by Mike Smith
“What have you done?” she uttered despairingly.
“What have I done?” Robert echoed in disbelief. “I am not the one that has instigated a military coup against the Confederation. I am not the one that in one fell swoop has consolidated all power into my own hands. I am not the one to arrogantly declare myself the last Emperor of the Imperium.”
“Can you not see that he is hurting?” she replied. “Can you not see that from his perspective there is no other choice? All other possible avenues have now been closed to him and he walks this path in darkness, alone?”
“I just see a man that has profited handsomely from the warning that I sent him.”
“You have no right to judge him, not when it is you that has stolen all hope from him.” She tried to imagine being in his position, thinking that in one strike everything that he cared about had been taken from him. What would she do? “You have taken everything from him,” she tried to convince him. “Look past his words, look into his eyes. There is nothing left, only despair. You must let me talk to him, as I can still reach him. I can still convince him to change direction, away from this destructive course he has set.”
“I cannot do that.”
“I don’t understand. Why not? What is it you are not telling me?”
“It’s not just what I want,” Robert said hesitantly, looking unsure. “I am responsible for millions of lives. If the people behind this discover that I have helped him, they will destroy me, us—utterly.”
“Then tell Jon. He will help you.”
“I cannot do that. This isn’t my fight. We will continue to stay neutral and you’ll stay here with me, under my personal protection.”
“Somebody once told me that you cannot hide behind your responsibilities forever. At some point you need to choose a side, to do the right thing.”
“That sounds like a very wise person,” Robert sighed.
“My husband, Jon, once said those words to me.”
“Then you have my sympathies, as he really doesn’t understand who he’s dealing with. I cannot warn him, for he cannot win this war and I have far too much to lose. You are welcome to wander freely around my personal apartments, but I am afraid that you cannot leave and I cannot allow you to contact anybody. For what it’s worth I am sorry. Truly I am. Your husband once taught me the meaning of true honour and respect, and for that I can never repay him. It’s just a shame that he has lost his.” With those parting words, Robert Calis, leader of the Callas Star Cluster, stepped through the door and was gone.
Sofia did not need to approach the door to know that it would be locked. This prison might have been far more comfortable than most, but it was still a jail. Instead she turned her gaze back to the final frame of Jon’s broadcast, still frozen on the view-screen. His expressionless face and piercing eyes still staring out at her. She shuddered, wondering what he was going to do next. What he would do when he found those responsible for the attack, as Sofia was in no doubt that he would. For she believed him when he said he would spend the rest of his life trying and, when he found them—she shuddered again.
*****
Sofia trailed her fingers through the crystal clear waters, watching in fascination as the wake caused by her fingertips resulted in ripples emanating away in all directions. Some of the ripples reached the edge of the pond and rebounded, colliding with others, causing new disturbances in the surface of the water.
Staring at her reflection in the now still waters, she noticed that her skin had turned a sickly-white; she could not remember the last time that she had felt sunlight on her face. She had not been outside once in the several weeks since she had regained consciousness. She knew she had also lost weight, and was starting to look painfully thin, but still she had no appetite. For a person who had always remained constantly active the enforced idleness bothered her most of all. She found her thoughts constantly wandering, was unable to maintain her focus, her concentration slipping away from her, her brain unable to keep even a single continuous notion. She found herself constantly worrying about Jon, for she found an emptiness inside of herself, a profound sadness that would not disappear but, instead, just seemed to grow daily. She wondered if it was her own pain at their separation, or his, for they seemed to share an inexplicable bond, a constant awareness of each other.
She giggled as she felt the fish nibbling on her fingertips. They had been startled away at first, but now that her hands had stilled they had returned, darting first one way, then the next, before swimming back to once again bite at her fingers. These days the fish were her only constant companions. The only other bright spot of her day was the few hours Robert managed to set aside for her each evening. The highpoint of this time was when he shared what little news that he had heard about Jon during the day. She had still not managed to convince him to contact Jon and let him know that she was alive, safe and well. What was worse were the endless hours that she spent alone, hearing Robert’s words echoing around her head, that Jon had been forewarned, yet had done nothing. That it was because of him that her father was dead. She yearned to talk to him so much it was becoming an obsession. Just to hear his words of reassurance that he did not know in advance, that he had done everything in his power to stop what had happened…
With a light touch to her cheek a concerned voice behind her gently chided. “You need to eat more, my dear. You are looking far too thin and pale. You know that my physician warned that you are not eating enough.” The light touch trailed along her cheek to brush a lock of hair that had come loose back behind her ear.
Just like every time before, she shied away from his touch, but each time it was becoming harder. For his touch reminded her so much of Jon, and she could barely remember what it had been like to be touched by him. But while Robert’s touch was soft, gentle, it did not leave a trail of fire across her skin like Jon’s touch used to. She wondered if she would ever see him again and feel his touch? “How long are you going to keep me here, imprisoned?” she instead asked.
Robert sighed, “I don’t know. It’s hardly me setting the timetable for events these days.”
