. “Tell me… what did this Manria say his name was?”
Kallig shifted on his feet, beak opening and closing while he stared at me with his big bright eye. Regnig. He said his name was Regnig.
I froze, only risking movement to peer at Sergo. “How is this possible?” my Padlog friend asked.
“You tell me. Regnig hasn’t divulged much of his past. He preferred not to discuss why he left his home, and why he didn’t return. Then there was the whole hiding in an underground secret library on Bazarn Five, protected by arguably the most formidable man in the universe, Garo Alnod.” Kallig appeared to be lost in our conversation, so I decided to fill him in. “You don’t know the name Regnig?”
That’s correct. We do not have record of such a being on our world. And the Toquil keep accurate records, let me assure you.
After seeing how meticulous Regnig was with his files and books, I didn’t doubt that for a second. “It’s made up,” I blurted.
“What is?” Sergo buzzed.
“His name. He created a new identity. Maybe he was taken by the Wibox, hoping to trade the Toquil for goods and supplies. It seems to be how they operate. Only Regnig managed to flee, and he did so with the Gretiol heir, Manria. She knew him as Regnig because that’s what he told her,” I suggested.
“I can see that. Makes sense, actually. You remember how reluctant Regnig was to leave the comfort of his library. It took some convincing to relocate in Haven at the Gatekeeper’s Academy, but he did it, on the condition of private accommodations. Someone was after Regnig. And I feel like there’s more to it than just revenge for escaping two hundred years ago,” Sergo added.
I concur. The Wibox are strong of body but weak of mind. They are focused on one thing, and that’s survival. They don’t think more than a few weeks ahead, ensuring food, water, and fuel, stopping at various ports to pick up and drop off supplies, things of trade, including beings like myself. I cannot imagine them holding a grudge through multiple generations. Kallig walked across the bridge and craned his neck to see my radar screen.
“If they weren’t searching for him because of a grudge, what does that leave us?” I asked.
Sergo was the first to answer. “They were hired.”
“Hired?”
“That’s right. Someone asked the Wibox to track this particular Toquil down. What did you say his name was?” Sergo asked Kallig.
Sager. That name is vaguely familiar to me, but without my people’s records, I cannot verify its importance. Forgive me, but I’ve spent the last forty years with the Gretiol, focused on interplanetary
relations.
“And how is that going?” I asked.
As well as you can expect. The Emperor is frugal when it comes to trade.
“They’ve recently joined our Alliance of Worlds,” I informed him.
Kallig tilted his head to the side and stared at me. Is that so? I’d heard rumblings, but I’ve been out of the loop for seven months. Perhaps the Toquil should discuss entry into this Alliance as well.
“My wife, Mary Parker, oversees the Board, and she’s told me all correspondence with your people has been rejected by your leaders.” I wasn’t bitter, and neither was Mary. Not every race wanted to be part of a group beyond themselves, and we respected that.
I’d say now is the time. The universe expands, the enemies gather. An Alliance might be what we require.
I assumed that Kallig learning that the Gretiol had joined was what he needed to change his mind about our partnerships. “Mary would love to hear that. Would you act as an emissary for us?”
“Parker, you’re forgetting we’re in the middle of a pressing mission,” Sergo said.
“Right. We have to find Regnig; then we’ll talk.” I looked at the dash, seeing we were a full day from reaching Exerli Two. “Kallig, would you introduce me to the rest of you?”
They may have roused from their deep sleep. I do not know them well, since I was recently dropped off with Jomm. If I haven’t said it yet, thank you for rescuing us. I’ve been in shock, as are the others.
“Don’t worry about it. We understand.” I rose, stretching my spine, and followed Kallig to the bunk rooms.
Dean Parker, this is Othus, from the planet Farep.
The being was four feet tall, covered in thick brown hair. A pink nose protruded from behind its locks, and I spotted white eyes nestled inside, watching me. It squeaked a few words I didn’t understand, and I turned on my translator. “…rescuing us. We greatly appreciate it and are grateful the one named Jomm has been dealt with. The spirits will avenge all the blood captives from his enclosures, and we imagine there are many.”
Othus scurried away, crawling onto the bed.
I set a palm on my chest. “Othus, we are honored to have you on board, and will do everything in our power to return you home.”
This is Eretan Six of Inlor.
“Welcome, Eretan,” I said. “We are united with one another, and I assure you, we will bring you home to Inlor. I’m good friends with your leader, and my daughter went to the Academy with many of your people.” My words translated, but she returned my comments in English.
“We know who you are, Dean Parker. I can’t believe you came to my rescue.” She bowed her head, her skin pale, her eyes milky.
“When were you taken?” I asked.
“I was traveling through the Hexilar system on a research mission when we were attacked by pirates. This was three years ago.”
Her voice broke my heart. “Three years…”
“Jomm acquired me months ago. He wasn’t able to trade me, and my food rations had been lessened every day. I think he was resigned to leave me to die.”
“You’re safe now,” I assured her.
We met the others: first, a hulking Keppe who claimed to have been abducted by Wibox a decade prior. He’d only recently been brought to Ibarran D and sold to Jomm. Next was a Molariun woman, barely more than a girl. She reminded me so much of Rivo when I’d first found her, skinny and near death on Pleva’s ship.
Lastly, we went to the cargo hold, and the moment we entered, I knew something was wrong.
He’s expired. Kallig grimaced as he lifted the blanket, pulling it onto the being’s face, and draped it gently overtop his body. We gave him the shots, but as I feared, he was too far gone.