“Then who is?” she quickly inquired. Robert had remained purposefully vague about who was behind the attack, instead just suggesting she was better off, and safer, not knowing.
Once again he just shook his head in reply.
“So how did you know about the attack?” she instead asked, deciding to try a different approach.
“My mother. She was not fond of your father, or Jon Radec for that matter. She made her feelings well known to all. So the people behind this approached her with an offer. They needed money to finance their plans and, in return, they offered her a position of power in the new administration. Naturally my mother accepted. I knew nothing about this. It was not until after her death that I found out. I did what I could to warn the Confederation, as I sent my most trusted aide to warn them. I didn’t know who else was involved, who I could trust, but I remember the Commander was a man of honour, of integrity, so we agreed that my aide would contact him personally.”
“I remember Jon telling me about the message. He said that he was going to meet whoever sent it, but that was the last that I heard of him.”
“So he did pass on my warning, yet your husband did nothing. His inaction damns him Sofia. Why can you not open your eyes and see that?”
“So what about me?” she asked, not wanting to dwell on that question. “How come you managed to save only me?”
“I was worried about you. I knew that there was going to be an attack, but not the specifics, so I sent a covert team to shadow you. I gave them orders to intervene only if your life was in danger.”
“And my father?”
“I am sorry, no. He was in the Senate at the time of the attack, far beyond my reach. There was nothing that I could do.”
Sofia watched as the tears from her cheeks splashed into the still pool, once again causing the fish to dart away, startled.
Not knowing wha
t he could say to ease her pain, he instead wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. “Come on, let’s go and get some dinner. I know for a fact that the chef has prepared all your favourite dishes. At least I instructed him to, and he better have if he still wishes to remain in my employment tomorrow.”
Sofia looked up at him with a weak smile of thanks. He really was very sweet when he tried to be charming.
*****
The abrupt emergence of several massive wormholes denoted the arrival of the Confederation taskforce as it emerged from faster-than-light travel. The taskforce was on a high state of alert as they were unsure who, or what, might be awaiting them. After carefully scanning local space and not finding any imminent threats, they powered down their weapon systems, moving deeper into the Callas Star Cluster, their final destination Callas Prime, home to Senator Calis, one of the last surviving Confederation Senators.
Miranda tapped her fingers impatiently against the armrest of the Executive Officer’s chair on the bridge. When she had first arrived on the warship, the Executive Officer had hurriedly abandoned his seat, offering it to her instead, and no amount of convincing had been able to change his mind. Miranda privately thought that Jon had given personal instructions to the crew, as they seemed to treat her with a level of respect far greater than her civilian position entitled her to. She wondered what Jon had offered, or threatened them with, to ensure their compliance. Mostly Miranda was just frustrated at the length of time it had taken to ready the taskforce. Jason had warned her, time and time again, that the Confederation Navy moved at its own pace, and it had taken many weeks to ready the taskforce. Most of the time had been taken awaiting the arrival of their heavy destroyer, Warspite, as Jason had informed her it was on patrol far out on the Rim of known space when it had been recalled. Miranda had no idea why Jon had insisted on this warship, and this particular captain.
Over sixty years old, Captain Vickers was a grey haired, grizzly old bear, who had served in the navy most of his life first in the Imperial Navy and then with the Confederation. Miranda had privately asked Jason one evening why he had not been purged along with the other Imperial Fleet captains, as few had survived. Jason had just laughed, informing her that the Senate had not yet found anybody brave enough to inform the Captain that he had been dismissed, as he would have just shot the messenger and carried on regardless. Captain Vickers was determined to die on the bridge of a warship, either of old age or injuries sustained in battle—whichever happened first.
As they approached the planet, the Communications Officer reported that they were being hailed. With a nod of his head from Captain Vickers the main view-screen came alive to display a young man, wearing an unfamiliar uniform, who, without any preamble, demanded to know the reason for their unannounced arrival.
“The Warspite is here to deliver two guests to meet with Senator Calis,” Vickers announced.
“The Senator is currently unavailable. You are welcome to make an appointment and come back at a more mutually convenient time,” the young officer announced.
“Listen son,” Vickers growled. “I did not travel over fifteen light-years to be given a personal out-of-office message from you. If you missed the news, we have a new administration and a new boss. He has an even lower bullshit threshold than me, and that is a compliment. Furthermore the Warspite is heavily armed with both dorsal and ventral railguns, missiles and a full company of marines. So let the Senator know that either she will be entertaining my guests, or my railguns, followed soon after by a company of marines. It’s her choice.”
With a blink, the young officer announced. “The Senator will see you now.”
“Good choice son.”
After the communication screen cut off, Vickers turned to face Miranda. “There you go girl, delivered safe and sound as promised. If you have any trouble down there, or don’t contact us every twelve hours I’ll level a few cities and then send the marines down to come and fetch you.”
“You don’t happen to be acquainted with Commander Radec do you?” Miranda asked suspiciously, as the Captains plan seemed eerily familiar.
“Of course I do girl. He was a young lieutenant under my command. I taught him everything that I know.”
Miranda was not in the slightest bit surprised.
*****
Robert was halfway through regaling Sofia stories of his childhood, which frequently sent her into gales of laughter, when the aide interrupted them.
“They’re where?” he exclaimed in disbelief, glancing at Sofia, but upon noticing her curious expression at the interruption, quickly looked away. “How long?” he demanded his face tight with anger.
“Is something wrong?” Sofia interrupted, before the aide could reply.
“No nothing, just some unexpected visitors,” Robert replied with an apologetic frown. “I am sorry but I will need to cut short this evening, as I need to meet with them. Please excuse me,” he apologised, wiping his mouth with a napkin before getting to his feet.
*****
Miranda had to forcibly close her mouth, as she could only gape at the man standing in front of her, after he had introduced himself. “Senator Calis?” she asked in disbelief.
“Yes, and who the hell are you?” he demanded curtly. “To just show up in orbit unannounced, in blatant breach of our sovereign space I might add, with a naval taskforce and threatening destruction on a planetary wide scale unless I grant you an audience.”
Miranda and Jason were too astonished to respond, glancing at each other in confusion, before Miranda confirmed. “Senator Rione Calis?”
“My mother,” Robert snapped.
“Perhaps we could meet with her—”
“You’re about six months too late for that I am afraid. She’s dead.”
Once again Jason and Miranda could only stare at him in shock. This time it was Jason who recovered first, as, having spent many years in intelligence, he had learnt that those who did not recover quickly from shocks often never recovered at all. Instead he started to look at the man in front of him in a new light, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He was starting to get the sneaking suspicion that he and Miranda had both been sent on a fool’s errand. “Forgive our surprise,” Jason stepped into the conversation smoothly. “We were not aware that the Senator had passed away. You have our sincere apologies. I am Lieutenant Jason Edgar, and this is Miss Miranda Sun. Commander—Emperor Radec sent us here. We had some questions for your mother about the attack on Eden Prime.”
Robert glared at them for a moment, before acknowledging their apology. “I accept your apology, and now that you are aware that my mother is dead, and that your trip was a waste of time and effort, you can show yourselves out. I’m sure you can find your own way, as obviously you found your way in here easily enough.”
“Now that we’re here, perhaps you could answer our questions?” Miranda inquired.
“Now is not a good time,” Robert replied. “I was just in the middle of dinner, I was entertaining—” he abruptly fell silent, remembering whom he was addressing.
“Dinner?” Miranda inserted with forced cheerfulness. “Excellent. We’ve not eaten yet and would be delighted to join you.”
Robert gave them both a hard stare before sighing, realising that he was not going to be rid of them that easily. “Excuse me for just a minute,” he stated, disappearing back through the door where he first appeared. Returning a few minutes later, he escorted them to what was obviously a large dining room, containing a vast table that could easily seat dozens. His half-finished meal, along with two full but untouched wine glasses, seemed very alone in the middle of the table.
As Jason closely observed, a server quickly appeared with a third glass, filling it almost to the brim before unobtrusively vanishing. “I hope we are not interrupting anything?”
“Not at all, a simple dinner by myself, please take a seat,” Robert replied. He motioned to the chairs on either side him where his own plate resided.
As Jason lo
wered himself into the chair he could feel warmth from the well-worn leather, as if another body had been sitting in the same seat only minutes before. Acting on instinct, he laid his hands, palm down, on the solid oak table in front of him. Again he could feel warmth emanating from the table, as if another plate had been resting on the surface, the heat having been absorbed by the wood. Leaning back in the chair, Jason could just catch a faint hint of a smell. It was light and flowery; perhaps a subtle perfume or lightly scented shampoo? What confused him most was that it caused a spark of memory, as if he had smelt it before, but for the life of him he could not remember when or where. Shrugging off the feeling, he could only assume that somebody else had been sitting in the chair, prior to their arrival. He promptly forgot about the entire train of thought as soon the food arrived.
“So you are the Senator’s only son?” Miranda broke the silence, after additional plates, heaped with food of many different varieties, had been brought out.
“Yes.”
Jason and Miranda exchange glances, remembering the story about the encounter between Jon and the Senator’s son.
“A problem?” Robert inquired, noticing their expressions.
“No. It’s just we’ve heard the story, about how you and Jon first met…” Miranda faltered.
“Indeed, not many people can lay claim to having their nose broken personally by the Emperor.” Robert laughed.
“You don’t hold a grudge?”
“Not at all. The event was quite an eye-opener for me, at least after the swelling went down.” Robert laughed again. “Jon Radec could have killed me but, instead, he spared my life, even complimented me on my bravery. Nobody had ever done that before. Stood up to me like that. I suppose you could say that it changed my life. My mother was furious of course; the Emperor, Sofia’s father, dismissed her demands for Jon to be punished. So she promptly removed us from the Imperial Star in protest. Quite fortunately, as it turned out, as soon after Admiral Harkov instigated his coup. Had we remained, I doubt that he would have simply released us. On our return I enrolled in our defence force.”