I couldn’t tell his origin, but we’d figure that out later. “I can’t bring him with us,” I warned Kallig. “When we get to Exerli Two, we might have a bit of a hike to the portal. Transporting a body will be prohibitive.” I walked to the far side of the room and opened a freezer. It was only half full of extra rations, and I was confident we’d be able to stow them in the kitchen. After a while I’d transported the frozen food, and with Sergo’s help, we placed the deceased man inside, knowing we’d have to bring him home when this was dealt with.
With that done, I finally agreed with Sergo’s advice to get some rest, and curled up in the corner of the bridge. I was out before I took my third breath.
Five
The Empress and her husband had left with their regiment of guards an hour ago, while the sun rose on New Spero’s Terran Thirty site. Jules hadn’t joined the affair after a restless sleep. She sensed Regnig’s words echoing inside her mind, and she felt so helpless sitting here while Papa scoured the galaxies in search of their friend.
It was time to get to work, but Jules’ energy was sapped.
There was a knock on her door, and she opened it, finding Dr. Henrick Swan in the hall. He grinned and offered her a cup of steaming coffee. “I know you’ve been busy lately, Jules, but you’ve canceled two weeks in a row. I was wondering if you had a few minutes to talk.”
She had a half hour before she needed to be at the training field. “When?”
“Now.” The doctor stood his ground and motioned for her to follow. Jules obeyed, wearing her newly minted uniform. Yesterday, she’d donned it with pride, but the feeling had subsided after hearing Regnig’s name off the lips of the Emperor.
His office was near the front foyer, and he opened the door, holding it for her to enter. She smiled, despite her nerves being on edge. It was oddly comforting here, with the fake plants and the warm color tones. He pointed to the chair, and she went to it, sitting with her cup of coffee.
“I’m sorry I bailed on our appointments. I’ve been… preoccupied.” She blew on the hot beverage and took a sip.
“I can see that. Congratulations on the promotion,” he said with a smirk. “I imagine it’s added some pressure to you and Dean?”
“I haven’t had a chance to consider that yet,” she admitted.
“Is this about your friend or your father?” Swan grabbed a tablet, swiping through screens, and Jules guessed he’d located her file, ready to add notes.
“Both, I suppose. You know how close Regnig and I have become. He’s like…”
“A grandfather?” Swan finished.
Jules laughed. She hadn’t thought of it that way. Regnig had just been an older friend. “I didn’t know any of my grandparents.” They hadn’t discussed this before.
“I assumed as much. How does that make you feel?”
“Fine. After the Event, a lot of people died, mostly the elderly. The Kraski vessels weren’t equipped for survival. They were only meant to transport our people to their deaths. You ask one in three people my age, and they never met their grandparents either.”
“Such a tragedy.”
“I suppose. It’s harder on my parents, because they lost their loved ones. I didn’t know them.”
“And your children. Are you worried that with your father running around, throwing himself in danger, that they’ll grow up without knowing him?” Swan’s foot wiggled, his legs crossed. He held his glasses in one hand, biting down on one of the arms.
“What? Children? I’m still a kid myself,” she exclaimed.
“Jules, you’re eighteen. In a serious relationship with a man over twenty. Do you think Dean hasn’t considered the idea of children?” Swan asked.
Jules set her cup on the coffee table and sighed. Some meetings with the doctor were more revealing than others, but this one was downright bizarre. “I don’t think Dean’s thinking about a family.”
“Why not?”
“Because we haven’t even…” She stopped herself, glancing at the doctor. “Can we change the subject?”
“So you don’t worry your father might not return?”
“There we go again. Papa is the most resilient man I know…” She stared at the generic office art on the wall and huffed a breath. “But I worry about him a
ll the time. One day he might not come home, and for the record, I haven’t considered how my kids would grow up without him around, but now I am. They’d hear of his incredible life but never get to see the real version. The happy, and funny, and caring side so few know about.”
“It’s obvious you adore your dad. How do you feel having him gone once again?” Swan asked.
“Crappy. But if he wasn’t out there, I’d be searching for him myself. And that was their choice.”
“Whose?”
“Mom and Papa’s. They decided he would go instead of me. It was the only way for them to convince me to stay,” she admitted.
“Does that make you feel guilty?”
Jules almost rolled her eyes, wanting to tell the doc to use some new material, but he was onto something. “Sure. If anything happened to him, I’d wonder if things would have been different had I gone in his place.”
“Jules, how does it feel to no longer be a Deity? To be flesh and blood?”
“Thanks for the reminder. You sound like my mother,” Jules griped.
“Have you accepted this yet?” He asked it without malice, but she was getting tired of the inquisition.
“Yes! I know that I’m just a girl. And now that I don’t have my powers, I have to live with being a human, with all the weaknesses that comes with. And I also understand that giving me a title like Ambassador, and promising me a future captaincy and possibly the title of Fleet Admiral, are only distractions.” Jules rose, waving her hands in the air as she paced his office.
Henrick Swan tapped the glasses arm against his chin. “You think they’re false promises?”
“Maybe not, but I’m sensing that’s a possibility.”
Doctor Swan pointed to the chair. “Would you like to take a seat?”
Jules obliged, blowing the wind from her sails. “All I want is for Regnig to come home, and for Papa to be safe.”
“Is there more?”
“More to what?”
“Anything else bothering you?”
The words came easier than she’d expected. “I want everyone to stop pitying me.”
The Survivors | Book 16 | New Lies Page 5